Crystal of life Author: Shai 'Halud e-mail: ranmanobaka@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the series/characters used in this fic. I am doing this just for the fun of it.



**Chapter Ten: An almost perfect dinner date. **

Ranma just stood there, mouth agape. After having seen Akane she was unable to say anything, never had Akane looked as beautiful as she did now. "Wow, Akane you look fantastic."

Akane blushed as she heard Ranma's comment. When picking the dress she hoped that Ranma would like it. Now it seemed that she did. "You look nice to Ranma."

"Heh, thanks. It's just that all of the clothes I have now are too big for me. I better get some new clothes soon now that I'm stuck like this." Even though it pained Ranma that she could never change back again she had no regrets.

"You know what Ranma why don't we go out to buy clothes some day. That is after my fight with Shampoo." Akane was nervous about her fight with Shampoo. Shampoo is a good fighter and even though Akane hated to admit this. She hoped Ranma was right about her being able to defeat Shampoo.

Ranma stepped towards Akane and took her hand, as soon as she did she saw the ring on Akane's hand. I'm glad she decided to put it on. I wonder how Ukyo will react. She looked at Akane's eyes and smiled. "So Akane, what do you say? Shall we get going? We do have a dinner appointment."

"Yes let's go Ranma, but to me this is more then a dinner appointment. To me this is out real date. I just hope no one interferes with our date."

Ranma grinned and cracked her knuckles. "Don't worry, if anyone show up to mess up our date he or she will regret this."

"I see, you sure about that. I don't want you to get your clothes dirty."

"Hey if it prevents someone from ruining our date it's worth it, now let's go."

And so Ranma and Akane went out to go out on their very first date. Ranma decided not to make Akane walk on the fence. On their way to Uchan they had indulged themselves in some small talk. After a few minutes they reached Uchan's, when they came there they saw a small sign outside: 'Closed for private party!'. It seemed that Ukyo didn't want anyone to crash their dinner date.

"After you." Ranma held open the door for Akane and Akane entered while Ranma followed suit.

Ukyo was preparing everything for Ranma's and Akane's dinner. When the door opened she looked up and she saw Akane enter as Ranma followed. Wow Akane and Ranma look great. It's just that those clothes do look kind of funny on Ranma.

"Hello you two lovebirds, welcome to Uchan's. Let me show you to your table." Ukyo then showed both of them to a table, it was set up for a romantic dinner.

Ranma then held back the chair for Akane so she could sit down. "This looks great Ukyo."

"Yes, this looks fantastic, thanks for inviting us for dinner." Akane was glad that Ukyo had accepted the fact that Ranma loved her and that she considered Ukyo as her best friend.

"Don't worry hon, I'm glad to do this for you two. Both of you have gone through a lot and deserve something good. For today's occasion I've prepared a special menu for you, we start with a nice soup and after that a special Okonomiyaki. The Okonomiyaki is called "lovers united". Now why don't you talk a bit while I go and make your dinner." Ukyo walked over to the kitchen and started to prepare the soup.

"Ranma, Ukyo truly is a nice person. The way she accepted our permanent engagement is just perfect. It just saddens me that it hurt her feelings."

"Don't worry Akane, Ukyo was sad but she was also happy that we finally made up our minds about each other. She invited us here so we could relax a bit and away from things for tonight. So no more about this, let's enjoy us because Ukyo has done her best to make this a nice evening."

"Your right but I do have to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"You told me that you would never be able to change back into a guy again because the energy of your uncursed form was used to heal me." It somewhat pained Akane to talk about this. To her it felt as if it was her fault that Ranma was like she was today.

Ranma saw that Akane was somehow worried about her and after what Akane had said she had an idea of what worried her. "Hey Akane, don't worry. It's not your fault that I am like I am today. This was my choice and my choice alone."

"I know, it's just that.."

"Hey no more about that okay, it is not your fault. Now what did you want to ask?"

"Okay, again. You said you couldn't change back into a guy again but can't you use the spring of drowned man to change to at least change into guy part of the time?"

"Ah about that. Well let's just say that I have a bad feeling about that. You see first I would have done everything to get the cure but when I was on my trip to and from China I have been thinking. Something I haven't done a lot before that. You remember when Taro showed up with an addition to his curse?"

Akane thought about that for a while and then she remembered. First Taro was just huge strong and had wings but when he came back the second time he also had tentacles of an octopus. "Yes I remember."

"Okay now when I talked to Xiao Long she told me that the energy of my uncursed form was used to heal you. That also meant that I was stuck in my cursed form. You see this isn't exactly my normal form now. Even though my male form is gone this form is not normal, it's magical in nature. This is still my cursed form and I don't want to take the risk of jumping into another spring and getting partially cursed like Taro. Imagine part male part female, I don't want that to happen. Over time I was beginning to accept my curse. When I found out the price for your cure I was gladly to pay it. Now I don't know if I can take a different curse now so I'd rather stay like this." Ranma had heard about hermaphrodites he did not want to become one.

Akane thought about what Ranma had said and she had to agree with her. Being cursed twice would not be a good thing. "I see and I have to say that I agree."

Just then Ukyo came walking up and carrying the soup. "Here you go you two, you two enjoying yourselves?" She put down the soup in front of Akane and then Ranma.

"Yes we are, this looks great and smells great Ukyo." Akane smelled the soup and her mouth started to water.

"It tastes great to Uchan." Ranma instead of waiting had already started eating, she was starving. When Ukyo and Akane looked at Ranma they noticed that half of her soup was already gone.

Ukyo smiled and laughed a bit. "Looks like you where hungry hon, well you two enjoy the meal and when you've finished the soup I'll have your Okonomiyaki ready."

"Thanks Uchan we will." After tasting the Akane had to agree with Ranma, this was great. She quickly started to spoon down the soup. Like Ranma she was hungry and even though she didn't eat as fast as Ranma she was still emptying the bowl in record time. When she was done Akane looked up and saw Ranma looking at her, smiling. "What are you smiling at?"

"It's just that you seem to be either very hungry or you're trying to beat me in eating. I've never seen you eat so fast."

"You're right I was hungry."

"I see well you need some more practice though." Ranma picked up her napkin and leaned towards Akane.

"Huh what do you mean?"

"You've got something on yer face, here let me get it." Ranma used her napkin to wipe away the soup on her face.

"Thank you." Ranma sure has changed since her trip to China. Part of her is then same as before but she's also a lot more polite then before. I like these changes in her attitude.

Ukyo came from the kitchen again carrying the Okonomiyaki. She had seen the speed with which Ranma and Akane had eaten their soup and came to the conclusion that they must be hungry. "Okay I see that you like then soup so here's the main course one "lovers united".

"Whoa Ukyo you've truly outdone yourself this looks superb and the smell, divine."

The 'lovers united' was a very large (20 inch) hart shaped Okonomiyaki. It was toped with all kinds of vegetables and in the center of the Okonomiyaki Ukyo had made a small image of herself holding out her hands as if she wanted to give Ranma and Akane a hand.

As Ranma and Akane looked at the Okonomiyaki Ukyo took both of their hands and held them in hers. "Ranma, Akane. I'm very happy to see you two together at last. Sure I would've liked it to have Ranma all for myself. But when Ranma talked to me I could hear in her voice that she truly loved you. It pained me that Ranma didn't love me like a lover but like a best friend or even a sister. Sure I've been trying to get Ranma for myself but I can accept that she loves you Akane and that I have her like a sister, brother or whatever. This is your night and I will never get between you two again and I will not allow anyone to come between the both of you. But before I let you enjoy this I have to do something and Akane I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what Ukyo?"

"For this." Without hesitation Ukyo leaned towards Ranma and kissed her full on the lips.

Ranma's eyes grew and grew and she started to sweat big time.

Akane saw what Ukyo did and she started to boil, the biggest mallet ever appearing in her hands. Why that, I aught too. As fast as she got angry she immediately cooled off. She knew Ranma was not at a fault and she knew that Ukyo loved Ranma.

Ukyo stopped her kiss and withdrew, her face was beet red and she did not dare to look Ranma in the eyes. She turned around and keeping her head low she faced Akane. "I'm sorry for this Akane, you to Ranma. It's just that this would be my only chance to kiss him. Again I'm very sorry." She was about to turn around and run towards the kitchen when Akane said something that surprised her.

"It's okay Ukyo, I know you love Ranma and if the roles where reversed I would have done the same thing or maybe even more." Akane lifted Ukyo head and looked in her eyes, smiling.

"You mean it, thank you Akane, now you two please enjoy your meal." And without any more words Ukyo left, the biggest smile on her face and her hart beating fast. I never though I'd survive this, is just wish Ranma had been a guy but something is better then nothing.

Ranma just sat there after Ukyo had kissed him and was snapped back to reality when Akane told Ukyo it was okay. And here they are always calling me a hentai.

Ranma and Akane looked at each other and both of them smiled. "You know Akane I always knew you where a hentai but I'm glad you are my hentai now what do you say we dig in?"

"Humph, you're as much as a hentai as me or even more but let's eat."

Without wasting any time both of them started to eat and within a few moments everything was gone. Ranma and Akane sat back in their chair feeling stuffed. "Whoa this was the best Okonomiyaki U-chan ever made."

"I know what you mean Ranma but you know it's just sad that with you around a dinner date is always short, considering the speed with which you eat."

"Feh, look who's talking you where almost as fast as me but you're right I wish it could have taken longer. What you say we go thank Ukyo and go out for a walk?"

"I'd like that Ranma. Let's go"

The two got up and went over to the kitchen, they found Ukyo inside cleaning up. "Hey U-chan, we would like you to thank you for the dinner, it was the best."

"Yes, it was great, thank you for having us Ukyo." Akane made a polite bow to thank Ukyo.

"If there's any way to repay you tell us."

"No Ranma, I've already been repaid plenty. You two enjoy yourselves and I'll see you tomorrow at the shrine when you fight that Ryu guy, okay?"

"Thanks U-chan, see you tomorrow."

After thanking Ukyo Ranma and Akane where on their way. They had no idea where they would go so they decided to just walk around for a bit. They didn't say anything to each other but just held hands, enjoying the silence. Ranma was just thinking that there could be nothing to ruin this evening when someone showed up.

"Ah do my eyes deceive me or are the two goddesses of my life holding hands. Thou must be on thy way to see me, Tatewaki Kuno the blue thunder of Furinkan High. Let me take you into my arms and show you my love for thee." Without hesitation and before even Ranma or Akane could react they where scooped up by Kuno.

Akane was about to pummel Kuno when Kuno did something they never expected.

"Ah Akane Tendo my lovely one let me show you my love." Kuno did not know it but he would be in for a world of pain, he did the one thing no one had ever expected him to do. He kissed Akane smack on the lips.

Akane felt Kuno's kiss and her body just stopped working. HOW DARE HE AND IN FRONT OF RANMA. HE'S DEAD WHEN I CAN.. Akane's thoughts where interrupted when she saw the look in Ranma's eyes. Okay it wasn't as much the look but also the huge battle aura surrounding her.

Ranma, still in Kuno's arms was glowing brighter then she had ever before. "KUNO YOU JUST DID THE ONE THING YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER DONE. FOR THIS YOU WILL PAY." Ranma's aura flared and she and Akane fell, Ranma landed on her feet and she gently picked up Akane and put her to side leaning into a wall.

All of a sudden an ominous cold wind blew by it chilled Kuno to the bone and as stupid as he was he opened his big jap again. "Ah my pigtailed goddess do not be angry for thou art next." With those words Kuno leaned forward and reached for Ranma.

Gulp, what will happen to Kuno? (HEHEHEHE) Read it next time.