Disclaimer: There's no way I'm lucky enough to own Ranma 1/2, nor to be affiliated with Viz Comics or Takahashi, and of course, all characters in this story are fictional and any resemblance to other characters (real ones) is purely accidental. LOL

' ' Means thoughts

" " Means spoken words

It's that smile...

Nerima was silent this afternoon, unusually silent. Or was it just her? For how long had she been sitting there? She felt a tingling feeling as a beautiful tropical fish nibbled at her toes. The fish playfully swam around her ankles as she felt almost at ease sitting there, in the pond, soaked wet.

She looked intently at the fish. He had it easy, she thought. She slowly got up and stepped out of the pond. As she began squeezing the excess water off her clothes, she looked up.

Akane was standing there, her gentle features hidden by her hair responding to gravity as her gaze was directed at her own feet. Her left hand was crisped, almost trembling as her right held a keetle.

Ranma looked down. She had really deserved it today. She had deserved the insults and the free trip to the pond...All of it, and she knew it. As the silence grew heavier on both teenagers, Akane found the courage to break it.

Akane: "Here. Boiled it for you, it's ready"
Ranma: "...Listen Akane, I ... I didn't mean...I mean I..."

Akane gently put the keetle on the ground and stood back up, this time locking her gaze on Ranma's. As the setting sun shone its golden curtain on the Tendo dojo, Akane's figure seemed to be be heavenly, as a halo of light surrounded her body. Ranma smiled to herself.Yes, she had felt bad for having had a stupid argument with Akane, but still, she was happy to be there, happy to see Akane now, standing there, shining almost like an angel.

Akane's faced was lightly crisped, no doubt from the crying and the yelling, but her gaze was different. It was not anger this time, nor was it resentment, but it reflected a mixture of sadness, caring and...hope maybe?

Akane: "I'm sorry I made you fall into the pond. I know how much you hate turning into a girl like this..."

Ranma: "I..It's okay, really...Besides, I"m kinda used to it by now.."

Akane whispered a laugh. Her smile. There it was. Ranma smiled back.

Ranma: "Sorry for saying these things earlier...and well..."

Akane: "Nah, I'm kinda used to it by now."

They both shared a nervous giggle. Ranma took a few step foward, grabbed the keetle, and poured its boiling contents on herself. The familiar tingling feeling overcame her body, as she gradually became a he.

Akane: "There! That's better, isn't it?"

She smiled again. A real, gentle, sincere smile. One of these smiles that always made Ranma feel happy and careless. Whenever he would daydream of Akane, he'd see her smile like this. It seemed like he had so many things to say now... Like how her dress suited her body perfectly, how he loved the way her hair almost danced to the wind...Ranma's face blushed as these thoughts raced in his mind. He looked away. As Akane turned around, he dress fluttered through the wind. Ranma turned back to her, and stood there, smiling.

Akane: "By the way Ranma, if you need me to help you for our math test tomorrow, let me know"

Ranma: 'Yeah, I need you...' "Ai! Arigato!" 'But right now, I'll settle for your math test offer...'

Ranma stood there after Akane walked back in the house, grinning to himself. He turned to look at the pond where the fish was swimming carelessly around the rocks.

Ranma: "I guess I got it easy too, after all..."

THE END.