What We Hear, and What We Don't

Warning: There is a very illicit curse word I used in the story, it appears only once but I warn you regardless. Others may not find it offensive, but I feel as though I need to heed my readers.

#

"You can let go anytime now," Akane said breathlessly as she felt the tears begin to start, but she bit her tongue and put up a tough front as Ranma held her in his arms, in the general public of their schoolyard. Nervously, Ranma stuttered, but not letting go, "Like I'd hug a tomboy like you because I wanted to!"

Ranma gulped and groaned internally as the words left his mouth. Why, why did he say things he did not mean to Akane? And it was always Akane. He felt her tense up and the crowd watching them did too. He felt her small, her so small hands, come up and rest against his chest and push. The sudden motion knocked Ranma back only to take a stance as Akane bit her lower lip as she then rebutted, "Then don't, you ass!"

She turned on her heel and quickly ran out the school gates in an angry huff. "You are such a jerk!" Sayuri huffed as her and Yuka passed Ranma to follow after their friend, "Poor Akane!" And so he watched her two friends follow after his tear-strickened fiancee as he stayed rooted to the spot. Only to be approached by Hiroshi, "Man, that was pretty harsh, Ranma."

But, he did not hear anymore as the loud squeal of Shampoo interuppted the norm, "Aiya! See, Airen, kitchen wrecker no like when you hug her!" She then proceeded to latch onto Ranma's form, pressing her body against his. Daisuke, who stood beside Hiroshi shook his head as his next words were the consensus of the whole public watching, "Ranma, man, you screwed up big time, and even more if you listen to Shampoo."

The crowd began to disippate with nods at Daisuke's words and Ranma was just as oblivious. "Whaddya mean?" Ranma asked as he pried Shampoo off him and she held his arm cooing. Hiroshi shrugged his shoulders as he followed the crowd, about to leave, "Just sayin' man, I am giving big props to Akane if she forgives you this time. She's the bigger person if she does."

#

"Damn you, Saotome," Akane muttered as she stopped in the park and found herself sitting on a bench. Her two friends showed up, out of breath as they reached her.

"Holy shit, Akane, you run like hell!" Sayuri gasped out as she tried to even her breathing.

Akane looked up to give her friends a weary smile, "Sorry 'bout that guys, but you didn't have to follow after me."

"No way!" Yuka exclaimed, first to catch her breath, "After what Ranma did back there, you think you're gonna get rid of us that easily?"

A chuckle escaped Akane's lips as she tossed her head back, "Honestly, no. I know you guys."

"Like we know you!" The two girls chimed together only to result in the trio in a small bout of laughter. Akane raised her hand to wipe the joyous tears from her eyes, "Thanks guys..."

"It's what friends do," Sayuri said as she and Yuka sat on either side of Akane on the bench. The three friends then engaged in a comforting conversation to bring their friend out of her funk.

#

"Shit," Ranma muttered as he ran his hand through his hair. Shampoo now stood beside him with a glittering look in her eyes, feeling good as her plan went accordingly. Ranma was flustered as his friends had finally blurted what he was ever so missing and now the guilt ate at him.

Guilt and something else.

Shampoo haughtily said, "You go on date with Shampoo now, Airen?"

"Fuck off, Shampoo," Ranma said before he realized the words he said right then, but he did not feel the remorse or any thing to want him to take it back. Incrediuously, Shampoo stared at Ramma, her jaw slighly ajar.

"What you say?" she muttered.

"Don't pretend you didn't hear me," Ranma growled, "Get your ass out of my sight, now."

Shampoo stepped back, frightened, and she turned, leaving him at the scene. She cursed under her breath in her native tongue as she hurried home before she had to feel the wrath of her "airen".

Ranma groaned as he titled his head back to relieve the headache forming. The bout he had with his friends proved what words did to a girl like Akane, and how much a hug really meant to the girl. And like the oblivious fool he was, Ranma fell into Shampoo's trap and hurt the one he never wanted hurt in the first place. His feet brought him subconsiously to the park where he halted when he heard the familiar voice of his fiancee.

His heart froze as he ducked behind a tree as the three girls walked by, surrounding Akane as they chatted amongst each other. He watched, with a concerned eye, Akane smile weakly as her friends attempted to cheer her up. He heard her small chuckle and absoutely melted when her beaming smile made its apperance as Yuka made a silly comment. He let out a small sigh and held his breath as they stopped, not even two feet away.

"I really don't understand why you put up with him," Sayuri commented.

"He's a plain jerk to you!" Yuka added.

Akane was silent for a moment before her small voice said, "Yeah, but...sometimes he isn't."

The two friends looked at their comrade and sighed, "Guess that's how it is when you're in love, huh?"

Akane blushed as she did not answer and her two friends sighed again but put up a smile for her. "Hey, cheer up. Just mallet him when you get home, you know, at least that way he knows you cared."

"I always care," Akane sighed as she looked up, "But...maybe he doesn't? He has said it more than enough, right?"

Ranma's heart began to race as he listened in.

"I rather have him happy, even if it's not with me guys," Akane shrugged now, "If he's happy, then I will be too. I'll find someone later..."

"But he won't be Ranma."

"It'll be fine," she whispered as the three girls began their pace again, "I'll settle."

The girls then left the vincity and Ranma emerged from his hiding spot, trying to register what he overheard. his hand over his racing heart as he realized: he is losing her.

But, he found himself rooted to his spot as he recalled the girls words, "I guess that's how it is when you're in love."

Love.

Akane Tendo in love with Ranma Saotome?

Author's Note

Hrmmm, I feel as though this piece is currently unfinished, but I wanted to leave it at this for your reading pleasure, maybe I will adapt this into a chapter story or something...you guys tell me! Sorry for that harsh curse word up there, ahh!