---------------------- THE PRICE OF PRIDE----------------------
                              By: Angela Jewell

Ranma 1/2 is the property and creation of Rumiko Takahashi, and whoever else owns it.
I'm not making any money off of this so don't sue me. Besides, good luck if you tried.
I'm broke.

---------------------- A Ranma 1/2 Short Fic ----------------------

As I watch them together it feels like a thousand needles piercing me all throughout my body--
I feel it in my chest, my head... my heart.

The pain is unbearable... I love him so much.

It feels great to finally say those words. I never realized how easy it was to say them before--
I love him. I love him. I love him.

See? It just rolls off the tongue.

Except, now it's too late.

He's smiling at her again, his eyes, shining.

It's hard seeing them this way. It's a constant reminder of what I've been forced to give up.

No, I have to remind myself. Not forced: I was never forced.

Everyone always said we were both too stubborn for our own good... I guess they were right.

You see... this whole situation is my fault. *He* didn't deserve this. His whole life has been
about people manipulating and controlling him, and I could've put a stop to it... if it hadn't
been for my foolish pride. But by the time I realized just what I could lose... time had run out
and I'd lost him.

He's happy now at least. Of that I'm certain. The magic binding them must be very powerful.

For his sake I hope it lasts.

I don't think he'd ever forgive himself if it finally wore off and he found

himself in China, married to *her*.

Of course... they're not married *yet*...

But they might as well be. I've tried everything and nothing works...

Yet... I can't bring myself to give up hope. Not yet anyway. You see, the problem is... I still
love him.

If-- if things had been different-- if I knew he really *was* in love with her and that it wasn't just because of the red string of fate-- then, I wouldn't dream of standing between them. But he doesn't love her!

Does he?

Well... she sure found a way around *that* obstacle all right...

I look back at all the chances I had to tell him that I love him and want to start screaming. We
came *so* close *so* many times to revealing our true feelings for each other... Or was that all in
my head too? Oh, I don't know anything anymore! I keep praying that I'll wake up and this whole
nightmare will be over.

But so far... nothing's changed.

And now, they're kissing each other: Shampoo, laughing happily as he wraps his strong arms around
her yet again.

And as I watch this in suffering silence, I want to die.

I'm *so* sick of this. The needles keep piercing me deeper.

He has my heart and Shampoo-- for now-- has his. And that knowledge hurts worst of all.

But such is the price of pride.

THE END

AUTHORS NOTES:

Okay, in case the story wasn't clear enough, this is from Akane's point of view.

The red string of fate concept is from the anime. During one of the episodes, Shampoo got a red string that, when tied to the pinky of someone else, made them fall hopelessly in love with them. In the end Ranma and Shampoo are close to being married, when Akane appears with some scissors and cuts the string, breaking the spell over Ranma.

I guess this is a kind of alternate ending to that story...

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