Seijitsu no Kesshite Ai Shiniai Nakunaru [ True Love Never Dies ] Chapter 3: Emotions only get in the way FanFic based on Ranma ½ By Kris Thompson This is a work of fiction based on Rumiko Takahashi's 'Ranma Nibun no Ichi' a.k.a. Ranma ½ and was created for the author's personal enjoyment. [Note! This is an alter-verse fic! You have been warned!] Akane rushed upstairs and slammed her door and leaned back against it, breathing heavily. What had she been thinking?! Kissing him *back*?! She took in a deep breath and tried to calm herself, but it didn't work. He had moved so quickly. She had had no time to react until *after* he was already kissing her. He had completely shocked her. One minute they were yelling at one another and the next, he was kissing her with a fierce passion that she almost fainted. 'Baka, baka baka bakabakabakabakabakabaka! Why did you let him know you still might have feelings for him?' Akane's logical, hurt part of her mind screamed. And to be honest with herself, she didn't know. It had just kind of... came out. But that kiss... She could still feel his lips on hers, rough, yet at the same time, gentle in their own way. She could remember the way his arms felt about her, tight against her waist. The way her arms were trapped between them could feel his heartbeat as well as trip-hammer beat of her own. 'You don't love him; Ryouga loves you, remember?' her brain asked her. But those *feelings*, those emotions... "Mean nothing," Akane said to herself. 'I'm a marital artist and emotions can not sway me.' A knock on her door startled her and she stood and opened the door to find Ryouga on the other side of it, smiling gently. "You okay, Akane?" he asked. She managed a weak smile. "Yes. I'm a bit tired, I think I'm going to go to bed." Ryouga nodded. "Goodnight, dear Akane," he leaned forward and kissed her. The only thing that she could think was 'His kisses are so unlike Ranma's,' ~*~ Nabiki had returned home the day before Akane and Ryouga's wedding. Kasumi greeted her as she entered the house. "Nabiki! It's so good to see you! Would you like some tea?" She asked politely. Nabiki smiled. "Nah, sis, but thanks all the same." she looked around the house. "Where is everyone?" "Oh, Shampoo and Akane went to pick up Akane's wedding dress, Ryouga is having last minute adjustments on his tuxedo and most everyone else is at the church." Kasumi told her. 'Shampoo? Akane? Friends? I've been away for *far* too long,' "Ah, so it's going to be a western ceremony? Interesting." A thought hit her suddenly. "Where's Ranma?" Kasumi's smile never faltered. "Oh, he's out in the dojo. Here, I'll have Ono take your things up to your old room." "Thanks, Kasumi." Nabiki headed out to the dojo and found Ranma there, starring out at nothing. "Hey! Saotome!" Ranma blinked and turned to see Nabiki standing in the doorway. "Hey Nabiki," he said, his voice dull. "May I ask what in the hell you are doing?" Nabiki asked calmly. That got his attention. "Wha-?" "What in kami's good name are you doing to my sister? And to yourself as it appears also?" He still looked as clueless as ever. "I thought you loved Akane." He stood up. "I still do! I tried to explain that to her last night! But she's so stubborn!" Nabiki nodded. "So are you." "But, Nabiki, she's not gonna-" She interrupted him with her hand. "Ranma, you've been with us so long that I've considered you family. That, and the fact that I assumed *one day*, you would marry Akane. So this information is for free," She paused for a moment. "Akane is slightly gullible. She's always been that way. If you really love her, you have to convince her of it, or she'll just think that you're trying to trick her. If you can get past her defenses, then you win." "You sure?" Ranma asked. "Of course I'm sure!" Nabiki yelled, then, just as quickly, her cool act was back on. "Who's the spy here?" Ranma smiled. "Thanks Nabiki. I'll do my best." he called out as he ran out of the dojo. Nabiki smiled. "I'll be pulling for you, bro!" ~*~ Akane sat in her room later that night when suddenly a knock came on her door. She turned to see a piece of paper being shoved under it. She walked over a picked it up and read it aloud to herself. " 'Meet me on the roof after midnight. We need to talk. ~Ranma' " She folded the note back up and sighed. ~*~ Ranma sat up on the roof, gazing at the clear sky as the stars shinned down on him. A footstep brought him back to the real world. He looked over to see Akane. She held up the note he had pushed under her door hours before. "You said we needed to talk." He stood up and walked over to her. "Yeah, we do. Come on, sit down." They both sat and looked at the sky for a while in companionable silence. "Tomorrow's the big day." Ranma stated. "Yep," Akane said. "You aren't nervous, are you?" Ranma said calmly. "Oh no," Akane stood quickly. "Don't try that with me, Ranma Saotome." "What?!" Ranma stood up as well, the look of challenge in his eyes. "You know what! Don't you *dare* try to change my mind about this. I want to marry Ryouga-" "So you can subconsciously get back at me!" Ranma yelled. "Stop trying to manipulate me! Ryouga loves me!" Akane cried out desperately. "But do you love him?" Ranma asked quietly. "I-" Akane stopped. "Akane," Ranma said gently "Can you look me in the eye and honestly say that you love him as much as he loves you?" "Ranma, please don't do this." Akane turned her face away from him. "I know that you're still upset with me, from all those years ago. But you've got to think of Ryouga. Why hurt three people with this?" Ranma asked. Akane looked to be on the verge of tears. Suddenly her posture changed slightly and she looked him in the eyes. "My decision is the same, Ranma. You won't change my mind about any of this. I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding." And she turned to leave the roof. "Akane," Ranma tried once more. "I love you. More than anything." She paused. "I know." Author's Notes These things seem to only be digging me into a bigger grave, ya know? Okay, after being e-threatened (o_O;;) from a Church of Ryouga member, I must obviously clarify myself. >,< Being a Ranma 1/2 fan, I indeed love almost all of the characters (I won't mention who I don't like for fear of other threats and/or flames) and Ryouga is indeed one of my favourite characters of the whole series. I feel he provides a lot of the humour that occurs in the manga and anime. So if Ryouga *does* seem a bit OOC in this fic, I'm sorry. But this is an 'Altraverse fic', which means that the characters *are* a bit off from the original flavour. The reason Ryouga seems a bit vengeful is because his desire to finally beat Ranma is so strong. But he truly does love Akane. The whole engagement to the Ryouga and Ranma is merely an excuse to fight for the one thing they both love, namely, Akane. So, really, Ryouga's 'victory' over Ranma in the terms of being engaged to Akane is merely 'icing on the cake'. The one thing that matters to the both of them is who Akane really loves. I hope this helps you. Any questions about this fic or any of my other fics can be answered by sending email to cartoonpaperclips@email.com Signing' off! Krissy www.geocities.com/kuroi_hoshi