Ranma nodded to his guard, a Jagwere by the name of Gar he had recently become aquainted with due to Ryoga's in opprotune timing and attack.
"Sit tight Mr. Saotome, we'll get this cleared up quickly." Gar said as he reattached the keys to his belt chain.
"Sure. If you have anymore questions.." Ranma grinned, walking over to the bed and patting it, ".. I'll be right here."
Gar nodded, before turning away and exiting Ranma's immediate visual range. He heard him conversing with some one, Onoli Ranma believe by the tone of voice, about questioning some more witnesses.
Ranma sighed, slumping down on his bed for a moment. "I wonder what Tanya's going to say about all this..."
***
Tanya glared, her nostrils flaring angrily. "What do you mean my husbands been arrested?!"
Sheila, as with most of the people she knew, did not like Tanya. Granted she hadn't had much to do with the woman, but her past reputation spoke for itself.
"He was arrested for disturbing the peace and for being involved in a nasty domestic dispute." Sheila answered evenly, allowing a frown to cross her features.
"Where is he?!!" Tanya snarled, clenching her fists tightly. It figured her husband would go and do something like this. What really pissed her off ( and scared her ) was the fact the rumor mills would spread talk of her husbands and this unknowns fight. If G'Nolga was indeed alive, they should expect a visit from her post haste. Not good, neither she nor her husband were ready for another confrontation with the dishonored weaponsmaster.
"Look lady." Tigra butted in, having no idea how close Tanya was to exploding at them, "You're husband is in safe hands. The investigation shouldn't take too long, and if he's as innocent as he says he is he'll be let out tomarrow. Just relax and let us do our job."
Tanya growled, she quickly contemplated blowing the arrogant son of a bitch Officer and his annoying bitch partner away. She calmed down, reminding herself that that part of herself was gone, buried under the shared love of herself and her husband.
"Fine." Tanya said angrily, before turning around and stomping back into the cabin. Tomarrow when Ranma got out, she was going to make damn sure he knew how.. 'dissappointed' she was in him.
***
Ranma dreamed, ignorant of the unconscious shiver his body had just felt.
He dreamt of a time long since past, of people that were and to a degree still were his friends.
"Akane.." he mumbled as he dreamed about his last talk with her, and the reprocutions that were sure to follow because of it.
"Akane.. we need to talk." Ranma said sadly.
"Sure Ranma, whats going on?" Akane inquired with a frown.
"We need to talk about the.. engagement. Yours, Ukyo's, and Shampoos."
Akane felt herself broil at his statement, but quickly held it down. She couldn't let herself lose control, the tone of Ranma's voice had stressed that this was indeed something of critical importance to their relationship. "What about our engagement?"
Ranma sighed, chancing his resolve by gazing into Akane's eyes. He steeled himself, "Akane Tendo. I.. I once loved you." he forced out. It was extremly difficult to say.
Akane blinked, that anger she was forcing herself to control guttered out instantly, "LLLove me?" she repeated, and then growled, "Once loved me?" the anger returned, but instead of lashing out she forced it down again - Proof for all to see that she was indeed gaining control of her temper. She wasn't an idiot, nor as deluded as people thought she was. She knew she had a problem, and knew she had to fix it. The problem was she simply didn't know 'how' to fix it. Thankfully Kasumi had lent a hand in that area.
"What do you mean.. 'once loved you'?" Akane asked in a pleaful tone.
"All the fights, the attacks, Toma, Herb, Kirin, Saffron. I fought them all for you, for me, for us. I loved you then Akane, but.. I.." Ranma sighed, and decided to come out and say it, "But I don't love you the way you might want me too anymore. Theres too much hurt between us. The distrust, the anger.. it drove me away Akane. I can't live like that... no one can live like that."
Akane wiped a tear that escaped during Ranma's words, "But Ranma! I've been trying! I do trust you!"
Ranma smiled sadly, then shook his head, "I know you've been trying, and to an extent you do trust me. We.. we made alot of progress since I first came here. Its just... just that I.. don't love you in that way Akane."
Akane was oh so tempted to let her tenuous hold on her anger go, to relish in the joy and power her anger would bring her. To feel the relief of dealing justice to this BOY.. but she couldn't. He wasn't a boy, he was a man... the man.. the man she loved...
"I.. I love you Ranma." she cried out, before turning away and running back into the House.
Ranma looked at Akane's retreating form sadly. He did love her. Just not in the way she, or their families wanted. He didn't know what to call it, but he just knew in his gut it wasn't the love a man and a woman would share.
Ranma didn't even care to notice the rain clouds above him releasing their tears. Even when away and left the only home that he ever had known, he didn't notice the soft drops of cool water change him to a her.
His own tears went unnoticed as well. If asked, he would simply blame it on the rain.
***
"Thank you for you're assistance, that will be all." Gar said tiredly as the final witness left. It was a tiring ordeal, dealing with Mr. Saotome and the Mercenary/Bounty Hunter Hibiki. Oh yes, he knew of Mr. Hibiki due to his reputation, likewise for Mr. Saotome. Not many people could 'defeat' G'Nolga, and if rumor has it he recently did battle with Master Julia - Some how managing to draw with the Armsmaster.
Onoli slid a mug in front of Gar, taking a seat as he sipped from his own, "It's hot coacoa. Drink up, it'll relax you're nerves."
Gar grunted, taking the preoffered drink and sipping cautiously. Gar smiled contently as the warmth from the drink spread over his body, already working wonders in relieving the stress he felt over the situation. "Thanks sir."
Onoli waved the thanks off. The two officers were quiet for a moment, until Onoli broke the silence with a question, "So what is you're final judgement, concerning our newest inmates."
Gar sighed, setting his drink aside, "Mr. Saotome's statement coincides with all the witnesses reports. Mr. Hibiki's claim that this was all Mr. Saotome's fault does not. It's obvious by the reports Saotome is innocent."
Onoli nodded thoughtfully, looking out a window, "It's late, Gar. We'll release Mr. Saotome in the morning and file the charges against Mr. Hibiki in the morning." he turned from the window, taking note of Gar's exhausted demeanor.
Gar nodded, shuffeling some papers, "Yes sir. I'll just file these.. " he let loose with a loud yawn, then continued, ".. before heading off to bed."
Onoli shook his head, standing up, "No Gar. Go get some sleep, I'll handle the beuracracy." when Gar looked ready to protest Onoli reinterated, "Don't make me order you, Gar."
Reluctantly Gar nodded, finished the last of his drink and climbed the stairs - the thought of his warm bed making him feel toasty and relieved.
***
Ranma came awake late in the night, and immediatly sighed as he remembered what had dreamed about. An idle thought about how the Tomboy and her family were doing crossed his mind, before he disregarded the notion. That part of his life for the most part was closed.
Ranma knew he still had to deal with Ukyo and Shampoo before that chapter of his life was closed permantly. He didn't get the chance, what with Ryoga attacking him and Happosai banishing the two of them to Jade.
The hours past quickly, Ranma lost in deep contemplation. He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of keys jingling into a lock.
Turning to the cell door, Ranma caught sight of Thorpan, a werepanther he had had the pleasure of meeting the day before. Thorpan was a friendly person, and a hell of a officer if the way he acted during his interrogation the day before meant anything.
"Hey." Ranma grunted softly, standing up and away from the cell door as his jailor opened the door.
"Morning Saotome-san." Thorpan responded jovially as he opened the cell door, "You're free to go. We just have some papers, and a witness statement for you to sign before you're a free man."
Ranma nodded, following Thorpans lead by exiting the cell, "Glad to hear this misunderstanding is solved."
Thorpan nodded with a grin. He rather liked the Pigtailed martial artist. Oh sure, some of the other officers didn't trust him much, but that was mostly due to his association with Tanya, a known criminal. Still, he seemed like an okay guy, and obviously liked enough by the people of Seer's Hamlet if the numerous people who came forward in his defence meant anything.
"So. Where are these papers you need me to sign?"
***
Tanya glared the glare of a pissed off spouse when her husband entered the house.
Ranma eeped, immediatly sprouting off apologies, "I'm sorry Tanya! I didn't mean for it to happen! Don't be mad!" he pleaded.
Tanya, shaking in anger (or was it fear? Ranma couldn't tell) stalked up to her Husband. Their eyes met, and for a moment the pigtailed martial artist though he was going to get his ass kicked, but was pleasantly surprised when Tanya hugged him tightly. Gibbering about how scared she was that he had been hurt, and something about G'Nolga'.
Ranma sighed and smiled sadly, taking the distruaght Kryn and hugging her tightly. He knew he was still in trouble, but at least he knew with out a shread of doubt his wife loved him more than anything.
That knowledge, in and of itself, was all that mattered.
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(Posted Fri, 16 May 2003 21:06)
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