It was a bright sunny morning. All of the rain from the past week had cleared leaving a sunny new week ahead. Outside in the cool morning, birds sang sweetly. A soft breeze drifted through the air, making it pleasant outside. Inside the Tendo’s house, however, the mood was far from matching that of the quaint outdoors. The house remained dull and depressing from the past few days events. The sounds of morning noise echo throughout the house, as Akane and Nabiki prepared to return to Furinkian High after their many days of absence.
Nabiki plodded down the stairs, books in hand. She had already eaten breakfast and was heading to the door. She heard Akane bickering with Soun, a rare but seemingly new habit Akane picked up. She held off entering the dinging room, ease dropping instead.
"Otoosan!" Akane whined. "Please don’t make me go back today. I’ll go tomorrow, I promise!" Nabiki heard Soun sigh.
"Akane, no. That is final. If you don’t return today, then you’ll use the same excuse tomorrow. Someday has to be your first day back, and it might as well be today." Soun replied. Nabiki heard Akane stomp the floor.
"But everyone is gonna ask me about…." She trailed off. "I don’t think I can handle it." Soun grunted.
"You are a strong girl, Akane. I have faith that you will survive this ordeal. We are all in great mourning, but you must return to school." Soun countered. Akane was silent, and Nabiki decided now would be an ideal time to enter.
"Hiya sis." She said, shifting her books in her hand. "I suggest we get going. Don’t want to be late on our first day back."
Akane sulked and Soun gave her a ‘there you have it’ look. Nabiki turned and briskly walked to the door. Akane gloomily trod after her. The two girls left the Tendo’s, and both began walking to Furinkian. It pained Akane to walk the same route she and Ranma had so often walked. She glanced at the fence, where Ranma would have been walking. It was bare, and no one would probably travel to school that way again. She sighed and looked at Nabiki.
"What’s wrong with you, Akane?" Nabiki began. "You act as though returning to school is the end of the world. Just act like nothing happened, and not as many people will bother you." she paused and then added. "You’ve been gone so long everyone’s probably forgotten why you were absent in the first place." Akane snorted.
"Stop trying to make me feel better, Nabiki." She mumbled. Nabiki looked over at her sister, and then sighed.
Soon Furinkian came into view, and Akane began to dread each step she took towards it. Nabiki soon walked past Akane, not willing to be late on the day back. Akane finally arrived at the gates, alone, and halted. She looked at the school. It would never be the same again. She could never sit in her seat without looking at the vacant seat where Ranma once sat. And should another student sit in that seat, she could never forget why it was vacated in the first place.
Finally, Akane stepped forward, into the school campus. A noise made her look up, and with dread she observed as nearly every boy in Furinkian charged towards her. Her mouth fell, and she dropped her books. The air filled with the sounds of men proclaiming their love for her. Something in her head clicked and she realized everyone knew she was single now. With Ranma dead, she was no longer engaged. She sighed and stepped back into a fighting stance. The almost forgotten words of a chant sprang into her head.
"Hate boys, hate boys, hate boys." Echoed over and over. She looked at the swarm of men running towards her. She really didn’t feel up to doing this today. "The day is already starting off bad." She whispered to herself as she knocked the first boy flat on his back. She slipped back into her fighting mode, and continued beating the boys.
Two guys came from both sides, and she ducked as one punched the other one. Then she turned and tripped the remaining one. She kicked one man in the head and turned to block a punch from someone else. One boy in sumo-wrestling gear flew towards her. She side stepped and knocked him over.
After several minutes of intense fighting, she realized all were conquered. She looked around for Kuno, expecting to see him, and listen to him preach some sermon before admitting her to class. Oddly he wasn’t to be seen.
She grabbed her things from the floor and marched inside angrily. Once in her classroom, she sat down and fumed. Shortly, she became aware of the eyes of the room, staring at her. She looked around.
"What?!" she cried. Someone leaned over and opened his mouth. She waited for him to speak. Then someone else shouted the question.
"Is Saotome really dead?!"
Akane cringed, and then nodded an affirmative. At that, the entire class broke into a frenzy. Everyone began asking her about the death. Some even knew about Ryouga. Others still, knew about P-chan. She tried to answer them, but the people became overwhelming. People were grabbing her shoulders, and turning her to face them. Others in the back shouted so she could hear their questions. People laughed, and people sulked. Everyone talked, and shouted. Even Hinako-sensei seemed to be interested in the conversation. Someone grabbed Akane’s foot and pulled, yanking her out of the desk. She fell and scrambled to her feet.
People tugged at her, trying to get the entire story. Kids had hand held tape recorders and note pads. She clenched her fists together, but people pressed to her so tightly, she couldn’t afford to hit anyone. She glanced to the open window beyond the swarm of kids, and longed to run to it, and fling herself out. Finally she shoved one kid away and screamed:
"Leave me ALONE!"
Everyone fell silent a moment. All eyes fell upon her. She shivered, scared of this mob of students. Someone made a snide comment about Ranma and someone else agreed, tagging on the bit of him being a cross dresser. Akane winced, and felt hot tears tug at her eyes. She blinked and they fell, splashing on the floor. Someone noticed and pointed it out. A murmur went through the mob. No one had ever seen Akane cry, and certainly never at school. Soon the murmur crescendoed into a babble and then a full roar. Akane couldn’t take it. People began nagging her again, and she slumped to her knees. She covered her ears with her hands, and gently rocked herself.
Someone hit her shoulder and she screamed in shock. People still pestered her, and the noise was near defeating. The comments were rude and mean. She wiped at her watery face, wishing she could just die right there. If Ranma were here, no one would ever bother her like this. He would protect her. Even Ryouga would have found his way here to keep everyone off of her. She shuttered, angrily, not wanting to think of him. However, now both of them were gone, there was no one left, and she had to fend for herself.
She rose to her feet, and leapt onto her desktop. Then she jumped from desktop to desktop until she reached the door. Then she scampered down the hall, the mob of kids hot on her trail. She felt her strength already gone and she barely kept ahead of the kids. She passed an open doorway and thought of darting into it and locking the door, but before she could move, someone leapt out from inside.
The person let her run past, and then stopped in the center of the hallway, facing the crowd. She heard everyone screech to a halt as the figure stood in their way. Akane whirled around to see who it was that had such power over this mob.
Boldly standing in the center of the hallway was Tatewaki Kuno, holding his bokken at the ready. He was dressed in the school issue uniform, of a white shirt and slacks, yet he held his bokken proudly, glaring past it at any who dared him. The crowd did not try him and held their ground. Slowly the students turned and left, and Kuno stared the last of them down. Akane slumped to her knees exhausted as the last of the mob returned to class. Kuno stood guard a moment longer before he turned around and looked at Akane.
She returned his glance, and panicked, wondering was bizarre thing he was planning to do next. He’d scared away everyone else…who’d scare him away? He lowered he bokken as he took a few soft steps towards Akane. She realized she was breathing harshly, and she tried to control her anger.
"Tendo Akane." He stated, looking down at her. "Are you injured?" she shook her head no. Sure she was shaken up, but she wasn’t hurt. Yet, she found herself still crying.
"Thank you, Kuno-sempai." She whispered. He blinked and smiled. Then he knelt by her.
"You are most welcome." he replied, extending his hand. She took it, and he helped her stand. "Perhaps we should depart this structure if it makes you so uneasy." Kuno suggested. Akane nodded in agreement. Kuno released her hand and the two turned and walked down the hall. Soon they exited the building. Akane felt the eyes of students watching her as she and Kuno walked across the grass. Finally he stopped at a tree, and gestured for her to sit. "Is this more to your liking?" Akane nodded, and wiped away her tears. She sunk down by the tree, leaning her back against the trunk, and sat, facing away from the school. Kuno stood in front of her, still holding his bokken at his side. Neither spoke for awhile. Akane was grateful for his silence. He didn’t ask her about her personal matters, or if she would marry him. He only stood there. Eventually he turned away and looked past the school gates.
Akane tried to recompose herself. She shivered, although it was warm and sunny out. She couldn’t imagine ever returning to that school again. She hated Furinkian High. She shivered again, and Kuno turned around, seemingly concerned.
"Are you cold?" he questioned. Akane wrapped her arms around her. She sighed and replied.
"No. I’m just…" she paused taking a deep breath. "I…I’m scared, Kuno." She breathed, and rocked herself. "So scared." She whispered.
Kuno’s brow furrowed. He’d never seen Akane in this state before. Unsure what to do, he knelt beside her. He didn’t say anything, because he knew some of how she was feeling. That feeling, he also knew, was one that not many people chose to talk about. He knew she didn’t want to talk about the incidents in her life, but she needed someone to be there for her. He was willing to accept that task. He knew how to handle the situation, and he would not let anyone harm Akane.
Akane closed her eyes, willing the pain away. She hated her life. She wished she could just die. Akane shivered again, unable to think straight. Images and ideas flashed in her head. She knew she was in trauma, too many things happening too quickly. Her head spun, and she put her hands to the earth, digging her nails into the soft soil. Everything had changed, and nothing would even be the same again. Nothing could ever be the same again.
Her body tensed as she tightly clamped her eyes shut. He legs became taut and her arms stiff. Her fingers dug into the earth, and her back arced. She threw her head back, hitting it harshly on the tree trunk. She cried in pain. A low guttural moan escaped her, and she sobbed painfully. She cried again, feeling her true emotions arise. Both Ryouga and Ranma were gone, and he life was destroyed because of them. She cried like that, painfully, her heart aching, for a long time. She was unable to open her eyes and cope with the harsh world that awaited her.
Memories of her mother came to her mind. Warm memories tainted with sadness. She thought of Ranma, and his sweet memories were mixed with death and decay, and all memories of Ryouga were super imposed with P-chan. She hissed furiously. All things that began good turned bad for her. She hated her life, and she hated herself.
Finally she screamed. "I hate you, Akane!!"
Kuno, now a little worried, grabbed Akane wrists, and pulled them together, crumbles of dirt falling away. He held her hands tightly and whispered.
"Akane? Akane?"
Her eyes popped open and she yanked her hand out of his grasp and slapped him hard across the cheek. Kuno faltered, and was knocked off balance. He fell to his rear, his other hand reaching up to his injured cheek.
Akane drew both of her hands in towards her chest. She blinked confusedly. Kuno got up, and ignored the dirt clinging to his pants. He reached forward, and grabbed Akane’s wrist again. She writhed in his grasp. He stood, his face solemn. Akane kicked him in the shin, but he didn’t allow it to affect him. He lifted Akane bodily up, and held her in his arms. She shuttered, muttering curses on herself. Kuno became afraid she was going to become suicidal. He took off and quickly got off campus. He hesitated, deciding if bringing her to his home, or back to her home was wiser.
At his house he had a full time doctor and psychiatrist, if he returned her to the Tendo’s, it might be too late before she got help. Deciding quickly, he rushed to his home, running quickly down the streets of Nermia, holding Akane tightly.
He halted impatiently at a cross street, waiting for the people and cars to clear. The woman of couple standing next to him glanced up.
"Yeah, it was like a crop circle in the middle of the forest…" the man said, then he looked at his girlfriend, who was looking at Kuno holding Akane. Kuno glanced at them, and then took off, dodging the cars. The man and woman looked at each other.
"That looked like something right out of a Manga!" the lady said, laughing. The man nodded.
Within minutes, Kuno burst through the gates of the Kuno Mansion. Akane was now clawing his arms, drawing blood. He winced and clenched his teeth. He stopped at his front door, and rang the bell. Sasuke arrived.
"Who’s there?" he called through the door. Kuno winced as Akane’s nails dug deeper into his flesh.
"Tatewaki! Allow me to enter, Sasuke!" he cried.
"Master Kuno?!" Sasuke answered, unbolting the door. "What are you doing-" he was cut off as Kuno pushed the door open, smashing Sasuke into the wall. Kuno ran inside his home, and then turned, bolting into the study.
"Doctor!" he yelled. Shortly, a small old man appeared. He looked at Kuno and then to Akane.
Master Kuno!" the doctor cried. "You’re injured!" he grabbed Kuno’s arm, ripping Akane’s nail from his skin. Kuno cried in pain.
"Not me, old fool!" Kuno shouted through clenched teeth. "Her!" he moved to the couch and laid Akane down. He instinctively clutched his own arm, to stop it from bleeding. "Get the psychiatrist! She’s in need of mental help." he added. Sasuke appeared in the doorway.
"Master Kuno?" he questioned.
"Not now, Sasuke, get Tomachi-sensei, now!" Kuno bellowed. Sasuke nodded an bowed.
"H-hai!" Sasuke replied, running out.
The doctor hovered near the still writhing Akane. Kuno walked over to them, and knelt by Akane’s side. She reached up, and her hands fell neatly around her throat. Kuno winced, and reached to pull them away. The doctor neared, holding a syringe. Akane attempted to strangle herself, but couldn’t in her weakened state. Kuno painfully held her arms down, watching his own blood ooze onto her dress. The doctor pulled her sleeve up, cleaned her arm, and injected the needle into her.
Her face contorted in pain, and Kuno looked at the doctor in hatred. "What did you do to her?" he cried.
The doctor stood, and set the syringe down. He answered: "This is a…this will put her out, to keep her from injuring anyone else, or herself. She’ll come to in a few minutes, and then Tomachi-sensei will have a look at her."
Kuno looked from the doctor to Akane. Her face tightened, and then seemed to relax as she slipped into unconsciousness. He took one of her hands in his.
"Everything will be alright, Tendo Akane." He whispered. "I shall make certain that no more harm shall come upon you. I swear this, or I shall forsake the name Kuno."
The doctor stepped back, and stood at the door. He looked down to where Sasuke had reappeared. Both of the men glanced at each other, and wondered what had just happened.
