Heart of Fire, Soul of Ice
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Part 5: Training Akane
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Akane went to school with her arm in a spling for the next few weeks, and people were constantly accusing Ranma of not taking good enough care of her. Yet, Akane had noticed that he was being almost more attentive that normal. It honestly touched her to know how much he cared, through actions and words. Each day, he would carry her bag to school, between classes. He was constantly asking her if she was feeling alright.
It made her feel special.
One day, Ranma leaned over towards Akane, slipping a tiny note onto her desk. She'd been moved beside him to make room for the new kid, Oukami. Akane flipped the note open. In Ranma's sloppy handwriting was written an invitation.
Akane, Fushicho and Oukami invited us to go get a drink (Non- alchoholic) after school. Wanna come?
She caught his eyes and nodded. She saw a warm smile spread across his face and blushed, looking back down at her notes. She heard the squeek of a desk and saw Ranma scooting closer. Her blush darkened slightly. "Wh- what are you doing?" She whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
"Reading." He said with a wry grin, pointing down at her book. He stared intently at the book, pretending to read, while he slipped his hand between the desks and wrapped his around hers. He glanced up to her face and saw her eyes getting teary. Quickly, he bussed the tears from her eyes with the pad of his thumb. "It's okay, sweetheart." He whispered to her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
She couldn't help it. Since Shampoo's attack, Ranma had been treating her with undescribable tenderness, and to her suprise, Ukyou was taking it well, and being supportive. She'd never felt this happy in her life. She'd always considered Ukyou her friend, yet, her greatest rival as well. This coupled with Ranma's new, protective, yet tender side, was making her her almost extatic.
Ranma examined her face closely, then glanced around the class. Alot of the people were looking at them out of the corner of their eyes and muttering, their eyes full of anger. He glanced back towards his fiancee and noticed she'd regained some semblance of control and sighed in relief. It was going to be another long day.
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As they walked towards the new cafe in the heart of Tokyo, Akane was looking in store windows, specifically ones with beautiful gowns and formal wear. In other windows, were sparkling rings and earings. Ranma gulped as he looked at the rings. Inside his pocket was his last three years savings that Nabiki had managed not to swindle out of him. It was about 300,000 yen. Akane stopped infront of a particularly attractive ring and looked at it longingly. Ranma flushed, and heard Fushicho and Oukami laughing merrily and teasing her.
"I bet you'd like Ranma to buy that for you, wouldn't you!" Fushicho teased, smiling sweetly. She grabbed Akane's arm and drug her into the store, a reluctant Ranma and Oukami following. "Come on, Akane, try it on!"
Akane got the store clerk to get the ring so she could try it on and her eyes lit up with joy as she found it was a perfect fit. She was gazing at it with such unbelievable longing that it about ripped Ranma's heart out. Finally, she removed it and handed it back to the clerk. "Thank you, but it's far to expensive." She said softly, then they left, heading towards the cafe once again.
She didn't notice Ranma examine the price of the ring as they passed it in the window again.
When they reached the cafe, a girl the same age as them showed them to a seat. "My name's Yuki and I'll be your waitress today." The voice was rather cold.
"Um...I'll have a coffee..." Akane said meekly.
"Three coffees, Yuki." Fushicho said with a wink. "And you, Ranma."
"Um..." He just shrugged. "The same, I guess..." He almost ordered one of the delicious parfaits, but forced himself to be a man as long as he was in this body.
Akane noticed where his eyes were resting and she grinned. "And a large parfait with two spoons." She felt Ranma's eyes on her face and giggled.
Fushicho's eyes lit up. "That's a wonderful idea, Akane! Yuki, would you double that?"
"Hai." Yuki finished jotting down them and smiled at Fushicho. "It's good to see you again, Fushicho, Oukami."
"It's good to see you too. Say hi to the others for us."
Ranma blinked, looking back and forth between them. When their drinks and parfaits arrived, Akane pushed one of the spoons towards Ranma. "Huh?" He questioned, blinking at her in suprise.
"You don't fool me, Ranma. You couldn't take your eyes off the parfait list." She picked up her spoon and took a delicate bite of theirs. "This way, no one has to think you're being unmanly."
He shook his head, picking up a spoon and taking a bite of it himself. It was delicious. If he hadn't been sharing it, he'd have devoured it himself. They sat there for a long while before he noticed Fushicho seemed edgy. "Fushicho-san?" He questioned around the spoon in his mouth.
She jumped, looking at him. "Oh, it's nothing." She said, smiling reassuringly. Yet, it was something, and everyone at the table knew it. Fushicho knew the other spirits wouldn't be down here unless something really major was going to happen. Which could only mean one thing-She shook her head, taking a bite of her parfait. There was no way the Shinigami was stupid enough to start anything yet. He wasn't that stupid. Yet...if he wasn't, why had the other spirits come to Earth?
This does not bode well. She thought, looking outside. Not well at all.
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Ranma and Akane seperated from Fushicho & Oukami, taking the long way home, across the bridge, and past the school. Every now and then, Ranma would glance out of the corner of his eyes and look at Akane in concern. She seemed drawn tight as a wire. "Akane?" He asked, stopping and turning towards her fully. "What's wrong?"
"I'm afraid." She admitted, looking down at the ground in front of them. "I'm afraid when all hell breaks loose that I'm going to die..." She felt Ranma's hands on her shoulders. "I'm afraid that I'm going to loose everything I love..."
He put his arms around her tightly. "I wont let that happen. I'll protect you, I swear it." He buried his face into his shoulder. "You should know that I'll always protect you." He placed a sweet kiss to her neck, his hands running down her arms to her hands.
She turned to look back at him. "Ranma, what's going to happen to us? We managed to get up the nerve to tell each other how we feel, but...was it because we really feel that way, or because we need each other's help to get through all of this?" She turned back to look at him, her eyes swimming. "And what's causing all this tension, lately? Have you noticed how many more riots and things are going on? What's going ON here?"
He turned her around, his hands on her shoulders. "I don't know, Akane. But we can get through it together, right?" He lifted a hand and cupped her face. He watched as she closed her eyes, leaning into his palm. "I'll be by your side through the whole thing, okay? I promise. I wont let you down."
Her eyes went misty and she threw her arms around him tightly. He was right. Ranma would always be there. No one could defeat her fiancee. He was too strong to be defeated. Nothing would ever take him away from her.
Ranma let her cling to him, returning her desperate embrace with one of his own, hoping against hope that he was right.
Akane finally pulled away from him, and looked up into his eyes, her's misting with tears. "Ranma..." She flushed, feeling the strength of his arms around her waist. Then she remembered they were in public. She broke free of the embrace and backed away slightly.
He watched her through hurt eyes. "Akane?" He reached towards her, once again to pull her back to him, but she backed away farther. "What is it?"
With a choaked sob, she spun away from him and ran. She ignored his voice calling after her, continuing to run from him. It was stupid, she knew. He was the one thing in this world that was constant for her. Ranma would always find her, would always save her. Was that why she ran from him? She slowed to a stop, looking around. She'd run into a part of Nerima she had never strayed to before. She didn't recognize anything.
She trembled slightly, hearing a soft growling noise. "Ran...ma?" She questioned in a tremulous voice. She saw six glowing red eyes from a nearby alleyway and backed away slightly. The eyes stalked closer until the creature was illuminated by the streetlight.
The dog had three heads, and the only way she could describe it was a monster. She'd seen pictures from mythology, when they were studying Greek and Roman mythology. It was Cerebus, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of hell.
It snarled at her, stalking closer still, all three heads revealing inch- long teeth, dripping with saliva.
She continued to back away until she felt a brick wall behind her. Whimpers of fear tore from her throat. "Ranma..." She begged, wishing just this once, that he'd followed her. "Oh, gods, I'm going to die..."
"Kill the girl." A voice from nowhere ordered and the dog prepared to spring upon her. It lunged and she felt herself knocked to the ground by it's weight. She imediately used her arms to guard her face and neck, feeling the teeth tearing at her arms. The acrid stench of blood overpowered the stench of their breath, and she continued to shiver, feeling the beasts claws tearing at her stomache. A few more moments and she'd be dead. She knew it. Her vision was fading out.
Suddenly, the beast was growling at someone else. Akane turned her head weakly and looked at who'd distracted it. She could see him standing under the streetlight, his battle aura flaring blue around him, bits of silver flickering inside of that.
It was Ranma.
Relief flooded her. She felt the beast turn it's attention towards her fiancee and forced herself to sit upright. Ranma's eyes were filled with hatred as he glared at the beast. Ranma stalked towards it slowly, and the pair sized each other up. He didn't break eye-contact with it, his eyes narrow with anger, his aura blazing around him.
Finally, with a pitiful whimper, the dog disappeared.
Ranma straightened, dispelling the aura and finally approached his finacee. "Are you okay, Akane?" He asked, offering her his hand. When he saw the blood that had soaked her shirt, his breaths stopped. "Oh, gods..." He whispered, pulling her into his arms. "Akane? Are you alright?" He cradled her gently, then carefully lifted her in his arms. "Just hold on, love...I'll get you to Doctor Tofu's..." He continued to whisper soothing things in her ear, his heart fluttering in his chest in fear. He hadn't tasted fear like this since Jusendo. He shook his head, and walked quickly along the street. He could feel the steady drain on his chi, but it didn't matter to him. Akane was alive.
That was all that mattered.
He closed his eyes, kissing her forhead. "We'll be there soon, just keep your eyes open, okay?" He looked down at her and saw her eyes closed. "Open your eyes!" He commanded, breaking into a run. "Don't you dare close your eyes, Akane! You have to live, please, please Akane!"
She cracked her eyelids, peering up at him. "Ranma..." She slipped her arms around his neck. "You saved me..." She murmered, resting her cheek on his neck.
"Hai." He whispered back, watching the buildings fly by. He reached the clinic in record time. Dashing up the stairs, he set her on one of the beds and ran to the back room, where Tofu was treating a scraped knee. "Tofuu..." He gasped, out of breath. "It's Akane...she's hurt...please..."
Tofuu noticed the state Ranma was in, which could only be described as complete disarray. The way Ranma only got when Akane was in mortal danger. He dropped the antiseptic and picked up his bag. "The dojo?"
"I brought her here. We...were on our way...home..." Ranma staggered out of the room and collapsed in a chair beside her bed.
Tofuu followed him and stared in shock at the damage. "What on earth did this?" Tofu asked, grabbing the neck of her shirt and ripping it down the center. He carefully examined the wounds, noting Ranma had his head in his hands and was shaking like a leaf on a tree. "Ranma, please wait outside." Tofuu said softly, touching the boy's shoulder. "Call the dojo, tell them what happened."
Ranma nodded and walked slowly from the room.
When he was gone, the doctor swiftly went to work. By the time Ranma returned, the wounds had already been cleaned. Tofu had pulled out a needle and thread and was preparing to stitch them closed. "Hold her hands, Ranma. But be gentle."
Ranma nodded, holding his fiancee's hands for dear life. It took him a moment, but he noticed she wasn't pulling chi from him anymore. In fact, she wasn't pulling chi from anyone. He almost went into a panick. "Doctor, her chi, she isn't draining it from me!" He desperately checked her wrist for a pulse, and when that didn't work, he checked her neck. His hands were shaking so bad he couldn't feel one. "Doctor!"
"She's fine, Ranma." Tofuu said gently, as he finally sewed and bandaged the last wound. "She's just managed to gain control of her own chi."
Ranma's eyes flashed wide and he gently took her hands, holding them to his face. "Akane..." He whispered, closing his eyes.
"I'll leave you two alone. I think I hear your families coming." Tofuu left, and when the door was closed, Ranma dropped his head onto Akane's shoulder and cried.
Akane's eyes slowly opened again and she saw Ranma against her. "Ranma?" She croaked, touching his head with one gentle hand. When his face raised, she sucked in a breath. He was crying. "Ranma..." She closed her eyes, pulling him into her arms carefully, because although she was medicated for the pain, it still hurt.
"I thought I'd lost you." He whispered, putting his arms tight around her. "Oh, you dummy, why'd you run off like that, anyways?" He kissed her neck, then up to her face where he kissed her repeatedly. "Oh, gods, I was so afraid you were dead..."
She lifted her hand and caressed his face. "I'm sorry." She whispered to him, her eyes swimming. "I'm so sorry." She threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him for dear life.
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When it came time for Akane to return home, Ranma refused to let anyone else touch her. He carried her, letting her sleep against his shoulder. He looked down at her, unable to believe she had survived. She was alive. She had lived.
He had never felt so relieved.
Well, not since Jusendo, at least.
Ranma knew that their parents could tell that the atmosphere between them had changed. He could feel it easily. It was just a matter of time before they tried to hoodwink them into another shotgun wedding. Last time they knocked him out and stuffed him in a monkey suit. He silently wondered what they'd try to do this time. He wouldn't go along with it. Not if Akane didn't want to. Not this time.
As he walked up the stairs to her room, he could hear his father and her's plotting. No doubt, planning their next attempt to get them married. He reached deep into his pocket, and fiddled with the ring he'd bought for her today while they were in the jewelery store. She hadn't seen. None of the other's had. He'd bought the very same ring she'd tried on. His first 'love gift'. He had decided that this time, they wouldn't be forced into a wedding. He was going to propose to her willingly.
Soun came upstairs as Ranma laid the sleeping Akane on her bed. "We need a word with you, son." Soun's voice was teary, as if he was about to burst into tears, at any moment.
With a sigh, Ranma got to his feet and followed Soun from the room. "What is it?" He asked, his face perfectly calm, although he could feel the anger boiling inside him.
"When we get downstairs."
When they entered the main room, Ranma found his mother sitting primly on the floor, her face rather serious. Genma also sat down there, in his human form for once. Ranma sat down, crossing his legs.
"What do you intend to do about Akane?" Nodoka asked calmly. "I can see you love her-" When Ranma opened his mouth to object. "It does no good to lie, Ranma. I've seen that look in more eyes than just your own. You love her, what are you going to do about it?"
Ranma was shocked. He'd expected his fathers to try to force him into this, and from the expression on their faces, they still wanted to. He lowered his eyes. He wanted to marry her, that was for sure. But he didn't want his father to have done something right for a change. This was another battle that he's been fighting. He loved her, he'd known that for a long time, even if he only admitted it recently. Yet, he couldn't let his father win. "Momma, I-"
"Well?"
He looked up at her, his eyes pleading. "Momma, it's not just my decision what happens. It's Akane's life too. I...I want to marry her." He said softly, and tried to ignore their fathers dancing around like idiots. "But if she doesn't want to marry me, I'm not going to force her to." He looked at the floor. "I don't care if it's manly of me or not. I'm not gonna force her to do somethin she doesn't wanna do."
Nodoka smiled sweetly at her son. "Do not worry, Ranma. I think that you and Akane should be the one's to decide anyways. I'll make sure they don't plan any shot-gun weddings for you." She added with a wink.
Ranma stood, trying to ignore the shaking of his knees. "Thank you, momma."
"Besides." Her smile broadened. "I believe that you are quite manly for deciding not to force her into it if she doesn't want it. I trust my husband and her father will give her the same courtesy." She glared at them, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
They cowered away from her, hiding their victory fans.
Ranma walked back upstairs on shaking legs. That had gone better than he thought it would. Then again, his mother always was the more sane of the Saotome's. When he reached Akane's room, he heard soft crying from inside and quietly opened the door to find Akane sitting upright, her hands on the wounds on her stomache. "Akane?" He questioned gently.
Her eyes darted up to him, filled with desparing tears. "I'm going to scar, aren't I?" She whispered, a big, fat tear rolling down her soft cheek. There were a few smaller scratches on her face, but her stomache was a mesh of where Tofuu had sewn the wounds closed again.
Ranma walked towards her, sitting beside her on the bed and putting a gentle arm around her. "It's okay. They'll heal eventually, trust me. Even the worst scars fade with time." He kissed her cheek, brushing the hair from her eyes. Slowly, he helped her lay back down and took her hand, gazing down into her big brown eyes. "Akane..." He began, his voice faultering for a moment. "I love you..."
She smiled timidly, her eyes getting misty again. "I love you, too..."
"I was so afraid I was going to loose you..." He stroaked her face gently, caressing one of the tiny cuts across her cheek. "I...Akane...will you...that is...would you..." He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
She looked at him in complete confusion. "Ranma?" She squeezed his hand, tilting her face to the side. "What's wrong?"
He reached into his pocket, pulling out the tiny, square box. He swallowed hard and slowly opened the box, turning it to face her. "Akane..." He closed his eyes and pulled the ring from the box, taking her hand and pressing it into it. "Marry me?" He finally finished, his voice whisper soft, so soft he wasn't sure she had heard him because she was so still...so silent...He opened his eyes and saw no expression on her face. What have I done?! He wondered.
She stared at the ring, recognizing it immediately. It was the one Fushicho had convinced her to try on. Ranma had bought it. She knew she should feel extremely happy. After all, Ranma had proposed to her, he was willing to marry her for love. Not for the engagement their parents had aranged. Then why didn't she answer him?
He let his shoulders slump in defeat. "You don't have to answer yet...I mean, I haven't been much of a fiancee. We only admitted we loved each other awhile ago..." He lowered his face so she couldn't see the tears struggling to pierce his eyes. "Keep the ring." He said in an unsteady voice. "I don't have any other use for it...if you decide you don't want to marry me...Keep it anyways. Unless you want to return it to the store." He stood on even more unsteady knees and walked towards the door.
"Why?"
He stopped, turning towards her, his face confused. "Akane?" To his shock, there were tears rolling down her face.
"Why now? Why couldn't you have done this before these nervous feelings started? Why couldn't you have admitted it at the wedding fiasco?!" She began crying uncontrollably.
Ranma stood at the door, his heart shattered on the floor of her bedroom. "I'm sorry, Akane." He whispered, opening the door and walking out.
Inside, Akane slipped the ring partially on her index finger, staring at it through eyes filled with tears. It was a lovely ring. She'd noticed when she'd seen it in the store window. It was white gold, with engraved cherry blossoms in it, each blossom having a diamond in the center. She turned the ring around and around. She really did love him. But what if-
She refused to let herself think of the if's. Instead, she lay down on her bed, and cried herself to sleep.
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Ranma carried Akane's things to school the next day. By now, half of Nerima had heard of the dog attacking Akane and once again, everyone blamed Ranma.
He didn't even attempt to defend himself. He was still too depressed about what had transpired between himself and Akane the previous night. He refused to look at her, instead, looking at his desk in classes. Yet, he still shadowed her everywhere. It was actually beginning to get on Akane's nerves, but she didn't say anything about it. Instead, she took it in good graces, letting everyone think that nothing had changed between herself and her fiancee.
Yet, everyone could tell that there was a great amount of tension between the two. Even Ukyou. She confronted Ranma at lunch about it.
"Ranchan." She stood with her hands on her hips at the grill. "Why aren't you eating lunch with Akane?"
Ranma didn't look at Ukyou as he answered. "She doesn't need me overthere, does she? She's a big girl, a martial artist." He sighed heavily. "She doesn't need me..." He closed his eyes, putting his head in his hands.
"Ranchan?" Ukyou saw Ranma's shoulder's shaking and immediately crouched down beside him, hugging him gently. "Tell me." She ordered. "I'm your friend, right? I deserve to know."
He sighed in frustration and threw his hands in the air. "She be so damned infuriating sometimes, you know? I mean...she says she loves me..." His voice dropped as he said this. "But when I asked her to marry me...she didn't say anything...just sat there...and then she started crying and yelling at me about the wedding fiasco and-Ukyou, I think I made a mistake last night..."
"Too late now." She flipped the okinomiyaki onto his bento and looked over at him. "She'll come around, Ranchan. She loves you, too, everyone can see it. I bet she's just worried about all the tension in the air."
Ranma munched on the pancake, unable to find joy in the food, something rare for Ranma. "What can I do? She may as well have rejected me..."
She bopped him on the head with her spatula. "She kept the ring, right?"
"Yeah..." He admitted, grudgingly. "But probably only because I told her to keep it."
"I doubt it." Ukyou patted his arm. "She just needs time, Ranchan. I'm sure of it. Just give her some more time. You two have always loved each other, you just need time to get used to the fact. I know you two are going to get married. Or at least you better. We need a Ranma & Akane Jr. running around here!"
Ranma's tension broke and he was forced to laugh. With a nod, he stood. "Can you help me train Akane today? I'm thinking-"
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Walking home with Ranma was alot more relaxed than walking to school with him, which pleased Akane. He was talking to her again, his gentle voice soothing her already frayed nerves. Also to her great relief, he didn't mention his proposal, and he didn't critisize her for wearing the ring.
Instead, he walked home, holding her hand in his, smiling down at her, his eyes gentle, his attitude not dissimilar as it had been before, when her arm had been dislocated by Shampoo. "Are we training today, Ranma?" She asked, looking up at him, her eyes bright.
He smiled gently at her. "We'll see. You're not too sore from your wounds, right?" He gently touched her arm, noting the wince on her face.
She looked defiantely at him. "I'm fine!" She lied, lifting her chin. "I'm not a total weakling, Ranma." She marched ahead of him, her head raised high.
Ranma watched her walk, his eyes on the cuts. He should have been there with her. This shouldn't have happened to her. He should have gotten there faster, dammit! Why did she have to run off yesterday?!
But it didn't matter. What's done was done, and it couldn't be changed. So he walked along behind her, his face calm, his eyes, however were turbulant. "I think we're going to practice attack detection today, Akane." He said evenly as they walked into the dojo. "Starting now."
Akane spun towards him, lifting her arms, preparing to block the blow he was going to deliver, but he hadn't moved. A few light strikes hit her in the back and she fell towards Ranma, not having expected them. Her eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder to see Ukyou standing there, her stance relaxed.
"I didn't say I was going to attack you." Ranma scolded gently, setting her back on her feet. "I said you're going to have to figure out who's attacking and from where." He pulled out a black belt and tied it around her eyes. "You aren't going to be hit hard enough to hurt you, but you're going to have to figure out where we're coming from."
"Who's idea was this?" Akane asked in a tremulous voice.
"Mine." Ranma responded. There was a pause and he continued. "Akane, if you're afraid-"
"Ranchan, she needs to learn this." Ukyou scolded. "You must treat her as a student now."
Ranma nodded slowly. He turned Akane around a few times and released her, cicling in the opposite direction. "Akane, you're going to have to feel us coming through your other senses. Are you ready?"
Akane gave a short quick nod, and Ukyou launched an extremely gentle attack towards Akane's chest, her feet never touching the floor. Akane managed to block a fourth of the blows.
Ranma stopped. "What did you feel?"
"I-I'm not sure..." Her voice was shaking almost uncontrollably.
"Okay, try again." This time, Ranma came towards her, his hands flying at almost full speed, stopping just centimeter's from her torso.
She backed away slightly, feeling the slight pressure on her chest. The feet sprung away lightly. "Again." She said softly. Someone sprung upwards, and Akane lifted her hands to block an downward blow, but was suprised to feel a few light taps to her chest.
"You're not concentrating, Akane." Ukyou's voice said softly, from behind her.
Akane spun, lashing out.
Footsteps padded lightly on the floor and she felt a wave of cool wash over her as her new attaker lunged towards her. She blocked a few, but still felt that gentle pressure around her shoulders.
She was getting irritated.
"I don't know, Ranchan. Maybe she doesn't have what it takes to do this."
Ukyou's voice taunted in her ears. Akane growled and turned towards her voice. "Yes, I do. Now ATTACK ME!" She was furious. Yet, suddenly, as the cool of one of their aura's washed over her, she could see it. In her mind, she could see the blue aura. It sparkled with silver, telling her it was Ranma. Her eyes narrowed in concentration behind the gi belt and she flipped backwards, then dropped to her knees, swinging her leg out to trip him.
Applause filled the dojo and she could hear Ranma and Ukyou cheering her. Gentle hands untied the belt and she stared up into Ranma's smiling eyes. "I... did it?" She questioned softly, meekly.
Ranma put his arms around her waist and lifted her up, twirling her around the dojo. "You did wonderful!"
"I...I could see your aura..." She said softly. It was...silvery blue, I could see it in my mind..." She saw the shock on their faces and blinked. "What? What is it?"
Ranma frowned a bit. "I've never seen one in my mind before. Usually it's just a sensation. A feeling. I can tell who's aura is who's by feel..."
Ukyou nodded. "It's the same way with me. I don't think anyone's ever seen anyone's aura with their mind before."
Akane blinked, looking between them. "But...But I saw it...plain as day..."
He ran his hand through her hair. "I don't doubt you did, Akane." He said, caressing her face gently. "Come on, guys, let's get some food. I'm sure Akane's famished..."
Akane walked out ahead of them, and Ukyou grabbed Ranma's arm. "Ranma, it isn't possible she could see your aura..."
He watched Akane go, then looked back at Ukyou. "Ucchan...I don't think anything is impossible when it comes to her."
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Part 5: Training Akane
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Akane went to school with her arm in a spling for the next few weeks, and people were constantly accusing Ranma of not taking good enough care of her. Yet, Akane had noticed that he was being almost more attentive that normal. It honestly touched her to know how much he cared, through actions and words. Each day, he would carry her bag to school, between classes. He was constantly asking her if she was feeling alright.
It made her feel special.
One day, Ranma leaned over towards Akane, slipping a tiny note onto her desk. She'd been moved beside him to make room for the new kid, Oukami. Akane flipped the note open. In Ranma's sloppy handwriting was written an invitation.
Akane, Fushicho and Oukami invited us to go get a drink (Non- alchoholic) after school. Wanna come?
She caught his eyes and nodded. She saw a warm smile spread across his face and blushed, looking back down at her notes. She heard the squeek of a desk and saw Ranma scooting closer. Her blush darkened slightly. "Wh- what are you doing?" She whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
"Reading." He said with a wry grin, pointing down at her book. He stared intently at the book, pretending to read, while he slipped his hand between the desks and wrapped his around hers. He glanced up to her face and saw her eyes getting teary. Quickly, he bussed the tears from her eyes with the pad of his thumb. "It's okay, sweetheart." He whispered to her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
She couldn't help it. Since Shampoo's attack, Ranma had been treating her with undescribable tenderness, and to her suprise, Ukyou was taking it well, and being supportive. She'd never felt this happy in her life. She'd always considered Ukyou her friend, yet, her greatest rival as well. This coupled with Ranma's new, protective, yet tender side, was making her her almost extatic.
Ranma examined her face closely, then glanced around the class. Alot of the people were looking at them out of the corner of their eyes and muttering, their eyes full of anger. He glanced back towards his fiancee and noticed she'd regained some semblance of control and sighed in relief. It was going to be another long day.
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As they walked towards the new cafe in the heart of Tokyo, Akane was looking in store windows, specifically ones with beautiful gowns and formal wear. In other windows, were sparkling rings and earings. Ranma gulped as he looked at the rings. Inside his pocket was his last three years savings that Nabiki had managed not to swindle out of him. It was about 300,000 yen. Akane stopped infront of a particularly attractive ring and looked at it longingly. Ranma flushed, and heard Fushicho and Oukami laughing merrily and teasing her.
"I bet you'd like Ranma to buy that for you, wouldn't you!" Fushicho teased, smiling sweetly. She grabbed Akane's arm and drug her into the store, a reluctant Ranma and Oukami following. "Come on, Akane, try it on!"
Akane got the store clerk to get the ring so she could try it on and her eyes lit up with joy as she found it was a perfect fit. She was gazing at it with such unbelievable longing that it about ripped Ranma's heart out. Finally, she removed it and handed it back to the clerk. "Thank you, but it's far to expensive." She said softly, then they left, heading towards the cafe once again.
She didn't notice Ranma examine the price of the ring as they passed it in the window again.
When they reached the cafe, a girl the same age as them showed them to a seat. "My name's Yuki and I'll be your waitress today." The voice was rather cold.
"Um...I'll have a coffee..." Akane said meekly.
"Three coffees, Yuki." Fushicho said with a wink. "And you, Ranma."
"Um..." He just shrugged. "The same, I guess..." He almost ordered one of the delicious parfaits, but forced himself to be a man as long as he was in this body.
Akane noticed where his eyes were resting and she grinned. "And a large parfait with two spoons." She felt Ranma's eyes on her face and giggled.
Fushicho's eyes lit up. "That's a wonderful idea, Akane! Yuki, would you double that?"
"Hai." Yuki finished jotting down them and smiled at Fushicho. "It's good to see you again, Fushicho, Oukami."
"It's good to see you too. Say hi to the others for us."
Ranma blinked, looking back and forth between them. When their drinks and parfaits arrived, Akane pushed one of the spoons towards Ranma. "Huh?" He questioned, blinking at her in suprise.
"You don't fool me, Ranma. You couldn't take your eyes off the parfait list." She picked up her spoon and took a delicate bite of theirs. "This way, no one has to think you're being unmanly."
He shook his head, picking up a spoon and taking a bite of it himself. It was delicious. If he hadn't been sharing it, he'd have devoured it himself. They sat there for a long while before he noticed Fushicho seemed edgy. "Fushicho-san?" He questioned around the spoon in his mouth.
She jumped, looking at him. "Oh, it's nothing." She said, smiling reassuringly. Yet, it was something, and everyone at the table knew it. Fushicho knew the other spirits wouldn't be down here unless something really major was going to happen. Which could only mean one thing-She shook her head, taking a bite of her parfait. There was no way the Shinigami was stupid enough to start anything yet. He wasn't that stupid. Yet...if he wasn't, why had the other spirits come to Earth?
This does not bode well. She thought, looking outside. Not well at all.
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Ranma and Akane seperated from Fushicho & Oukami, taking the long way home, across the bridge, and past the school. Every now and then, Ranma would glance out of the corner of his eyes and look at Akane in concern. She seemed drawn tight as a wire. "Akane?" He asked, stopping and turning towards her fully. "What's wrong?"
"I'm afraid." She admitted, looking down at the ground in front of them. "I'm afraid when all hell breaks loose that I'm going to die..." She felt Ranma's hands on her shoulders. "I'm afraid that I'm going to loose everything I love..."
He put his arms around her tightly. "I wont let that happen. I'll protect you, I swear it." He buried his face into his shoulder. "You should know that I'll always protect you." He placed a sweet kiss to her neck, his hands running down her arms to her hands.
She turned to look back at him. "Ranma, what's going to happen to us? We managed to get up the nerve to tell each other how we feel, but...was it because we really feel that way, or because we need each other's help to get through all of this?" She turned back to look at him, her eyes swimming. "And what's causing all this tension, lately? Have you noticed how many more riots and things are going on? What's going ON here?"
He turned her around, his hands on her shoulders. "I don't know, Akane. But we can get through it together, right?" He lifted a hand and cupped her face. He watched as she closed her eyes, leaning into his palm. "I'll be by your side through the whole thing, okay? I promise. I wont let you down."
Her eyes went misty and she threw her arms around him tightly. He was right. Ranma would always be there. No one could defeat her fiancee. He was too strong to be defeated. Nothing would ever take him away from her.
Ranma let her cling to him, returning her desperate embrace with one of his own, hoping against hope that he was right.
Akane finally pulled away from him, and looked up into his eyes, her's misting with tears. "Ranma..." She flushed, feeling the strength of his arms around her waist. Then she remembered they were in public. She broke free of the embrace and backed away slightly.
He watched her through hurt eyes. "Akane?" He reached towards her, once again to pull her back to him, but she backed away farther. "What is it?"
With a choaked sob, she spun away from him and ran. She ignored his voice calling after her, continuing to run from him. It was stupid, she knew. He was the one thing in this world that was constant for her. Ranma would always find her, would always save her. Was that why she ran from him? She slowed to a stop, looking around. She'd run into a part of Nerima she had never strayed to before. She didn't recognize anything.
She trembled slightly, hearing a soft growling noise. "Ran...ma?" She questioned in a tremulous voice. She saw six glowing red eyes from a nearby alleyway and backed away slightly. The eyes stalked closer until the creature was illuminated by the streetlight.
The dog had three heads, and the only way she could describe it was a monster. She'd seen pictures from mythology, when they were studying Greek and Roman mythology. It was Cerebus, the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of hell.
It snarled at her, stalking closer still, all three heads revealing inch- long teeth, dripping with saliva.
She continued to back away until she felt a brick wall behind her. Whimpers of fear tore from her throat. "Ranma..." She begged, wishing just this once, that he'd followed her. "Oh, gods, I'm going to die..."
"Kill the girl." A voice from nowhere ordered and the dog prepared to spring upon her. It lunged and she felt herself knocked to the ground by it's weight. She imediately used her arms to guard her face and neck, feeling the teeth tearing at her arms. The acrid stench of blood overpowered the stench of their breath, and she continued to shiver, feeling the beasts claws tearing at her stomache. A few more moments and she'd be dead. She knew it. Her vision was fading out.
Suddenly, the beast was growling at someone else. Akane turned her head weakly and looked at who'd distracted it. She could see him standing under the streetlight, his battle aura flaring blue around him, bits of silver flickering inside of that.
It was Ranma.
Relief flooded her. She felt the beast turn it's attention towards her fiancee and forced herself to sit upright. Ranma's eyes were filled with hatred as he glared at the beast. Ranma stalked towards it slowly, and the pair sized each other up. He didn't break eye-contact with it, his eyes narrow with anger, his aura blazing around him.
Finally, with a pitiful whimper, the dog disappeared.
Ranma straightened, dispelling the aura and finally approached his finacee. "Are you okay, Akane?" He asked, offering her his hand. When he saw the blood that had soaked her shirt, his breaths stopped. "Oh, gods..." He whispered, pulling her into his arms. "Akane? Are you alright?" He cradled her gently, then carefully lifted her in his arms. "Just hold on, love...I'll get you to Doctor Tofu's..." He continued to whisper soothing things in her ear, his heart fluttering in his chest in fear. He hadn't tasted fear like this since Jusendo. He shook his head, and walked quickly along the street. He could feel the steady drain on his chi, but it didn't matter to him. Akane was alive.
That was all that mattered.
He closed his eyes, kissing her forhead. "We'll be there soon, just keep your eyes open, okay?" He looked down at her and saw her eyes closed. "Open your eyes!" He commanded, breaking into a run. "Don't you dare close your eyes, Akane! You have to live, please, please Akane!"
She cracked her eyelids, peering up at him. "Ranma..." She slipped her arms around his neck. "You saved me..." She murmered, resting her cheek on his neck.
"Hai." He whispered back, watching the buildings fly by. He reached the clinic in record time. Dashing up the stairs, he set her on one of the beds and ran to the back room, where Tofu was treating a scraped knee. "Tofuu..." He gasped, out of breath. "It's Akane...she's hurt...please..."
Tofuu noticed the state Ranma was in, which could only be described as complete disarray. The way Ranma only got when Akane was in mortal danger. He dropped the antiseptic and picked up his bag. "The dojo?"
"I brought her here. We...were on our way...home..." Ranma staggered out of the room and collapsed in a chair beside her bed.
Tofuu followed him and stared in shock at the damage. "What on earth did this?" Tofu asked, grabbing the neck of her shirt and ripping it down the center. He carefully examined the wounds, noting Ranma had his head in his hands and was shaking like a leaf on a tree. "Ranma, please wait outside." Tofuu said softly, touching the boy's shoulder. "Call the dojo, tell them what happened."
Ranma nodded and walked slowly from the room.
When he was gone, the doctor swiftly went to work. By the time Ranma returned, the wounds had already been cleaned. Tofu had pulled out a needle and thread and was preparing to stitch them closed. "Hold her hands, Ranma. But be gentle."
Ranma nodded, holding his fiancee's hands for dear life. It took him a moment, but he noticed she wasn't pulling chi from him anymore. In fact, she wasn't pulling chi from anyone. He almost went into a panick. "Doctor, her chi, she isn't draining it from me!" He desperately checked her wrist for a pulse, and when that didn't work, he checked her neck. His hands were shaking so bad he couldn't feel one. "Doctor!"
"She's fine, Ranma." Tofuu said gently, as he finally sewed and bandaged the last wound. "She's just managed to gain control of her own chi."
Ranma's eyes flashed wide and he gently took her hands, holding them to his face. "Akane..." He whispered, closing his eyes.
"I'll leave you two alone. I think I hear your families coming." Tofuu left, and when the door was closed, Ranma dropped his head onto Akane's shoulder and cried.
Akane's eyes slowly opened again and she saw Ranma against her. "Ranma?" She croaked, touching his head with one gentle hand. When his face raised, she sucked in a breath. He was crying. "Ranma..." She closed her eyes, pulling him into her arms carefully, because although she was medicated for the pain, it still hurt.
"I thought I'd lost you." He whispered, putting his arms tight around her. "Oh, you dummy, why'd you run off like that, anyways?" He kissed her neck, then up to her face where he kissed her repeatedly. "Oh, gods, I was so afraid you were dead..."
She lifted her hand and caressed his face. "I'm sorry." She whispered to him, her eyes swimming. "I'm so sorry." She threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him for dear life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When it came time for Akane to return home, Ranma refused to let anyone else touch her. He carried her, letting her sleep against his shoulder. He looked down at her, unable to believe she had survived. She was alive. She had lived.
He had never felt so relieved.
Well, not since Jusendo, at least.
Ranma knew that their parents could tell that the atmosphere between them had changed. He could feel it easily. It was just a matter of time before they tried to hoodwink them into another shotgun wedding. Last time they knocked him out and stuffed him in a monkey suit. He silently wondered what they'd try to do this time. He wouldn't go along with it. Not if Akane didn't want to. Not this time.
As he walked up the stairs to her room, he could hear his father and her's plotting. No doubt, planning their next attempt to get them married. He reached deep into his pocket, and fiddled with the ring he'd bought for her today while they were in the jewelery store. She hadn't seen. None of the other's had. He'd bought the very same ring she'd tried on. His first 'love gift'. He had decided that this time, they wouldn't be forced into a wedding. He was going to propose to her willingly.
Soun came upstairs as Ranma laid the sleeping Akane on her bed. "We need a word with you, son." Soun's voice was teary, as if he was about to burst into tears, at any moment.
With a sigh, Ranma got to his feet and followed Soun from the room. "What is it?" He asked, his face perfectly calm, although he could feel the anger boiling inside him.
"When we get downstairs."
When they entered the main room, Ranma found his mother sitting primly on the floor, her face rather serious. Genma also sat down there, in his human form for once. Ranma sat down, crossing his legs.
"What do you intend to do about Akane?" Nodoka asked calmly. "I can see you love her-" When Ranma opened his mouth to object. "It does no good to lie, Ranma. I've seen that look in more eyes than just your own. You love her, what are you going to do about it?"
Ranma was shocked. He'd expected his fathers to try to force him into this, and from the expression on their faces, they still wanted to. He lowered his eyes. He wanted to marry her, that was for sure. But he didn't want his father to have done something right for a change. This was another battle that he's been fighting. He loved her, he'd known that for a long time, even if he only admitted it recently. Yet, he couldn't let his father win. "Momma, I-"
"Well?"
He looked up at her, his eyes pleading. "Momma, it's not just my decision what happens. It's Akane's life too. I...I want to marry her." He said softly, and tried to ignore their fathers dancing around like idiots. "But if she doesn't want to marry me, I'm not going to force her to." He looked at the floor. "I don't care if it's manly of me or not. I'm not gonna force her to do somethin she doesn't wanna do."
Nodoka smiled sweetly at her son. "Do not worry, Ranma. I think that you and Akane should be the one's to decide anyways. I'll make sure they don't plan any shot-gun weddings for you." She added with a wink.
Ranma stood, trying to ignore the shaking of his knees. "Thank you, momma."
"Besides." Her smile broadened. "I believe that you are quite manly for deciding not to force her into it if she doesn't want it. I trust my husband and her father will give her the same courtesy." She glared at them, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
They cowered away from her, hiding their victory fans.
Ranma walked back upstairs on shaking legs. That had gone better than he thought it would. Then again, his mother always was the more sane of the Saotome's. When he reached Akane's room, he heard soft crying from inside and quietly opened the door to find Akane sitting upright, her hands on the wounds on her stomache. "Akane?" He questioned gently.
Her eyes darted up to him, filled with desparing tears. "I'm going to scar, aren't I?" She whispered, a big, fat tear rolling down her soft cheek. There were a few smaller scratches on her face, but her stomache was a mesh of where Tofuu had sewn the wounds closed again.
Ranma walked towards her, sitting beside her on the bed and putting a gentle arm around her. "It's okay. They'll heal eventually, trust me. Even the worst scars fade with time." He kissed her cheek, brushing the hair from her eyes. Slowly, he helped her lay back down and took her hand, gazing down into her big brown eyes. "Akane..." He began, his voice faultering for a moment. "I love you..."
She smiled timidly, her eyes getting misty again. "I love you, too..."
"I was so afraid I was going to loose you..." He stroaked her face gently, caressing one of the tiny cuts across her cheek. "I...Akane...will you...that is...would you..." He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
She looked at him in complete confusion. "Ranma?" She squeezed his hand, tilting her face to the side. "What's wrong?"
He reached into his pocket, pulling out the tiny, square box. He swallowed hard and slowly opened the box, turning it to face her. "Akane..." He closed his eyes and pulled the ring from the box, taking her hand and pressing it into it. "Marry me?" He finally finished, his voice whisper soft, so soft he wasn't sure she had heard him because she was so still...so silent...He opened his eyes and saw no expression on her face. What have I done?! He wondered.
She stared at the ring, recognizing it immediately. It was the one Fushicho had convinced her to try on. Ranma had bought it. She knew she should feel extremely happy. After all, Ranma had proposed to her, he was willing to marry her for love. Not for the engagement their parents had aranged. Then why didn't she answer him?
He let his shoulders slump in defeat. "You don't have to answer yet...I mean, I haven't been much of a fiancee. We only admitted we loved each other awhile ago..." He lowered his face so she couldn't see the tears struggling to pierce his eyes. "Keep the ring." He said in an unsteady voice. "I don't have any other use for it...if you decide you don't want to marry me...Keep it anyways. Unless you want to return it to the store." He stood on even more unsteady knees and walked towards the door.
"Why?"
He stopped, turning towards her, his face confused. "Akane?" To his shock, there were tears rolling down her face.
"Why now? Why couldn't you have done this before these nervous feelings started? Why couldn't you have admitted it at the wedding fiasco?!" She began crying uncontrollably.
Ranma stood at the door, his heart shattered on the floor of her bedroom. "I'm sorry, Akane." He whispered, opening the door and walking out.
Inside, Akane slipped the ring partially on her index finger, staring at it through eyes filled with tears. It was a lovely ring. She'd noticed when she'd seen it in the store window. It was white gold, with engraved cherry blossoms in it, each blossom having a diamond in the center. She turned the ring around and around. She really did love him. But what if-
She refused to let herself think of the if's. Instead, she lay down on her bed, and cried herself to sleep.
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Ranma carried Akane's things to school the next day. By now, half of Nerima had heard of the dog attacking Akane and once again, everyone blamed Ranma.
He didn't even attempt to defend himself. He was still too depressed about what had transpired between himself and Akane the previous night. He refused to look at her, instead, looking at his desk in classes. Yet, he still shadowed her everywhere. It was actually beginning to get on Akane's nerves, but she didn't say anything about it. Instead, she took it in good graces, letting everyone think that nothing had changed between herself and her fiancee.
Yet, everyone could tell that there was a great amount of tension between the two. Even Ukyou. She confronted Ranma at lunch about it.
"Ranchan." She stood with her hands on her hips at the grill. "Why aren't you eating lunch with Akane?"
Ranma didn't look at Ukyou as he answered. "She doesn't need me overthere, does she? She's a big girl, a martial artist." He sighed heavily. "She doesn't need me..." He closed his eyes, putting his head in his hands.
"Ranchan?" Ukyou saw Ranma's shoulder's shaking and immediately crouched down beside him, hugging him gently. "Tell me." She ordered. "I'm your friend, right? I deserve to know."
He sighed in frustration and threw his hands in the air. "She be so damned infuriating sometimes, you know? I mean...she says she loves me..." His voice dropped as he said this. "But when I asked her to marry me...she didn't say anything...just sat there...and then she started crying and yelling at me about the wedding fiasco and-Ukyou, I think I made a mistake last night..."
"Too late now." She flipped the okinomiyaki onto his bento and looked over at him. "She'll come around, Ranchan. She loves you, too, everyone can see it. I bet she's just worried about all the tension in the air."
Ranma munched on the pancake, unable to find joy in the food, something rare for Ranma. "What can I do? She may as well have rejected me..."
She bopped him on the head with her spatula. "She kept the ring, right?"
"Yeah..." He admitted, grudgingly. "But probably only because I told her to keep it."
"I doubt it." Ukyou patted his arm. "She just needs time, Ranchan. I'm sure of it. Just give her some more time. You two have always loved each other, you just need time to get used to the fact. I know you two are going to get married. Or at least you better. We need a Ranma & Akane Jr. running around here!"
Ranma's tension broke and he was forced to laugh. With a nod, he stood. "Can you help me train Akane today? I'm thinking-"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking home with Ranma was alot more relaxed than walking to school with him, which pleased Akane. He was talking to her again, his gentle voice soothing her already frayed nerves. Also to her great relief, he didn't mention his proposal, and he didn't critisize her for wearing the ring.
Instead, he walked home, holding her hand in his, smiling down at her, his eyes gentle, his attitude not dissimilar as it had been before, when her arm had been dislocated by Shampoo. "Are we training today, Ranma?" She asked, looking up at him, her eyes bright.
He smiled gently at her. "We'll see. You're not too sore from your wounds, right?" He gently touched her arm, noting the wince on her face.
She looked defiantely at him. "I'm fine!" She lied, lifting her chin. "I'm not a total weakling, Ranma." She marched ahead of him, her head raised high.
Ranma watched her walk, his eyes on the cuts. He should have been there with her. This shouldn't have happened to her. He should have gotten there faster, dammit! Why did she have to run off yesterday?!
But it didn't matter. What's done was done, and it couldn't be changed. So he walked along behind her, his face calm, his eyes, however were turbulant. "I think we're going to practice attack detection today, Akane." He said evenly as they walked into the dojo. "Starting now."
Akane spun towards him, lifting her arms, preparing to block the blow he was going to deliver, but he hadn't moved. A few light strikes hit her in the back and she fell towards Ranma, not having expected them. Her eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder to see Ukyou standing there, her stance relaxed.
"I didn't say I was going to attack you." Ranma scolded gently, setting her back on her feet. "I said you're going to have to figure out who's attacking and from where." He pulled out a black belt and tied it around her eyes. "You aren't going to be hit hard enough to hurt you, but you're going to have to figure out where we're coming from."
"Who's idea was this?" Akane asked in a tremulous voice.
"Mine." Ranma responded. There was a pause and he continued. "Akane, if you're afraid-"
"Ranchan, she needs to learn this." Ukyou scolded. "You must treat her as a student now."
Ranma nodded slowly. He turned Akane around a few times and released her, cicling in the opposite direction. "Akane, you're going to have to feel us coming through your other senses. Are you ready?"
Akane gave a short quick nod, and Ukyou launched an extremely gentle attack towards Akane's chest, her feet never touching the floor. Akane managed to block a fourth of the blows.
Ranma stopped. "What did you feel?"
"I-I'm not sure..." Her voice was shaking almost uncontrollably.
"Okay, try again." This time, Ranma came towards her, his hands flying at almost full speed, stopping just centimeter's from her torso.
She backed away slightly, feeling the slight pressure on her chest. The feet sprung away lightly. "Again." She said softly. Someone sprung upwards, and Akane lifted her hands to block an downward blow, but was suprised to feel a few light taps to her chest.
"You're not concentrating, Akane." Ukyou's voice said softly, from behind her.
Akane spun, lashing out.
Footsteps padded lightly on the floor and she felt a wave of cool wash over her as her new attaker lunged towards her. She blocked a few, but still felt that gentle pressure around her shoulders.
She was getting irritated.
"I don't know, Ranchan. Maybe she doesn't have what it takes to do this."
Ukyou's voice taunted in her ears. Akane growled and turned towards her voice. "Yes, I do. Now ATTACK ME!" She was furious. Yet, suddenly, as the cool of one of their aura's washed over her, she could see it. In her mind, she could see the blue aura. It sparkled with silver, telling her it was Ranma. Her eyes narrowed in concentration behind the gi belt and she flipped backwards, then dropped to her knees, swinging her leg out to trip him.
Applause filled the dojo and she could hear Ranma and Ukyou cheering her. Gentle hands untied the belt and she stared up into Ranma's smiling eyes. "I... did it?" She questioned softly, meekly.
Ranma put his arms around her waist and lifted her up, twirling her around the dojo. "You did wonderful!"
"I...I could see your aura..." She said softly. It was...silvery blue, I could see it in my mind..." She saw the shock on their faces and blinked. "What? What is it?"
Ranma frowned a bit. "I've never seen one in my mind before. Usually it's just a sensation. A feeling. I can tell who's aura is who's by feel..."
Ukyou nodded. "It's the same way with me. I don't think anyone's ever seen anyone's aura with their mind before."
Akane blinked, looking between them. "But...But I saw it...plain as day..."
He ran his hand through her hair. "I don't doubt you did, Akane." He said, caressing her face gently. "Come on, guys, let's get some food. I'm sure Akane's famished..."
Akane walked out ahead of them, and Ukyou grabbed Ranma's arm. "Ranma, it isn't possible she could see your aura..."
He watched Akane go, then looked back at Ukyou. "Ucchan...I don't think anything is impossible when it comes to her."