Ranma and Akane had been walking through the forest all day. It was an exhausting journey, with huge animals crossing their path every now and then, scaring them sometimes. The forest was thick and their feet hurt from walking over all kinds of ground, sometimes muddy and sticky, or uneven and hard, thick roots running through the soil like veins, making the two trip. They had been walking the whole day, but the sun was setting, and they didn't know how much longer they would have to walk, so they decided to put up their tents for the night. They hadn't spoken much, Ranma consumed by his thoughts, Akane simply happy to have saved Shinnosuke and be able to leave hand in hand with her fiance.
They found a small clearing by a hot spring and decided to spend the night there. Ranma quickly started to put up their two tents while Akane collected some wood for a small fire. They were both starving, and thanks to the water of life that they had bottled for the journey, even Ranma was looking forward to Akane's cooking.
The sun slowly disappeared on the horizon, still bright enough to drench the whole sky in a dark yellow tone. Akane decided that while Ranma was making a fire, she would quickly take a bath in the hot springs. After all, they had fought an eight-headed snake monster, ran, punched, walked miles through the forest, and her whole body was sore and sweaty.
She took a towel out of her backpack, told Ranma she would be back in a couple of minutes, and headed for the hot spring. There were barely any trees that she could hide behind, no rocks or anything to give her a little privacy to take off her clothes.
So instead, she turned her back towards Ranma, took of her shirt, threw her towel around her body and continued to take off the rest of her clothes under the towel. Then she sat down at the edge of the hot spring, to let her towel slip down from her shoulders and fall to the ground behind her. Quickly, she sank into the water.
She could feel her sore muscles relax instantly in the comforting heat of the water. In fact, she realized they felt much better in a matter of seconds, which was rather peculiar, but she figured it must be a spring of the water of life, that healed any pain in no time. She stayed close by the edge, but let herself sink lower into the water, submerging her shoulders and neck, enjoying the warmth and the sensation of moving water on her skin, combined with the chilly evening breeze on her face. Like this, she let the events of the day go and freed her mind from every bit of fear and worries she had felt.
Meanwhile, Ranma had made a fire and pretended not to look at Akane while she was changing and slipping into the water. He found it silly that she felt the need to cover up so much, considering the fact that he had seen her naked already, they were engaged, and to top it off, he was a girl half of the time. While certainly attractive, the female body wasn't as provocative to him anymore as it would be for most boys his age. He was not only able see a female body whenever he felt (or didn't feel) like it, he could also touch it, and even feel the sensations that girls felt. So to him, most of the time, female bodies were just that: bodies. Yet, even though he didn't want to admit it, he glimpsed over to Akanes body every now and then, looking at the curve of her shoulders, the lines and dimples on her back, her long legs. He called her a tomboy all the time, but in fact, her figure was very feminine, slim, almost fragile, though very strong. He went through the day in his mind again, how Akane had held Shinnosuke, how he had confessed his love to her and how she
had rescued Ranma when he had been stuck in the beast's mouth. Looking at her again, her long neck and blue hair poking out of the water, her feet paddling above the surface every now and then, he couldn't believe how strong she actually was. And not just physically.
Akane had completely forgotten about dinner, and simply enjoyed her bath. She didn't want to get out for a couple more minutes, it was too relaxing and she couldn't muster up the strength to pull herself out of the spring just yet.
Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound from one side. Something was moving behind a bush, and she felt herself tense up, expecting another gigantic animal to attack them. She grabbed the biggest rock she could find, and prepared to launch it directly into the beast's face. The rustling became louder, indicating that whatever it was, it was coming closer. Just as Akane was about to throw the rock in the direction of the sound, a black little ball of fur appeared. A single „bweeeee" was enough for Akane to recognize her pet piglet.
„P-Chan! How did you get lost here? Come here little baby, come here, let me hug you!" The little piglet ran to the edge of the spring, eager to jump into Akane's comforting embrace, only to come to a halt suddenly, as it realized that the water was steaming in the cold evening air. Akane walked towards the right end of the spring to reach for her pet, but it backed away. „P- Chan! Come here baby, come on, you're all dirty! Let me clean you up." Akane said, now coming out of the water a little, exposing her breast. P-Chan let out a distressed „bweeeh", and promptly fainted, blood sputtering out of his nose.
„Oh no, P-Chan, are you okay? You're bleeding!" Akane gasped, reaching for the little piglet, running her damp hands over his fur and wiping away the nosebleed.
Ranma, who had been lost in thought, suddenly realized that Akane was talking to somebody, and as he turned his eyes towards her, he realized who it was that Akane was talking to, and that she was halfway out of the water. He jumped up, ran towards the spring and quickly grabbed P-chan by his bandana.
„Hey lil piggy, lost in the woods? Hmm, reminds me of a certain someone, always lost somewhere, and occuring in the most inconvenient times."
„Ranma! Stop it, give him to me! I want to wash him!" Akane said, quickly hiding her body in the water again.
„Ooh, d'ya hear that? Ya want Akane to wash ya? In this hot, hot spring, what d'ya think P-Chan?" Ranma teased the little piglet by holding him above the water. The pig squiggled its little legs, squirming and screaming in fear.
„Ranma! Stop it, you're scaring him!"
„I bet you'd love to have Akane wash your little pig body, huh? Ya wanna go for a swim with naked Akane?" Ranma held P- Chan over the water once more. The piglet screamed again. „Heh, thought so..dirty pig"
As he held him above the ground again, P-Chan took the chance and bit into Ranma's hand. Ranma let go of him, and P-Chan fell to the floor near the edge of the spring.
„Ow! ya stupid lil -.."
„Ranma! Leave him alone!" Just as Ranma was about to grab the piglet, Akane jumped up and took P-chan. She turned her back towards Ranma, and hugged P-Chan, pressing him between her bare breasts.
„There, there my baby. Did that jerk Ranma scare you? You're safe now!"
She pressed him even tighter into her chest.
„Oh no! P-Chan! Your nose is bleeding again! Come, I'll clean you up."
In that instant, Ranma jumped into the water, snatched P-Chan with his left hand, holding him up in the air, while pressing Akane away with his right hand, out of P-Chan's reach.
„What the hell are you doing?!"
„What the hell are you doing, Ranma?! Give me P-Chan back!" „There's no way I'll let this dirty ol pig bathe with you. No way!" Ranma shouted, throwing P-Chan high above the trees, so he disappeared in the night.
„Ranma, you idiot! What are you doing! How can you be jealous of a little pig!"
„Wha- I'm not jealous!"
„Yes, you are! Why else would you fight with P-Chan!"
„Why would I be jealous over a sexless tomboy like you?!" Akane felt her blood begin to boil. Just as she was about to smash Ranma into the ground as per usual, she realized something. He was still standing with her in the water, his right hand on her chest, pressing her away, his face turned to the other side. She blushed a little, her anger now changed to provocation.
„Oh yeah? Then why's your hand fumbling this sexless tomboy, you pervert?!"
Ranma, now aware of his position, raised his brows and quickly pulled his hand away, still facing the forest.
„Don't flatter yourself. I was just trying to keep you and your death grip away from P-chan, machogirl."
Akane felt her anger rise to her face. She was going to make him pay, but this time he was really going to regret it. She was going to show him how much of a pervert he was.
„If you really think that, turn around and face me."
„What the hell are you talking about?" Ranma asked, confused as he had expected Akane to send him flying right after P-Chan.
„If I'm really just a sexless tomboy, turn around and face me. It shouldn't bother you after all."
This was a challenge. She was challenging him. And Ranma never lost a challenge.
He thought for a second, then turned around, looking Akane in the eyes. She was smiling eerily. Slowly, she emerged from the water, exposing herself down to her belly button. The water dribbled down her breasts, small beads of water clinging on her skin, reflecting the moonlight.
Ranma eyed her up and down, but focused his gaze on Akane's eyes again. His body was tense.
„Do you like what you see?" she said, slightly in disbelief of herself. She made a step towards Ranma. „I guess if I'm so uncute and sexless, it should be nothing to you."
She reached her hand out towards his neck.
Ranma was still wearing his pants and white tanktop, as he had not been prepared to jump into the water. Akane ran her fingers along the curve of his neck and down to his shoulder. Warm water dribbled onto his skin, giving him goosebumps. He looked her in the eyes, a triumphant smile on his face. „What are you trying to prove, Akane?"
She ignored him. She was keen on making him pay, and would not let him get off so easily. She ran her hands down his chest, grabbed his tanktop and pulled it up.
„Don't mind if I do."
Somewhat perplex, Ranma moved along when she motioned him to raise his hands, and she pulled the tanktop above his head. She then took Ranma's hands and placed them on her waist. His eyes followed her movements, but his brain could not quite compute. She pressed her chest against his, her hot breath in the curve of his neck.
„Tell me Ranma, do you like this?" She whispered, sending shivers down his spine with every word. He couldn't answer. Akane smiled. She was going to make him suffer.
„I figure you must be used to it by now, with Shampoo clinging to you every chance she gets.." She ran her fingernails lightly along his back, pressing herself onto him even more.
„All your other fiancees seem much cuter than I am. This should be nothing for you."
Then she brought her hands to the front, still using her fingernails, she ran her hands down the front of Ranma's thighs. He swallowed.
„At the end of the day, I'm just an uncute, sexless tomboy...machogirl...what else?"
Her hands came up again, slowly, eventually stopping at the waistband of his pants. She looked at Ranma, right into his eyes. She could see his utter disbelief, and held back a giggle. She grabbed into his waistband, her fingers touching his lower belly, and pulled him towards her. He pulled his hips back, an uneasy look on his face. Despite his remarks about how uncute and sexless Akane was, his body was saying something entirely different.
Akane put on a cheeky smile. „I knew it. You're such a pervert." She was proud of herself. She had proven her point, made Ranma uncomfortable and embarrassed, and to top it all off, she got the reassurance that she was in fact not uncute and sexless.
She let go of him, now all of a sudden painfully aware of her actions and motives. She turned around, walking back to the edge of the spring, her cheeks burning red.
Ranma, who had been in a semi state of shock, quickly snapped out of it when Akane let go of him.
Who is she calling a pervert?! I will not let her win this!
He reached for Akane, and pulled her back to him by her waist. Her back was now on his chest.
„Are you sure that I'm the pervert, tomboy?"
„Yes, I am sure, pervert! What are you doing?!"
„I beg to differ. Come to think of it, isn't it you who always points out how perverted everything is? You always call me a pervert, but you're the one who finds something sexual in everything I do. It takes one to know one."
Akanes brow furrowed. She didn't know what to say.
„And if I'm not mistaken, you enjoyed this little show of yours just as much as I did."
„How would you know what I enjoy?!"
„Well, your body gave it away. I've been half girl long enough to know. And I could feel you very well, as you were pressing against me."
Ranma reached his left arm around Akane, grabbing her neck from behind, he pulled her closer.
„Th-that was just.. the cool air."
„Interesting." He pulled her up a little, exposing her breasts. „How come it's not happening now?"
Akane swallowed.
„But wait, what if I-.."
His right hand moved away from her waist, and brushed over her chest. Her body reacted instantly. He smiled.
„See, you're the little pervert." He bit into her left shoulder, his hand still firm around her neck. Akane gasped for air.
„I am not, you jerk! This proves nothing! Stop evading and let me go!"
„Well, I can prove it even better."
His right hand wandered down, below her belly, into the water. He ran his hand along Akane's thigh a few times, and stopped just above her mound. She pulled her hips back so as to escape his touch, only to be met with Ranma's .. member in her behind. Her face turned red.
„If you don't like it.."
He slid a finger right on her clit, circling slowly. „Just tell me."
Akane squirmed under his touch. This was one of the very few moments in which Ranma was grateful for his curse. He knew exactly what Akane felt, and he knew she liked it.
„Stop it.. you idiot. What...do you think... you're do-...ing?" „Are you sure, Akane?"
He pressed a little more. She let out a slight moan, barely audible.
„Stop .. it... Pervert"
He licked along her neck, halting at her ear. He whispered: „Make me, tomboy. Your hands are free. Just pull my hands away, I'll stop."
Akane's mind was foggy. The sensations in her body were silencing every coherent thought.
„Come on, it's up to you. Or do ya like it, pervert?"
Of course she liked it. She couldn't say a word, but her body spoke for itself. Even though they were in the water, Ranma could feel her sticky juices on his finger. He had never seen Akane so helpless, she was melting under his touch, and he loved every second of it, not only because he was winning this challenge.
„What's up, Akane? You're usually so quick to punch me, or send me flying into the orbit. Why the change of heart?" he groaned into her ear.
She let her head fall back on his chest, her eyes closed, she was holding back, trying not to moan.
„Your hands are free. Make me stop."
He bit into her shoulder again.
„Or could it be.."
He pressed his hips against her behind, making her feel every inch.
„That the little pervert you are.."
His finger slid along her opening.
„...that you want me to go further?"
Akane grabbed his hand, suddenly scared. She wasn't ready for this, yet.
She took a sharp breath, swallowing, she took his hands and pulled them away. He let go of her without hesitation.
„I said stop it, you jerk." She said in a low voice, almost whispering even, and without facing him, she walked to the edge of the spring, stepped out and quickly went into her tent.
Ranma, somewhat disillusioned, watched her, and then stepped out of the water as well.
He went into his own tent, changed, and lay down, thinking about what had just happened between them. He blushed, realizing how intense it had been, and how he had been so nonchalant about it.
Akane collected herself in the tent, put clothes on and sat there thinking as well. Her anger had vanished and been replaced by uncertainness. She blushed at the thought of Ranma's words. She hadn't noticed how Ranma had analyzed their interactions and found her to be the pervert. He was kind of right, but she would never admit it to him. However the sound of him whispering in her ear about how much of a pervert she was, sent a tingling down her spine. Make me, tomboy. Or do ya like it, pervert?
The words repeated in her mind. She shook her head, as if to shake the thoughts out.
He was the pervert. Her plan had backfired, but she wasn't mad about it. Right now, all she wanted to do was eat and sleep.
She came out of her tent and pulled two instant ramen out of her backpack. She boiled some water and poured it over the noodles. A few minutes later she opened Ranma's tent, and without a word, put his soup in front of it. He came out and they both sat there, silently slurping their ramen.
After eating, she rinsed the bowls and put them in her backpack. Ranma yawned.
„Go to bed, we have a long day ahead of us."
Ranma looked at her, trying to figure out if she was angry at him and silently praying to the gods to make his death quick.
She smiled. „I'm gonna go now, too. Good night, Ranma." He smiled back, relieved. „Good night, Akane."
