Legal Note: You know by now that I don't own Ranma so I won't bother to mention it anymore. There was much rejoicing.

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Chapter Five: Akane

We walked together down a street until we came to a club of some sort. Ranma got us in and we came to an in-ground pool. It was rather large and probably very deep at the one end.

"Here we are Akane." Ranma led me to a chair where he put our stuff down. "You ready?"

"To swim?" I was a bit surprised that he already expected me to go in. "You haven't taught me anything yet."

"We're just gonna go in the shallow end." He scoffed. "There's no way you could drown there."

He took me toward the pool past the other people. There weren't too many really. Only about ten of them in the water and they were all over in the deep end.

"Here goes." He took my hand leading me into the water. It was cold and I saw him change to a girl. "It's not so bad huh Akane? Akane?" I was already under water. He scooped me up bringing me over to the steps used to get in the pool. "How do you drown in four feet deep water?!" I was disappointed as I hung my head low. Ranma took my chin in his hand and turned my head to meet his eyes. What was he gonna do?

"Uh, Ranma." Shook his head coming out of a daze. "We should try again." He nodded wearing a red face.

"Right. This time I'll hold onto you as you move your arms like this." He motioned his arms as if treading the air. I nodded as he brought me back out. He held me from under my shoulder.

"I can do this." I began treading the water with my arms. I let out a laugh when I was actually getting it right.

"Okay now kick your legs slightly to tread the water." I began to do as he said and was succeeding. "Okay now try without me." He let go of me and I went under and came back up thrashing. I was drowning again.

He got me in an embrace and led us back over to the side as I took a deep breath and he sighed. "Don't worry about it Akane. It was your first try." That's when I realized he was still holding onto me. "Oh, sorry." He let go of me embarrassed, but it was okay.

"That's three times you've saved me now." I looked away from him sitting on the edge.

"I know you want to swim."

"It's not too important." Why'd I tell him this lie?

"No it is. Knowing how to swim is important Akane. I've got an idea." He gave me a smile that kind of made me smile as well. What was he up to?

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Thanks to:

Xan again: See he went girl.

Mary: He called her pathetic. I don't remember that part. Anyway Ranma has mixed feelings and he'll hate her one sec and love her the next.