Akane woke early that morning. She had never been a heavy sleeper, and just the first probing ray of the sun across her eyelids was enough to wake her. She shifted languidly and pulled Ranma's arm across her stomach, tracing the paths of his bones softly across his skin until she reached the cuffed sleeves of his brightly colored shirt. His muscles twitched slightly beneath her touch and she could see the strength behind them. He's strong… in more ways than one. I wish I could have that strength.
Turning again, Akane moved to study Ranma's sleeping face. He looked peaceful, none of the pain he carried evident on the surface. It was a different kind of peace than she had seen on his features during his experience with the sealing arrow, lacking the deathly lax in his muscles. She watched his lips curve just barely and his ears twitch as she let out a shallow sigh and began to get up.
As soon as she moved, however, Ranma's arm tightened around her and she was pulled back down to the couch biting back an undignified yelp. Akane rolled her eyes and looked back to his face. He still looked asleep, but…. She reached up and tugged his pigtail lightly. When he didn't take notice, she growled softly and reached a little higher, scratching his tufted ears. They twitched like the muscled in his arms and he leaned into her hand, a low rumble growing in his chest. For just a moment Akane smiled warmly at him, then she stopped scratching and flicked his ear sharply with a clawed hand. As the ear flew downwards to the safety of Ranma's skull, his eyelids flew up and he looked at her, offended.
"Hey, can't a guy get some sleep?" he asked, blinking and rubbing his ear innocently.
"You can sleep as much as you like," said Akane, smiling and hiding her discomfort. Ranma had moved and, due to the arm that still held her down, she was all but on top of him. Actually, discomfort didn't quite describe it…. Her smile grew malicious. "But sleeping and trying to bug me are two different things. Now prepare yourself."
His eyes widened as her hands fled swiftly to his sides. At first the only sounds that came from his mouth were stifled gasps and chokes, but before long he was laughing uncontrollably as Akane tickled him mercilessly. Ranma twisted in a vain attempt to regain control, but only succeeded in taking them both to the floor where she continued her onslaught. His hands shot out for hers, but she just gave short yelp and leapt off him. He was on his feet seconds after her.
"Now you're going to get it," Ranma said, cracking his knuckles threateningly with a lopsided smirk. Akane laughed, and he took off after her. She felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her. She knew things would be difficult for a while, but…I think…things will get better. She grinned and dodged Ranma's hands. They ran crooked circles around the living room for a while, their laughter clear in the morning air. Then Ranma caught her wrists and they fell to the floor.
And somehow the atmosphere changed. He was on his knees directly over her, both their hands clasped on either side of her head, and Akane's laughter died. The sunlight filtered through his hair and lit it like ashes and fire. His eyes were strangely tamed, and the room had fallen silent. She could almost feel his breath on her face, his lips were slightly parted, as were hers.
This was the scene that Kasumi and the Saotomes walked in on as they abruptly came through the door.
Ranma and Akane were on opposite side of the room before anyone could even blink. They exchanged embarrassed glances before trying to explain. Their heated cheeks and stuttering didn't help their credibility. Nodoka watched with an almost amused expression, Genma was congratulating his son, and Kasumi was holding a hand to her lips in surprise.
"I-it wasn't like that, really!"
"Well done, boy! Now, about the wedding…"
"N-nothing happened – not like that!"
"Oh my! Shouldn't you wait before…"
This went on for a few agonizingly prolonged minutes, much to Akane's embarrassment – and Ranma's too, she noted glancing at him. She looked to Kasumi in a desperate attempt to change the subject. But…I wonder…if something had happened, would this be as embarrassing?
"Uh… Kasumi, how – how's Daddy?"
Kasumi started at the question, and her face fell. Akane berated herself mentally for asking. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know. She still cared… but Soun probably didn't. It was kind of cowardly, she knew, to be afraid of rejection now, but…I don't need any more pain.
"I think…" Kasumi said softly, " that he is more hurt than angry. He hasn't left the shrine since he woke up and he doesn't respond when spoken to, but…. I told him that he needs to let it go, that you have always been a hanyou and you're not a different person now that he knows it."
Akane bit her lip and moved closer to her sister. "Kasumi… I – " she broke off as Kasumi put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," she said, smiling. Akane shook her head vigorously.
"No, it's not. I'm more like Daddy than I thought…"
"Akane, you're not perfect. And neither am I, and neither is Daddy. Maybe I should have told you from the start, or maybe you should have told Daddy from the start, but this is how things worked out. So whether you accept it or not, you can only make amends for your mistakes. You can never fix them. I accept your apology, now move on."
"Kasumi," Akane sighed, and pulled her sister into a hug. "Thanks."
"It's alright." They broke apart and shared a sisterly smile, then Kasumi turned to go. "I think Nodoka wants to talk to you two alone. I'll see you later."
Akane gulped and heard Ranma do the same behind her. She had nearly forgotten about Ranma's mother. Turning to Nodoka she saw her shifting her katana and gesturing for them to follow her to the table. Akane took a glance at Ranma as they sat down side by side across from Nodoka. He looked scared – although he hid it well, meeting his mother's gaze evenly – and she imagined she must look the same.
Nodoka was a pillar of calm as she unwrapped her katana and laid it lengthwise in the center of the table. Her hair became a vibrant red and her eyes a blue similar to Ranma's, though they were cold rather than warm, as she shed her disguise. Her facial markings were very similar to Sesshomarou's and Akane realized it was the first time she had seen them. Nodoka rarely dropped her shields, even when they were alone in the house. She regarded them coolly as they waited for her to make the first move.
"Ranma – " he gave a bare nod of his head "– I have decided. With the best interests of our clan in mind, you may keep your life." Ranma started.
"W-wait a minute! 'The best interests of our clan'?" he asked. His voice held a measure of disgust and pain. He slammed a fist on the table in outrage, and the sword jumped. "What about my best interests?"
Nodoka's eyes were slits like shards of ice. " I have allowed you to defy me when I believed it was right. That does not give you the freedom to defy me when you feel like it. You will learn your place if I have to revoke my decision to teach it to you!"
Ranma's lips were a firm line; his eyes were hard as he glared at his mother defiantly. Akane could see the barely restrained anger boiling beneath the surface of his skin and she watched him concernedly. Nodoka was matching his stare forcefully, her countenance bold and unflinching. Finally Ranma clenched a fist and dropped his gaze.
"Tell me more."
Nodoka gave him a glance of cold approval and nodded her head. She didn't get to say anything though, because at that moment the wall caved in and Shampoo stepped across the debris, bonbori in hand. Her bow and arrows seemed to be absent from her arsenal, and her face was devoid of expression.
"I kill," she said, amidst the swirling dust. Her voice was flat and emotionless, lacking the usual cold conviction. Akane wasn't sure what to make of it, but she fell into a fighting stance alongside Ranma.
A/N: I know this chapter is incredibly short, but I really had no time to write since yesterday. I also know that Mousse seemed out of place in the last chapter, but I had to put him in there… well, I didn't have to, but I did. Um, anyway updates might be a little slower this week, I'm going to be busy, so don't get mad if they are. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! C ya next chapter!