Disclaimer - I do not own Ranma 1/2
AN: I have to admit the next couple of chapters are fluffy as I transition to the next challenge. I thought for now a few teenage hormones to deal with were challenging enough. R&R as you like.
Chapter 7 – A Crack in the Ice
Ranma heard 'Oh my' from the door and shot off the bed, unfortunately his hand was tangled under Akane's shirt. He was thrown off balance and landed hard on the floor. His situation was further complicated when Akane landed on top of him, his hand still under her shirt. He quickly pulled his hand out and looked away from both girls blushing profusely.
Akane had had no time to react, the moment she registered that her sister had opened the door and spoken, Ranma pulled her off the bed. As soon as she could, she disengaged herself from her fiancé and sat down on her bed again.
Kasumi stared at them, their embarrassment was palpable. She didn't know quite how to handle the situation, they were both fully clothed so nothing really bad had happened. They were still engaged, or at least she figured it was a reasonable assumption, so intimacy was somewhat expected. But they were so young and she didn't want to see them make a mistake they would regret later. She decided not to say anything right now; she would find a time soon to speak with them privately. Dinner was on the table and she needed some time herself to figure out what to say to the young couple.
"Oh… well… dinner is ready." She backed out of the room and reclosed the door.
They both were blushing as they looked at each other. Against Ranma's will a small smile formed, Akane looked so pretty with the blush across her nose and looking disheveled. Knowing she looked messy because she'd been lost in the moment with him was thrilling.
"Why are you smiling? We are in big trouble."
"Awe… not really. I mean we really didn't do anything terribly wrong." He scooted over and sat on the floor by her feet again. He was worried she might be mad about how he had acted but when he felt her brush his bangs away from his face he relaxed against her.
"We need to be more careful."
"In a house that is always full of people that means we are always at risk of being caught." Ranma pouted. They had found ways to be sneaky and find time alone but there was always that chance. He just wanted to get away from it with her. She wanted to hike up the mountain for her birthday, maybe nobody would show up this time. If he could find a gift for her too, then giving it to her while they were alone would be less embarrassing.
She stood up and tucked her shirt back into her shorts. "Let's get downstairs before they have to come looking for us again."
"Oh yeah, dinner." Ranma hopped up from the floor and put his hand in hers.
She pulled him back to her as he tried to pull them out the door. Wrapping her arms around his waist she hugged him tightly and felt him return the embrace. "I'm glad you are still my fiancé."
"Come on my sexy little tomboy, I'm hungry!"
They arrived downstairs to find everyone else already at the table. Nabiki gave them a surprised look then turned her eyes to Kasumi. Ranma and Akane didn't know what Nabiki was irritated about but her face was certainly sour. They took their seats beside each other and Ranma dug in immediately.
Akane had trouble meeting Kasumi's gaze. She was sure her sister was very disappointed in them. She hated the idea of upsetting her oldest sister, who had been her surrogate mother for so long. She ate slowly and joined very little of the conversation at the table. Ranma was mostly acting like nothing had happened, fighting with his father over food and talking about the fast slide at the water park. She did notice that although he answered any questions that Kasumi asked, he was avoiding looking directly at her most of the meal as well.
While she was in bed that night Akane couldn't help but smile, remembering that Ranma had called her sexy. She knew he loved her and that he like making out with her, it felt silly that one little word could affect her so much. The idea that he found her sexy, when he had been groped by Shampoo almost daily and Kodachi was more than willing to press her body against him as well, made her feel warm inside. Should I try to dress a little more sexily? Akane frowned at her own thoughts, "He already finds me sexy. I shouldn't have to change."
Ranma was lying on his futon lost in his own thoughts when his father entered the room. "Hey Pop, has Mom said when she is coming back from Okinawa." After Jusenkyo Ranma had been so out of sorts that he didn't notice for a week that his mother wasn't staying at the Tendo residence. When he had bothered asking his father where she was, he had explained that her dearest friend in Okinawa was very ill and his mother was staying with her to take care of her. Ranma figured whatever she has must be really bad because his mother was staying a really long time. She had written to him several times to say how much she missed him and how proud she was that he had become so manly. She called sometimes during the day but so far Ranma had never been home at the time. He was usually at school so his father would pass along the messages.
Genma thought for a moment, "She will probably call or write again soon. I will make sure to ask her but her friend is very dear to her. I am sure she will want to stay until the very end."
"Her friend is going to die?"
Genma nodded, "Eventually, doctors have not found a cure for her condition."
"That is pretty sad, I hope Mom is okay. Maybe Akane and I could visit her some weekend."
"That wouldn't be a good idea. I am sure she is very busy caring for her dear friend. Don't worry son, she will be back before you know it." Genma rolled over and soon was snoring loudly.
The next morning Ranma sparred with his father in the yard, he was feeling pretty cocky that he had landed his dad in the koi pond but managed to avoid it himself. "Nice try old man but I ain't going in the water today." He heard Akane yell goodbye and looked over to see her leaving the gate, admiring the short skirt she had selected to wear today. The panda took the opening to haul Ranma over his head and send him splashing into the pond.
"Dammit Pop, you're going to pay for that." The fight continued as the rest of the family went about their morning. Afterwards Ranma went to heat up a kettle but found one already warm on the stove. He used it and replaced it on the back burner, deciding to let his father fend for himself. Going in search of Kasumi he finally located her working on the washing.
"Hey Kasumi, thanks for heating up the kettle."
"Think nothing of it Ranma. I knew one or both of you would need it."
"Do you know where Akane was heading this morning?"
"She is taking a plate of cookies to Dr. Tofu for me."
He grinned and raised his eyebrows, "Cookies?"
She laughed, "I made plenty. You can have some later."
Ranma started to leave and then remembered that he wanted to ask her about Akane's birthday, "Um… Kasumi? I need help coming up with an idea for Akane's birthday; I don't have much money so I can't afford what I want to get her."
"I don't think she cares if you spend any money on her."
"I was told I have to get her something romantic."
"Well I will think on it then."
"Thanks again."
He left the washroom and nearly ran into Nabiki. Probably eavesdropping again. "Hey Nabiki, have a good time at the water park yesterday?"
"It was lovely." She glowered at him, "You know, maybe if you got a job you could afford to get her a romantic gift."
"I can't find a job and make enough in a week, not with school too."
"I could offer you a very generous interest rate on a loan."
"No thanks, it took me forever to pay off the last one." He walked around her and went downstairs to find something to do until Akane returned.
00000
Akane entered the waiting room at Dr. Tofu's office and greeted the older lady who was already waiting. "Hello Mrs. Satou. It is nice to see you today?"
The older lady inclined her head in return, "Hello Miss Akane. Does he let you pay him in cookies dear?"
Akane giggled at the idea, "I don't think it would be a good idea for him to accept cookies as payment. My sister Kasumi made them for him, I am just delivering them."
"Oh dear, that might be bad for my appointment. If you are not in a hurry could you maybe wait to give those to him until after my visit is over? I really need my hip looked at properly, it is giving me such pains lately."
Akane giggled again, "Yes I think I can do that. Maybe I should remind my sister that these deliveries should be made at the end of the day."
"Too bad he can't keep his wits about him long enough to ask her on a date."
Akane nodded in agreement and set the plate on a table beside her. Dr. Tofu walked his current client out of the exam room, smiling when at her as soon as he saw her there.
"Hello Akane, are you hurt?"
"No Dr. Tofu, I just need to see you for a few minutes. Please continue with your next appointment, I am not in a hurry."
The old lady stood carefully and heavily used her cane to walk to the exam room with the doctor close behind. He helped her up on the exam couch he had in the room and waited while she got more comfortable.
He had noticed a covered plate on the little table next to Akane. He hoped they were cookies from Kasumi, she made wonderful cookies. They were never too hard or too soft and had the perfect amount of nuts or other flavors in them. They always smelled perfect and she made sure each one was perfectly round. Everything she makes is perf….
A sharp pain exploded in his skull. When his eyes refocused he was staring at his elderly patient, whose cane was resting on his head.
"Stay with me Doc. I need you to fix my hip." She shook her head. He figured out that Akane must have brought food from Kasumi. I hope he isn't a lost cause yet.
"Of course, sorry my mind had wandered."
"That much was obvious."
Dr. Tofu blushed and looked contrite. Putting one hand up to his head, he tugged lightly on his small ponytail and smiled a little too broadly. "So what is wrong with your hip?"
"I've got some pain running down from it to my knee."
The doctor had her lie back and used various pressure points to relief much of the pain. Helping her sit back up he advised her to return for some testing if the pain returned.
"Thank you doctor. It feels much better now." She eyed him carefully, "You know doctor. There isn't a young man in this town that hasn't heard about Kasumi's sweet nature and excellent cooking. One of these days a smarter man than you won't hesitate to make a move."
He was staring back at her with a dazed look. "Kasumi… sweet… cooking."
She brought her cane crashing down on his head again. When he seemed to be able to register his surroundings again she looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. God help us all if he ever works up the nerve to ask her out. Raising her cane again she saw him flinch and grinned. Instead she used it to point to the door, "Go get your cookies."
She hopped down from the table feeling spryer and made her way towards the exit. "Thank you for waiting Akane. I'm sure you want to get back to that stud muffin boyfriend of yours."
Akane blushed and waved goodbye then picked up the plate of cookies to give them to the doctor. "These are chocolate chip cookies from Kasumi, she wanted to try out a new American recipe she found today. She says that they will stay softer longer."
He bowed automatically and took the plate from her hands, "Thank you for bringing them and tell Kasumi thank you. I'll put these in the kitchen and bring your plate out to you."
His grin was too broad; Akane knew he might not make it to the kitchen. "Actually doctor, you should bring the plate back later when you are done with patients for the day and thank her yourself."
"Oh… um… sure I could do that."
"You know," Akane smiled sweetly at him, "She loves flowers; that would be a wonderful way to say thank you."
"Oh… um… flowers?"
"She was wearing a pink bow today in her hair. Flowers that matched her bow would be perfect."
Perfect. He turned and walked into the wall behind him. Someone put their hand on his elbow and guided him through a doorway. Kasumi is perfect.
Akane was pretty sure the doctor had forgotten she was in the room. Come on Doctor, if Ranma and I can admit our feelings anyone can.
00000
The lone figure stood at the start of a hiking trail that lead up to some of the Mt. Fuji shrines. These days there were many shrines near the summit of the still active volcano. Apparently this country worshipped the visually symmetrical peak and spiritual pilgrimages became increasingly common over the last 300 years. According to articles on the shrines there were two likely shrines that could be old enough to house the scroll or other object. This path included access to the Suyama Sengen-jinja Shrine, a shrine that had been confirmed to have been at that location for nearly 450 years. The most troubling bit of information that they had come across was that the shrine had been mostly destroyed when the volcano erupted in 1707. Although rebuilt it was unclear how much had been excavated. I did not come all this way to be stopped by lava.
There was a train available to ride part way up the mountain but limiting the number of people who saw them was important. Funds were also starting to run low. The figure was no stranger to traveling without the aid of modern technology, it may take longer but traveling on foot as much as possible would be best.
00000
Akane arrived home to find Ranma in the dojo. He had a blind fold over his eyes and both their fathers were coming at him from various angles. Her father was using a wooden practice sword while his father was attacking barehanded. She watched as her fiancé smoothly pivoted dodging the sword and countering his father's attacks. Genma was regularly masking his aura but each time he moved to attack his aura returned but only very slightly, just enough that Ranma could sense it and react in time. She doubted anyone else besides her fiancé could see through the technique as easily.
Ranma smiled when he felt the familiar presence of his fiancé. He was using his chi to heighten his senses so that he could fight blind. Even though Akane wasn't projecting her battle aura he could still sense her natural aura. "Heya Akane, how did Dr. Tofu like the cookies?"
Akane was amazed as she watched him duck under another sword attack, wave at her, then turn and kick his father away from him. "He walked into a wall, almost broke the plate I think." The two older men had started to pant heavily; they had obviously been at this for a while.
Genma called out to her, "Wow that is a really short skirt you are wearing Akane, must be wearing it for Ranma."
Ranma heard her protest but the image of her leaving the property earlier flashed in his mind and he lost control of his soul of ice and his chi momentary. It was enough of an opening for both men to hit his back and send him flying into the wall face first.
Akane cringed and ran over to check on him. "Are you okay? How did they get through?"
"I'm fine." He stood up and felt a little dizzy and sat back down again. "Did you two have to hit me that hard?"
Genma crossed his arms over his puffed out chest, "My boy you have a weak spot."
"I do not."
His father marched over and pointed right in his face, "You do and she is sitting right there. She distracted you this morning and just now."
Akane gripped Ranma's arm, "Oh Ranma, I'm sorry I came in the dojo to watch. I have watched so many of your trainings and fights; I didn't think it would be a problem."
"It's not a problem." He glared at his father, "She is not my weakness. I have accomplished more because of her."
Akane began to argue as well when her father cut her off. "Akane, you and I should go back to the house. Saotome needs to explain this to Ranma more privately I think."
She frowned at her father then looked at Ranma. He was looking a little guilty and nodded for her to leave. "Alright," still frowning she followed her father out of the dojo.
Genma remained where he was standing, "Have you figured it out yet?"
"She isn't a weakness."
"You are attracted to your fiancé, which is great, since it will unite the school and make your father very proud." Tears were streaming down his face as he allowed himself to envision their long time plan finally becoming a reality. Suddenly his face became stern again, "Your perverted thoughts are the distraction. You saw her legs this morning and left an opening then just now you were blind folded and a mention of her short skirt was enough for you to lose your control over your Soul of Ice."
His father was right; he had to find a way to control those thoughts while fighting. He couldn't keep her safe if the mere mention of her shifted his thoughts away from the task at hand. "I will find a way to get rid of the weakness."
"Good," He nodded at the boy, "I think a cup of tea sounds good."
Ranma sat blind folded on the floor of the dojo after his father left. I can't let myself become distractible like Happosai. I'm not a pervert. He couldn't ask Akane to purposefully try to distract him, as fun as that would be. He would think about it some more later.
Rising he went in search of Akane. It didn't take him long to find her, she was in the kitchen with Kasumi. He really hoped that she wasn't going to help cook dinner. She had managed a few easy dishes lately so he thought there was a chance she could improve enough to not kill him one day. He listened to them from around the corner for a few minutes and overheard her grumbling about being kicked out of the dojo.
Kasumi was patiently listening to her sister complain while she cleaned the counters and rearranged the contents of the refrigerator. She was going to need some extra space for the things she needed to buy this week to make Akane's favorite meal. It had always been the same since she was a little girl, curry rice, fried calamari and dragon rolls. After dinner she would want baby castella instead of a cake. It was an odd combination that had resulted when their mother asked Akane to determine the menu for her 4th birthday. Akane had listed all her favorites and their mother made them all. Ever since then it was what Akane craved each year and since their mother's death had never deviated. Akane had manage to make the curry dish once by herself so maybe this year she would be able to teach her kitchen challenged little sister to make the fried calamari.
Akane leaned against the small table in the center of the room, "I just don't get it. Why would I be a distraction now?"
"Maybe it's because he loves you more now."
"I don't know. I don't want him to get hurt in a fight because of me again."
Ranma was touched but also a little insulted, "Gee thanks for the vote of confidence." He walked through the doorway and over to stand in front of her. Tugging her hair gently, "Want to go train?"
"Sparring, training with our fathers and now you want to train with me? You seem to have an endless supply of energy today." Lesser men would be passed out on the floor wishing for death. The thought made her smile.
"Yup, I'm in a good mood." Grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the kitchen, away from possible disaster.
They were in the hallway when someone knocked on the door.
"Akane, can you get answer the door?"
"Uh, no I can't, Ranma and I are going out to train."
Ranma gave her a funny look. "Why can't you answer it?"
"Shhh…" She covered his mouth with her hand and pulled him around the corner.
Kasumi put her things down in the kitchen, closed the refrigerator and walked toward the door, "Coming."
Akane peeked around the corner and motioned for Ranma to do the same, "Stay quiet."
"What you are up to?"
"Shhh… just watch."
Kasumi opened the door to find Dr. Tofu ready to knock again. "Oh, hello doctor. How are you this evening?"
Grinning foolishly he handed Kasumi the plate in his hand, "This plate told me to bring Akane back."
Sunny smile in place, Kasumi accepted the plate with a giggle, "Don't you mean Akane told you to bring the plate back?"
"Oh… um… yeah. Here, these cookies are for your bow to thank you for the flowers."
"You are speaking in riddles today doctor. Let's see… are these flowers to for me?"
Tofu nodded enthusiastically, "I shouldn't bother you; I should head back to the clinic." He turned and walked down their hallway.
Ranma and Akane jumped back before either Tofu or Kasumi saw them.
"Doctor won't you stay for tea?"
Dr. Tofu had begun laughing hysterically. She is perfect. "Ah thank you." He gently took the flowers from her hand and began to try and drink from them.
Kasumi put her hand in front of her mouth to keep from laughing too hard. He hadn't always been this way, when she was younger he was so polite to her and helpful with her sister's injuries but a few years ago she had gone to see him with a cake she had made as a special thank you for taking care of one of Akane's injuries. Since then he acted silly when she saw him. The others said he was only that way around her, which was a little flattering, but it made it hard for her to get an appointment.
"Why don't I put those flowers in water so that they don't wilt?" She carefully rescued the flowers and walked to the kitchen to find a vase. Adding water and the flowers to a vase she set them on display on the counter where she could smell them as she made breakfast in the morning. They were a little crumpled where he had tried to drink them but overall they were very pretty.
I need to escape. I don't have Betty here. I'm behaving like an idiot. He felt Kasumi take his elbow and guide him to the door. She is kicking me out because I am an idiot.
"Dr. Tofu, I think I should walk you home. You don't look like you feel well." She gently prodded him until he walk along with her out the door.
"Man, I really want to follow them. I ain't even that bad." Ranma grinned down at Akane.
"Are you kidding me? You were worse. At least Dr. Tofu never insults her."
"Maybe if you were sweet and gentle like Kasumi I wouldn't have." He looked down at her with one eyebrow quirked. "How long has he been like this?"
"A few years"
"At least it didn't take me that long to come to my senses." He squeezed her hand.
Akane took her hand back and started for the stairs, "I'll go change into my gi. Meet you in the dojo." She found her gi in her room and changed quickly. Glancing in the mirror she changed her mind and stripped out of the more formal training attire into shorts and a tank top. The day was rather warm and it would be nice to not have the thicker fabric sticking to her.
