The RANMA Collection

Hello! Recently I've recently rediscovered my love of Ranma ½ and wanted to share it with all of you. The fiction I did years ago is sloppy and doesn't do my love for the show justice, I may even attempt to rewrite that plot in this collection. This fiction is a collection of oneshots or short chapter shorts, depending on what I come up with, dedicated to the one pairing AkaneXRanma, AU's , alternative endings, lost moments, really whatever I can come up with. This fiction will be forever open and ongoing so long as my interest lasts, and I have new ideas. So without further adieu, enjoy THE RANMA COLLECTION

Here is an old pair with a new twist! I've noticed a growing popularity in the Coffee Shop AU and have yet to see one for this pair so I decided to do one.

Little Cups of Love

Ranma X Akane Coffee Shop AU

Name Please?

Ranma stood quietly, his jaw set, his eyes set on the door at the far end from the counter. He had managed to clean his workspace three times over, to the point where his work mate, Ryoga, commented how he was starting to scrub off the metal off the cooking instruments. So now he just stood there, waiting.

He didn't used to be this fidgety, infact the whole job board him. He never drank coffee, he had taken the job while staying with his mother, trying to save up money to move out. Not that he didn't love living with his long lost mother, but his deadbeat dad was also staying with them, and Ranma was sick of his old man's face.

So he picked up this job, that his old friend Ryoga worked at, and quickly mastered the art of each recipe. To say he was popular was an understatement. Ranma alone probably accounted for half the stores business; cute girls and coffee enthusiast alike would flock to his counter. He would have had more than enough money on tips alone if they weren't split amongst the other workers. But he hardly cared about all that, he was more concerned with his little 'obsession'. Not that he would put it that way, but everyone else seemed too. He would probably call it more of a 'habit' than anything.

He turned his eyes away from the door, preparing to clean the varnish off the wood counter when he heard a bell chime. His eyes shot up, but he managed to keep his expression from holding his true excitement. Only to be disappointed to see Ryoga's girl friend akari walk through the door. He let out a large sigh and stepped back allowing Ryoga to swoon and make googly eyes at his girl.

" Good morning Sweety-pea, Ranma."

" Good morning babe." Ryoga leaned over and gave Akari a peck on the check which she giggled too. Good thing Ryoga found himself a girl, Ranma was tired of dragging his lost ass around town. But the cute names made him want to vomit. Ranma just grunted at the girls greeting, preparing again to occupy his thoughts.

" Sorry Ranma… has she not stopped by yet? You're usually in such a better mood." Ranma blushed but kept to his work, it was embarrassing how many people could pick up on the effect this habit had on him. Ryoga answered for him.

" No, she's late and he's been annoying me all morning. Hey Stop that!" Ryoga turned to see Ranma practically rubbing a hole in the counter. Ranma stopped, but his jaw grew tight. his eyes flying around the room looking for something else to occupy his mind with. Ryoga let out a sigh.

" Alright, as much as it annoys me to say this, why don't you make Akari's cup this morning. Give your mind something to occupy. Ranma nodded, secretly thankful and begin working on her order. He knew it by heart because He had to teach it to Ryoga, not that it was anything super fancy, white chocolate raspberry mocha latte, but Ryoga claimed he wanted to learn it perfect. He took out a sharpy and spelled her name on the cup, before he started working.

" So, how has she been? Your regular I mean." Akari asked. Before Ranma could respond, Ryoga cut in.

" What would he know about her, he just makes her coffee." Ranma now understanding how little his words would matter kept working.

" Oh? But I thought something was going on?"

" What no. Of course not, do you really think Ranma would have the courage to do anything besides wr-"

" Shut up." it escaped Ranma faster than he had intended, with a bit more bite than usual.

" Come on Ranma, what actual words have you exchanged in these past months.. four? five maybe? Have you even tried to hold a conversation with her?"

" I'm workin'."

" It's almost always slow when she comes in anyway."

" How long has this been going on?" Akari asked, looking at Ranma, but Ryoga answered.

" Not long after he started working here, he probably would have quit by now if not for her."

" I SAID SHUT UP!" his rage a bit over the top, and a cup now smashed in his hand, scalding coffee dripping over his fingertips. Shit.

" Ranma, it's okay to have a crush. It's cute." Akari said, but she had a hint of pity in her eyes. Ranma tossed the cup, whipping of his hands before making a new one.

" It's not.. cute." he grunted, it's not crush either. His eyes looked down as he started to make another cup, getting lost in his thoughts.

It had been seven months ago. He had just started working the register after making coffee for about a month. One of the other girls was let go so he had to cover more tasks to fill in the space. Not a problem for him. He was always adaptable when it came to stuff like this, physical stuff, task managing. His father had been teaching him martial arts over the years, nothing fancy, but he was probably the best fighter in the country of his age. Not that he entered matches or anything. They were all set up by age and no one his age gave him a good enough fight, so they were boring to him. Probably one of the reasons why he was friends with Ryoga was the fact that he too was a fighter, and they would often spare when both were holding a little excess energy. Ranma was more pissed off than anything that his father didn't bother teaching him any more useful life skills, but he love the art, and would just have to figure a way to have a job and practice. But that's another story.

When he started working, it was easy enough. He still would need to mark each cup to remember what it needed, with the customer's name, something pretty commonplace when you had an assembly of people working, but it helped him stay organized. In a way, that's what formed this little habbit. A smile grew on his face as he remembered seeing her for the first time.

She wasn't breathtaking, but not plain either. She was wearing short running shorts, which was crazy considering it was February, and a frumpy old sweatshirt, which he guessed made up for the lack of leg layers. She was sweating, face flushed, her long hair that had been tied into a ponytail was beginning to come loose. Stray hairs clung to her neck while her bangs rested on a sweatband. She was cute, if not kinda dorky. But then again, Ranma never was hyper attracted to normal girls. The way they would gush over him, or play with there hair, something about their demeanor. He couldn't put a finger on it, but it had been his reason for not dating, and now he wished he had just dated a little to prepare him for this girl. Though he didn't know that at the time.

He watched as her eyes studied the menu behind his head. He watched her eyes flicker and her mouth twist in confusion. He felt irritated, who the heck comes in without knowing about coffee. He had seen people who were picky and this wasn't it, she was clueless. Not that he was much better a few months ago, but the fast learner in him was quick to give him an ego in the matter.

" You gonna order something," he asked impatiently. It hadn't been a busy morning and Ranma was about to give into the boredom and quit.

" Maybe, if my train of thought wasn't interrupted by a jerk like you."

" Can't have a train of thoughts with no track."

She paused for a moment before releasing the offence and was about to walk off in a huff when Ranma called out to her.

" Do you like sweet things or bitter things?"

" Huh?" She turned back around, anger gone from her face, now replaced with a surprised and confused look at him.

" Do you like sweet things, or bitter things?"

" Uhh. Both I guess? I've never really tried coffee, a friend recommended this place so…"

" I gotcha, trust me. I'll make you something special."

She blushed a bit, he noticed. He wasn't sure why he didn't just let her go. It wouldn't be the first time he pissed off a customer and wouldn't be the last. It wasn't like his job was riding on this, he was about to quit not too long ago. But something about her just erased his boredom. The 'something special' bit was weird too, but he brushed it off to the side, probably just didn't sound sarcastic enough or whatever. The blush was cute though.

She had moved away to pay for her drink while he worked, he realised that he didn't get her name, and as he felt her eyes on him he lost the nerve to ask, so quickly he scrawled something on the cup and started working. Cranberries with dark choco latte. Sweet enough but should still hold a bitter kick. Bitter sweet, he liked that. He finished and gave it to the girl, she took it wearingly and took a tentative sip, her eyes lit up instantly and she released the image that would haunt his mind for months to come, her smile.

As he was bewitched she must have scanned the cup looking for some form of secret to what made it so good, when she found the words in place of her name. 'Tomboy.' She was not happy with that, and her smile left turning into a less breathtaking but still equally cute pout. She slammed her 'tip' on the counter and walked away calling him a jerk, before exiting out the door.

The rest of that day was occupied with thoughts of the girl, the rest of the week as well, and branching off into the following week before he notice her come in again. Same outfit, same attitude, different drink request, different nickname.

That carried on for a while, two or three days out of the week she would come in, there exchanges would be short, and more insulting than anything, but it was playful, like a sparring match. Then one afternoon, about a month after the first visit, she came in, but he didn't recognise her.

She approached the counter, and he mumbled out his standard greeting, his eyes were down as he was working on something already, unknown to her it was soon to be her drink, he had timed it and was making something that took a bit more time, he wanted to impress her. He stopped before grabbing another cup for the new order and asked for the customer's name.

" Oh, now you ask me."

" Huh?" He looked up, but the voice he already recognised, it was the girl, the tomboy, but her hair had been cut short, super short…. Super SUPER short. It was cute. He looked down at the cup in his hand, and then the old cup with the new nick name. He stared back at her before smiling.

" Oh it's you. I know you're name." She looked surprised for a moment. She payed and went to go sit down, as she turned away he quickly scrolled out a new message on the cup and poured the old contents in, finishing it and serving it up.

" Got an order for TOMBOY!"

Her head shot up, cheeks read, she pouted at him before handing in her tip and taking the cup. He laughed, not mockly, but out of actual joy. As she left his smile never faded, and infact grew when he noticed her read the rest of the message on the cup, pausing in the doorway.

' Tomboy. Cute haircut.'

She turned around and smiled at him, that heart melting smile.

" Thanks Ranma."

At the time he had just grinned as he watched her leave. He returned back to his work before he realised what had just taken place… his name. She knew his name. And he had had the perfect time to finally learn hers and he didn't!

" Oh her again, She sure likes this place." Ryoga commented.

" What was that?"

"What. I'm saying she's a regular. you've noticed her right? What am I saying, probably not."

"Whats her name!?" Ranma said grabbing his friend by the shirt.

" WHOA dude calm down. You don't remember? You've made her coffee before, I'm sure of it."

" Never got her name. "

" How… "

" Never mind that, just tell me, do you know it?"

" Her name?"

Ranma just nodded yes, eyes wide with anticipation.

" It's Akane. "

Ranma was embarrassed to later realise that she knew his name because of his name badge. But still, he had managed to learn hers. And the fact that she had stopped in every morning for a few weeks before picking out her favorite days to stop in, all the mornings he worked. In the coming weeks Ranma slowly picked up more morning shifts to the point where he worked every morning, to see if what had said was true. Sure enough only his original mornings she would show up.

He let it slip one morning to her, that he picked up more mornings. She had been concerned that he looked more tired, that the nicknames were less clever. He told her and sure enough she was there next morning, off schedule, with an energy drink she grabbed for him. He didn't charge her for the coffee that day.

Remarking on this he realised that Ryoga was way off, he had talked to her more than even he himself had realised. Sure, a lot of the info he managed to get through these rare conversations about her could have been found out from maybe a few real conversations. But he kind of liked gathering information slowly, it made her more fun to figure out.

She would come in every morning during her morning workout, a jog around town, and grab her coffee to go to enjoy as she walked back home to finish her routine. Somedays she would show up again as Ranma's shift was ending and order one of the sandwiches he would make, or some treat of the day. He would hand off the order himself and then clock out, waiting out back to watch her pass before going home. He will admit that part was a bit stalkery. But he had noticed she held a lot of male attention. Ryoga even let it slip that he found her attractive, but he already had Akari.

One local jackass made a point to try and continually show up before akane got there to meet her for a date, one Akane didn't know about and didn't want; something Ranma had found out from the first time this dude showed up. Juno? Ludo? Oh right Kuno. Tatewaki Kuno, age 23 as he kept rambling off. It became part of Ranma's morning routine to clear the Kuno jerk before Akane showed up. She didn't even know about it. Ranma smirked at that thought. Knowing her she would probably get more mad than glad at him interfering. She was for sure the stubborn type.

She had two sisters, of which she brought in one day, it was in the afternoon and it was the first time he had seen Akane acting bashful. He still called her by nicknames, tomboy was his default, she probably didn't even know that he knew her name at all. But that was part of the fun. Her sisters giggled at their interaction and the three got a booth and seemed to gossip as the two made glances his way. Akane did her best to keep her face hidden from his sight.

Before he realised it he had finished the coffee and handed it off to Akari, his mind still occupied with thoughts, while his hands sat idol.

What else did he know about her.

He knew she didn't like sugar in her tea, and that she had gone to the local high school. She was studying business and education in college now, in order to take on her family's dojo. That bit of info had gotten him excited, but he still lost his nerve to say anything about it. About him, also being a fighter. He knew that her favorite color was a grayish blue, and that she had cut her hair short in honor of her mother. He knew she loved to sing, because he would catch her humming, and it was the most peaceful sound that has ever touched his ears. He knew this was more than a crush. At the same time though, he didn't know her, not really. He knew her but she didn't know him, which made him look obsessive.

" Oi, Ranma." Ranma snapped to attention. Ryoga pointed over towards the door, another rush of joy entered him before it was doused quickly as his eyes met what's his face Kuno.

" Not again… HEY YOU! GET OUTTA HERE!"

" What nonsense do you speak? I am waiting here for my beloved, nothing more."

" S'ma point. Get a cup or get lost asshole. I don't want you harassing my customers." Ranma leapt from behind the counter and proceeded to make his way towards Kuno.

" You know my intentions are as pure as any other male."

" 'Pure' huh?" Ranma growled, yeah right. He could feel the rage bellowing up inside him. No guy that was this persistent had 'good intentions'. He grabbed the taller male by his collar and managed to raise him off the floor a bit. Just enough that he could carry him towards the door.

" Look here. If you do anything, go near her again, lay one finger on her, I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF." As he shouted he swung the door open to throw out Kuno but was met with a bewildered blushing face of Akane.

"A-Ak… Tomboy, What are you doing here?" Close one on that. He chucked Kuno out into the street where he disappeared from sight.

" Me? I'm here every morning. What are you doing?"

" Oh.. ever morning? I didn't notice. "

" Stupid." she said punching him lightly on the arm. " What was that though, you're not gonna get fired for that?" She asked as they walked in, Ranma heading back to behind the counter.

" Fired? Done it enough times that it doesn't matter now."

" Done it? You've thrown him out before? But I haven't seen him for months."

Ah geese… let too much slide. Pull it back.

" He's just a troublemaker, I get rid of him once in awhile, it's got nothing to do with you."

" Never said it did." She said, smiling a bit.

Ah crap.

" Well still, I'm impressed, he's no pushover you know."

" Ah really…" He is to Ranma, but she doesn't know that. " Ready for your order?"

" Oh! right, whatever is good today. I trust you."

Ranma tried to not let his cheeks flare up at that, tried being the key word, he faced away from her in order to continue his work, she waited.

He handed her the cup and she noted right away, 'Gorilla' Scratched on the cup in his handwriting. She got a tired annoyed look in her eye, not nearly as satisfying as he hopped, and watched as she went to go. She took a sip, smiling at the taste before she noticed the message he had put under the nickname. ' Don't worry, you're too cute to go back to the zoo.'

At this she smiled, wide, that same favorite smile, and Ranma let out a sigh. She walked back in over towards the counter, this was new, Ranma thought as she approached.

" Thanks by the way, about Kuno."

" No problem." he choked out, she was enchanting, he could hardly keep his head on straight. She left so fast he had failed to notice until later, a ten dollar bill sticking out of the tip jar, wit Baboon written across. When had she….

He fished it out and read the inside, smiling widely as he read.

'Baboon. Keep digging for praise and your face is gonna be as bright as your butt." Ranma couldn't help but laugh, the joke was clumsy but still adorable in his oppinion.

He replaced the ten dollar bill with one from his pocket, placing the noted one safely in his wallet. She had tipped him before, but never left a note. Somehow he felt a swell of confidence about the whole thing. Maybe she did like him back, at least she was somewhat attracted to him, she recognised the flirty nature of his notes, and flirted right back. ( If you could call that flirting )

The rest of the day went by quickly as his thoughts kept wandering to Akane. He started devising a plan for asking her out. Instead of waiting outside for her to leave, making himself unnoticed, he would join her, and strike up a conversation. Maybe about Kuno, or the dojo, anything really.

As the day stretched on, his excitement faded to doubt, and he felt his nerves breaking under the weight of risk. If he creeped her out she would stop coming in all together. What if she had a boyfriend, or was even engaged. Ranma realised that the last part was a bit of a stretch but his mind was starting to travel into irrational territory. The only thing that kept him from abandoning the idea all together was that ten dollar bill he kept remembering. He didn't even need to look at it, just the idea it was there gave him hope.

He kept glancing at the clock as the end of his shift was approaching. She didn't come in everyday at this time, so he reasoned that he might have to try again tomorrow. Relief swept through him, but at the same time, disappointment. After a point he resigned to the fact that she wouldn't be showing up today, and started cleaning up his work area for the next person coming in. Then Ryoga poked him.

" What the hell man?"

"Dude… door."

" Huh.." he turned around to see Akane, dressed up in a beautiful white sundress with a wide brim, white, hat to match. SHe looked like something out of a movie, the way the wind from the doorway made her dress and hair dance, the sunlight hitting her just right. Ranma dropped a pot of hot coffee on his foot.

" AH SHIT!" Thankfully it didn't break, and his feet were protected by his shoes. He was more embarrassed than anything as he mopped up the hot mess off the floor with a nearby rag.

" Are you okay?" a soft but worried voice asked. He looked up to see her leaning over the counter slightly to see him, her chest pressed against the counter. Ranma tried to stand fast to great her, but distracted he wound up banging his head against the bottom of the back counter.

"FLIne.. I'm fine!" he said quickly trying to regain his composer.

" Are you sure?"

" Yeah I'm fine Akane, what do you want? The usual?"

He turned around to see her staring wide eyed.

" What.. something on my shirt. Am I bleeding?" He checked, no he was fine. Just a bump on his head and a burning foot. He stare back at her, she just continued to gawk.

" oh.. OH sorry! Yes, the usual is fine."

" Cool, great, I'll have it to your table in a bit." He said stammering, trying to make himself busy now, anything to distract himself.

" But, I haven't paye-"

" IT'S ON THE HOUSE!" Ranma shouted, not on purpose, but he could feel his nerves shaking his self control.

" Okay then." And with that she went to go sit down. She picked a window seat in the far side of the room, of course she did, she just had to sit in the sun to look all angelic and whatnot. Ranma continued making her order with one for him to match. He would have Ryoga run them out while he got changed and then he would join her…. he hoped.

" Ranma… " Said Ryoga, looking at the mess Ranma had made, when he had bumped the counter he had sent several objects flying. And he now had coffee stains on his work pants from falling over after hitting his head. " What the heck happened?!"

" I panicked alright!?" He spoke in a harsh whisper. " I mean look at her, fucking look at her! That's not fair for her to look like that… on second thought don't look at her."

" Ranma, you think she's got a date or something?"

" What.. no, what makes you think that?"

" The way she's dressed, I mean she's looked nice before, but this is clearly for someone."

" Arg! Whatever, I'm clocking out! Here is the order for her."

" Two… sandwiches? One without tomatoes.. you sly dog! You're gonna join her!"

" Shut it Ryoga! Don't freaking scream about it."

" Right, don't wanna scare her off. Go get her tiger." He gave Ranma a harsh pat on the back before picking up the order and going to deliver it. That's when he made his way to the back.

He got changed into a spare pair of pants, some faded denim he kept for back ups, and a black shirt. He looked at the holes in the knees and let out a sigh, he would look like shit next to her. He grabbed his sweatshirt and looked at the back entrance. He could just run away, say tomorrow that he messed up her order or ryoga delivered the wrong one. He could abandon this idea so easy, there was the way out.

" Yo Ranma," Ryoga came in, spooking Ranma slightly.

" What now?"

" If you're gonna sit out with her, you'd better hurry. She looked kinda dissapointed when I told her you clocked out."

" She… did."

" Yeah… go sit with her before she leaves."

Ryoga didn't really give him much of a choice though, as he shoved him through the side door back out into the main room. His eyes caught her instantly, as she fiddled with the straw in her ice tea. She looked, disappointed.

Something shot through him, even if she rejected him, even after all this build up, he just couldn't stand to see her like that, and that was all he needed. He made his way straight over grabbing a tea Ryoga had made him, before sitting down without a word.

She looked, shocked, to say the least. She had let go of her straw and watched him settle in. He shamed himself for not being able to look her right in the eyes, he instead watched her from the side as he stared out the window.

"I-Is this okay."

She nodded and smiled, humming her approval, followed by a giggle. He looked over to her then, knowing he was permitted and smiled too.

" I'll admit I was a little sad when Ryoga gave me my order and told me you had clocked out."

" Oh yeah?" He started into his sandwich.

" Yeah… I was planning to invite you to sit with me when you brought me the food."

Ranma's face went from pink to red in seconds, he started to choke on his sandwich a little, taking a swig of tea to help push it down.

"R-really?"

She nodded.

" You're always so nice to me, in your own little odd ways." Ranma's checks felt like they were scalding his face, " and plus that whole mess with Kuno…"

" I told you, he just comes in and annoys me, so I kick him out, no big deal."

" Well, I'll thank-you anyway, although I'm not fond of someone fighting for me, but you've managed to destress my life a bit these past few months."

"... no problem. " Ranma mumbled, bashfully, before tearing into his sandwich. " What's that guy's deal anyway. Stalking you like that."

" It's been that way cense high school. He was in the class ahead of me, and made up some dumb rule that to go out with me you had to beat me in a fight. Soon enough half the boys in school would change me while I was trying to get to class; it was super annoying."

"... Seriously?" Ranma felt his shaken nerves take a quick vacation, simply in awe of her. He could tell the girl was tough, no doubt. And though she has tripped over and bumped into things she has always managed to save herself, careless thoughts but a martial artists reactions. Ranma was curious to see her fight for real.

" Mmhmm. But to be honest, they never really interested me." She smiled at him, an almost flirty look in her eye.

" Ah… So, do you still hold true to that rule?"

" Me? I never did. I guess I have my own criteria."

" That's a shame," Ranma said quickly, taking a sip of his tea, he could see her confused expression. " I'm not a bad fighter myself.

" Oh yeah! Ryoga told me about that."

" EH! Ryoga did?!"

" Yeah, well I know Ryoga from the national championship matches. But he told me he's never been able to beat you, you must be very strong."

" I-I guess." Normally talking about martial arts, ranma would find himself more confident, but her eyes were shining, and directed at him, he felt his heart pounding in his ears.

" Oh so modest, that's new. What's wrong?"

" Nothing, Just not used to… this?"

" Oh… I can see how sitting down in your own work place would be weird."

No, that's not what he meant. He could feel eyes staring at the two, glaring almost. The men at him and Ranma's local fans at her.

" Hh-hey Akane, how bout we get out of here and go for a walk." Ranma stood up, offering his hand, but looking away. When she didn't take it, he felt rejected, but chanced a glance back at her. she was silent, a thoughtful look on her face.

" … Ranma."

" … what?"

" How…. How long have you known my name."

" Eh… what are you talking about tomboy."

" There you go again! You call me that, but befor, you called me by my name."

" Look, I'll explain outside okay!" He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her out before the scene they were making got any bigger. Her hand felt small inside his, and warm. When the two had made it out, they began walking. Ranma did his best to make it appear as though he was following. He kept his eyes forward, but he could tell her eyes were on him.

" Ryoga…" He started.

" Wha-"

" Ryoga told me."

" Wh- why would you and Ryoga talk about m-"

" 'Cause I asked!" He spun around. cheeks flaring up again, he just couldn't understand the affect this girl had on him. She was staring at him, her big eye's shining, which wasn't helping his heart to slow down.

" You knew my name, and you were in there so much, I figured…. I should… ahh whats the point.."

" Thank-you Ranma."

" For what…"

" For wanting to know? For knowing? I'm not quite sure. You said my name this morning and it gave me the confidence to come back in and invite you to join me."

" … r-really?"

She nodded cutely. " I was even prepared to pick off the tomato for you, but you beat me too it."

" you.. know I don't like tomatoes?"

" I've learned a few things about you. By spending time there." He watched as she looked away blushing. Suddenly his body started acting on its own.

His hand reached to her cheek and guided her face to look back at him, and in a rush of courage, his lips met hers for a brief moment. His heart was pounding so loud in his ears, he could hardly hear the gasp that escaped her. Realising that he was probably moving too fast he pulled back.

" S-sorry, about that."

" I-Its fine."

" h-hey, how about we have a match, and if I win, you take me out for dinner." He said scratching his check slightly, looking away."

" What do I get if I win? " he looked at her again, she was smiling with an air of competition about her. He smiled back.

" Free coffee for the rest of your life."

The end.

Lackluster ending I know, better stuff on the way :)