Legal stuff

The characters of the Ranma 1/2 universe are the creation and possession of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi. I don't own anything except this story. Enjoy

Chapter one, Three weeks and one long night.

Three weeks had passed since the failed wedding and nothing yet had been accomplished. Well nothing that anyone but Saotome Ranma would know. Now the house and dojo had been fixed courtesy of Ranma himself. However reluctant the young martial artist had been at the onset of such a boring project, after the second day of work he gave up on his protests in favor of silence and had refused to speak to anyone. By day five to his own surprise he found himself to be enjoying the task. It gave him time to be by himself and think.

He would have been finished with the project in about a week and a half if not for the fact that he was Ranma Saotome and has at least three fiancés at any given time. He would complete a project like the floor only to find himself glomped onto by Shampoo only to be immediately smashed into a new crater, compliments of Akane Tendo, and other similar incidents ensued. In total between his fiancés, rivals, and other random people showing up and Screaming "DIE FOUL SORCERER" or "RANMA PREPAIR TO DIE" and always someone saying "Ranma is MY fiancé" he only had to fix the floor five times each wall twice and various holes in the ceiling nine times.

Not a word had passed his lips when he was awake in three weeks (except to arrange for trips to doctor Tofu's). The only person he wanted to talk to would only smash him into the floor, and other than that refused to even look at him even at meals when they sat side by side. In those three weeks Ranma had learned three things. One his feelings for Akane and how he would do anything to keep her safe, Two he was not yet strong enough to protect her, and three how to become stronger without putting Akane in more danger.

During one of his many trips through the floor upon regaining consciousness he found himself inside a small cave underneath the dojo. The cavern had been dark and musky and only contained one thing a shrine with an etching of two dragons curling down the sides coming to rest facing each other with one scroll between them. The scroll its self was a magnificent piece of art encased inside of a metal case with the same two dragons etched into the sides. The scroll contained a reference to a fighting style called Dragon Soul although extremely veg on the details contained a map with directions to a place referred to as The Masters Cave where Ranma hoped to find more clues on how to be trained since he figured that the ones referred to as Master in the text were most likely long dead and gone.

SPLASH! Suddenly Ranma was snapped out of his memories to find himself sitting in the Kio pond and finding himself shorter with red hair and a lot less manly. "Fool boy don't let your guard down." Genma Saotome stated with a grin as his glasses gave of a sparkle. "Any fool could have taken you out in an instant I think it's about time that I GAAack-"Genma never finished his sentence as he found himself crushed by the bolder just thrown from the pond.

Fool man Ranma thought to himself and he went to the kitchen for some hot water at least I won't have to put up with him for much longer I'm leaving tonight and nothing is going to stop me, he shrugged his shoulders, although I should probably tell Akane before leavening and give her that. Ranma sighed at this last thought it was going to be a long night

That stupid baka hasn't spoken to me in three weeks what am I supposed to do! Akane found herself in her yellow duck pajamas, pacing around her room for the twenty-first night in a row every now and then she would drop to the ground and do a quick set of pushups or sit ups before returning to pacing trying without success to take her mind of her fiancé. She sat down hard on her bed maybe he doesn't care after all I mean he even denies saying that he loves me… I KNOW that I heard him say it, but maybe I just … no he did he cares for me like I care for him he has to. I didn't agree to go through with the wedding just so he could have the water from the spring of drowned man. Akane understood that she herself hadn't been all that forward after the incident either but she was bound and determined not to be the first one to break the silence.

Akane sighed remembering the last three weeks and had to admit that Ranma probably wouldn't be the first to break the silence in fact she was planning on giving up soon just to hear his voice. She was surprised when she found herself looking at Ranma as he worked with his shirt off, watching his toned and muscular figure as he moved… blushing at the memory Akane tried to turn her mind to something else other than Ranma. Failing miserably as she looked at the ceiling and remembered how he had had to fix it as well after punching a hole in the roof after landing from one of the hits from her mallet. She couldn't help a small smile as she admired the work that was done to the roof the baka had actually done a really good job and though no one in the family had told him everything he fixed looked better than the original. There was a small tapping on the window Akane's head snapped to the side and who was there but the exact person of her thoughts .

After dinner Ranma had gone to his room to finish packing. He wasn't all that worried about being discovered. At dinner most of the residence of the house had announced that they were going to various places Soun Tendo and Genma Saotome had gone to a local bar, Nibiki just said she was going out and no one had thought twice about asking her where knowing it would probably cost the 5,000 yen, and the oldest of the Tendos, Kasumi was going to see doctor Tofu.

Ranma grinned at this last thought doctor Tofu didn't actually know she was coming over Ranma had arranged for it to happen. He figured that it was about time the young doctor got over his fits of insanity every time he so much as thought about the oldest Tendo and decided this was the best way to do it. He had been sending her over every night for the past week and it seemed to be helping. When Ranma had gone to doctor Tofu's for his various injuries and Kasumi would walk in Ranma suffered less damage as a result.

Ranma looked at the clock 10:15. Ah nuts I guess I should get going before everyone gets back. Before closing the top of his bag Ranma removed a board from the floor pulled out a box and placed it in his pack. In this box were his most prized treasures several photos of a certain smiling martial artist a blue braid of hair and one dragon scroll. Lifting his pack from the ground, grabbing those things off the table, he took one last look around the room knowing it was going to be a long time before he could come back. Taking a breath to steal himself he jumped through the window and up to Akane's bedroom window looking in on his fiancé to find her smiling at the ceiling. That smile that made his heart stop, the smile that would make this the hardest part of saying goodbye. Bracing himself he rapped on the window. The near audible snap of her neck and instant loss of the smile took all the ease that was left out of Ranma.

"May I come in" Ranma stated in just over a whisper. Akane appeared to be in some sort of shock since she didn't instantly mallet him into the night sky. Instead she just gave a small bob of the head indicating it was ok for him to open the window and step inside the room over the desk that was underneath the window. Well it's now or never "Akane I have some things I need to ask you will you promise to tell me the truth on your honor to any question I ask you tonight?" Akane's face turned red as she sputtered "Why the heck would I do something…"

"AKANE. Just yes or no I'll do the same for you, or I can leave right now." There was a pause in the room as Akane thought over her options. Eventually the answers to the questions she wanted to ask outweighed her fears "On my honor I agree".

Taking a breath Ranma asked the first question "Akane how do you feel about me?" All the blood drained for the martial artists face remember your promise to yourself, and whatever happens don't cry it's not manly."Ranma I… I know you're not perfect, you can't talk about you're feeling like everyone else you change into a girl" Ranma winced " and to afraid to hurt anyone, but you are kind, protective, an excellent martial artist, and you have a great" blush" body and I think I… I… I think I love you" Akane fell into silence looking at her fiancé searching his face for even the slightest hint that he may return her feelings, but it was no use Ranma's face was set impassively. Nothing was said for what felt like an eternity before Akane asked her question in no more than a whisper"what about you Ranma how do you feel for me?"

Ranma almost didn't hear her over his own thoughts. Oh my gosh she really! How can I… He mentally slapped himself… no I still have to tell her. This doesn't change the plan remember the trip and why you have to go! Finally pulling it together enough "Akane please don't interrupt what I'm about to say or I may never say it" Here goes "Akane you're uncute, can't cook, aggressive, and a tomboy" Akane fell to the floor in shock, hand over her mouth, and tears pricking at her eyes. Ranma felt stabbed in the heart, but pushed on ahead "those words aren't good enough to describe you" Ranma reached down to the floor and lifted Akane back to her feet prepared to be struck at any moment. She was crying there were tears running down her face. It's time to end this. Carefully pulling her into an embrace he said in her ear "You are much better than that… you are beautiful, energetic, funny, sexy, and you may be a tomboy but you're MY tomboy and I think that I… I.. L..Lov…Love you too" he felt Akane's arms tighten around his body pulling him close sobbing into his shoulder quickly soaking his trademark red Chinese shirt.

He let her cry for a little while before pulling her away from him to look into her eye. Her face was tear streaked but that didn't change how beautiful she looked only to fan the flame burring inside him the need to hold her and protect her. "Kane I know you may not be ready for this" Ranma reached into his pocket for That "I've been so afraid that you wouldn't return my feelings that I kept pushing you away, and our engagement has always been arranged, but I'm asking you for myself now. Will you marry me?"

It took Akane a moment to remember how to breathe looking at Ranma on one knee before her holding out a ring to her a look of hope and complete vulnerability on his face. "Oh Ranma I thought you would never ask" Akane smiled at him grabbing his hand "YES"

she… She… SHE SAID YES! Ranma was more happy right at this moment than he had been in his entire life. However, his logical thinking cut into his joy reminding him now tell her the rest. Ranma stood and closed the distance between himself and Akane kissing her timidly on the cheek and slipping the ring on her finger"before anything else happens Akane I'm leaving" Akane stiffened "I'm not going forever it's just a training trip but I may be gone for a year" she just stared at him. He had just told him that he loved her and wanted to marry her and now he was going to leave I don't think so "I'm coming with you" Ranma shook his head "I can't let you it's too dangerous and that's why I have to go I can't protect you yet"

Akane tried to interrupt "BUT.."

"Akane please trust me I will be back but I can't put you in danger anymore when I leave my problems will follow"

"Ranma I want to become stronger too" Akane said becoming irritated about the direction the conversation had turned. "I know Kane and I've already thought about it. Now think about this you're not strong enough to beat any of my fiancés except Kodachi yet" Ranma held up his hand to hold off the angry stream of comments "I said YET." He walked over to the window where he had left his pack and from the outside pocket removed a large envelope "I've written instructions and modifications to your technique." I hope she sees the logic.

Akane sighed resigned to the fact that she knew the truth about her own skills, and that if Ranma didn't want to be followed, which was obviously the case, then there was no way she would be able to find him. "But what about when I've done everything you've written for me to do? Do I just sit around doing nothing while you're out there risking your life for me?"

Ranma shook his head "I'll be writing letters daily to you and no matter where I am even if you don't know where I am the letters will always make it to me." Akane rolled her eyes, folding her arms "and how's that going to work baka if I don't know where you are how can I send you a letter"

"Remember the old lady that helped me out after I had first learned the nekoten?" Akane nodded "well before she died she gave me a set of two rings, one of which you are wearing now, the rings have a spell on them that if you put your hand on top of your letter and whisper 'to the one that I love' before putting the letter in the mail box it will always find its way to the person wearing the other ring." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a second ring, a simple gold band with blue and green streaks through it, and slid it on his finger "I'm wearing the other ring"

When he finished speaking Akane took a step toward him and he closed his eyes tensing. Here it comes she's going to slap me I just… Whaaaaa?...Ranma had no clue what had just happened he was braced for the slap, but it had never came. Instead he felt a soft pressure on his cheek that sent flames racing down his back and chest, only for them to be rocketed out to every extremity he had by the soft presents of a hugging martial artist. Numbly Ranma lifted his arms from where they had been laying limply at his sides to return the hug.

"Oh Ranma…" Akane whispered in his ear "You've though of everything. I'll miss you my baka" she felt his arms gain strength around her as Ranma realized that this was her acceptance.

"I'll miss you too, and I promise to write you every day no matter what." He paused before continuing "if you ever were to decide that you no longer L…Love me just stop writing me."

Akane pulled back from him and looked into his stormy eyes "NEVER" she vowed knowing that there was no way she could ever cease to love him.

They were so close, barely an inch apart, hearts beating in rhythm, as the blood pulsed throughout their entire bodies. As the meager distance closed "Ranma tell me again how you feel for me… what you said at the very end" all the insecurities Ranma had ever had about expressing his feelings faded into nonexistence, as he said the most truthful words he had ever said "I love you" the distance closed for their first real kiss. No nekoten, no outside influences, just two people genuinely in love. Fire spread from every contact point until they were entirely consumed…

…

…..

…

..

.

After an unknown time they broke apart, and time began to matter again. Ranma turned and picked up his pack, put it on his shoulders and took one last look at the woman (he had never thought of her that way before) that he loved.

"Before I leave I need to tell you one more thing now that you've consented to be my" blush "wife. I'm not going to keep secrets from you any longer there is one thing in my first letter that is going to upset you very much, I don't have time right now to tell you what it is, and even if I did you probably wouldn't believe me. I trust you enough to deal with the problem without killing the culprit."

Akane stepped close to him and gave him one last hug. "I trust you." She said as she let go of him and tried to hide a tear. This is going to be so hard. Ranma noticed the tear reached out his hand and gently brushed it away.

"I will be back I promise you" and with that he leapt out the window and ran over the rooftops. Running into the night with only the moon for company Ranma finally let one tear slip down his face. This is going to be a long night.

Back in the room Akane watched as her future husband leapt from house, to house. Reaching up with one hand she touched her lips and sighed closing the window. Laying on her bed staring at the ceiling she thought to herself; This is going to be a long night, feeling her lips one more time.

Authors note.

Hi everyone hope you enjoyed please read and review. Let me know what you think. Anyone looking for lemon or lime you will be disappointed. If you like it don't worry about me not posting the entire story in good time I plan to have it done before June of this year. If it was difficult to read let me know so i can reformat.