Legal Note: N/A *************************************************************************************

Chapter Nine: Akane

I came back in time that afternoon to find Ranma sleeping on the beach. He was all tan now, and was looking pretty handsome. I threw a shell at him waking him up. He looked over to me as if I was a ghost, but at least there was no hatred on his face.

"What do you want?" He scoffed looking away.

"In two hours you'll fight Samba."

"How did the lessons go?" He didn't seem interested in the lessons, but what occurred between Samba and me.

"I still stink. I did learn a bit though." All day I tried, and I still failed.

"What did you guys do? You weren't always in the water." I was right. He wanted to know about Samba and me.

"Samba told me he wanted me to date him if he won, and I accepted. If you win you get me as you do now." He turned to me both in shock and nervousness.

"You did that?! If I lose you'll break our engagement and go out with Tango?" He was real mad now as he stood flailing his arms about.

"What's it matter Ranma? We weren't really a couple." He hated me so why did this upset him. I'm relieved I'm more relieved that if he loses I dump him, but he isn't.

"Still, Akane I spent all day preparing, so I doubt I'd lose. Akane you will remain my fiancée." He looked at me determined to win. What made him do such?

"I'd rather not be with either of you." I crossed my arms walking away. He caught up with me and I expected him to be miffed, but he wasn't.

"Is that so?" I nodded agreeing with my previous words. "Akane I will win. I can't afford to lose a match to some loser who loves you." He went ahead of me entering our beach home were Kasumi and Mrs. Saotome had a sweet n' sour pork rice dish ready for dinner. Ranma wanted to win?

The match was being held in a stadium that resembled an ice rink, but a large rectangular pool was on the floor instead of a rink. It was a heated pool so Ranma wouldn't have to worry about going girl. Ranma stood at one end in black swim trunks and Samba at the other end in dark blue trunks.

"Are you ready Ramen?" Samba said with a smile as if he weren't a bit nervous.

"It's Ranma, and yes. I will win Samba." Ranma looked on very determined.

"You think you can beat me, the best in marine martial arts?" Samba scoffed looking to the crowd.

"This match will decide that." Ranma said looking to me as I stood to the side. I was on the middle of the sidelines to watch. He looked to me as if he wanted something, but I just turned to Samba.

"Than we battle!" Samba yelled with a smile as a gun went off and the two were soon in the pool. Ranma moved across the pool punching Samba from under the water before surfacing while elbowing Samba. "I underestimated you a bit. I'll actually have to try." Samba moved hitting Ranma with multiple waves made by his punches. Ranma countered with his own waves. "Watch my attack! Aqua Blast!"

"Aqua Blast?" Ranma's eyes went wide as Samba got him in a burst of water throwing Ranma to the air. He plummeted back into the water, and soon he was back to the surface. "That's it?" Ranma acted like it wasn't much, but he was hurt a bit and was gasping for air.

"No. Kelpie Twister!" Samba spun unleashing a small twister of water throwing Ranma to the air where he is met by Samba. Samba hits him two times in the chest then kicks him downward. Ranma hit the edge of his side of the pool and sank into the water.

"He's done for." I heard Samba say this, and I got scared. I was about to go for Ranma, but he came up just then. Ranma swam to Samba, but was punched and came back into the water. He came up floating on the water with his back to the water. "You still conscious?"

"R-Ranma! You can do this!" I don't know why I yelled out to him, but it snapped him awake. Both of the guys were looking to me. Samba in confusion and Ranma with a sign of joy, maybe. He did look more prepared to fight than he did earlier.

"Samba lets finish this." Ranma actually got his name right that time.

"Yes, lets." I noticed both of their battle auras were large. Each seems to have an equal chance of winning too. Who's going to win me?

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People are still reading this right? If you aren't you'll miss out on the best chapter I just wrote. It's really good, and it's the reason Akane has wanted to swim.

More Reviews the more chapters. If I get two for each of these next two chapters I'll go to the end.