[Episode 153267] [Episode 153267]Akane stood at the ledge, staring down at the ground below her. She was very far up in the sky, and it was hard to see anyone on the ground below, and the construction crew working this building weren't around for whatever reason. It was the perfect place for what she planned.
"It would be best for everyone if you would just leave Ranma and I alone. Forever." Kasumi's words still rung in Akane's ears, poking and prodding her toward this end. After all, who would miss her? She was never of much help around the house, and caused more damage than she was worth. Not only that, but she'd left Kasumi crippled, quite possibly for life.
No, Akane had no illusions that anyone would care about her if she were gone. They'd probably think it best, Akane thought as she closed her eyes and leaned forward, letting her weight be pulled down by gravity, closing her eyes as she began her descent, ignoring the sound of footsteps coming her way.
The rush of air was incredibly brief as she fell over the ledge, her body suddenly stopping before it ever really started. “What...?” Akane opened her eyes slowly to see the street still far below her. “What's going...?” She then noticed the feeling of something holding her left ankle and looked up to see what, or who, was stopping her fall.
Her father's upper body was over the ledge, his gi caked with dirt and sweat, as his hand gripped his daughter's left ankle desperately. He looked down at her with large, sad, desperate eyes. Yes, her father had been an overly sensitive sort, but never had Akane seen him so broken as now, a man trying with all his heart to pull together a family that was slowly falling to pieces around him.
“Why...?” Soun asked her in a soft, quivering voice as he pulled her back up onto the roof, making sure she was pulled back all the way before letting go, leaving the both of them sitting mere inches from the ledge.
“I... I thought that after everything...” The right words to say evaded Akane as she sat there and sobbed in front of her father, her emotions running wild yet again. “I thought no one loved me anymore... After what I did...”
The sideways shake of Soun's head was hard for Akane to read. Was he dismissing her claim that no one loved her, or was he angry that she'd tried to kill herself? “I'm angry, yes,” he told her, his voice shaky as he visibly struggled not to burst into tears. “How could I possibly not be? I'm angry that you never learned to control your temper, I'm angry that you crippled Kasumi, and I'm livid at the fact you tried to kill yourself just now. You've brought shame and dishonor upon my home and my school in more ways than you can imagine. You have failed as a martial artist and as a daughter.”
Her father's stinging rebuke caused Akane to flinch and look away, wiping the tears from her eyes as she let those words sink in.
Seeing his daughter reeling, Soun reached out and took one of her hands, pulling her gently to him. “However,” he added, “I could never hate you.”
Akane gasped as she was pulled into her father's strong arms, crying openly into his chest as he held her in his embrace. For what felt like an eternity, no words were exchanged between the two. The daughter simply held onto the father, letting her emotions flowing out in a wash of tears and trembles, as the father held her and watched the sun sink slowly into the horizon.
---
Ranma opened the door to Kasumi's hospital room, giving her a weak smile as he closed the door behind him. Slipping into the seat, he looked at his beloved, her eyes closed, her breathing even.
The sight was strangely soothing for Ranma, who let out a soft sigh. She looks so cute when she sleeps, he thought as he sat there looking at her. Suddenly, the urge to yawn overtook him, and he had to cover his mouth to keep from making too much noise as he let his yawn out. Well, I suppose she wouldn't mind me sleeping here with her, Ranma mused. It's not like she's likely to get up for a while anyway. With that, Ranma rested his head on Kasumi's stomach, closing his eyes and falling fast asleep.
He didn't even notice the tears falling silently from his eyes.
---
The sun was barely visible on the horizon, bathing the sky in a dark orange hue as Akane finally disengaged from her father's chest.
“What... What now, daddy?” Akane asked. “Kasumi won't let me near her... Ranma doesn't want to look at me, and I haven't even seen Nabiki through all this...”
Akane's eyes held many things for Soun to see as he glanced into them. There was panic, fear, and self-loathing in those eyes. There was remorse, desperation, a desire for things to go back to normal. Even clouded with tears, Soun could see the good person that Akane really was under the callous, violent personality she'd clung onto for most of her life. There was no doubt in Soun's mind that his youngest daughter could be redeemed, even now. The question was, how exactly should she be redeemed?
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(Posted Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:19)
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