"Song of the Arrow": Start         Previous: Chapter 01       Next: Chapter 03

Revelations, Part Two: "The Song of the Arrow"
Chapter Two

Three weeks later:

Ranma and Akane sat under the tree, the remnants of their picnic around them. Ranma looked over at Akane with the sparkle in his eye that Akane knew meant that he was going to lean over and kiss her. Akane smiled and reached out to meet him. As usual, his kiss was that of passion constrained – a lover holding himself back to only what she would accept of him. Akane’s kiss in return was exploring, questioning, full of wonder at this new sensation. She had told him flat out three weeks ago when he’d first come to her that she and he may not actually be too young – but she sure wasn’t about to do more than kissing until they were married. Married. Akane’s smile was lost in Ranma’s kiss. It actually looked like they were actually going to do it. Ranma was being more attentive, more loving, more… well, they still fought – but their fights had few bitter edges now; rather, the thin sharp points in their barbs had been replaced by blunt teasing that spoke volumes in the undercurrents of the understanding they had now. Akane drew back from Ranma for a breath of air, then leaned forward again, feeling his hand ruffling through her hair.

"Bwee…"

Akane and Ranma broke off the kiss at the same time and looked around. P-chan sat there, fifteen feet away, his black ears drooping low and his eyes wide and startled. Akane dropped her hands from Ranma and felt him do the same. "P-chan!" she called to him, hoping that he would come. But the wide, frightened look on his face remained, and he sat there as if in shock. Beside her, Ranma stirred, "Ryoga – I’m sorry…"

That did it. P-chan turned and ran. As one, Akane and Ranma jumped up to follow him.

"P-chan! Wait! Don’t go!"

"Wait! You idiot! Come back here!"

The little black pig ran as if demons were chasing him and he was gaining ground. Akane knew that with the next turn they would lose him. He would be lost. Alone. Alone as he’d always feared he would be. His heart breaking, shattered. Akane’s own heart clenched inside of her – she couldn’t let him go. Not like that. Not thinking that they didn’t care… My friend… There was only one way to call him back. "Ryoga!!!" she called, her heart in her throat and in her voice, "Ryoga, don’t go!"

P-chan stopped moving in mid-step, and ended up tumbling head over heels, rolling eventually to a stop. Beside Akane, Ranma did the same thing. Akane herself stopped with more grace, but she was panting from the run. She fought to gain her breath as she knelt down, "Ryoga," she held out her hands, "Please come here."

Instead of coming to her, the pig looked to Ranma, who hadn’t gotten up from the grass. Ranma had been staring at her, but seemed to feel the pig’s attention and glanced over. His eyes widened, "It wasn’t me!" Then a look of consternation crossed his face, "I did just… didn’t I?" He lowered his head, "I’m sorry…"

"Oh, you idiots!" Akane lowered her hands to her lap and glared at both of them, "Did you two really think I didn’t know?"

The pig and the human looked at her with identical shocked expressions.

But Akane wasn’t sure yet that it was safe. She held out her hands again, "Ryoga – P-chan, please…" She knew that until she held P-chan in her arms, that Ryoga might turn and run away again at any moment. He was hurt too easily. Although this time with cause. The tears started falling freely from her eyes, "Please, my friend…"

Finally, the small pig walked hesitantly over to her, looking constantly between her and Ranma. He stopped just out of arms’ reach. Out of Akane’s arm reach. Ranma reached over and picked up the pig, holding him gently in his arms like Akane normally did. The pig twisted his head around in surprise, and the two of them just looked at each other for a long moment, giving Akane enough time to put her jaw back where it belonged.

"Ryoga, you idiot," Ranma finally muttered, and handed the pig to Akane.

Akane gathered him in, holding him close to her, feeling the small body tremble with fear. Her tears continued to fall. "Oh, Ryoga…" She leaned her head down, burying her face and her tears in the soft fur. Until P-chan had come to be with them, she’d never known before how soft a pig’s fur could be. Of course, she didn’t know if that was all pigs… She lifted her head and sniffled, "Ryoga, Ranma told me about the tree on your training trip – that it fell on both of you and nearly… nearly killed you." She couldn’t keep the quiver out of her voice. "Ryoga – I don’t know what I’d do if you never came back." The tears came faster, but she forced the words out, "I’ve gotten used to the way you come and go, and I can watch you go without worrying, because I know that you’ll always come back… But, Ryoga, if you’re going to do things like get yourself killed, I’ll never be able to feel secure again. I won’t be able to watch you go without worrying and fretting and losing sleep until you come home again. I’ll do things to try and make you stay and never go – I’ll put the freest one of us all in a cage just because I don’t want to get hurt." She again buried her head down, and her words came out muffled, "Please, please promise me that no matter what, you’ll always come back."

Akane lifted her head in time to catch the looks of sheer surprise that the two boys were exchanging. She managed a weak grin, "Let me guess – Ranma already got that one out of you." This time the looks were both directed at her. "Oh you two," she laughed, "I always knew you were best friends, even if neither of you knew it—of course Ranma would ask that after…" and then her smile disappeared, and she trembled, remembering her fear. She swallowed, "I want the promise for myself." And she looked from the pig to Ranma, "From both of you."

"Akane…" Ranma murmured, reaching out to her.

Akane twisted around, avoiding his comforting hold, "Ranma! I love you… Please – please promise me that no matter what happens, no matter where you go, what battles you fight, what temptations or…," she thought of Shampoo, though Ranma had already bluntly told the Amazon off, "or anything – Promise me that you’ll always come back to me."

This time Ranma’s arms were allowed to go around her and he held her close to him, and P-chan was squeezed in the middle but made no protest. Ranma stroked her hair, "Akane," he paused and tilted her chin up so that he looked her directly in the eyes, "I promise." He moved back a little, and the hand on her hair moved down to touch the pig on the head, gently. He glanced down and smiled at P-chan, though a bit sadly, "And Ryoga promises too." Akane looked down, the question in her eyes. P-chan nodded, and pawed briefly at her hand. Only then did Akane realize how tightly she was holding him. Immediately, she loosened her grip, "Oh! I’m sorry, P-chan!"

They walked back to the abandoned picnic, quietly, no words spoken between them, just the soft sounds of their feet moving through the long grass – and the loudness of their thoughts. When they got to the tree, Akane sat down, putting P-chan in her lap and ringing him in gently with her hands. Ranma stood next to her, looking down at them both. Akane looked into the wide white eyes of the black piglet – so different than the warm brown eyes of Ryoga. She sighed, and spoke so softly that only the two nearest to her could hear, "P-chan, we never meant to hurt you. We…" she glanced up at Ranma, "Well, when he came back from your training trip…" This wasn’t coming out at all like she’d planned. Not that she’d planned much of anything. But she’d known that when Ryoga came back that this would happen. That she would have to tell him… She tried again, "P-chan, I’ve loved Ranma for a long time now – I’ve been waiting for him… Waiting until he loved me." Had she mentioned that to Ranma yet? From the feeling of utter surprise she was getting from the youth standing behind her, Akane didn’t think so. She grinned tightly, "I wasn’t going to be just another conquest." The pig blinked. So, she got the impression, did Ranma. "All those fights you two had… Oh you idiots! Did either one of you ever think to ask me?"

"Akane…" Ranma’s voice was sheepish, and he didn’t manage anything more than her name.

She ignored him – she knew Ranma’s ego was just fine. Akane stared down at the little black pig that she’d kept by her side as a pet for so very long. Kept him as her pet because he wouldn’t stay with her any other way. And she didn’t want to lose him, in either body or soul. He is hurt so easily… The time he'd told Ranma he'd rather be a pig forever. Akane had been listening from her window, and she couldn't let it happen. Nor did she want to shatter his heart, his beautiful crystal heart. But now she was with Ranma… and he was hurt. Ryoga. Ryoga, why do you love me so? "Ryoga," she drew in her breath, "You’re my dearest friend. I feel safe and secure with you. I can talk to you and let you stay with me and never have to worry about you. You’re gentle, and kind, and… and I care so much for you…" Akane’s words faltered as she tried to explain how much she cared for Ryoga without letting go of her love for Ranma.

Ranma’s hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Akane," he squeezed her shoulder gently, then let her go, "It’s okay. You don’t have to go on." He glanced down at the pig. Akane hadn’t taken her eyes off of him. P-chan smiled in that way he did occasionally, when he was happy and contented, and just satisfied to be with her. And he nodded.

Akane blinked. "P-chan?" She shook her head – some habits were hard to break, "I mean, Ryoga?"

P-chan grinned at her, then yawned and curled up in her lap, deliberately laying his head down as if for a nap. Ranma laughed, "I don’t think you have to worry about him leaving for awhile, Akane."

Her hand hesitantly moved to stroke the soft fur. When P-chan didn’t shy away, she continued more firmly. And finally started to relax. The muscles in her face, throat, chest, arms… everywhere, were tight with the worry that she’d been holding in. Behind her, Ranma knelt down and started rubbing her neck, moving his strong hands over her sore muscles and massaging out the pain. Akane petted P-chan, and leaned her head forward accepting Ranma’s massage, and wondered about the strange relationship the three of them had. And then she stopped wondering and just accepted it because to do otherwise might mean that she would lose one of them. But that wouldn’t happen now. They’d both promised her. And they both kept their promises. Akane sighed in relief.

"Goodnight, mina," Akane called softly to her family as she walked up the stairs, P-chan firmly in her arms as he had been through the day. He might have given her his promise, but she wasn’t willing to risk letting him go just yet. But she had to put him down as she got ready for bed. She set him down in his usual spot on her bed as she stepped into the wide closet to change. When she came out in her pajamas, she didn’t see him. Akane’s hand flew to her mouth in fear. And then she felt the cold rustle of air from the open window. Her hand dropped down and she frowned instead, "That idiot." She leaned out the window, seeing the little black pig sitting beside the pond. Sighing, she gathered up her camping gear and then crawled out the window. P-chan looked up as she came up next to him, and his little mouth dropped open in surprise as he saw what she carried. Akane shook her head at him, "Ryoga, you idiot…" and she picked him up as he was too stunned to do anything.

Walking in through the patio door got an odd look from Nabiki who was still doing her homework at the table, but her sister didn’t comment as Akane walked down the hall and back upstairs. She paused at what used to be the guest room and knocked quietly. There was no reply and she slid open the door. Ranma hurriedly pulled his shirt over his head as he sat up on his pallet, "Hey – you could knock first!"

Genma muttered from his pallet, "She did."

Akane rolled her eyes and walked over to Ranma’s pallet, laying out her bedroll next to him.

"Huh?" Ranma’s mouth dropped open.

Settling herself down, Akane made sure she still held P-chan. She put him on the pillow next to her head. "P-chan has a problem sleeping with me tonight since I’ve admitted I know he’s Ryoga."

Genma lifted his head far enough to look at them, then rolled over, "Sounds logical to me."

Ranma glanced between P-chan and Akane in bewildered surprise.

"So we’re sleeping here tonight," Akane stared at P-chan, "He can’t possibly object to that."

"But, but…" Ranma sputtered. P-chan was looking just as lost.

Akane gave up her attempt at ignoring the basic issue. She sat up and gathered P-chan in her arms and then leaned back against Ranma. Ranma’s hand automatically went around her waist to steady her. He paused as his hand encountered the black pig, then he ruffled P-chan’s ears and settled his hand below. P-chan laid his ears back at the ruffling, but then perked them back up again as he turned to look up at Akane. Akane wasn’t looking at him, though. She was looking out across the room in the dim light. "I hate sleeping alone," she admitted.

There was a feeling of surprise in the room.

She sighed, "I had just gotten a room of my own, when… when Mother died. Ever since then, I’ve had nightmares. I just got used to them, I guess. I never really thought about it. But when you, P-chan, spent that first night with me… The nightmares went away. They came back the first time P-chan left… I was so worried… But then P-chan returned. And everything was okay then." She paused, "When I knew he’d always come back – the nightmares stopped. Completely." Her voice went very soft, "But I still don’t like sleeping alone."

"But… but… but, Akane…"

Akane grinned, "Ryoga’s a good, honorable, decent person. I actually felt better when I realized who P-chan was. After all – a pig isn’t much of a protection; but when that pig is Ryoga…" she sighed happily, "I knew I was safe after that – and so did the rest of my family."

Ranma looked at P-chan, who was staring back at him. "I guess… I can’t argue with that." He paused, "Akane – how long have you known…"

"The first night."

There was a silence. "You’re kidding," was Ranma’s eventual comment.

Akane twisted around to look at him. And she shook her head at the look on his face. Holding P-chan up to her eye-level, she addressed Ryoga, "Oh, yeah – you are exactly like a normal pig… !!" She glanced back at Ranma, "The only reason you two didn’t know I knew was because you didn’t want to know! It was rather obvious!"

P-chan bweed and she let him down again. Ranma shook his head, "Obvious?"

Akane grinned, then gently stroked the pig’s head, "Ryoga – I’m sorry about that bump the first night – we heard the fighting, and saw the pack you were carrying and we thought you were a burglar. I didn’t mean to hurt you," she corrected herself, "well, I meant to hurt the burglar, but when we found out it was you…" she trailed off. "Well, anyway, I understand why you came in after that."

Not listening to Akane, Ranma gave a bark of laughter as he thought about the situation, "And here we’ve been so careful…"

"Careful!" Akane snorted. The boys both looked at her. "Oh come now," Akane said in disgust, "You two yell it at each other all the time – shouting your insults back and forth, Ranma with his pig jokes and Ryoga hotly denying he’s P-chan…" She glanced down, "Did you know, Ryoga, that your headband stays on when you change?"

The black pig’s body became suffused with a deep red. As she leaned against Ranma, Akane could feel his body also becoming hot with embarrassment. She grinned, "Never mind, guys. Let’s just go to bed, shall we?"

Over on his pallet, Genma grunted an agreement.

Akane moved away from Ranma, leaning back for a quick kiss before she crawled into her bedroll again. P-chan crawled next to her as she reached out her hands for him. Within minutes, she was sound asleep, her hands holding P-chan loosely as the black pig stayed awake and watched her face.

P-chan eventually glanced over to Ranma, who was laying awake on his pallet, staring at them. P-chan hopped out of the circle of Akane’s hands and walked over to Ranma, putting one hoofed paw on his arm. It was a gentle gesture of reassurance. Ranma glanced between the small pig and Akane. Finally, he smiled, "Goodnight, Ryoga," ruffled the pig’s ears, and closed his eyes. Almost instantly, he too was asleep. Ryoga watched him for several long minutes, then moved back to Akane, curling up by her side. Still sleeping, her hands reached out to touch him gently for comfort. Ryoga rested his head on her arm, stared at Ranma, and then finally closed his own eyes.

When he was sure the three of them were completely asleep, Genma quietly got out of his bed and moved to the door. As noiseless as he was, apparently he still wasn’t quiet enough as P-chan’s ears swiveled around and he lifted his head to look. Genma shook his head at the pig before going out in the hall. He padded to Soun’s room and opened the door. Soun sat up and looked over. Genma sat down on the floor, "Akane-chan is sleeping in the spare room tonight." He laughed, "That Ryoga-kun really is a Protector, isn’t he?"

Soun’s replying grin was sadder, "It’s true – her nightmares stopped when he came." There was a long silence.

Genma broke it finally, "But yours didn’t. Did they?"

Soun looked at the empty spot on the bed. Empty now for ten years, and still he felt cold and woke up in fear when he couldn’t feel her at night. "No," he replied, "they never will." He sighed, "I’m glad at least one of my daughters…"

"Kasumi and Nabiki?"

"They have nightmares too. More quietly. Akane used to wake us all up with hers. And we usually felt grateful." Soun sighed again, "I try to watch over them, but what can I do?"

Genma shook his head. And poured a cup of cold water on himself before curling up in front of the door. The panda’s body was much warmer when one didn’t have a blanket.

Soun shook his head at his friend’s silent support and then laid down again, feeling the empty spot in his life that nothing could ever replace.

 Notes to Chapter 2:

no notes…

"Song of the Arrow": Start         Previous: Chapter 01       Next: Chapter 03