Campfires
Chapter Six
by Studdevil
00-00-00-00-00
Akane's eyes opened, and saw a blurred image over her. She closed them again, but found the light shining through her eyelids to be annoying. She forced her sleepy eyes open again, and everything focused. Something flew at her and caused her to jump back in fright.
"BOO!!!!" A boys voice echoed through the room. Akane hit her head on the backboard of her bed and grasped her throat breathing fast. She looked in front of her and saw her fiancé standing still on her bed, looking down at her and trying to suppress laughter.
"What the hell Ranma??" Akane yelled, then took her wooden mallet out of nowhere and swung it at him. Ranma easily dodged it with a back flip and landed on the floor behind her bed.
"That's for hitting me last night when I was trying to help you!" Ranma said in a "you got what you deserved" voice, then started walking towards the door.
Akane growled, but figured she'd get him back later. "Akane, get dressed and come down for breakfast. After we eat we'll be leaving." Ranma stated.
"Leaving where??? I'm not going anywhere with a pervert like you!" Akane yelled back, but Ranma had already walked out her door and closed it. Akane remembered the events of last night and shook. She didn't want to have to go through that again. "Maybe it is best if we leave for a while, and let things cool off." Akane pushed that white blankets off her body, then hopped off her bed. She almost fell. "Wow, maybe I should go back to bed, I'm too tired.." Akane almost went back in bed, but remembered Ranma telling her to go downstairs.
She sweat-dropped, then put some appropriate clothes on. She yawned and opened the door. When she got downstairs, she saw Ranma sitting at the side of the table, staring at him warm breakfast. "That isn't like him.. Maybe he's thinking about something." Akane looked at everyone else in the room. Her father was reading the newspaper and sipping a steaming cup of tea. Genma was in his panda form, shoving food down his throat and making loud eating noises. Kasumi was standing next to the stove, cooking what Akane presumed was her breakfast. Nabiki wasn't anywhere to be seen.
Akane took her normal seat next to Ranma, and looked at her empty white plate. She took a few glances to her right and saw Ranma staring into his cooling food. He still hadn't taken single bite. "You okay, Ranma?" Akane asked in a normal tone. Ranma didn't answer.
"Hmph!" Akane made an annoyed noise and elbowed him in the side for ignoring her. Ranma jumped and looked at her.
"What?!" He screamed. Everyone in the room turned and looked at them, then grunted and went back to what they had been doing before.
"Your food's getting cold. It's rude to waste the food Kasumi made for you."
Ranma eyed the food, then began to eat some slowly.
"Here's yours Akane." Kasumi said with a smile and handed the steaming plate to Akane.
"Thanks Kasumi." Akane began to dig into her food.
After the meal was finished and everyone was leaving the table to begin their morning activities, Akane went up to her room to get her school bag. She walked over to it and looked in. It was filled to the top with mini instant Ramen cups. "What the.."
"C'mon Akane, let's go." Akane turned around and saw Ranma in the doorway to her room.
"Why is there soup in my book bag??" Akane yelled, annoyed at the fact that her books were gone and no where to be found! At this rate she was going to be late to school for sure.
"I told ya already! We're goin' away until we can settle all this stuff with everyone else!" Ranma yelled.
"Oh yeah.." Akane shook her head. "Sorry Ranma, I don't know what's wrong with me. I've felt tired all morning."
"It's probably from the stuff that they put in you." Ranma said and folded his arms.
"They-- What??" Akane dropped her back and ran over to Ranma, trying to grab onto him and hit him.
"Hey! I was trying to help you after, and you hit me!" Ranma yelled.
"You weren't trying to help! You were trying to be a pervert!!" Akane swung her fist and Ranma grabbed it in his clenched hand.
"Forget it Akane. I'm sure you'll be okay." Akane backed down and glared at him, still not sure.
"What are our parents gonna say though? They don't even know what happened last night!"
"We'll tell them we're out training and won't be back for a bit."
Akane sighed. "What about school, hmm Ranma?"
"What's more important? School, or you life?"
"Well if you're going to put it that way.."
"C'mon Akane, let's go."
"Fine, but if you try anything with me while we're gone, I'll kill you."
"I wouldn't want to touch a tomboy like you." Ranma said and stuck his tongue out.
Akane's face turned red, but then she decided to let it go.
"Ranma?" Ranma paused at the door and looked back. "Thanks for saving me last night. Really. Thanks.."
Ranma smiled, "Anytime 'Kane." Then he left the room. Akane looked at her bag and pulled out one of the packages of instant Ramen.
"Wait.. The only way he could have put these in here is if he came in here while I was.. Sleeping?" Akane twitched picturing Ranma watching her sleep. "That PERVERT!!!"
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"What'd I do now?" Ranma asked to himself as he put camping supplies into his medium sized backpack. He sighed. There must be a better way of doing all of this. At that time he didn't know what else to do. Until he could come up with something, he needed to keep Akane safe.
"Maybe some alone time with Akane 'aint that bad of an idea anyways" Ranma thought of where he would take Akane. He had a few ideas but still didn't have a specific spot where they could camp out..
"That stupid tomboy better appreciate what I'm doing for her.." Ranma zipped up the bag and swung it over his right shoulder. It was heavy, but Ranma could deal.
"Ranma?" Ranma turned around and saw Nabiki walking up to him. She looked like she was in a hurry. She had her school uniform on and was holding her book bag.
"What, Nabiki?" Ranma noticed she was holding a red envelope. It was small, but looked bloated. The sides were sticking out in a rectangular shape.
"So, where are you two heading off to?" Ranma shrugged, he really didn't know.
"Wait.. How do you..?" Nabiki smiled her devious smile.
"Ranma, Ranma. You know nothing in this house gets by me. Now, do you want to tell me what happened?"
"Nope." Nabiki's smile vanished and she curled her lip.
"Listen buster, I don't have all day, and wouldn't Kuno and the rest of Furinkin love to know that you're eloping with my sister?" Ranma gulped.
"Nabiki, that 'aint fair." Nabiki's smile was renewed.
"Life isn't fair, Saotome. You better get used to it, especially when I'm around."
"Fine. But you can't tell anyone else, or that we're eloping! Cause we 'aint!!" Ranma snarled.
"Yes, Ranma. I'm a woman of my word, now hurry so I'm not late for class.
Ranma recalled the events of last night and summarized what he was planning to do (Or at least what he thought he was going to do) very briefly.
"My, my, Ranma, are you sure this is going to work? I mean, I admire the lengths you would go for my sister's safety, but I don't know if you're thinking this through all the way." Nabiki's smile got wider as she saw him go through his mental check list.
"Like what?"
"How about money, Ranma? Do you have any?" Nabiki stared intently into his eyes and made him shiver. The only person who could every intimidate Ranma was Nabiki. She made sure to do it every once and a while to make sure he knew who was boss.
Ranma chuckled. "Money? Who needs money? Why would we need money, anyways?"
"What if Akane gets hurt? Or you?"
Ranma smiled and reached into the bag he had removed from his shoulder. He pulled out a white box. "First aid kit, got injuries covered."
Nabiki rolled her eyes. "Food, Saotome?" Ranma reached into his bag. "I don't think Akane will want to eat instant Ramen for every meal for how ever long you are gone."
"Since when do I care what that tomboy wants?" Ranma sneered.
"I think you always do. But anyways, if you run out of ramen, you'll have to eat Akane's cooking. It'll probably be made out of wood chipping, rocks, and mud. Sounds good, eh Saotome?"
Ranma's face turned green. "Then what do you suggest I do, Nabiki?" Nabiki smiled again, then took the red envelope she was holding and shoved it into his hands.
"This is the last time I'm saving your butt, Saotome. Next time you can suffer." Ranma looked into the eyes of the Ice Queen of Furinkin, then bowed quickly.
"Thanks Nabiki." Ranma turned around to go back up and yell at Akane for being so slow, but Nabiki stopped him.
"Ranma.." Nabiki looked into his blue eyes. She put on a thankful, pure smile. "Thank you for taking care of my sister, I really appreciate it."
Ranma was a little startled, but scratched the back of his head and ran out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
Ranma and Akane were edging the outskirts of town. Ranma looked around. They were in a quaint little street that had a little gathering area and a few little boutiques and small family owned restaurants. Ranma had an eery feeling in his gut and he couldn't shake it off. They had been traveling for almost half the day, and hadn't had anything to eat.
"Ranma? I'm hungry." Akane said while squinting her eyes in the bright sun.
"So am I. Here, I'll see if this place is open for lunch. The windows were tinted black and he couldn't see inside. The sign in front of the window read: FeeFee's Fresh Food. Akane sat down on the bench outside, waiting for Ranma to go inside.
"Let's see. It doesn't say what they serve. Akane! I'll be right back!" Ranma yelled to Akane.
Ranma turned the handle and opened the door. He was greeted by different delicious aromas. He smelt chicken, and salad dressing, fried vegetables, and all kinds of greasy foods.
"Oh yes. We're definitely eatin' here." Ranma's mouth watered as he watched a tray full of food go by him to the waiting customers. Ranma moaned in excited anticipation for his meal.
"Well hi there! Now do you look like the hungriest little thing I've ever seen." A woman dressed in a sleek green dress walked up to Ranma. She had a huge smile on her face that stretched from ear to ear. "What can I do for you? You look a little young to be traveling alone!"
Ranma looked at the lady in front of him. She looked to be in her early thirties. "Oh, yeah. Could you set up a table for two?"
"I'd be glad to!" Ranma could see his reflection in the lady's pearly whites, and tried not to snicker. The lady strutted away to clear off a table, while Ranma ran out the metal door to get Akane.
"Hey tomboy! Hurry up, I wanna eat!" Akane glared at him, then uncrossed her legs and walked over to him. She was very tired from their trip out of town. Akane was used to her short distance jogs, but wasn't the best long-distance traveler. She decided she would feel much better after the nice lunch.
Ranma knew everything was going to be alright. He and Akane would have their lunch, then head out of town. Ranma's feeling of dread was overpowered by his hunger as he and Akane walked into the restaurant.
Akane looked around. The whole place had nick-knacks lining the walls on wooden shelves. On a shelf in the entryway, Akane eyed a tiny little trinket, attached to a small white thread holding a price tag. "Oh!! Ranma! Look at this!" Akane shouted, making people look at her funny, but then return to their meals.
"Heh.." Ranma looked around, embarrassed, then looked at what Akane was now holding in her small hands. It was black and had a fluffy yellow collar on it. "What the hell is it, Akane?" Akane's hand kept shaking, so it was hard for him to tell.
"It's a little piglet! Doesn't it remind you of P-chan, Ranma?" Akane smiled.
"Sure, whatever, can we eat?" Ranma's stomach growled extremely loud, causing the customers enjoying their meals to look up at Ranma. He shrugged and saw the lady from before coming back to him.
"Hi again! I set up a nice small both over here for you! Follow me please!" Akane put the small charm back on the shelf, along with other assorted beads and trinkets with letters on them.
The lady got Ranma and Akane seated at their small booth, the went to get the drinks they had ordered. She came back, still having her huge smile on, and passed out the couple's drinks.
"You sure are lucky little man, having such a cute girlfriends."
Both blushed, then Ranma stuttered. "She 'aint my girlfriend!"
"Oh?" The lady looked taken back. "So you're siblings, eh?"
"That's right." Ranma smiled up at the lady. He decided he was getting tired of calling her "the lady" and glanced at her name tag. It had to name: Marge written on it in fancy writing.
"Don't lie to me, boy!" She said, laughing. "I can tell you 'aint brother and sister."
Akane glared at Ranma. "Our father's engages us."
"Oh, did they? Is that good, or bad?"
Akane looked at Ranma, waiting for him to shout "BAD!!!" He didn't.
"I'm not sure yet." Akane responded after much thought. Ranma tried to decide if Akane's comment should give him hope, or put him down.
No one pressed the subject any further, and after getting their orders, Marge left into the kitchen, leaving the two to talk.
"So, Ranma." Akane started while casually taking a sip from her ice cold tea. "Where are we heading?" Ranma picked up a small light-blue bowl and dumped a handful of sugar into his tea. "I'm guessing we won't be staying at a five star hotel."
Ranma looked up from his drink and chuckled. "I was thinking we camp out in the mountains. I doubt anyone could find us there, and it'd give us a chance to relax." Akane smiled. She could really use a break. "Besides, we're luggin' all this camping stuff around, we should at least use it.
"Yeah.." Akane's glass was already half empty, so she slid it away from her so she wouldn't be tempted to drink more until her food arrived.
Ranma's drink was still almost full and he was starting into it. He wondered what had gotten into the girls back in town. "Shampoo I can expect to be spontaneous like that, but Ucchan?" Ranma tapped the clear glass with his thumb to a steady beat, still in deep thought. He felt lucky that he had been outside at the time Ukyo had attacked.
"What's wrong, Ranma?" Akane asked with worry in her eyes. It wasn't normal for him to have a thoughtful expression on his face, because he barely ever thinks things through. Ranma wasn't acting normal. Maybe seeing the other girls attack her had an affect on him. Snapped him out of his normal goofy exterior, and made him look at everything in a serious way.
"Ranma.." She always thought that if Ranma became more serious, he'd be easier to be around, and maybe more attactive to her. She didn't realize that his antics make her life exciting and fun. He helps her out of her boring life, and allows her to do more daring things. She missed the old Ranma.
With a determined look in her eyes, and a cute smile, she reached across the table and gently grabbed his hand.
Ranma almost immediately lost his nuetral expression and was startled to see Akane offering affection on her own will. It rarely happens. "Akane.. I--"
"Here you two go!" Marge looked up from the food and a guilty smile appeared on her face. "Oh, did I interrupt something?! I'm sorry!" Then she walked back into the kitchen, smiling.
Both teenagers blushed, but then turned towards their food. Ranma licked his lips. "Food!!" Akane smiled and dug in shortly after Ranma did. The couple received numerous looks from other groups eating as bits of food flew in the air; the majority was eaten.
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"Ahh! That was great!" Ranma exclamied twenty minutes later. His food was digested and he ws sipping up the last of his tea. The ice had melted so it tasted a tad more watery than normal. Akane couldn't help but giggle at Ranma's antics. He really did bring up her morale to a whole new level of happiness.
Marge emerged out of the steamy kitchen and looked at the mess round the couple's table. "Oh my! It looks like someone enjoyed their meal!" Ranma scratched the back of his head and chuckled.
"Yeah, it was real good." The lady's smile grew even bigger at his comment and she happily took the licked-clean plates off the table. "Would you two like some desert?" Ranma rubbed his stomach and shook his head no. He had eaten more than his fill and was ready to keep walking. Marge turned to Akane who promply shook her head and smiled. She wanted to get out of there as fast as she could. The staring hadn't stopped yet and she was beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"Okay. Will you be paying with cash?" Ranma nodded and Marge walked off to total up the bill.
"Where'd you get the money for this? Do you have enough?" Akane asked, motioning to one of her smaller bags where she kept money for herself.
"That's 'kay tomboy, I got your meal covered." Akane thought about pulling her mallet out on him, but decided against it. He doesn't mean it, and he's paying for my lunch.
Ranma pulled out the reddish-pink envelope he had gotten from Nabiki, and unflipped the top.
"What's that??" Akane asked a little too loud. Akane noticed it had his name on the front written in pretty cursive letters. "Is this a love note or something??" Ranma tried to snatch it back, but Akane was too quick. "Is this from Shampoo?!"
Akane stuck her hand in, still looking directly at Ranma as if she was trying to prove something. She pulled the first thing she touched out and lifted it up next to her head between her index and middle fingers. She wanted to know why Ranma was carrying the love letter or whatever it was around.
Ranma chokes, looking at what was in Akane's hand. After wondering what he was looking at, Akane looks at what she was holding in the air. It was a small picture of Akane working out. Her shirt was loose and she was sweating while screaming and breaking bricks. "Wh-why do y-you have this with you?? You pervert!!"
Ranma tried to back up in fright, but bumped into Marge. "Oh, sorry dear. Is something wrong? Here's your receipt." Ranma took in and moved away as Akane walked by him and out the door, fuming.
Akane began walking without even waiting for Ranma. It was at least twenty minutes before Ranma appeared by her side. "Ya know, Nabiki's the one who gave me that envelope. She put it in there!" Ranma yelled.
"Yeah right!" Akane walked briskly down the dirt road.
"AKANE!" Ranma screamed at the top of his lungs. Why would I want to carry an UNCUTE picture around, when YOU'RE already HERE?!" Akane stopped walking and turned to face him head on.
"IDIOT!!!" Akane yelled so loud that anyone in a five-mile radius would have heard it. Akane swung at Ranma, but he grabbed her had by the wrist.
"AKANE TENDO!!!" Akane looked at Ranma wondering why he had addressed her by her fully name. Ranma was looking behind them where they had just been walking. Standing there in a white robe with and blue and yellow hinge was a boy with long black hair and large circular rimmed glasses.
"Mouse?" Ranma asked in an annoyed tone. Ranma felt his bad vibe come back.
"Akane Tendo! You die now!!" Mouse screamed as he charged towards Akane. Ranma ran back from instinct; Mouse always attacked Ranma. Then Ranma heard him shout out Akane's name and looked ahead to see him running at Akane.
"Akane!" Ranma yelled and jumped up into the air. Mouse raised his arms and chains shot out of his sleeves towards Akane. Daggers also flew towards Akane. Ranma, who was then over Akane's head, deflected a few of the chains that would have come back and wrapped around Akane with the back on his hands. He felt some of the skin scrape off of his arms, but he sucked up the pain and continued his freefall into the swarm of chains, ropes, and daggers.
Akane couldn't see anything but motion all around her, and didn't know what to do. She then glimpsed a sharp dagger flying right for her. Its speed was so fast that she didn't think she could make it out in time. Right before it reached her, Akane felt a strong breeze in front of her, and something red in front of her, leaning back on her.
The chains abruptly stopped and Akane got the chance to look around and see what had happened. She felt her body and scanned her left. She felt no pain and was happy to see she had no injuries. Akane then looked in front of her and gasped. Ranma was directly in front of her, and was on his knees. His left arm was completely wrapped up in chains, and his whole arm was reddening.
Ranma was grunting, and clutching his side. Akane looked down to see blood slowly oozing down his side. Ranma pulled the dagger that was lodged in his side out and blood dripped on the ground.
Then, using the chains wrapped around his left arm, Ranma yanked on them as hard as he could, and sent Mouse flying in his direction. Mouse threw three more daggers at Ranma, each side by side, but Ranma swung his foot and knocked them away, then using his other foot, kicked Mouse directly in the stomach. Mouse gasped as he was flung back into the center of Nerima.
More blood dripped off Ranma's fingers and he knelt down. Akane had already run up to him and was trying whatever she could to comfort his. "Ranma! Y-you took th-the blow for me!"
Ranma smiled weakly, but then was shaken as Akane yelled.
"You idiot!! You could have gotten killed and it would have all been my fault!" Akane continued, "You stupid, stupid!! Stupid!!" A tear flew off her face and landed in the puddle of blood under Ranma.
"Man, your un-cute. I save you and all you do is yell at me." Ranma said, now frowning a bit.
Akane's eyes softened. "Ranma.." She looked around and saw they were now heading into what looked to be towards the mountains.
"It's okay. At least you weren't hurt." Ranma smiled and Akane hugged him. He looked taken back. It was always a surprise when Akane did something like that. Ranma was used to being hugged by girls and sexually attacked, but it was different when Akane did it.
"I'll take that as a thank you." Ranma said and then grunted. Akane had bumped his wound.
"Oh, sorry. Here, let me patch that up for you." Ranma blushed.
"No, I think I can do it myself." Akane made a "whatever you want" gesture and Ranma went off to patch himself while Akane sat down and thought.
"Oh no! I forgot my bag over where Mouse attacked!" Akane ran down to where they had been, but her backpack was gone. "Who took my bag?!" Akane fell back onto her butt and sighed.
"Today turned really bad, really fast.."
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That's it for chapter six! You might have noticed this was a bit longer than I usually put out. I guess I was just in a writing mood. I hope you're all enjoyed the story so far! I don't know what to do for the next chapter, besides a few things. Basically now it's all going to be present, and I'm going to write the next chapter instead of present tense. I'm thinking about a plot twist, or something you guys wouldn't expect and I'm still playing around with a couple of scenarios. One of them came to me, and I thought it was great, but then thought it reminded me of something. After more brain-racking I remembered an episode and it was basically the same plot. Oh well.. I took that off the drawing board.
Also, if you're wondering, in one of my earlier chapters, Ranma opens up an old wound. This one he just got would be the one I was referring to. I have lots of things like that that I'm dying to bring back, but I'm going to have to wait. Anyways, this is Authors ramble so I shall stop.
Thanks to those of you who review!!!!!!!!!!! It's always a joy to come home and see I have a brand new review. Each on makes my day go from poopie to schweeeeeeeet. So please review! It'll only take a moment of your time!
Lilly-Petal – Heh, breasts are funny, aren't they?
MZephyr – Meh, she does, doesn't she? She wasn't originally supposed to be that ooc, but it just sort of happened. My story, I can make her a bit ooc.
It was from the beginning of that chapter was because I was trying to make it more from Ranma's pov and that would have been not knowing when it started. I agree it could have been written better, and I have said numerous times that I am NOT the best writer in the world. I wouldn't even be in the top 10 :P.
For the injection, umm, I was sorta having a writer's block but I was trying my best.
Ah, I think you saw a lot of that transition during this fight. Ranma took the blow for her!!
Anonymous Dude – It was entertaining to write too. I can't tell you what happens next!!!
Thanks you if you read through all of this, and have a good morning/afternoon/night/whatever it is there.
Studdevil