Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and have been used without permission. This fanfiction was written for personal enjoyment, and hopefully the enjoyment of the readers.

Key:

"speech"

::thoughts::

flashback

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Usotsuki

by Rain

Part One.

Akane shuffled her way down the hall, feeling rather dejected, and altogether tired. Not tired like she needed more sleep, she had been trying that for the past few pointless hours; tired. Tired of the fights, the bickering, the stupid misunderstandings. Tired of resisting. Tired of pretending. Tired of running away. Tired of getting angry because it was easy.

Tired.

Unconsciously passing the guest room where Ranma and his father slept, Akane would have kept walking if a small, muffled sound hadn't caught her ears.

::What was that?::

She now noticed the door was slightly ajar. Opening it, she peeked inside, not making a sound. There was something about the room that didn't look quite right.

Ranma's father was absent from the room, but that was because he was out with her father, the hapless pair no doubt out getting hopelessly drunk at any local sake bar likely to admit a panda and a walking, talking leaky pipe. There were more in Nerima than a normal person cared to know.

Being so emotionally exhausted, and just as fed up with just about everything, it took her a minute or two to actually put her finger on it.

The room was immaculately tidy, something Kasumi would have done, if she ever did that sort of thing in the middle of the night. Saotome-san's things were all in place, he chose to be a slob elsewhere in the house, but it was Ranma's things that first caught her eye. What few belongings he did have were packed into his familiar rucksack, the one he always brought on those bizarre training trips. Aside from that she could see there were none of this other things spread around the room that looked so foreign now that it looked as it had before Ranma had come stumbling awkwardly into her life.

He usually left most of it behind, because there's no use to take everything when you're coming back.

But she knew that everything was there, in that worn bag.

Trying to ignore the nagging feeling that sight had instilled within her, Akane scanned the rest of the room. Her eyes fell on Ranma. She hadn't even noticed him before then.

If she had still had that cup of tea, she would have dropped it.

Ranma was in a corner of the room, by the stacked futons, his knees pulled tightly to him, arms around them, chin resting on his arms. He was almost curled into a ball, just sitting there, everything in his posture shouting at her to do something, anything but just stand there like a gaping idiot.

She made a motion as if to move forwards, to cross the room, but she stopped when she heard his voice. He still didn't seem to have noticed her.

"Baka," he whispered to no one in particular.

Akane tensed. ::Honestly, after all that, he still has the gall to insult me?! Ranma no-::

"Baka," he said again, finishing her thought. "I'm such a stupid, stupid baka! Why can't I ever think before I open my stupid, big mouth? I'm such an idiot, and she hates me for it. Honestly, can I blame her for it? No, I'd hate me too. I treat her like crap, and I always expect "it was just a joke" to fix everything. I'm just a lost fool and I can't get over her no matter how hard I try."

::Get over me? Does he really think I hate him? No, Ranma, I don't… Don't think such a sad thing…::

"Coward…" it was such a small whisper, she could barely hear him. His shoulders were shaking now, he was holding something back. His voice was so tight, she could tell he was doing his best not to cry. He moved his hands to bury his forehead in his palms, his elbows on his knees, raking his fingers through his bangs feebly.

"I'm such a coward."

Earlier that day…

Just after breakfast has been cleared, Soun and Genma sit sternly across the dining table from Ranma and Akane, who look bored. Nodoka is there, by now no longer an unusual presence in the Tendo home.

Kasumi is calmly handing around tea, but something about her movements is forced, as though she is holding back what she really wants to say other than "Would you like some more leaves, Obasama?" or "Is it too hot, Otousan?" and the polite smile on her face, for the first time, looks plastered, rather than genuine.

Nabiki looks to be her usual cold, collected self, but upon closer inspection, an observant person might notice the strain. That was a lot to give away, especially for Nabiki.

Ranma and Akane don't bother to pay close enough attention, however, and the two fathers are most likely choosing to ignore the signs of trouble. Instead, Genma pushes his glasses up his nose with an index finger, and Soun turns on the waterworks. Nodoka is the first to speak.

"Akane, son-" Ranma visibly tensed. His mother only called him "son" when she either was announcing something very grave, or when his life was at stake. Or both. "In light of the recent failed wedding-" now it was Akane's turn to react, although she simply looked pissed. "Your fathers and I have decided that the only way to resolve all the trouble is to marry you two in a private ceremony, strictly family only. Tonight."

Akane opened her mouth to protest, and Ranma stood up quite abruptly. The two of them would have probably had something to say if Nodoka hadn't silenced Akane with a look, and Ranma with a finger along the katana. Akane didn't shut her mouth, but Ranma wisely sat down again.

"If you two refuse to 'tie up your loose ends,' as they say, we will simply marry you and leave you to pick up after what your hesitation and ignorance has caused to develop."

Akane looked more pissed than ever. Ranma glared. Genma concentrated on a spot on the tatami mat. Soun cried louder. Nodoka cleared her throat.

"The decision is final. Try and think of it as a good thing. No more motherly threats. No more drunk fathers-" Nodoka glanced at her husband and his friend, and amended her comment; "No more fathers dancing around babbling about 'the joining of the houses.' No more fiancé problems. Honor is satisfied, and the energy field that seems to reside around my son to do nothing but attract trouble just might dissipate slightly." Ranma snorted derisively. ::Not likely, obasan.:: Akane thought. 

"Fine," Ranma said, sounding angrier than Akane had expected. "What the two of us want never stopped either of you before, did it? Go right ahead! I'm surprised you even told us, instead of just drugging us and dressing us up like a couple of puppets, like the last time. Do whatever the hell you want." He stood up, ignoring Soun's increase in volume, and trudged out of the room. Akane was sure she heard a door slam.

Surprisingly enough, she hadn't been all that upset. Ranma's attitude in a way was the more shocking thing. Was it really such a bad thing to have to marry her? She was so sure the last time that he would have if everyone else hadn't… She shook her head, trying to clear it. He did have a point, though. This was hardly fair, but not unexpected. It just felt wrong.

Was it a problem that she wanted it to feel right?

*           *           *

Akane, although the whole thing had been announced earlier that day, was still in a hazy state of shock. She supposed it was only natural. It felt as if just a few hours ago she had woken up in her comfortable, normal, everyday room that never changed, and come downstairs for breakfast to really get a wake up call. Now, as she looked around her, everything looked strange and changed. She wasn't sure yet if it was welcoming or just disturbing; the way one little thing could screw everything else up.

::But it's not a little thing,:: she reminded herself. ::I'm getting married.::

And that sounded even stranger than everything seemed to look.

But Akane couldn't deny the stark facts of the situation. Here she was, in her room that didn't seem to fit her anymore, standing stiffly upright as Kasumi bent around her ankles, taking in and hemming mother's old western-style wedding dress. The dress she would wear that night, when she got married. The dress that felt so silky and yet so cold on her pale skin.

Kasumi finished, and sensibly knew when she was not needed, or when her baby sister needed to be alone. ::No, she's not a baby anymore. She never really was. She's always tried so hard to look after the rest of us that she almost refused to look after herself. I wish I knew what was good for you, Akane. You're so enclosed in your own little shell. Why can't you ever let anyone in? It wouldn't have to be everyone. Only the one who cares about you the most. And we both know who that is.:: She sighed quietly, knowing Akane was too deep in thought to hear. ::Oh, Akane, don't regret. Look on to the future, because it's all you've left to yourself.:: She shut the door behind her quietly.

Akane fingered the lace trim that encircled her bare shoulder, not really looking at the dress, or anything else.

She didn't notice the tears at first, either.

Only when the salty wetness made her fingers slip on the pearly white fabric did she slide to the floor and bury her face in her hands; did she try to hide from the world.

Still the tears -now cold and slipping soundlessly down her skin- fell.

End Part One.

Notes:

"Usotsuki" means Liar.

"Otousan" means Father.

"Obasan" or "Obasama" means Aunt.

I know this fic seems really depressing, and is hardly like anything else I've written at all. I'm trying something new. I got an idea, it wouldn't leave me alone (yet again) and I decided to try a continuation fic. Fortunately I update everyday, if not post it all at once. The sooner I write it out, the less time my ideas have to run away, lol. It's depressing at first, but it's all fantastic basis for one hell of a finish, I promise! Also, I'm using third person omniscient POV because I wanted to show you all what everyone is thinking, not just one or two. I hope this works! *crosses fingers, and remembers her last post, the really short one that sucked major ass*

Until my next post; next day delivery or sooner, guaranteed!

::Rain

P.S. Contact me at [email protected]

I am not a creepy old man. I am a teenage girl. It's a joke with a friend. So there. ^_~