Court Case

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2

Chapter 3)

"Dinner!" Kasumi called, breaking through the silence.

Ranma and Akane jumped apart, seperating within a second. Akane wiped her tears, re-composed herself and stood up, joining Ranma to head down the stairs. Poking her head out of her door to check if the coast was clear, Akane nodded as they went down, no one suspecting they were together.

"Where've you been, boy?" Genma asked.

"I was on the roof."

"How did you know dinner was ready then, Ranma?" Nabiki asked slyly.

"Akane told me."

"How did she know you were on the roof."

"'Cause she was on the roof not long ago."

"And saw you there?"

"Yeah. Anyway, what's with all these sudden questions."

"Nothing, nothing." Nabiki waved her hand, dissmissing the matter.

"So, Akane? Did you find it?" Kasumi asked.

"Er, no... I'll have to see another time."

"Find what?" Ranma piped up.

"I thought they sold them in New Look." Nabiki pointed out.

"Yeah, probably!" Akane waved her hands about frantically, blushing like mad. "But, I, er, met up with Sayuri and Yuka and totally forgot what I was out for!"

"Okay, calm down. It was for yourself, anyway." Nabiki rolled her eyes.

Akane couldn't bring herself to join the conversations surrounding her, too embarrassed and nervous that she might make a fool of herself again.

On their way up the stairs:

"What were you out for, Akane?" Ranma asked for the millionth time. He'd been bugging her the whole evening since Kasumi brought it up.

"Just leave it, Ranma!"

"Why won't you tell me?"

"I just don't want to." Akane stepped into her room but Ranma, taking his chances, followed her.

"I wanted to ask you earlier, anyway."

"And you didn't because...?"

"I was wrapped up in the situation. Ya know... But, after what happened today," Ranma started, lowering his voice, "why can't you trust me enough to tell me what you were looking for earlier when you were out? Everyone else knows, or at least has some idea to not need to question it."

"Everyone but my dad and yours. At least they can respect a girl's privacy."

"What's wrong with me asking. I know it'll just be something really simple and not worth all of this!"

"So what if it is, you're the one that started it it!"

"But-"

"I'll tell you at another time... When it's more appropriate."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a... Um... A surprise..." Akane blushed, her gaze diverted to the ground a few moments before.

"Ehhh?"

"Another time, Ranma." She whispered.

"Well, alright. I'm heading to bed."

As soon as the words left his mouth, her eyes widened slightly and, blushing harder, she called him back.

He turned to face her. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Would you... Stay?"

"'Till you fall asleep, you mean?"

"Sleep with me."

"W-why?..."

"I'd feel... Safer... With you here..." She murmered, scared to see how he'd react.

"Let me just go get changed. I'll be back."

Ranma walked, confused, towards the room he shared with his father, Genma.

Ranma thought, briefly, that Akane might be more affected by this than he originally thought. Sighing, he quickly changed into his green pyjamas and headed back to Akane's room. Lucky for him, his old pop was already asleep. On his tip-toes, Ranma returned to Akane's room. She was clad in her usual yellow pyjamas which looked similar to his.

She sat on her bed, nervously awaiting his return, staring at the closed curtains hanging over her window.

Was she that worried about it happening again?

Ranma quietly closed her door and stood in the middle of the room.

They were drowning in the deafening silence.

Ranma eventually coughed, and stuttered out a "so..."

Akane looked down at her feet dangling off the side of the bed. She pushed herself back futher onto the bed until her back touched the wall. She slipped her legs under the covers, glancing at where Ranma still stood before lying down and pulling the covers up to her neck.

Ranma, still quite uneasy and unsure about the idea, switched the lights off. Wandering over, he lifted the covers and sat there for a moment, looking down on Akane, who had pulled herself into the fetal position, grasping the covers just below her chin. Ranma smiled, somehow having a warm, happy feeling.

Was it because she trusted enough to let him sleep in here for her benefit? Because she wants him there?... Because she needs him there? Because it was him there beside her, not that pig she adores so much?

Akane felt Ranma's weight shift as he lay beside her. Her heart was racing, yet she couldn't remove the smile that had attached itself to her face. She enjoyed the warmth she could feel behind her. She turned onto her right side, facing away from the wall, and saw he, too, had a faint smile on his face. She was going to apologize for making him sleep with her, the fact he'd rather it'd be one of his cute fiancées on her mind, but, as she closed her eyes, instinct came over her. She felt the need to be closer to him. So, without thinking, she felt herself move closer to him...

Ranma felt Akane move up beside him. He felt the fabric of her pyjamas brush his arm. He opened his eyes to see her move again. She sat up slightly and her eyes met his. His hand came up and cupped her cheek. He brushed some hair behind her ear. Her hand touched his and their fingers interwined. He brought their hands down to rest on his chest and she lay her her head over his heart. She closed her eyes and fell asleep to it's beating. It had slowed significantly from when she first brought the idea up. Now it was back to a steady rythm. Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

Their first night spent together. (In this fanfic, anyway! Tee-hee!)

I hope you all enjoyed this.

I was listening to Boyce Avenue whilst writing this. (Don't Stop Believing, Bleeding Love, Iris, Chasing Cars, Teenage Dream) You should check him out on YouTube. He's amazing!