Eternal Sleep:? Part Seven

Written by: Liz Donovan

Ryouga didn’t say anything as Akane lifted her small hand off his shoulder. She only sat there in silence thinking that just being there was more important than mere words. Today was a school day, however neither Akane nor Nabiki were going to school this morn. No sensible person would go to school only a few days after their fiancees death. Akane could already hear the kids at school buzzing about it.

Ranma Saotome, who’d beaten numerous school bullies and some world wide jerks, had been killed on his birthday, by slipping on the stairs. She shook her head. She hadn’t quiet accepted his death. It was as if he was merely off training with his father and would return soon. Somehow though, she knew he was gone, and she remember night before, when inside Ryouga’s body, he’d truly confesses his love for her.

That made her smile and she pulled her knees to her chest. Turning her head, she gazed upon Ryouga, who was lost in his own train of concentration. His knees to his chest, and his eyes tightly shut, Ryouga seemed ready to break down and begin crying. She’d never thought Ranma’s death would have this effect on him. Or…could it be that he was almost crying over something else? She softly sighed and felt a splash of water hit her hand. Looking down curiously, she realized she was crying. That changed everything. That broke down the thick wall she’d tried to construct her emotions unraveled and soon she was sobbing.

Ryouga looked up from his bent knees at the blubbering Akane. She seemed near hysterical, crying openly, her plump tears splashing down on the deck. Ryoga sat up, his knees pulling away from his chest. He didn’t know what to do, and his heart sank. He knew what he wanted to do, but that he shoved aside.

"Akane-san. . ." he softly whispered, reaching out to touch her delicate arm. She blindly looked up at him through the tears in her eyes, and then she sagged forward, falling into his arms, burying he head in his chest. Surprised, though nonetheless pleased, Ryouga gently brought his arms back in, placing one on her small back and the other on top her soft little head.

"It isn’t fair!" she whispered into Ryouga’s shirt. "It’s not!"

Ryouga couldn’t speak, because he didn’t experience what she was feeling. So he only held her, comforting her, and he would protector her from anything that tried to harm her. And they sat that way, time undefined, and no one stopped him from holding her, and no one yelled at them. So it came to pass after however long, that Akane had released her fill. Slowly she pulled back away from Ryouga, and he obligingly removed his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes peering out of a tear stained faced face. Her eye were still damp and her cheeks were moist. A single tear drop hung itself from her tiny nose.

Ryouga reached out and touched her nose, and the tear drop melted into his large palm. He looked at his hand, while Akane wiped her eyes. Eventually she got to her knees and then to her feet. Ryouga soon followed in pursuit. She, after regaining her posture, turned to him.

"Thank you." she whispered, placing a soft hand on his shoulder.

He looked down at her, and swallowed. "You…you’re welcome." he breathed.

She, her tone still soft, said, "Ryouga-kun, I’d like to talk with you…about, Ranma." Ryouga smiled meekly.

"Alright…" he whispered back. They both turned at a knock on the door.

A tired looking, yet ever-happy Kasumi hurried to answer the call. There was silence a moment and then Kasumi called out:

"Akane you friend is here." and with that she left to go back to the kitchen. Both Akane and Ryouga looked at each other as together they went to answer the door.

Akane opened the door and looked up. There stood Tatewaki Kuno, his head bowed, his eyes shut. In his hand he held and overly expensive bouquet of red roses. He was dressed in his usual blue top, and he had his bokken, as always, strapped to his side. His feet stood at shoulder length and he quirked a smile. Lifting his head, causing his thick brown hair to sway, he began to speak, not yet opening his eyes.

"Tendo Akane." He stated. "Youngest and most radiant of the three Tendo sisters. Ever since I graced you I have desired to date with you. Unfortunately the Heavens cursed me by sending Saotome Ranma down and making the claiming that he was your unworthy fiancee. I then was presented with the beauteous Pig-tailed Girl, and to chose between you and her was beyond unbearable. However, frequent news has crossed my ears and although I am devastated over my beloved Pig-tailed Girls most untimely…death; I have heard that Saotome Ranma too, has perished. In the unlikeness that both my Pig-tailed Girl and Ranma have gone unto the beyond, I see no reason why now, we cannot be united as one." He finished.

Both Akane and Ryouga’s mouth dropped, and a large sweat drop slid down Akane’s head.. Kuno now opened his eyes to gaze upon Akane.

"Now I ask you, Tendo Akane, love of my life, will you date with me?" Kuno asked. He extended the flowers to her. Akane blinked baffled.

"Y-y-you ASKED me…" Akane whispered. She stepped back. "Oh…Ranma…" she whispered. Kuno raised an eyebrow at this. Akane slumped down, passing out into Ryouga’s waiting arms.

"Hmm?" Kuno squeaked. For the first time Kuno noticed Ryouga standing behind Akane. His hand instantly flew to his bokken. "Unhand her you fiend!" He demanded.

Ryouga looked up from where Akane slumped in his arms. His hair covered his eyes but his mouth was evident, showing little fangs sticking out.

"She’s already spoken for, Tatewaki." Ryouga commented as he lifted Akane into his arms.

Kuno’s eyes widen at those words. "Ludicrous!" he shouted. "Who would dare move upon Akane-san so soon after Saotome’s death?! No one but I would dare!" he called. Ryouga lifted his eyes and set them on Kuno. Slowly Kuno looked at Ryouga, comprehending. "You!? Inconceivable!" He drew his bokken. Ryouga turned to set Akane down gently. She whimpered and fell silent. Then Ryouga turned to Kuno, frowning.

Kuno looked Ryouga over, and almost snarled. "With Saotome out of the way, NOTHING will stand between Tendo Akane and I! NOTHING!" He swung his bokken down upon Ryouga.

Not evening thinking, Ryouga raised his arm to ward off the blow. He bokken smashed into him and Ryouga only grinned. With his other hand he grabbed the bokken and yanked it out of Kuno’s hand. He took the strong piece of wood and snapped it a like a twig over his knee. Kuno looked baffled down at his empty hands.

"How dare you defy Tatewaki Kuno! You shall pay you scum!" Kuno hollered. Ryouga smirked. He stepped around Kuno.

"You aren’t so strong without your stick." he muttered. Kuno’s eyes lighted up.

"You insult my hand-to-hand combat skills, Lost-boy?" he argued. "I accept your challenge!" Ryouga blinked. Kuno continued: "Who ever wins this match shall wed the worthy Tendo Akane! And if thou loses may they never be able to love Akane as a husband!" he shouted. Ryouga shrugged.

"Alright! This is for Akane, and Akane only!" Ryouga called. He dropped back, raising his arms in defense. "No weapons, only hand-to-hand!" he added. Kuno nodded.

"Prepare to die, Hibiki!" Kuno enraged, shouted. With out warning, he charged Ryouga, and surprised-slammed into the lost-boy, foot extended. Ryouga stumbled back, astonished. Kuno released a laugh.

Ryouga reached up to remove one of his bandanna’s but halted remembering no weapons. Kuno approached, holding his arms up. Ryouga studied him a moment.

Kuno swept down, and agilely knocked Ryouga off his feet. Ryouga hit the dirt hard and grunted. Quickly he scrambled back to his feet and charged Kuno. Ryouga punched but Kuno defiantly blocked. Ryouga came in with the other fist, and Kuno blocked that as well.

"Augh!" Ryouga cried. He lifted his leg and kicked Kuno in the gut. Kuno stumbled back and Ryouga advanced. Unexpectedly Kuno lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Ryouga’s waist. The impact was hard but Ryouga kept from being knocked over. He pried Kuno from around his waist, and while shoving him off with one hand, drove in a punch to the face with the other. Kuno winced and pulled away. He cursed Ryouga, and leapt into the air. Ryouga watched him. Kuno hissed between clenched teeth.

Kuno came hurling down, leg extended. Ryouga held up his hand to block the incoming blow. Impact came and both were knocked to the ground. Kuno muttered something and pulled his head out of the grass. Ryouga got to his hands and looked over at Kuno. He scrambled to his knees and ran toward him. Kuno recovered quickly, but not in time to avoid Ryouga’s next kick. Kuno went up and flew though the air, his face holding the imprint of Ryouga’s foot. Ryouga flicked his chin, but then frowned as he realized Kuno was gaining posture in mid-air. Now the obsessive teen was hurling back down to earth, projecting himself toward Ryouga. Ryouga grinned, stepping into a wide stance, put his hand on his hips and let Kuno ram into him.

Impact was more painful than expected and Ryouga took a few seconds to gasp for breath. Meanwhile, Kuno reached up and grabbed Ryouga by the throat. Ryouga gasped as he was lifted off the ground by Kuno. Choking Ryouga squirmed in his grasp. Kuno flicked his head, his hair swaying gently. "Do you admit defeat, unworthy one of Tendo Akane’s love?" he stated. Ryouga looked down at Kuno in disgust.

"You’re joking…right?!" Ryouga gasped. With that said, he used his free hand to grab Kuno’s shirt. Ryouga pulled and then kicked his feet forward. Getting perch on Kuno’s stomach he launched off. A rip insured Kuno in for a draft as Ryouga propelled though the air. Kuno’s hold on him was released.

Kuno looked down at his torn shirt. He looked back up at Ryouga, fire in his eyes. "Curse you!" he shouted. Ryouga grinned as Kuno raced towards him. Ryouga knelt down and thrust his finger into the ground.

"Bakusai Tenketsu!" He growled. Kuno ran forward, but was greeted with a rock in the face. More small sharp rocks pummeled Kuno. Ryouga dashed forward at Kuno’s shock. He delivered a kick to the head and then a ground sweep. Kuno fell to his back. Ryouga placed his foot on Kuno’s chest, panting heavily now. He looked down at Kuno.

"Its over." he stated. Kuno winced as a drip of blood oozed down his forehead, cut from the rocks. He nodded, but didn’t say anything. Without warning, Kuno grabbed Ryouga’s foot, yanked it off his chest, causing him to loose his balance. Ryouga made his fall count and landed a knee in Kuno’s gut. Tatewaki gasped and Ryouga grinned. Kuno reached forward to grab Ryouga, but Hibiki merely punched Kuno’s face in again. "It is OVER, Tatewaki." he snarled. Kuno didn’t move, nor speak. Ryouga, curiously looked down at him. Kuno was defiantly unconscious. Ryouga got off Kuno and brushed himself off. He rubbed his neck that was sore, and breathed strongly.

Angrily he kicked Kuno until he came to. "Get up, and get off the Tendo’s land." Ryouga demanded. Kuno got to his feet after a few minutes. He glared at Ryouga.

"This isn’t over, Hibiki!" he shouted as Ryouga escorted him to the gates leading out. " I WIIL have Tendo Akane!" Kuno babbled. Ryouga opened the gate, turned Kuno around and kicked him, literally, from the Tendo’s.

"Over my dead body!" he answered as Kuno flew high into Nermia sky.

Ryouga turned back around to where he had deposited Akane. She had sat up and was rubbing her head. Ryouga, noticing Akane’s revival, quickened his pace over to her. He kneeled down by her, concerned.

"Are you alright?" he softly questioned. Akane nodded her head, looking at Ryouga, who was still breathing rather harshly.

"I’m…fine." Akane answered. "Thanks for getting rid of Kuno-sempai for me." She grinned. Ryouga relished in her smile. Slowly Akane got to her feet and Ryouga followed in suit. She turned to go inside the house, and Ryouga followed like a lost puppy. Well, a lost boy anyhow.

They walked over to the dining room, and seated themselves around the table. Akane looked up at Ryouga, ready to ask him about Ranma. She hesitated, and Ryouga casts his eyes down, waiting for the question.

Akane began simply. "I want to thank you…a lot, for letting Ranma…use you." she stated. Ryouga studied the table, unable to accept her gratitude well at all. Akane continued. "I’m sorry if you felt used. Really sorry." Akane looked down at the table herself. "However, those few hours I had with Ranma were…the best thing you could have ever done for me." she stated. At that Ryouga looked up. "Ranma…confessed his love for me that night…" Akane added, lowering her voice. Ryouga swallowed hard. "He honestly loved me the entire time…" she spoke, shaking her head. "Why was I so blind? Why didn’t we realize it? Why couldn’t I love him when he was alive, here?" she sobbed, feeling fresh tears spring into her eyes. She angrily fought them down. "Now he is gone, and there is nothing I can do to bring him back." She continued. "Nothing." Akane shook her head. "But I’m not going to let it happened again." she whispered. "I won’t make the same mistake twice." She looked up, over at Ryouga. He met her gaze. "I want…to start over." she breathed. "To do it right from the beginning." Ryouga felt his cheeks flush, and his palms grow sweaty. "I want…to be loved by someone who will love me back." Akane said, looking into Ryouga’s eyes. Instinctively Ryouga began to lean towards Akane. She didn’t seem to notice.

Ryouga swallowed and matched her soft voice. "You only have to ask, Akane-san." he whispered, watching her eyes flicker.

"Oh, Ryouga-kun," Akane began. "it’s so, difficult." she breathed. Ryouga unconsciously leaned closer to Akane. She gazed back at him. "and…I don’t know who to ask…" Ryouga blinked at that.

She didn’t have him in mind? He sat back a little. He self-slapped himself. --Stupid!-- He thought. --It’s not like she thinks like me!-- Ryouga scolded himself. Akane still gazed at him. A thought occurred to him.

"I would be honored to date with…you, Akane-san." he muttered, stepping out on a limb. He heart fluttered in his chest. Akane smiled at him.

"That’s sweet, Ryouga-kun." she replied. Ryouga’s smile faltered. He took a very deep breath. Reaching down he took up Akane’s small hands in his.

"I meant that, Akane-san." Ryouga persisted. Akane blinked, registering what he was saying. She looked at her hands in his.

"Ryouga-kun?" she meekly managed. He nodded.

"If…you would have me." Ryouga stated, looking in Akane’s eyes. His knees felt weak, and were he not sitting, he would undoubtedly be about to fall. Already his heart was wild. His back was sweaty and he was light headed. Should Akane refuse him, he would be crushed, but should she accept him, the response would be…would be…

Ryouga swallowed. He couldn’t think clearly any longer. Here he was in Akane’s house, sitting at her table, holding her hands, asking her to date him. It was like proposing. She held his gaze a moment. Was it to savor her last moments as a single women, or to think of the words to reject him with? He held his breath.

"I…" she stumbled over her words. "I couldn’t refuse an offer as sincere as that." she finally came out. Ryouga took a sharp intake of breath, creating a high pitched ‘wheee’. He felt the world spinning, felt the earth rotating the sun, and felt the galaxy turning. It all seemed dwarfed by his overwhelming happiness. He wanted to stand up and shout; run and cry for joy. He wanted to draw Akane into his embrace, to press his lips against hers and kiss her with the passion of the cosmos. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and carry her upstairs. He wanted to…He paused.

"Oh dear! Ryouga-kun, you nose, its bleeding!" Akane cried startled. Ryouga blinked his eyes as Akane got to her feet.

"What?" Ryouga asked, his face flushing bright red. He wiped his nose with his sleeve.

"Oh, don’t! I’ll get you a towel!" She stated hurrying off. As soon as she was gone Ryouga sighed.

"Idiot!" he whispered. Then he hit his head on the table a few times. He pinched his nose to stop the bleeding. "She doesn’t think of you that way." he thought aloud. "Just take what you’ve got. Don’t push it." he added, cursing himself. Soon Akane arrived with a damp cloth. She handed it to Ryouga who cleaned himself up.

"I’m terribly sorry, Akane-san." he muttered, embarrassed. Akane only smiled.

"The weather is dry, so that’s bound to happen. Don’t worry about it…" she answered, and then hesitantly paused. Then she added. "…Ryo-chan."

Ryouga nearly choked. --Ryo-chan?-- His heart resumed beating ecstatically. She’d called him Ryo-chan! She’d never even called Ranma: Ran-chan! He blinked his eyes, smilingly brightly.

Things were changing. His life was complete. Nothing could make this day go bad. Nothing.

To Be Continued…

Send email to rjd2@earthlink.net if you like.