COS 1-5
"A Change of Scene"
1998, June Geraci
The characters from Ranma 1/2 in this fiction are the
creations of Rumiko Takahashi, and borrowed without
her permission. This story was written for non-commercial purposes only.
Ranma 1/2
A Change of Scene
Chapter 1
As Ranma walked along the top of the fence, he kept his attention divided between keeping his
balance and watching his fiancee. Akane hadn't been herself for some time, and he wondered what was
on her mind.
After their return from China the previous year their parents had tried to force them to marry, and
their relationship, which had always had its ups and downs, had changed completely. At first, they
had tried to go back to the way they'd been--fighting one day and getting along the next--but things
just weren't the same. Too much had happened in China and afterward for them to ignore.
Ranma had come to realize just how much he loved Akane when he'd nearly lost her, but had never
found the courage to tell her. Even when Akane confronted him with her knowledge of his affection
for her, he'd refused to confirm it.
Ranma would have felt worse about his actions had it not been for the fact that Akane had not told
him whether or not she loved him. He'd come to the conclusion that she had agreed to marry him so
that her father would let him have the water he needed for his cure. Her motive was sympathy, not
love.
Now that graduation was getting closer, Ranma knew for a certainty that his parents and Akane's
father would soon plan another wedding. They'd always assumed that he and Akane would obediently do
whatever they planned, but Ranma had no intention of marrying a girl who didn't love him. He'd
spent the last year bringing up his grades, so that he could get away from Nerima by going to
college.
Ranma had applied to several colleges, and his counselor seemed to think that Sanna College in Ube
would be most likely to accept him. He liked the notion, since Ube was far away from Nerima, and
from Akane. It only hurt him to live in the same house with her. If he were absent, that would give
her the opportunity to find someone else, since she obviously didn't want him. It would also give
him time to learn not to love her.
*****
Akane glanced up at the fence, and Ranma turned his head toward the canal. She was aware that he'd
been watching her, and wondered why.
Akane had been hurt badly the day she and Ranma had almost married. She'd been willing to marry
Ranma, because she loved him, but wondered if she would have been happy with a husband who didn't
love her. Akane couldn't understand how she could have been so mistaken. Ranma's behavior in China
had seemed to prove to her that he did care, but when she told him that she knew he loved her, the
first words out of his mouth were "I never said that". Akane had been devastated by Ranma's
rejection, and she protected herself from any more pain by withdrawing from him. She knew that her
father had his heart set on their marriage, and that she'd had only a temporary reprieve. After
some reflection, Akane decided that her only option was to leave home long enough to give Ranma an
opportunity to marry one of his other "fiancees". After all, he had more of them than any other man
she knew.
Akane met with her counselor and began making plans to attend college. She was confident that she
would get a scholarship, and put in several applications. Several of her friends had already
received their responses, and Akane had a meeting with her counselor that afternoon. Perhaps that
meant she'd received one.
A little voice in her head kept telling Akane to let Ranma know what she was planning, but she
didn't listen. As far as she could tell, he probably wouldn't even miss her.
*****
That afternoon, Ranma was walking toward his counselor's office when he spotted Akane approaching
from the other direction. She looked self-conscious when she saw him, and gave him a half smile
when she stopped and knocked on her counselor's door. He waited until she had gone in and closed
the door before he knocked on his counselor's door.
Akane smiled at Mrs. Itayama and sat down, trying not to wonder what Ranma was doing in that end of
the building. It was none of her business.
Mrs. Itayama smiled at Akane, and handed her a letter from Sanna College.
"Congratulations, Akane. You qualified for a two-year scholarship, dear."
Akane was thrilled.
"I really wanted to go to Sanna, Mrs. Itayama. Thanks for your help."
"You didn't really need much help, Akane. You got the scholarship because you deserved it. I'm
sure Ranma will be very pleased."
Akane looked at Mrs. Itayama in confusion.
"What makes you say that?"
"His acceptance letter came in today, too."
Mrs. Itayama watched in concern as all the color drained out of Akane's face.
*****
Ranma was so busy reading his acceptance letter that he almost missed Mr. Makoto's remark to him.
"I'm sure you and your fiancee will have a wonderful time at Sanna, Saotome."
The letter fell out of Ranma's hands, and he stared at his counselor for a few seconds before he
could speak.
"Akane is going to Sanna? You must be joking."
Mr. Makoto looked very embarrassed.
"I didn't realize she hadn't told you. Perhaps she wanted to surprise you."
"She succeeded."
Ranma and Akane left their counselors' offices at the same time, and stood in the hallway, staring
at one another. Ranma was the first to be able to speak.
"We need to talk, Akane. Meet me at your locker after classes."
Akane was waiting at her locker as Ranma had requested, and he grabbed her hand, led her out of the
school, and into the park. They found a bench and sat down.
"Akane, why didn't you tell me you were planning to go to college?"
Akane reddened, and answered the question with a question.
"Why didn't you tell me, Ranma?"
"Yeah, right. Well then, why did you choose Sanna?"
"Everything about it, Ranma. It's a good school, and it's far away from home."
Akane stopped short, wondering how Ranma would react to the latter part of her sentence. Ranma
looked angry for a moment, and then his expression changed to one she couldn't understand, because
he looked rather sad.
"And now you're still stuck with me. Sorry, Akane. I don't mean to bother you."
Akane struggled with an intense wave of misery, and tried hard to smile.
"You're not a bother, Ranma."
Ranma saw the tears in Akane's eyes, and put his arm around her. Before he could speak, there was
laughter behind them, and then a voice.
"Look at the lovebirds. How cute!"
Ranma turned, to see some classmates approaching. Akane jumped off the bench, grabbed her bag, and
ran off.
"I'm going to be late for work, Ranma."
Ranma realized he too was due at work, and left the park. All of his careful planning had
backfired. Instead of distancing himself from Akane, she was going to be attending the same
college. He just couldn't win.
*****
Akane ran out of the park, and slowed down to a walk. No matter how hard she tried, she just
couldn't get away from Ranma. How could she outgrow her love for him if she'd be seeing him all the
time?
Chapter 2
At dinner, Ranma waited for Akane to mention her scholarship, while Akane waited for Ranma to go
first. Dinner conversation was no different from any other night, though, and the subject was never
brought up.
Later, Akane finished her homework, changed into exercise clothing, and walked into the dojo to
practice. She always worked out when something was on her mind, and from behind a pile of mats in
the corner of the room, a small pig watched her as she practiced.
After only a few minutes, Akane stopped, turned down the lights, and sat on the floor, hugging her
knees. Normally, exercise helped her to work through whatever was troubling her, but tonight it
wasn't helping at all.
P-chan started out from behind the mats, and then turned back when the dojo doors slid open and
Ranma walked in. He stopped short when he saw Akane sitting there, and turned on the rest of the
lights.
"Akane, why are you sitting in the dark?"
"I was thinking."
Ranma looked curious, walked to Akane's side, and sat down on the floor.
"What about?"
Akane hesitated. She was tempted to tell Ranma to mind his own business, but she needed someone to
talk to. Hopefully, he wouldn't say something insensitive.
"College. I'm not sure how to tell Daddy, Ranma. I don't know if he'll approve of my leaving
home."
Ranma was surprised. Akane was a strong-minded, independent person, and he wondered why she was so
hesitant.
"If he doesn't approve, Akane, would you change your mind?"
Akane immediately took offense at the question.
"Why? Do you want me to stay home?"
"No, no, Akane. I just didn't think you'd let what your father thought affect you. If you want to
go to college, go."
Akane looked a Ranma a little suspiciously, and then relaxed. He sounded as if he'd meant what he
said.
"Ranma, this is something I really need to do. I'm looking forward to the whole experience: being
away from home, a new town, and new friends."
"Me too, Akane."
"Ranma, I have to ask you a favor. Please don't take this the wrong way."
"What is it?"
"I'd like to be known in Ube as me, Akane Tendo, and not Ranma Saotome's fiancee. Could we keep our
engagement a secret?"
For a moment, Akane thought Ranma looked hurt, but his reply was a favorable one.
"Okay Akane, if that's what you want."
Ranma hesitated, looking at the relief on Akane's face. Her request had hurt him, but he could
understand her desire for freedom. He took a deep breath, and gave her more freedom than she'd
asked for.
"Akane, if you meet someone you like in Ube, and you want to go out with him, don't worry about it.
I don't mind."
Ranma then got up and walked out of the dojo, leaving Akane staring at his departing back. She was
about to get up and follow him when a sound behind her made her turn.
"P-chan! When did you get here? I've missed you so!"
Akane got up, ran to P-chan, and picked him up. She started out of the dojo, then changed her mind
and sat down, cuddling the pig. P-chan heard a sniffle, and looked up to see Akane wiping her eyes.
"I don't know what to do, baby. I'm just so confused. I wish you could talk, and tell me
everything will be all right."
P-chan cuddled closer, and for a moment Akane felt as if he understood.
"Let's go, P-chan. It's almost time for bed."
Akane walked into the kitchen for a bedtime snack, and found Ranma having one. He saw P-chan in her
arms, and tried not to frown.
"Oh, I see P-chan is back. Where have you been lost this time, pig?"
Akane put P-chan down to open the refrigerator and looked at Ranma disapprovingly.
"Don't tease him, Ranma. Would you like a snack, baby?"
She got out something for herself, and for P-chan.
"Don't spoil him, Akane. He's fat enough."
P-chan picked up his head from his snack, and growled at Ranma. Akane was pouring herself a drink,
and Ranma quickly knelt down next to the pig.
"Don't get any ideas, Ryoga. You're not sleeping upstairs tonight."
The look in Ranma's eyes was enough to convince Ryoga that this time Ranma meant business, and Akane
was surprised to see him dash out of the kitchen. She put down her glass and ran after him, only to
see him slip through the half-open door and out into the darkness. Akane turned around and stomped
back to the kitchen. She picked up her glass and glared at Ranma .
"What did you do to P-chan, Ranma?"
"Nothing, Akane."
Akane sniffed, and carried her glass upstairs with her. She undressed and got into bed with the
drink and a book, but after a page or two put it down and turned off her light.
She just couldn't understand Ranma at all. It was all right with him if she saw other men, but he
got jealous of a little pig.
Ranma lay in bed, eyes open. He'd planned to leave home to give himself distance from Akane, and
now she would be at the same college. At least Sanna was a large school. Maybe they wouldn't be
running into each other all the time. Then he wouldn't have to see it if she found someone she
liked. The thought was unsettling to him.
Chapter 3
After a couple of days, Akane came to the conclusion that being afraid to tell her father she was
going to college was foolish, and she told Ranma so on her way to school.
Ranma had waited to tell anyone of his scholarship and he and Akane agreed to announce their plans
at dinner. They would tell Soun at that time, and then Ranma would phone his parents.
Unfortunately, things did not proceed as planned.
Ranma was working at a restaurant after school, and left in time to meet Akane as she was leaving
the day care center where she worked. They arrived at home in time for dinner, and found not only
Akane's family at the dinner table, but Ranma's parents. When they saw Genma holding two letters
from Sanna College addressed to them, they knew they'd delayed a little too long.
"Son, what are these letters about?"
Ranma suppressed his surprise that his father hadn't opened them, and replied to the question
calmly.
"Akane and I both got two year scholarships, Pop."
Genma looked at Akane for confirmation, and when she nodded turned back to his son.
"Why didn't you tell us you were planning to go to college? You could have applied somewhere closer
to home, like the community college."
Akane was the one to reply.
"Sanna College has a lot more to offer than the community college, Uncle Saotome, and we didn't want
to tell you until we knew if we would be accepted."
Soun interrupted, as he got up to hug his daughter.
"I am so very proud of both of you. But we'd better get started making plans."
"What kind of plans, Daddy?"
"For you to get married before you leave, of course."
"No, Daddy."
Soun stopped short, looking confused.
"Why not?"
Akane looked from her father's face to her fiance's. She knew if she stated that she didn't want to
marry Ranma at all, it would cause a huge argument.
"I'm not ready yet."
Soun looked like he was ready to argue with his daughter, but Genma interrupted him.
"Don't, Tendo. Let it be for a while. I would object if Akane was going away on her own, but Ranma
will be there to take care of her."
Akane knew that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and was ready to tell Genma
that, but Ranma pinched her hand under the table. After dinner, she took him aside to ask him why.
"I could see how angry you were, Akane, but arguing with Pop is a waste of time. Don't worry about
what he said--I won't get in your way."
Akane smiled rather sadly at Ranma, and shook her head.
"Ranma, I'm not trying to chase you away altogether, you know."
She returned to the kitchen to help Kasumi wash the dishes, and Ranma watched her walk away,
thinking that she had already done a very good job of it.
Soun and Genma went to the dojo to talk privately. Soun was still upset with Akane, and worried
about her leaving home.
"I don't like having my little girl so far away, Saotome. Maybe I shouldn't let her go."
"It's all right, Tendo. I have a plan."
Soun listened to his friend talk, and his frown turned into a smile.
Chapter 4
It wasn't long before word got around Furinkan High that Ranma and Akane would be attending college
together, and the inevitable teasing began. Ranma's friends thought it was hilarious that Ranma was
going to college with his fiancee, and wouldn't let him forget it. Akane's friends, on the other
hand, were totally confused. She'd spent the last couple of years complaining about Ranma's
presence, and they couldn't understand why she would want to go to college with him. When she
explained that it was a coincidence, they wouldn't believe her.
Akane's father had not raised the subject of a wedding again, which made her suspicious, she tried
not to worry about it, being busy enough getting ready for graduation.
Akane had been saving for a graduation gift for Ranma, and went to pick it up one afternoon. She'd
chosen a watch, and was having it wrapped when she became aware that someone was watching her.
Turning, Akane found Ukyo in the shop beside her. Ukyo didn't even pretend to be friendly, and came
right to the point.
"How dare you take Ranma away to Ube!"
"Excuse me, Ukyo, but Ranma applied to Sanna College on his own. I didn't even know about it until
he was accepted."
Ukyo snorted, and it was obvious that she didn't believe a word.
"Don't think you've won, Akane Tendo. Ranma is mine."
Ukyo walked away, and Akane turned back to the shop clerk, who handed her the wrapped package with a
sympathetic smile.
*****
Across town, Ranma was having problems of his own. On the way to the restaurant, Shampoo had
ambushed him, accusing him of deserting her.
"Ranma no go to college. You stay here, with Shampoo. Okay?"
"No, Shampoo. I'm leaving. I told you this yesterday, and the day before. When will you listen?"
Shampoo shook her head violently, and grabbed Ranma's arm.
"Shampoo no will listen. Never."
Ranma shook himself loose, and backed away.
"I have to go to work, Shampoo. Be a good girl, and go home."
Ranma ran off, not looking back.
Shampoo's persistence amazed Ranma. After her behavior in China, and the havoc she'd caused at his
aborted wedding, he would have thought that she'd realize that he didn't want her near him, but
she'd been following him every day.
After work, when Ranma left the restaurant, he half expected to find Shampoo waiting for him. He
was surprised to find his father and Akane's father there instead. Ranma felt rather apprehensive
as they got on either side of him, and began to walk with him. His father looked stern as he began
speaking.
"Ranma, have you done anything about a graduation gift for Akane?"
Ranma had been saving for one, and the question didn't surprise him.
"I've been saving for one, Pop. I was looking at some really nice bracelets."
"Son, don't you think it's about time you got Akane an engagement ring? After all, you've been
engaged for over two years."
Ranma stopped walking, and glared at his father.
"Pop, why do you have to interfere? What I choose to buy for Akane is my business!"
Genma said nothing, and Soun took Ranma by the arm to get his attention.
"Son, there's more to it than that. Akane is going to a strange town, where she will be surrounded
by men who don't know she's already spoken for. I would prefer it if the two of you were married
before you left home, but I'm willing to compromise. If Akane is wearing your ring when she leaves,
then other men won't bother her, and I'll worry less."
"But, sir."
"Ranma, listen to me. My mind is made up. You have two choices: Either marry Akane before you
leave, or give her an engagement ring. Otherwise, she's staying home."
Ranma thought hard. Akane didn't want it known at college that she was engaged, and this was not
going to make her happy. On the other hand, Ranma didn't want Soun to forbid Akane to go to
college. Then he thought of a way around the problem, and made a decision.
"Okay, I guess you're right. Just give me some time to shop around, would you? Akane deserves
something pretty."
Ranma turned to walk in the opposite direction, but Genma got the last word in.
"Don't make us wait too long, Son. I expect to see a ring on Akane's finger soon."
Genma watched Ranma's back stiffen, and expected him to turn and say something, but Ranma kept
walking.
*****
Akane was in a rocking chair holding a baby when the door opened and Ranma entered. She glanced
quickly at her school bag to see if Ranma's gift was sticking out, but the flap was closed.
"What are you doing here, Ranma?"
Ranma sat down opposite Akane, watching her rock the baby. He'd seen her doing so a few times when
he'd come to walk her home, and it never failed to amaze him that a tomboy like Akane could took so
natural with a baby in her arms. He liked what he saw and hesitated, not wanting to upset her.
"Akane, something's come up, and you should know about it, but first you have to promise not to get
mad at me. It's not my idea."
"Okay Ranma, I promise. Is something wrong?"
"Our fathers are insisting that I get you an engagement ring."
Akane was so amazed that she stopped rocking until the baby protested and she began again. Ranma
was surprised that she limited her response to one word.
"Why?"
"They're under the impression that the men on campus need to see that you're not available. Your
father told me he'd prefer it if we were married before we left, but he'd accept this as a
compromise."
"And if I say no?"
"He won't let you go."
Akane turned red, and Ranma could see how furious she was, but she remained calm. Perhaps it was
for the baby's sake, for he had fallen asleep. "What did you tell them, Ranma?"
"I told them I would get you a ring, Akane. I couldn't let your father make you stay home when you
want to go to college so badly."
"What about our promise, Ranma? We were going to keep our engagement a secret."
"I thought about that, Akane, and I see a way around it. Accept the ring, and wear it all summer.
You can take it off when you leave home, and no one will know but me. Is that okay with you?"
Akane brightened, and actually smiled at Ranma.
"Okay Ranma, I'll play along. Just do me a favor, would you? Wait until after graduation. If I
show up at school wearing an engagement ring, I'll never hear the end of it."
"No problem, Akane. I'm having a hard enough time with the guys as it is."
Chapter 5
When Ranma and Akane got home, Soun took Akane aside.
"Did Ranma tell you about the talk we had, Akane?"
"Yes, Daddy."
"And?"
Akane looked annoyed, but restrained herself.
"He's going to buy me a ring, Daddy. Excuse me, I have to change clothes."
Akane walked past her father, and up the stairs. She changed her clothes and sat on the bed,
staring into space. It was unfair of their fathers to back them into a corner like this. Family
loyalty was important, but making it a point of honor to marry a man who didn't love her was going
too far.
*****
Akane and Kasumi were washing the dinner dishes when Kasumi cheerfully asked her sister what she
would be doing that Saturday.
"Nothing special, Sis. Why?"
"How would you like to go shopping?"
"Excuse me?"
"Father gave me some money for you. He said he'd been saving for a wedding for you and Ranma, but
since you've postponed it again, you could use it for a dress for your graduation dinner, and to buy
some of your college wardrobe. Uncle Saotome is giving Ranma the money he'd been saving, so that he
can buy a suit. After all, he has to look nice when he takes you to the dinner."
Akane dropped the dishcloth she was holding, then picked it up and put it on the counter.
"You mean Daddy's given up on a wedding?"
"No, dear. He said he'd start saving again. I think he and Uncle Saotome ezpect that you'll get
married when you come home next summer."
"Oh."
*****
When Ranma emerged from his room the night of the graduation dinner, Akane was just opening her
door. They caught sight of one another, and stopped short.
Ranma was wearing his new suit, and Akane couldn't recall ever seeing him look so handsome, not even
in the wedding clothes their fathers had forced him into. Ranma noted that Akane was wearing her
favorite color, yellow. When he'd first met her, Ranma had teased her about her lack of feminine
curves, but there was no reason to do so now.
When Ranma handed Akane the corsage of yellow rosebuds he'd picked up for her, she looked at it in
surprise.
"Ranma, how did you guess I was going to wear yellow?"
"It was easy, Akane. I know what you like."
Soun looked up as the couple came down the stairs, and beamed with pride.
"The two of you look wonderful. One would almost assume you were on your way to get married."
Ranma and Akane flushed to the roots of their hair, and left the house quickly. Kasumi watched them
go, and then turned back to her father.
"Father, that wasn't such a good idea. We've all been pushing them to get married for a long, long
time. Maybe it's time to sit back and let them come to that decision on their own."
"But Kasumi, if we do that, nothing will ever happen."
"Don't be too sure, Father. I've been watching them, and I think they care for each other more
than they're willing to admit right now."
Soun looked thoughtful. Sometimes his quiet daughter could be very wise.
*****
When the couple arrived at the club, many of their classmates were already there. Ranma and Akane
had agreed to go their own way once they arrived, but at the door they were told that their table
was ready. Accepting the fact that everyone considered them a couple, they went to the table, and
found several of their friends waiting for them.
After dinner, a band started to play, and people began to fill the dance floor. Akane didn't expect
Ranma to ask her to dance, never having danced with him, and being unsure whether he knew how. She
was watching the dancing when a classmate approached her, looking at Ranma nervously, and asked her
to dance. Ranma just smiled, and watched them go.
Ranma sat watching as a different young man asked Akane to dance every time the music changed. At
first it amused him, since these were the same boys that Akane used to beat senseless every morning
when he'd first met her. After a while, however, he began to get rather jealous, and got up.
Akane stood on the side of the dance floor, catching her breath. There had been a break in the
music, and she had time to wonder whether she'd have to dance with every boy in the senior class,
and hoped that wouldn't be the case.
Ranma was trying to decide whether or not to ask Akane to dance with him when he saw Hikaru
Gosunkuji get up and begin walking toward her. That was enough to help him make up his mind, and he
crossed the floor quickly. As the music began again, Akane felt someone take her hand, and she
looked up to find Ranma beside her.
"It's my turn, Akane."
Gosunkuji stopped short, disappointed, and his jealous eyes watched as Ranma took Akane out onto the
dance floor. He was not the only one watching them. One of the unhappiest observers was Ukyo, who
had gone to the trouble of getting a lovely gown for the dinner. Ranma hadn't looked her way once.
At first, Ranma held Akane stiffly, and concentrated on his feet. Then his nervousness faded, and
he held her a little closer, enjoying the scent of the rosebuds she wore, and her nearness itself.
Ranma knew that being this close to Akane was dangerous for him, but he wasn't willing to give up
this last opportunity to hold her. She would be out of his life soon enough.
Akane's reaction to being in Ranma's arms was mixed. He hadn't held her since the day he'd saved
her life in China, and she'd been trying very hard to forget how good it felt. Now she couldn't
decide whether she wanted him to hold her forever, or to let go. Then Akane gave in to the moment,
and moved closer to Ranma, resting her head on him. She may as well enjoy it while she could.
Ranma was stunned when Akane moved closer into his embrace, and instinctively held her tighter. He
was enjoying himself too much to notice the glares from his male classmates, and the look of
reproach Ukyo gave him before leaving the room. When the music stopped, it took them a few seconds
to let go of one another, and then they quietly walked back to their table.
Their friends looked at them, puzzled at their expressions. As one couple got up to dance, the
young man whispered into his date's ear: "Look at them. You would think they just broke up."