Personal thanks:
Sacchi: Ryoga is ok!! I promise you that. He is to stubborn to pass out in
an alley. Trust me on this.
abc: I'll try to make sure everyone is happy in the end. Darkfics aren't my specialty. I don't even like reading them personally..
Delirium's Hostage: Everyone is special, in their own little way. My parents think I am very 'special'. lol
V-chan: What can I say, I like writing. You may have another surprise if I get the next chapter of this out today. I'll do my best to. It isn't like I have anything better to do. Maybe schoolwork, but I am probably the biggest procrastinator it is, when it comes to school. I bet you I will be finishing up my webpage during lunch on the due date.
Lil Washu: I am a fan of Ryoga and Ukyo, but I'm not sure if it is going to turn out that way. I have to see where I go with Ranma and Akane first. No worries, Ryoga will be happy in the end!
dennisud: I am trying to make Soun and Genma stay as far away from the pair as possible. They can only screw things up as far as the relationship goes. I know exactly where I am going with this, so I won't get burned out. I am sad to say that there are not that many chapters left to go. Oh well, by then I should think of another idea and probably get that one out at the same rate.
AngelicFairy: Who says that only being able to check your email means no fanfiction. Because I know how you feel, I will personally email you when knew chapters come out. Lucky for me, I have my own laptop with internet connection. Don't worry, you will have all updates for this fanfic!
Japanese Goth: I like to mention everyone who reviews for the last chapter. You go out of your way to do it, so I think I should recognize it and let you know that I am thankful for your time. I'm keeping at it, here is the next chapter!
Ranchan: You kept telling me to put in a game title, and I was searching around the mbs when I came across the thread, so I thought 'Hey, why not?'. I don't know if it is winter, or just a cold front (Mrs. Evans would love to read that), but it is cold outside. Just go with it.
gorillazgal86: I want the Inu Yasha game, but I don't have a ps1. I'm also broke, which doesn't help. Of course Ranma went after Akane. If he didn't, Soun and his demon head would be on his case real quick. Thanks for helping me get 100 reviews, it means a lot!
butterfly: We are just gonna go with the 'Akane was a popsicle so she let Ranma get away with it', k? I don't like them fighting to much, takes away from all the romance part of the romance fic.
Disclaimer: Insert a disclaimer here and pretend I wrote it.
Thoughts are in 'quotations'.
They took the long way home. Kasumi greeted them at the door, exasperated with worry. "Akane, I'm so glad you are home? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Kasumi. Really, I'm just hungry. Is there any dinner left?" Akane slid out of Ranma's jacket and slipped off her shoes.
"Why of course there is. Ranma, you didn't finish yours either. I'll bring some warm soup up. You two look frozen solid. Go and get warm underneath some blankets. I put all the extras we had in your room. Go on now, I'll get your supper." She shooed the two upstairs.
Akane and Ranma settled in the room, sharing two blankets. "Brrr" Akane shivered. Ranma put his arm around her and she felt how overheated his body was. She was worried about him. He shouldn't have been out there tonight. "Are you sure that you are alright?"
He took away the hand she had placed on his forehead. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm fine? I would have a fever whether I went out there or not. It was good for me to get some fresh air. I'm perfectly ok, save for the chicken pox. Relax."
"I just want you to be well. Is that alright with you?" She crossed her arms defiantly.
"That's fine but you don't have to worry so much. I can take care of myself." When her stony disposition didn't change, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "It's nice to know you care though."
She was about to reply when Kasumi came with the soup. "Nice and hot, this will warm you up." She looked at the red 16-year-olds who were on separate sides of a futon, even if there was a blanket keeping them together. "Enjoy!" Kasumi smiled and left.
Akane and Ranma ate there wonderful supper, which helped them stay tepid. After a sip of broth, Akane said, "I fell kind of bad."
"About what?" Ranma asked with his mouth full.
"It's almost like I am sneaking around with you behind my families back."
"Well, aren't you?"
"Yes, but I feel awful about it. I don't like to keep secrets from them."
"Well," Ranma began as he set his empty bowl aside. "Unless we want a priest here to marry us tomorrow we have to keep it a secret. Either that or we don't see each other anymore. You don't wanna pick those choices, do you?" He was frightened of what she would answer.
"No, I guess not. We will tell them sooner or later right? I hope they take it ok." She flashbacked to Ryoga and Ukyo's shocked faces when the two say them kissing.
"Our families will be thrilled. Mousse'll be happy because Shampoo will be free. I just hope Kodachi, Shampoo, or the old ghoul won't do anything crazy. Wouldn't put it past 'em." Ranma scratched his arm and looked up when Akane held it in his hand.
"What are you doing? I told you not to scratch." She was finished with her dinner also, and set the two bowls outside the door so Kasumi wouldn't have to come in the room to bring them downstairs.
"It itches. When something itches you scratch it." He scratched his neck.
"A real man wouldn't need to scratch. He would be able to handle it." Akane bated him with the suggestion that he wasn't a real man.
"What exactly are you implying? I can stop my self from scratching. You just watch." He gripped the edge of the futon and gritted his teeth. Staring at a spatula that Kasumi had missed when she was cleaning, he tried to think of anything else but how much it itched. 'Akane. I'll think about her. Stupid girl, going out in the cold. She could have really gotten hurt or something. I'm glad she is alright though. Man, I need to scratch.' He closed his eyes and moaned as he slowly removed his iron grip on the mattress and moved it towards his body.
Once again, Akane intercepted it and laughed. "It'll be ok, come here." She held up the bottle of lotion that was a God send for him and Ranma gave her the most appreciative smile she had ever seen on his face.
As she smoothed the lotion over his hot, chicken-poxed body she talked to him. When she finally registered that he wasn't listening she began to fool around with his mind. "I don't think I'm gonna finish high school. I'll just open up my own restaurant instead and you can be the taste tester."
"Mmmm,"
"The Jusenkyo guide sent some Naniichuan, but I think I'm going to give it to your father."
"Ok, more to the left."
"How about if we get a cat or two? Wouldn't that be nice?"
"Huh? Ok, whatever."
Now she started to get angry. "I'm eloping with Kuno tomorrow and Kodachi will be your new cook."
"That's nice."
She whacked him lightly over the head with the plastic bottle. "Baka! You aren't paying attention to anything I'm saying!"
"What?" He turned to look at her. "Oh, yeah, sorry, that just felt really nice." He blushed sheepishly.
"Well, I'm finished and we should go to sleep. It's pretty late." She went over to Mr. Saotomes futon, glad that the old man had taken refuge on the couch since Ranma had gotten sick. She took half of the extra blankets with her, leaving the rest for Ranma. She turned off the light. "Good night, Ranma."
"Night, Akane." He wished that he could have held her until he fell asleep, but he was covered in the lotion. 'Maybe tomorrow I can take one of those nice baths before bed and I won't need the lotion.' He settled underneath his blankets. "Hey, Akane?"
"Yes, Ranma?"
"I'm cold."
She frowned, but threw her heaviest blanket over to him. "There you go. Good night."
"Good night, Akane." He paused, then whispered, "Sweet dreams." She heard and smiled all through the night, which made her dreams good ones.
She woke when she heard a knock on the door. Getting up from the futon, she noticed Ranma was still sleeping and smiled at him. "Good morning, Nabiki," She told her older sister as she let her in the room.
"Hello. I'm glad to see you got in alright. You scared us a little bit with your late excursions. Here." She held out a small black pig with a bandanna tied around his neck. "I found him shortly after you left. I would have brought him to you after you got home last night, but I didn't think you and Ranma wanted to be interrupted." She looked at the sleeping martial artist and waggled her eyebrows at Akane.
"Nabiki! How could you even think something like that? Nothing happened!" She set the pig on the floor, who walked over to Ranma.
"Sure, sis, whatever you say." Nabiki winked. "See you later."
Akane closed the door behind her and turned to her pet. "Can you believe her, P-chan. Thinking I would do something like that with Ranma." She watched the piglet sit a foot away from the aforementioned male and smiled lightly. "Are you worried about him too? I knew you couldn't hate him that much."
She began to fold the blankets from last night. "Could you wake him up for mommy? I wanna see how he is feeling." The pig nodded, willing to do anything for her. He nudged Ranma's arm with his snout. Jumping back in pain, he ran behind Akane, huddled in fear.
"P-chan, what is it? What is wrong?" She knelt down and rested a hand in Ranma's arm. It was like fire! Pulling her hand back, she realized that this must have been how Ranma felt during his Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken training. She quickly found the thermometer and urged it in his mouth, under his tongue. After three minutes of intense waiting she pulled it out. Her heart reached her throat as she read the high number. 104.5.
Rushing to the door, she called out, "Nabiki, either call Dr. Tofu or the hospital. Ranma is really sick!"
A/N: I meant to finish this chapter up last night. I was tired so I just decided to do it today. Sorry if you were waiting with your life for it. I may get up another chapter today to make up for it. I'll just have to see how my day goes.
Some warm fuzzy moments there, along with a cliffhanger ending. You all should be used to them by now, if you are an active reader of this. I sure hope you are. Questions, comments, reactions, and reviews are highly appreciated.
abc: I'll try to make sure everyone is happy in the end. Darkfics aren't my specialty. I don't even like reading them personally..
Delirium's Hostage: Everyone is special, in their own little way. My parents think I am very 'special'. lol
V-chan: What can I say, I like writing. You may have another surprise if I get the next chapter of this out today. I'll do my best to. It isn't like I have anything better to do. Maybe schoolwork, but I am probably the biggest procrastinator it is, when it comes to school. I bet you I will be finishing up my webpage during lunch on the due date.
Lil Washu: I am a fan of Ryoga and Ukyo, but I'm not sure if it is going to turn out that way. I have to see where I go with Ranma and Akane first. No worries, Ryoga will be happy in the end!
dennisud: I am trying to make Soun and Genma stay as far away from the pair as possible. They can only screw things up as far as the relationship goes. I know exactly where I am going with this, so I won't get burned out. I am sad to say that there are not that many chapters left to go. Oh well, by then I should think of another idea and probably get that one out at the same rate.
AngelicFairy: Who says that only being able to check your email means no fanfiction. Because I know how you feel, I will personally email you when knew chapters come out. Lucky for me, I have my own laptop with internet connection. Don't worry, you will have all updates for this fanfic!
Japanese Goth: I like to mention everyone who reviews for the last chapter. You go out of your way to do it, so I think I should recognize it and let you know that I am thankful for your time. I'm keeping at it, here is the next chapter!
Ranchan: You kept telling me to put in a game title, and I was searching around the mbs when I came across the thread, so I thought 'Hey, why not?'. I don't know if it is winter, or just a cold front (Mrs. Evans would love to read that), but it is cold outside. Just go with it.
gorillazgal86: I want the Inu Yasha game, but I don't have a ps1. I'm also broke, which doesn't help. Of course Ranma went after Akane. If he didn't, Soun and his demon head would be on his case real quick. Thanks for helping me get 100 reviews, it means a lot!
butterfly: We are just gonna go with the 'Akane was a popsicle so she let Ranma get away with it', k? I don't like them fighting to much, takes away from all the romance part of the romance fic.
Disclaimer: Insert a disclaimer here and pretend I wrote it.
Thoughts are in 'quotations'.
They took the long way home. Kasumi greeted them at the door, exasperated with worry. "Akane, I'm so glad you are home? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Kasumi. Really, I'm just hungry. Is there any dinner left?" Akane slid out of Ranma's jacket and slipped off her shoes.
"Why of course there is. Ranma, you didn't finish yours either. I'll bring some warm soup up. You two look frozen solid. Go and get warm underneath some blankets. I put all the extras we had in your room. Go on now, I'll get your supper." She shooed the two upstairs.
Akane and Ranma settled in the room, sharing two blankets. "Brrr" Akane shivered. Ranma put his arm around her and she felt how overheated his body was. She was worried about him. He shouldn't have been out there tonight. "Are you sure that you are alright?"
He took away the hand she had placed on his forehead. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm fine? I would have a fever whether I went out there or not. It was good for me to get some fresh air. I'm perfectly ok, save for the chicken pox. Relax."
"I just want you to be well. Is that alright with you?" She crossed her arms defiantly.
"That's fine but you don't have to worry so much. I can take care of myself." When her stony disposition didn't change, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "It's nice to know you care though."
She was about to reply when Kasumi came with the soup. "Nice and hot, this will warm you up." She looked at the red 16-year-olds who were on separate sides of a futon, even if there was a blanket keeping them together. "Enjoy!" Kasumi smiled and left.
Akane and Ranma ate there wonderful supper, which helped them stay tepid. After a sip of broth, Akane said, "I fell kind of bad."
"About what?" Ranma asked with his mouth full.
"It's almost like I am sneaking around with you behind my families back."
"Well, aren't you?"
"Yes, but I feel awful about it. I don't like to keep secrets from them."
"Well," Ranma began as he set his empty bowl aside. "Unless we want a priest here to marry us tomorrow we have to keep it a secret. Either that or we don't see each other anymore. You don't wanna pick those choices, do you?" He was frightened of what she would answer.
"No, I guess not. We will tell them sooner or later right? I hope they take it ok." She flashbacked to Ryoga and Ukyo's shocked faces when the two say them kissing.
"Our families will be thrilled. Mousse'll be happy because Shampoo will be free. I just hope Kodachi, Shampoo, or the old ghoul won't do anything crazy. Wouldn't put it past 'em." Ranma scratched his arm and looked up when Akane held it in his hand.
"What are you doing? I told you not to scratch." She was finished with her dinner also, and set the two bowls outside the door so Kasumi wouldn't have to come in the room to bring them downstairs.
"It itches. When something itches you scratch it." He scratched his neck.
"A real man wouldn't need to scratch. He would be able to handle it." Akane bated him with the suggestion that he wasn't a real man.
"What exactly are you implying? I can stop my self from scratching. You just watch." He gripped the edge of the futon and gritted his teeth. Staring at a spatula that Kasumi had missed when she was cleaning, he tried to think of anything else but how much it itched. 'Akane. I'll think about her. Stupid girl, going out in the cold. She could have really gotten hurt or something. I'm glad she is alright though. Man, I need to scratch.' He closed his eyes and moaned as he slowly removed his iron grip on the mattress and moved it towards his body.
Once again, Akane intercepted it and laughed. "It'll be ok, come here." She held up the bottle of lotion that was a God send for him and Ranma gave her the most appreciative smile she had ever seen on his face.
As she smoothed the lotion over his hot, chicken-poxed body she talked to him. When she finally registered that he wasn't listening she began to fool around with his mind. "I don't think I'm gonna finish high school. I'll just open up my own restaurant instead and you can be the taste tester."
"Mmmm,"
"The Jusenkyo guide sent some Naniichuan, but I think I'm going to give it to your father."
"Ok, more to the left."
"How about if we get a cat or two? Wouldn't that be nice?"
"Huh? Ok, whatever."
Now she started to get angry. "I'm eloping with Kuno tomorrow and Kodachi will be your new cook."
"That's nice."
She whacked him lightly over the head with the plastic bottle. "Baka! You aren't paying attention to anything I'm saying!"
"What?" He turned to look at her. "Oh, yeah, sorry, that just felt really nice." He blushed sheepishly.
"Well, I'm finished and we should go to sleep. It's pretty late." She went over to Mr. Saotomes futon, glad that the old man had taken refuge on the couch since Ranma had gotten sick. She took half of the extra blankets with her, leaving the rest for Ranma. She turned off the light. "Good night, Ranma."
"Night, Akane." He wished that he could have held her until he fell asleep, but he was covered in the lotion. 'Maybe tomorrow I can take one of those nice baths before bed and I won't need the lotion.' He settled underneath his blankets. "Hey, Akane?"
"Yes, Ranma?"
"I'm cold."
She frowned, but threw her heaviest blanket over to him. "There you go. Good night."
"Good night, Akane." He paused, then whispered, "Sweet dreams." She heard and smiled all through the night, which made her dreams good ones.
She woke when she heard a knock on the door. Getting up from the futon, she noticed Ranma was still sleeping and smiled at him. "Good morning, Nabiki," She told her older sister as she let her in the room.
"Hello. I'm glad to see you got in alright. You scared us a little bit with your late excursions. Here." She held out a small black pig with a bandanna tied around his neck. "I found him shortly after you left. I would have brought him to you after you got home last night, but I didn't think you and Ranma wanted to be interrupted." She looked at the sleeping martial artist and waggled her eyebrows at Akane.
"Nabiki! How could you even think something like that? Nothing happened!" She set the pig on the floor, who walked over to Ranma.
"Sure, sis, whatever you say." Nabiki winked. "See you later."
Akane closed the door behind her and turned to her pet. "Can you believe her, P-chan. Thinking I would do something like that with Ranma." She watched the piglet sit a foot away from the aforementioned male and smiled lightly. "Are you worried about him too? I knew you couldn't hate him that much."
She began to fold the blankets from last night. "Could you wake him up for mommy? I wanna see how he is feeling." The pig nodded, willing to do anything for her. He nudged Ranma's arm with his snout. Jumping back in pain, he ran behind Akane, huddled in fear.
"P-chan, what is it? What is wrong?" She knelt down and rested a hand in Ranma's arm. It was like fire! Pulling her hand back, she realized that this must have been how Ranma felt during his Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken training. She quickly found the thermometer and urged it in his mouth, under his tongue. After three minutes of intense waiting she pulled it out. Her heart reached her throat as she read the high number. 104.5.
Rushing to the door, she called out, "Nabiki, either call Dr. Tofu or the hospital. Ranma is really sick!"
A/N: I meant to finish this chapter up last night. I was tired so I just decided to do it today. Sorry if you were waiting with your life for it. I may get up another chapter today to make up for it. I'll just have to see how my day goes.
Some warm fuzzy moments there, along with a cliffhanger ending. You all should be used to them by now, if you are an active reader of this. I sure hope you are. Questions, comments, reactions, and reviews are highly appreciated.