Seijitsu no Kesshite Ai Shiniai Nakunaru [ True Love Never Dies ] Chapter 4: Some Dreams Shattered FanFic based on Ranma ½ By Kris Thompson This is a work of fiction based on Rumiko Takahashi's 'Ranma Nibun no Ichi' a.k.a. Ranma ½ and was created for the author's personal enjoyment. [Note! This is an alter-verse fic! You have been warned!] Akane stood in front of the mirror. The wedding gown was beautiful, the long train embroidered with tiny pearl beads that seemed to glitter in the sunlight that managed to filter through the window of one of the many rooms in the church. She looked as beautiful as she ever had in her entire life. Yet, her expression was somber. "Ryouga loves me," she whispered to herself. ' 'But do you love him?' 'Ranma's voice echoed in her mind. Before she could think on that any longer, Kasumi opened the door. "Akane, are you ready?" Akane looked back up at the mirror. "Yes, Kasumi. I'm ready." ~*~ Ranma stood at the back of the church. He didn't know why he had come; a form of self torture, he guessed. To see his one true love go and marry someone else... well, maybe it was better this way. Maybe she *did* love Ryouga more than he thought. He had to hold back his gasp as Akane entered in the sanctuary. She was absolutely stunning. Again his brain asked him why in the world he had come here to invite hell. He watched in misery as Akane walked down the aisle towards Ryouga. And away from him. ~*~ She walked down the aisle practically numb. She could see Sayuri and Yuka, her best friends and chosen bride's maids, smiling at her from down at the alter. Her father was at her side, had surprisingly not shedding a tear as he walked his youngest daughter down the aisle, and then Ryouga. He was smiling as proudly as ever. She managed another weak, but semi-convincing smile as the priest began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of these two young people in holy matrimony," She tuned out almost everything in the church. She could feel his stare on her back. Their dialogue from the night before came back to haunt her. 'You know what! Don't you *dare* try to change my mind about this. I want to marry Ryouga-' Her voice shouted. 'So you can subconsciously get back at me!' Ranma's voice yelled back with the same volume. 'Stop trying to manipulate me! Ryouga loves me!' 'But do you love him? Can you look me in the eye and honestly say that you love him as much as he loves you? I know that you're still upset with me, from all those years ago. But you've got to think of Ryouga. Why hurt three people with this?" Ranma's question came to her again. "Now," the priest said, interrupting her thoughts. "For the vows. Repeat with me; I Ryouga Hibiki," 'When did you fall out of love with me?' Ranma's voice echoed in her mind once more. Akane's voice spoke now. 'Fall out of love with you? If you want the honest truth, *Ran-ma*, I never have.' 'I love you. More than anything in the world. Why I didn't tell you before, I don't know. All I know is that I was a coward for not telling you sooner.' 'You will punish yourself for loving me, you will punish yourself for loving me, you will punish yourself for loving me, you will punish yourself for loving me... 'Akane,' Ranma's voice came to her again. 'I love you. More than anything.' "STOP!" Everyone looked at Akane as she turned to Ryouga. "Ryouga, I'm sorry. But I can't marry you. I love you, but it isn't the kind of love you need. You deserve someone who will love you unconditionally. I'm so sorry." She took off the engagement ring and pressed it into his palm. "A-Akane, w-who is it? Who is it that has truly stolen your heart?" Ryouga asked. "A wild horse." Akane answered. She turned to look at the back of the church to find Ranma gone. "Hey! Akane!" She turned to see Nabiki standing up. "He went that way! Back towards the dojo. If you hurry, you might just catch him!" Akane smiled. "Thanks Nabiki!" and she took off running. One of the members of the congregation began to sob. "Shampoo just love happy endings!" Mousse sat next to the purple-haired Amazon. "Shampoo! Don't cry now!" "Aiya!" Shampoo cried out gleefully. "No wedding now! We get married, yes?" "Heh, sure Shampoo!" Mousse and Shampoo clambered up to the alter and the priest began once more with " "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..." ~*~ Akane ran back to the dojo carrying her skirts as she ran. Why did he have to run so damned fast anyway? Suddenly, she saw aver familiar looking pigtailed young man entering into her house. "Ranma!" He turned to see her running towards him. "Akane?" She launched herself into his arms and knocked him over as they fell into the house with the front door standing open. "Ranma, I'm sorry! I love you so much! More than anything in the whole world!" Akane told him. He smiled. "I know." And he pulled her down to kiss her in a kiss that would not be the last. End! Author's Notes - Very Bad Things Okay, from reading the reviews from the LAST chapter, it seems I have led some Akane/Ryouga fans into thinking that this WAS a fic where Akane and Ryouga did get paired up. True, they did, but only for a conflict purpose. Personally, I'm more of a Ryouga/Akari pairing, but my main couple is, always will be Ranma and Akane. I apologize for making some people think that this was a Ryouga/Akane fic when it really wasn't. Complaints, questions and other junk can be emailed to Kris at cartoonpaperclips@email.com. Flames will be dealt with in kind. Signin' off! Krissy www.geocities.com/kuroi_hoshi