See You at the Show

Part IV

By Kalio

Akane opened her sock drawer and rummaged until she found what she was looking for.  She shuffled through the key chain and stopped at a very old, worn silver key.  Taking it off the chain, she stuffed it in her pocket, and grabbed her DCs, and hurriedly slipped them on her feet.  She went to her window and slipping it open, climbed out, crawling up to the roof, where she deftly jumped to the tree that was right next to her window.  While it was easy to climb in from the tree, it was more difficult to jump to it from the narrow windowsill.  She carefully jumped down, and ran across the back lawn to an old warehouse-like building.

The Tendo skate park's door was opened by master key Akane carried in her pocket.  It squeaked shut, the hinges badly in need of oiling.  Akane sighed as she flipped the switch, turning all the main floor lights on.  She hated sneaking around so her father didn't catch her, but like it or not, skating was still a part of her life.  It did not die with her mother.

Akane walked over to the locker area of the park.  Locker 5475 held her board, helmet and pads.  It used to hold her DCs, because her father knew she only used them to skate in, but then she managed to convince him that she wore them for just walking around, too.  She hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings.  She smiled as she remembered why she picked this locker.  5475 stood for a word that she lived by, even when she was younger.  If letters were numbered, then 5475 said 'EDGE.'  It was where she always wanted to be.  And though no one knew why she loved that number but her, it was not

some big secret.

Pulling on her pads and helmet, she ran a finger across a scar she had from her younger days, when she did not wear any equipment, then across her left eyebrow, where a small x scar prevented the tiny hairs from growing. She still hated to wear it, but it hadn't been until her accident that she realized just how important it was to wear pads and a helmet.  She had felt terrible about making her mother worry when everyone should have been worried about her.  Akane shook her head; it wasn't worth bringing it up because there was no permanent damage.

She skated over to her favorite ramp and started to warm up, slowly at first, then getting some air.  After stretching, she practiced 540s before moving on to her own signature move.  It was a shame that the only people who had seen the move didn't know that she was the inventor.  All but one.  Akane knew Nabiki, the middle sister of her family, knew all about her talent.  When the nosey girl noticed her leaving every afternoon and disappearing into the park, she decided to see for herself what was going on, and found that Akane had been practicing even more since the park had closed.  Deciding to cash in on her sister's talent, Nabiki had set up interviews with several companies for sponsors.  Although they all turned an embarrassed Akane down, a few suggested getting out more and skating for local crowds.  Hype would help her get a sponsor.

It was then that Akane realized that they didn't want to sign girls.  She had been to every local park around and skated before, doing standard moves that had usually got big 'wows' from crowds, but that wasn't enough.  From that point on, whenever she went skating at parks, she went in big, baggy clothes, with sunglasses and a backwards hat.  Introducing herself as 'Ten,' the crowds started appearing.  Nabiki used her connections to start a buzz, leaking to a select few where and when 'Ten' would make an appearance.  Only then, did the sponsors come clamoring, especially after she had

done her trademark moves.  Add to it all that no one knew this 'Ten,' and she, or rather he, was a hit.

Akane's 'hobby,' as it seemed, was about to pay off, possibly giving her a career that wasn't exactly a 9 to 5.  She didn't really want an office type job, but she almost wanted to go to college just to have something to fall back on.  In any case, if she wanted to go pro, she would have to keep in shape, and keep practicing regularly, and not let new interests hold her back.  If she went on tour during the summer with Anything Goes, she would have to either tell them all her secret, or she would have to keep it to herself, and practice whenever she could.  However it went down, she figured that she might as well train harder than ever just to get ahead before the tour.

***

'...the only thing I regret is that I, I never let you hold me back! Hoping for the best is hoping nothing happens, a thousand clever lines, unread on clever napkins. I will never ask, if you don't ever tell me. I know you well enough to...' Akane trailed off and turned down the volume a little on her stereo when she heard Nabiki get up and run down the stairs.

Nabiki answered the door that was currently increasing her headache.  'Hello?

Akane listened causally from her room.  It was probably one of Nabiki's friends.

'Hold on.  AKANE!  You have a visitor!'

Okay, maybe not.  Grinning, she turned off Taking Back Sunday, got out of her computer seat and called, 'Okay, just a sec!'

She trotted down the steps, and smiled when she saw Ranma waiting there, with his hands nervously shoved in his pockets.

'Hey, Akane, I got news,' he grinned like a schoolboy at her.

Akane grinned.  'Hey, Ranma, what's going on?'  Seeing Nabiki's curious eyes, she added 'Let's head into the family room,' and led him in ignoring the look from her sister.

'Well, first Anything Goes is playing another show on Friday, and we're going to announce our cd release date,' Ranma said as he sat down on the couch she offered him.

Akane sat in the chair across from him. 'Excellent!  And the other news?'

'Well, I just got off the phone with Jared, and he said that Kris is a go for the tour, so since your dad said you could go if Kris goes, I assume you still want to tour with us?'

Akane laughed.  'Are you kidding?  What else would be cooler than to spend the summer with a band on the road?'

Ranma sounded skeptical.  'Well, actually, it's not as fun as it sounds, I mean, we only get a minimal amount of money for hotels so there might be a few really bad places.  Plus, we'll be crammed in a van for hours at a time.  It might not be so "cool" if we don't have a good air conditioner.'

Akane grimaced.  'Okay, so maybe there are better things I could be doing, but hey, I'm with the band, right?  I get to spend the summer doing learning cool stuff about music and people!'

'Too true.  You get to spend the summer with me!'

She chuckled.  'Ha ha.  You certainly have the confidence of a frontman.'

He scoffed, indignant.  'What?  Me?'

'Yeah, you!  Anyway, when do we leave?'

'Tour starts June 10th, we're on the road the 9th.  We're off the road by August 28th so I can start school in the fall.  I think we have a few days off in there somewhere, but its going to be rough.  I heard from some of my label mates that the first real tour is pretty gruesome.  Anyway, I feel pretty lucky to be with Jusenkyo records.  They really care what happens to us; they aren't just in it for the money.  Plus, they've been working really hard trying to promote us and the tour.'

'Awesome, awesome.  So, do we get much time in between driving and the shows?  I mean, I sort of need to be consistent in practicing.'

'Practicing?  What do you need to practice all summer?'

Akane was silent for a moment, honestly debating, but at the last minute, she remembered herself, and looked away.  'It, uh, it doesn't really matter.  It's just this thing that I have to work on.'

When she looked back at him, Ranma couldn't meet her eyes.  'Oh… Um, yeah, after set up, unless we're driving all day, we should have a few hours to ourselves.  Is that enough for your… project?'

Her brow furrowed slightly.  'What was that about?'

He looked at her again, innocently.  'What was what about?'

'That look.  Right there, that one.  What's that about?'

Ranma sighed.  'You don't trust me.'

She looked at him skeptically, and then with a hard tone said, 'I don't trust you?'

He gave her something between and grin and a snort.  'Don't blame you, really.  You hardly know me.  I understand.'

Quickly she said, 'No, no… it's not that, it's just that…'

He grinned.  'Don't worry about it.  I dig that.  If you told me all your secrets, I'd be worried that you wore your heart on your sleeve.  And then I'd worry how many guys you've given your heart to.'

Akane sighed.  'I guess…'

Ranma shrugged and gave an uncertain smile.  'Hey, I guess I better let you get back to whatever…'

'Oh, um, just a little bit of homework.  No big deal.'

Starting to get up, he answered.  'Right, well, good deal.'

Akane panicked, not wanting his visit to end on a bad note and stood up after him.  'Hey, you wanted to see the…' she remembered where she was, and who always listening, and whispered that last bit.  '…ya know, the park!'

His eyebrows shot up, as she shifted uncomfortably.  'Do you have to ask?'

Akane grinned shyly.

***

A/n: Hm, well what can I say?  It's been too long.  I'm sorry.  I hope it was worth the wait.  Um, yeah, I haven't given up on writing, I have just been too busy trying to get the education I'm paying out the -well, you know- for.  Anyway, thank you for everyone who has responded.  Your support makes every word worth writing.  Your comments and criticisms make me a better writer every time I sit down at my computer.  Thanks.  In response to some of your comments:

Leina: I haven't quite decided what to do about Akane's musical involvement.  So… it remains to be seen.

Lady Mokodane:  Yeah, I still think it might be lame… but you didn't hear that from me. ^.~

ka_chan:  Thanks… The book was really just means for me to insert my opinions in there in purest form without shoving them into Akane's mouth.  Glad you liked it.  And no problem about sending it, I try to be good to people who are good to me.

belle: Effulgent is my new favorite word for glowing… it actually comes from a Latin word meaning to shine forth.  Isn't it a great word?

jazzy:  Wow, number one story? Thanks, man! I'll try to live up to expectations.

Anon and bonessasan: Thanks, original was what I was really going for.  It feels like I've read every Ranma fic at least fifty times.

Numena: What can I say? Thanks for your constant support!

chiyo: Yeah, I update eventually, I promise. And although I appreciate your support, one hundred and twelve 'UPDATES' is a little bit much for me.

Damn, okay… this is getting long.  Okay, to everyone else who reviewed for this last chapter, THANK YOU!  The next chapter promises to be interesting as we discover more about Akane's gift, Anything Goes, and just how much free time on the road is too much free time…