~Lady Akitsu~ Well, well, well. Welcome back. As you can see, I've started up again. Since no one's been reviewing anymore, I've been thinking about pulling the plug on this fic. But then I thought, Aw hell, who do I think I'm kidding?! I'll continue with this fic, even if no one ever reviews for it again. So, I will. The point of this fic is not to get reviews, but to share this story with the public. And so, I continue. Oh, and by the way, sorry about not updating for so long. ^^;;
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of its characters; it belongs to Rumiko Takahashi-sama. I do, however, own Sabriel. And several mangas… and a Computer… and a bed. But that's it. T_T
KEY: Italics for thoughts, foreign words, or book titles, ALL CAPS for shouting or sounds, bold for emphasis in speech. YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS ALREADY!! SHAME ON YOU!!
The Sabriel Series, Part I: Enter SabrielChapter Six
Night was fast approaching, and as Ryouga knew, it was usually bitterly cold in the mountain range that he and his mysterious traveling companion were in. He glanced at her and noticed that she was already starting to shiver.
"Hey, are you alright?"
She jumped and nearly tripped as she turned to stare at him. She seemed to be startled by his sudden question.
"N…Nani…?" She blinked and quickly realized what he had just asked her. "Oh…! Um, yeah."
"Are you sure?" He asked as he stopped and turned around.
"Hai, I'm fine, really. No need to worry about me."
She unsteadily walked past him, leaning on her staff with both hands. Ryouga sighed quietly as he followed her, watching her to make sure she really was as alright as she said she was.
They walked in silence for a while, not knowing how much time had passed since they first stepped foot on the mountain. It was getting darker, and with the night also came the biting sting of the artic-like weather.
The stranger looked up at the darkened night sky and sighed, a small smile playing across her lips.
"You know, it really is beautiful up here," she said, breaking the silence. "The air is so clear, and the stars… They seem to be almost magnified… They're so much brighter and sharper than down on sea level…"
Ryouga smiled as well and stopped beside her.
"Yeah… It's nice up here. Away from all of the pollution and dirt from the urbanized areas… "
"Mm-hm…" She sighed dreamily, blissfully unaware of anything except for where she was. Suddenly, her eyes widened with horror as she realized what was happening.
Oh God, I'm doing it again! Snap out of it, onna! I can't fall for him! I can't… I mean, I'm certainly capable of doing so, but it's against my policy! You're not supposed to have any sort of feelings for your clients!! Shimatta, what do I do?!
The girl quickly cleared her throat, catching his attention in the progress.
"You know, we should get going again, ne? It's getting cold fast, and we've yet to find any shelter."
Ryouga nodded. "Again, I agree. These mountains are dangerous at night. And I don't mean because of wild animals. But I'm sure we could handle ourselves in that department, right?" He gave her a sidelong glance as he said his last comment. She blushed slightly and quickly looked in the opposite direction. Ryouga grinned inwardly at her reaction and looked off into the horizon, taking in the breath-taking view of the mountains in the dim nighttime light, the snow-topped peaks before him twinkling in the distance. Ryouga couldn't help but sigh in the serene quiet that surrounded them.
~*~*~
Ranma-kun sighed as he and Akane went along their usual way to school. An uneasy silence had settled onto the two teenagers ever since they had left the dojo, the only sounds being heard were the soft clicking of Akane's heels on the pavement, and a rustle of clothing every now and then.
Akane's eyes narrowed and a scowl formed on her face as an angry thought crossed her mind. Alright, that does it. I can't take this anymore!
"Ranma, tell me."
"Tell you what?" asked Ranma dully as he continued along the fence he was walking on, his hands in his pockets. A low growl issued forth from Akane as she swung her schoolbag at him, only to find that she had narrowly missed his now raised leg.
"What the hell is wrong now, tomboy?"
Akane glared at him, baring her teeth. "You said you'd tell me on our way to school! So tell me!"
"Tell you what?!"
"RANMA NO BAKA!!"
POW! Akane's fist suddenly found its way to Ranma's jaw and smashed into it, sending Ranma sailing into the air and into a near-by alley, colliding into the brick building behind it in the process. Miraculously, Ranma managed to stumble to his feet and dragged himself out of the alley, his hand rubbing his cheek. He growled.
"What's your problem, Akane?"
"You said you'd tell me." She stated as calmly as possible. Ranma raised an eyebrow. Akane glared daggers at him in response.
"Akane, what the hell are you talking about? What was I say that I was supposed to tell you?"
Akane sighed and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"You know what? Forget it." She said, walking away.
"Eh?" Ranma blinked. Did she just say what I thought she did? He turned and stared after her.
"Besides," Akane stopped and looked at him over her shoulder, "You're obviously too stupid to remember, anyway." With that, she walked off.
Ranma scowled. Figures she'd say something like that… he thought as he started running after her.
"Oh yeah?! Well, I'll at least I'm not a tomboy!" he retorted.
Akane smirked. "You are when you're in your girl-form."
"Kawaiikune!"
"Baka ne!"
THWACK!
"Itaii! I'm gonna take that thing and rip it up if you keep doing that."
"Doing what?" said Akane innocently. "This?" She swatted him again with her school bag.
"Stop that!" Ranma glared at her and jumped out of reach. Akane scoffed.
"Or what, Ranma? Are you gonna pour water on me?"
"You mean like this?" asked Ranma mischievously as he pulled a full hot-water kettle from seemingly nowhere and emptied the contents onto Akane's head, causing her to jump, screeching at the top of her lungs.
"RANMA NO BAKA!! OMAE O KUROSO!!"
Ranma grinned and dashed off in the direction of Furinkan High, laughing like a maniac and a furious (and now very wet) Akane hot on his heels.
"GET BACK HERE, YOU JERK!!"
"Let's see if you can catch me first, tomboy!"
Ranma smirked confidently and continued running. Well, at least I got her off the subject… Like I'm gonna tell her that I ran into Shampoo this morning. HA! If it involved Shampoo, I know Akane will try to kill me. I hope the rest of the day goes this well…
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Alright, that's all for now. I hope the wait was worth it. ^^;;