Chapter Four
Akane yawned and sat up. It was early morning, but she had grown quite thirsty. Not too mention her abdomen was killing her, which wasn't normal. She hadn't felt pain there since she was nineteen. Akane swung her legs over the edge of the bed and hugged her stomach, leaning over. Her teeth grounded together. It'll pass, it'll pass. IT WILL PASS. She chanted in her mind as the pain began receding. She let out a low sigh, That's better. Akane stood up to go get a drink of water, but her breathing hitched in her throat. The pain flared up in her lower abdomen, making her nauseous. Not caring if she woke Ranma, Akane bounded out of the room and down the hall despite her throbbing abdomen. She heaved her guts out when she finally made it to the bathroom.
"W... what's wrong with me?" Akane groaned, sitting back. "Must be getting sick..." Akane, determined to fight through the pain, climbed to her feet, clenching her hands in fists, she thought her hands might snap. The pain in her abdomen was simply unbearable. The room was spinning suddenly. Akane staggered out the door and into the hallway. She slammed into the wall across from the bathroom, almost knocking a Tendo family portrait from it's mount. Akane let out a low sigh, trying to make the pain subside. She looked down the hall. It had grown longer and the end was curling into oblivion it seemed like. Beads of sweat slid down Akane's face and she gripped the edge of the wall and held herself up.
"Hiya, Akane!" Boomed Drager's cheery voice, making her head throb as the echo of his voice resounded in her skull, "You're up very early! Up for some training? We can do some Water Martial Arts this morning if you want." Drager rocked on his feet like a shy ten year old, while Akane leaned against the wall, the frame of her body shaking as she supported her own weight, "Are you alright? You don't look well," Drager crouched a little to look into Akane's eyes. They were filled with pain. "Let me carry you back to bed." Drager scooped Akane up before she could protest. She wanted to tell him she could do it and to go away. As soon as he lifted her from the ground though, the pain racking her body ceased. There was only discomfort in her abdomen. Drager strolled through the door of her bedroom, Ranma buried beneath his covers lightly snoring. Drager dropped Akane onto her side of the bed, "He sleeps through anything, huh?" Drager asked as he pulled the covers up on Akane. She meerly nodded, afraid that if she spoke, the pain would return, "See you later, Akane!" Drager waved sheepishly as he darted out the door.
Akane sunk back into the bed, deep in her stomach was that burning pain. She hugged her stomach, biting her lip. Why wouldn't the pain just go away? Eventually, after minutes of fighting the pain, it put her under a spell. Akane's eyelids grew heavy and she began drifting off. Her head lolled to the side, sleep overtaking her. The last thing she saw before her eyes closed, was Ranma sleeping with a smile on his face.
...
Drager and Ranma sat at the breakfast table. It was three hours after Akane's little explosion. Drager hadn't said a word about it to Ranma as they ate the warm meal cooked by Drager. The two Saotome brothers occasionally made eye contact, threw out the occasional murmer, and slid each other different condements for breakfast. It was like there was a typical brotherly contest between the two. Who had more mad skills or more testorone.
"You know," Ranma sat back from the table, chewing on his food, "Akane isn't usually this late gettin' up." He ran his hands through his usually messy bangs. They were layered and falling all over his forehead, unlike in his younger days, "Maybe she's wrapping my birthday present!" Ranma smirked, consumed in his thoughts about what she got him. She usually bought really great gifts, so only excitement passed through Ranma when he wondered what his twenty-third birthday present was.
"She wasn't feeling well this morning," Drager replied behind his bowl of rice, "She'll be up shortly." Ranma cocked an eyebrow up at him, leaning forward, now aware his brother knew more then him.
"Akane wasn't feeling well this morning?" Ranma asked.
"Yeah," Drager replied simply, spying Ranma with his matching blue eyes, "Had the cold sweats, stomachache, yada yada." Drager yawned simply as if it was old news. "You could sleep through an earthquake, y'know."
"I'm going to go check on her," Ranma murmered, climbing to his feet. He rounded the corner, but immediately bumped into Akane. She was dressed in a navy blue sweater with matching slacks. "Oh, Akane." Ranma choked. "Mornin'."
"Good morning," Akane rounded Ranma and sat down at the table, pulling herself up a bowl of rice. Ranma seated himself beside her. She was staring at her food now. Akane was hungry but as she stared at the food, she felt slightly revolted. The food looked wonderful. Drager was a wonderful cook. A nasueous feeling was blooming in the pit of Akane's stomach. She abruptly shoved the bowl away. Ranma and Drager were now staring at Akane, "Sorry," Akane whispered, "I'm suddenly not hungry."
"Do you feel alright?" Ranma asked behind a full mouth of rice. Seeing Ranma eat like that, sent a rack of sick through her. Akane was bounding down the hall, trying her best to hold the vomit in. "Yo, Akane!" Ranma called after her. "Dammit, what did you do?" Ranma turned on his heels to Drager. His brother rose.
"You automatically assume I did something?" He crossed his arms over his chest, "I did nothing to her. Obviously she's sick, you moron." Ranma tugged on his pigtail and turned to see if Akane was retreating from the bathroom yet. No sign of her.
"Drager! You did something!"
"Honest, I didn't!" Drager shook his head furiously, his long hair falling over his shoulders, "She's just sick!"
"I'll ask her myself what she remembers," Ranma said, stubbornly. Drager let out a low growl and began cleaning off the table.
"Your turn to do dishes," Drager stated before dodging into the kitchen.
"IS NOT!" Ranma boomed after him, not wanting to do any chores today.
When Akane was finally spotted coming back down the hall, Ranma saw her face. She looked realitively fine. Akane was almost smiling as she crossed back to Ranma. She brushed past him, as if she was oblivious to him waiting for her. Drager smiled and held out a bowl of rice. Akane backed away from it, shaking her head.
"Do you not feel well enough to eat?" Drager asked as Ranma spectated. Akane shook her head, leaning back from the bowl, "Then what is it? Does the food not look good?"
"No," Akane replied, "I just... don't want food."
"Somethings not right," Ranma murmered, stroking his chin.
...
"It doesn't make sense," Ranma said into the receiver. He was sitting in the sitting room, a light rain coming down outside. "Mom, I'm tellin' you, she's really sick." Ranma sighed.
"What is she showing?" Nadoka asked from the other side, "If she's so sick, she must of some pretty bad signs."
"Well, she woke up early and was throwing up," Ranma replied, "She was hungry and sat down the eat, but just the sight of food revolted her. She went and threw up some more after that! She must be starvin' right now," Ranma drummed his fingers on the armrest of the couch.
"Revolted by food... throwing up early in the morning..." Nadoka murmered. She shifted the receiver around for a moment, "Honey, don't those things so awfully familiar to you? Something you've seen in T.V shows by any chance?"
"Um... no." Ranma said, flatly.
"Just think about it, sweetie." Nadoke replied good-naturedly. She chuckled when she heard Ranma croak out. "Don't worry, Honey, it'll come to you. Or just ask Akane what she's feeling."
"Hey! Mom!" Ranma rasped into the phone.
"Oh, the tea is ready!"
"MOM!"
"Bye, sweetie!"
"Dammit," Ranma slammed the phone down, "What could she mean?"
"Hi, Daddy!" Ranma's head shot over to see Aiko in her typical clothes and pigtails. She was sitting on the coffee table, that same bear in her arms. "Were you talkin' to grandma?"
"Uh..." Ranma stared dumfoundly at the young girl. She stuck her thumb in her mouth, rocking over and over again. Her big eyes stared at Ranma, who was at a loss for words. "Y-yeah..." Ranma said, hesitently.
"I wanna go see grandma and grandpa!" Aiko bounced up and down. "They always give me cookies!" Her eyes widened, "But you and mommy weren't s'pposed to know that..." Aiko hugged the bear to her, putting her thumb back in her mouth.
"It's okay," Ranma said, though he knew this was all wrong, "It'll be our little secret. Mo... er... Mommy doesn't have to know."
"Mommy doesn't have to know what?" Ranma's head shot over to see Akane standing in the doorway. She had her arms crossed, a soft look on her face. Ranma was now at a loss of words. He looked back to where Aiko was once sitting, but now she was gone. The bear was gone, too. "Ranma?" She crossed and seated herself next to him. Akane set the phone on the table and looked at him with a concerned look, "Who were you talking to?"
"No one," Ranma waved a dismissive hand, "I was just... uh, thinking about something I did when I was a kid..." He choked, pulling on the collar of his orange chinese shirt. "Don't worry about it."
"Um, okay," Akane cocked an eyebrow up at him. "Anyway, I had something I wanted to talk to you about." Akane fidgeted with the belt on her slacks for a moment while Ranma's heart began thudding in his chest.
"Y... yeah," Ranma choked, "Me too." Ranma looked at the phone, "I was just on the phone with my mom. I was telling her about how you were feeling ill, but she told me to talk to you about it. Not that I hadn't thought of talking to you about it. I mean, you're the one who is feeling sick so it only seems reasonable..."
"Ranma," Akane firmly grabbed his upperarm, "you're rambling."
"Right." Ranma nodded, "I knew that."
"I've been thinking about all the signs I'm showing." Akane looked away for a moment. Ranma mentally dared her to look at him. He just wanted to look into her eyes. He wanted to know what was wrong with her. How he was suppose to help. Suddenly, he spotted Aiko sitting on the armrest behind Akane. She was hugging a china doll to her, being extra careful as she ran her fingers through it's blond locks. Ranma felt his skin grow clammy as he stayed collected. "And well, I've been sick in the morning and have been repulsed by food. They are both very well known symptoms. Do they ring a bell to you, Ranma?"
"Uhm," Ranma stared straight at Akane now. Her eyes were wide, waiting patiently for an answer, "Being sick in the morning and not wanting food? Nope. 'Fraid it doesn't ring a bell."
"Well, then this might be a big shock to you. You might even laugh at me," Akane smoothed some imaginary wrinkles out of her slacks and looked up at Ranma who was waiting patiently. "Ranma... I might be pregnant." That's when suddenly it felt like he was splashed with cold water. He sat there, his eyes wide.
Pregnant. But... she can't be... she can't support kids... Ranma bit his lip for a moment while Akane sat there, staring at him. She felt the silence eating away at her insides. "Pregnant?" Ranma repeated, his eyebrows now cocked up. Akane nodded.
"I know," Akane let out a sigh, "It's a slim chance. But I'm going to go ask Dr. Tofu and ask him to check, I'm sorry." She looked away for a moment, leaving a confused Ranma.
"Sorry?" He repeated like an idiot again. She nodded, "Akane, look at me." She turned her dazzling eyes to Ranma, making his heart skip a beat, "Do you know how excited I am to see if it's true?" A smile spread across her face.
"Really?"
"Really." Ranma laughed and gave Akane a clap on the back, "Whens your appointment with Dr. Tofu?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," Akane replied.
"Well, alright!" Ranma cheered.
Drager fell lightly against the wall outside the door. He was staring at the ground, listening to Akane and Ranma's excited banter and laughter. Drager made fists, ready to punch a wall out. "A baby huh?" He whispered, "Another Ranma and Akane running around?" Drager thought for a moment, "What about a little Akane and Drager running around?" He liked the sound of that much better and wished more than anything in the world that Akane was his fiancé, but alas he knew it'd never happen. He thought about Anne, feeling his heart crumble. "Akane, be mine." Drager squeezed his eyes shut, tears welling up under his eyelids as Akane and Ranma boomed in laughter.
