Chapter 5

"HA!" Ranma yelled as he felled a palm tree with one swipe of his hand. Moving swiftly to the next tree, he repeated the process once more. Standing, Ranma glanced around to count the many trees he had chopped down to use as building material for their home. Finally deciding he had enough for now, Ranma whipped his brow with his forearm. "Hey Akane!" he called out loud enough to carry to the other side of the clearing.

"Yes, what is it Ranma?" she replied absently as she concentrated on weaving some palm frond mats for the floors. Over the past few weeks, Akane had improved her skills when it came to making the frond mats since she had nothing better to do with her time. Grudgingly she admitted that her first attempts had been abysmal to say the least. Pausing, she scrutinized her latest piece of work, then decided that there was nothing wrong with it and put in into the pile of finished mats that would need to be woven together later. Then, she glanced at Ranma and waited for his reply.

"Do we have anymore of that berry juice you made last night?" he asked her as he bent down to pick up the tree. Dragging the tree over to the half-finished hut, Ranma set about completing the roof. In just under ten minutes he had stripped the palm tree of its fronds, given the fronds to Akane and cut the trunk into usable sizes.


"I think you drank it all last night. Honestly Ranma, you finished that really fast and then you had the nerve to complain that it had a strange aftertaste. This morning you woke up with a headache and an upset stomach." Akane replied as she watched him move with an appraising eye. Every time he looked in her direction, she returned her attention back to weaving the mats.

"That's because you put something disgusting on our dinner and I had to wash that taste out of my mouth," Ranma muttered under his breath so that she couldn't hear what he said.

"What was that Ranma? I didn't catch thatcan you repeat yourself." Akane growled menacingly while glaring at him from underneath her bangs.


"Uh...nothin'," Ranma said while trying to think up a good excuse to keep himself from getting brained by any incoming projectiles. "Man, she sure has gotten good at throwing things at me since she can't chase me yet. I gotta be careful of what I say from now on cause she'll be back on her feet in six more days." he thought to himself as he finished the rest of the roof.


As the daylight started to fade, Ranma stretched his shoulders, releasing the tension from a grueling day of work. He was glad that he had finally finished their home. Grudgingly, he admitted that he was glad that Akane was around to talk to even though she kept nagging him as to where to put the next section of the wall or the placement of the door, and a few other things that got on his nerves. He was glad that she cared, since she couldn't help out much with the building process except to make the walls and the floors.


"Ranma look what I made, Akane called to him from across the clearing.

As Ranma looked at her creation, he tried to figure out just what it was exactly that Akane had created. "Is this a door, Akane?" he asked with a tone of disbelief in his voice. It was a little bit lopsided but for her first effort it was pretty good. "Thanks Akane...," he said as he eyed the first door.

"I know it's not that good but I tried really hard this time not to mess up," Akane mumbled uncertainly as she watched him. "I even made another one, I think that one came out better than the first one though," Akane said as she pointed to the other door lying on the ground behind her.


Ranma blinked in amazement, then grinning, he started to laugh while waving his arms in the air in front on him when he saw that she was beginning to take his laughter the wrong way. "W-wait Akane...I'm not laughing at the doors ya made. Their good for your first try. I'm amazed that you're better at this sort of stuff than what ya are when were at home."

"Oh...thanks...I think. But, I'm not a tomboy Ranma. So don't say it! Just because I grew up without my mother to show me how to do girl stuff doesn't mean that I am one. I'm just more athletically inclined than most girls are. I admit that my cooking isn't very good, but I have gotten better since you've started to teach me how to cook.


"Hey! I wasn't even thinkin' itso don't jump to conclusions," Ranma replied as he hefted the doors and carried them over to their house. He installed them in less than twenty minutes. Then, Ranma turned around with a mischievous grin on his face, he growled when he caught Akane's eyes and slowly started to stalk towards her.

"Eeek!" she yelped as she noticed Ranma stalking in her direction with a funny expression on his face, and started to scoot backwards on her rear. The look in his eyes meant that he was going to throw her into one of the springs. Or it could be something else, but she couldn't figure it out and decided to not stick around to find out.

Quickly, she got up and started hopping out of the clearing as fast as she could while laughing. "No... ha ha ha....you're not going to throw me into one of the springs this time because I'm not going to stick around to let you. Besides, you're all hot and sweaty!" Akane yelled over her shoulder as she made for the beach. She could hear him running behind her and doubled her efforts to get away.

"Akane get back here!" Ranma growled playfully, grinning he started to chase after her. He decided to let her have the upper hand for a while at least before he would catch her. Besides, this was the perfect way to end the day after hours of strenuous work. "A little bit of fun never hurt anyone...and she is cute when she laughs like that," Ranma thought to himself as he ran behind her. "I think I'll toss her into the ocean this time," he muttered as he closed the remaining distance between them and scooped her up into his arms.

"Ahhhh! Put me down Ranma....," Akane yelped and then started to laugh as he tickled her ribs while carrying her towards the surf. "Hahahaha...No!...not the water please, not again! You know I can't swimyou baka!"


Well, now is a good time to learn since we are surrounded by water, Ranma replied as he walked into the pounding serf.

Akane clung tightly to Ranma as he entered the waves, instantly she felt the change as his body came into contact with the cold water. She tried once more to convince him that it wasn't a good idea for her to learn at the moment. But Ranma, what about my leg? I don't think it's a good idea to move it too much, Akane pleaded, putting on her cutest face, she stared sorrowfully into his eyes.

Ranma-chan froze when she saw Akane's face. Onna-Ranma's heart started to pound faster as she tried to deal with her new feelings for Akane. Trying to think up a good answer to get her to do this onna-Ranma blushed and replied, Um, Akane you have to strengthen your muscles and this is a good way for you to do it without injuring yourself further. Besides, I'll be here holding you up so you won't drown.

"FineI'll do it but you have to promise not to let go of me, Akane said as she felt a deep yearning within herself to have onna-Ranma touch her. Pushing that thought and her feelings aside into a deep corner of her mind to be looked over later, she decided to make sure he didn't bring them forward again, at least for now. And keep your hands on my waistif you move them anywhere else your gonna be a dead man womanerr you know what I mean, Akane stammered while blushing furiously.

Hehe, yeah I know what ya meant Akane and I don't take no offence at it, Ranma replied, noticing the blush that was quickly spreading from Akane's cheeks and down her neck. Onna-Ranma smiled, as she lowered Akane into the water while keeping her hands from straying to a few places that she had wanted to touch, but knew that if she had followed her instincts, she would be flying on air Akane right now.


Eeeee! It's c-cold!p-pick me up! Pick me up! Akane pleaded through her chattering teeth as she desperately tried to twist her body around to latch onto Ranma.

That's cause you've been sitting in the sun all day so your temperature is much warmer than usual. Don't worry Akane you'll get used to it the longer you stay in, Ranma said as she kept Akane submerged up to her neck. Ranma had to admit that this was a lot of fun even though Akane kept trying to drown her as she tried to climb her body to get out of the water.

Akane sputtered through chattering teeth as she tried to think up an expletive that would fit the situation. Not coming up with anything, she fell back on her preschool days cursing. Akane mumbled, clenching her teeth to stop them from chattering. After awhile she got used to the water temperature and started exercising her leg while Ranma instructed her on the art of swimming at the same time.

Is that the best insult you can think up right now Akane? Ranma asked her as she held Akane up with one hand and wiping the excess water out of her eyes from when Akane splashed a little too hard.

Hey! I'm trying you knowI mean after a few weeks of trying to think up new ones every day, I can't think of anything new at the moment. Besides, I know it was a lot of fun to make a game out of it, but I think we should have one last round to see who the winner is, Akane said as she stopped kicking her legs.

Hmmm, what will the winner get for a prize and what will the looser have to do? Ranma asked while he thought of a way to get Akane to kiss him again. Maybe if I don't insult her and compliment her instead he thought.


Akane thought for a few moments before she replied, "The looser will have to serve the winner for a week. And the winner will get to name the prize after the contest is over."

Ranma thought about it for a few moments before she nodded her head. You've got a deal, Ranma replied, turning around, he exited the water with Akane in her arms and headed back towards their new home.


Hey! I can walk you know! Akane protested half heartily.

Ranma eyed her out of the corner of his eye as he carried her back towards their new home. Feh. If I let ya walk as you said, it would take you a long time to get home.

Ranma! Put me down! Akane protested yet again. But, this time she kept her arms wrapped around his neck to support herself.

Ranma shook his head negatively and replied, No. I'm not gonna let you become food for another strange animal on this island. We really haven't explored the whole of it yet and it could be too dangerous.

Akane glared at him, she noticed the way he held himself and realized that he wasn't going to give in. She huffed in annoyance and said, Fine! But, I get to cook dinner again.

Ranma just groaned as if he was anticipating a lot of pain, but he kept walking. He knew that they needed to get back to the house before nightfall. One of the reasons he knew this was that on one of his foraging trips he had spotted some strange tracks of an animal that he hoped really didn't exist on this island. But, judging from what Akane had told him a few days ago; it was very likely that some type of cat creature inhibited this place.

Stepping inside their new home, Ranma lowered Akane, letting her slide down his body as he did so. He was unaware of what it did to her at the moment because his attention was focused elsewhere. Once she had her feet under her, he gathered the needed supplies and proceeded to make their beds while Akane prepared a simple meal. Thank Kami, there are no toxic chemicals on this island or Akane would probably kill me with her cooking, he thought as he finished.

Akane glanced up from dishing out a simple meal of fruits and fish. Ranma, come and eat, she yelled.

Yeah, be right there, Akane, he replied before climbing down the ladder and onto the bottom floor. Once on the ground floor, he headed over towards the fire pit in the center of the room. Then, they began to eat their meal in companionable silence.

After the last morsel had been devoured, Ranma glanced up at Akane and smiled, Hey! That was great Akane! You didn't burn anything. I think you're getting better.

Akane blinked as her cheeks flushed in pleasure at his complement. Grinning sheepishly, she gazed into his eyes to see if he really meant what he had just said.

Yes, really, Ranma replied as he smiled.

Oh, Thank you! Akane yelled, throwing herself across the space that separated them. Akane enveloped him in a crushing hug that rivaled one of Shan-Pu's glomps before planting a heated kiss directly on his lips. Ranma froze in surprise for the second time in the past week before his instincts kicked in and he started to kiss her back.

Oh my god! I can't believe I just did that. He probably things I'm being too forward, Akane thought in embarrassment. Suddenly, she wrenched herself away and was on the opposite side of the room, her face as scarlet as Ranma-chan's hair. she babbled incoherently while making a dash for the ladder.


Ranma grinned stupidly as he watched Akane climb the ladder, S-she did it again!


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