The next morning, Akane left the hotel early telling her uncle she was going to go for a walk and headed for the Nekohanten. Akane didn't want the conversation to be interrupted so she wore her normal going out clothes of faded jeans, flip flops, and a red long sleeve shirt. Her hair was hidden by a black slouchy beanie and her eyes covered with black sunglasses. To her, she seemed like a normal kid as she walked her way to the Nekohanten. To no surprise Nabiki and Ranma were already there with Shampoo and Cologne hanging on them.
"Shampoo didn't believe violent girl's sister when she say violent girl is coming" Shampoo huffed pointed a finger.
"Excuse me; I'm just here to sort some things out" Akane said moving past her.
"Just because violent girl famous doesn't mean Shampoo be nice to violent girl" Shampoo huffed crossing her arms.
"That's fine with me because I'm not here for you" Akane said taking off her sunglasses.
That set Shampoo off to her red anger face and Cologne pulled her to the kitchen to work. Akane took a seat across from Nabiki and Ranma setting her sunglasses on her head as she got situated. Ranma seemed to be uncomfortable like he had a lot to get off his chest and Nabiki well she seemed like her usual business self.
"So shall we carry on?" Akane asked folding her hands neatly on the table.
"So we already got over the fact that you won't be coming back to live at home with us" Nabiki said sipping her tea.
"No we haven't, Akane you have to come back home with us" Ranma said abruptly.
"No Ranma, I don't, you just want me to come back because I know you feel guilt about what you said, you think I left because of what you said when really I left because I need to take charge of my life, so no I don't" Akane said as Mousse poured her some tea.
"But what about our engagement? I know you're happy, but what about me? Don't you care about me? Don't you care about my happiness?" Ranma said trying to not sound desperate.
"I do care about you and I want you to be happy" Akane got cut off.
"Then why are you leaving me? Why are you refusing to come back to live with us? Why can't you see that I want you" Ranma jumped from his seat.
Akane sat silently looking up at him with her calm brown eyes. She knew what he meant behinds those words. She knew what he was really saying; I love you and I want you to come back to me. It was silent between the three of them until Akane spoke again.
"Oh Ranma if you had only said that a long time ago then I would've not thought about leaving ever but I can't make you happy Ranma because my feelings are gone now" Akane shook her head.
"But" Ranma started but Nabiki cut him off.
"So I see that we can rule out the engagement off and that you're not living with us, but will you still see us?" Nabiki asked as Ranma slumped back in his seat.
"Yes, I will be more courteous and send letters, emails, calls, and I'll try to visit at times when I can" Akane nodded.
"But Akane, the dojo?" Ranma chimed in.
"It's yours, I wanted that dojo so bad but it seems it was yours all along, I have my music now" Akane smiled a small smile at him.
"I don't want the dojo, I want you" Ranma chocked out feeling like his heart was going to burst.
"Ranma, that's enough, we already settle that the engagement is off and Akane is free to make her own choices" Nabiki snapped at him but she was soft about it.
"No, no it's not settled" Ranma shook his head.
"Ranma, look at me, you can't have me anymore because I'm not the same girl I used to be, I'm not the girl you fell in love with and that girl can never come back, do you understand?" Akane said touching his hand softly.
Ranma looked at her through his hazy blue eyes at her soft pale face holding her big round brown eyes. That's when he knew, she wasn't the same Akane. She was right, she wasn't the same girl he used to fight with and insult, this girl in front of him was different. This girl wore make up and heels with her confidence that radiated to the people around her. This girl was fine with boys being around her and having to be close to them. This girl was fine with the stimulating clothes she wore and wore them like pajamas; comfortable and relaxed. His Akane wore tennis shoes and didn't know a thing of make up and was self conscience about her body. His Akane didn't let anybody of the opposite sex come so close to her and would sock them if they did. His Akane would never wear such clothes so tight or even consider wearing them. They were so different; this Akane was not his Akane.
"Yes, I understand" Ranma said quietly dipping his head.
"Thank you, Ranma for understanding" Akane smiled softly at him taking her hand back.
"I see that's settled, now Akane about your career" Nabiki was going to add something but Akane cut her off.
"I handle my own finances, but if you guys ever need money talk to me, you're family, I'd hate to see you guys down in the dumps" Akane said knowing exactly what Nabiki was asking.
"I might just take you up on that offer" Nabiki smirked.
"Just let me know, but I have got to go now, it seems a crowd is forming" Akane said seeing through the front window.
"We'll be seeing you, too bad we weren't able to have lunch" Nabiki sighed.
"Bye Akane" Ranma said softly standing up to shake her hand.
"Bye Ranma" Akane said.
Then she did what she should've done before she left almost two years ago. She gave him a small soft hug around his waist with her head on his shoulder. He was taken back feeling her embrace but smiled after a second hugging her small back. She pulled back giving him a golden smile that he knew so well before slipping her sunglasses back on. Ranma watched as her small back retreated out the front door and through the crowd calling for her. A car pulled up in front of her and a man who he had guessed was her uncle came out. He opened the door for her as Ranma guessed he was asking what she was doing here while she took one look back at the Nekohanten over her shoulder. Then after a few seconds of her gazing at the small noodle shop she slide into the back seat followed by her uncle before they drove away. Ranma sat back down next to Nabiki with a deep sigh.
"You think she'll come visit us like she said?" Ranma asked the elder girl next to him.
"I'm sure of it, Akane may not want the dojo anymore but I'm sure she still makes her promises as a martial artist" Nabiki nodded over her tea.
"I think so too" Ranma said setting his chin on his palm looking out the window.
Akane sat with her legs crossed looking out the window as the Nerima streets and shops passed on by. She sighed, her eyes feeling the car slow down as it came to a red light and looked at the people walking on the street light. Akane's eyes widened a bit seeing her two old friends Sayuri and Yuka standing on the street corner waiting for the light to turn green to walk. They were talking and laughing sharing a set of earphones singing along a bit to whatever they were singing. Akane rolled down her window a bit and caught a bit of what they were singing; her song 'Hummingbird'. She smiled as they laughed when Sayuri messed up a part and went back to singing. Akane could only think about how far she had come.
She had been almost a nobody here in Nerima, sure she was popular and boys wanted to date her at Furiken, but that didn't matter to her. Her marital arts had been her's until these great martial artist came and Akane saw how much stronger they were. She saw how strong and dedicated they were to their art. Akane had been dedicated to her martial arts to become stronger and better but she wasn't nearly as good as these people. When Akane had left, she thought she was going to improve in Korea but instead she had found a whole new art; music. She had been dedicated to her music career almost more than she had been to her martial arts. Akane worked harder in her music than she did with her martial arts, so hard in fact that she had actually past out from exhaustion from working so hard. It was nothing to be proud of, but still she only worked on her martial arts to the point of exhaustion when she was angered. She worked so hard on her music because she loved it; more than she did her martial arts. And now because of her hard work, she had become a famous pop star. Akane was happy with that even though she had been raised to become a marital artist, she was happier as a singer. Singing was what she loved now, it made her happy. Akane smiled to herself as she looked out her window.
"What are you looking at?" her uncle asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Oh nothing" Akane said shaking her head.
"Well roll the window up, its cold" her uncle whined.
Akane shook her head at her uncle's low tolerance to cold weather. She rolled up her window as the car began to move again as the light turned green. Her eyes caught the look of her friends as they laughed stilling listening to music. She smiled softly as they drove past heading back to the hotel where she would rehearse her songs and dances again. They drove towards the hotel where her future was waiting to carry forward.