Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
Chapter 9:
Ranma cracked the door open. He noticed the way Akane seemed to shift away from his touch last night. He let out a breath and opened it further.
Akane had her nose in a book, her little bed side lamp brightening her room from the darkness.
The warm glow caressing her features, she looked up, eyes meeting his.
A friendly smile graced his features, but it wasn't as natural as it could be. It was plastered on by the good will to comfort her.
She glanced back down at her book, slipping her bookmark back in before returning her gaze back to him. She smiled back, a full, reassuring beam.
"Oh, Ranma! You've got one up on me! You're a sneaky little devil, and I salut you, but you cannot steal my dear Akane away from me!" Happosai chirped from the doorway.
Ranma turned on his heel from the moment he first spoke. Akane flung her book at him, not caring if the bookmark was lost. All that really mattered was that Happosai didn't open his big mouth about this. It really would be an awkward family conversation to explain what had happened a few days prior.
Happosai had fled from sight as soon as the book left Akane's clutches, but Nabiki stepped forward; a white flash revealing her presence...
"Nabiki! W-what are you doing?!" Akane cried, frantically shoving past Ranma towards the door.
"Thought I'd follow the old man. It's looks like he was right, though."
"W-wha... Wh...?"
"It's not what you think!" Ranma spluttered out nervously.
"You always say that, but in my sister's room, that statement can't be anything but false." Nabiki shook her head, "dad's waiting in the dining room." With that, she turned and left.
Ranma and Akane followed her warily, unsure of what to expect when they'd get to the dining room...
Kasumi was flustered at the devistating news. She closed the cupboard, just having put the last dish away, debating inwardly weather to cry or not, after all, if Akane had been strong enough to put on a brave face infront of everyone...
Akane sat quietly, staring at her hands that rested in her lap, clasped together. Ranma was beside her, glancing at her every few moments. He could tell how this was making her feel by how tense her body was.
"So..." Souns's voice slightly quivered as he spoke, "that's how it is." He chose he words carefully, not wanting to make the situation any worse. "Well, if that's the case, I guess it's acceptable." He nodded at Ranma.
Ranma nodded back before leading Akane back up the stairs. He hung back for a moment, though, when he heard Souns speak up again to his father, Genma.
"I just wish her mother was her to comfort her. I know she has her sisters, but..." He tailed of and Genma patted his back to comfort him, knowing it was difficult.
Ranma pinched the bridge of his nose, clenching his eyes shut. Inhaling deeply, he caught up with Akane as she crept up the stairs.
