Chapter 12 – Confrontations

It was Kasumi's suggestion to have dinner with her sisters along with their families. Akane, who thought it was a brillant idea, offered to hold it at her house. Kasumi agreed and decided to come over that morning and help Akane cook.

Much later at noon, Nabiki arrived to see how the cooking was going. She found the her two sisters still in the kitchen, making preparations for tonight's get-together.

Kasumi saw her first. "Oh, hello, Nabiki."

"Hello," she replied. She gave Akane a teasing smile. "Did you burn anything yet?"

"Very funny, Nabiki," replied Akane.

"Where is Hikaru? I thought you said that he was home."

"He was, but he'll be back tonight. He and Ranma went to the mountains. Ranma offered to train him."

Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Really? Do tell."

Kasumi said, "I think it's nice of Ranma to train Hikaru."

"Hmm. It'd be a lot nicer if Ranma knew that he's Hikaru's father." She crossed her arms and leaned her back against the counter. "So when are you going to tell them, Akane?"

"I...I haven't decided yet, Nabiki," answered Akane in a small voice.

"They do have the right to know."

"I know. I know, but I just have to find the right moment. I mean it's going to be awkward. We work together."

"You better start telling the truth soon."

Kasumi turned to her youngest sister. "Nabiki is right, Akane. Youi better say something before something could go wrong."

"Like what? Like before Ranma finds out from someone else." Akane gave Nabiki an accusing look.

Nabiki met her eyes with a glare. "Don't dare me, Akane."

There was an uncomfortable silence until the phone rang. Akane looked at her sisters and then excused herself.

The phone was on its fourth ring when Akane answered it. "Hello?"

"May I speak to Akane Sato please?"

"Yes, this is Akane Sato."

"Akane, this is Michiko Saotome."

Akane's hand tightened around the receiver. "Oh. Can I help you?'

"I'm on my way to Nerima. I was wondering if you could join me for some drinks at the Kobe Restaurant in an hour."

"Of...of course."

"Wonderful. I'll see you then."

The line went dead and Akane continued to hold the phone to her ear as her heart pounded.

"Akane? Who was that?"

Nabiki's voice startled her. She hung up the phone and shrugged. "Oh, just a prank call."

Akane went back to the kitchen. "Kasumi, I have to go to the market and get some chicken. I think we should have some curry, don't you?"

"That would make a nice addition to our dinner." Kasumi smiled.

"Good."

Without hesitation, Akane ran up to her room to get ready for her confrontation.

***

When Akane arrived at the Kobe Restaurant, Michiko was already there waiting for her. She looked just as elegant as ever in her black suit. Akane felt plain in her navy blue dress.

"Hello, Akane," said Michiko. "I'm so glad tht you agreed to meet me on such a short notice."

Like I had a choice. Akane wondered what the purpose of the invitation was. "It's no problem, Michiko."

A waiter came by and took their order. While Akane ordered tea, Michiko decided on some sake. As soon as the waiter left, Michiko lit up a cigarette.

She offered one to Akane who politely declined. "No, thank you."

"Smoking soothes me. I began smoking when I was thirteen when Daddy sent me to a boarding school in America. I enjoyed being in the States. Everything was so carefree...so laid back..." Michiko looked at her for a moment. "Have you ever been to America, Akane?"

"Once. On a business trip with my husband. We went to Seattle. We enjoyed our stay. It was nice."

"I hated Seattle," said Michiko vehemently. Then her voice went calm. "I do love San Francisco, however. It was where Ranma and I first made love. I knew on that moment that he was going to be mine."

Akane's eyes grew small as her cheeks went hot. The waiter arrived and gave their drinks. As soon as he was gone, Akane turned her full attention to the woman sitting before her. "What do you want, Michiko?"

Michiko expertly blew smoke into the air without taking her eyes off Akane. "The truth. Tell me, Akane. What exactly are your intentions towards my husband?"

Akane's face went blank. "Intentions? I'm...I'm afraid that I don't know know what you're talking about."

"Please. Let's no pretend too hard. My husband and you were once lovers...and now you're just business partners? I am nobody's fool, Akane."

"I don't know why you have such a problem believing that our relationship is strictly business, Michiko."

"I'll tell you why, Akane. You come here waltzing back to Nerima and take up the partnership with Ranma tagging along your son behind you." Then Michiko paused and gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did I say son? I meant to say your bastard."

Akane's eyes went wide with fear. She suddenly found it hard to breathe. "You..."

Michiko leaned over the table. "Yes, Akane. I know everything about your tainted past from your queer husband to your illegitimate son."

"How did you..."

She gave her a cruel smile. She obviosly enjoyed watching Akane squirm. "I hired a private detective. It's easy when you have money."

Akane formed her hand into a fist. "You bitch. How dare you go digging into my private life."

The other woman's eyes turned livid. "I'll ignore what you just called me, Akane. Frankly, if there's anyone who should be angry, it should be me. I'm not very pleased with the fact that my husband fathered your dear, illegitimate Hikaru."

"Then you'll just have to deal with it. Bringing Ranma's son out to this world is an honor worth having," Akane said with full of pride.

As Akane stood up to leave, Michiko watched her. Kami-sama! She is not even ashamed. I have underestimated her. Her blood began to boil. She was not accustomed to lose. Slowly, Michiko got to her feet and stood in front of Akane.

"You may have Ranma's son, but you will never have Ranma. I will do anything in my power to have my husband stay married to me. I've fought hard to keep him away from you before, and I'm not afraid to fight for him again."

As the two women stared at each other, Akane fought the urge to sock her. Michiko gave her a quick smile.

"Good day, Mrs. Sato." She dismissed her.

Angrily, Akane left the restaurant. She stepped outside and took a deep breath. A cab pulled up in front of her but she didn’t bother to get in. Instead, Akane started to walk.

She really had no idea where she was going but she didn’t care. The skies above her darkened and rumbled. Akane kept on walking and paid no attention to it. Soon rain began to sprinkle, but it was the last thing on her mind.

Michiko knows about Hikaru. Oh, what am I going to do? She just might tell Ranma and who knows how she’s going to tell him? I wanted Ranma to know about Hikaru, but not like this! That bitch!

At that moment, Akane passed by a lamp post. Turning, she formed a fist and slammed it into the cement, creating a hole. Slowly, she removed her fist and began to breathe hard as she rested her other hand on the post. Oh, Ranma.

Akane heard a faint voice calling her name, but she ignored it. She shook her head and started to leave.

"Akane!"

As she turned, she saw Ryoga heading towards her with his old red umbrella in hand.

"Akane! What are you doing out here in the rain?"

"I…I…"

Ryoga saw what she did to the lamppost and his eyes slowly wandered towards her. He shared his umbrella with her. "Come on. Why don’t you come with me?"

Akane slowly nodded and walked with Ryoga. She expected that they were going to Ucchan’s, but to her surprise, they stopped in front of the Nekohanten.

Ryoga smiled at her and explained, "Every Sunday, we play mahjong with Shampoo and Mousse. I just went out to buy some more cashew nuts. We just can’t play without them."

"Oh."

Ryoga and Akane entered the restaurant. The place was deserted, save for Shampoo, Mousse, and Ukyou who had the game set up on one of the larger tables.

"I’m back!" Ryoga announced.

Mousse stood up. "It’s about time."

Ukyou saw Akane. "Akane! Oh, geez! You are soaking wet!"

Shampoo said, "I’ll get you some tea."

As Shampoo left, Mousse led Akane to the table. "Please sit down."

While Akane took a seat, Ukyou set her husband aside. "Ryoga, honey, what’s wrong?" She asked in a whisper.

"I don’t know," replied Ryoga in a low voice. "I just found her outside standing in the rain next to a lamppost with a hole in it."

"That’s our Akane."

"Something’s wrong."

"And I think we should help her."

Ryoga nodded in agreement and followed Ukyou who headed back to the table where Akane was sitting. At the same moment, Shampoo emerged with some tea.

"I’m sorry I’m interrupting your game," apologized Akane.

Ukyou put her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. "That’s alright, Akane. We’d like to help."

Shampoo offered Akane a cup of tea. "Here. Drink this."

Gratefully, she took the cup. "Thanks, Shampoo."

After a long moment, Ryoga asked, "So, Akane, why are you upset?"

Akane sighed. "Well, I was invited for some drinks by Michiko Saotome."

The four exchanged anxious looks, but it was Ukyou who recovered first. "Ranma’s wife? What for?"

"To make a long story short, Michiko thinks I have intentions on Ranma."

Shampoo’s eyes turned accusingly on her. "Do you?"

"Of course not! Ranma is a married man. Just what the hell do you think I am? A home wrecker?"

Shampoo was surprised at the tone of her voice. "No, no, Akane."

Akane took a deep breath. She stood up and walked up to the window watching the rain fall. "Ever since that day he rejected me and told me that he didn’t love me, I knew that there was not a chance in the world that he would change his mind. I mean he chose her, not me."

"That’s…that’s true, Akane," agreed Ryoga in a quiet voice.

"Part of me doesn’t blame her, but I really don’t have any intentions on Ranma. I came back here to Nerima for me and the school, but not for Ranma."

"Perhaps so, Akane, but you are his old flame," pointed Ukyou.

"Old flame?" Akane let out a bitter laugh. "Ukyou, Ranma never loved me! I admit that we had an affair, but that was all it ever was. An affair! There was no love involved when we were together."

No one said a word.

"You know what puzzles me the most though? Michiko said that she fought hard to keep Ranma away from me."

The four looked at each other again, but this time their faces were puzzled. Carefully, Ryoga asked in an uncertain voice, "Michiko said that?"

"Yes, and she will do anything to save her marriage, which I think is totally unnecessary. After all, she didn’t have to put up a fight seventeen years ago because in the end, Ranma left to be with her."

"You’re wrong, Akane," Ukyou blurted out.

"What?"

"Judging from what you told us, it seems like Michiko really was the mastermind behind the scheme, and she certainly put up a damn good fight."

"Scheme?" Akane looked even more confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Michiko needed a scheme, Akane, because she knew that Ranma loved you more than life itself. He would’ve chosen you, but no thanks to these three – " She paused as she glanced at Ryoga, Shampoo and Mousse – "he didn’t."

Ryoga was horrified. "Ukyou, no!"

Shampoo glared at her. "This is not the time for this!"

Ukyou put her hands over her hips. "Oh, you would say that wouldn’t you, Shampoo? Maybe I should show Akane some demonstration by asking you three to stand out there in the rain!"

Ryoga shook his head. "Ukyou, please!"

"Ryoga, I love you, but we have to do the right thing."

"But…"

"You guys may be able to live with what you’ve done, but I can’t do that anymore. We owe Akane the truth and so much more."

Akane repeated, "The truth? What is going on here? Why does this have something to do with you guys?"

Mousse spoke up, "I will tell you, Akane."

"Mousse!" Shampoo cried out.

He shook his head at his beautiful Chinese wife. "I’m sorry. I can’t lie anymore."

Mousse walked to the nearest pitcher of water filled with ice. He turned to Akane and said, "I must be crazy to do this, but I will gladly do this for you. I can no longer pretend that everything is alright, and the truth must be revealed."

Akane watched as Mousse dumped the water over his head. Water streamed down to his long hair, his face, and past his shoulders. All Akane could think of was Mousse turning into a duck in a matter of few seconds, but no such thing happened.

Shocked, Akane put her hand over her mouth. "You’re not a duck."

"Not for the past seventeen years, no."

"So…you’re cured…like-like Ranma."

Ukyou gave her a surprised look. "You know about Ranma?"

"Yes, I found out by accident. He told me that it was a wedding present."

She let out a snort. "More like a bribe really."

"WHAT?"

Mousse said, "Akane, after Ranma broke up the engagement with Michiko, Mr. Tanaka, her father, came here to offer a cure for our Jusenkyo curse. There was one catch, though. Ranma had to marry Michiko."

Akane gasped and looked aghast. "You mean…they bought him?"

"Something like that."

Her eyes narrowed as her voice was filled with sarcasm. "And he agreed to it. Of course. He hated his curse."

Mousse shook his head. "No, he could care less about his curse because he said Jusenkyo curse or no, you loved him. But we wanted to be cured, and so we had to convince him because he wanted you. Not Michiko."

Akane wrapped her arms around herself as she shook her head vehemently. "No! Ranma told me that he didn’t love me! That he used me!"

"He lied, Akane. He lied about not loving you."

"But…why? He didn’t have to. Why didn’t he just tell me the truth?"

"Because I told him not to."

Akane turned towards the direction of the voice. For awhile, she thought her heart stopped beating. "Ryoga? You?"

"Yes."

She walked up to him. "Why? Why, Ryoga? What did I ever do to you?"

"Because he would have to tell you that I was cursed, and you would have to find out that I was P-chan."

"P-chan?" Her voice was in shock. "You were P-chan?"

"Yes," Ryoga could barely speak.

Akane was speechless. All she could remember was hugging her pet pig…and…and sleeping with him…

Ryoga went on. "Ranma knew that I was P-chan, but he promised not to say a word because it a warrior’s code."

Akane’s gave him a cold look. "You’re sick."

Ryoga’s eyes went wide with fright.

"You’re nothing but a pervert! How dare you! You took advantage of me!"

"Akane…"

She slapped him as hard as she could, and everyone else gasped.

As Akane backed away from him, Ryoga reached out for her. "Akane…"

"Don’t touch me!"

He recoiled from her words. "Please...please understand…"

"Understand? How am I suppose to understand that you’ve been lying to me?" She jabbed her thumb to her chest. "I’ve put up all your tactics trying to break up our engagement from magic potions and your attacks to the time when you broke up our wedding! But this! This one tops it all! For years, I hated Ranma Saotome because I believed that he abandoned me! Do you know what it’s like to be abandoned by your one true love? No, of course, not because each of you married your true love, but not me."

"You!" Shampoo spat. "Always you! You talk about your pain. Well, I’ll talk about mine. For years, I watched the man I loved fall in love with someone else. He may have rejected you, Akane, but he rejected me far more time you could ever imagine. He hated my cursed form! Everytime I saw his reaction when I was a cat, it felt like a knife that delved much deeper in my heart!"

"Shampoo," called out Mousse softly.

Shampoo shook her head at him. "No, let me talk." She turned back to Akane. "When Michiko’s father offered us the cure, it was like a dream come true. But when Ranma told us that it wasn’t worth it because he wanted to marry you, that was the last straw. There was no way we were going to pass up the chance to become normal all because of you. It happened in Togenkyo and in Jusenkyo, and we vowed that it will never happen again. Even if it meant that Ranma was marrying Michiko! At least then you would know what it feels like to see someone you love in another woman’s arms."

Then the hard look in her eyes turned soft. "But that was what the old Shampoo felt. I was angry and in pain for a long time, Akane. In time I healed and learned to love again and I married my true love. Seventeen years is a long time, but there’s nothing more we can do now except to say that we are sorry."

"Sorry?" Akane repeated in a voice filled with anger. "Sorry doesn’t begin to make up for everything all of you did. If you knew the truth, then you would see that you did more damage than you could possibly ever imagine."

Swiftly, Akane whirled around and bolted out of the restaurant.

"Akane!" Ryoga called out from behind.

He went out of the restaurant and saw her running down the sidewalk as fast as a marathon runner.

Ryoga stood still as the rain poured down on him. He uttered her name softly. "Akane."

He felt someone beside him and saw his wife. "Ukyou."

"Just give her time, Ryoga honey." She took his hand. "Come on, sugar."

They went back inside with their arms around each other.

***

Kasumi wandered into the living room where Nabiki was reading one of her latest fashion magazines. "Akane's not back yet?"

The younger sister shrugged without enthusiasm. "Guess not."

"I wonder if she brought an umbrella. It was a little dark before she left here, wasn't it?"

Before Nabiki could reply, they heard a shout followed by a loud crash.

The two sisters looked at each other. While Nabiki grabbed the nearest umbrella she could find, Kasumi hurried outside. Rain greeted them. When they reached the source of the racket, they found Akane. Soaking wet from head to foot, Akane was standing before a man-like dummy made of wood. Her fists delivered strong and quick blows as she cried out releasing her pain and anger on the dummy.

"Akane..." Kasumi looked at her worriedly. She wanted to comfort her sister, but she felt a hand stop her.

Nabiki shook her head at Kasumi. Though she had no idea what was going on, she somehow understood Akane. "No, Kasumi, she needs this."

Akane let out a scream and with one rapid, powerful punch, she created a hole in the head.

"No, I don't want to marry you...I don't love you."

With another blow, she ripped the head off.

"He lied, Akane. He lied about not loving you."

Her fist went through the torso.

"Ranma knew I was P-chan, but he promised not to say anything because it's a warrrior's code."

Akane withdrew her hand. Blood oozed down her hand.

"There was no way we were going to pass up our chance to be cured all because of you."

There was pain in her hand, but it was nothing compared to what she felt now.

"...Then you would finally know what it's like to see someone you love in another woman's arms."

Akane raised her leg and with one mighty kick, she tore off the torso along with the arms.

"You may have Ranma's son, but you will never have Ranma..."

Turning, Akane did a spin kick, destroying the legs completely.

The rain continued as Akane stared at the remains of the dummy. Breathing heavily, he chest went up and down. Exhausted, she collapsed on the the ground in a sitting position. She could feel tears invading her eyes. No! No! I won't cry! I am Akane Tendo, daughter of Soun Tendo! The one who will carry on the Tendo Anything Goes Martial Arts!

"Akane?" A voice called out to her like a light that glowed in the dark.

Akane saw Kasumi who was crouched down next to her with her arms open. At the same time, she no longer felt the rain beating down on her. Looking up, Akane saw Nabiki standing over them with an umbrella in hand.

Throwing herself into her sister's arms, Akane cried to let go of her sorrow.

Author's notes: There! That concludes Part 2 of Do you Remember...? Hope you guys enjoyed that. And I hope to see you all again in Part 3 which is the finale of this fanfiction. I apologize that I won't be putting up the next part right away. Believe me, it'll take some time since I want the last part to be perfect. And remember...comments and questions are always welcome. Just don't flame me please. Thank you again for reading my fanfic! ^_^