The first week of August held a special time for the Tendous and with time, the Saotomes. Annually they would head southwest to a beach town to spend the hottest part of the summer together as a family. This year was going to be no different.
Soun and his daughters, his future son in law, Nabiki's nearly yearlong girlfriend, the Saotomes and originally intended for Shingo but whose invite moved over to Ranma. Soun and the Saotomes rented a car, Kasumi rode with Tofu in their small, sensible car and Nabiki gave Akane and Ranma the clear to ride with her and Chisa.
Chisa was an intimidating looking woman upon first meeting, her severely pulled back hair into a low bun, her business attire. She was a lawyer of some kind and apparently very talented. But once she let her hair down, she was bubbly and cute, friendly and easy going. It was surprising to see the juxtaposition of her career which seemed appropriate for someone like Nabiki to be attracted to, but once she was comfortable was vastly more suited for someone less cynical.
Maybe that's why they worked?
Everyone piled into their respected vehicles for the hour ride to their resort and the beach. Chisa drove her slick sportscar with Nabiki in the passenger seat. Akane and Ranma sat in the backseat, enjoying the scenery of the city as they drove.
Akane had been pleased with how going out with Ranma had gone, he seemed more relaxed around her, less mopey since the night they went out and it made for an infinitely more pleasant experience. He seemed easier to be around, happier. She ran her hand through her hair while they drove, she had taken her window down and wanted to be able to smell the salty air as they approached.
Ranma on the other side had decided to stop getting so into his head and simply enjoy the rest of the summer. To be fair he had enjoyed the time out with Akane and the easy way they got along now. And while he accepted the position he found himself in with her, he still wanted badly to be physical with her, express himself fully however he just resigned to long baths and showers to himself. Able to finally appreciate time privately to himself. Not that it was constant feeling but it helped.
But things weren't lost on him either.
While his old training friend had indeed offered to teach him in the art of picking up women, Ranma had opened up to Ji about Akane. About how he felt for her and how he wanted to be the best he could be for her. In more ways than one.
So, Ji taught him.
Never overthink when her stare lingers on you.
A wide grin will always work better than a leer. And watch for her blush.
Are her hands fussing, constantly messing with herself or you? Constantly moving?
And when these basics were under him, Ji had validated an ego that didn't need it.
Saotome, if I looked the way you do now, I'd never go to bed lonely. Don't underestimate that.
But there were realistic, tangible things he also helped establish with his young friend. Ranma remembered in particular an embarrassing conversation around his lack of "experience" with women. Ji had walked him through like he had with the arts on how to satisfy his fiancée.
Handed a peach, Ranma questioned. Ji showed him and then told him how to eat.
Like katas from dojos, Ji talked to him about how to navigate showing her his love. When they were ready of course. Ji suggestion upon arrival taking her up into his arms and kicking her bedroom door down, show her what 4 years of distance will do to a man. But Ranma enjoyed some slowness, some build. The patience from the art was something he enjoyed, saw the value in it and how it could be applied here as well.
So, over the last weeks, when Akane's stare lingered on him, he noticed.
Her pitchy laughter and fumbling hands.
The way she would turn her head into her shoulder when he'd tell some stupid joke, to hide her blush and wide smile.
She wasn't showing her real feelings, he knew this. She was still holding up a wall. That's fine.
But there's something there.
She could pretend, but he felt it.
xXxXXxxxxXXXXxxXxxxxXXXxx
Checking into their hotel rooms, families were divided up. The married Saotomes, the soon to be married Onos, Akane and Nabiki together, Chisa with her own afforded room and lastly Ranma with who else but Soun.
The first night everyone relaxed in their rooms since it was already late at night upon arrival and they wanted to hit the beach first thing in the morning.
Meeting in the lobby, everyone had their beach gear packed and ready; chairs, umbrellas, mini grill, coolers. The sisters stood together as they waited for the Saotomes to come down. Nabiki was chatting with Chisa, both women in designer one pieces. Kasumi spoke sweetly to Tofu who was still getting used to taking time off for a family vacation. Akane stood in her canary yellow two-piece, high waisted jean shorts over her bottoms and towel over her back for modesty.
She watched as the elevator doors open and Nodoka and Genma stepped out first. Genma in some large tank top and trunks, Nodoka in a long summer dress. But then their son.
Ranma walked out, black tank top, massively tighter than necessary. He'd thrown mid-thigh trunks on with some tropical leaf pattern on them and strutted out behind them. He smiled at the Tendou sisters and wished them a good morning.
From behind Chisa, Nabiki elbowed Akane a touch causing the other girl to cough out and turn away.
She was only human after all.
"Boy Ranma, you sure look excited to go swimming. No need for a one or two piece for once, huh?" Nabiki joked, Chisa 'tutted her for being rude having been made aware of the curse that had he held previously. He laughed humorlessly.
"Cute Nabiki, but if I'm being honest, I'm looking forward to going to the beach as a guy. I haven't in ages."
"I'm sure we all can't wait." Nabiki squinted at him and turned to her sister. "Let's get on our way, we're losing sun." She turned and took Chisa by the arm and headed out the beach. Akane didn't wait and followed behind her, whispering behind her.
"Quit acting so weird." Her sister stuck her tongue out and put her bags down which Akane followed suit. Kasumi and Tofu took a spot about 10 ft from them so she could set up a grill to make lunch which Soun and the Saotomes followed bringing their own towels out as well. Ranma took a spot not too far from Akane laying a towel near hers and Chisa's. Akane started digging around looking for sunscreen after her sister and Chisa started applying their own on themselves. Akane found hers and was going to ask her sister when Nabiki gave her a deep smirk upon seeing Ranma remove his tank top.
"Chisa..." She said in torturous glee, never leaving her little sister's eyes. "I think I see a better spot closer to the water. Let's go grab it before someone snags it up."
"Good idea Nabiki, that's a good spot!" Chisa stood up and Nabiki slowly stood herself, her grin stretched across her face as Akane glared daggers into her sister's face.
Left with either going awkwardly over to her sister, going without it on her back or asking Ranma next to her, she wished that someone would've already invented a way for her to apply this on herself. Desperately wished.
"Uh, hey Ranma?" He looked over his shoulder at her, rubbing sand off his legs. "Could you please put some sunscreen on my back?"
"Yeah sure, turn around." Not even a stutter or worry, he was pretty easy around her. She thought about how years ago he would've been nervous or say he didn't want to touch some tomboy like her.
"Thank you." She answered quietly, lifting her short hair out of his way. She focused on the water only a few yards from them, how quiet and clear it was, it was warm today but not stifling, it'd be a good day for everyone to swim. Well almost everyone. She frowned to herself until she felt the cold cream on her back, feeling some small goosebumps develop. But then the warmth of Ranma's hands caused her to tense momentarily. She went back to focusing on the water.
Cool, calm.
His large hands
Shimmering, not a cloud in the sky
Palms spreading, pressures perfect
Cold, cold, cold icy water
Long calloused hands, fingers running up my back
Freezing
Spreading across my lower back
The coldest fucking thing you could possibly imagine
Fingers gripping my shoulders
"You're good Akane." He said cheerfully. She nodded nervously.
"Thanks."
She turned away so she could remove her shorts, catching a passing glace at him. He was leaning back on his towel, holding himself up by his elbows as he smiled into the sun, his head tilted back. His body was straight and flat, stomach taunt and legs outstretched. His trunks looked snug on his thighs, large and athletic. She blushed and tore her shorts off her legs, embarrassed of herself.
"You hittin' the water Akane?" He asked, one eye closed to see better in the bright light. She smiled and grabbed a book out of her bag.
"I thought I'd read and maybe get a little color." He shrugged.
"Suit yourself." He leapt up and went running to the shore line and didn't even bother to dip his toe in or get adjusted to the water's temperature, just immediately jumped in and swam under the waters. He stayed beneath for a few moments and then came up, bright smiles and still male. He started paddling out further, swimming came to him effortlessly.
Akane stuck her face back into her book, wasn't that more interesting than watching some guy swim around the ocean? She dropped her sunglasses on her head and decided she'd read for a bit to relax. She dozed off immediately, the warm sun filling her with comfort.
Her dreams were hazy and light, she couldn't place herself, only how she felt. The bright sun bearing down against her eyelids she couldn't make out faces or real images. Feeling wrapped up in the humid temperature she tried to focus on what she could.
A bright white smile
Firm hands on her waist, her hips
Running up her arms
Thumbs pressed into her biceps; a nose crushed against her neck as a mouth murmurs against her
A bit lip, her own?
A cruel grin
Long fingers in her hair, pressing strands away from her scalp
Mouth against the shell of her ear, whispering, bone white teeth against her outer ear, smirking
"Akane"
Shivers
"Akane, yo Akane!" her arm was shoved and she bolted awake.
"GOD! WHAT – what?" She gripped her heart, rapidly blinking herself back to life. He was laying on his stomach, his hair wet against his face and head, dripping onto the sand beneath him. He had his head on his forearms, grinning at her.
"Was wonderin' when you were gonna wake up. You have a bad dream or somethin'?" She shook her head and looked at him confused.
"What? No, I was just taking a nap is all. Why did you need me awake?" She rubbed her eyes. He 'tch'ed and rolled onto his side and made a face.
"Cause everybody is just out here tannin' and I wanna actually swim with people, like with someone I know."
"So go talk to one of them." She adjusted herself, tightening her thighs together, still feeling the effects of that dream.
"I already tired, nobody wants to and I don't wanna be swimmin' out there with all these kids looking like a creep."
"You already are a creep." She teased; he made a pained smile at her. "You look like a wet dog too."
"Jeez Akane, next time you wake up next to me I'll be sure to be extra nice." She scowled at him and he laughed lightly. "C'mon let's see these moves. You lived in California for a bit you must've been at the beach constantly."
"I was studying when I was abroad, thanks." She looked down on herself and rubbed her arm, uncomfortable and mumbled something.
"Wazzat? Care to repeat?" He leaned in. She looked up at him annoyed.
"I still don't know how to swim okay? Happy?" She ground out. She looked out into the ocean, the salty water air blowing through her strands, glaring and pouting to herself. She didn't see the growing grin stretching across the man's face next to her.
Before she could stop her legs, she was being dragged by a large hand by her wrist to the water, attached to a beaming face.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Let me go, Ranma! Let me GO!" She pounded on his fist, trying to pull him back.
"We're gonna teach you to swim so you aren't a lead weight tomboy anymore."
"Shut up you jerk! Let me go!" She continued tugging on his hand. He kept dragging her.
"You keep this up I'll throw you in the water from here, you got me?" He raised a serious eyebrow at her and then broke back into a grin.
"Ooohhh, I hate you. I hate you!" She screeched.
Only feet away Chisa and Nabiki watched as the large pigtailed man pulled Akane into the water slowly, catching as the water rose higher and higher up their legs, Akane using language they were unaware she was familiar with.
"Wow you weren't kidding with them. They really are like that huh?" Nabiki nodded behind her.
"What can I say, they bring out a certain something in the other."
"You're telling me."
Ranma let her wrist go and dove under the water, moving further out to sea. Shooting back up several feet from her, he flashed a self-satisfied grin.
"If you wanna come kick my ass, 'Kane you're gonna have to get out here to do it." He settled back and started floating on his back, chuckling to himself.
"God, I preferred you as a woman. You were less of an asshole." She waded deeper into the water as it rose up past her thighs now. Rubbing her arms, she felt bits of anxiety go through her, the water now raising up to her chest. She wanted to slap that satisfied grin off his face but felt a little panicked at the idea. Sensing something was finally getting to her, he decided to swim up to her.
"You alright?" He looked down at her, her nerves getting the better of her.
"Just...I don't like going past my shoulders or anything." She sternly looked at the water between them.
"You feel okay here though?" She nodded. "Alright so try this." He walked them back closer to shore and started getting down on his knees, the water raising up to his chest. "You try."
"I'm not doing that." She shook her head and he rolled his eyes.
"C'mon you'll get used to water around your head but if it gets too much you just stand-up cause you're in shallow water. Now come on and try it." He grabbed her forearm and lightly tugged. Sighing deeply, she slowly started sinking down, eyes closed tightly. As she settled on her knees in the sand, she grimaced and opened her eyes. He was smiling at her.
"There ya go! Now just relax yourself, feel the water move around your head and neck, get used to it."
She felt like they looked like a couple of idiots, heads poking out from the water kneeling in silence. It made her laugh.
"This is stupid." She giggled.
"We're teaching you to swim this summer alright? Consider it apart of your training." She glared at him and he grinned. They continued kneeling until Akane started to feel calm again, this wasn't so hard after all. It was just like being in a big bath or spring. He saw her visibly relax and moved to the next point.
"Alright, now we're gonna go underwater. Just for a second, okay? Just do it like this." He took a deep breath and dropped his head in, coming up only moments later. "You go."
She looked at him and frowned, bringing her fingers to her nose and plugged it, willing her head into the ocean. Eyes held tight, fingers tighter she counted 5 seconds, 1 second longer than he had been under himself. She came back up and saw him shaking his head.
"That's good Akane, but let's try without holding your nose. Try again." She groaned and took a moment for herself to get her baring's. He gave her eyes that told her he was waiting, so she went ahead took a large breath and brought her head down, keeping her hands up above her, spread wide to emphasize their presence above the water.
She came back up and immediately pushed her hair from off her face and saw his proud smile.
"Alright! That's what I'm talkin' about. Let's do that a couple times for a little more time okay?"
They spent the next hour going through bobbing, blowing bubbles for breathing techniques, wading back and forth from shallow to deep water. Akane felt herself starting to get more and more comfortable with the sensations of being deeper in water, submerged beneath it. Why this isn't hard at all is it? She was smiling, proud of herself. Ranma stood back in the deeper water.
"Okay we're moving onto the next part." She nodded. "I'm gonna teach ya to float." Akane inhaled shaking. She'd never been able to float, anytime she had she would stress out and cause herself to sink. He gave her a brief demonstration on how he could float on his back, it was effortless. He came back up and moved over to her. She started to follow suit, leaning her body back but started feeling nervous ready to just go back to the shore.
His hand was on her lower back, another on her shoulder blade, one pushing her lower body up, the other pushing her upper body down.
"I gotcha, 'Kane. You're fine." She allowed him to lay her on her back, her eyes never leaving his face as he calmly moved her. Slowly the back of her head laid in the water, splashing lightly around her face. He moved the hand on her shoulder to the back of her leg, behind her knee and splayed his hand open on her upper back, as if holding up her weightless body. He kept looking at her form, telling her to relax, keep breathing, let the water hold her up. She was on autopilot.
She watched his eyes roaming over her body, she knew it was to make sure she wasn't messing up but she couldn't help the way it made her feel. His beaming eyes, bright and squinting in the sun, the way his strong neck would strain and relax as he watched her, the calm breathing from his chest so close to her own. His hands on her would open and close occasionally, as a reassuring gesture they were there. How he was talking so low to her, the words just skimming the top of the water, the top of her skin. She felt herself developing goosebumps again.
God he can be so handsome sometimes
She furrowed her brows at her own thoughts, inappropriate much? He peered up from behind his wet bangs and grinned, bone white teeth.
"You concentrating pretty hard huh?" She shook her head slightly.
"Just trying to stay relaxed."
"Here," he pulled his hand from her leg back to shoulder, holding her back still. He leaned over her slightly, gripping her shoulder. "Relax your upper body. I can feel how tense you are in your back, relax it."
She took every ounce of strength she had to relax because there was nothing relaxing about this scenario.
"Great that's good. Heads up, shoulders relaxed, your breathing is good." He went back to the back of her leg and held that, again. Again, she felt those sweet bumps as he placed his palm against her.
"Okay, 'Kane I want you just to concentrate on looking up at the sky alright? Think about whatever you like but just keep looking up."
So, she stayed facing up, thinking about anything but the man holding her. How cruelly good looking he was, how statuesque his physique was, his strong hands, how stunning he'd be when he gave her that teasing grin. His sculpted chest leading down to his narrow hips in those trunks, solid thighs.
Her eyes fluttered, she was getting hot over her thoughts and before she could shake them loose, she saw him on the other side of her further away.
"Ra-Ranma, what are you doing?" He smiled broadly.
Fuck he is gorgeous
"You don't need me there, you're floating." Her eyes were wide saucers, she was about to panic. "Hey cool it, you've been floating on your own for about a minute, you're fine."
She broke out into a small laugh, shocked at how far she had come.
"I'm floating?"
"You're floating."
She laughed again, feeling accomplished and strong. Finally. FINALLY, she had done it.
"One thing though." He moved closer to her, over her, he put a hand between her ankles, knocking them back and forth. "Open your legs more."
And a luscious quiver shot directly from her core up her body.
Oh no.
She steadied her breathing and slowly opened her legs; she could feel him still there watching her.
"Almost, there you go. Now start moving your legs, it's going to help keep you up. This'll give you the sensation of swimming. 'Course you could also just be like a starfish and float, just open your arms and spread your legs wide."
"Uh huh." Another shiver ran through her again.
She was tremendously embarrassed at how intimately he touched her, how it didn't seem to faze him at all and here she was dissolving into the sea around her as he spoke to her. Every movement she made now felt like she had to exert twice the effort, her brain trying to steer while long buried hormones pumped throughout her body.
Maybe not so long buried.
"Alright, let's start moving you back towards shore huh?" He instructed her to start slowing flapping her arms, to help move her forward while she remained facing up. Slowly her floating body moved with the waves and her own movements as he hung close to her, an arm over her in case she started sinking. But she was swimming! More like floating, but she was swimming!
A particularly strong wave raised her as it ran under her and caused her to lose balance as water splattered over her face. Before preparing herself to go under and come back up for air, she felt his hand grip around her waist, yanking her body out of the water.
She had to stifle herself but allowed her gasp to slip out as he stood her up, arm still around her waist as she tried to slow her beating heart. He gave her a bright smile, eyes shining beneath soggy bangs.
She would never admit to anyone, not to a single soul on this planet but there was something in the way he would grab her, pick her up, possessive, primitive, masculine. Like she weighed nothing, his strong arms and a confidence that she would just let him take her. Take her however he wanted to and she would succumb to it.
But no matter how roughly he may have handled her, jarring as it was being pulled completely vertical on her feet by just the lifting of one of his arms, there was always a tenderness there. Always a softness so he wouldn't hurt her.
It got her excited, deliciously excited in a way she hadn't been in a long time.
He dropped the smile, peering down at her wet form in the water, they were only a couple feet from the shore.
"You alright, 'Kane?" He seemed to whisper over her.
He knows what he's doing.
She pouted her lips and squinted her eyes at him, not out of anger.
Arousal.
"I..."
He knows exactly what he's doing.
"Ah..." She didn't mean to give away how breathless she was.
He's flirting with me. No more than that
"Are you...?"
Are you trying to seduce me?
"Are you done?" She pulled out of his arms. Finally pulling herself out of his grip. She rubbed her arms. "I'm just kinda beat from the lessons and I'm a little tired."
"You want me to carry you to the blanket?" She stopped for a moment and turned back to see him, warm, tan arms dropped in front of his body, knowing the comfort they possessed.
How much she liked them
She shook her head and smiled.
"I can manage. Let's go meet up with everyone for lunch."
xxxXXXxxxXxXXXXXxxxxx
As everyone gathered for the meal, some lovely grilled veggies and fish thanks to Kasumi's efforts, Akane was focusing too hard on what had happened out in the water. She was uncomfortable thinking about such things in front of family but when the subject of these thoughts is sitting next to you it's kind of hard to shake them.
She had to admit his looks weren't the first thing she was caught up on when he came back, more his general reappearance and the fact he was there. But over the last couple of weeks, it was getting hard not to notice how handsome he'd become. How confident in himself he was and less abrasive, he was more open with her, more inclined to talk than fight. And while she had dismissed all this as negatives for nearly the entire time he'd been here, maybe she was wrong. Maybe she didn't need to get hung up on that, maybe he had really just changed. She had taken anger management classes, she had learned to cook a little, she had learned to not always put emotions first in her decisions.
So why should she not expect he could change as well?
"I'm gonna get somethin' to drink up at the stand, anyone want anythin'?" He offered up to the group. Akane turned and nodded.
"Uh lemonade?"
"You got it, anyone else?" Nabiki and Chisa gave some orders, as did Kasumi and Tofu and Ranma was up and headed out to the stand.
Nabiki scooted over to her sister and smiled a predatory grin. She had seen all that had transpired between the two of them out in the water. Her little sister was lucky that Kasumi played more oblivious and their fathers were out cold in naps that they hadn't caught that little tryst out at sea.
Akane gave her sister a look back, as if to say she'd best keep her mouth shut on this particular subject. Her sister grinned bigger, Chisa giving a questioning look to the two of them.
"You know, Ranma may have some trouble carrying all those drinks why don't you help?"
"Why don't you?"
"I'm entertaining my girlfriend; you're not doing anything." Touche.
Akane huffed and got up and headed towards the stand.
Stupid Nabiki, always stirring the pot. I should've known she'd be watching; I'm surprised she wasn't taking pictures. If this had been 5 years ago there'd be Polaroids everywhere.
Stomping over to the stand, she slowed herself as she saw him talking to a tall, leggy blonde waiting on her own order. She was blonde like she had been once, perky and giggly. He was smiling at her and she blushed, touching his arm.
For as long as she had beat down the monster that was her anger, beneath it laid worst of all, that serpentine beast known as jealousy. A sick, sinking feeling in her stomach, her mouth was dry but she felt slightly nauseous.
She pressed her hand to her neck; she hadn't dealt with this in a while. Shingo had been handsome and friendly but had never been flirty or with many suitors. Once or twice, she'd heard about another student having a crush on him, but it had never phased her because he was always just neighborly to other girls, never wanting to give them the wrong idea. He always made Akane feel secure in their relationship, there was never a need to feel jealous.
But Ranma was different, he could turn on the charm at the drop of a hat, had been able to do it as a man or woman on top of it. He'd had to rely on his looks and street smarts to get through a lot but he also wasn't stupid she knew that. He knew how he looked, how it could take him far with anything or anyone. Get him anything he wanted if he really tried.
He let out a large laugh at her joke and she squeezed his arm and there it came finally, jealousy's longtime slumbering mistress: anger.
He had just tried making moves on her not more than an hour ago and he was already flirting with some other girl? And where anyone could see him? His stupid grin, that pervert. She could always rely on him being some kind of creep.
How many girls had he pulled this on while on the road? How many girls had he slept with while she pined and waited for his return, his words, anything?
She pounded her way over to him, seething quietly.
"I'll take my drink now, thanks." She plucked her cup from the ones he'd put aside.
"Oh hey 'Kane, didn't think you'd come over." He said smiling.
The absolute audacity of this man
"Oh well, only here to help." She grinned deeply, shoving the drinks into his arms. He turned and nodded to the woman he'd been talking to. Akane stuck her foot out slightly and he tripped, drinks crushing against him.
"What the fuc-"
"Oh Ranma! You're so clumsy sometimes! Better hop back in the water and clean up! I'll take care of the rest of the drinks." She offered up sweetly. He glared at her about to say something to start a fight. But then it dawned on him.
He knew this Akane.
Oh, did he know this Akane well.
He watched her from the sands, his eyes growing wide, a matching smile growing across his face. And in that moment, she knew she had been caught. Her childish antics had come home to roost.
He got up and ran his hand through his hair.
"Ah of course babe, you know how clumsy I can be. You sure you got the drinks yourself, don't need the help?"
"Ba-what?" She countered. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"You grab the drinks and I'll make it up to you later?" She guffawed at this and he winked, heading back towards the water to wash off the coffee and tea. He raised a hand to the other woman. "Good talkin' to ya! Hope you decide to bring your son to our dojo sometime!" He looked over at Akane and walked off.
Akane from her eyeline could see Nabiki watching them.
FUCK
xxxXXXxxxXXXXXXxxxxxx
Back at the inn they were staying at, they prepared for an outdoor dinner. The warm air and clear skies were ideal for more grilling and maybe a small fire in the pit provided to the guests. Akane was getting out of the shower, tremendously tense after the day and was looking for no more problems for the rest of the day if she could possibly help it. She felt small after how she'd thought of him and how she'd taken those actions out on him without reason, it felt stupid to revert back to such attitudes she thought she had beaten down. She made a point to be a better friend when she got downstairs tonight, another reason to be nervous.
She laid out a white long summer dress on her bed as her sister came inside to get ready herself. Akane peered up for a moment before going back to getting dressed. She was waiting for Nabiki to say it.
"So Akane."
Just get it over with
"Got a certain, green-eyed monster on your back lately?"
"Shut up Nabiki." She ground out as she went to her bag for underwear.
"I'm just saying, after that little stunt earlier in the water." She teased and went to turn on the water for her own shower. "Seems you two have gotten right back on track, huh?"
"Shut up Nabiki." She started getting dressed.
"I'm just saying I get it-"
"Nabiki, please!" Akane shoved the dress over her head. "I really don't need this from you of all people, okay?" Her sister watched as she struggled with her words. She groaned and got undressed going into the bathroom.
Akane stood in the room, now angry at how she had reacted to her sister's teasing. She groaned herself and stepped in the bathroom.
"Nabiki...I'm sorry I just." She scratched her head.
"You're fine Akane, I was just poking fun. You know it's okay to be jealous sometimes, it's healthy!" She chirped. Akane balked and threw a hotel soap at the shower.
"Shut up Nabiki!" She growled and ended in a laugh. Her sister joined her.
xxxXXXxxXXxxXXxXxxxx
Going outside the two sisters took seats by the fire that Tofu and Ranma had started. Nabiki took a seat by Chisa, both in lovely light yukatas for the night. Akane looked around for and well who would've guessed, a seat right next to Ranma. What were the chances? She sat down next to him, quiet and tense from their earlier interactions. She'd been dead silent at dinner, unable to even look at him as she played her embarrassment over and over in her head. He was dressed in some button-down tourist-y shirt he left unbuttoned and some shorts. She imagined he probably bought this outfit somewhere on the road, somewhere he must've liked to visit.
Kasumi handed her a stick to hold over the fire.
"Here's for you Akane, Ranma told us about making some sweets over the fire if you wanted."
She smiled and nodded. He handed her a marshmallow.
"I liked to make these occasionally on the road, I remember Ryoga telling me about it." She proceeded to put it on her stick, as he handed her two cookies, she thanked him quietly and stuck her arm out, just staying on the outside of the flames. Her family was talking amongst themselves and she couldn't make out words, feeling stupid and regretting coming down. He grabbed her arm as he leaned in closer to her causing her to move forward herself.
"Get closer in there, you want it to catch, okay?" He was loud in her ear and it made her blush and skittish. She moved forward and the treat caught, she pulled it back and blew on it, pressing it between the cookies. He did the same.
Before she had a chance to take a bite, he quietly spoke to her under the words of everyone else and his face lit up in the orange flames.
"Sorry 'Kane."
"Hm?!" She could've choked if she had eaten. He leaned in closer to her, not too close though.
"I'm sorry 'bout what happened with that lady earlier, she asked me if I knew any workout places and I told her 'bout the dojo and she mentioned her son looking for somethin' and I mentioned them coming by if they're in the area. And I mean she was kind flirty but I could use the extra students an' all. So sorry if that looked a lot worse than it was."
"I... uh don't know what you mean." She lied terribly, her face lighting up. She nibbled on her food as he laughed and took a bite of his own.
"Sure, 'Kane." He smiled and chewed.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth dummy." She gave him grief, slightly annoyed she couldn't own up to how she felt. Guilty even.
But admitting that meant she cared and if she cared...
"Sorry." She murmured low enough that he caught it. He nodded, smiled softly and watched the fire with her.
"S'alright."
Together they sat in pleasant silence, enjoying their treats until later on when he regaled them again with stories on the road. How the tournaments in Hong Kong and Thailand had landed him good money, the reason he was taking them up here as well. He'd beat some of the most talented fighters in Japan as well as win a nice pot and get the name of the dojo out there.
Together they all enjoyed the summer night, the sea nearby could be heard splashing against the shore, cool air providing some relief from the humidity. They talked about the wedding, excitement for the rest of the summer, things delved into safely talking about their high school years, Chisa getting an incredibly abridged but still amusing version of things that had happened. Each story she would laugh harder at, the ridiculousness that came with her girlfriend's family was more than she could have ever imagined.
"You two really have gone through a lot! I was just worried about exams at 16, not changing bodies or beating up boys." She chuckled out. The two she spoke about laughed behind their drinks, when they talked about it openly it was all pretty funny overall.
Better to think of the past like that.
Kasumi was the first to suggest bed for the ride home, Tofu in toe. Soon everyone was up and on their way. Ranma offered to walk Nabiki and Akane to their room.
"Uh uh, Saotome. Sorry you're bunking with daddy again tonight but you're not crashing here."
"Nabiki, I would never suggest." He playfully protested. "But yer ol' man snores wors'n mine." He whined.
"Sorry only room for two, he'll be expecting you. Ta ta!" She waved her fingers at him, he grinned and looked back.
"If ya change yer mind I'm down the hall? Alright? Night Nabiki, night Akane." He waved.
"Night!"
"Night Ranma!"
They both went in and Akane flopped on her bed, spreading her arms across it. Nabiki sat on her bed and quickly got out of her own yukata, and furiously started undressing. Throwing on cute PJs and a hoodie to cover them up, Akane peered up and started undressing into PJs of her own.
"Where you off to?"
"Chisa's room. Rooms all yours tonight." She brushed her hair and looked over her shoulder. "Or with whomever you want." She grinned. Akane threw her dress at her and she laughed.
"I mean I guess you not snoring in here sounds pretty good. You need me to get you in the morning?" She threw her tank over her head and wiggled her shorts on.
"Nope got that taken care of. Enjoy the amenities and see you in the morning, sis!" With that she left Akane alone in their room, just the table lamp next to her on. She sighed and looked out the window. She was only a story up and could see down into the garden they'd had their fire in, the night had definitely taken a turn for the better. She was able to shake those feelings and didn't feel as angry or envious or stupid by the end of it. Ranma had been pretty nice considering how she'd treated him earlier.
She thought how much back and forth she'd gone through today, angry, happy, envious, titillated. It was confusing but…she liked it. She liked the ups and downs of the day in its own way, it was like when they were younger.
She rubbed her arms as she thought back again to earlier. Those eerily familiar feelings, some ebbed and flowed more severe than she had experienced when she was younger. Some felt much, much fresher. She went to wash her face.
She scrubbed her face and ran water over her skin, clean and clear from the day, she brushed her hair back from her face, she watched her reflection as the water dripped down her cheeks. She was a little tanner but still couldn't get much color. Not like her sister who could tan no problem. Or Ranma with his already bronzed skin.
Ranma
She closed her eyes and she was back at the beach, learning to swim finally. Of course, he of all people would have the patience for her in a situation like that. But the way he'd made her feel confident, made her feel like she could control herself, it had been thrilling.
It'd also been thrilling to be so close to him like that, his hands holding her safely, directing her movements. How warm his skin had been from the sun, the way his face looked when he came up from air and he'd shake his ponytail out, his large sternum and lean hips, low grooves over his pelvis.
Akane shivered slightly to herself, not noticing how the water from her face was dripping along her neck down her chest. She was shocked back to reality when a damp drop fell over her chest, dampening one of her breasts. The sensation from the wet spot on her shirt wrestled with the feelings of longing inside her, growing by the minute. She left the bathroom and saw her full bed calling for her, beckoning her to lose herself inside its sheets.
She quietly checked and locked the bedroom a second time, feeling the swell for the need of privacy. Her head becoming fuzzy in indirect thoughts, she closed any open curtains and with a focus not unlike before meditation, she slipped into her linen sheets and shut off the light to the room and world, to eyes and minds that would judge her.
She stared up at the wooden ceiling above her, resinous and dark. The room smelled of hinoki and clean sheets, salted air. They were close enough to the ocean still that the smell could run itself over her tongue and she could taste the water again from when she'd been swimming.
She sighed and closed her eyes; it had been sometime since she'd done this. Since she wanted to do this.
Growing up she had very little privacy and the thought that she, a boy-hating girl would do something like this to alleviate her own needs and pleasure had made her feel awkward. This is what the boys did, not girls like her.
A cool rush of air went over her hair and ears and the feeling calmed her, eased her nerves. She moved her hands and grasped the waistband of her shorts and pulled them down, allowing them to go over her legs and pulled them off her foot to the side of the bed.
She sank her head further in her pillow, she could smell her shampoo rubbing off on the pillow, vanilla and spice.
In the quiet of the room, there was only the wind chimes from down below and the occasional sounds of hushed footsteps. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
She ran her hands lightly up her taunt stomach, teasing the thin skin there giving herself shivers and goosebumps as she closed her eyes and let her mind wander away. She typically didn't think of any one thing
Or person
In particular as she did this. Instead, she liked to focus on her feelings, the sensations of a faceless someone there. She lightly rubbed her stomach with the tips of her fingers as she traced upwards. Ticklish beneath the sheets.
She moved her right hand over her right breast, feeling the nipple beneath seize up, hardening. She sighed, her left hand continuing to roam around her stomach, above her pelvis. She rubbed her breast lightly, running her fingers over the tip of her nipple, causing small quivers through herself. Her breathing sped up slightly and she lifted the cotton top up and over her head, the night air caressing her bare chest. She slips beneath the starchy linen sheets again, away from the world.
She runs a single fingertip over her nipple, it's achingly hard and she lets out a soft coo. She teases herself from breast to breast, running fingertips, finger nails against herself. Palming her entire breast, she squeezes and finally the moan falls from her mouth and she feels those images coming on. Those things that get her riled up, that excite her.
A warm pair of lips over her breast, smirking, admiring her
Hands that run up her hips, over her waist, even as she grabs the forearms because they tickle her in the way they're so light
Heavy hands over her breasts, mouth plunging into her neck, under her ear, saying filthy things that turn her vermillion
She arches her back slightly, fidgeting under her own touch, her head rolling around her pillow. The bed is getting a little warm now.
Heavy eyes open and in them lust, she runs her right hand over the line of her panties, over her mound while her left-hand caresses her breast. She focuses on her right hand, how it's closeness to her womanhood is in in of itself causing a tremble that starts in her core and moves out into her thighs, down into her feet.
She slips her hand in, it's warm. Fingers brush along her trimmed hair, its shorter and cleaned up because of her bikini and her own self-consciousness. She thought it was borderline vulgar when she shaved. Now it feels perfect.
Cupping her own sex, she runs her middle finger along her opening, her knuckle brushes the inside of her panties, slickness has moistened the cotton. She shivers at the sensation; at the way she's been feeling since the beach.
She runs a nail outside herself, she's so wet it's like running over freshly washed silk, she trembles over the feeling, pinching her nipple as she presses her lips together to stifle her moan.
Ready to move on, she scoots lower on her bed and opens her legs to get to herself better
Open your legs more
Spread them wide
The thought of commands shoots right through her stomach to her clit, she feels herself get wetter over the idea of being told what to do. She likes to put up the fight, even against her own pleasure.
Her finger runs along her center again and now, now is when she's beginning to really tease herself. Her nail drags along her clit and the feeling is electric, raising her pulse. She squeezes her breast, a low moan falling out, her breathing is shaky, hitching even. One more flick, one more rub.
She thinks of a strong hand here instead, a disembodied mouth whispering to her
You feel so good
Her thighs tighten. Strong fingers, circling her clit rubbing softly but constantly, driving her closer.
The mouth moves to her breast, taking her nipple between their teeth, lapping at it
She groans and switches her finger for her thumb as her slickened finger deeps into herself. She groans and arches her back, flicking her nipple, she's seeing lights in the darkness behind her eyelids.
Her head is heavy with arousal, think with wanton thoughts. Her hand moves from her breast to her vagina, spreading herself and flicking her clit while she dips her finger deeper. She allows herself the release of an audible moan. It's been so long, so long. Not since he came back because she wouldn't dare do this with him under the same roof. Too close, too real.
A bone white smile, hovering over her pussy
Another rush of pleasure goes through her body, how good that would feel
Kneading, greedy hands all over her. Pulling, possessive
She slips a second finger in; she's pulsating she can feel it inside and in the throb of her clit. She's getting close.
You're so wet, feel so good
'Kane
It's wrong. In the logical spot of her brain it's screaming don't do this. But she is far beyond logic, far beyond right and wrong. Her fingers pick up speed, she desperately clenching around them and drenching them. She moves back and forth from her fingertip to knuckle to change the pressure on her clit as her mind plays stories, scenarios
Back pressed against the dojo's wall
Stomach against her desk
He's taunting her, teasing her, he's so in control of her
Hand shoved in her skirt, stroking her
She gasps and groans
Strong hands snapping her knees to either side, jet black hair bobbing between her thighs
Her leg is shaking, it's close
Lurid words, ice cold eyes telling her to do it
'Come for me 'Kane'
It's a demand not a suggestion
Her back is arching, she's teetering, the lights she sees with closed eyes are on the brink of explosion
His hands, broad back, bright smile, thick hair, his cock, his fingers, warm chest, teasing smile
'Tomboy'
With a guttural moan she releases and the feeling rockets through her, vivid and rushing from her legs up her chest. Her eyes open weakly, coming back down to where she is back on earth, back in this inn, back in this bed. She pulls her hand from herself; she can feel the aftermath between her fingers and wipes them on the sheets near her feet. She grabs her underwear, shorts and top and does so silently, no heavy breathing, no sighs for her release.
She's alone back looking at the wooden ceiling and she knows she's done something she shouldn't have. She's crossed a line she promised she wouldn't. Told herself to never entertain. Not him, never him. She's got no words now.
Oh no.