Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or Inu yasha.

Chapter 8

          Ranma frowned as he watched Akane glide effortlessly and gracefully across the skating rink. How could she make it look so easy? He couldn't go two feet without falling. His eyes turned to Nabiki for a moment before settling back on Akane. If anything, Nabiki had proven to be a better skater than Akane. Why she had come with them, he had no clue, but she seemed to be enjoying the ice. He continued to watch from outside the rink, deciding that maybe it was a girl thing.

          The sound of scraped ice, and a flurry of ice crystals announced Nabiki's arrival at the exit of the rink. Ranma winced at the grating sound. He was sure Nabiki had done that just to annoy him.  It seemed she had noticed his inability to skate and his sensitive ears. She stepped off the ice and gave him an unsettling cross between a smirk and a smile.

          "What's the matter, Ranma? Why aren't you out there?"

          "Oh, shut up," he said, trying to growl and look threatening. He didn't think he was much of a success when she gave him an almost friendly pat on the back and laughed.

          "You don't want Akane to be out there all alone, do you?" she asked, hardly making an effort to feign innocence. "I'm sure she misses you."

          Ranma would have told her to bug off, had Akane not shown up at that moment. He noted that, unlike Nabiki, she came to a careful stop. Probably to protect her own ears as much as his. Akane smiled at them both and asked them why they had stopped.

          "I was just going to get some co-co," Nabiki said, with a wave, leaving them alone at the rink. Akane turned her attention to him.

          "Ranma, don't you want to skate?" 

          With her cheeks tinged an attractive pink and her scent filling his nose, Ranma was tempted to forget that he couldn't skate and join her. However, at the threat of looking completely ridiculous, he decided to try and come up with an excuse.

          "Uh" – was as far as he got as the sounds of canine growls and feminine squeals reached them from the snack bar outside the rink. Ranma hurried to the source and found Nabiki staring at the scene while sipping her drink. He came up to her, but she didn't acknowledge his presence, so he decided to speak up.

          "What's going on?" Nabiki glanced at him.

          "See for yourself."

          The scene before him was quite an interesting one. An unfortunate dog, which he recognized as Ryouga, was being terrorized by a young girl. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and she was screaming the name 'Charlene', followed by praise for how cute he was, in a high-pitched, extremely irritating voice. Ranma suppressed a laugh and was about to intervene when Akane got there first. 

          "Leave him alone!" she said, trying to get between Ryouga and the girl. "You're hurting him!"

          Ranma had the impression the Ryouga was more annoyed than hurt, but decided not to say anything. He briefly wondered whether Akane new about Ryouga's curse. Oh well… if she couldn't tell from the smell, he could tell her later.

          The door next to the bickering girls slid open and Ryouga bolted past the young man who stared after him a moment before turning to the two girls. Ranma's ears caught the comments of a few of the female bystanders as he came in. They ran along the lines of  'yikes, what a dream', Ranma wondered if they were talking about the same person he was looking at. He snorted. This guy wasn't much. The girl who had been strangling Ryouga got up and was about to go after the poor dog, but the young man stopped her.

          "OOH! Look what you've done, you, you…" she cried, glaring petulantly at him. He seemed to ignore her and turned his attention to Akane.

          "I'm sorry, miss. Was that yours?" he asked, politely. Ranma immediately decided he didn't like him.

          "Oh… no…" 

          "Forgive my companion's rudeness."

          "That's all right, thank you."

          He took a chair and explained that the girl's hobby was collecting things, and that when she found something cute, she would name it on the spot and take it home with her. He explained this all while the girl was hitting him on the back of the head with various objects, demanding that he give back her 'Charlene', as if that was something he had the power to do. His calm façade cracked just as the girl was hefting a table and he rounded on her screaming: "Would you cut it out, you idiot!?"

          She sniffed and glared at Akane. "I challenge you to a skating match! If I win, you'll bring back my Charlene!"

          Akane just stared at her. "And how…" she asked in exasperation, "do you expect me to do that!?"

          "Akane…"

          Ranma had almost forgotten Nabiki was there. He turned to her and noted her face was solemn as she spoke… which, he had come to learn, could mean any number of things.

          "Akane, I wouldn't except that challenge. They're Kolkhoz High School's champion freestyle skating pair." The young man and girl introduced themselves as Mikado Sanzenin and Azusa Shiratori. Azusa giggled at Akane.

          "If you're going to back dow-own, do it now-ow!"

          Akane growled, seeming to have completely forgotten that she probably couldn't produce Ryouga if she lost. "I'm not backing down!"

Ranma rolled his eyes. Idiot…what does she think she's doin'?  Then Mikado approached Akane.

          "I'm sorry," he said, standing just a little to close to her for Ranma's taste. "My partner has caused you trouble. By way of an apology…."

          He left that statement hanging and leaned in to kiss her.

          Mikado almost regretted that course of action when Ranma hurled the remaining half of Nabiki's hot chocolate at him and his head was turned abruptly in another direction from the force of Akane's slap.

          "What do you think you're doing!?" they cried in unison. Mikado tried to brush the dark chocolate stain off his clothes with the same calm he exhibited while explaining his partner's odd behavior. He ignored Akane, and approached Ranma.

          "I've received your message of challenge," he said.

          Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki walked home in silence. Each lost in thought. More accurately, Ranma and Akane were lost in thought. Nabiki's attempts at conversation had been shot down by the mutual glares of her two companions. It wasn't that that silenced her, though, it was the fact that neither one of them would answer if she did say anything. One-sided conversations weren't much fun.

          Ranma risked a glance at the other two girls who shared the sidewalk wit him. Yes, the sidewalk. After Shampoo's attempt to seal them, they had both decided that walking on the fence made them easier targets, and that they shouldn't spend too much time alone. Ranma wondered if Nabiki hadn't come with them to skate, but to find out why they had been spending so much time together recently. It didn't matter, if that was the case, she would never find anything. He resolved to talk to Akane about it at the shrine anyways. The shrine was where they held any conversation that had to do with something they wanted kept secret. Since, according to Akane, it was the only place where there was any real privacy, it was kind of an unspoken agreement between them that the shrine was their meeting place. It was hard to talk to Akane sometimes, but lately it had become harder. She was more distant, and not as quick to temper. Well, that last part wouldn't have bothered him so much if it didn't mean that Akane was not acting like herself.

          The trio entered the Tendo house, Nabiki went up to her room and Ranma and Akane made pretenses at going their separate ways. A few minutes later, they met up at the shrine and sat on the top step in uncomfortable silence.

          "Why did you do that?" she asked him softly. Ranma knew what she was referring to and instantly felt uneasy.

          "I – it's not like I was jealous or anything! I just had to do something!" he sputtered. Akane glanced at him from under her lashes.

          "I didn't say you were."

          "Uh…" Ranma deflated and made an awkward attempt at a chuckle. Again, it was silent for a time. "Akane, what's wrong?"

          "You want to know?" she sounded surprised.

          "Yeah…."

          "You."

          Ranma's eyes widened and he let a hurt expression dance openly across his face as he managed to choke out, "M-me?"

          "You," she continued, as if he hadn't spoken, "you don't want."

          Ranma expected her to say more, but she stopped and stared at him, her expression unreadable. As it had been on the school roof. "That bothers you?" he asked incredulously.

          "Of course it does, idiot!" she glared at him.

          "Why?" Now Ranma was confused. Why should it bother her, if he didn't want to train her?

          "I don't know," she said. "Maybe I'm taking it too personally, but it doesn't seem like anyone wants to train me. Not even my own kind…. I wonder if there's something wrong with me?"

          "You are taking it too personally," he said, firmly. Akane looked up at him questioningly.

          "Oh?"

          "Yeah. Your dad won't do it because he's already given up on martial arts. My dad doesn't train girls, and I… uh, don't want to… fight you," Ranma trailed off.

          "You don't want to fight against me?" Akane asked. Ranma nodded dumbly at her and she bit her lip and looked pensive. "Then, won't you fight with me? We have to, I know, for this match, but do you want to?"

          To anyone else, it might have seemed like a strange request, but between them – as soon as Ranma said yes – it was a promise. Something to replace the engagement that bound them. And they both knew, as they moved to the back of the shrine to talk in the moonlight as demons, that it wasn't really about the Art. It was about trust and faith and confidence between the two of them alone.

          They talked about themselves, or about their lives, or they sat in silence.  They held confidence late into the night, in the shadows behind the shrine, and the world faded away and it was only Ranma and Akane. Because for a few hours, that was all that mattered.

          Akane was lying across her bed, listening to the sounds of the house and it's inhabitants. She could hear Nabiki typing furiously, Kasumi in the kitchen, Genma and Soun in the living room, and she could hear Ranma doing a Kata in the dojo. He was, she imagined, in a state of rage and relief. She could understand that, but if he built up his anger he would kill someone. Specifically Mikado Sanzenin….

          …. The assault of a hundred foes was somewhat impressive, but nothing Akane hadn't been doing on a daily basis for a while. The fact that they did it on ice, as apposed to ground, made it slightly more impressive. But Ranma and I can beat them…

          "Akane! Help, I'm gonna fall!"

          If Ranma can learn to skate, she thought with a groan. She was going to help Ranma when Mikado Sanzenin did it for her. As he had done earlier, to Ranma's displeasure. If she had just been willing to practice as a guy, Ranma wouldn't have to put up with that.

          "I can teach you to skate," she heard Mikado say. Ranma growled at him, which actually didn't come across as very threatening.

          "No way!" she said. "Lemme go!"

          "You mean it? Too bad," Sanzenin leaned down, and Akane recognized the movement. "But at least you can thank me for my earlier rescue."

          Akane grabbed Azusa, who was standing nearby, and threw her at Mikado as he moved in. Instead of Ranma's face, he ended up kissing Azusa's skate, in what looked to be a very painful manner. Ranma herself had been dumped on the ice and was sitting with a shocked look on her face. Then her eye began to twitch and the look of shock became one of pure rage. She turned to Mikado, who was yelling at Azusa for interrupting him.

          Much violence ensued….

          … But Mikado would probably be better in time for the match. Akane decided to try and talk Ranma out of killing him and went to the dojo. What would Ranma have done if Mikado succeeded?

          When she got there he was standing with his back to her, but he probably knew she was there. Akane waited for him to say something.

          "I never expected anything like that to happen," he said, after a while, his voice too low for Nabiki's machines to pick up. Akane shook her head.

          "You should have," she said, in the same tone. It was silent for a few moments, and then Ranma turned to her and took up a loose stance. She did the same and they began to spar. When they wanted to talk in the dojo, they usually did some sort of exercise so Nabiki wouldn't get suspicious that she couldn't hear them. It was easier to talk that way, while sparring. Akane dodged a strike from Ranma, and he blocked her counterattack. She had improved, but she wasn't even close to Ranma's level. Still, he didn't just dodge anymore and she got him on the defensive one and a while, but Akane was fairly sure he wasn't trying as hard as he could. She swung at him and he leapt aside, and they continued.

          "Thanks," said Ranma. Akane knew he was talking about that afternoon, and she smiled a little.

          "Just returning the favor."

          "I can't believe that guy," he said angrily. She shrugged, or she would have if she weren't currently trying to land a blow on Ranma.

          "He's just a typical male," she said absently, and sent her fist at his head. He ducked and looked hurt.

          "That's a little insulting, you know."

          "It's the truth," she grinned, dodging his sweep kick.

          "I wouldn't do that kind of thing."

          "I know, you're not a typical male," Akane said while Ranma dodged one of her attacks. Most of the time they sparred to cover conversation, neither one scored a hit. It was just a game.

          "Are you sayin' I'm weird?" Ranma asked.

          "Maybe…" she took a look at his expression from below his punch. "Oh, don't be angry! You should be grateful, who knows what horrors you would have to face had I not been there."

          "All I'm saying, is I'm not weird because I think about other things besides kissing girls!"

          "So…Ranma…" Akane said, looking at him with dewy eyes. The change in her tone, from teasing to serious, seemed to baffle him. "You do think about kissing girls!" Ranma just face-faulted.

          "Listen, you…" he growled, once he regained his footing.

          "Don't worry, Ranma. I know you're nothing like Mikado Sanzenin. You wouldn't have the guts to kiss a girl."

          "Keep talking like that, and I might!"

          A small voice in Akane's head told her that she shouldn't have said that, but she was too far-gone to care. Neither one of them would back down from a challenge. "Oh, yeah!? Go ahead and try!"

          Then they stared at each other and both of them wondered how they had gotten into this situation. "O-okay," Ranma said, stepping forward. He looked into her eyes, and Akane found herself leaning forward, just slightly. He closed his eyes and moved forwards… before turning around and saying: "I guess I'll have to find Nabiki or Kasumi, then."

          "Hey, What's wrong with me!?" she said, before she realized just how that would sound. Ranma turned to look at her, as if he had completely forgotten her presence, blinking in surprise.

          "Oh, Akane? If you wanted to kiss me so much, you could have just said so." She growled at him and clenched her fists, keeping her temper in check. Then she began to stalk out of the room with a muttered 'idiot' that she knew Ranma would hear.

          "Who doesn't have enough guts now?" Akane could hear the grin in his voice. She took a deep, calming breath.

          "Nabiki is listening," she said, in a low whisper. Ranma's eyes widened and he realized they had completely forgotten the bugs once they started arguing. He left the dojo in a flash, and Akane wondered if Nabiki would actually do anything with their conversation. She hoped not.

A/N: Sorry this took me forever to write, and I still don't think it's very good. O well, anyway, I'm not going to go through the whole series, don't worry. I'll have some of the things happen, but not too many I don't think. I don't have a schedule or anything for updates, I just update as I write each chap. So, if I get writers block like I did with this chap, it will take longer. I was going to put the whole skating thing in this chapter, but it got too long so I decided to stop. Don't worry there isn't much more to the skating match. I'll try to make the chapters longer in the future, okay? Also, not much happened this time, but that's the way I wanted it. I'm just trying to develop their relationships and characters a little. R/A have sort of become friends, in that Akane helps Ranma out and they talk to each other more, but they still fight and tease each other. It won't stay that way too long though, so don't worry ( I keep saying that…) Well, I could always use any suggestions so please R&R. Thanks, to everyone who reviewed! Bye.