LEARNING TO LET GO

By: Angela Jewell

Ranma 1/2 is property and creation of Rumiko Takahashi, and whoever else... I have NO money, so PLEASE don't sue me! Now, on with the story.

* * what a character is thinking

* * *

Chapter 4:

Meetings and Greetings

* * *

     Akane screamed at the top of her lungs, "LET ME OUT OF HERE THIS MINUTE!" as she continued to bang repeatedly on the hardwood door.

     After waiting impatiently for somebody to come and let her out, she had chosen the initiative: Banging on the door as hard as she possibly could, and screaming at the top of her lungs. She figured if they weren't going to let her out willing, she might as well annoy the hell out of em.

     Her second plan was to start singing.

     There's nothing worst then a tone deaf singer who can't carry a note.

     "IF YOU DON'T LET ME OUT THIS SECOND I CAN'T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I MIGHT DO!!!!"

     She figured it was in their best interest to be forewarned. I mean, she DID have a heart.

     Akane stepped away from the door, arms crossed, as she waited for someone to come and let her out. She waited, and waited, and waited...

     Hmm... was that a key turning in the lock?

     Nope.

     She waited, and waited, and waited, and waited....

     Hey! Was that someone trying to open her window?

     Definitely not...

     An hour later... after much standing and waiting... Akane silently fumed. "OK." she whispered. "I warned you..."

     Akane took a deep breath and released it, then began to sing the different notes on the scale, a useless attempt to warm up her voice. "THAT'S IT!" she yelled, after she had finished warming up. "THIS IS WAR!!!"

     And with that, Akane began to sing. (If you could actually call it that.) The hideous sounds that escaped her lips could hardly be considered music. They could cause a person to have a nervous breakdown and run screaming in the streets. (Which is what a lot of the guards watching her room were doing.)

     "On top of SpageTTi All COVered WITH chhhheeeeeesssssseeeeee I lost my poor MEAT BALL when SOMEboDY sneeZED!"

     The horrible sound coming from Akane came to an abrupt end as she saw the doorknob to her room turning, and a sick looking guard walk in. He didn't look very professional... he was swaying from left to right...

     "Listen, girly..." the guard said, glaring angrily at Akane, as he grabbed the door frame to keep from falling over. "You better stop that horrible thing you call 'music' and behave like a sweet, helpless girl, who's waiting for her brave prince to come and rescue her."

     "Listen, BUDDY!" Akane spit out angrily. "I think you got the wrong, 'sweet, helpless girl, who's waiting for her brave prince to come and rescue her.' I'm a martial artist who can take care of herself! But... um... if you want I can help you look for this sweet helpless girl you're looking for... but you'll have to let me go, of course."

     The guard eyed her critically, indecision clear on his face. "You sure you're not sweet and helpless?"

     "DO I HAVE TO PUNCH YOU THROUGH THE FRICKIN WALL TO PROVE MY POINT?"

     The guard laughed nervously, eyeing Akane thoughtfully. "Well... do you really know where to find this helpless girl I'm suppose to be guardin?"

     Akane got an evil gleam in her eye. "Of course I do... her name's... {insert ominous thunder here} Ranma Saotome."

     Akane's conscience at last, found the courage to speak. *What are you doing? You love Ranma! You can't trade him in for you!*

     ha ha. Wanna bet?

     Besides, who cares about Ranma anyway? It was his fault she was trapped in here in the first place. Feh, her cookies, toxic? Whatever.

     "Well... are you going to let me out or not? I'm the only one who knows where he--" Akane laughed nervously. "I-- I mean she, is..."

     "Well, gee. I don't know... I-- I'd better go talk it over with my boss first. Be right back!"

     So, Akane sat back and waited.

     And she waited and waited, and waited...

     Hmm... was that the sound of footsteps outside?

     Nope.

     She waited, and waited, and waited....

     Hey! Was that someone turning the doornob?

     Unfortunately: No.

     Ten minutes later...

     The same guard entered her room once again, his posture sure and proud. "Well... sorry, but my boss says you're just trying to trick me into letting you go. It was a good plan though, by the way."

     "IF YOU DON'T LET ME OUT OF HERE THIS MINUTE, I'LL SING AGAIN! THAT'S NOT A THREAT EITHER, THAT'S A PROMISE!"

     "No problem!" The guard replied happily, pulling a bottle of extra strength bayer and a pair of ear plugs out of his pocket. "This time could you sing, 'Home on the range?' It's me and the boys favorite song."

     And with that, the guard slammed the door shut and locked it.

     "OH YEAH? YOU REALLY THINK EXTRA STRENGTH BAYER WILL SAVE YOU? HA! THINK AGAIN!"

     To say that Akane was mad would be putting it lightly. She wasn't mad... not really... she was more like, agitated, or annoyed. She wanted out and she wanted out NOW! She wondered if she could break the door down by ripping it off its hinges. Ranma always said she was as strong as an ox, and as violent as a gorilla... why not put her true strength to the test?

     Immediately after thinking of Ranma, Akane fell down to the floor, laughing maniacally as thoughts of shoving a plateful of her homemade cookies down his throat, entered her mind.

     Besides, wasn't it her cookies and Ranma's stupidity that brought her here in the first place?!

     With renewed determination, it was decided what must be done, and in the end: SHE WOULD BE VICTORIOUS!!!!

     No matter what, she'd make Ranma eat her cookies even if it killed him! (Which it would most likely do.)

     {Um... Moving on, and of course disregarding Akane's disturbing train of thoughts, let me explain what happened next....}

     After her laughter had quickly died out, Akane sat back against her door to wait for her... um... _prince_ to rescue her...

     And she waited, and waited, and waited...

he he he.

THE END

_________________________________

-What do you have to say for yourself?

- Um... It was the caffeine?

(And in case you haven't figured it out... this wasn't the real chapter. Just a small teaser of things to come...)

HA HA HA. Yeah right.

        -this is what happens when you send me rude e-mails, demanding I update!