Summary: It all began with a hot day; Ranma and Akane find themselves sneaking around.
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi ©
Of Secret Kisses and Sneaking Around
There was frustration piling up atop Akane as she sat with her legs crossed in front of the family room's table, a small fan spinning at its best potential placed in front of her. It wasn't enough. She had a headband pushing her blue stands of hair away from her forehead and lifting as much as it could at the back, allowing the nape of her neck to breath. She wore a tank top and small shorts – it wasn't enough. The sudden heat wave had hit mid-night, as the youngest Tendo had been woken to the sudden need to breath. She felt as though she had begun suffocating quickly sliding her window open in hopes of a fresh breeze, but to her dismay her only encounter had been the thick and hot air.
She began undressing herself from her usual yellow pajamas, quickly slipping into smaller and thinner garments. When morning finally rose, noting the weather still hadn't composed itself, Akane quickly went to pack some ice inside napkins to press against her skin. The young girl whined at her eldest sister, as though Kasumi could do something about the misfortunate situation; but all she did was bring her younger sister freshly-packed ice while taking the damped napkins to dispose of. "Thanks, Kasumi, but what I really need is a shower." Akane commented, arrogance getting the best of her as the ice, nor the fan were not doing anything for her.
Ranma felt the heat begin to hit hours later when he woke up to his futon drenched, wondering if he had an accident, panic rising inside him before coming to the conclusion it was sweat. What the hell?, were his first thoughts as he was already in shorts and a tank top, he shouldn't be as hot as he was. Why was he sweating so much? He made his way down the stairs, hearing the murmuring of the living room's daytime television, his father and Mr. Tendo chatting among themselves, while taking a good whiff of what he believed to be breakfast. Stepping into the family room he couldn't help but allow his azure eyes fall upon his fiancée showing a fair amount of skin while sweat glistened on her as though she were glowing.
Akane hadn't noticed when Ranma had walked in, as she kept her attention away, gently dabbing the already-melting ice along her neck, slightly tilting it upward to reach the crease of her neck before dragging it down to her collarbone. She winced in satisfaction when the coldness met with untouched areas, forcing the pigtailed teen to cover his face, feeling flustered and embarrassed to witness such cute expressions.
"Morning, guys! Hot day, huh, Ranma?"
Nabiki had walked past him, slapping her palm against the back of his shoulder, shooting a playful smirk at him to snap him out from his trance before she took a seat next to her younger sister. He hated being caught up in these sorts of situations, in which he couldn't explain himself as to why he was blushing when staring at his fiancée.
He went to join the girls at the table, unconsciously eyeing the blue-haired teen appearing to be melting as though she were butter. Akane had come to notice, easily making her conscious of herself as she fixed her posture, and began pushing hairs stuck on her sweaty face behind her ear. "What is it Ranma? Do I've got something on my face or what?" Akane asked, not meaning to sound as roughly as it came out. But the black-haired teen kept throwing glances at her, it was embarrassing.
"No," Ranma spat back, narrowing his eyebrows at her before looking away, resting his cheek at the palm of his hand as he leaned against the table, "just looking funny as ever, tomboy – "
"What did you say?" Her tone became high-pitched, the pigtailed boy immediately regretting his response, turning his body away from his fiancée with his arms elevated to shield any throwing-punch Akane was prepping for. Ranma hadn't know why he suddenly decided to insult the young girl, as though it were in his nature to get her riled up. There was some sort of amusement to see her fuming expression; caring about what he had to say to gain such reaction from her – even if it at the end his gain was her knuckles against his scalp.
"Ranma, you dummy!"
"I didn't say anything, gah – !"
It was too late, the blue haired youngster had thrown an object towards him, hitting the aimed-spot: atop his head. Akane puffed her cheeks with annoyance, she looked away unapologetic as she stood, calling to Nabiki, "I am going to go shower, please ask Kasumi to put my plate away." With that she was gone, Ranma rubbing the forming-bump where he had been struck.
"Damn uncute, macho, brick-thigh girl! What the hell was that for?"
Nabiki displayed her sly smile towards her future brother-in-law, enjoying how her apparent smirk had began making him fidget, a slight crimson appearing over his cheeks. He was hating just how obvious he appeared when it came to the middle-Tendo sister.
The day began to become less hot when Ranma and Akane had been left alone for the evening; Nabiki had been invited to the waterpark by some friends and their parents had decided to head to the public baths in an attempt to try and cool off. Kasumi had pre-made plans with Dr. Tofu for that evening since a week ago; the day wasn't as hot to rescheduled their outing, so they didn't.
Akane laid on the hardwood floor of her living room, limbs spread about as she stared at the ceiling in disbelief. How was she, on a Sunday, letting the heat consume her? How had Nabiki not bothered to invite her to the waterpark? She would have loved to go; especially in a day like this. She prompted her elbows back, adjusting herself as she watched Ranma lay on his side while he reread his manga books. Surely, there was something they could do to entertain themselves.
And she didn't know if it was her boredom and the need of entertainment, or the hallucinations the heat was beginning to beat on her; but Akane decided Ranma needed a distraction as well. She was a tad upset over his unnecessary comment from earlier, but she had come to terms that sometimes he was just a dope. She went to the kitchen to grab a sharing-popsicle, taking a seat next to him as she snapped the icy-treat down the middle to hand him the other half.
Ranma looked up at her, genuinely surprised, yet reached over to take from her petite hand. "What's this for – making mends from earlier?"
She rolled her eyes at him, "It's a hot day, idiot. And why would I be apologizing to you? I'm not the one who insulted you."
"Well – er – I – "
Her abnormally fawn-like eyes stayed staring at him, letting him speak if he wanted to speak as she began tasting her popsicle. When there was no end to his stammering, she simply smiled fondly at him, "I accept your apology." She didn't know why he was aggressive with her at times; they'd be getting along fine, watching a movie or agreeing in a topic, when – boom – he goes and downright calls her unfriendly names.
She didn't understand him at times. But not all times; there has been moments when she recognized that he was being extra gentle with her, as though afraid to harm her, and those small details didn't go unnoticed by her. Her feelings about the pigtailed boy tugged at her guts, making her feel queasy and unsure of what was permitted when it came to him.
Akane licked her bottom lips, trying to reach her chin as her popsicle had began dripping, drops marking her chin and down her neck. She used the top of her hand to wipe away streaks running down, smacking her tongue against her teeth in annoyance at how uncooperative her popsicle was being.
Ocean eyes gazed in awe, from the corner of his eyes observing just how the sweat and colorful marking down her skin made him feel dizzy. Akane huffed from her nose seeming upset as her hands were now sticky, taking in the remains of the popsicle inside her mouth to leave the stick bare. It was moments like these when Ranma was forced to acknowledge his hormones and wonder if his desires for Akane came from his general attraction towards the girl, no matter how many times he called her uncute; or simply because he was a teenaged boy with needs.
For so long he had oppressed his feelings when it came to Akane. Even after he held her lifeless body, limped in his arms, and he unconsciously confessed overflowing-bottled feelings towards her. When she inquired whether those unspoken words were true, he knocked her question to the side. Time had passed since then, but not much time to make him ease up when it came to Akane.
Not with the way she tried to appear upset with furrowed eyebrows to fail miserably and find her quite adorable; her chestnut-colored eyes gleaming while she observed her fingers. As she murmured about the hot air and how she felt as though she needed another shower. His gaze wondered at her face; her fair skin with naturally rosy cheeks and soft-looking lips. He couldn't look away at how a popsicle-stain remained at her lower lips, his thumb wanting to reach over and gently skim over it. He didn't know how to deny it to himself, personally, anymore. Ranma wanted to kiss Akane. He truly wanted all of her. The mere thought made his blood boil and mind burn in a perversion manner.
Akane had become preoccupied with the liquified candy now dried on her skin. Ranma hadn't managed to get a single drop on him, how did she? She glanced over at him, and he looked away with his cheeks matching a beet, as though he had been caught red-handed. Was he thinking about that at a time like this; when the weather was horrendous and their pass time was simply conversing with one another? Oh, honestly, dummy. She couldn't deny his posture and chosen attire provoked an undeniable arousal within her – she was attracted to the boy, nonetheless. But still; the way his white tank top stuck against his skin due to his sweat, while his already-short shorts creased upwards. His built physic making her mind run wild and become lustful.
Gah! Get a hold of yourself, Akane!
And yet she allowed a glance over at him, her hand set near his. With temptation getting the best of her, her fingers danced at him, softly tapping atop his hand before gently resting on it. She didn't look up even when she felt his gaze pierce towards her. And she wondered if this moment would pass as every moment in the past two years have passed. But she didn't want it to. Her fingers curved under it, holding his hand now, hoping he could feel the warmth lit within the touch, and not because of the summer heat.
"A – Akane – what..um..er.."
She chuckled lightly at his visible awkwardness, looking up and sighing with a knowing smile, knowing he wasn't uneasy because of her but the skin-to-skin contact. "It feels nice," she admitted aloud, removing her touch from his.
But he didn't want her to. So, without a thought, his hand went to reach for hers to hold. She cocked an eyebrow upward, not too surprised at his sudden impulse when it came to this sort of scenarios.
"What is this?" She asked teasingly, her eyebrow bouncing trying to ease up the moment and he huffed through his nostrils.
"It feels nice." He replied, ignoring the deep shade of red he knew his face was illuminating.
She smiled shyly, feeling the heat emerge among her own cheeks. "Yeah." She said.
It was quiet for a few minutes, each enjoying the moment all the while letting their minds run wild.
"Ranma," Akane went first, scooting closer to him until her side merely touched his side. Her hand still in his, her thumb scraping softly against his own; she looked over to her side not realizing how intensely he had been listening when she called his name. He was mere inches away from her face, his eyes wide with wonder and a flame lit within. Her smokey eyes became droopy, half-lidded and blinking heavily as she felt his breathing nozzle at her cheek.
It wasn't the first time she'd kiss Ranma – if one would consider such scenarios kisses – but this time he gazed at her as though she were a polished jewel; with admiration and curiosity as to what to do with her. She began to feel his hand tremble as it held hers tighter than before. And she decided to kiss him. She pushed softly, stopping mid-second before fully pressing her lips against his.
He kept still just a second longer as Akane stayed put with eyes shut, waiting for him to initiate the next move. So he did; Ranma's free hand reached for her cheek, cupping behind her ear as they adjusted their posture, their gaping mouths taking in-between breaths while they continued from one kiss to a second kiss. Then another until she was pressing herself against him. His tongue grazed over her lower lip, her throat unwillingly letting a whimper escape. She pulled away with embarrassment plastered on her face, not meaning to express audibly just how good it felt. She looked away from the pigtailed boy who only chuckled cockily as she used her freed hand to hide her flushed expression.
"'Kane," he called, his firm hand reaching for her small wrist to pull away from her flustered face, she complying far too easily as his heavy eyes searched for hers. He leaned at her to resume what they had just been doing, and Akane allowed it, not minding that his body weight had been shifting onto her. That he was now pressing himself against her and gently pushing her back until she laid on the hardwood floor of their family room. Her arms at first sheepishly picking at his tank top's cloth while feeling Ranma's teeth scrape against her own before he caught her lower lip. He kissed gently, but she felt his roughness each time he pressed his lips on her.
They were breathing heavily when he pulled away, though still close enough to try and count the specks inside her pupils. It was her turn to imitate a beet, her short, blue hair sprawled like a halo around her head, his arms at her sides to help his side-composure. He stared tenderly down at her, not knowing how he had lived so long without the touch of Akane's fingertips on his skin. This time it was she who tugged him at her, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull down, calling his name adoringly just before she clasped his mouth once again.
It felt good, each kiss better than the last. Akane found herself gasping for air as his lips dragged to her cheeks, letting her breathe, trailing to the crook of her neck to softly peck her hot skin. Though their bodies were sweating with the heat now emerging due to their actions rather than the weather, she felt in bliss. She felt ecstatic at how Ranma's teeth nicked at her throat before dragging his lips back up to find her mouth again.
"I'm home!" Kasumi chirped, taking her time to remove her flats and slide into some slippers, hanging her handbag along the way. "Hm, strange, where's every – ah, Akane, are you home alone?" Kasumi inquired as she walked into the family room where she found her youngest sister by herself, laying on the floor panting. When she didn't answer, Kasumi went over to take a seat next to her, "Oh, my, Akane are you feeling alright? The weather isn't getting to you, is it? It's cooled down quite tremendously since the morning, but you've seem quite burnt up."
Akane chuckled nervously as she started to sit up, rubbing her lower back, "I'm fine, Kasumi," Akane replied with a smile, hoping her rushed face didn't give her away as she combed her fingers through her hair to try and compose it. "I, just, might need another shower."
The eldest Tendo smiled fondly of her sister, wondering just what might have gotten her looking like a red tomato. She only hoped she wasn't working out in that dojo of theirs; though the temperature dropped, it still wasn't the best idea to get such exercise.
"Well, while you do that," Kasumi replied, "I'll get started on dinner. Father, Auntie and Mister Saotome won't be long, I'm sure, but I don't know about Nabiki. And Ranma, where has he gone to?"
"I – uh – don't know – eh, maybe with some friends? I'm gonna – um – go, ah, take that shower!"
Kasumi simply watched her younger sister stumbled out the door as she heard her feet rush up the stairs to be followed with a slamming door. She sighed worriedly; sometimes she didn't understand that girl.
A/N: To no surprise, I did not proof-read this thoroughly. Just when I would work on it here and there; but I hope you guys managed to enjoy it. I have an idea on where I want to take this and I hope it runs smoothly.
Please let me know if you guys liked it and would be willing to read a following chapter. Thanks for reading!