Minutes
chapter 4
I was worried

Authors note: this story comes in right after the ova episode 'Reawakening Memories' it was also in the manga and was one of my fave parts!

Ranma's cheeks burned red as he nervously gulped. He didn't feel the weight of his large back pack nor his few bruises nor his sore feet; rather he only seemed to feel the delicate hand holding his. Their fingers intertwined perfectly and it felt completely natural...yet he couldn't hide his bashfulness.

In order to hide it from the beautiful girl that was attached to that hand, he made sure to walk a few paces quicker than her so she would remain behind him. But her gentle footfalls behind his steps echoed in his ears and the soft touch of her hand made his heart pound. He placed his free hand to his chest as if that simple gesture would calm his heart.

"Ranma...Are you mad at me?" Akane asked as they walked along the road. They had been walking for a few hours now, leaving Shinnosuke and his grandfather waving into the setting sun. A smirk came to his face at the fact Akane was holding HIS hand and not Shinnosuke's.

"YOU ARE MAD AT ME AREN'T YOU!" She snapped. Damn he really should have answered her!

"Or are you jealous?" She asked with a triumphant smile. Ranma went red before coughing, thrusting his nose upwards and spoke in a tone that was arrogant and sure,

"And why would I be jealous of an uncute tomboy like you?" why did he always have to do that? He felt her hand tighten angrily and his bones cracked slightly from her strength.

"What?" She hissed, before throwing his hand down and marching ahead. "If I am such an uncute tomboy why didn't you leave me with Shinnosuke? At least he liked me! And what of all that 'she's my fiancé, lets fight for her' rubbish? WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE TO ENJOY MY LIFE YOU JERK!" Yep...she was mad! Ranma was red both from the fact he didn't actually realise he said those things and from anger himself.

"HEY THIS WASN'T MY IDEA! IT WAS YOUR FATHER THAT MADE ME COME AND GET YOU!" Akane gasped slightly before narrowing her eyes, her fist trembled slightly. Yep...She was REALLY mad. Ranma opened his mouth to yell some more when suddenly Akane flopped to the ground, sitting with her knees to her face and her arms hugging them tightly.

"Akane?" Ranma nervously asked as he tried to peer at her face. A sob escaped her lips, making Ranma jump, shocked she was sobbing because of that.

"Y-y-you can hit me if you want?" he asked. Why hadn't she hit him already? Where was her giant mallet that appears from nowhere?

"Just get lost Ranma." She snapped as she refused to let him see her tears. Ranma sighed and kneeled in front of her, allowing his expression to soften and his tone of voice to calm.

"Akane...Your dad did send me but... I was going to go anyway. I was worried." Akane peered over her knees to see if he was sincere or teasing her. He looked earnest. But now the ball was rolling and Ranma couldn't stop it. He pulled her into an awkward hug as he continued to speak.

"I was worried, when you said you were staying with Shinnosuke it really hurt and when you were nearly eaten by that eight headed snake thing I was terrified! Please don't ever scare me like that again okay." His embrace suddenly felt comfortable to Akane and she smiled slightly as she allowed her face to burry into his chest.

"Sorry Ranma...I won't scare you again." Her eyes shot open at the light kiss to her cheek. His kiss was gentle and quick but it took her breath away all the same. She turned to look at him will astonishment in her eyes and he looked very bashful as he scratched his cheek.

"Sorry...that just kinda happened..." He mumbled. Akane smiled and clasped his hand tightly.

"Shall we continue? Dad will kill you if we take much longer." She quickly pecked him on the cheek with her own lips and pulled him to his feet whilst he was still dazed.

This argument only lasted only 3 minutes but they held hands the rest of the way home.