AnimeFEST 2002 Fanfiction Contest
Third Place

November Rain
A Ranma 1/2 fanfiction
By Jadet
Copyright 02'

"Oh, that play was so good!" Akane gushed beside me, clapping her
hands together happily.  Despite the chill of the evening, Akane
almost seemed to glow with a bubbly warmth.  I couldn't imagine
why.  The play we had just gotten out of that Nabiki (with
prodding from our parents) so _generously_ gave us, hadn't been
anything special.  I almost fell asleep during the dumb thing in
fact.  To top it all off, now we had to walk the six blocks from
the theater home in the rain.  So why Akane was happy, I didn't
get.  

I adjusted the umbrella more carefully over our heads and peered
up at the black storm clouds above us.  To me, they resembled a
couple of angry bulls running at each other Pop and me once saw
on one of his training trips, roaring their frustration every
time they clashed.  Under my thick winter coat I could feel the
chill seeping in, and almost subconsciously I pulled my neck
further down into the warmth of my scarf.  

I hate rain, especially cold rain like this, I thought grumpily
to myself, skirting a rapidly growing puddle.  In weather like
this, going out was just like inviting the rain, "please oh
please, turn me into a girl!" Because of that my mood was
becoming just as black as the clouds thundering above us. 
Looking over at the girl happily re-enacting all her favorite
parts of the play beside me, my mood got even worse.  What was
she so happy about?  Stupid tom....

She turned to look at me, her golden brown eyes shining, and I
caught my breath.  She looked so pretty right then, a happy smile
touching her lips, her brown eyes shiny, and a faint tinge of
pink from the cold highlighting her cheeks.  Her short hair,
which I personally think looks better than the long hair she used
to sport, was tugged by the wind, and unconsciously she reached
up and tucked some of it behind her ear.  I found myself wanting
to reach out and loosen those blue-black strands again.  While
such thoughts would have prompted me to say something stupid to
distract myself not so long ago, they were getting more and more
common these days.  I was slowly getting used to them though. 
After Saffron, I'm _happy_ to get used to them.  That jerk came
way too close to taking her away from me.  So close that I still
woke up in cold sweat at least once a week, her name on my lips. 
Didn't mean that I lov... liked her or nothin' like that, don't
get me wrong.  It just meant that I... um... well...

"Ne, Ranma?" Akane asked.  I pulled my thoughts gratefully away
from that subject, mentally relieved that she had distracted me. 
I honestly don't know what the answer would have been had that
conversation with myself continued. 

"Wha?  Sorry Akane, I was thinking about something else."  

She scrunched up her face into a cute pout, but smoothed it out
after a second.  "I asked what _you_ thought of the play, Ranma."

I shrugged and pushed my hand not holding the umbrella deeper
into my pocket.  "It was 
okay."

Akane's lips tightened again, though this time it wasn't in a
pout.  Usually that warning made me backtrack a bit so to avoid
that ole "hammer of death" of hers, but my mind was still in
turmoil and unfortunately I wasn't paying enough attention.  

"Well," Akane started, her voice just a little more strained now. 
"You at least had fun 
tonight, didn't you?"

I rolled my eyes slightly.  "I guess Akane. That play really was
stupid, ya know."

She turned her head away from me then and stopped.  I stopped too
and flinched reflex ably at her back.  Uh oh, here it comes.   

"What about the company Ranma?  Did you at least enjoy that?" She
whispered, and this time my confusion was real.

"Huh?"

"Me, Ranma! ME!  Didn't you at least have fun being with me
tonight?!

I rubbed the back of my neck with my free hand, a half scowl,
half confused frown on my 
face.  What the heck was she trying to get at?  "Jeez, I guess so
Akane.  When you're not hitting me or nothin', I guess you're fun
to be with."

She whirled around to look at me, her eyes furious.  I backed
away a little bit, my hand 
going into its normal "don't hurt me" position.

"You... JERK!"

"Wha?" I blinked, then for no real reason except I was frustrated
with myself, I started to 
get a little angry.  "Jeez, what did you want me to say Akane?  I
SAID I had fun didn't I?!"

She shook her head violently.  "No!  You said 'I guess!'  You
didn't say you had fun!"

I opened my mouth to shoot something back, then closed it and
glared.  "Well I don't have fun when you act like this."

She jerked back like I had hit her, and I had just enough time to
feel really guilty before 
her hand shot up and slapped me solidly across the cheek.

"Ranma no baka!" She turned and fled into the storm, slowly
merging with the darkness until I could no longer see her. 

I raised my hand to touch my cheek, not noticing the rain now
pouring down on my head, or the umbrella lying a few feet away in
the gutter.  

"A  Akane...."

//ALL OVER THE TOWN, THERE ARE TEARS
YOU ARE BLURRED BY
THE RAIN RUNNING DOWN MY CHEEKS//  

I must have stood there for five minutes looking like a complete
idiot, one hand to my cheek and the other half outstretched in
the direction Akane had disappeared.  I couldn't believe I had
actually said that to her.  She had been having a good time until
I opened up my big trap!  I kept replying the scene over and over
in my head, seeing where I could have maybe fixed it, but nothing
came to mind.  I really was a baka. 

//BECAUSE THE PERSON OVER WHOM
I HELD THE UMBRELLA THAT ROLLED AWAY 
IS NOT HERE//

The wetness finally woke me from my trance, and I looked down in
surprise at my now female body.  I hadn't even noticed the
transformation, I thought absentmindedly to myself, stooping to
pick up the umbrella.  After its little roll in the street, it
was coated in a thin film of dirt and sported a jagged rip near
one of the ribs.  I probably stood another minute just staring at
the umbrella, before I smiled sourly and closed it up.  There
wasn't a point now to keeping it open; I was soaked to the bone
and female.  And besides, Akane didn't have an umbrella, where
ever she was.  Sighing at my self punishment, I tucked the
umbrella under my arm, and just started walking.  To where, I
wasn't sure, but walking just seemed like a good idea.

I probably looked a sight, as Kasumi would say.  My red hair was
plastered to my head, and my braid, almost as if it had a mind of
its own, hung dejectedly down my back.  My clothes were in no
better condition, since they clung to my body like a second, very
wet skin.  And, I noted with dry humor, every time my feet
touched the ground, a loud squishing noise greeted my ears.  I
looked the very image of a rejected lover, and knew it.  Maybe I
was one, I thought with a shrug.  I kinda felt like one.

My feet carried me aimlessly, and I kept my eyes lowered at the
puddles I sloshed through, mentally kicking myself.  Baka, baka,
baka!  If nothing else, Saffron should have taught me not to
stick my foot in my mouth when it came to important matters. 
Instead, like a coward, I had retreated from what I knew was the
right thing to do, and slipped back into my old routine.  Make
her mad so she doesn't guess the secret I am so desperate to
hide, even from myself.  

//I'M NOT BEING TRUE WITH MYSELF,
YES I KNOW BUT
I CAN'T SAY THOSE WORDS//

I started shivering violently, though whether it's from the cold
or the guilt and despair
hammering at my heart, I don't know.  I know I should tell Akane
that I lov... like her, but I just can't.  Some part of me is
afraid that if I say those words, like I did that day, then
something will happen.  I'll have to leave again, or she'll find
someone better, or someone will try to use her to get to me,
or... or she'll say she doesn't feel the same.  

Pop always said I should treat my engagement like a battle,
something that I'd have to 
observe, critique the weak points, and then strike at them.  At
the moment though, all I could think about was how she had looked
just after I said those stupid, thoughtless words, and it was
tearing me apart.  

//TENDER RAIN,
EVEN RAIN THAT'S ABOUT TO FREEZE FROM COLD
IS WARMER THAN MY HEART.
NOVEMBER RAIN
UNTIL MY TEARS VANISH,
DON'T STOP//

I found myself suddenly looking up at our high school, the rain a
little more harsh here than it had been a few blocks ago.  I
stopped my walk and just stood there, staring through the rain at
the large building, now gray and opaque looking from my vantage
point.  It amazed me to think that we only had one more year
here.  It seemed only yesterday that I had come to the Tendous on
a day like this, angry at my father and the world for placing
this wretched curse on me.  I had been so determined to leave
just as soon as I said, "thanks, but no thanks."  Then I had seen
her, this beautiful girl about my own age, staring suspiciously
at me with dark brown eyes that slowly softened and offered
friendship.  Even after she found out about my curse, and that
whole embarrassing bathroom incident, she still left her offer
for friendship open.  And in a way, I clung to that friendship
like a drowning person.   I may not have admitted it to myself or
anyone, but the thought of being engaged to someone I didn't know
terrified me.  Then she came along and turned everything around. 
She stood by me, she fought with me, she laughed with me, and...
she protected me.  Protected me from feeling the loneliness that
I was feeling right now.

I blinked away a few drops of rain, or at least that's what I
would prefer to call them, and turned back to the sidewalk,
slowly moving my feet to an unheard rhythm, hands deep in my
pockets.  The rain lessened as I walked, but kept up the quiet
hum of rain pattering the streets.

//THE RAIN SNAPPED ON THE ASPHALT
THE RAINY TOWN HAS
A TOUCH OF SADNESS, DOESN'T IT?//

When I looked up again, I found myself in the middle of the
shopping district.  All around me, stores are closed with their
doors tightly shut.  Rain fell here in the same intensity that I
have become familiar with, and I looked around with half lidded
eyes, not really curious but looking just the same.  It's not
like I have anything better to do right now.

I turned my head away slowly after awhile, and focused back on
the sidewalk in front of me and continued walking.  A soft sound
made me turn back however, and look down a dark alley way I had
just passed.  When I couldn't see anyone, I shrugged and turn to
leave again.  The sound came more forcefully and I whipped my
head back around, this time my gaze suspicious.  It was then I
noticed the soggy, half disintegrated cardboard box sitting
underneath an awning.  Cautiously I approached it, not knowing
what to expect, and blinked when I saw what it was.  

It's a puppy, a mixed breed obviously, and now wiggling around
happily because it had spotted me.  I looked around hesitantly
before I reached into the box to pull the squirming animal out. 
It whimpered and stuck its tongue out to lick my face, its little
body trembling with the force of its tail wagging.  I just held
it slightly away from my body and looked at it.

Its fur was short and soft, and at the moment as wet as I am. 
Except for one little white spot on its chest, it's completely
black, and judging by the size of his feet, isn't going to be a
very big dog.  Where a tail should have been was a stump, which
still wagged, but gave the puppy's tail more the impression of a
knob than a tail.  One ear was cocked forward, while the other
was bent in half, giving the puppy an impish look.  Big brown
eyes stared back at me, and again its little pink tongue extended
toward my face, its mouth twisted into what had to be called a
doggy grin.  

//I'M HOLDING
A WET PUPPY THAT
I PICKED UP ON A HILL ROAD//

This little puppy had to be the most adorable thing I had ever
seen, and I couldn't imagine why it was out here in the first
place.  Who would leave a poor puppy out in the rain like this? 
Stooping, I turned the box up towards me, one arm securely around
the puppy's midsection.  The little sign I had missed before in
the dark told me all the answers I needed to know, and though I
frowned, I was relieved.  I tossed back the "Free Puppies" box
onto the ground, and lifted the puppy back up to eye level.

"Guess you're commin' home with me, little guy."

The puppy wiggled its little body more and this time I allowed it
to lick me, grinning the whole time.  Maybe Akane would like this
ball of fur, seeing as Ryoga had given up being P-chan to be with
Akari.

//TENDER RAIN,
BECAUSE I LACKED ENOUGH COURAGE
I HURT YOUR FEELINGS
NOVEMBER RAIN
WASH AWAY ALL THE SADNESS//

Feeling a little bit more cheered, I carefully tucked the puppy
inside my shirt, allowing only the head to peek through the
opening.  Though I wasn't any dryer than the dog, I _was_ warmer,
and the puppy calmed right down, yawning widely enough to show me
its little teeth before closing its eyes.  I shook my head and
leaned down to where I had put the umbrella, opening it up.  I
may not deserve the umbrella, but I wasn't about to let the
little puppy catch a cold 'cause of it.  

I stepped out onto the sidewalk again, one hand clutching the
umbrella, the other carefully curled around my sleeping little
package.  I was really going to have to wash this red shirt when
I got home.  As cute as the puppy was, it still smelled like
every other dog when wet.

//AH, I CAN'T BE TENDER
WITH THE RED THREAD
LOOSE AS IT IS, WHEN WE ARE WALKING//

This time I didn't dally as I walked, and within ten minutes I
saw my first glimpse of the Tendou Dojo gates.  The gate proved
to be a bit of a problem though, so I had to shift the umbrella
to the hand holding the puppy stationary before I could pull one
of the gates open and walk through.  I closed it behind me with a
quick kick with my leg, and walked the rest of the way up the
walkway to the house.  Warmth greeted me as soon as I stepped
inside, and gratefully I closed the door behind me, eagerly
kicking off my shoes in the entry way.

"Taidaima!" 

Kasumi exited from the kitchen at my call, a towel already in
hand.  With a gentle smile, she handed me the towel in exchange
for the umbrella.

"Goodness Ranma, you're soaked to the bone," Kasumi said, in that
soft admonishing voice of hers that made you want to sink into
the floor and hide.  Instead I just turned red and looked at the
ground.  She shook her head, and turned to put the umbrella away
in the closet.  "We were all very worried about you when you
didn't come home after Akane."

I jerked my head up at that, relief prominent on my face.  "So
she came home?"

Kasumi nodded in a vague way, primly closing the closet door
behind her when she was done.  "Yes, she's in the dining room
right now."  She fixed me with a steely stare, and once again I
felt the urge to hide in the floor.  "You better go talk to her,
she was very upset when she came home."

I nodded my head guiltily and walked past her, one of my arms
still tucked securely around my package.  Kasumi must have just
noticed the bulge in my shirt, because she suddenly blinked.  

"Ranma, what do you have in your shirt?"

I grinned, a soft blush staining my cheeks.  "Um, just a gift
Kasumi."  Then I turned and left her in the entryway, dripping
water the whole way. Unbeknownst to me, she blinked again and
then smiled.  

//TENDER RAIN
EVEN RAIN THAT'S ABOUT TO FREEZE FROM COLD 
IS WARMER THAN MY HEART//  

I found her just where Kasumi said she'd be.  Standing outside
the patio doors, I watched as she slowly sipped the tea in front
of her, staring blankly at the wall ahead.  She had traded in her
wet clothes for her yellow pajamas, and had a towel loosely
wrapped around her neck.  She didn't look mad, thankfully, and
even better she didn't look hurt.  She looked more... thoughtful
than anything else.  I decided this time was as good as any, and
shyly cleared my throat as I stepped into the room.  Her head
whipped around, and large brown eyes landed on my soaking form. 
Even with the towel around my neck like she had, I had already
started forming a puddle underneath me.  Neither of us
acknowledged this though; I was too busy squirming under her
piercing gaze, and she wouldn't stop staring at my face as if she
was busy deciding something.  Whatever it was, she sighed after a
moment and looked down at the puddle under my feet.  

"You're dripping."

I looked down and flushed a beet red.  "Sorry."

Akane sighed, and started to stand up.  Abruptly she stopped and
stared at my chest.  I blinked, then looked down also and wanted
to smack myself for totally forgetting about the puppy.  It must
have decided to wake up now that it was warm, and its squirming
little body was trying to push its way out of my shirt.  I
grinned in embarrassment at the incredulous look on Akane's face
as I pulled out the puppy.  

"Ranma, what is _that_?"

I blinked.  Wasn't it obvious?  I really wanted to ask that too,
but I didn't dare.

"It's, uh, a puppy," I said, shifting through my mind for the
appropriate words that wouldn't sound stupid.  I couldn't think
of any, so I played it by ear.  "I found it when I was...
walking.  The little guy had been left in a box in the rain." 
Her eyes never left the continuously twitching little body, so I
continued.  "It was obviously being given away, and since I
didn't want the fuzz ball to drown, I, um, thought you might want
to take care of it since P-chan hasn't been around in awhile."

There, I said it.  Now it was up to her whether or not she would
forgive me.  As the seconds ticked by and she just stared at the
little puppy in my hands, my nervousness increased.  What if she
didn't forgive me?  What if she....

"You think you can make up for what you said by giving me a
puppy, Ranma?" Akane whispered, now turning her beautiful brown
eyes up at me.  

"Uh... yeah?" I asked hopefully.  The puppy chose that moment to
spot Akane, and I was treated to the difference between Akane and
me.  The puppy had been happy to see me when I rescued it, and it
probably even liked me a little if its numerous licks said
anything.  But the fact was, once it saw Akane, it wanted out of
my arms and into hers.  Its entire body tingled with happiness,
and I knew even without looking into its eyes, it had fallen in
love with Akane.  I didn't harbor any bad feelings toward it for
that.  There was just something about Akane that drew everyone to
her, and then made them fall hopelessly in love with her.  Hey,
if it could happen to me, Ranma Saotome, it could definitely
happen to a dog.  

With a smile, I stepped forward and gently put the puppy into her
hands.  "Here, I think he wants you."  Then I stepped back to
watch the show.

For a moment, she looked shocked at this little black ball of fur
who was trying to climb all over her to give her doggy kisses,
and whining because it couldn't do it fast enough.  Then her eyes
softened into a warm golden brown, and she buried her head in its
fur, hugging it to her chest.  The puppy now had unlimited access
to her face, and began showering her with little kisses. 
Laughter slowly bubbled out of Akane's mouth, and I found myself
grinning madly in response.  Oh yeah, there was definitely
something about Akane.

//NOVEMBER RAIN
UNTIL MY TEARS VANISH,
DON'T STOP//

"Baka."  Whether she was talking to the dog or to me, I don't
know.  She finally looked back up at me, and just from the warmth
in her eyes and her smile, I knew I was forgiven.   So I smiled
back, hoping she could see what I couldn't say just yet in my
eyes and my smile.  I think she did because her smile widened,
and though I could've kicked myself, I blushed bright red.  This
girl body was a bad influence.

Akane shook her head slightly, but continued smiling.  "I'll go
get you some hot water okay?"  She looked at the puppy now
happily lying in her arms, and widened her smile.  "Could you
hold..."  She checked quickly.  "Him while I go get you your
water?"

I shrugged.  "Yeah.  What are you going to name him?" I asked as
I accepted the little black ball of fur.  Akane cocked her head
to the side, and I suddenly had a bad feeling.  "You aren't going
to call him D-chan or something like that, are you?"

Akane laughed, but shook her head.  I continued to eye her
suspiciously.

"No.  I think I'll call him.... Kuroken," she smiled. "Kuro-chan
for short."  She bent over to kiss the newly christened Kuro-chan
on the head, then looked up at me.  For an overwhelming second, I
thought she was going to kiss me, and I was torn between feeling
panic and excitement.  But then she leaned up and kissed my
cheek.  "I'll go get your water now."

My cheek was still burning when she left the room, and all I
could do was stare after her in awe.  The puppy in my arms
wiggled and I brought my attention back down to him, a silly
smile still on my face.

"Kuroken huh?  At least that's better than D-chan," I muttered to
the puppy.  I situated myself at the table, and placed Kuro-chan
on my lap to wait for the hot water.  He whined for a second,
looking longingly at the door Akane went through, before heaving
a mighty sigh and settling down on my lap.  Absentmindedly, I ran
my hands softly through his fur, my mind still too busy on my
scorching cheek and my rapidly beating heart.  

Maybe I really was a baka as she said, but if I was, it was
because of her, and that thought leant me a contented smile as I
waited for Akane to come back.

//RAIN....//

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