CHAPTER 2-Feelings from the Heart
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This fanfic is based on Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2. All characters are of Rumiko Takahashi's except some new characters that I have made up for the story.
New Characters:
Heishiro
Kentaro
NOTE: This series takes place two years since the final chapter.
Legend:
* *- thoughts
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CHAPTER 2-Feelings from the Heart
A man walked the busy streets of Nerima filling himself with the warmth and familiarity he had once felt in this town. He stopped and took a deep breath. *It feels good to be home again. * He thought. But something else was tugging at the heart of the man. A feeling he still felt after long years of training and traveling. A feeling that made his heart overflow with joy at the memories he has cherished over the years. He opened his small bag and pulled out a worn picture. The feeling of joy that he had felt a while ago was not compared to the surge of happiness he felt while looking at the picture. It was not in mint condition but the figures were still clear. He always pulls this picture out whenever he felt lonely and sad. He took care of this particular photograph because this was his last copy. Something always just keeps on happening to the tens of copies he had. A small touch of sadness marred the feeling of joy he felt. He was really nervous on coming back. Millions of thoughts came to his mind on his journey to Nerima. Thoughts like, what if she's married, what if she doesn't love me anymore, what if...what if there's someone else..... He always dismissed the last thought. *It's been so long.... long enough to ... to meet someone else and fall in love. I do still love her, I can't -- no, I will not let our love just die. As long as I love her, there's hope; there's always hope..... I can't let go now...... she's all I have left. *
Heishiro turned a corner and saw the house he sought.
He knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. The door opened and a man with brownish black hair and green eyes greeted him warmly.
"Good morning! How may I help...." The man took a closer look at the other.
"Remember me?" Heishiro said grinning to his friend.
The man looked at Heishiro who was wearing a dark blue vest, loose fitting light blue pants and wooden slippers. He looked at Heishiro's eyes. Hazel. The man smiled and ferociously hugged the samurai.
"Heishiro! How have ya been?" he let go waiting for his friend to answer.
"Kentaro, same as ever. Even your clothes are the same since high school." Kentaro was wearing his favorite clothes that consist of, a sleeveless black top with equally black loose fitting pants and wooden slippers. He smiled at the bandages on each forearm of his friend. There was really nothing under those bandages, at least, not anymore. Heishiro was sure it had healed a long time ago, but maybe his friend got used to it and kept wearing it. His black bandanna was also still resting on his temple. He looked back at his high school years, the best part of his life. *Kentaro was the only one I could really trust then, except for one particular girl..... her beautiful smile, the warmth of her words, the depth of her eyes, the--*
"Um, I think you forgot her gigantic mallet." Kentaro said teasing his pal.
Heishiro blushed a furious red, he didn't know he voiced out his thoughts like that. He always did and didn't notice it; he always got in trouble for that.
A voice called from the inside of the house, "Kentaro, son, come here! Don't keep the young ladies waiting!"
Kentaro jumped, looked back inside the house and silently closed the door behind him taking Heishiro to a run to the next block. Kentaro peeked behind the wall about twenty meters from his house.
"How many girls does your mother have inside there, eh Kentaro?" Heishiro said, getting back at his friend.
"Shhh! Quiet! Would you believe that my own mother would set me up with girls she met at the grocery store?! Last week I had to deal with women from the beauty salon." He winked at Heishiro, "Great timing Shiro." Kentaro calmed down and kept on looking back as they walked from their house. He turned to his old friend and saw a little nervousness in his eyes. Kentaro also noticed him biting his lip. *Hmmm ... he never does that. *
Kentaro looked sideways at his friend and said, "Um, Heishiro, got any problems you want to talk about?"
Heishiro looked at him with fake innocence, "Me? No! I absolutely have no problem. What makes you think that?"
Kentaro motioned his friend to stop, "C'mon, you're a terrible liar. You can tell me anything, you know that."
"I dunno.... Is she ok? I mean I haven't seen her for years now...." Kentaro looked at him in puzzlement, "I mean Akane--"
Kentaro looked at his friend in disbelief, "You mean you left her?! Shiro, that's the stupidest thing you've ever done!"
"You...didn't know?" was all Heishiro could say.
"No, I didn't know. She didn't come to school the next year; we all thought she went with you. There was a rumor that she changed schools, but most of us weren't really sure about it."
Heishiro studied his feet; "I didn't know. . . . at first she wanted to go with me.....but....but I wouldn't let her. We got into a fight right after that and the last thing I remembered was her mallet in my face." Heishiro started kicking stones as they resumed walking. "I sent her a letter, well not exactly a letter. I wrote it on the back of my favorite picture of us and sent it to her. I was hoping you knew how she is right now."
Kentaro regretfully smiled at his friend and said, "Sorry,"
A moment of silence descended as they walked aimlessly, then Kentaro spoke, "You can stay in my house for as long as you want. You're my best friend after all."
Heishiro ruefully smiled and answered, "Yeah, and a big excuse for not being set up by your mom." Heishiro said. Then Kentaro started protesting to what he said.
"It's not that...I mean.... you can't think that...I--" Kentaro started babbling.
The samurai warmly smiled at his friend that made him stop babbling. "I was just messing with you, I didn't think that you were making me as an excuse." He punted his friend on the head and got a punch on the stomach in return. They started sparring and ended up on the pavement laughing.
"I'm getting hungry, let's get something to eat." Kentaro said pulling his friend along.
Both men walked towards a place to eat as the sun started it's slow descent.
* * *
The man with the bandanna walked with his friend towards their home -- his home. He remembered weeks before they left what his friends' family had done for him. Ryouga's parents had written Mr. Tendo a letter asking if he could stay there because they were having slight problems getting home. Since then, Mr. Tendo and the rest of the family treated him as one of their blood. Ryouga looked at his friend. Ranma looked really nervous today, he had been for most of the trip back home. Ryouga could recall the look he had now, the look he had when they left.
"Ryouga?" Ranma said.
Ryouga turned to Ranma and said, "What is it?"
"I...I'm afraid. I..I..don't know what to do...I mean what if....." words died in his mouth, he couldn't even say the horrible thoughts that came to his mind, as if speaking it, might make it come true. He has never been afraid before that Akane would have someone else because he was still there then, but years have passed, and maybe, just maybe, someone had claimed her heart. *It could be...Shinnousoke...no he'd forget before he even says his feelings.... Toma, no....I heard he's already married.....Kunou...NO WAY! Impossible...Akane would never... but, what if? * He pushed that thought away, which had been haunting him for months now. Still ... since then, Ranma always thought back to Ryouga's words. *No matter who she ends up with, I'll always love her, I'll love her for the rest of my life. * He could feel tears forming up. He knows that he couldn't bear giving up Akane, but if she really loved someone else, he would back away and keep her happy. A single tear slid down his cheek.
Ryouga didn't answer to Ranma's words. He was afraid he might say something stupid that would make things even worse. Ryouga wasn't still used to the new Ranma, the Ranma that appeared since they neared Nerima, and the Ranma that cried at night because of nightmares. Still, Ryouga would do his best in keeping Ranma ok. *I will keep my promise. * He could understand what Ranma feels like right now. Uncertainty, sadness, nervousness, sometimes even joy at the thought of her. Ryouga laughed a little.
"What's so funny?" Ranma said.
Ryouga grinned at him and said, "You, you look so stupid Ranma." Ryouga didn't really mean that, he just wanted the old Ranma back even if they tease each other a lot.
Ranma didn't take offense but teased Ryouga back, "Ha! Ha! Pig boy!!" Ranma said poking his friend on the side.
Ryouga retaliated and said, "I am NOT a pig!" Ryouga stopped and slyly looked at Ranma, "At least I don't wear panties."
Ranma looked at him in surprise, "Why you!!" Ranma went in front of Ryouga then said patting his friend's head, "At least _I_ wear clothes!!" Ryouga stopped in mid step not knowing what to say back at Ranma.
Ryouga felt Ranma pat him on the head and say, "Gotcha!! Hahahahaha!!!" Ryouga looked at Ranma while he ran ahead. "Prepare to die Ranma!!!!!!"
A considerable time went by when they had finally stopped hitting each other, they settled on a brisk walk.
Ryouga mindlessly kicked a can. He remembered back then when he and Ranma would spend hours trying to kill each other. It's still almost the same now except they didn't want to kill each other. They stopped killing each other when their quest to find a cure started. They would still fight occasionally, but never going too far. In the middle of their trek, they started to trust each other more. They would never give up on one another. He remembered especially at one point of the trip that had caused their late arrival. Their friendship was really tested then, they both had a really high sense of honor. They had to choose between a broken promise and the life of one's friend. Ryouga forced away the memories that tore them apart.
Ranma continued on walking silently, different thoughts in his mind. *Akane, I hope you forgive me.... It's just that...I...* he gave up on thinking of what to say to Akane. He'll just speak with his heart and hope for the best.
They walked silently, the setting sun behind them, not knowing what to expect. Their hearts filled with mixed emotions, hoping that whatever problem arises can be solved.
* * *
Akane turned the ring in her fingers. She looked again at the names engraved inside. *It's been so long.... * She put the ring back and placed the box on her table. She noticed two pictures still lying on the floor, one of Ranma and one of Heishiro. She picked up the two pictures and set each one on either side of her on her bed. She glanced to her right at Ranma. *I love him...I still do...I think. * She glimpsed at her left to Heishiro. *I miss him...maybe even.... still love him? * She bent her head in dismay. *Now I know how Kunou feels.* That made her laugh a bit. *Well, either one of them aren't here, so why am I doing this? After all, I am over them..... or am I? * A sudden thought came to her mind, *What will I do if they both come back? *
"Nah...impossible." She said trying to convince herself. But still, she could not get the feeling out of her mind. She thought of something to keep her mind off such thoughts.
Akane went down to help Kasumi cook dinner.
* * *
Heishiro started for the Tendo dojo when Kentaro left him at the restaurant. He was really getting nervous and excited to see Akane after years. *Akane, how I've missed you all these years. * He was a few steps away from the dojo, so he took a deep breath, fixed his hair and continued. The door was open so he went right in. He smiled in comfort at his surroundings. He remembered everything, the koi pond, the dojo, the sun deck, everything. He glanced around at the cherished memories. This was his old home in his younger years with Akane. Heishiro walked to the koi pond and half kneeled in front of it. The moon's reflection on the pond smiled at Heishiro. The light wind caressing his face recalled different things that had occurred in this dojo. *Akane used to throw me into the pond when I barfed at her cooking. * He laughed, a very slow and warm laugh.
* * *
While Akane was trying hard to separate the pot from what looked like soup turned ice cream, she thought she heard someone laugh outside. Kasumi heard it too and wiped her hands on the dishcloth to see who it was. Akane immediately wiped hers and spoke to her sister.
"I'll see who it is, Oneechan."
Kasumi smiled at her and continued on cooking.
Akane slowly peered out into the night. She could see a silhouette huddled up by the koi pond. Akane stepped out into the sundeck and confronted the person, her hand on her mallet.
"Who are you?!" Akane said brandishing her huge hammer.
Heishiro looked up to the voice and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her beautiful brown eyes that he thought he would never gaze into again, her long hair that was tied up by a ribbon. The moon's light touched her face and made it look softer and smoother than the last time he held her face in his hands. His heart tightened at the sight of her. He stood up and slowly walked nearer his hand extended.
Akane backed away from the man and assumed a fighting stance, "Stay away, or you'll get hurt."
"Akane, I don't want to fight you, I'll die before I ever hit you." Heishiro said about two paces away from Akane.
Akane froze at his words, *His voice seems so familiar. *, "Who are you?" Akane said in curiosity more than anger.
Heishiro started to feel tears forming up. He longed to just keep her in his arms and never let go, "Akane, it's me. Don't you remember?" Heishiro was now in front of Akane gazing down at her big brown eyes. He reached out for her hand and placed it in his, "It's me, Heishiro."
Akane dropped the mallet; it disappeared before it even touched the ground.
* * *
Ranma and Ryouga turned a corner and saw the Tendo gate open. They ran to the gate. Ranma was first to come in and stopped in his tracks, making Ryouga crash into his back. But it didn't even budge Ranma from his place.
"What's your problem Ranma?" Ryouga said, not noticing what his friend was staring at. He looked up from dusting his clothes and stopped in horror.
Ranma stood there, not believing what he was seeing. Akane was there looking scared and surprised, with a man holding her hand by the sun deck. Ranma felt his heart go to pieces. All he could get out was a strangled, "Akane?"
Akane and the man turned and saw them.
*End Chapter 2
So that's the 2nd chapter of When Past Was Present. Hoped you liked it! I'm not sure of the spelling of Shinnousoke's, if it's wrong please tell me.
Thanks!!! :C)
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