This chapter is dedicated to Daydreamlynnie and to all those who prompted me to update Studying and are still willing to read on after all the time I let you wait for it. Forgive me and thanks for your patience!

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Studying – Chapter 5

Ranma was getting bored. What was taking her so long? She had been away for ages and he just didn't know what to do any more. The stupor for the 'strange' moment that passed between them (that's how he labelled it in his own head, unable – or unwilling to define it in a better way) had long gone and now he had been doodling in his notebook for quite some time waiting for her to get back.

'Maybe she's helping Kasumi with something', he thought, cringing at the thought of Akane in the kitchen.

No matter how he liked her, even more than that, he couldn't ignore the fact that she really couldn't cook. Knowing that she did it mostly to impress him did soothe his mind a little, but his stomach still didn't like it a bit.

'Oh well, maybe I should just go on with the exercises by myself', he decided finally and concentrated on the book.

Downstairs, Akane had discovered there weren't any cookies left, but since Kasumi was already baking a fresh batch, she decided to wait for them. At least it would give her time to regain control of herself. The effect that boy had on her senses was unbelievable.

Kasumi, being the wise older sister she was, more or less guessed what was going on (her little sister's red cheeks and trembling hands did say a lot) and decided not to interfere. She chatted with Akane lightly while they waited for the cookies and then, when they were ready, handed them with a smile.

"Here, have fun you two. I'll make sure no-one disturbs you."

Akane stared at her. So that's why they have been left alone the past few days! She smiled, thanking her sister and rushed upstairs.

When she opened the door to her room, she found Ranma completely absorbed in his studying, even to the point of not noticing her coming back. A mischievous smile flashed on her lips.

She quietly closed the door and walked to the desk. Grabbing a warm cookie from the plate, she held it in front of his nose, glad she caught him with his guard down.

His reaction was a bit stronger than she had expected though.

He almost screamed in surprise, pushing the chair back and making Akane, who was standing close behind him, lose balance.

She felt the plate slip off her hand as she tried to grab on something to avoid falling. Her hands did find something to grab and after a moment, when she finally realized she wasn't going to fall, she found out it was Ranma's shirt she was holding onto. She also realized Ranma's arms were around her keeping her from tumbling to the floor.

His heart was thumping hard, she could feel it beneath her hands. But so was hers, and he could probably feel it too, since he was practically still holding her. Time seemed to have slowed down considerably.

The position they were in was odd, though: she was still half leaning backwards, on the verge of falling, the only thing preventing her from tumbling down were his strong arms.

Ranma's brain had shut down for the time being and he was going merely on instinct. Protecting Akane was one of the stronger ones in him, so he just pulled her to himself, turning her a bit in the process, making her sit in his lap. Now he was really holding her. Close. And now she was also safe, so his instincts could shut themselves down and his brain could come back.

The instant his consciousness was back, Ranma realized he had his fiancée in his arms, on his lap, her arms pressed to his chest, his own arms around the small of her back. The first coherent sentence that formed into his mind was:

'Wow, this feels great!'

The second one was of course:

'Oh, no, she'll kill me for being a pervert again!'

So he started backing slowly, getting ready for the blow he was sure was about to come.

'And it wasn't even my fault', he babbled inside his frightened mind, 'she's the one who startled me like that… and then… she tripped and almost fell and… Uhmmm… Hey, how come I'm still in this room?' he wondered at last, since by then he would have usually been half his way to the other part of Nerima.

He finally dared to look at her face. Not into her eyes, but to her chin, lips, nose, cheeks… She seemed so relaxed, so not ready to strike him that he found the courage to look into her eyes.

They seemed glazed over a bit, somehow lost, as if she wasn't really aware where she was yet. Or maybe she was.

He felt one of her hands stir slightly on his chest.

O-oh. Now he was in for it. He closed his eyes, expecting the slap.

Instead of the stinging pain, he felt soft fingers brushing his cheek and opened his eyes in surprise. She was staring at him now.

Her other hand also let go of his shirt as she pressed it to his heart.

"Thanks," she breathed.

Then she got up slowly, almost forgetting to remove her fingers from his cheek, just as much as he almost forgot to remove his hands from her back. And since she was too far from him, his hands rested on her waist, his eyes glued to hers.

He didn't know what to say. What to do. So he just waited and enjoyed the feeling. Unconsciously he leaned his head against her palm, rubbing it lightly.

She smiled.

He melted.

Then she slowly let go of him and turned to pick up the plate and the cookies, spread all over the floor. In a corner of her mind she found herself thinking: 'Thank god it wasn't a china plate', the smile still lingering on her face and in her thoughts.

What was going on, Ranma wondered, as he finally was able to shake off the funny feeling and get up to help her with the cookies.

"Sorry it took me so long", Akane said when almost all the cookies had been picked up. "Kasumi was just baking these and there weren't any others left so I just waited for the fresh ones."

"Uhm, no problem", Ranma mumbled, still wondering what was happening and why was he still in the room and not somewhere in a canal or a pond or anything wet in Nerima.

"And sorry about the scare I gave you, too, I didn't mean to", she turned around, still smiling. Ranma's stomach flipped.

"It's … it's ok, I guess", he said after a long pause. And then he added:

"Uhmmm, Akane?"

"Yes?"

"What… I mean… why aren't you yelling Pervert at me and throwing me out of the window?"

Did he really ask that? Ranma would have kicked himself in the head. He got lucky for once, she didn't get mad for a reason, and now he had to remind her of it? So that she could get angry now instead of earlier?

Did he really ask that? He had expected her to pound him through the window? Was she really that… She sighed, seeing him take a step back, waiting for her anger to explode.

She took a deep breath and sighed again.

"I just realized something, that's why."

"Oh", he said, not understanding at all.

He waited for her to go on, and when he realized she wasn't going to say anything else, he dared ask again.

"And that is?"

"Can't tell."

"Why not?" His curiosity was aroused now.

"Just can't." She was smiling again.

"Come on, tell me!" he pleaded.

"No, really, I can't." she giggled, blushing a little, hoping he wouldn't notice.

He did notice.

"Please, tell me! Come on!"

She sighed, looking away. She noticed his books and notebooks on her desk. A sparkle lit up in her eyes.

"You know what, I'll tell you when you manage to get at least a 90% at physics."

"What! It's not fair, I'll never get a 90% at physics!" he complained.

"Well, then you'll never know."

"Oh, Akane, come on, tell me!" he tried again.

"I promise I will. When you get that 90%."

Ranma humpfed and looked away from her smiling face. What was that all about? And why was she acting so weird all of a sudden? Get that mark on a physics test when he couldn't even get a 60? Impossible! It was so unfair!

"I'll even help you get it, just as I promised", he heard her say.

"You're serious about this?" he asked surprised. She really believed that he had a chance at getting that mark?

"Yes, sure, I told you. Nothing can stop you when you set your mind to it. Now you just have another reason to do so." She smiled again. That smile stirred something inside him. It wasn't just her usual smile, and the usual one was far more than enough to make him feel like an ice-cream cone in a hot summer day. There was something more in her smile right now, something he couldn't put a finger on but was really eager to discover. She said he had to get a 90%? By god he would. And the sooner the better.

His resolve made, he gazed at her and smiled confidently.

"Ok, then. Let's get back to studying."

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So how is this for Chapter 5. I think I've got the plot cleared up in my head now, so the next chapters should follow more regularly. Hope you liked it. I know the mood is a bit different, I hope you don't mind.

Comments, questions and suggestions welcome. Please review.