Fandom: Ranma 1/2
Author: zillah
Pairing: none . . . at least not yet.
Warnings: maybe angst, character manipulations.
C&C and/or MSTs: I'd love feedback. MST? I donno what that is.
Archive: Yes, please do!

General Disclaimer for Anime: I do not own [insert series here]. I simply enjoy the show. It is owned by [insert author and/or bigwig companies that have their claws in it]. I am not making a profit on it. I have no money, no job, and lemme clarify: I AM WITHOUT MONEY.

General Disclaimer for Song: I do not own the song [insert song name]. It is owned by [insert song owners] and it was sung by [insert group]. I love their music and felt like doing it. As I said with the anime, I am broke. I am making no money for it.

Decisions
By Zillah

~Take me away I know~
~I could use the rest~

Ranma screwed up again; rubbing a spot he knew would soon become a bruise, he cursed her, "Damn it, Akane. You wouldn't listen to me . . . you never do. I didn't mean to make you so angry. You didn't give me the chance to explain."

His thoughts were crowded with sorrow and anger. Sorrow because he hurt her again. Anger because she wouldn't listen. Ranma, though he tried, could never speak truly. Never could voice what he meant to say without her taking it as a taunt.

~I want to clear up this mess~

Akane, fuming from their last fight, sadly plopped herself on the bed. He'd done it again. This time, it wasn't about her cooking or her looks or about her part in everything. The joy that caused her to bounce all the way home was murdered once she came home. She met some friends at the movies and spent the past few hours laughing and giggling like she hadn't in ages. Since . . . Ranma appeared. She'd nudged that thought aside when she entered her home. No use in thinking that way when her mood, too giddy and carefree, would not allow it. Her joyous mood died when she walked past the guestroom.

A moan sounded from behind the door.

"Odd," thought Akane," Maybe Ranma is feeling ill . . ." Without knocking, she quietly opened the door, just in case he was ill. As soon as she opened the door, she regretted it. Ranma was lying on the floor-female form-with Kunou on top of him. Automatically disgusted, it took her no time to rush in and punt a clueless Kunou out through an exit hastily made by his exiting body. Akane then stomped to Ranma and smashed him several times with her mallet.

"Ranma," she growled, "how could you do this to me?" Ranma could only grimace and cry out his pain as he was hit relentlessly. Each smash left Ranma more dazed than the last, and more frightened. She had caught him, Akane smiled with angry satisfaction. Some 'man among men.'

~I need a few days with my good sense~
~I need a few good days~

A week crept by slowly; the increasing silence and tension between Akane and Ranma did not go unnoticed by their parents. Ranma frowned, deep in thought, "She wouldn't give me a chance to explain. Now she won't even talk to me. I can't tell her what really happened. How could she think I'd go an' do somethin' dumb like that. With Kunou of all people! Ryouga maybe . . . Mouse . . . possibly. She thinks I would sink that low with Kunou? How could she think that?"

He scowled. Though he should have been used to her ill-thought assumptions, he couldn't help but feel anger rise out of him every time he thought of her. This time, she went too far. Way too far. "That stupid, stupid girl! She thinks so little of me. Well, I don't think too highly of her either. She's always hittin' me and yellin' for no reason. I'm not like that! I'm not some horrible pervert!"

After breakfast, Ranma knew what to do--for now at least. A "training" mission was in order. The idea would please his father and get him away from Akane. Finding a place to hide and think would do him good. It's not as if Akane would miss him. She saved such feelings for her pet pig, P-chan.

~ * Where did you go? ~
~When you were falling from my tree~
~I was not scared~

Before anyone could talk him out of his excursion, he left. Ranma only packed the essentials. Anything that he may need later could be bought. Kasumi would also make sure he took enough with him to prevent him from being left without necessities. Be it food or clothing, she protected him just like a mother.

"Well," he thought, "I'm off. I wonder how long it will take Akane - wait it doesn't matter if it only takes her a couple minutes or weeks. It's her fault I'm doing this . . . She's so stubborn; not to mention thick-headed, stupid, and built like a brick." Ranma knew he was going to miss Akane.

~I thought you'd meet me back up there~
~It never dawned on me ~

"What do you mean he left," cried a surprised Akane. Her face filled with shock, even though she was supposed to hate him more than she ever had at this moment.

"Akane, you said so yourself that he has the ability to do what he wants. Just because you think that he should be around for more torture doesn't mean that he should stay. He is probably just going out to practice. Do you seriously think he was going to have sex with Kunou? That's a laugh. You're just being foolish and jealous," Nabiki, the second oldest daughter, chided her little sister. Did Akane think that she controlled Ranma's life? His fate? Nabiki shook her head, the youngest daughter glared at her sister.

"If she thinks that stare is going to make me nervous, she's wrong. I've dealt with worse looks over tabs people have neglected to pay. She's truly a novice in the game of being heartless and cold. She thinks she does what she does to Ranma because he is always at fault. Her emotions run too high," Nabiki's eyebrows furrowed together, "Still, she really does seem hurt once you get past her avoiding what happened," Nabiki smiled, "Maybe there's hope for her yet, though she could never make a decent black mail artist."

Akane walked to her room consumed in thought, "What if Ranma doesn't come back," she questioned, then replied, "Who cares if I see that jerk again? It's not as if I wanted to marry him in the first place. He's a jerk and couldn't less about how I feel!" She sighed. A tiny piece of her heart told her it was she who couldn't care less about how some one else felt. Never once did she consider Ranma. She only cared about her feelings and how things seemed to others when they were standing around. Usually, she was beating the life out of Ranma and no one dared to interfere. No one.

Exhausted, Akane laid down on her bed to take a nap. Actually, only intended to think the whole situation over. She didn't make it that far, however. She was far too tired to worry about anything. She hadn't slept well since the evening she'd seen Kunou on top of her intended.

~You were home free ~
~It never dawned on me ~

Reaching his hiding place, Ranma sighed. He forgot it was so far off. Ranma set his pack down and settled himself. The river by his camp quietly gurgled its way by the new neighbor.

"I'm so hungry," his stomach growled in agreement, "I guess I'll see what I can cook here." He opened his pack to find rice, ramen, and a few fruits.

Not a large selection, but enough to get by for a week or so.

Once Ranma decided on Ramen, he placed it in his pot with some water from the river. Next, he prepared the fire. Happy to finally begin cooking, he placed his pot over the fire.

Ryouga, angry and very lost, stumbled upon Ranma's camp. "That jerk! What's he doing here," he growled beneath his breath. Ranma looked up to see him and smiled. This caught the lost boy off guard.

"Hey Ryouga, whatcha doin' here?" His smile was nice and any thought of fighting was lost once Ranma smiled. Sometimes he wondered why he kept the feud going, but never abandoned the hope of retribution. It was all a façade anyhow.

"No, what are YOU doing here? Why aren't you back at the dojo? Did Akane and you get in another fight," Ryouga clenched his fists, "What did you do to her?" Ranma was more than a little tired with assumptions, but let Ryouga finish without kicking him off to parts unknown.

"Akane an' I had a misunderstanding. A very big one. She won't listen to me; so I'm taking a few days away from her." Ranma stared into the fire, anger filling him up at always being blamed without receiving the chance to explain. It was another thing thrown on his heap of blame. Ranma wondered why he constantly put up with it.

"Ranma," Ryouga began, his voice softened. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm just used to saying that whenever something happens between the two of you," this earned a startled glance from Ranma. "She does blame you a lot and I often take her side," Ranma mumbled something, "Alright, most of the time." This seemed to please Ranma a bit more.

"Ryouga . . . why are you telling me this?" Ranma truly didn't know what to think, and didn't want to jump to conclusions.

"Well, I was thinking about when we were kids. Before the constant fights and stuff. I miss being friends with you. You teased me a lot, but you did help me out a lot," Ryouga stopped. The look Ranma gave him, his eyes soft and surprised, confirmed that they'd both like to be friends again.

Ranma and Ryouga spent the whole evening talking and working out their differences. The past would always be there, but maybe they could learn from it.

~*Where did you go?~
~* Where did you go?~

A week passed, and no Ranma. Akane didn't know what to do. "What if he's left and I'll never see him again?" She nudged this thought away. Most of his stuff was still here. She'd now knew how angry she'd made him. She felt rather bad about it, but at the time, all she her anger rose at once. She couldn't control it. She felt bad, but she knew she didn't want to marry him, which made it harder on her. She grew used to beating him whenever he angered her. It was an attempt to keep from having to marry him. "Maybe I did my job too well," she truly didn't know what to think, "Afterall, he hasn't shown up and it's been seven days."

Her father and Mr. Saotome were playing their usual game of shogi. Neither of them knew what happened the other night; only that her temper flared dangerously that night almost two weeks ago. "Aren't they worried that Ranma won't come back? It would be my fault too. I don't want to marry him, but I didn't want to run him off either." Guilt slowly crept into her heart.

~you said that I could tie you down~
~Take me away I know ~
~I could use the rest~

As the time passed, Ranma and Ryouga slowly began to fix their fractured friendship. Neither noticed how much they'd missed the friendship until they started to rebuild it. Rebuilding friendship can be a slow process, and it seemed that they were willing to take that time.

"Ryouga, I really don't want to marry Akane. I don't think I could handle it. She's bad now, what if I actually do marry her," he asked, softly touching the fading bruise on his cheek, "It's gonna be pure hell."

"Have you told her this?" Ryouga's heart lightened, but he wasn't sure why. He just knew better things were on their way.

"Heh. No she'll kill me. I don't want that. An' if I did tell her, I'd have a lot more trouble with her father and mine. Besides, honor is stuck in here too." Ranma's unhappiness hung in the air; heavy like it feels few minutes before a heavy rainstorm. At this point, he was still stuck in a marriage that wouldn't have love.

"You have to do something about it," Ryouga looked at him with concern. There must be something that can be done. In time, everyone would see.

~The big day has come~
~the bell is sounding~
~i run my hands through my hair one last time~

Morning slowly crept on its dew-moistened wings and ended night. Out in the middle of nowhere, a young martial artist packed up his things.

"Ranma, what are you doing? It's so early," mumbled a tired boy climbing out of his tent. Surprised that Ranma had actually awakened so early.

"I have to go back. I gotta tell Akane. If I don't soon, I'll never do it," Ranma frowned, "Why does it have to be so hard?"

"You don't want to hurt her? Or, you may not be sure that you want to do this? It never hurts to reconsider," Ryoga responded, carefully eyeing Ranma's his face, taken away with its beauty.

"I don't know why, but it's almost as if I'm going to miss her kicking the crap out of me," Ranma's eyebrows furrowed, "I don't understand why I would though."

"Maybe you've grown used to it? I suppose that can happen, she sure beat you a great deal of the time." Ryoga stared at him, wanting to continue the conversation, but saw Ranma was far from a chatty mood. "If you'd like, I'll go back with you," a hopeful note shone through his voice, though Ranma didn't notice.

"If you want," I'm going to Ucchan's first. Get some breakfast. We ran out of the food I packed, and I don't really feel like trying to hunt for anything," Ranma was relieved his journey back wouldn't be a lonely one.

~outside the prison walls~
~the town is gathering~
~people are trading crime for crime~

"Ranma," Ukyo exclaimed, "Where have you been? You had me worried." She abandoned the Okonomiyaki that lay cooking on her griddle and ran to him.

Her excitement made her a bit too enthusiastic, for when she wrapped her arms around Ranma, she almost elbowed an unsuspecting Ryoga. "Ow," he cried, "watch it!"

"Sorry Ryoga," she replied, her lack of concern showed.

"Ucchan, that what's wrong with you," Ranma cried angrily, "You don't act like this." Though he tried to break her grip from around his neck, he could not manage to free himself. Slowly growing angry at her callous treatment of his friend.

"What do you mean," her flower-filled tone further fueled his anger, "I don't know where this is coming from. Besides, you have some explaining to do, where have you been for the past two weeks? You owe me an answer."

Throwing her arms off him, he growled, "I don't owe you nothin', got that? You're my friend, that's all! We aren't EVER going to be married, why don't you ever see that," Ukyo's retort died on her lips. She'd never seen him so angry! Why?

"Come on Ryoga, let's get outta here. I-We don't need this." Ranma made his way out the door with a startled boy following him.

~everyone needs to see the prisoner~
~they need to make it even easier~
~they see me as a symbol, and not a human being~
~that way they can kill me~
~say it's not murder, it's a metaphor~
~we are killing off our own failure~
~and starting clean~

Standing at the gates of the Tendo Dojo, Ranma felt the sudden urge to run. The air held a sickening pressure. "Oh man," he thought, "Maybe I should just forget this. I'm a man, but I sure as hell don't wanna die." Ryoga placed a reassuring hand on his arm. Needing no further encouragement, Ranma entered the gates to the house he'd dreaded returning to.

"Where the hell have you been boy," growled Genma, "And what has been going on with you and Akane? Do you think I'm stupid boy," his tone filled Ranma with a fear he'd never felt with his father.

"What do you care," Ranma challenged, "All you want is a free ride, and I'm tired of being the carriage!" His eyes flashed with anger and the same stubborn will his father had.

Soun, being less violent and wanted to spare his house more damage bills, intervened. "Genma, Ranma, come now; calm down," his voice shook with uncertainty, "Let's sit down and talk this out civilly."

"Mr. Tendo, what do you think I was going to do? I sure wasn't going to crawl under a rock or sneak in to get my clothes and go," Ranma caused a shiver to travel through Soun. He could only hope to alleviate some of the tension, or allow something far worse to happen.

"NO son of MINE would put Akane through such torture; not knowing where her husband-to-be was for days on end. When he does show up, like a coward, he brings a friend." Genma glared at Ryoga, who shrank back.

"All you are is a freeloader and a jerk! You used me to get a free meal more times than I can even begin to count. You've got Ukyo trying to marry me, when you took me to China, I got stuck with Shampoo, and I had Akane I was supposed marry before I had the others! You didn't care what happened to me as long as you got stuff for free. What have you done the whole time we've been here? I can sum it up for you: sleep, eat, sleep, eat, bitch at me, sleep, eat, eat, and eat! Let's not forget shogi either," Ranma was beyond angry with his father, who paled when he learned his son saw him as such a slothful creature. True, he opportunistically used his son to get a meal when he needed it, but was it truly that hard on him?

Ranma stood his ground, Genma faltered. Perhaps he saw his wrongdoings over the course of his son's life and how he degraded him. Ranma took his speechlessness as a good thing and sped past him to find Akane.

Once he bounded up the steps, he calmed himself and walked to Akane's room. Knocking on the door, he waited anxiously for her to answer her door. When she didn't answer, he quietly peeked inside her room to see if she was there. She looked up at him from her bed.

~standing in the gallows~
~everyone turned my way~
~i hear a voice ask me~
~if I've got any last words to say~
~and i'm looking out over the field of familiar eyes~
~somewhere in a woman's arms a baby cries~

"Akane," Ranma found himself unable to finish his sentence when he realized her face, tear stained and flushed, looked up at him.

"I heard," she looked away and tried to dry a tear, but another fell in its place. Her eyes were bloodshot and her hair was wet with wandering tears. "You don't want to marry me. I don't want to marry you either, but the way you said it," she trailed off. She looked up at him again, "Am I really that horrible? Do you hate me that much? I know we'd never been happy, but I never expected that you hated me this much." Tears choked her, and Ranma felt horrible for causing this mess.

"I left because I needed time to think an' I wanted to try to rebuild the friendship I had with Ryoga. I missed being able to talk to him without it being right before a fight or something. I like you Akane, just not as some one I want to marry. I think you need some one you judge a better person than me. I just wish that you would've listened to my side of the story and given me a fair judgment this time. I wish you would have many times before an' after, too." He sat down on the bed with her.

"I'm listening now, will you explain?" Her voice, still hoarse from crying, convinced him of her sincerity. He took her hand and held it, hoping it would reassure her. She reached for another tissue.

"Well here goes," Ranma sighed, trying to begin, "You know how I went to bed early, right? Well, I forgot to shut the window and -this part right here is speculation-some one tipped Kuno off about his 'pig-tailed goddess' being in the Tendo Dojo. I guess he climbed in the open window cuz when I woke up he was on top of me asking where the 'cur Saotome' was. He was heavy! I had trouble breathing and tried to tell him to get off of me, but I couldn't get a word out. That's when you came in an' beat me again. The only good thing about the situation was that you go Kuno off of me."

~i think guilt and innocence ~
~they are a matter of degree~
~what might be justice to you ~
~might not be justice to me~
~i went to far, i'm sorry~
~i guess now i'm going home~

"Ranma," Ryoga questioned softly, "how did it go?" Ranma looked up at him with sad eyes. He'd told Akane, and it obviously drained him. "I knew this would happen," he thought, "concerned".

"She knows I only wanna be her friend, and she knows what happened the other night to cause our last fight. I'm gonna get my stuff an' go. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm gonna miss being here." Ranma's voice faded the more he talked, as if trying to prevent himself from crying.

"Do you have a place to stay," inquired Ryoga. At first he thought Ranma hadn't heard him, but when he shook his head, Ryoga knew he was out on the street. "How about we try and find your mom?" A glimmer of fear shone in Ranma's eyes for a second, then he shrugged.

"I've messed my life up so much in the past few weeks, why not add seppuku?" Ryoga couldn't believe the words coming from an extremely morose Ranma.

"Are you sure you've done the right thing? I mean, it's not too late," Ryoga's words died on his lips as Ranma left to gather his things. Ryoga silently followed him in case he needed help. "Well, now you can live your life the way you want to..."

Together, they picked up Ranma's mat with clothes bundled up inside it. As they left the Dojo, Soun's intense sobs could be heard along with choruses of, "How could you hurt my little girl! Why?" screamed as loud as possible. Ranma and Ryoga never looked back.

~so let any amongst you cast the first stone~
~now we've got all these complicated machines~
~so no one person ever has to have blood on their hands~
~we've got complex organizations~
~and if everyone just does their job~
~no one person has to understand~

"Ranma," Nodoka exclaimed as she ran and grabbed Ryoga into a long hug, "I never thought I'd see you again because of your stupid father."

"Mrs. Saotome," Ryoga wheezed, "Ranma's over there." He tried to point to the real Ranma, but his arms were pinned to his sides.

Blushing slightly, Nodoka apologized and went to her real son. "Oh Ranma, you've grown so much, I can't believe it's been so long. You were just four when I last saw you. All I've had were the few pictures of when you were younger; your father quit sending pictures after you turned ten. I could kill him for doing that.

"Mom, I broke up with Akane. I broke up with everyone of them," her face warmed even more, "I understand, I warned your father not to do that. I've heard about some of the things he's done to you. I'm glad you got away from him." Ranma sighed; any possible threat seemed to have been non-existent.

"I'm surprised you aren't angry. Why," Ranma questioned, confused.

"Honey, I was ready to murder your idiot father when I found out about that, and I know about your curse," her eyes softened, "Do you want to know why your father has been unable to come back?" Ranma nodded, he wanted to know why he couldn't be with his mother until now. "I told him he was never to set foot of this property ever again. I wanted you back, but he wouldn't allow it. I just had to wait until you came to me. I'm so glad you did. I missed having you around. I love you; no matter how you are. You're my son." She then smiled and added, "My daughter too, until you get rid of your curse."

"Mom," Ranma said, "This is Ryoga, remember him?" He then turned to Ryoga, "I'd like you to meet my mom" His pride for his mother caused him to smile.

Ryoga smiled, "Please to meet you," he bowed in respect, "Ranma's told me a lot about you over the past few days. He's missed you so much."

"It's nice to meet you, too." Her smile radiated a calm happiness, "You're welcome to stay here too. I have more than enough room in my house."

~you might be the wrong color~
~you might be too poor~
~justice isn't something just anyone can afford~
~you might not pull the trigger~
~you might be out in the car~
~and you might get a lethal injection~
~'cause we take a metaphor that far~

"Do you think I was wrong for doing any of this," Ranma questioned, looking at Ryoga.

"No, I think you did the right thing, and I'm glad I could help you; even if I had little to do with any of it." Ryoga looked up at him and smiled. "If it makes you happy, then, for the most part, it should be a pretty good thing to do."

"I'm glad you think so. I really do. I don't think I could have done this by myself. Hell, it was hard enough to do with you there," Ranma sighed contently laid his head on Ryoga's shoulder.

Ryoga smiled as they watched the sun set. The colors of pink, orange, yellow, purple and blue were mixed around, almost as if a person had fingerpainted it. He heard Ranma sigh, and knew he trusted Ryoga with some of the more pressing issues of Ranma's life.

From inside, Nodoka watched her son and his friend. Smiling, she bustled off to make dinner for her son and the eternally lost boy. It seemed like old times, before that ass took away her baby. She promised herself it would never happen again.

~the big day has come~
~the bell is sounding~
~i run my hands through my hair one last time~
~outside the prison walls~
~the town has gathered~
~people are trading crime for crime~
~people are trading crime for crime~
~people are still trading crime for crime~

"You'd better find some one for my little girl, Genma or you'll reget it." Soun was fuming and this frightened his friend.

"Yes, yes, I will! We can follow her to school when school starts up and figure out who she would be best matched with." Genma bowed his head, hoping he'd answered correctly.
"Ah, that's a good idea Saotome. It had better work. Until then, you will begin working to help pay bills around here. You stayed here for free because your son was going to marry Akane. Since he isn't anymore," Soun glared, "You will pick up your own list of duties. I'll have Kasumi take over from there. Is that understood?"

Bowing, Genma replied, "Yes, quite understood Tendo. I hate to see you so upset." He almost said more, but thought against it. "Ranma, you'll pay for this," Genma thought as he stumbled off to find Kasumi.

Morning is almost here - let it wait
I just want to lie here awhile, tempting fate
I don't think I could breathe now with you gone
But it's not weakness it's just something I've begun

The sun slowly rose, bringing with it bird chirps and children's laughter. Akane didn't want to hear it; she just wanted to lie in bed. The past few weeks troubled her so much. She thought her iinazuke was cheating on her with a guy, then found out they were no longer engaged. He broke off the engagement. "I know that's what I wanted too, but why does this hurt so bad? Why does my heart hurt? Why does it feel so bad," she questioned herself. She didn't know the answer, and she didn't expect one.

Kasumi stayed with her most of that night, frightened Akane would go mad with sorrow. She smiled, "Kasumi worries too much. Sure I'm sad, but he's not so important that I should cry and grieve and never recover. He was important to me, but not in the way everyone thought he was."

Maybe there's a light that's always on
Maybe we're not only human, maybe
Maybe there's a light that's always on
And we're not only human

Akane stared at her ceiling. As her eyes unfocused, it gave way to creatures on popcorn-paint surface. She saw something she really didn't want to: Ranma. It was a simple outline, but far from what she wanted to see. She looked away from the ceiling. "Why do I keep thinking about him," she asked aloud.

"Maybe because you really cared for him," Nabiki leaned calmly on the door facing. Her eyebrows bunched and her face showed nothing but concern.

"I don't think it could be that-I really didn't want to marry him."

"Maybe you care for him. I didn't mean you wanted to marry him and carry on the dojo with him. You shouldn't beat yourself up about all of this. I knew this was going to happen, and you probably did too. Daddy was just too blind to see it and Mr. Saotome was too busy trying to get free lodging and all the free food he could eat."

Akane nodded, not really sure of everything said. "Dad and Mr. Saotome aren't going to try anything about Ranma, are they?"

Nabiki sighed, "Normally I charge, but for you," her expression softened to a look not unlike love, "Yes. They are going to try something."

"What," Akane started, "Why?"

"Well, think about it. The marriage engagement is off, Ranma ran off, Genma is in a lot of trouble with Daddy, and to top it off, he's sure Ranma hurt you." Nabiki wasn't one to joke in business or family matters. Akane knew this was serious.

"What should I do Nabiki?" Akane feared for Ranma's safety. When Soun and Genma were angry, a plan devised by them could possibly work.

"I'd warn him, and his mother. Speaking of whom, he is with now. She called last night and asked for you, but you didn't want to take any calls. We are now the only ones who know this. Hope it stays that way." Nabiki's tone left no room for argument.

"I guess I should go talk to him." Nabiki nodded and left. She knew that the youngest daughter wanted to be alone.

When you're sleeping your ceramic
You're surrounded by little stars
Every shimmer is a searchlight
Every planet is ours

The street lamps slowly clicked off one by one, confirming the coming day. Soon Akane would have to make an appearance for her family. Her plastered on smile would convince them of her happiness of freedom. Now, she planned on asking a guy out. They'd hardly believe her, but it did stand true. She wondered if they would mock her for her choice.

There was only one way to find out.

Change the street change the decade
Still the longing's left inside
But why am I too small to carry you?
Why does twilight make me cry?

After breakfast, Akane looked up Nodoka's address. Relieved to find the house in walking distance. "That's only a few streets from our school," Akane smiled, "I can walk there easily." She ripped the page holding the address out of the phone directory. She hoped no one would notice.

Maybe there's a light that's always on
Maybe we're not only human, maybe
Maybe there's a light that's always on
And we're not only human

Akane walked to the school. School didn't start for two more months, so people who knew this seemed to ponder her appearance near the school. She passed up Tofu's clinic; it was obvious she wasn't going there.

Noticing the stares, Akane cut through some bushes and ran through a neatly kept lawn. "Why can't they mind their own business," she growled under her breath, "It's none of their business where I go and I'd appreciate it if they'd leave me the hell alone!"

Five minutes later, she reached the house she'd set out for. With shaking hands, Akane rapped on the door five times. Her nerve started to disintegrate and she seriously considered backing away; she couldn't though. It was so tempting, however.

Nodoka answered the door and Akane stammered an apology at disturbing the house so early to which the older woman smiled and told her not to worry. "Mrs. Saotome, could I please speak with Ranma? It's important." Akane's tone alerted her to the possibility of Ranma being in danger.

"Why of course you can. I need to dress, but his room is the last door on the right.

When all is said and done
When all the weight is gone
When all is said and done
When all the weight is gone
We're not only human

Walking to the room, she carefully knocked on the door. She heard stirring, but little else. Taking a deep breath, she entered the room.

All the air in her lungs exited as if she received a gut punch. Ranma and Ryoga, in bed, together. "Ranma," she trailed off, "Ranma, we need to talk." He awoke with a start. Freaking out, he grabbed for his pants and pulled them on; next came his shirt.

"Oh, Akane," Ranma blurted, "I didn't know you knew I-we were here." His face turned redder than any rose. She smiled at his bashful antics.

"It's okay Ranma," she walked up to him, "I hope you two are happy. If he makes you happy, I can only be happy for you." She envied him. She was alone while he had Ryoga.

"Can we go to another room? We need to find your mother; she needs to hear what I've come to tell you as well." An expression described as concern mingled with fear crossed his face.

"What's wrong," he chewed his bottom lip nervously, "I don't think you'd just decide to take a walk over here." She motioned for him to follow her. He turned to look back at Ryoga and noticed he didn't have much covering to keep him warm in the morning chill. He turned and covered the sleeping boy with the covers and smiled warmly when the boy whispered the other boy's name.

Life is something set to music
I can hear it when I'm sad
There's a chord in every muscle
Every kiss you ever had
There's a power when you're near me
In our heads or in our bones
I know nothing but I'm guessing
When we die we're not alone

"Mrs. Saotome, could you please come to the kitchen? I have something that needs to be told to you and Ranma both." They heard the older woman call out to them. Unsure of what she said, they waited.

A minute later she appeared fully dressed before them. "What's wrong dear Akane?"

"Ranma could be in danger," Nodoka and Ranma's eyes widened in surprise, "Dad and Mr. Saotome are really mad about him breaking off the engagement. While I'm not really sad about it-I knew it wouldn't work out-but they are convinced that Ranma should be punished."

"Why," Ranma cried indignantly, "Because we didn't want to get married and I actually broke it off? I can't believe this," shivers consumed him. He knew how cruel his father could be.

Maybe there's a light that's always on
Maybe we're not only human, maybe
Maybe there's a light that's always on
And we're not only human

Ryoga woke and dressed quickly. Ranma's trembling voice carried too easily in the old house. Something was wrong and Ranma needed him.

He rushed to Ranma's side and took him in his arms from behind. He didn't care if his mother saw them-or Akane for that matter. "What's wrong Ranma," worry laced his voice and deepened as he felt Ranma's shivers.

"Pop . . . Mr. Tendo . . . oh no," he groaned. He looked to Ranma's mother for an explanation.

"Ranma is possibly in a lot of trouble," anger boiled from her words and threatened to burn if opposition was raised against her. Ryoga gulped and held the boy even tighter.

"W-w-why," the lost boy stammered, "What is he in trouble for?" Nodoka softly caressed one of his cheeks and smiled learning this boy helped Ranma find the strength to start his own life. She also knew they were in love. Though she hoped Ranma would find a nice girl, she was happy to know this boy loved him more than any girl could.

"Soun and Genma are angry with Ranma's decision to be on his own and form his own life," she noticed the fear filling his face, "Don't worry young man, I will protect you and Ranma. I had hoped he'd find a nice girl and settle down, but if he cares about you so much, you must be something special." She saw Ryoga blush and she smiled.

When all is said and done
When all the weight is gone
When all is said and done
When all the weight is gone
We're not only human
Not only human
Not only human
Not only human
Not only, yeah, human.
No, human, human.
Human

Together, they decided the course of action. Genma and Soun would not hurt anyone. If they tried, Nodoka vowed she would spill their blood. She would protect her son and his love, as well as his dear friend.

If only tonight we could sleep
In a bed made of flowers
If only tonight we could fall
In a deathless spell

Night came as inevitable as death. Ranma and Ryouga retired to their room, but sleep remained out of grasp. Their thoughts wound toward their immediate problem: Genma and Soun wanted to kill them. Why would they want to do that? Why couldn't they accept Ranma and Ryoga's love even though it was yaoi?

"Ranma," the other boy spoke, "What are we going to do? I've caused more trouble for you than you would have had on your own. I hate myself for that. I didn't realize loving you was so wrong." The boy's face shimmered with the silent tears streaming down his honey skin. The sight made Ranma hate himself.

"Listen to me dear one," he began, "This is not in any way your fault. It's mine because I didn't want to go through with the life they planned out for me. You are not to blame, AT ALL. I thank you for being around when I needed you most. If it weren't for you, I'd still be locked in their plans. They only cared for their ultimate gain. Not about my feelings or what happened to me."

If only tonight we could slide
Into deep black water
And breathe
And breathe...

After quietly crying himself Ryoga slipped into a troubled sleep. Ranma couldn't sleep. He kept thinking of what his and Akane's father devised for revenge. Nodoka's plans to save their lives and love may work, but he couldn't imagine doing this to his father, no matter what he's done. He deserves to be punished, but in such an extreme way? He already has no wife, life, home, job, or purpose in life; did the next step truly have to follow?

"Yes," Ranma thought logically, "How far things deviate will depend on what they do. Let them act, then we'll react."

Ranma stared at the jewel in his arms. The boy who appeared unattainable, the boy that fueled his dreams, the boy whose passion filled him with the innate need to be near him. To be loved by him.

Then an angel would come
With burning eyes like stars
And bury us deep
In his velvet arms

Oh, how he wished Ryoga could be spared the pain of all that resulted from his freedom. Ryoga never caused any of this. "How could he believe that this was his fault," Ranma questioned himself, "He has nothing to do with this. It's between my father and me. He needs to be taught a lesson."

Ryoga moved and pulled his lover closer. Ranma decided he needed to sleep if he needed his strenghth to fulfill all that would be asked of him. Soon, his mind fogged with sleep and he succumbed to the rest it brought, however, little peace could be found in his dreams.

And the rain would cry
As our faces slipped away
And the rain would cry

In the morning, Ranma woke to a dismal and rainy day. Staying in bed seemed to be slowly winning out against exacting a final break in his plans for life and his father's. He hoped Ryoga would stay out of the way so he wouldn't get hurt. People were going to be hurt and nothing could be done to avoid it.

No matter the outcome, his freedom would be the result, Ryoga would be unharmed, and Akane and his mother would be safe.

Don't let it end...

I would tell you about the things
They put me through
The pain I've been subjected to
But the Lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush

Morning snuck up on them. Ranma dread the thought of what he had to do today. Genma deserved every bit of it; he'd gone through countless iinazuke through his life. Why? Because his father, the oaf, always used him to get food or anything else he needed at the time. Those innazuke didn't even count the three that surrounded him here: Ukyo, Shampoo, and Akane.

He groaned at the thought of them. "If they'd have listened, they would have known I didn't want any of them. I didn't want a single one of those girls and they just wouldn't listen," Ranma sighed, "The one I care about now sleeps in my arms at night and loves me. He loves me more than them."

He thought of the last time he saw Shampoo. He walked down the street with Ryoga, they argued softly about something when the stupid amazon ran him down with her bike. Tired of her antics, he threw the bike off himself and yelled at her. He'd told her everything that he hated about her. He only stopped when he saw the tears in her eyes and heard her soft question about him loving her. When he told her he didn't, she ran off, heart broken.

He saw Akane yesterday; she changed so much from the girl who constantly beat him into the ground with mallets that seemed to show up out of nowhere. When he still thought he had to marry her, he couldn't stand being around her. Everything he said or did ended up being misinterpreted or she overreacted about the tiniest things. He often lost his temper and told her mean things, but she'd done the same.

Ukyo, he couldn't care less if he ever would see her again. After the way she treated Ryoga that day they showed up to have lunch. Did she really think he ventured out of his hiding place just to see her? He shook his head, "She was a really good friend, but I don't want anything to do with some one who would willingly hurt another person because some one they 'love' is around." If he'd wanted sex, she probably have given herself to him right there; in front of all the customers and she wouldn't have hesitated. She needed to find some one for her self.

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

"Oh, Pop," he sighed to himself, "Why can't you leave me and Ryoga alone?" He gathered some clean clothes and headed off to take a bath. "You won't even allow yourself to see that Akane isn't going to be happy with me and I wouldn't be happy with her. I don't wanna get married to nobody, if it isn't Ryoga. He is the one I love."

A gentle knock sounded from the door. "Ranma," asked his worried mother, "is everything okay?" A smile crept over his face, even when he was little she could do the same thing. His emotions weren't secret to her. The water around him changed his skin and made him paler. He looked at his body underwater as opposed to his body above the water. Ranma felt the same way: he wished to stay calm, but his father must be taught he wasn't just a toy, or a monetary unit. He was a boy.

"Not really," Ranma sighed, "Ryoga thinks all of this is his fault. He cried himself to sleep last night. I felt so sorry for him. He couldn't understand that this had to be dealt with." His face scrunched up as he felt himself on the brink of tears.

"Honey," she sighed, "He loves you and he feels bad that he's helped cause all of this. He didn't cause it, you didn't. It happened, and it's what's for the best. Understand that even if your idiot of a father can't. For years he's taught you to fear me. Akane told me everything, even though she knew she shouldn't have. I'm glad she did. I only want to help you be happy. As I said, I hoped you'd marry and have children, but I want you to be happy. That's what matters."

He smiled, "Thanks mom, I'll be out in a minute. Then I think we need to drill this into Ryoga's head." He heard her laugh softly.

"He will believe what he wants to dear," said the fading voice from behind the door. Ranma guessed she left to make breakfast. Her food tasted much better than Kasumi's and he couldn't even understand how it was possible. Kasumi spent all her time cooking while his mom did more than just cook. For the past twelve years, she only created meals for herself, unlike the younger girl.

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes

Genma didn't know what it was like to live with the problems Ranma endured. How would he be able to put up with turning into a girl everytime he stepped into cold water? "He would probably spend all day fondling himself," Ranma muttered bitterly, "He is every bit perverted as Happosai. He just won't admit it."

Ranma dressed, deep in thought; inwardly he worried about how well his mother was truly taking this. She married some one her father had chosen for her. Why else would she be only thirty-two and Genma fifty? Maybe if they were truly compatable they would have married, but Genma and Nodoka obviously had little in common. Nodoka spent sixteen years in a marriage she didn't want; Ranma knew that, and he constantly thanked whoever it was that kept her loving the boy she brought into this world.

Morality would frown upon
Decency looked down upon
The scapegoat fate's made of me
But I promise you, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn't have been purer
My case is easy to see

After breakfast, Nodoka, Ranma, and Ryoga walked to the Tendo dojo. Ranma held tightly to Ryoga's hand for fear of him becoming lost. Ryoga trembled slightly in fear of what could possibly happen. He didn't want to lose Ranma, and he didn't want the boy hurt.

Ryoga understood how it felt to be the blame for everything that happened; he ended up always being the scapegoat with his family. When Ryoga was young, he was the only one of them who wouldn't meander off. When his family was there, he couldn't handle the constant chastizing, so he developed the poor sense of direction. Now he belonged somewhere, he felt now was the time to drop the act.

Ryoga could walk to the Tendo dojo with his eyes closed. Maybe someday soon he'd tell Ranma this. Not now though, he loved the warmth of Ranma's hand on his and the security he brought.

I'm not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I've been through
And before we talk of repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Five minutes later, the trio reached the dojo. Nodoka walked in front of the two boys and pounded on the door. The door hesitantly opened showing a nervous Nabiki behind it.

"We've come to talk to Genma and your father, where are they? It is important." Nodoka smiled sadly at the girl who opened the door.

"They're out back, follow me," Nabiki turned and led them to the backyard where the two oafs sat staring out at the sky. Genma turned his head to meet the people who showed up behind the middle daughter.

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

"What the hell are you doing here," Genma sneered to his wife, "Ranma is the one I want back here. Not you." His wife straightened her stance and looked him straight in his eyes.

"Listen to me, and I do mean listen," Nodoka's voice steeled and her eyes burned with hatred, "MY son is to be left alone or I'll drive this damn katana through your gut, and the same will go for you Tendo. You are to also leave Ryoga or anyone Ranma should ever become involved with. If you don't, I'll kill you both and I won't have trouble with you anymore."

"You think I should listen to a pathetic little woman like you," Genma scoffed.

"You'll listen to me if you want to live. I waited patiently for years to see my son again and you should be happy he's found some way to be happy. You and I were never happy. You treated me like a servant. I tried to love you, though it was impossible, I endured your presence. Ranma's birth was the only good thing to come out of the damn marriage." When Genma slapped her, Ranma yelled and pounced on him.

Ranma landed on Genma's head, feet first. "If you ever," He grabbed Genma's arm when he tried to punch Ranma, "touch my mother" He braced his left leg on Genma's left elbow and pushed and pulled ferociously, "I'LL" the snap of the bone was audible. Ranma threw a flurry of punches at the kneeling Genma. Ranma waited until his screaming had stopped. "I'll kill you, old man, before she even gets the chance"

"Ah, my boy. I should've seen that you'd end up a mama's boy no matter how hard I try. You always were a little fag." Genma had to gasp for air to breathe out the derogatory words. Ranma's eyes flared open and he clenched his arms in complete rage.

Letting out a primal scream, Ranma jumped at Genma and began to indiscriminately pound whatever offensive bodypart was in his way.

"Ranma," Akane cried, "What are you doing?" She frantically tried to pull the fierce young man from the bloodied man beneath him. Ryoga ran to help, and picked the boy up with little effort. Soun started crying hysterically as per usual and Nodoka looked shocked. She'd never seen Ranma this angry, ever. She mutely watched as Ryoga pulled the flailing boy into his arms and forced him to calm down.

"Ranma," the lost boy caressed his cheek, "Everything's okay. Shhhhhh." The boy began to sob, years of frustration poured from him. He cried for all the times he left the people he cared, for all the wrongs his father commited against him, all the torture in the name of 'martial arts.' Ryoga held him.

Kasumi, after noticing the problem outside, called an ambulance and the police. Whatever happened, she knew Genma was to blame.

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Genma, though terribly beaten and damaged, was charged with attempted murder as well as with assault. Charges were dropped against Ranma due to the fact he acted in defense of his mother (who feigned weakness quite well). Soun feared the possibility of his arrest, so he told the police everything they wanted to know.

After Genma healed enough to be discharged from the hospital, the justice system would embrace him and give him his just due. Nodoka hoped he die from the internal bleeding set off by Ranma's fierce attack.

Exactly whom did Genma plan to murder? He planned to kill Ranma, his own son.

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes

For weeks Ranma hid himself away from everyone. Well, everyone except Ryoga. Ranma scarcely talked to him though, and when he did, the boy often began to cry.

Nodoka constantly worried about her boy, if she'd known about the plans, he wouldn't have been included. Ranma would would have stayed home and been none the wiser. Oh how she longed for that instead of his constant pain.

Now I'm not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

"Oh, my darling boy, I wish I could make you feel better, but you'll have to do that one on your own," she thought as she gazed at his sleeping body. He looked so angelic when he slept that his mother would feel the urge to caress his cheek to see if he really existed. "Oh, I wish there were something I could do darling."

Ryoga crept inside the room and noticed the young mother. "Hi," she turned her head and smiled. Her face appeared tear stained. Ryoga walked over to her and hugged her, "Are you okay? You look like you've been crying."

She smiled at him softly and said, "I'm okay dear. I was just thinking about how I wish I could make him feel better. I wish I could erase all the pain he's been through. Let him start over with a fresh, clean slate." Nodoka's bottom lip quivered. Ryoga held her tighter as tears traced the delicate lines of her face once again.

You'll stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes

Akane sat in her room, unsure of how to take everything that happened. She stared at the papers on her desk. She smiled when she saw Ranma's sloppy scrawl on one of her notebook pages. "Jerk," she smiled half-heartedly before her lips formed a pout and her eyes moistened her face.

"I can't believe they'd want to hurt you. I can't believe they'd wanted to try. They couldn't beat you and they should have known that. Oh, Ranma, please get better. Be the boy you used to be."

"Ranma's not out of bed yet?" Nodoka asked the lost boy, quite frightened.

Ryoga shook his head, "No, he won't even talk to me," his gaze fixed on the floor, "I just don't get it. He's been like this for three days."

Nodoka frowned even more. If Ryoga couldn't coax him into speaking, who could? Who? "I don't like the way he hasn't been eating, eating, or getting out of bed. I think it's time to call a doctor, or something. I just don't know what to do anymore." She sighed. Her eyebrows scrunched together in fear and anger. Fear that her son could let himself die, and anger toward because she felt helpless to help him.

"I have no one. I'm all by myself." Ranma thought morosely, "Mom and Ryoga don't care about me any more than Pop. I don't know what's going on anymore and I don't like having no control. I always had control. Not anymore I guess. I want that power back. I liked knowing what was going to happen in my life. I liked being able to decide what was going to happen. I feel so fucking alone."

Ranma stared at a tiny water stain by the window and remembered the day it happened.

Ranma was three years old and jumping on the bed. A summer thunderstorms built for hours before finally letting itself loose to terrorize a bustling little town called Nerima.

Thunder cracked and forced a small Ranma to the floor, whining slightly before thinking, "I'm a big boy, big boys don't cry! What would mommy and daddy think if they see me, a martial artist; crying like a baby. I am five years old now."

Lighting lit his room effortlessly and caused him to crawl closer to the bed's underside. He whimpered, even five year olds can be frightened and was he ever! He carefully reached onto the bed and blindly searched for his toy samurai.

Suddenly, splash! Water plopped onto Ranma's hand-startling the poor boy-and caused him to cry out for his mother! "Mom," shrieked the boy, "Mom, something broke into my room is dripping on me! There's a monster on my bed ready to eat me!"

His mother, still in her nightclothes ran to scoop him up, "What's wrong sweetie? Are you okay?" The little boy looked at his mom.

He nodded and said, "Yep! I thought I was gonna have to beat that yucky monster up all by myself! I am five, ya know, but sometimes it's nice to have help from you. You're really neat for a girl. You can do so many neat things with a sword," he made sweeping motions with an imaginary sword in his hands, almost hitting his mom-accidentally of course.

She smiled and replied, "Thank you! It's nice to know that my son things I'm really neat for a girl." She smiled again, "Would you like some lunch? I've made ramen with beef chunks in it just the way you like it."

"That's great mom! You're wonderful! Thanks!" Ranma hugged his mother for her kindness. "I don't wanna ever be far away from you, don't let daddy do that, okay?" He knew a training trip would be coming soon and was afraid he wouldn't be able to see his mother again.

Ranma stared at the water stain again. He smiled slightly, "Maybe there is one person who cares about me," he pulled his hair out of the braid and pulled the brush from his bag and began to detangle his hair. He then thought of how much Ryoga cared about him. How much love he felt for Ryoga and knew that he was wrong to count him out when he was so plainly loved by the lost boy. He smiled again thinking of their first night together. The night he told Ryoga how he felt. He knew there were at least two people on his side.

Ranma walked to the door and decided it was time to make his appearance. "I bet they're worried about me," he chuckled softly. "They make such a fuss." He walked out the door to greet a new day.

Ranma padded to the bathroom from his old room, sneaking up on Ryoga. When he entered the small room, he snuck up slowly behind the other boy and nibbled his neck. "Mmmm. Ranma, you really should behave. What if your mother were to show up? Huh?" Ranma mumbled something into the lost boy's neck about not caring and continued to nip him. Ryoga moaned.

"Ranma," Ryoga groaned.

"Yes," questioned Ranma between nips and kisses.

"Could we go shopping? You know, like going to the department store and looking at the things they have. I'd also like to take you out to dinner." Ryoga smiled as Ranma kissed his forehead.

"Whatever you want lover," was Ranma's response before undressing and bathing, then joining Ryoga in the furro.

Ranma kissed Ryoga full on the lips, delicately and pulled him close, then whispered, "I'll never leave you." He then rested his head on the other boy's soft warm-yet moist-skin.

After a while, the water began to cool and the duo decided to get out and dry off. After drying off, they dressed and ventured off to the expansive department store.

While eating their breakfast at their newly favorite restaurant, Ryoga thought about the past weeks and what they'd brought. "Ranma," Ryoga purred contently.

"Huh," Ranma replied in between bites of his delicious American style breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, orange juice, cereal-an overblown form so Ranma might actually be sated).

"I was just thinking about all that's happened and everything," as Ryoga finished, Ranma looked up, a piece of scrambled egg stuck to the corner of his mouth. Ryoga smiled and wiped the boy's mouth.

"What about all of it?" By now, he was drawn in by the comment and wanted to know what was going on.

"I was just wondering about whether or not you'd do what you did all over again. Don't get me wrong, I know you love me, but you made some tough decisions." His eyes met Ranma's and waited for an answer.

Ranma took the lost boy's hand in his and kissed it. "I would do it all over again to be with you. I'd do it to see your smile, to hold you in my arms, to gladly be able to say that you're mine and I'm yours. You are all I could ever want." Ranma smiled at the boy and he smiled back.

"You don't know how happy you've made me just now, or before then and how happy you make me every second that stems from the past second. I love you."

They kissed as people walked past them to pay for their food and continue shopping. They kissed and didn't care who saw them. Happiness resulted from one of the worse problems in Ranma's life and every hardship seemed worth it.

*and the end has begun*