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Revelations, Part Two: "The Song of the Arrow"
Ranma was still sizzling with curses as he got back to the house the next day. Unspoken. Pent up. Annoyance and irritation strong. It had been a lonely night. A very lonely night. Especially with the memories of the two nights before. He didn't even have Akane near to distract him. There were only her new clothes, and himself. Without Ryoga. Without Ryoga's love to share the night with her. Or to share the train ride back. It had been a very lonely day. Ranma wanted his love so much. So very much. And he wasn't there. Ryoga where did you go? Why did you leave? Just one more day... Just one more night... It had been a lonely night. Nabiki met him in the doorway, "Well, hello, Ranma-kun. Akane's out with friends. Did you and Ryoga have a good time?" Ranma sent her a furious look from beneath lowered eyebrows. Then he mellowed it, remembering what all she'd done for them. "Yeah, we did." Grudgingly, he added, "Thanks." Nabiki's eyebrows raised into her hair, "Well, what on earth is that look about???" She glanced behind him. Then walked to the door and looked down the street. Then turned her back to the door and her face to him and raised a single eyebrow. Knowing damn well what it asked, Ranma muttered under his breath, "He got lost." Nabiki's eyes widened and then her mouth quirked up. She tried to hold it in for a moment but couldn't and soon she was howling with laughter. Ranma glowered at her. Nabiki laughed harder, "Oh no!! Oh dear! Oh honestly! Oh my! Oh, he would!!" She alternated her expressions with those of her sisters, the mirth shining uninhibitedly in her eyes. "Oh, poor Ryoga! Poor Ranma! Did you... ah, did you two have any time together before this happened?" In spite of his annoyance, the humor of the situation finally got to Ranma and he reluctantly grinned, "Yeah... We were heading back from Mr. Kuonji's place when it happened." In a much friendlier manner, he regarded the middle sister. "Nabiki... Thank you. Thank you for..." he broke off and blushed. Her laughter dying, Nabiki regarded him soberly, "Ryo-chan... Ranma – he..." she faltered and gulped before saying furiously, "Well, you better be good to him! That's all I have to say, Ranma! I don't know exactly what games you're playing with him and my sister, but he lo–" she broke off with a glance around before looking back at him with wide eyes, "Be good to him... Please." She bit her lip and turned away. "Nabiki," Ranma put out a hand and captured her arm, not letting her leave like that. The stirrings of jealousy made themselves felt and he studied her before letting her go. The stirrings faded into puzzlement. Ryoga was right. Whatever she felt for Ryoga, it wasn't romance. There was loyalty there. Fierce and strong. A she-leopard determined to protect... As Ryoga is the wolf? Ranma revised his picture of Ryoga, a tiger... Mr. Kuonji said that they hadn't known about Ryoga... And he was surprised by Nabiki. They know only the Warriors, not the Defenders. Who are 'they'? And what does that make us? Maybe it was Nabiki that he needed to talk to, and not Akane. Or both, or all of them. They all needed to be together... Ranma's eyes widened at the thought, sensing a truth to it that he hadn't meant to be there initially. "What?" Nabiki stood, waiting for him, wary again as she was normally. "Nabiki, I –" Ranma broke off as the front door they were standing next to was flung open with force. He and Nabiki both jumped and then settled when they saw it was Akane. And then they stared... Akane was disheveled and dirty, a dark bruise starting to show on one cheek and she was holding an arm carefully. The sleeves of her shirt were torn and the knuckles of one hand were scuffed and swollen. She was breathing heavily. When she saw Ranma, she flung herself into his arms and held him tightly. "What, wha..." Ranma stroked her hair, "Akane! What happened?" It wasn't Akane who answered him. A grim voice drew Ranma's attention to the figure still standing in the doorway. "Shampoo's back from China," Ryoga stated, walking into the house, "And she's not happy."
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End of Revelations, Part Two: The Song of the Arrow |