The Insanity Continues

Volume 0 - Ever Changing World

Chapter 2 - New Eyes

Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, etc..., and are used
without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll return them. I can't
afford the overdue charge Nabiki insists on.

This series is strictly Manga based.

-----------------------------
Sunday

Ranma groaned as he woke up. He didn't want to wake up today. He wanted the
day to pass by. Today was going to be a bad day, as yesterday he almost
married Akane, but it bombed, literally. Akane would likely be very angry
all day, if not all week.

Ranma opened his eyes. <I hope she realizes it's not my fault all of Nerima
showed up, including those hell bent to stop the wedding. I had nothing to
do with it, but she'll blame me. She always blames me.>

Ranma got out of his futon. <Why do I feel disappointed that the wedding
failed? It's not like I'm ready to get married. I don't know if I ever want
to get married. I've lived my life on the road, and their trying to get me
to commit to a life where I'd rarely leave this place.>

He sighed. <Akane sure looked cute in those wedding dresses. Too bad her
personality isn't cute. But I guess that's the point, she doesn't act cute
and that's why I have these feelings for her. I don't see myself being with
someone like Kasumi, Akari, or Azusa, but I can see myself with Akane. I
think I love her, but I don't really know what love is suppose to feel
like.>

Ranma quickly got dressed. <Maybe? Maybe, if I tell her I love her, she
won't be angry at me. Nah. She'll think I said it in hopes of avoiding
getting malleted for not saving the wedding. I still can't figure out why
she agreed to it. She's been against it for so long and now she agreed to
marry me. Is it because she was going to do it for me or did she agree
because she loves me? The only way to find out is to ask her, but I'd
probably have to admit how I feel first. That's two reasons I should tell
her. I guess it's worth a try.>

Ranma made his way downstairs, just in time for breakfast. Everyone ignored
him, like they were doing with Akane, who was already there. Akane kept
glaring at either Genma or Nabiki, but never turned her angry gaze at Ranma.
Ranma took this as a sign she might not be angry at him, but he knew now was
not the time to talk to her.

-----------------------------

Nabiki's concentration was interrupted by a gentle knock on her bedroom
door. Sighing at this latest interruption, she called out. "Come in, doors
open."

Akane walked into the room. A sad smile crossed her face. This concerned
Nabiki greatly. Akane was a creature of extremes. If Akane was upset she was
a raging bull. If she's happy she beams like a shinning star. However, Akane
had almost a Kasumi air about her, which could mean only one thing: Akane
was beyond mad. "Nabiki we should talk," Akane said with a gentle voice that
carried the chill of an arctic wind.

Nabiki couldn't help but gulp when she looked at Akane. Sitting next to
Nabiki on her bed, Akane looked out the window, gazing at nothing in
particular. "Why did you ruin my wedding?"

"Now Akane, I know very well you didn't want to marry Ranma."

"Do you really know? I may not like being forced into it and I may not be
ready, but who said I didn't want to?"

Nabiki folded her arms. "You have countless times."

"I haven't said it for a long while now, have I?" Akane returned.

"Come on, Akane. I know you were bribed into agreeing to marry him."

"So what if I was bribed? What does that have to do with your roll in
destroying my wedding?"

"Because, I didn't want you to get forced into a marriage you don't want,"
Nabiki explained.

"Do you think I'd throw away my future just because Ranma would get his
cure?" The ice in Akane's voice started to crack as her angry gaze fell upon
Nabiki. "I agreed because I wanted to marry him. I would've agreed if there
was no Nannichaun. I agreed because I love him. And you..." Akane was now
snarling, "You ruined my wedding!"

Nabiki looked shocked as the mallet fell upon her head.

Akane looked down at her sister. "Damn. Now I have to wait for her to wake
up before I can get her to help me solve his fiancee problem." She left the
room and returned with some water and aspirins. She set them on Nabiki's
desk and then went and stared out the window.

Nabiki awoke a few moments later. She first saw the aspirins on her desk and
quickly used them. She then felt dread as she noticed Akane standing at her
window.

Akane began sadly, "Nabiki, I understand that you did what you thought was
right. I love you for that. But what you did hurt me more than you may ever
know. I may have been bribed to marry Ranma but that was not the reason I
went through with it."

Akane took a deep breath then sighed. "I love him Nabiki. More than I can
even say. And he loves me with the same intensity Dad loved Mom. Even if he
hasn't said it, I can feel it. When Ranma thought I died in China, I could
FEEL the pain in him. It scared me that he was hurting so much. I wonder if
that's what brought me back."

Nabiki was stunned to say the least. The passion and sadness in Akane's
voice carried like a melody. It took several seconds for what Akane said to
register. In a choked whisper Nabiki asked, "What do you mean by 'brought
back?'"

A shudder overtook Akane as she thought back to the day that changed her
life in so many ways. She hugged herself as if to bring warmth back to her
body. Closing her eyes Akane told Nabiki the tale of Mount Phoenix. "...and
I died. Despite Ranma's best effort my eyes finally closed. I remember
looking down at my body and Ranma holding me. He held me so softly. Begging
me to wake up. I wanted to reach out to him, to let him know I was there.
But I couldn't. I could only look down as Ranma finally screamed out my
name. The pain in that scream shook my soul. It seemed like a beacon for me
to return. I followed that anguished howl back down to where I laid. I
seemed to shoot back down to the earth. The next thing I remember was
calling Ranma's name."

Nabiki could only look at her sister in disbelief. How could her 'little'
sister have gone through so much so young. She wanted to hold her sister, to
comfort her in some way. But she couldn't. She didn't know how.

Akane turned around and looked at Nabiki. "Do you know Ranma killed Saffron
for me? To save me he had to give up his innocence. I think part of Ranma
died that day also. Do you have any idea what it means to a person like
Ranma to KILL someone? What that person has to give up?"

"No, I don't." A single tear ran down Nabiki's cheek. "I'm sorry for what I
did. I was wrong. I SHOULD have asked you first. I was just so afraid that
you weren't ready. Can you forgive me?"

Akane sat next to her sister and gently hugged her. "Of course I can. You're
my sister. I love you too much to stay mad at you. Besides, you can help
solve Ranma's fiancee problems so the next attempt won't fail."

Nabiki went over some plans she had laid out if Ranma ever wanted to remove
any one of his fiancees, and was willing to pay the price for it. Going over
it now with Akane, they started to find errors where the plans were
concerned with having the fiancees being far less aggressive than they
proved to be at the failed wedding. Several of the ideas, like deporting
Shampoo, wouldn't work very well, since she'd eventually return.

Akane got frustrated at the lack of any good, permanent plans to handle the
fiancees and left to think on her own.

Nabiki lay down on her bed. Her business personality in force since going
over the plans with Akane. <You two may be in love, but you're still not
ready. I'll work on some ideas to solve your problems. But until you two can
go weeks at a time without fighting, though, I don't see it as a good idea
for you two to getting married. Besides, it wouldn't do to lose my
greatest source of income just yet. Maybe I can come up with some ideas to
help smooth out your relationship.>

-----------------------------

Everyone seemed to be avoiding Ranma today, which suited him fine. They
didn't know how he'd take the wedding attempt, and quite frankly, neither
did he. Genma decided to make himself scarce after breakfast, since everyone
held him at fault for the loss of the Nannichaun and partially at fault for
the failed wedding attempt in general.

Ranma wanted to lose himself in something that wouldn't let him think about
the wedding, or about what happened almost a week ago. Martial arts
exercises didn't work for this, but homework might. He went upstairs and
heard Akane talking in Nabiki's room, but couldn't tell what she was saying.
He decided to eavesdrop.

"...while now, have I?" Akane was heard saying calmly.

"Come on Akane. I know you were bribed into agreeing to marry him," Nabiki
replied.

"So what if I was bribed?" Ranma's heart sank as he heard this. Akane was
bribed into marrying him. If she was bribed, then she didn't love him. He
couldn't listen anymore, because he ran. He ran out of the house, and didn't
stop running.

<Does Akane love me? I thought she might, but then why would she need to be
bribed? I want to know if she loves me, but I can't. I don't want to find
out she doesn't love me. I couldn't take hearing THAT. I got to think of a
way to find out if she loves me.>

Ranma's thoughts blazed through his head. He couldn't get the thought that
Akane might not love him out of his mind. Running for some time he got
hungry, and followed his nose into a restaurant not thinking of where he
was. He sat down at the counter, ignoring the chef's greeting. It wasn't
until seconds after he sat down, that he realized where he was, when
okonomiyaki suddenly appeared before him.

"Ranchan, what's wrong?" Ukyou asked.

"Lot's of things," Ranma replied, inhaling the first okonomiyaki.

"Um, Ranchan, I'm sorry about attacking you yesterday."

Ranma started picking at the second okonomiyaki, his thoughts returning to
Akane. "It's no big deal," he said absentmindedly.

Ukyou smiled and gave him a quick hug. "Thank you."

Ranma was so lost in thought he didn't notice being hugged.

-----------------------------

Akane sat at her desk tapping her fingers on her desk. She was surprised at
how little help Nabiki had been with giving ideas of how to handle Ranma's
fiancees. Akane heard a knock at the door and said, "Come in."

"Hello, Dear. How are you feeling?" Nodoka asked. She was uncertain of what
she was going to talk to Akane about was a good idea, but she felt it needed
to be asked.

"Too many feelings to count."

"I see. Now Akane, why did you agree to marry Ranma?"

At that point Akane didn't care who knew she loves Ranma and answered
matter-of-factly, "Because I love him. I wanted to marry him. The chance of
not having to deal with the other girls fighting over him was a nice
incentive too."

"That's good." Nodoka smiled. "Akane, what do you think your life will be
like with Ranma?"

Akane though for a moment. "Well, we'd both run the dojo and hopefully raise
a couple children."

Nodoka smiled nervously. "What about the insanity he seems to attract?"

Akane sighed. "We'd have to deal with that, too. I'm not to thrilled with
the idea of dealing with things like demon attack plants, strange magical
items, Jusenkyo curse victims, and all the other weirdness, but I will."

"Akane, do you realize he might not come home from one of his adventures. Or
that you, your family, and/or your friends will also be at risk from his
unusual life?"

Akane took a moment to think. "I guess I do. I nearly died a couple times in
China. One of those times was to save Ranma's life. And, Ranma fought an
opponent who, by all rights, should've easily killed him, just to save me."
She looked at Nodoka strangely. "Why are you asking me this? It sounds like
you're trying to convince me not to marry Ranma."

"I do want you to marry Ranma, Dear. I just wanted to make sure you know
what you're getting into. I don't want you getting hurt because you thought
marriage would cure the strange events. I didn't realize how bad it was
until yesterday. I'm happy you know marrying my son won't be perfect, but no
marriage truly is." Nodoka gave Akane a strong hug. "Welcome to the family."

"Too bad Genma comes with it."

"There is good and bad in all things, including him."

"Auntie, please don't tell Ranma about what I've said. I want him to realize
how I feel about him. I want him to say he loves me first." A single tear
rolled down Akane's cheek.

"I understand, Dear. But don't wait too long or he might run off with
another girl."

"He better not."

-----------------------------

Ranma and Akane prepared to leave for school. Both were a little nervous of
how to deal with the others from school. Ranma was a bit more nervous, since
Akane was smiling. He was confused about the smile, thinking it might be
because she was happy the wedding failed. But the look she gave him,
attached to the smile, suggested something else. She looked at him in a way
that showed a certain closeness, some desire, and even a little
possessiveness.

Akane was surprised Ranma ran next to her on the way to school, rather than
on the fence, like he normally did. She hoped this meant he wanted to get
closer to her. That he had forgiven her for her part in the wedding fiasco.

Both were too lost in thought in notice the ringing of a bicycle bell that
was moving closer. Shampoo launched her bike and landed in front of Ranma.
She then hugged him and elated her usual morning greeting, "Nihao! Husband
take Shampoo on date?"

Akane glared at Shampoo, truly seeing, perhaps for the first time, that
Shampoo was doing the hugging while Ranma wasn't returning it in the
slightest. She waited to see how Ranma was going to handle Shampoo without
interference.

"Let go of me, Shampoo," Ranma said a little nervously as the initial shock
of her hug wore off.

Shampoo ignored him. "Forget about school and nasty, violent girl, and take
Shampoo to date. Yes?"

"No date, and let go of me," Ranma said coldly.

Unsettled a little by Ranma's tone she let go. "What wrong?"

"You have some nerve trying this after attacking me. I expected better of
you."

"Shampoo only did it to stop wedding husband no want."

"I'm not your husband! And how would you know I didn't want to get married?
I didn't ask you to stop it and you didn't ask me if I wanted it stopped, so
how could you know?"

"Because Shampoo know Ranma wouldn't want to marry violent, kitchen
destroyer..."

Akane had heard enough from Shampoo and sent her into lower Earth orbit with
a surprise kick.

Ranma looked at Akane shocked.

"The bimbo had it coming," Akane said flatly. "We have to run or we'll be
late for school."

When they arrived at school they, of course, saw Kuno waiting for them. "Ah,
the fair Tendo Akane saved from marriage to..." Kuno began.

Ranma interrupted by knocking him out with a jump kick to the head.

-----------------------------

Shampoo returned to the Neko-Hanten as a very wet cat.

Cologne looked at Shampoo shaking her head. "I warned you about going to see
Ranma so soon after the wedding." Cologne picked up the cat and took her to
the bathing room. Once there, she tossed Shampoo into the bath. "So tell me
what happened."

Shampoo looked sadly into the bathtub. "Airen not happy with Shampoo.
Thought Shampoo would stay away after attacking him. Upset Shampoo no find
out if Ranma wanted to get married or not."

"Did he say that he did want to marry her?"

"No. Sounded like Ranma no want to marry her, just wanted to have someone
ask if Ranma wanted it."

Mousse stopped in the hall as he heard the two talking.

"I see. How did you end up getting turned into a cat?"

"Akane kicked Shampoo into river."

Mousse was uncertain what to do from what he overheard. Akane had hurt
Shampoo, but it was in his best interests to help Akane win Ranma so he
could get Shampoo. He would have to have a talk with Akane.

-----------------------------

Akane was not pleased with the rumor horde at school. They would not leave
Ranma and her alone. She was a little upset at Ranma for taking off
immediately after school, leaving her behind. Akane was confused that Ukyou
didn't appear to feel guilty for her part of the wedding disaster, like
Akane thought she would.

Akane ran off the school grounds and made it only a block away before she
was stopped.

Mousse looked at her sternly. "Akane, why did you hurt my precious Shampoo?"

"Several reasons, including her trying to get Ranma to take her on a date
and was also insulting me at the time." Akane's eyes took an evil glint.
"Care for me to list reasons from last Saturday?"

"I cannot allow you to hurt her."

"Then help me remove her as one of Ranma's fiancees."

"I don't think you want me to do that in the means I can help with."

"Which way is that?"

Mousse reluctantly said, "Killing him."

"You're right, I don't. Isn't there some law that could break the
engagement?"

Mousse shrugged. "There may be some."

"Then why don't we search for them?" Hope in Akane's voice.

"Can't. The laws forbid telling an outsider any law that doesn't apply to
them, and most Amazon laws regarding marriage are only for Amazon women to
know."

"This would apply, since he doesn't want to marry Shampoo," Akane replied.

"Yes, and Ranma is the only one that can ask for them. Until he asks, I
can't say anything," Mousse explained.

"What would happen if you broke the rule?"

"I could be in for a lot of pain. Combining that with several other... rule
bendings I have done in hopes of proving my love for Shampoo, I might be
banished from my home and remain an Amazon."

"Banished and remain an Amazon?" Akane asked quizzically.

"If I'm banished and made an outsider, I could return to the village after
defeating and marrying an Amazon. If I remain an Amazon, I could never
return."

"Oh. Mousse, if you have any ideas that'd help me remove Shampoo or the
others as Ranma's fiancee, please tell me."

"I'll try to think of some. I ask you don't go and hurt Shampoo."

Akane shook her head. "Can't promise I won't, just that I'll only attack her
if she's trying to get close to Ranma."

"Akane..." Mousse started angrily.

"Or would you rather I just let her make time with him?" Akane said coldly.

"Ah... no." Mousse sweat-dropped.

"Good." Akane ran off before Mousse could say anything more. She almost made
it home before she was stopped again.

"You wretched girl dare to try and take my Ranma-sama from me. I shall make
you pay for such impudence," a girl wearing a leotard angrily said.

Akane glared. "Cut the crap, Kodachi. Ranma doesn't love you."

"That is irrelevant. I will see Ranma-sama free from you." Kodachi let loose
her ribbon at Akane.

Akane prepared to dodge, but stopped when she saw that Ranma had grabbed the
ribbon.

"Kodachi, go away. Do not interfere with my life. I don't love you. I don't
even like you." There was a coldness to his voice that made the girls
shudder.

"But Ranma-sama, I love you," Kodachi pleaded.

"You and several other girls I know," Ranma remarked bitterly. "If I ever do
decide to get married, it won't be to you."

"How dare you say that!?!" Kodachi screamed, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Attack of a Thousand Clubs!"

Ranma blocked Kodachi's attack using his speed training. "Kodachi, go away.
I don't ever want to see you again."

Kodachi backed off. "Ranma-sama, why?"

"I don't have time to tell you all the reason, but I can start with you
showing up at that screwed up wedding attempt in a wedding dress. Just go
away, and leave me alone."

"Ranma-sama, this can't be the end." Kodachi turned and ran off.

Ranma turned around. "There was never a beginning."

"Ranma, not that I mind what you said to her, but I could've handled her,"
Akane said.

"Whatever." Ranma walked through the Tendo gate.

Akane almost made him explain that, but the ice in his voice told her he was
upset and wanted to be alone.

-----------------------------

"Ranma, prepare to die!" Ryoga shouted his customary challenge as Ranma and
Akane walked to school.

"Impressive, you made it back in three days," Ranma quipped as he dodged
several punches from Ryoga.

"Ryoga! Stop attacking him!" Akane yelled.

Both of them stopped and stared at Akane.

"I don't know why you attacked Ranma, but we don't have time. We've got to
get to school." Akane grabbed Ranma's arm and ran towards the school.

Ranma was stunned. First by Akane apparently blaming Ryoga for starting the
fight, and then by Akane grabbing his arm and didn't let go until they were
almost at school.

Ryoga stared at them as they left. "I was going to make him pay for not
marrying you," he said sadly, long after they were out of earshot range.
"She blamed me. She's always blamed him, but now she blamed me. WHAT'S WRONG
WITH THIS WORLD!?!"

Ranma and Akane arrived at school, and before them, yet again, was Kuno.
"Oh, beauteous goddess of the hunt..."

Ranma interrupted him with a round-house to his jaw.

"Vile sor..." Kuno tried to say.

Ranma then kicked Kuno over the school.

Akane looked at Ranma oddly. This was the second time he stopped Kuno and
didn't let things get far enough for Kuno to attack either them.

-----------------------------

It was lunch time, and Ranma wasn't to thrilled about it, because the rumor
horde was still bugging him and Akane. He ate lunch with her under a tree.
Akane gave a clear indication she didn't want anyone asking questions, her
mallet sat visibly next to her. This didn't stop people from listening in on
what they had to say.

"Hi, Ranchan!" Ukyou greeted happily. "I brought some okonomiyaki for you."

Akane glared at Ukyou.

"Um... thanks Ucchan," Ranma answered nervously.

"Oh, Akane, sorry about attacking the wedding," Ukyou said, not sounding
very apologetic.

"Aren't you going to apologize to him?"

"Already have. He said it was no big deal." Ukyou grinned.

"What?!" Akane started to glow dark blue.

"Well... ah... you see..." Ranma stuttered.

"Ranma! How could you?! You jerk!!" Akane wanted to tell him why she was
angry, but only her usual insults could escaped her lips. She grabbed her
mallet and embedded him into the ground with several hits. She then ran off
crying.

"What's her problem? Wasn't she forced into this?" Ukyou mused, helping the
unconscious Ranma out of the ground. "Ranchan, are you okay?" she asked when
he woke up.

"I'm fine." He cast a quick look around him. "Where'd Akane go?"

Ukyou frowned. "I don't know. She just ran off."

"Great," Ranma muttered. <Why did she do that? If I did something wrong, why
can't she just tell me what I did wrong?>

Ranma found out that Akane had gone back to their classroom and was
extremely angry at him. She was ignoring him completely.

-----------------------------

Akane's Diary Entry:
December 7th, 1993.

Dear Diary,

 I don't know what to do anymore. I love Ranma and I know he loves me, but
he forgave Ukyou for the wedding disaster and said it was no big deal. How
could he say that? She attacked him and stopped our wedding for God sakes.
Could it be because he loves her too. That would explain why he hasn't told
me he loves me.

 What am I going to do, Diary? I want him to marry me, but I'm going against
Ukyou. She's sort of my friend, but we both love the same man.

-----------------------------

Ranma laid on the roof of the Tendo house over Akane's room. <What did I do
wrong? Akane got all upset after Ukyou said that I'd forgiven her. I'm still
a little upset at Ukyou for doing it, but she is my friend and it probably
was Shampoo's idea to attack the wedding.>

<Akane, I want to know if you love me. I wish you'd just tell me. I don't
want to make a fool of myself and say I love someone who doesn't love me.
How will I know? I guess I just have to wait until she tells me.>

<I really don't know if I want to marry Akane. It might be better for her if
we don't. I mean, she's always getting angry at me.>

-----------------------------

Author's Note:

Almost everything is back to square one with the exception that Akane wants
to marry Ranma, and verbally admitted she loves him, and Ryoga has given up
Akane, but will treat her like a younger sister.

Akane wore a Japanese wedding kimono at the start of Manga volume 37 and a
western wedding dress at the end of volume 38.

Akane smiling at Ranma as they left for school, and Ranma running next to
her to school actually occur on the last page of Manga volume 38.

The scene where Akane talks to Nabiki was rewritten by suggestion of and
partially done by William Jones. I feel this works out better as Akane's
cathartic talk to Nabiki would better set up Akane's talk with Nodoka.