Chapter 2 –  First Taste

Shinosuke climbed up the winding staircase to the tall tower found in the middle of the forest behind the palace; the secret apartments of Ranma. Only those he trusted completely knew of them. The only door that led out of these apartments gave to a tunnel that was connected to Ranma's bedchamber in the palace. It was the only way out of the tower. Shinosuke navigated through the maze of chambers and corridors and finally came to a bedchamber. He threw Akane down on a bed and then leaned forward almost against his will to take off the sack that he had thrown over her head and untie her binds. She never stirred in her deep sleep brought on by the potion that she had inhaled from the cloth he had held to her mouth and nose. She looked so peaceful and he turned away from her disgusted by himself and walked away, banging the door shut behind him. He gave orders to the five men who would be around. They were no palace guards but his own men, mercenaries with no pity and no mercy for anyone. They nodded acquiescence to the man who held their trust, the man for whom they had killed children and tortured women. The man who had been there for them when no one else had. The man they would give their life for.

"Do we get..." the man had no time to end his sentence when Shinosuke was already shaking his head and saying, "Do not lay a hand on her" and then he left.

Shinosuke went back to his own chambers for a long soaking bath and called for one of his personal maids. One of the maids that he had taught how to pleasure him. She came to him with a seductive smile as she dropped her dress and slipped into the warm-water filled tub. And he laid his head back on the edge and relaxed and she worked her fingers and her mouth on him. And yet, his mind brought him only pictures of a young girl that was imprisoned not far, of moonlight caressing her features and of huge brown eyes staring up at him. The images clung to his mind until finally frustrated; he fisted a hand in the young maid's hair, grasped her from his body and threw her away. The girl hit the edge of the tub without a sound and got out without a word to pick up her clothes and leave at his harsh "Get out." Shinosuke climbed out of the water and got dressed, even more frustrated than before. He found Ranma in bed with Xian Pu draped over him. Ranma pushed Xian Pu away and pulled on his robe before greeting his friend. The naked Xian Pu stretched out her limbs and found herself a comfortable position on the huge soft bed. Shinosuke's glance touched the body of a goddess that was hers before jumping away disgustedly. Ranma laughed at his friend.

"Why do you find her so disgusting?" Ranma asked as he poured a drink for his friend.

"She is," came the harsh answer and Shinosuke downed his glass as the golden eyes of Xian Pu stare malevolently at him.

"When are you going to see her?" he asked Ranma.

The young man's smile disappeared as his face set in a hard mask and he answered, "Tonight."

Akane woke up to find that the afternoon had already fallen. Her head was throbbing and her stomach growling. She sat up and stared at her surroundings. The room was richly furnished. The bed she was on was high, large and soft with silk sheets and coverlet. There was a stuffed armchair by the fireplace and an unbarred window. Akane rushed to the window, only to find herself staring at the top of a forest of trees. No, she screamed inwardly, gripping the soft drapes that fell from the ceiling to the ground, held back by a hand-made silver rope. She wanted to scream but jumped when the door swung open. A tall heavily-built man regarded her from the doorway and smiled. Her skin crawled at the smile.

"The little princess is finally awake," he said as he lay down the tray of food on a small table. Akane stared at him and his eyes widened as his glance traveled down her body.

"Not so little after all," he grinned as he approached her and suddenly swung a hand to grab her. Akane jumped over his head and as he whirred to face her, her foot connected sharply with his face, opening his cheek. A grunt came out from him as he snarled, "You bitch!"

"Asuke, enough!" the order stopped him. The man issuing the order was standing in the doorway. Tall and slender, his long raven hair falling to his shoulders, he stood with an aura of strength. Asuke went still and finally he turned away and walked out of the room holding a hand to his cheek, the door banging shut behind both men. Akane's breath slowed and after a moment she moved to the tray of food and gobbled it down. The man with the raven hair had been the one who had kidnapped her, she remembered. Her aching head made her lie down on the bed and she soon fell into deep slumber.

That was how Ranma found her. He had sent the men away wanting to see her alone. There was no way the girl could get away with Ranma there. He was even better than Shinosuke. Ranma found her sleeping. She looked so small in that big bed that for an instant his heart clenched for her and then he remembered with disgust and hate that she was a Tendo and she was his way out of this goddamn war. Killing two birds with a stone. He stood watching her for a long moment and then sat down on the edge of the bed and reached a hand to touch her face. His hand was deflected with a stinging slash and the girl was out of the bed and standing on the other side. She regarded him with anger even as he lifted angry blue-grey eyes to her. Akane stared at the tall lean young man and instinctively knew that he was Ranma Saotome.

"Come here!" the command lashed out at her and she lifted her chin and threw back, "When hell freezes over!"

"Don't make me come to get you," his voice had turned silky as he watched her and even then she stayed put with no fear in her eyes. Anger overwhelmed him and he was vaulting over the bed even as Akane watched. But she was no novice in the martial arts. Her fist shot out and was stopped by a cupped hand. Ranma smiled at the girl and the air left him as her other fist planted itself in his stomach. She was good, he realized. He would take pleasure in besting her. His cupping hand became a steel manacle as he slipped behind her and her arm was twisted behind her back. Pain exploded in Akane's shoulder and still she pushed forward, twisting the other way, her hand clenching straight, her slash making for his neck even as she heard the sickening crunch of her breaking shoulder. Ranma deflected her slash letting her go to do so. And she stood, an arm hanging limply, her other arm relaxed for her next move, sweat drops appearing on her forehead. Ranma had never seen a more beautiful woman, as she stood there proud and strong, relaxed and yet coiled for action awaiting his next move. There was no indication of the burning pain she must be feeling, Ranma realized and for the first time in his life, deep down inside of him, a thin thread of respect appeared for a woman. Akane's vision blurred as he moved behind her and instinctively she swept back a foot. It connected with his head but he never stopped his move as his arms encircled her from behind and threw her on the bed and then pain exploded and Akane clenched her teeth. His body covered her immediately, his legs on each side of her trapping her and his hands holding down her arms. He sat on top of her regarding her and she stared back with no fear at all. That infuriated him and he did the only thing he knew of to degrade her.

He leaned down and forced his mouth down on hers, his broad shoulders holding down her torso. But her mouth evaded him. And he yanked both her arms over her head, grabbing both her wrists with a hand and using his free hand to grasp her chin and still her face. Akane closed her eyes from him, refusing to let him see the pain in her eyes as his mouth crushed down hers, his fingers dug into the soft skin of her jaw and his shoulder pushed her broken one deeper into the mattress. Her whole world seemed to be made up of pain but still she clung to consciousness refusing to lose this battle.

Ranma's lips bore down until his senses awoke to the softness of the lips underneath his. They were so soft, full and soft. And his lips softened on hers on their own.

Ranma's eyes closed as he lost himself to the feeling coursing through him. He wanted more and his tongue slipped out to caress her lips before parting them and delving deep inside her mouth. Her taste went to his head as his tongue explored her mouth and he forgot who the woman beneath him was. Akane stared at the ceiling powerless as his tongue delved into her mouth. Anger overwhelmed even the crashing pain and when she felt his erection hard against her belly, she snapped.

Her teeth came clenching down on his tongue and he reared back, his tongue back into his mouth as he ran it over his teeth to nurse it. Excitement coursed through his veins at her gesture and he watched her through half-closed lids fighting with his desire, the desire that wanted him to drive on. To touch some more, to taste some more, to have it all. He took his own sweet time pushing back his desire even as he wondered how he could have been driven to the edge with just a kiss. God, what kind of woman was she? A witch? – his thoughts tumbled over each other as he stared down into huge brown eyes which showed him the anger that raged there and as he stared, deep down, he saw the pain, the pain that she was hiding from him. He let go of her wrists and brought his hands on her shoulders. He pushed down one shoulder and gave a sudden snap to the other. Fire seemed to erupt in her eyes from the pain and then she closed them to him. His hand was gentle as he touched it, making sure that it had been set. He got off her to sit on the bedside then and she pulled herself up, pushing back to sit leaning against the bedrails, leaning her head back and closing her eyes as her hand went up to rub gently on her throbbing shoulder.

Ranma looked over his shoulder and the woman he had felt beneath him now looked like a young girl. God, what was happening to him? -  His confused thoughts held no answer. She asked no question as he got to his feet and went out of the room. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, closing his eyes. He could not understand the yearning in his soul, the self-disgust in his gut. What the hell was wrong was him? He pushed himself from the door and settled down in the armchair opposite the door, staring at it like the door held all the answers.

Akane slipped out of the bed, walking unsteadily to the armchair and proceeded to roll herself in a ball. She fought back the tears, promising herself to be strong and finally sleep claimed her and her head dropped against the soft velvet of the armchair.

Early dawn awoke Ranma and he slowly got to his feet and stretched his cramped limbs. His glance fell on the door and he wondered what she was up to. He opened the door gently and peered inside. The bed was empty and for a moment his heart jumped then his gaze found her in the armchair and he silently stepped in and went to her. Her short hair caressed her face like a veil. She looked like a child, so carefree and so young. He lifted a hand to gently push back her hair and his throat suddenly tightened. The golden rays of the rising sun slipped in through the window to caress her face. And there was a dark purplish bruise on the side of her jaw. His finger drifted down to touch it so softly and again self-disgust rose in him. He had done that to her. He had hurt her, marred the soft skin that made him want to go on touching it forever. He turned from her then, turned from the confusing woman that confused him and swiftly waked away, his silent steps taking him back to his bedchamber. And a naked Xian Pu was waiting for him.

"Where were you?" her husky voice demanded and Ranma lifted a brow to her before picking her robe up and throwing it to her.

"Get out of here," he spoke in a low voice not even glancing at her as he disappeared into his bathroom and her mouth tightened at the dismissal. Then she smiled. He must have spent the night with the stupid princess and that was why he was in such a bad mood. Poor Ranma, obliged to mate with a spoilt and stupid princess. She must really have been bad in bed if Ranma had that reaction. Shampoo smiled and slipped out of the bed and into the bathroom. Ranma was standing naked, his arms braced on the wall before him, his head hanging down and his hair falling over his face. Shampoo felt warm desire pool in her belly and his voice stopped her, "I said get out." The voice lashed out at her and then she turned and huffily stepped out of the room to go back to her chambers.

My Notes :

Thanks for the reviews ka_chan and seongmi ; u guys are great for me :o))

This is just the first draft, so I may make changes, so guys... ^_^