Sleepless Nights
Part One
Ranma groggily rises from his slumber as an autumn breeze flutters into the room that he and his father share. At night, Genma typically opens the window, and by morning the chilled air cools the room to a nearly unbearable temperature.
"Oy, Pop!" Ranma growls, throwing a soft object in the direction of his father. "Do you hafta sleep as a panda every night? Not all of us have a nice, furry coat!"
The panda dozing near the window grunts at the pillow and turns over with his back facing Ranma. This irritates Ranma, causing him to stand up and stalk to the other side of the room to slam the window shut. His father's eyes snap open, and he rises to a battle stance.
This isn't an uncommon morning ritual for the two, to begin the day with an unnecessary fight. It's not long before Ranma warms up and forgets that he was so cold earlier.
Eventually, they cease throwing punches and kicks at each other when the two simultaneously realize that they're hungry and breakfast awaits downstairs. Genma leaves first, heading to the direction of hot water. Ranma throws on his clothes and slips out the door.
He reaches the stairs when something hits him from behind, followed by a soft gasp.
"Yo," he turns around grumpily and faces Akane. "Watch where you're going?"
Suddenly, he realizes her desolate expression. The bags underneath her eyes immediately draw his gaze. Her hair rests in awkward tufts, completely disheveled, and she doesn't even raise her eyes to meet his.
Instantly, Ranma feels guilty. Not just because he didn't spare her his sour mood from earlier, but also because he gave her a lot of grief the night before about an encounter she had with Kuno. After school, Kuno had taken her off guard, and Ranma discovered the two in a precarious situation. Instead of acting with understanding and sympathy, he lashed out, insisting she had allowed Kuno to grab her. The spar ended with Akane slamming her door on him, and Ranma yelling one more snide remark at the door before turning to go to bed.
Now, he winces as she wordlessly brushes past him and descends downstairs. Ranma feels unmistakable guilt, but his awkwardness completely prevents him from being able to express his feelings. Instead, he follows her downstairs and takes his usual seat at the table for breakfast, without mentioning anything to her.
All throughout breakfast, Ranma battles his irritation towards her silence with his guilt about their previous spat. While the rest of the Tendo family chats happily, Akane makes no effort to chime in. She fixes her groggy gaze towards her bowl of rice, and it looks as if she's going to fall straight in.
"Ne, Akane," Nabiki calls out. "You okay? You look like you're ready to pass out at the table?"
Akane finally jolts up at the sound of her sister addressing her.
"Yes!" She says, with almost too much enthusiasm. "Of course I am fine."
The rest of her family starts to pick apart at her health with 'oh you should sleep more', 'you're training too hard', don't study so much'….Akane immediately tunes it out. She's so tired, her body shudders with the effort it takes to think of a response.
Ranma doesn't join everyone else in their comments, but instead notes Akane's increasingly pained appearance. He's observant, and he knows her well. It doesn't take long for him to conclude she hasn't slept at all.
Suddenly Akane rises and thanks Kasumi for breakfast. She then swiftly she dips out to retrieve her bookbag. Thanks to Ranma's quickness on his feet, he catches her as she departs out the door with his own schoolbag.
"You tryna ditch me?" He accuses her, immediately regretting speaking with a harsh tone towards her. Why do I always do that?
"No," Akane replies, not looking him in the eye and walking sluggishly.
Ranma realizes he would've had no problem catching up to her before. She barely manages a normal walking pace the entire way to school. It pains him, but he forces himself to walk slowly and stay with her. They don't speak at all. He's thankful she doesn't point out the fact he leisurely walks beside her rather than trotting along the fence. For some reason, he doesn't think it's a good idea to leave her alone in this state.
Akane rests her head in her hands during class, something she rarely does because it signals lack of respect for the instructor. She can't help it. All throughout class, she recounts the nightmare that ripped her from her slumber at 2 am the night before. It chills her bones, and it's enough to fight her fatigue from not sleeping the rest of the night.
She realizes that Ranma is staring at her, and she straightens her posture. Why do I care if he notices? She has mixed feelings about Ranma. On one hand, he's clearly worried about her since he's trying so hard not act as callously. However, their bitter fight from yesterday still echoes in the back of Akane's mind, not to mention the fact that he played a role in her night terror.
Nonetheless, he keeps his distance all day. Akane huffs to herself. She thinks he still has sour thoughts about her encounter with Kuno, and if that was enough to fool him into thinking she liked Kuno, it's hopeless. It twists her heart to think that Ranma can be so stupid and (jealous?), but if he wants to assume ridiculous things, Akane decides she needs to distance herself and-
"Seriously-"
A grab of her wrist pulls her out of her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Akane?" Ranma inquires, trying to keep his tone more formal and less demanding.
Her silence on their walk home torments him into confronting her.
Akane turns around and looks at Ranma, who stands stiffly behind her, still holding onto her wrist firmly. The glow of the sunset illuminates their silhouettes off the river. He's staring into her eyes so earnestly; he realizes maybe it's too earnest, and he blushes.
Seventeen-year-old Akane, although looking tired and disheveled, still appears delicate and airy against the dark yellow and red hues of the sky. Ranma blushes a little harder and releases her wrist immediately.
"I'm…really tired," Akane replies, surprised by Ranma's sudden embarrassed expression. "I didn't sleep at all last night."
Ranma rubs the back of his neck, trying to fight down the redness of his face.
"Ya should've said something," he mumbles. "I was …worried."
Akane's heart twinges, and she suddenly meets his gaze. Ranma, however, averts his eyes in embarrassment.
"Sorry," Akane answers. "I've just been too tired to think." She smiles a little bit, before grabbing his shoulder and ushering him onward. "Come on, Kasumi is waiting with an after school snack."
Ranma continues to battle the flush in his cheeks down as he and Akane walk side by side to return home.
Akane brushes her teeth intently, determined to clear her mind so she can fall asleep peacefully. She stares at her exhausted expression in the mirror and feels a little grim. If she can't sleep tonight, she'll really be in trouble. Especially since Ranma's behavior earlier, her mind doesn't stop churning. She keeps replaying him grabbing her wrist and expressing his concern.
She and Ranma exhibit a consistent pattern of bickering and acting with contempt towards one another. But they risk their lives for each other countless of times, and she trusts him completely with her life…or so she thinks. Recently, everything between them seems so charged. They're either really mad at each other or getting along swimmingly.
And Ranma exploding over Kuno set her over the edge. For once, Kuno caught her really off guard, and she needed him. Instead of protecting her, Ranma lashed out and pushed her back into his arms. They fought for hours that night about her "allowing" Kuno's advances.
Thinking about this again fills Akane with fury. She looks down and realizes her toothbrush is extra worn down from her aggressive brushing. Scornfully, she throws it back in the drawer and stomps out of the bathroom.
Instantly, she bumps into Ranma on his way to the bathroom.
"Watch out," she mumbles.
"What's with you," Ranma grumbles back. "I was just bringing you some melatonin."
"Yeah," Akane responds. "Because that will help."
Ranma, dressed in his white tank top and sweatpants, crosses his arms over his chest in irritation.
"No, you're right," he says. "You should go to Kuno for help. I think he's the one you need."
"Since when was this about Kuno?" Akane yells. "You're insufferable!" She turns on her heel and stomps to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Ranma mumbles something about her being uncute, which she hears, and shuffles into the bathroom.
Akane feels a little guilty, knowing it's unfair to spring another bad mood on him when they just returned to normal. However, his response about Kuno confirms her suspicion about not being able to trust him, which saddens her.
She slips into her pajamas and sighs. Nothing she tries will really clear her mind, and she thinks maybe the melatonin actually can help. Curse her inability to get over her mood and be cordial with Ranma.
Darkness and sinking. Those are the first thing Akane notices. Everything around her transitions from grey into pitch black. Then, she begins pushing downwards. She can't pinpoint where she is or how she got there, but she's panicked. Her soul suffocates in fear as she tries to claw her way out of whatever is thickening around her body and drowning it.
"Ranma!" His name leaves her lips the moment her fear reaches a fever pitch.
A familiar shadow looms over her. It's Ranma, looking down at her predicament. She feels relief and reaches out her hand, waiting for him to grasp it.
However, he does not make any movement to pull her up. Meanwhile, she sinks further down into the black mass.
"Ranma!" A soft, high pitched voice calls out from behind him.
"Sorry, Akane," Ranma says, preparing to turn around. "But I don't think you need my help."
Akane scrambles to pull herself out of the mass but doesn't budge. Suddenly, Shampoo appears from behind Ranma, wrapping her arm around his.
"Let's go?" She asks him.
He nods in agreement, and without any more acknowledgement of Akane, they depart.
Akane screams at them and screams, feeling as if her lungs are hollowed out. Suddenly, the black mass entraps her arms and begins to bury her up to her neck.
Tears stream down her face and she sobs, feeling terrified and betrayed. It's not long before she's buried and can't breathe.
Suddenly, Akane seemingly wakes in her room. But she can't move. Something shuffles in the corner and looms. It terrifies her like the black mass, but her arms and her lungs betray her. As much as she tries to wriggle free of the invisible embrace, she remains still. All she can do is breathe faster and faster as whatever lurks in the corner moves closer.
Akane can hear her raspy attempts at a scream leave her lips but nothing of substance. As her fear heightens and the thing jumps, she finally manages a shriek and bursts out into a sob.
Instantly, a streak of light cuts across the room as her door opens and Ranma stumbles in.
"Akane!" he shrieks, running towards her.
Finally, her body can move, and she jolts upwards, unable to stop the tears streaming down her face.
"I couldn't move!" She cries, shoulders shaking and body quivering.
Ranma, completely enhanced with concern and confusion, glances behind him and notices that no one else is awake. He also realizes that there's no threat in her room.
"One sec," he says, crossing back over the room and shutting her door.
"Darkness-"
He flips the light on immediately and full glimpses his fiancé's expression of utter terror. Hurriedly, he shuffles back over and kneels next to her bed.
"What the hell is wrong, Akane?"
She is still crying and can barely speak without stumbling over her words.
"It was a b-bad dream," she admits. "And then I woke up and I c-couldn't move and I thought there was s-something in my room-"
"Sleep paralysis," Ranma responds. "I used to get it training with Pops in the mountains. Nothing that can hurt ya."
Her wide eyes and continued tears suggest his rational response doesn't help quell the fear. Instinctively, Ranma reaches out and holds her hand, pursuing another approach. He feels genuine concern, knowing that there's not a lot that scares a martial artist like Akane.
"This is kind of what happened last night," Akane opens up, not looking him in the eyes. "I had a scary dream and then I couldn't sleep all night."
"What kind of dream?" Ranma asks, trying not to think about Akane's warm hand nestled in his own.
Akane blushes further and wipes her face with her free hand.
"I-I don't really want to tell you."
She receives a pointed look from Ranma.
"Well fine," he says in irritation. "If ya don't want to open up or tell me or whatever, I don't really care."
Akane grimaces and feels her face flush. She sniffles in the awkward silence.
"It's about you."
Ranma perks up and looks at her, feeling his heart sink.
"It's what?"
"In my dream," Akane explains. "I'm drowning, and I reach out for you, and you leave me…"
Ranma's heart beats quickly. He feels a little angry, sad, and disappointed (in himself?). Seeing Akane's burdened face so hurt and weary leads him to shudder. He thinks her dream is ridiculous, since every time Akane finds herself in trouble he saves her; case in point, him rushing to her room the moment he hears her cry out.
Akane burns in anticipation while she watches Ranma digest the information.
"Well," he says. "That's just stupid since I always save ya, so nothing to worry about."
Anger starts to fill Akane, ironically giving her strength again.
"You didn't save me with Kuno yesterday," she argues. "And I know you think something was going on, but that's not true. And I needed your help. Instead of helping me you just got angry."
Ranma instantly feels guilty. He realizes he allowed his jealousy over Kuno holding Akane cloud his judgement. Then, finally recognizing how jealous he was the other day drives him crazy. It's just Akane, right? Why does he feel so attached, so protective, so on edge?
"I-I'm sorry, okay?" He stammers. "Normally, ya beat his ass so I didn't know. If I'd thought you needed help, I would've rushed in."
His hand tightens around hers, and for a moment they stare at each other.
"I'm sorry, too," Akane admits. "I've been extra moody, but I don't mean to push you away."
They suddenly realize the air between them and jolt out of the position.
"Do you feel better?" Ranma asks, standing up.
"U-Um," Akane stutters.
Truthfully, she feels frightened still. Embarrassingly, she doesn't want him to leave her side, and after the last sleepless night and recurring nightmare, she doesn't think she'll feel better for a while.
"Ya don't have to say yes…" Ranma says, trailing off, noticing the desperate look in her eyes. "We could just …hang out or something."
Akane furiously flushes red in her bed, eyes puffy from crying, and face burning with emotion.
"N-n-n-n-not like that!" Ranma exclaims while extending his arms out and matching her level of embarrassment. "Just until ya feel better!"
He almost anticipates a hit from her or something of that nature but she nods instead. She slides her position above the covers and curls her knees up, making room for him to sit by her.
They sit in silence for a moment, the warmth of their bodies touching each other keeping their attention drawn. Akane calms down more after feeling Ranma's rhythmic breathing beside her. Being keen and observant, Ranma notices Akane's subtle recovery. Something inside of him burns feverishly, the realization that his presence soothes her, the realization that he wants his presence to sooth her.
He never has the time to process these emotions for her, since they usually reach their highest intensity in battle when she's in danger. Now, everything is slowed down, and no one is there to interrupt whatever moment they're having.
Akane, feeling much more composed and safe, without realizing it, starts to succumb to her exhaustion. Before Ranma can say anything, Akane slips into unconsciousness, her head dipping to rest on his shoulder. He finds himself in a precarious situation. On one hand, he wants nothing more than to cuddle up and sleep next to Akane. On the other hand, he fears the Tendo family catching the two of them and wants to return to his room. The consequences of getting caught like this certainly would be a combination of disgrace and pride.
He decides that once she's in a deep sleep, and he confirms the nightmares are gone, he will return to his room. Fifteen more minutes can't harm anyone, right?
Early in the morning, Akane begins to stir. She feels comfortable and warm, cuddled up in the sheets and blankets. Instinctively, she huddles closer the warm mass in her bed and nuzzles her head. In response, the warm mass envelops her further. The grogginess of early morning wears off a little and she slowly realizes that the warm mass is Ranma.
She knows this isn't good, and she needs to kick him out of her bed, and her family can't catch them sleeping together! But…his arm is around her, and her head is on his chest, and they're warm. Akane suddenly feels overwhelmed with emotion, her stomach in knots. Everything is vulnerable.
Ranma, in his tired state, pulls her in even closer, resting his chin on her head. Akane shuts her eyes, absorbing the moment, not wanting to fall asleep. This feels…safe.
"Raaaaaanma?!" The sound of Genma's voice resonating through the Tendo household jolts Ranma into consciousness.
"What am I-" Ranma looks around confused, while Akane covers her mouth. "Wait, this is actually happen-"
He stops abruptly, twisting around a few times in Akane's bed.
"D-d-d-don't get the wrong idea, Akane!" He cries out. "I just wanted to make sure you fell asleep, a-a-a-and I feel asleep-"
"It's fine," Akane cuts him off, half smiling. "I slept, actually. So, I'm happy."
Her expression melts him, but he doesn't have time to process his emotions since Genma's screaming voice brings him back to reality. Of course, the one time his father is actually concerned about where he is.
"You'd better leave out the window," Akane advises.
"O-o-of course," Ranma says, scrambling out of her bed. He unlatches the window and gets ready to leave when she stops him with her hand on his forearm.
"Thanks Ranma," she says. "You really helped me out."
Fighting down the furious blush, Ranma remarks, "No problem" and rushes out the window.
In the distance, Akane hears Ranma re-entering the house and confronting his father about some "early training" he was doing this morning. However, she's busy thinking about the fact they just spent the night together in her bed, and this makes her heart race incessantly. What does any of this mean? What do they mean? There's one thing that she is sure of: Ranma cures sleepless nights. And that's a start.
A/N: Okay I know I haven't written in a long time but I NEEDED to get this story out; I've been thinking about it forever. Haven't proofread either hahaha I'll probably do that later.
First, I was gonna make this a one shot, but I'm not very satisfied with that. I'm thinking it's gonna be three parts.