WHO WILL GIVE IN?
A Ranma 1/2 fanfic
Part 2: Ranma, the prince of the Sakura country
written by Chette-chan
Akane realized that her heart was still racing from the upsetting encounter; tentatively, she touched her chest and felt the beat of her heart. Then her hand moves on her cheek with a trembling hand. She was shaken, more than she cared to admit. Her anger at his cavalier usurping of her authority and his assumption that a woman was incapable of handling a crew or a business was mixed with an uneasy response to his masculine presence. She felt an aura of pure strong energy surrounding him, a crackling, electric excitement that was independent of anything he said or did.
She gritted her teeth and tried to calm herself. So fine. He is cute... no daring... handsome... that's the word but he also had an arrogant, macho attitude towards women, an attitude with which she was unfortunately too familiar. She had a mind and a heart, and the man who attracted her would have to win her through them, not by some features or primitive appeal to her body or herself. She's smart... She's reputed the cutest and hard to get girl in Fuurinkan before. Everyone wants her... but not one got her.
Then she frowned, what's the matter with her? She hates guys, right? Why is she thinking about this 'Ranma Saotome'? Plus... she barely knew this man! She had no reason to think he even remotely attracted to her. She clenched her fist; He probably appraised every woman he met. In fact, since he dislikes loggers so much, he'd probably do anything and everything he could to stay out of her way. And she would CERTAINLY try to stay out of his.
The cough of a man jerked her back to reality. She turned towards the sound and saw the guy named 'Ryouga Hibiki' earlier. He was full of sweat now and although Akane is still hurt from his words, she can't deny that Ryouga is handsome too, not much of a battle for Ranma... but he sure has good looks too, especially with his cute fangs. Akane growled here she is again... thinking about Man! What's up with her today?! "Akane you're a man hater... you're a man hater" she said, glaring at Ryouga.
"Pardon?" Ryouga asked, frowning. What's with this woman? he asked himself.
"Never mind" Akane said, straightening herself. "Where you going to say something to me?" she asked,
Ryouga smirked, "All set BOSS LADY" he said, his voice full of sarcasm. "YOUR MEN are all where you WANT THEM to be" he said,
Akane's face turned red, the words that came from Ryouga were so wrong. "... and what's that supposed to mean?" she asked yelling.
Ryouga held his hands up, "Don't give meanings to my words... Boss" he said, then pointed at the crew already doing what Akane said earlier. "They are doing their Jobs, that is what I am trying to say" he said, then he turned to look at Akane, "anything else... boss?" he asked,
Akane sighed, "...Thanks" she said, but the words came out so soft...
Ryouga's eyes soften, maybe she doesn't deserve those words that came out from me after all... maybe... I am stressing her too much... Ryouga thought, he examined his boss. Standing beside him, as she was busy looking at her crew, Ryouga look at her closely. His boss is definitely beautiful, even though she has boyish moves... she still has her 'feminine side'. He looked at her clothes... her body... so sexy... so beautiful...and a thought came into him... "Boss... are you a martial artist?" he asked,
Akane blinked, "Huh?" she asked, looking at Ryouga.
"With your body built... you're definitely a martial artist" he said, Akane nodded, "I used to be a martial artist too" he said, smiling now. Then he looked at the crew, "but after got lost here... and had the job... I stopped training" he said, "sometimes though... I still use my techniques... like the technique I learned back in that amazon place... it's called 'The Breaking point' and 'ShiShi hokodan'" he said,
"I know those techniques but I have never encountered them" she said, smiling now.
Ryouga smiled, "Well... I'll show them to you someday" he said, she's not bad after all, "Boss, this is going to be a hard thing... I mean don't take me wrong... but It's the first time we will have a boss who is a lady and-"
Akane sighed, "I know... I know" she said, the wind blew her hair making her look beautiful than ever. Ryouga blushed, "... All thanks to " she said, frowning.
Ryouga's brown eyes flickered then he smirked, "Ahh... yes, the prince of the Sakura country"
"Is there such country?" Akane asked,
Ryouga shakes his head, "Nah, we just call it Country because once you reached on his property... it's like a different world... with different rules. It's just a ranch, but it looks like a country. No one can enter that country... and I mean NO ONE" he said, "Saotome Family love Sakura trees and have all different kinds of Sakura trees in their country. Also, they were Martial artist before but when they saw a place where they can stay, they decided to rule over it and owned it on their own" Ryouga said, looking down. "Ranma… stop his martial arts and became rich with the fruits that people buy on their garden. They become rich and never left that place anymore" he said, and then his face became dark. "I hate him. Because of him I've seen hell. Because of Ranma I have a cur-" He broke off, as if he almost slipped about his problem and had revealed too much. "But yeah.. Saotomes..." he just said,
"Well... yes, I know about the Saotomes, though I never met Ranma before. My Father already told me about the family but he never mentioned me that they were martial artists." she said,
"Anyway it was nice to meet you Boss, but right now.. I have to go back to the crew. I can handle the things here don't worry, why don't you just leave everything to me? I mean.. Boss only talk.. while we work" he said, smirking.
Akane smiled, making Ryouga blushed but she didn't noticed. "Thanks... Ryouga" she said, she walked on her car and slid behind the wheel. "I'll be back tomorrow" she said,
"hello Akane"
Akane blinked, "Kasumi?" she asked, "What are you doing here?" she added, she just got back from the logging business and now she's seeing her sister cooking for her, "Did Dad send you here?" she asked,
Kasumi smiled, "Yes" she said, continuing cooking.
Akane gasped, "But Kasumi? What about Onichan Toufou? and my nieces?" she asked, both her Sister and the Doctor are married now. She can't believe that her sister would leave her three lovely children and her husband for her sake. "They needed a mother there" she added,
Kasumi giggled; she just loves her sister's concern. "Well I am here only for a month, Father told me he wants to make sure that you're doing okay" she said, putting the ingredients at the pot, "and also, he told me to teach you how to cook. I think with my skills, I can teach you on how to cook" she added,
Akane is a terrible cook, she knows that. But there was once before she graduated, she cooks a very delicious meal for the family. There, they found out that Akane can be cured to her sickness. Akane can cook, but all she needs to do is concentrate on what's her cooking. Also, Love is the secret ingredient of Kasumi's cooking. Akane frowned, that's her problem... there's no one to love her... no one. Then her thoughts turned to the... man, named Ranma.
"are you hungry?" Kasumi asked,
Akane flopped on the chair and sighed, "Nah..." she said,
"Was there a problem on the Job?"
Akane smiled. Her sister knew absolutely nothing about the business. She's not a martial artist, a logger nor a business woman. She's a role model for any mother. But even though her sister doesn't know the whole situation, she could catch up on what's happening to her sister. Akane thought a lot of times... How does she do it? "Nothing it's just... that... well... you can call it trouble I guess" she said, putting her hands on her chin and looked at her sister helplessly. "The men refused to follow me... but not until this... arrogant... Egoistic... Ranma Saotome reinforced them"
Kasumi gasped, "Ranma Saotome! You saw him?" she dropped a fork to the table and turned her bright brown eyes to Akane.
Akane blinked, "Yes. I saw him... why? is there something unusual about it?" she asked,
Kasumi giggled, "Oh nothing" she said, picking the spoon and putting it in the table, "so how is... Ranma Saotome?" she asked, studying her sister's face. "Ranma Saotome is the most attractive man in this place" she said, "any reactions?" she asked,
Akane frowned, "He maybe handsome but he has an ego as big as the world. Who would want that guy?" Akane asked, sarcastically.
Kasumi sat on the chair and looked at her sister, "Is that so? But why is your face getting red?" she asked, teasingly. "What did he want by the way?" she added quickly changing the question.
Akane growled but calm when her sister changed the question, "I don't know, I am not really sure" she said, the thought of his strong capable fingers under her chin, lifting her face toward his flashed across her mind, and then gave a involuntary shiver. Akane tried to hide it but Kasumi saw it, Kasumi just sat quietly waiting for her to answer. "W-Well... He seemed worried that we'll start cutting... the trees on his side" she said,
Kasumi frowned, "oh... is that it?" she asked, her voice showing some disappointed.
Akane blinked, does she knows something that I don't? But she kept her mouth shut.
"He'll always dislike loggers. If He had a way, the logging business will be out of a job" Kasumi said,
Akane smirked, "Well he cannot do that. I mean we do have permit and-" she stopped when Kasumi shakes her head. "What?"
"He is the prince, He owns everything that is here... well not all but some... let's say they've got influence and everybody pretty much does what they want" Kasumi said,
Akane tried to fit this information in with her impression of Ranma. Certainly, he had the aura of an authority, the consciousness of power, that made her sister's words believable. "So... how many saotomes are there?" she asked, now seemed to be more interested about the 'prince'.
"Well I believe he was the only son of Gen-" Kasumi almost spilled it out, "Oh my wait! My cooking" she said, the she run towards the stove and started to fix some of the dishes. "I believe he was the only son of the Saotomes. But his parents are still alive and they are all in the mansion" she said, getting the dishes then served it towards Akane. "In a month or so, you'll learn to cook something like this" she said, smiling.
Akane suppressed a smile. "Thanks, Oneechan." she said, she took a little rice and a fish, after eating silently. She drank her water and smiled. "That's great... I am sorry if I didn't finish all of it, I am not really that hungry. I'll be in the verandah if you need me" she said, when she received her sister's nod, she made her way to the wooden verandah that curved around two sides of the house, put the sweater that was on the chair and sank on the rocking chair, finally giving way to her fatigue. Then her thoughts changed into her life today. The shrill of Traffic were replaced by chirping of squirrels and rustling of small rodents in the bushes around the yard. She doesn't understand how people would say these kinds of place were quiet. While she was surrounded by insects sounds, roosters, horses nearby, some cats. But yet the familiar night sounds didn't bring a secure feeling. There was too much depending on her.
She sighed, feeling the weight of her responsibility and Questions started to appear one by one in her mind Their logging business... how will she make it grow?
Ryouga Hibiki... Something is awfully strange about him...
And Kasumi giggling when she found out she met Ranma Saotome...
Ranma... Saotome... Prince of Sakura country…
She thought of the arrogant set of his dark pigtailed-head, felt the crackling of energy that emanated from his powerful frame, and shivered a little, although her sweater gave her ample protection from the chill of the evening. She gazed into the sky and saw his face, trying to erase his face... He wasn't for her, or course. He wasn't her kind of man. So why couldn't she stop thinking about him?
Meanwhile...
Not so far away, a man on a brown horse with a binoculars in his hand appeared beside the tree. He used his binoculars and looked at the way of the house of the Tendous. He smiled; there she is... resting on the rocking chair. He focuses his binoculars on the woman. He smiled but his smile faded when he heard a sound. He looked at the direction and saw a woman with brown long hair and riding a white horse.
"What are you doing here Ranchan?"
Ranma sighed, this is the reason why he hated the old man... He got himself a fiancée even he doesn't want to have one. Although the one on the verandah is not that bad... he turned to look at the house again. He doesn't know why He is so attracted to that woman. and she's supposed to be my fiancee... She's simple but there's something about her. "What do you want Ukyou?" he asked, frowning. Then he felt Ukyou took the binoculars, before he could react.
Ukyou already saw the woman. "Who is she?" she asked, giving back the binoculars to Ranma, obviously she is jealous.
Ranma tried to calm his self, "Nothing, she's just Akane Tendou... the owner of the Logging business-"
"Ahh.. so is she our next victim?" Ukyou asked, interrupting him. "are you keeping your eyes on her because, she may trespass against your property and cut your poor trees?" she asked, Ranma didn't say anything. "Why don't you hire an investigator then?" she asked, still looking at her fiance. "and spend time with me, your fiancee?"
"I want to investigate on my own" he said, glaring at her. "Besides, you are not my fiancee. I didn't even pick you up when we were kids" he said, sharply. "My dad ask me to choose, I didn't choose you. I choose Okonomiyaki" he said,
Ukyou smirked, "Whatever Ranchan. Your Father engaged you to me and that's final" she said, "oh yeah before I forgot, your mother wants you early today" she said, then she nudges one spurred heel into the brown horse and put a slight pressure on the reins. The horse wheeled around sharply and broke into the light canter.
Ranma frowned as he watched her go. He shook his head and continued to look at Akane. Akane Tendou... Why do I feel this way... for you? he asked himself,
Little does Ranma know...
Ryouga could see him, he smirked, "Ohh... Ranma Saotome is interested with my boss" he said, then smiled, "It's payback time Ranma... you think you always get what you want" he said, then he looked at Akane laying on the chair. "This time, I'll beat ya... Akane will be mine and you will lose for the first time... and pay"