Chapter 7 –Desires for Dreams.

The next day dawned a beautiful one, sunny and breezy. Ranma woke up and stretched out with a smile remembering the previous night. Akane, he sighed and his smile grew. No, not yet – the thought developed – you told Ukyo she was not involved. Don't involve her now. It will be dangerous for her. Wait until things settle down. So Ranma waited.

And things did settle down. For the first few days, Shampoo glared at him whenever they met. Then she settled down to ignoring him.

Kodachi was not seen and Kuno confessed to Nabiki that he had been trying his best to convince Kodachi to find a university abroad for her studies.

Ukyo was the hardest to deal with. Whenever Ranma tried to talk to her, there was so much hate in her eyes that he felt scalded. She avoided him and after a while, Ranma just let go.

There was only one person who was worried at the Tendos. It was Nabiki. Nabiki watched the days slip by and told Ranma, "You had better do it Ranma, you had better do it now." But the only answer she received was "I'm going to do it, I just need to give Ukyo some time first before she hears about Akane and me."

"Well, take your time and there won't be any Akane and you," Nabiki had snapped back at him before leaving and Ranma's eyes had followed her in worry but he still had not done it. Akane loves me, he told himself, she cares as much as I do. But he never asked himself why his heart did not lighten at his words. Why his heart seemed to disbelieve.

And what Nabiki had prophesied happened.

Akane's scream rang through the house. Ranma was on his feet and in the living room in seconds. He found a squealing Akane dancing around their fathers and the Go board. In one hand Akane clenched a letter and the other grabbed Ranma's hand as she pulled him in her mad dance. He laughed as he followed her hopping which brought Nabiki and Kasumi. Nabiki contented herself with lifting an eyebrow carefully drawing a mask over her worried features while Kasumi giggled softly at the sight. Their fathers ignored them completely.

Ranma was the one to ask the question. He stopped her and laid both his hands on her shoulders.

"Ok Akane," he gasped trying to catch his breath, "What is it?"

"Ranma! I did it! I did it!" she hopped from one foot to the other. He smiled at her waiting for her to continue.

"It's the letter of admission to the Tokyo Institute of Commerce and Arts! I did it!" she never noticed the reactions of those around her in her happiness.

Soun and Genma's eyes snapped to Ranma before both were on their feet and engulfing Akane in their arms, hiding Ranma from her.

Kasumi paled and Nabiki hand fell on her arm. Both sisters laid a hand on his shoulder as they went towards their little sister.

Ranma felt nothing. Nothing at all. The news had hit him and then there was a sudden blank in his mind. Then came the pain. The engulfing pain and Ranma fought. Fought with himself. Fought to bring down the pain. Not yet, damn you, not yet. He pushed and kicked and finally the tearing pain that threatened to engulf him grew silent, waiting in the shadows, giving Ranma the respite he needed so much. And he turned to Akane with a smile, the dead smile of a clown, the mask that enabled him to face the world. And when the others parted and he hugged her, there was nothing else that he wanted more in the world but to have her in his arms. The sorrow that welled up in his throat was sweet, so bittersweet. He would have stopped time to keep her right where she was, he would have petrified them both if it could have made this moment last forever. And then she pulled away and for just a second, his arms tightened promising never to let go but Ranma forced them open and Akane was gone. The sweetness was gone and pain reared up instantly. Ranma swiftly turned away and he was out of the door in mere seconds. Running, running away from the pain and yet it ate at him, tore him apart, trying to destroy him. For how long he ran, he did not know. And when he did stop, his legs gave away and he fell to his knees, lifting his head to scream at the heavens. But it was only a whimper that came, a whimper of pain. He buried his face in his hands and felt the tearing sobs rise up. No, he would not let them come. If he did, they would destroy him. He slowly got to his feet, lifted a fist and pulled it back as he stared at the tree before him and let the fist fly with all his strength. And pulled it back just before it hit its target, pulled it back so hard.

His fist was encased in Akane's left hand and the strength of the hit pushed her whole body back. But she never let it go. Her feet slipped back and her back touched the tree but her hand absorbed the hit and stopped it.

"Akane," it was a whisper as he stared into the deep brown eyes staring back at him. His fist flattened so that his hand rested against hers and then his body moved of its own volition as his fingers slid up and linked with her and his body moved to her. He moved until they were nearly touching, until she had to lift her head to stare at him, until all she could see was him and lifted both their hands until their hands and arms were resting over their heads, against the tree. He stepped forward and her soft body was encased between the tree and him. He could feel her legs against his, feel her breasts brushing against his chest each time she took a breath. Her eyes never left his. He lifted his free hand and touched her cheek, cupped it, and then slid his hand down to her jaw, lifting it. Her heart already racing heart speeded up against him and he leaned his body into hers and his head slowly descended towards her. Her lips opened of their own underneath his and gently, slowly his lips traced hers, his tongue tasted them and then slipped into her mouth. Her taste exploded into his mouth, overfilled his senses until there was nothing left of the world but this woman against him. His hand slipped in her hair and tugged gently lifting her head some more and giving him more access before getting lost in the dark silky tresses. Ranma forgot everything as he took his sweet time exploring her mouth. A moan rose from her throat and he lost control, his mouth ravishing hers, his hand tightening into her hair, his body pressing her deep into the tree. Akane was lost in her feelings, in every new one that rose with each of Ranma's moves. Each flicker of tongue brought a new emotion, each shift of his body brought a new yearning as Akane clenched her hand in his hair, wanting more and moaned.

Ranma would forever thank that thin whisper of sanity that rose at that moment. The whisper that said just one word "No!" The only thing that prevented him from taking her there and then. And Ranma tore his mouth from Akane's. He fell forward, his free arm going around her to rest a hand on the hard bark and protect her back from it as she took the weigh of his body. He pressed his face into her thick hair. And they fell softly against his cheeks, hiding his face. Akane felt his labored breathing, felt him wrestling control, felt him trying to piece back the shattered pieces of their world.

"Akane," his whisper was hoarse. She turned her head until her nose pressed against his cheek and murmured "Ssshh". They stayed that way, pressed into each other, their faces touching, their hands linked for a long time. And finally he was the one to pull back his head and he stared at her as her eyes fluttered open. A smile grew on his face, a smile so tender that Akane thought she would melt as she found him staring at her.

"Why Akane? Why did you follow me?" he asked huskily.

"I promised you to be here," was her simple reply.

"And this, was this a friend's caring too?" he couldn't help asking, he needed to know.

"No, this was Akane. Only Akane," she smiled.

"Only Akane," he murmured the words in appreciation before his lips slanted down on hers once more.

Then he pulled back and pulled her with him, his hand slipping into her as his scanning eyes found a place to sit under the tree. Slowly he they sat down.

"We need to talk, Akane," - HE needed to talk to her.

"I know Ranma,"

"Why Akane, why go so far? Why not to the community institute? Why not with Nabiki?" his voice was soft and yet so urgent.

"It's what I always wanted Ranma," she answered.

"Once you would have let this dream go for another," his heart hurt, it hurt so much.

"Once one dream was enough, now... I want both Ranma," she slowly replied. Long seconds ticked by and then she heard Ranma's soft laughter.

He lifted his head to the skies still laughing softly and said, "Both dreams, huh, Akane? I think that can be done." And he laughed some more.

His blue-grey eyes smiled at the heavens and his whole body felt the soft laughter reverberating through him as the most beautiful music that had ever existed. She wanted both dreams, both dreams. The words went around in his head. She was giving him half of the deal. She wanted him in her life. She had not refused him. And it was not the friend that wanted him in her life but it was, Only Akane. She was giving him time and he knew that she couldn't know that she had saved him again. Each time, she did it. Each time she did it in her own way. And each time he loved her some more.

She felt his laughter and his joy and she briefly wondered about the happiness in her heart. But when she found no answer, she let it go. The answers came in their own time, she had found out, just as everything happened in its own time. And she just accepted the happiness and let it be. And when he turned to smile at her, her smile was there for him and the happiness that shone so freely in her eyes made his heart race. It always had, it always would.

They walked home hand in hand. Soun and Genma's smile illuminated the living room. Nabiki rushed down from her room as soon as she heard their steps and stopped dead when she saw them. Then she yelled, "Yes!" and jumped on them, hugging the life out of them. Kasumi smiled in the kitchen. Soun pulled Ranma in a hug and Genma did the same for Akane.

"Take care of her Ranma," he said gently.

"Take care of him Akane," Genma said at the same time. Both men looked at each other, then they were slapping each other's back saying together, "That's why were friends!"

Kasumi walked into the room, bearing plates and bowls on food and as she deposited them on the table, the delicious smell of her cooking wafted up but something seemed different. It was her special dishes for special occasions. They all turned to her.

"Well, we must celebrate," she said reasonably.

"And how did you know sis?" was Nabiki's puzzled question.

"Oh but, I always knew," she smiled serenely at her sister and then pulled Akane in a bear-hug, murmuring in her ear, "But there were times when I did have my doubts," and then she went to Ranma hugging him too as she said, "Welcome to the family, brother"

The night brought a new family. It brought happiness and echoing laughter and it brought Ranma the life that he had always dreamed of.

Akane watched her family and thanked the heavens for them and for her. But how would it be once she was gone – she wondered – and how would it be when she came back.

Ranma saw her questions in her eyes and he smiled. Yes, how would it be?

Life had always brought them surprises but what kind it did it have up its sleeves for them, both of them wondered about it.

My Notes :

Thanks again for the reviews. They were so encouraging.

Thanks The Crimson Fop, Shadow Knight, Ahsayuni, ThePinkSpider, Makotojs, Opal Soul, Flameraven, LittleDragon5, Baby K, Bunny, bittersweetKandy, lady destiny, Patirick, Final-Fan, D-Chan, Gorgo and all of you guys who give me the inspiration to go on with the story ;o)

To Gorgo : Please don't call me "Sir". I'm just Rhiannon and I'm a girl – thanks for your great suggestions :o)