Note: These characters don't belong to me, they are someone else's property!
" " when someone talks
Italics when someone thinks
What the future holds
Chapter 2: It's now or never
Akane left Nabiki's room 2000 yen lighter but in high spirits. Nabiki had been all too eager to help her find the perfect outfit for the night, suggesting different looks and encouraging her to choose something a little more risqué than her usual attires. Akane had appreciated all the advice given, even thought she had paid handsomely for it, and was pleased to have left the room with what she thought would make her look more mature and accentuate her best assets.
Once dressed, she took a quick look at herself in the mirror and smiled. Not bad.
The skirt she was wearing was a little shorter than what she was used to and her dark top clung in all the right places. She suddenly shivered at the thought of wearing some of the outfits Nabiki had originally suggested before Akane made it clear that she needed to tone down the seductive factor in them. That girl sure has some slinky stuff, can't believe dad lets her get away with it!
Her thoughts were interrupted when she looked at the clock and realised she only had 15 minutes to finish her look. She put on some mascara, a bit of blusher and lip-gloss. Akane had never been big on makeup and preferred the natural look which she thought was more suited to her personality. She then made sure her hair looked neat, which was pretty easy when you had a short hairstyle like hers. She had thought of growing out her hair several times, but having it short was so practical that she had always talked herself out of it in the end.
She finished her look with some high heel strappy sandals which no doubt she would regret wearing later but just looked too cute not to. She decided she was willing to take the risk of suffering the odd blister in the name of fashion.
Tonight she really wanted to knock a certain pig-tailed boy's socks off. He had to be the most rude, egotistical, self centered guy she had ever known but she could not help but feel utterly infatuated by his also kind, caring and charismatic persona.
After one final look in the mirror she ran down the stairs, noticing Ranma's absence, she said goodbye to everyone and rushed out. She was already a bit late and didn't want her friends entering the school grounds without her.
Ranma on the other hand was in no hurry. He was in his room, lying on his futon in frustration as he unsuccessfully had tried to take a nap. Why the hell did I tell her I was going for! I really don't wanna to go this dumb-ass party , I'll probably only have Ukyo and Shampoo pestering me all night...
Ranma was in turmoil with himself. When he had first been invited it had been a no brainer decision for him. He really disliked those kind of social gatherings and he was going to stay well away from it all. But as soon as Akane told him she was going, something had instantly switched in his brain. He wasn't sure why but he felt the irrepressible urge to go. That tomboy is sure to do something stupid if I'm not around there to stop her he thought as he clenched at straws to justify his decision on something other than wanting to be near her to ensure no sleazy guy tried it on with her.
He got up and decided it was time to make his way there. He had heard Akane leave about half an hour earlier. He didn't bother changing, he wore with his usual black pants and sleveless red Chinese top.
Just as he was about to walk out the door he was stopped by his father's voice.
"Ranma my boy! Are you going to that party?" Genma asked proudly.
"Not like it's any of your business but yeah, I am" Ranma replied slightly irritated at his constant lack of privacy.
"Did you see how beautiful Akane looked when she left? You'll sure have to fight them all off her tonight! Genma said with a grin.
"Who'd wanna go anywhere near a macho chick like her?"
Genma frowned "Show some respect boy! That's your future wife you're talking about! I taught you better than this"
"Shut up old man, not taking no crap from a man that abandoned his wife for years!" Ranma said spitefully.
"Why you insolant - " Genma said as he pulled his sleeves up in order to thump his son.
"Now, now. Let's calm down here and not spoil the kids big night Saotome" Sound said trying to mediate.
Genma nodded and retreated back to his place nest to the Shogi board, smiling back at his friend in understanding.
"Oh it's so good of you to go look after my dear Akane, I told her to be a good girl but I feel much better now knowing you'll be there keeping an eye on her" Soun said, happiness spread on his face.
Ranma angered at their interference "I ain't looking after no one, I'm not Akane's babysitter and to be perfectly honest I don't care what happens to her".
"I know you don't mean that my son"- Genma protested.
"Every last word" Ranma spoke each word slowly in defiance.
"Ranma I am holding you responsible for her, if anything happens to my baby girl I will kill you with my own hands!" Soun shouted sternly with his giant scary head trick.
How does he do that? Ranma rolled his eyes and left.
Meanwhile Akane was already at the party with her friends breathing in the festive spirit.
"So…" Meiko said mischievously "You girls all look gorgeous…so does that mean what I'm thinking... that you're hoping to get lucky tonight?"
"Meiko, you're always thinking about that! We don't need the boys to have a great time" Akane protested as she took a sip of her drink, which she was sure had some kind of alcohol in it.
"Oh come on Akane, leave all that girl power stuff to a side for once and be honest with yourself. You know as well as I do that you're here to win a certain boy's affections tonight…" Meiko teased.
Akane looked surprised "What are you talking about? I told you I don't like Ranma, and definetely don't want anything from that insensitive, insulting, stupid egomaniacal jerk!"
Meiko smiled "Who said anything about Ranma dear? I was talking about the new student who is a total hunk, I know you two have been getting along really well and he doesn't take his eyes off you... Anyway I though Ranma wouldn't be coming…"
Akane blushed, embarrassed she had made assumptions yet again "Well I think he may be coming after all. And yes, I do get along with Jin but I was just being friendly with him as I know how hard it is to fit in, that's all"
Meiko smiled "Well, whatever…so Ranma is coming tonight…good…I have a certain someone in mind myself and tonight is the night I'm going to make him mine!"
"Really?" Sayuri asked "I really hope that Daisuke notices me tonight…I really wish he liked me. I'd do anything to get locked in a dark room with him all alone and…"
"Sayuri you dirty girl…don't worry, I have a feeling he feels the same way about you, we'll try get the two of you hooked up later" Meiko said.
"Really? Eeeek I don't know...so embarrassing...but if you would help me with this I would be eternally grateful!" Sayuri shrieked in excitement.
The girls walked over to the drinks table and toped their cups up with some kind of cocktail that was hard to describe but tasted nice. Once there, they noticed that the boys were not far away from them and Sayuri couldn't help but squeal in delight "Oh my God there he is! Daisuke is there with Hiroshi and he looks soooo hot!"
"Sayuri he'll hear you! Besides I don't really think you should be throwing yourself at him if I'm being honest but - "
Akane didn't get to finish her sentence as Meiko interrupted.
"Nonsense! Life is too short to be wasting time hanging around, if you want something you have to go get it girl, you only live once!"
Akane listened carefully to Meiko's words and thought they actually made sense. Her trail of thought was interrupted when she spotted a familiar face emerging from the crowd.
Ranma had just arrived and stood next to Hiroshi and Daisuke greeting them. Akane's heart skipped a beat when she saw him, she was glad he had came.
He looked the same as always ( irrevocably handsome) but somehow she saw him in a different light, maybe it had been the cocktail starting to alter her senses or maybe it was the feeling of anticipation and hope to what the night could lead to. She didn't know.
Maybe it could be different. Maybe for once they could get a nice moment alone to talk, uninterrupted. There were so many unspoken things between them. Maybe if they could get some overdue time alone they could try and sort out the mess that was their relationship, or even just figure out what really was going on between them and if they were on the same page regarding their future together.
Akane's thoughts were cut short by Meiko. "Well, well, well look who's just arrived. If it isn't your lover boy Akane! Things are starting to get interesting now..."
"He's not my lover boy Meiko. I wish you would stop referring to him as that" Akane said feigning annoyance.
"I'm sorry hun" Meiko said sounding unapologetic "lf you girls you wait here, I'm going to go talk to them and see what their plans are. Oh and I'll set the wheels in motion for you Sayuri" Meiko winked and swiftly walked towards the boys.
"Hi guys! Great party ne?" she asked .
"Yeah, it's great. Good music and good drink!" Hiroshi answered whilst sipping out of his paper cup.
"Well, I'll go straight to the point here. Daisuke love, there's a certain girl over there called Sayuri who is totally nuts for you and I thought you could do yourself a favour and ask her to dance or something or maybe take her for a walk alone…you know whatever comes to mind" Meiko said.
"What?" Daisuke asked blushing.
"Oh, come on, don't act dumb with me, I know you like her too. I've seen the longing looks you give each other throughout the day and it's nauseating! She's a total babe and you won't get another chance like this one in a looooong time, trust me. And...you would be doing me a big favour because then I won't have to listen to her talk about you all night long so… what do you say?" Meiko asked seriously meaning business.
"Well, who's the lucky one tonight? Go for it man!" Hiroshi said while he patted Daisuke's back.
"Well, er…ok..." Daisuke replied clearly embarrassed.
"Fabulous! You won't regret it! So, wait a little while and then casually walk over to her, I don't want her knowing I've been so direct about this" She informed him.
"Ok" He gulped.
Meiko smiled and then looked over to Ranma, who was just standing there looking unamused "You are quiet tonight aren't you?" She said taking a sudden interest in him.
"Huh? No. I just don't have anything to say, I don't want anything to do with this love matching business" He replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh well that's a shame cause I had the perfect girl in mind for you tonight..." She said trying to give him her most sensual smile.
"Er..thanks but no thanks…I'm ok" Ranma said nervously .
"Well, you might change your mind later after a few of these" She pointed at the drink in his hand.
"Anyway boys, I would love to stand here and talk to you all night but I have my friends over there waiting for news, so I'll see you later, and remember Daisuke to come over in a little while!" She said as she headed back towards the girls.
"Looks like you're going to get laid tonight you lucky bastard!" Hiroshi elbowed Daisuke.
"Yeah, I'm kinda nervous now though" Daisuke answered.
"Hey Ranma, look Akane is over there with them and looking stunning might I add. Maybe you could have a busy night too…" Hiroshi smiled slyly.
"I'd rather suffer a long painful death" Ranma replied trying to sound like he meant it.
"Harsh.I don't understand you dude, she is the hottest girl in school and any guy would give up their right arm to be with her and you are her fiancé but don't want anything to do with her. You must be blind!" Hiroshi exclaimed.
"I might be blind, but I ain't insane, and I'm telling ya, no one in their right mind would wanna to go out with an uncute, violent and clumsy tomboy like her!" Ranma responded.
"If ya say so..." Daisuke said unconvinced. "Anyway, any tips from the school's most popular man with the ladies? I could really do with some of your playboy charm"
"I ain't a damn playboy!" Ranma said losing his cool.
The boys continued talking whilst Meiko stood by the girls telling them that she was sure they were all going to have a very good night ahead, apparently sensing it.
After what seemed to have been an acceptable time to have passed the boys walked over just at the same time as the new student Jin did.
Ranma didn't like the new student guy much. Not since the first time he had set foot in class and couldn't take his eyes off Akane. What is it with guys drooling for her all the time?
As soon he had seen Jin approaching Akane he knew he had to get there fast so he told his friends it was time to walk over so Daisuke could make his move on Sayuri.
The guys had looked at him incredulously, as that had been such an un-Ranma thing to say, but they agreed and started to move.
"Hi Akane, you look incredibly beautiful tonight" Jin said, at this comment Ranma frowned and Akane blushed.
"Thank you Jin, you look really nice too" She smiled back.
"Here, I brought this for you" He said as he handed Akane a pretty little red box tied up in a purple ribbon.
"What's this?" She asked while she opened the box.
"Well, it's just a little something to say thank you. You know... for being so nice to me and helping me adapt to the new school. If it wasn't for you I would have felt really lonely" He said with a wide grin.
Akane opened the box and took out the object that was in it, a gorgeous silver bangle with three lilac stones incrusted in it. Ranma was fuming by this point, clenching his fists as a way to contain his feelings.
"Oh my goodness you shouldn't have! It's beautiful!" Akane said in genuine surprise.
"Not as beautiful as you. Besides, you deserve this and more Akane. Here, let me help you put it on" Jin offered.
Ranma saw red. He was twitching in anger and could feel the rage taking over every cell of his body. He wanted to beat the shit out of this guy. How dare he flirt with Akane like that, and in front of everyone, in front of him, her fiancée! Like if he didn't even exist! I've had enough of this shit He couldn't contain his indignation any longer and threw his drink over Jin, the liquid landing down his chest.
"What the hell was that for?" Jin yelled in annoyance.
"Sorry man, I thought I saw a wasp land on you and tried to drown it before it stung you" Ranma said very unconvincingly.
"Do you think I'm stupid? You did that on purpose!" Jin continued yelling.
"Don't believe me if you don't wanna, but you really had a bee there" Ranma shrugged trying to contain his smirk.
"A bee? I though you said it was a wasp!" Jin raised an eyebrow.
"Well, a bee, a wasp…what does it matter, they're all the same anyway!" Ranma sounded cocky.
Jin started patting himself dry as a horrified Akane watched embarresed at her fiancé's outburst.
"Here, let me help you with that" Akane said as she started dabbing him down with some napkins.
"Didn't think a big guy like you would need help from a girl" He said with wicked glee.
"Stop antagonising him!" Akane yelled at Ranma, throwing him a warning look.
"It's ok Akane. I'll deal with this cretin later" Jin said as he looked up at Ranma.
"Oooh I'm so scared..."He said mockingly.
"Ranma! That's it. I've had enough of this. A wasp, a bee or whatever it was you saw, you should not have thrown that drink over him! That was plain rude so just apologise to him right now!" Akane demanded angrily.
"You're not my mother" Ranma said arrogantly.
"Ranma Saotome you apologise to him right this moment !" She ordered.
"Or what?" He challenged.
Akane had to pause and think about what she was about to say. In the heat of the moment she chose the easiest and quickest way to damage his ego and cause a shock factor.
"Or I will break our engagement" She said looking him in the eyes coldly.
Everyone went silent. The eerie quietness hit Akane like a blow and made her realise what she had just threatened to do, but it was too late to back down. She had said it and turning back on it would make her look weak and pathetic.
It took Ranma a few seconds to respond "Well, I am not apologising. So go ahead and break the engagement. Like I care... I bet you can't wait to see the back of me so you can jump straight into Mr Charming's arms here!"
Akane was on the edge of tears, but she was sick of his nuisance, he wasn't going to spoil yet another night for her, so she took a long hard breath and screamed at the top of her voice "Fuck off Ranma Saotome!"
The whole school must have heard her, hell, the whole of Nerima must have heard her.
Ranma took a step back, looking wounded "If that's what you want"
"Yes. It is" Her response was cold.
He shook his head, turned round and walked away.
Akane was paralyzed, why had she reacted like that? Her heart broke when she saw the hurt in his eyes. Ranma's facial expressions had always been like an open book and easily gave away his state of mind. She could see that she had hurt him, she had tried to hurt him thousands of times, and she succeeded thanks to that loving mallet of hers, but this was a different type of pain she had caused. This was the type of pain she never wanted to cause him, but she had nerveless just done so.
"Akane I think you may have been a bit harsh on him there" Sayuri said.
"Yeah Akane and in front of the whole school too, he must feel totally humiliated" Hiroshi added.
Akane ran off, she couldn't face her friends right now, all she wanted to do was run away somewhere quiet to cry her eyes out. She ran across the school field and turned behind the gym, heading towards the tree where she always sat under during free periods.
As she was approaching it she saw that someone was already there, standing by the tree, leaning over it's trunk with hands in his pockets. She could see how that person was looking into the sky and she also saw how the breeze moved the persons black hair over his face. It was a bit dark but she could recognise that person, that energy from miles away, it was him…It was Ranma.
She panicked and stopped in her tracks. He hadn't seen her so she could still turn round and run away. But she didn't want to run away from him, not this time, otherwise the nonsensical cycle they were stuck in would never end.
She wanted to hold him, look into his big beautiful blue eyes and cry on his shoulder. She needed to talk to him and sort things out. After all this was supposed to be "the night" and everything was going wrong. She needed to fix things straight away, before anymore time passed, before anyone could interfere.
She needed to know if he was still worth fighting for or if it was finally time to throw in the towel and abandon the idea that somehow, someday they could have any sort of normal romantic relationship.
It was now or never.
She took another big breath, but this time it wasn't to scold or reprimand him, it was to apologise. She took a few steps forward and he turned round.
"Ranma…" Akane said in a whisper.