Disclaimer: I never did, I do not, and probably never will own Ranma ½

Authors Note: Hello everyone just stopped to say that this is in fact my first fanfiction so pleeease take it easy on me.

Little Shack

By

VICCOLOVE

Chapter 1

When Ranma and Akane entered the gates, the entire school was in a frenzy. The reason was the newly announced dance, two weeks from today. Principal Kuno had decided to host a formal dance. The dance was not only mandatory but students also had to go as couples.

Ranma's POV

The walk to school had been nice; Kane and me talked the whole time. For the first time since I've here Shampoo didn't show up. Thank God! That girl could be so annoying. I can't remember the last time I was able to talk to Akane like this, it wasn't the most enlightening conversation, it wasn't even important stuff, but I really enjoyed it, as far as I could see, so did she. She's looking at me, God I love when she looks at me that way, God, ENOUGH about that!

I'm easily distracted by her, her presence makes me nervous and as of lately, the control of my emotions is not the best. All it takes is a smile and I feel a whole in my stomach. If the more I look at her, the harder it is for me to look away and so I try to talk about something neutral like martial arts. I turn to look at her and I notice there's a sparkle in her eyes, wow, she really does love martial arts.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about her. I know what you're thinking, that's nothing new for me, right. But it has gotten worse, I think about her all day, every minute of every hour of the day. I just can't seem to get her out of my mind. I seem to be drawn to her.

I thought a lot about how much I've hurt her; I know I've been a jerk! I go over all of those insults that I ever told her and I realize that they are the things that I most like about her. I mean, she's beautiful and sexy, ok, a tomboy, she is, but that's fine with me. I wonder if she'll ever forgive me. So I decided to start bein' nice to her. It's weird; I don't think she's buying it. Every time that I try to tell her something nice, or give her a compliment, she makes this weird face. I understand, I guess. So anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that we have been getting along lately, that is, whenever I don't put my foot in my mouth. It tends to happen, hey, it's still me.

So everything was fine, one of my best days. Until I got to school. As soon as Akane and me enter through the gates I know something is wrong, I don't know what but I can sense it. I see all of the guys talking, I assume it's something to do with school so I look away, but why do they seem so excited?

Akane's POV

I decided that I like his company, I like the way we are talking and joking right now. When was the last time that I had an intelligent and civilized conversation with Ranma? I can't even remember. Our relationship is difficult, especially with all the fiancées he happens to have. They make it so much more complicated.

Anyway, Ranma has been acting very strange lately; he seems so nice all of a sudden. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way complaining about his miraculous change of attitude towards me but I am just not used to it. I think he has noticed who wouldn't? Every time that he does something nice I just feel a little scared. Its like, whenever he does something nice, I wait for him to take it back or make fun of me. I have just been hurt too much to trust that easily. It's confusing but even after everything that he's done to me, he always manages to win me over, it does not matter how mad I might be at him. I feel that he's the only one that really knows me.

I keep daydreaming about him, can you imagine me thinking about him in a romantic concept. Like right now, I know he's talking, I can see his lips moving and I cannot help but wonder what they taste like. God, if anyone knew about this, I would be totally mortified. But the question seems to be repeating in my head, over and over and over. I wonder If he ever thinks about me in that way. I really doubt it.

I try to concentrate on what he is saying and I realize that he's talking about martial arts. I look at him and nod or shake my head whenever he asks a question but my eyes seem to be immediately drawn to his mouth. I can feel I'm blushing so I stare anywhere else, except look at him.

I'm surprised that we've been talking for so long; it would be at this moment when one of his ridiculously annoying fiancées or one of his enemies seeking revenge would show up. I am all too happy when we get to school and Shampoo didn't make one of her infamous appearances.

When we walk through the gates and into school, everyone seems to be excited about something. I walk over to my friends, Yuka and Sayuri.

"Hey guys, how are you?" I ask in one of my sweetest voices.

They look at me and smile, I return a smile of my own.

"Oh Akane, you are never going to believe what's happening?" they seem to be very surprised

"What is it?" I ask with a little curiosity to find out about the latest gossip. When they manage to tell me something about a dance that Principal Kuno was organizing, I have to admit that I am a little surprised. The principal would always find ways of torturing us but a school dance did sound rather nice. They continue telling me how the dance was mandatory and that it was a "couples" dance. I immediately turn to see Ranma at this new piece of information. He seems to be looking at something on the wall; I assume it was the announcement. He seems to have a rather worried expression and I wonder if he's thinking about the "couple" thing or about the "mandatory" thing.

"Akane. Hey Akane. Akane are you even listening" Yuka and Sayuri could see that I was in lala land.

I realize I've been staring at him for a few minutes when I notice that they are trying to get my attention back.

"Sorry guys, kind of spaced out" I reply trying to hide my embarrassment of being caught. They each have a smirk on their faces knowing all too well what I was doing.

"So are you going with Ranma?" asks Yuka. "I guess" I reply and turn back to look at him. He still seems to be caught up in the paper when I see, non other that Ukyo walk up to him. She had a smile so big that could have split her face. I know exactly what is the reason that she is going to talk to him. What happens next surprises even me, and I immediately feel that my battle aura grow instantly, 'What the hell is she trying to do?

"Ranma honey, who are you going to take to the dance? Asked an excited Ukyo. As soon as she saw Ranma and Akane enter the school grounds, she had raced over to them, hoping it wasn't too late for her.

Of course, Ranma who had just learned of the news got a little nervous when Ukyo asked him the question. He nervously turned to look at Akane who was trying to ignore Ukyo and him. Not being able to find the heart to turn her subtle invitation down simply replied "Um… I don't know"

Akane was close enough to listen, and she was somewhat thankful for his rejection, sure, its not like she wanted to go with him but it wasn't right that if they were engaged, for him to go with someone else. She would look stupid in front of everybody.

With a little sadness in her tone she turned around and to face Akane"So Akane, are you going?" Ukyo asked, she was hoping that by some miracle she would already be going with someone else.

"I guess I have to" was Akane's simple reply. "I guess, I'll see you two in the classroom, I don't want to be late" she continued trying to avoid the awkward moment between the three of them.

"Yeah, we should definitely start heading that way. Comin' Ukyo?" asked Ranma.

"Sure, let's go" Ukyo walked next to Ranma. Akane was walking a little ahead of them. Ukyo saw that Ranma had this look in his eyes, and she didn't like it at all.

The rest of the day went on as usual. Akane paid attention in class while Ranma slept the whole time.

School was over, and just as Akane was walking out of the building, one of her classmates, Jiro, came up to her. She was a little surprised, she had known Jiro since the school year started but he never really talked to her before.

"Hi Akane" the boy greeted her.

"Hey Jiro" Akane was wondering what he wanted she hoped it wasn't what she was thinking. She was about to say something but Jiro beat her to it.

"Akane, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me. I know that no one has asked you yet. What do you say?"

Akane was very flattered but she didn't really want to accept the invitation and give the boy the wrong idea. She was quiet for a minute but before she could say anything she heard someone calling her.

"Yo, Akane, wait up?" Ranma had just run out of school, he had been watching Akane talk to Jiro from inside the doors. He wasn't about to let anyone ask her to the dance. Not that he wanted to go to the dance with a macho chick like her. "You goin' home?"

For her part, Akane had never been happier to see Ranma. She was sure glad that he had shown up at that moment. "Sorry, Jiro, I'll see you tomorrow. I really have to get home" She grabbed Ranma by the arm and dragged him behind her.

The walk home was very quiet, ok, make that unbearably quiet. Ranma and Akane didn't really know how to act around each other with the new situation. The fact was that they had to go to the dance, and they were trying to convince themselves that they didn't want to go with each other.

"We're home" Akane yelled as she and Ranma walked through the door.

"Hello there" called Kasumi from the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon"

"Thanks Kasumi" Ranma and Akane said at the same time.

Without even turning to see each other, they went their separate ways. Akane went up to her room to begin her homework, while Ranma walked over to the dojo to practice.

Akane was sitting at her desk. Book scattered over the desk, she had been attempting to do her homework for about an hour but failing miserably. She couldn't get the dance out of her mind. She wasn't sure what to do about it, she had no idea who she wanted to go to the dance with, and especially not one of the hentai heard that usually followed her. She was wondering if maybe Ranma would want to go with her, of course he wouldn't want to go with me, an unsexy, uncute, tomboy, what the hell you are thinking about Akane, she thought to herself.

Ranma was going through one of his most complicated Katas. He usually used practice time to think. This was sure to be one of those days. He just couldn't entirely concentrate; his thoughts were invaded by a certain blue-short-haired girl. She was pretty quiet during the walk home. Is she mad? Maybe she did want to go to the dance with Jiro and she was mad that I had interrupted them. No that can't be it. I sure hope not. What am I thinking, why would I even consider going with an uncute, tomboy like her? I must be temporarily insane!

Dinner appeared to be going pretty quiet. Ranma and Akane were stealing glances of each other once in a while.

"Daddy, did you know that there is going to be a dance at school, a dance for couple! It was Nabiki who had to complicate things as usual.

Their parent reactions was the expected one, Soun and Genma immediately jumped at Ranma demanding that he should take Akane to the dance.

"Ranma m'boy, of course you need to take your fiancée to this dance" Genma was pushing at Ranma.

"Right Saotome" Soun agreed.

Then they jumped up and started dancing around and hugging in happiness because their schools were going to be joined.

"Hell no! I ain't taking such an uncute, tomboy to the dance. I mean, what about my reputation? What would everyone think about me? Ranma protested to their parents.

He was too preoccupied attacking his parents to notice the angry glare that Akane was giving him. "You jerk" yelled Akane standing up "Who told you I would want to go to the dance with a freak like you"

Ouch.

That hurt

What do you think, good enough? Please let me know what you think!