Chapter 3 – The Heart's Plight

Shinosuke opened the door and started when he saw the empty bed too. And then he saw her on the armchair and stepped in. She looked like an angel as she slept so pure and beautiful. His thoughts started him and then he saw the bruise on her jaw and his heart clenched. Ranma must not have been very gentle. The thought made him angry and he immediately pushed it to the recesses of his mind. He sat down on the edge of the bed staring at his angel and he must have made some noise or else, she must have sensed his presence for she woke up. He watched her open her deep brown eyes and they swung to him, startled and then settled. She smiled. A soft smile, such a beautiful smile that sent his heart racing.

"Hello," her voice was husky and yet so child-like that he couldn't prevent himself from smiling back as he answered softly, "Hello," not wanting to break the magic that seemed to surround her.
"Who are you?" she yawned at him.
"Call me Shinosuke," he instinctively replied. She slowly stretched out and winced before rubbing her shoulder. Anger rose in his throat and he stifled it too and got to his feet telling her, "I'll get you some water to clean up." And he strode out. Akane slowly got to her feet and stretched her body out. Shinosuke brought her the water and she smiled at him as the thanked him, glad to be able to clean up. He showed up again with her breakfast and grinned when he saw the basin on the table.

"Come on," he gestured to her and she followed him to the deep end of the room by the far end of the fireplace. There was a door and he opened it and she tiptoed past him and popped her head into the other room,

"A bathroom!" her joyful shrieked was lost as she jumped in and did an awful jig that sent him into a fit of laughter and her peals of laughter could be heard echoing through the chamber. She grinned at him and he grinned back before going to pick up the water basin and coming into the bathroom to put it down on the marble table. There was an intricately designed pump over a sink.

"We'll have the pump working today, so you'll soon have your own water," Shinosuke smiled at her huge smile that wreathed up her face.

And then it slowly disappeared.

"Why am I here?" she asked slowly.

And he was brought back to reality as he shook his head and answered, "You'll have to ask Ranma."

He watched her as she nodded. And he nodded back without a word and stepped out of the bathroom to leave, closing the door gently behind him. Akane ate her breakfast silently mulling over what had happened to her. What was she going to do? Well, first let's explore the room. And she set to explore. She found a closet with clothes for her, the whole set with underwear and corsets, dresses and cloaks. And all was all she discovered. The rest of the room held no other secret. she tried the door and found it locked as she had known it would be. She tried to see if she could get through the window and found that it was vain. She would most likely break her neck and she was not that desperate yet. She was lazing about, bored out of her mind when Shinosuke brought her lunch. After her altercation with his men, he had found that it was better if he was the only one who came to her room. But somewhere a voice told him that he just wanted to be with her. But the voice shut up when Shinosuke saw Asuke's bruised face and heard the others teasing him about it. Asuke would want revenge and if he could prevent it, then he would. Akane was not to be touched and his men though loyal to him, had their honor too and it was something that was just as important to them. So, he had decided that they were not to enter Akane's room.

Her face lit up when she saw him and she jumped off the window ledge. He smiled at her joyful expression.

"I brought you lunch," he deposited the tray once more on the table and turned back to leave.

"Wait," her voice stopped him and his cynicism rose. There, you should have known that she would want something from you. He almost smiled and turned to regard her cynically.

"Could you do something for me?" she turned wide eyes to him and he let her. Stupid female. Did she think that he was that easy to manipulate? He lifted a brow waiting.

"Could you..." she stared at her shuffling feet and then took a deep breath, lifted her chin and asked, "Would you spar with me?" He stared at her, his mind trying to assimilate her request and finally he croaked, "Why?" and her face erupted in a smile that threatened the shine of the sun as she answered,

"Well, I don't want to lose practice. And I get bored just sitting here. So if you have some free time and if it's ok with," she swallowed and a shadow flitted over her face and then it was gone and she was waiting for his answer.

"Ok, but we'll be doing it inside. There no going out for you," he added sternly as she laughed and nodded.

"And could you just do me another itsy favor?" she smiled for the effect and this time, no voice rose in him and he felt a grin coming at her blatant attempt at coquetterie and lifted another brow.

"Do you have any books?"

"What?" it escaped him before he could shut his mouth.

"I can't sit around all day and if I had books, that would be really fine!" she smiled.

And he found himself nodding again as he replied, "Ok, I'll get you some books from the palace library."

"You're the best!" she squealed and jumped on him. He nearly hit her and then went completely still as two slender arms wrapped themselves around his neck and very female torso pushed itself against his chest as she hugged him. He stood there feeling, for the first time feeling so many emotions run through him because of a female. And then she was gone and he pulled himself together with some effort as she stood grinning in joy at him. She did not know the effect that she had on people, he realized, she was completely unaware of her own charms. He left her then to her own devices and went to see Ranma. The latter was occupied with matters of the kingdom and thus unavailable and Shinosuke had his own matters to take care of. It was late afternoon when he remembered the books that he had said he would get her and went searching the library panels for books for her. A mischievous imp took him over as he selected some of the many history books and took them to her. She never even glanced at the titles but just grabbed them from him and hugged them to her, murmuring "Thank you." He smiled impishly at her and she frowned in mock worry, wagging a finger at him and asking him what he was up to. But he only smiled and left. Akane started devouring the first book until dinner and Shinosuke waited for a comment about the history books but when he got none, he clammed up and settled for waiting. Nighttime came and something told Akane that Ranma would show up. She carefully stowed away her books in the closet and settled on the window ledge watching the stars.

The opening of the door let her know that he had come but she stayed where she was and stared away. He came to stand before her. And got no response. And he just walked away and settled himself in the armchair. She felt prickles run down her spine as he stared at the back of her head. And after a moment, she finally turned to him and stared back.

"What is it you want?" the question hit him and amused him as showed the slight smirk he wore.

"What I want I will have when the time comes," he replied pleasantly and Akane stared at him questioningly. He had never seen such candidness and anger rose.

"You," he hissed at her and was pleased when she recoiled at his answer. "I will have you," he added just for the pleasure.

And then astonishment disappeared from her eyes and she stared right back at him in defiance and nodded before turning away to stare at the skies again. Her thoughts tore at her heart. Was this going to be her destiny? - she asked the stars. Was she doomed to be traded for war? Now she understood. Akane was far from stupid and she understood the politics of the kingdoms. If she was with Ranma's child, then it would become her father's obligation to marry her to him. Honor would come before anything else. And Ranma would not have to go to war, the feud would end without him giving in and he would have a heir. And after that, he could just throw her in a corner and get on with his life. Akane now understood why she was here and something in her rebelled. Rebelled as far it was possible. No! That would not be her destiny! She would make her own destiny. Ranma had enough of waiting and he stepped to her, grasping her shoulder. The painful yelp slipped out before she could stop it and he immediately dropped his hand swearing.

"I'm sorry," he bit out. He was always hurting her, damn it! Even without wanting to.

She lifted huge eyes to him and blinked. "It's... it's ok," her voice was soft in the silence of the night and he stepped back.

"Look," she pointed upwards and he came to stand beside her, "A shooting star," she smiled, staring at it.

"Aren't you going to make a wish?" she smiled at him.

"I make my own wishes come true," he replied cynically.

She slowly nodded. She understood.

"I wish I could," she replied wistfully.

"I wish I could be free," he almost drew back at her words and then she continued, still staring at the skies, "I have always wished for it. Ever since I could understand freedom," her words were soft.

"Why? You have always had everything," he told her as he sat down the edge of the bed facing her.

"Yes, I am one of the lucky ones who have had everything. Everything but the freedom to do what I want," she smiled at him and added with a laugh, "Selfish, isn't it?"

And as he thought about it, he slowly asked, "And what would you have done if you had had freedom?"

She smiled, happier as she answered, "I would have traveled, visited far-off places, met new people everyday. I would have given my heart to any child anywhere, my friendship to someone somewhere and I would have been free to be myself."

Ranma stared at her and could help himself as he said, "You're a strange girl, you know."

She giggled and answered, "At home, they're used to it. No," she shook her head. "They tolerated it. Because they knew that in the end, I would adhere to duty. And that's why it is only a wish," her eyes were so sad as she gazed at him. And his heart hurt, it hurt gently for her. And he couldn't understand it.

"And what wishes do you make come true for yourself?" she asked.

"I make sure that my people are happy, that they have enough food on their table, that they all know they are equal," he answered slowly. Akane nodded happily and Ranma felt proud that she thought he did the right things. He had never felt happy at having someone's admiration for something that he had done. He had never needed it. And yet, this girl here made him feel proud because he could see admiration in her eyes. He couldn't understand it, he couldn't understand himself.

"And what about your wishes for yourself? The selfish ones?" she giggled again and he found himself smiling.

"I don't wish for anything for myself. I already have everything that I could want," he replied.

"Then you must be a very happy man. Are you?" her eyes searched his as her question shocked him.

He slowly nodded and a small smile lit her lips. He knew that she knew he was lying and she gently shook her head at him.

He changed the subject then and though she knew it, she followed his lead as they discussed other things. Ranma elapsed into silence as he watched her fall asleep. Her lids slowly closed and her head gently dropped back against the stone wall. He was immediately by her side. It wouldn't do for her to fall out of the window in sleep, he thought ruefully as he gently picked her up. She was so light. He gently deposited her on the bed and sat watching her in her sleep, the half-open lips that tempted him with their sweetness. He smiled as he watched her. She was so different. So strong, intelligent, open and what you saw about her was what she was, he realized. She had no masks, no disguises. She knew no manipulation, no dishonesty. She was just Akane. Akane, the word tasted sweet on his lips. And he finally pulled the coverlet over her and left. His heart murmured sweet happiness and he didn't understand why he had a spring to his steps.