Chapter Eleven: Author's note: This is shorter than I wanted, but I got a little stumped at the end. . . just think of it as a reminder that I'm still around and writing though. J
Akane closed her eyes as she held her now wet palms up to her cheeks. The cool water was refreshing, but not enough to relieve her anxiety. What am I going to do? Things can't go on like this. . . it isn't right. Pulling her hands down, she held out the left and stared at the ring that glittered there. With a tremble running through her fingers, she slowly pulled off the symbol of her marriage. She placed it on the corner of the sink and faced her reflection. This has to end. I have to tell Ryoga. . . if I'm stuck here, I'm going to do things the right way. I'm going to make this Akane be honest with everyone. No more fooling around. . . I have to tell Ranma that this has to stop, everything. . . even though it feels so right. . .
She straightened her back and walked out of the bathroom and down the stairs to where he was waiting. ORanma was sitting on the couch with his back with her. Same old Ranma, she thought with a pang as she watched him waiting impatiently, tapping his foot, rolling his shoulders. Akane cleared her throat softly and immediately, ORanma was on his feet and standing in front of her. Without another word, she was in his arms, off the ground and carried.
For the first time in her life, Akane closed her eyes to take it all in. Sure, she had been carried before, held by him, and now even kissed by him, but she had never let herself relax and enjoy it, enjoy Ranma. She cuddled up close against his chest, feeling his slow even breath, the strong beat of his heart. So this is what if feels like to let yourself be in love with someone. . . it feels so safe. . . if only things had just turned out the way they were supposed to . . . I wish things could stay like this forever. . . only they can't. A soft thump startled Akane into opening her eyes.
"It's been a while since we've had time to sit up here, hasn't it, Akane." ORanma set her gently onto her feet and dropped down to the roof tiles, lounging with his head resting on his hands, a lopsided grin on his face. "What with teaching and helping Ukyo, the kids. . . no time for ourselves." He looked up at her, his eyes sparkling as he patted the spot next to him. He looked on with confusion as she turned her back towards him, stiffening her frame.
"Ranma, we need to talk." This is it. . . time to end all of this. . . you have to do this Akane. . . you have to fix things. "I just. . . I can't do this any-" Akane let out a gasp as her feet were swept out from under her. A second later, she found herself once again looking up into his clear blue-gray eyes.
"Enough talking, tomboy."
Akane gulped and opened her mouth to protest when suddenly ORanma swooped down to capture her lips with his own.
* * * * *
"Nyhaa nyhaa! You can't catch me!"
"Ranko! Get back here!"
"Don't you guys ever get tired?" OUkyo groaned slightly and leaned up against the counter, taking a break from cleaning and closing up shop. Ryo and Ranko ran past her and then proceeded to chase each other up over and around every table in the restaurant. Wow, I'm beat. . . I think it's time for bed. . . she eyed the two midget maniacs. . . and not just for me. She spoke her thoughts aloud and soon found two sets of adorable eyes gazing up on her.
"Aw Auntie Uko, bedtime already?"
"But it's sooooooooo early. . . "
"Yes honey, bedtime already. . . but if you two are good and get into bed, I'll tell you a story."
Ranko immediately jumped up and hugged OUkyo. "About you? And mommy? And Daddy too?"
OUkyo wrapped her arms around the small girl with a giggle. "Yup! Those are the best stories anyway."
Ryo frowned and crossed his arms around his chest. "There better be no kissin' in it, I hate those stories." Ranko turned around within OUko's grasp to sick her tongue out at her brother.
"No kissing, and lots of fights, and of course," she reached out to tousle his hair, "a happy ending."
The little boy stuck his chin out and looked the other way. "Aw, I don't need no happy ending. . . "
"Sure you do! You always get upset when stories end wrong!"
"I do not!" Ryo yelled over his shoulder as he ran up the back stairway towards the guest room. The two females turned to each other and smiled.
"Auntie Uko?"
"What is it honey?"
"I like happy endings too." Ranko gave the older woman a shy smile and quickly ran out of the room and up the stairs to join her sibling.
OUkyo smiled as she straightened up and made the final sweep of the wet cloth against the counter. She threw the cloth into the sink and slowly waddled her way over to the stairs. Suddenly a sharp pain shuddered through her and she clutched at the railing with a gasp. Looking down, she noticed the floor was now extremely moist. Reaching a hand down to protectively cradle a hand over her stomach, she slowly made her way to the phone. It's time. . . Ryoga, you jack ass, where are you when I need you?
* * * * *
Akane sighed deeply and slowly began to return his kiss. The warmth started gently and quickly spread from the center of her chest to the tips of her fingers. I shouldn't be doing this, but. . . ORanma's hands touched her sides, running his hands up and down, sending tingles and shivers throughout her entire body. Her own hand reached up of their own accord to grasp his shoulders as another wave of emotion hit her when he released her mouth and replaced it with her neck.
Ranma. . . Akane never realized that it was possible to feel this good. Her arms tightened around his muscle hardened frame. She tilted her head back to gaze at the night sky above, at the same time allowing him greater access to the pale white skin of her throat. Ranma. . . I. . . I. . .
"I love you. . . I love you. . . Ranma. . . "She gasped out the words against his shoulder, and her eyes immediately moistened. She heard him laugh softly and then felt his hands come up to cup her face. Akane reached out with her left hand to cover his palm with her own. Suddenly, ORanma's smile vanished and he pulled back, taking her hand with him.
"Akane? Where's your ring?" He turned startled eyes towards her. "Did you lose it?" The mood completely shattered, Akane gazed at him sadly. Back to reality.
"I. . . I took it off." She said meekly. ORanma dropped her hand and turned his head to the side.
"You. . . you took it off? Why? Was it hurting your finger or something?" Akane gulped and inched further away from him.
"It just. . . it just isn't right anymore, Ranma. I can't do this anymore."
"But. . . but you just said you loved me. . . " he began to turn further away from him. "I don't get it. . . " Below them the phone began to ring.
"It's wrong, Ranma. You know it, I know it. . . it's just not right. . . this has gone on for way too long." Akane almost choked on her words, tears nearly spilling from her eyes. Don't back down. This is the right thing to do. . . ORanma suddenly jumped up to stare down at her angrily.
"How can you say that? How can you just--? Damnit Akane, we've been together for so long and now you're just going to throw it all away, out of the blue? What the hell—"
"Ranma? Ranma, where are you? The---the baby's coming, I need help!" OUkyo's shout over the answering machine pierced the air. ORanma cast one more hurt look over his shoulder at Akane before he leaped over the edge of the roof.
"Meet me at the hospital, Akane. Ukyo would want you to be there." The call came from below and Akane burst into tears.
* * * * *
"I didn't come this far,
for you to make this hard for me."
-Lisa Loeb