A. N.: I'm back from the dead! Amazing, isn't it? Anyways, this chapter will mostly consist of some Ukyo and Akane interaction. I wanted them to sort of get along better before starting their new life together (not in that way, this is still a Ranma and Akane story people!) Well, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Ranma – or anything else for that matter.

That was her

Chapter 4: The ghost of you

"So … Where are we going exactly?" Ukyo asked as she combed her fingers through her hair. Her nose scrunched up at her own haggard appearance. 'Only guys can pull this look off …' She thought bitterly before a light suddenly went off in her mind. Quickly, she let her hair fall to her shoulders as she tried to get Akane's attention once again.

Akane looked down at her lap as they sat together on a small bench. Their train would be arriving soon, but now she was beginning to have second thoughts. Could she truly make it on her own without her family? She had become so accustomed to their verbal abuse that in some twisted way she was dearly going to miss it.

"Akane, are you even listening to me?" Ukyo asked, irritated as she waved a hand in Akane's face.

Akane blinked and looked at Ukyo curiously. "Um, Ukyo …?"

Ukyo sighed and returned to trying to fix her hair. "It's about time. I've been trying to get your attention forever!"

"Oh." Akane whispered and then folded her hands in her lap. "Ukyo … Aren't you going to miss home?"

"What? Hell no. Why would I?"

Akane seemed satisfied with the answer and smiled. "No reason."

Ukyo shook her head at the girl before brightening up as she remembered what she wanted to say. "Akane, I've got an idea!"

"An idea? Wow, I'm impressed."

"Ha ha, anyways …" Ukyo began, adjusting herself on the bench. "I was wondering … Wouldn't life be easier if you were a boy?"

Akane blinked and checked Ukyo's head for any injuries; Ukyo just rolled her eyes and slapped her hand away. "I'm serious! Think about it! Would all of these things still have happened to us if we weren't girls?"

"Well …" Akane frowned and thought about it. "No, I don't think so …"

"And why not?"

"… I don't know. Why?"

Ukyo beamed. "Because guys don't put up with shit! If things get out of hand they solve it any way they can, no matter the consequences. Girls don't do that; we think too much of the consequences and eventually give up on taking matters into our own hands."

"Your point?"

"Alright, this is gonna sound really strange, but I'm serious …" Ukyo paused, took a deep breath and then tied her long hair back. "What if I became a guy?"

"WHAT!" Akane shrieked, shocked beyond belief. "B-But won't that cost a lot of money?"

Ukyo blinked and then laughed good-naturedly. "Not like that! What if I dress up and pretend to be a guy?"

"Why on earth would you do that?"

"Just think about it! I would be starting fresh, experiencing something new, and not putting up with anyone's bullshit …" She turned and smiled at Akane. "Plus, if I don't like being a guy I can always go back to being a girl."

Akane placed a finger on her chin and narrowed her eyebrows in deep concentration. "You know, I've never thought about it that way. Kids at school used to tease me cause I could beat up the boys, they called me a tomboy so I decided to change –"

Ukyo balked at her statement. "You changed yourself because of what other people thought of you! That's kinda pathetic Akane."

Akane frowned and abruptly stood up, hands clenched at her sides, her old childhood short-temper coming back with a vengeance. "Well, you're no better! You wanna become a boy for heavens sake!"

"But that's because I want to – not because people don't like me the way I am!" Ukyo stood up right along with her, her own hands clenched.

The two girls were suddenly at a stare off. Glaring at each other, fists clenched at their sides, awaiting each others first move. Then suddenly the soft music of a local creep vendor could be heard in the distance and the girls immediately brightened.

"Um, we can continue this later, right Akane-chan?" Ukyo asked sweetly, offering her hand in a friendly handshake.

Akane nodded back, taking Ukyo's hand into her own as the two shook with a mischievous smile plastered on their faces. The two then giddily skipped to the awaiting creep vendor. Passerby's who had been watching their little spat were now left looking on in amazement.

"That's why you don't do drugs …" One of the mother's could be heard telling her little daughter, who simply nodded in reply.

-At the creep vendor-

Ukyo and Akane stood waiting behind a couple who were getting and extra creep for their son.

Groaning, Ukyo began to fidget. "Akane, how much money do you have?"

"Not much." Akane responded as she withdrew a few coins.

Ukyo gaped and withdrew her own money. "Shoot, I think we only have enough for one … and that's us combining our money."

Akane raised an eyebrow at her. "Isn't that alright?"

Ukyo sighed. "No, I wanted my own."

"Well next time bring more money." Akane frowned and crossed her arms.

"Next!" The creep vendor called.

Ukyo and Akane stepped up somberly.

"One creep please." Ukyo said wistfully as she looked at the ingredients longingly.

Akane smiled and patted Ukyo reassuringly on the back. "It's okay."

The old creep vendor chuckled. "I think you two are the oddest couple I've seen in awhile." He whispered hoarsely.

"Huh?" Ukyo asked, completely confused.

"I saw the two of you back there; it was kind of cute in a strange way." He continued, and just when Ukyo was about to protest being a man he spoke again with a tender smile. "You know what, how about I give you an extra creep? You two seem a nice enough couple."

Akane's eyebrows narrowed in thought before she grinned mischievously, holding onto Ukyo's arm she smiled sweetly. "Oh yes, we're very much in love."

Ukyo blinked once more and looked down at herself. The clothes she was wearing hid her womanly features well enough and what with her hair tied back like it was, even she had to admit she looked like a guy.

The old man smiled even broader. "Alright, well what flavors would the two of you like?"

Ukyo began to open her mouth to respond when Akane beat her to it. "One strawberry and the other banana-chocolate, please." She said as if that had always been their usual order.

"Coming right up."

Giggling Akane turned and smiled saccharinely at Ukyo. "It's always good to try and experience something new, isn't it honey?"

The old man looked up puzzled, but Ukyo just gritted her teeth and forced a smile back. "Of course, sweetie."

"Good."

Once they got their orders the two briskly walked back to their bench before breaking out in laughter.

"You know, now I'm starting to think that you being a guy isn't such a bad idea anymore." Akane said between bites of her banana-chocolate creep.

Ukyo nodded with a grin. "Yeah, I told you didn't I?" She then paused and glared at Akane. "But next time sweetie, as the man in this relationship, I'm choosing the creep flavors!"

Akane laughed and continued to eat her creep when suddenly there was a strange looking red-headed girl in front of them. 'She looks awfully familiar …' Akane thought as she tried to remember where she had seen her from.

"Yo, do you guys happen to have any hot water?" She asked roughly with a small frown.

Ukyo and Akane turned and stared at each other before turning their attention back to the strange red-head.

"What kind of a question is that?" Ukyo asked with a suspicious gaze.

"Look, take it whichever way you want to take it – I just need some hot water is all!" The red-head said, a bit more agitated than before.

Ukyo glared at the petite red-head and began to slowly clench her fists. Noticing the change in Ukyo's demeanor Akane quickly got in between the two of them and frowned at the red-head. "First of all, that's no way to ask someone for a favor." She began, earning a quiet glare from the red-head. "But seeing as you seem to be in need of it, I think you can get some for free at the station's café."

The red-head looked skeptic, but nodded anyways. "Thanks." She muttered under her breath before sprinting off towards the café.

Ukyo scoffed at the retreating red-head's back. "The nerve of that girl! Who does she think she is anyways?"

"Well, seeing as you still look like a guy, she thinks she's a pretty tough girl."

Looking down at herself, Ukyo gasped and then frowned. "Hmm, I guess being a guy doesn't mean you won't get any shit from people."

Shrugging, they went back to finishing their creeps.

From a distance you could hear the remnants of their fading conversation …

"Hey, was that free hot water thing true?"

"Yeah, I guess it's kinda like restaurants."

"How so?"

"It doesn't cost them anything to give you some cold water."

"Hmm."

-Later that day-

Akane yawned and then looked down at her watch. "Our train is late."

"Extremely." Ukyo sighed and looked down at the ground. "I'm about ready to either cut or choke someone."

"Nice set of choices there."

"Thanks, I try."

"Hey, do you guys have the time?" A tall, pig-tailed handsome young man asked. 'He just seemed to come out of nowhere.' Akane thought with a small yawn.

Ukyo was instantly attracted to the mystery young man. She blinked, smiled shyly, and then looked down at her wrist to find it bare. "Um … Oh, Akane! What time is it?"

Akane yawned once again as she looked down at her watch. "Uh, it's a quarter to two."

"Huh? What does that mean?" The boy asked, a bit confused as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

Akane blinked and smiled knowingly. "It means fifteen minutes till two."

"O-Oh, alright … T-Thanks." He stuttered out before returning to where he had come from.

Akane continued to smile while Ukyo sighed with a small frown.

"You can never have both, you know." Ukyo said, rather nostalgically.

"Huh?"

"It's always either the brains or the bronze."

Akane smirked as she pulled on her rather messed up coat. "Same thing could be said about girls."

"Not really. There are only a select few special girls out there, and sometimes they're neither brains nor bronze … They're just something else."

Akane looked at Ukyo and then turned her attention towards the sky, contemplating over what she had just said. "That was really perceptive of you, Ukyo."

Ukyo grinned and placed her hands behind her head. "I know, wasn't it?" Suddenly, Ukyo heard a rustling nearby and beamed at the sight. "Akane, look! Our train is finally here!"

Slowly turning to look at the train Akane smiled sadly. This would be it. Once she was on it there was no going back. Steadily, she took in a deep breath and picked up her luggage with shaking hands. Her face looked completely neutral, but inside she was a mess of different emotions stirring around – finally breaking free of the self-imposed box she had tucked them away in for so long. She feared she would sooner than later lose control of herself if she didn't calm down quick.

Ukyo seemed to notice her sudden hesitance and smiled at her reassuringly. "C'mon! Let's go and get a start on our new and improved life!"

Akane couldn't help but smile, her hands now firmly gripping onto her bags. "Yes, lets."

"Alright!" Ukyo cheered as they made their way towards the train. "Oh, um Akane … Where are we going exactly?"

Blinking, Akane smiled at Ukyo. "That feels like deja-vu …"

"Maybe cause I've already asked you that question before!"

"Oh, right. Sorry." Akane said and then stopped before entering the train. "We're not going too far from here, but far enough to be happy." She then entered with a delighted smile, feeling like a kid for the first time in her life.

-Elsewhere on the train-

'I'm finally coming back home to you mom … Mom …'

End of Chapter 4: The ghost of you