WILD HORSES RUN

First move

Duds

three of Spade

He stood on the eighth floor, looking out of his window. Soon revenge would be his. They had signed their death wish when they touched Akane. There would be no forgiveness, no speech no nothing, just killing them all, and take Akane far far away, where no one would be able to find her.

He turned away from the window, looking at the mess in his chamber. Since Akane was gone, he hadn't found the urge to clean up his mess, there was no use in it anyway. It was for Akane that he'd clean his room; it was for her that he lived. Cleaning was part of living, so as long as Akane wasn't at his side, there would be no cleaning.

Ranma shook his head. 'What sort'a crap are ya thinking Saotome? Get a grip'. He cleaned, because there was no power left in him. As long as there was no Akane, there was no power, only power to safe her, and that was what he would do now; safe her. He hadn't even told her how he felt, god damn it.

He grabbed the ramen boxes, and threw them somewhere in a corner. The okonomiyaki cases and hamburgers packages soon followed, and under them, his Martial art outfit lay. Well, martial art outfit, the one he had used mostly when training: a red shirt, with black pants. He grabbed the clothes; put them on, throwing his other clothes on the couch. He walked sturdily to the door, fully intended to kill were necessary. However, before leaving the little room, he took one glance at it. He would miss this room, he'd really do, and that was strange. Never had he a place that belonged to him, and then suddenly, he was a part of the Tendo Family. It was hard to part from it, but it was necessary. And now he'd have to part from this room too. But when all this was over, he and Akane would live together, in a room just like this one. Only bigger, with much more rooms like this one. And also two or three rooms, that were slightly different. It would have kiddo wallpaper, and colours kiddo's liked.

Ranma shook his head. 'Clear the mind, you got a fight coming, concentrate'. He took one last nostalgic look at the room, sighed, and then closed the door.

Ranma looked up, and up, and up. 'That's one tall building'. He shaded his eyes with his right hand, averting the sun that shone in his eyes as he watched the height of the building. Ranma took one deep breath, and entered the building.

"Can I help you sir?" The receptionist was a nice courteous girl.

"Yes, I am looking for the president" it was hard not to sound mad at her, and seemingly, seeing the girls sudden frightened look, he had failed to answer her normally.

"I… I don't think,… , I can help you" she gulped, and stared into Ranma's eyes, afraid of what he might do next.

Ranma inhaled deeply, and suddenly rammed his two hands on the desk, and stared threateningly at the girl. She had nothing to be afraid of though, he'd only hit her, when she wouldn't tell her where her boss was.

"Look lady, this guy kidnapped my girl, you'll tell me nicely where the fat bastard is hiding, or I'll make you tell me" The girl pondered some seconds, before quickly squealing the place's placement.

Ranma nodded quickly thanks, and rushed over to the mentioned stairs.

Ranma didn't expect people to just let him pass. The receptionist probably already had warned security. But with a little luck, he'd be able to get Akane, and get out before they had time to react. He finally arrived at the right floor.

He looked around, and saw three white doors, and two green plants. He ran to the middle door, opened that one, accelerated as he opened the next door, and the door after that one, and suddenly he was in the office of the president.

"What the…"

Ranma ignored the man, and looked around for Akane. He didn't saw her in the room, only saw another white door.

"Guards, guards… Help"

Ranma still ignored the man. Although his urges to kill this man were great, he wouldn't kill him if it wasn't necessary. He didn't want a murderer sticker on him, and it'd be a waste of his time anyway; time was short. In three steps, he reached the white door, opened it, and saw a bedroom. On the bed he saw Akane. She only had a black lace bra and a black lace panty on. Her wrists and feet were tied together sturdy with a rope. The view of her abused body made his brains cook. He had to use all his will power, not to turn back and cruelly torture the man to death. Though she had many wounds, she was conscious. As soon as he entered, she started yelling his name and cried, telling him she didn't want too, that she was only for him, but that he…. That he…

The sobbing and tearing made her words drown, which made it almost impossible for him to understand what she was saying. He didn't care at the moment anyway, all he cared for was her alive, in his arms, somewhere far away. He ran to her, with one quick move tore the robes around her feet and wrists, lifted her up, and tried to pull her in a run. However, before he could do something, she collapsed on his chest.

"He took… I tried, but he took it" he looked around, looking if security already had arrived. Finding no one; he took her by the shoulders, and stared into her eyes.

"What, what did he took" He wanted to soothe her, make her tears go away, but the moment didn't let him. The adrenaline in his blood didn't let him. Holding her shoulders, he shook her unintentional.

"He took" she looked at his eyes, his pleading eyes that asked for her to answer. "He took my virginity" she said eventually. And with that, Ranma's world stopped. He had expected it, sure, but for the good of this operation tried to ignore that thought. He knew that with such a thought, he'd certainly kill the bastard president that had kidnapped his wife. And so, as soon as he came to his senses, his hand was blooded, and before him was the president of the building, dead, with a hand made hole in his stomach.

He backed away from the body, trying to deny the blood on his hands.

"No… no, what have I done?" he shook his head, not wanting to be a murderer. Then he heard the intercom.

"Sir, are you alright? Security is coming". This brought him back to the real world. He frantically looked around, searching Akane. Finding her still crying in the room, he ran to her, grabbed her hand, and ran. She followed, not knowing what else to do.

Ranma ran, crossed the room between the office and the hall, and looked at where the stairs and elevator entrance were placed. He tried to make it to the stairs, but before he reached those, the elevators opened, and a man with a gun stepped out of the elevator. Having his gun ready, Ranma had no time to react, and thus he could shoot thrice. Two misses, one hit, in Ranma's arm.

Ignoring the pain, he pulled his fist back, and with an enormous speed, crushed his fist into the man's face. The disgusting sound of the skull breaking, giving entrance to his fist sickened him, but there was little time to care about that. He pulled his fist back, and let the man drop in the elevator. He then opened the door to the stairs, and descended as fast as he could, Akane close following. He looked back, making sure that she wasn't accidentally hurt by the bullets. Seeing she was alright, he quickly resumed descending, till someone, in what he recognised as a ninja outfit, stopped them. He directly made a battle stance, and prepared for combat, which was hard with the bullet in his shoulder.

The fight was tough, fast and furious, and also uncomfortable having no space on the stairs, and having a wound in his shoulder. Ranma mostly dodged and ducked, trying not to get hit, till a kick hit him full in the stomach. He was sent flying into the wall. The wall couldn't hold the power with which Ranma was stomped into the wall, and broke. The wall was also the wall connecting the inside of the building with the outside.

Ranma flew through the wall, and descended rapidly from the 18th floor. He tried to manage it so, that he wouldn't land on his back. But the ninja followed him through the wall, and was kicking him while he descended.

He looked at the hole, and saw Akane trying to reach for him, screaming, and probably crying. He thought he saw her jumping after him, but he wasn't sure, because he then had landed on the ground with a heavy thud. Everything went black.

'Akane… I love you'

Ranma tore the green diamond from his forehead, vigorously. He hated the thing, hated it for its magnificence and soothing when looked into, hated it for its deception, because, despite the soothing and warm feeling it gave you when you looked at it, it could do such cruel things with your mind. It was all the more frustrating that, whenever he saw a brother of him dying, that directly afterwards the pain would dissolve just by looking in the diamond. Really dissolving, going away, like nothing. And, as long as he looked in it, everything was right and perfect, but when looked away from, feelings of guilt spread over him. How could he feel so good, when someone so close, almost a clone to him dyed?

He threw the diamond against the wall with all his might, knowing that as soon as he'd leave the chamber, the diamond would magically centre itself in the room anyway. He collapsed on his hands, sweating, panting and moaning. Besides mentally being a burden, it also left him always breathless. It took a lot of his ki, and afterwards took a lot of him, having to concentrate immensely on the given show. He didn't have to control or direct the brother. He was a complete man on himself, only connected to him by their ki. And so through that, he could follow his brothers' adventures. However, to see where the mistake lay, he had to concentrate hard on what was happening, so that afterwards, he could write down perfectly what happened.

Ow well, it was done, and that alone made him happy. Sure it stung that he saw his brother dying. But now he could be with Akane, and away from the dreams.

He opened the big green doors, to once again enter the big greenish chamber. He looked around, hoping that Akane would somewhere be around. With a little disappointment noticed she wasn't in the room. Then again, usually when he was away, she would use the kitchen, so that's were she was probably now. She always tried to make something edible for him when he returned from a session. He had helped her, in not trashing the kitchen. Ow well, some things never change, he guessed.

So, what to do now? He could start making that stupid report directly, but he didn't really feel like doing that, so decided to indeed not do that. Instead he decided he'd look around for Akane. He really needed her presence right now. He sniggered. He never thought he would think such thoughts 3 months or so ago.

'Anyway, where to find Akane?' that was a stupid question. He knew perfectly well where she was, and that frightened him. She may have changed, but her cooking didn't. Past months experience made him believe that Akane's poor cooking was actually a complete entity on its own, something like her swimming. But how to get rid of it, and actually, why getting rid of it? The cooking and swimming were part of Akane, and he… well… he. Ranma scratched his head. Well, he guessed he loved everything about Akane, even her miserable cooking and her drowning swimming. Then again, a few cooking lessons might not hurt.

He unbuttoned his red shirt, and made his way to the kitchen. It wasn't hard to reach the kitchen without warning Akane. The complete 'house' was padded with carpet, safe the bathroom, and the kitchen, which had very cute little green tiles. He had seen such kitchens before, in books that showed Western style kitchens, and knew well enough that such kitchens were thought of as beautiful and expensive. For him, it was something that produced food, and made him able to prepare the food, and that was all that mattered to him.

When, for the first time, he found food in the refrigerator that shouldn't be there, he was… aghast. Sure, he wasn't a wonder when it came to physics, but even he knew that food shouldn't materialise just like that in their refrigerator. So, after getting around the shock, he had researched the refrigerator, nevertheless found nothing out of ordinary. Okay, he had no idea how refrigerators were build, but the machine didn't look any different then the one he was used to. So, there were two options. One: little dwarves came, and put food in the refrigerator. That was actually impossible, since he had guarded the refrigerator one complete day, and didn't see anyone refilling the refrigerator. But when he opened it, he found new food in it. So, the second option was the only available one: magic. Not that it surprised him; on the contrary, it was the most reasonable explanation for it. Hey, it wasn't as if he hadn't had his share of magic.

And thus, they accepted the refilling of the refrigerator with joy, it was nice it refilled, otherwise they'd die from starvation, and wonder.

Akane looked at her creation, and that was a mean feat, considering the sight and smell it provided.

"Aaah, what have I done wrong now? I followed Ranma's exact instruction, and still it comes out completely wrong" she put her finger against her chin, and tried to see where everything went wrong. She grabbed the salt, which had a nameplate saying "sugar", and sighted 'Why must they make salt and sugar in the same colour? I mean, the only thing it does is confuse people'. She held the shaker of salt tightly in her hand, intending to crush it.

"You might want to let that innocent jar live. Know the food replenishes itself automatically, but dunno 'bout kitchen stuff" Ranma said leaning against the doorframe, looking as self-assured as he always is.

"Well… this jar is everything 'cep... I mean, except innocent. It let me use this instead of sugar" she pointed at her creation. Ranma scratched his head, looking a little unsure at the… well… what to call it? Entity…?

"Sooo… ye'r saying that the only thing that went wrong, was mistaking salt for sugar?"

"Yeah, ain… isn't that obvious? I mean, everything is alright, except the taste" Akane said proudly, but still somewhat angry.

"Sooo, it actually was meant to… ehm…'look like something that escaped from the sewers being radioactive' look like that?"

"Well… maybe not exactly" she looked at her creation for a minute or so. She grabbed the plate and doused the whole thing (there was no other word Ranma found more appropriate) in the – also magically emptying itself – trashcan.

"Anyway, how was your trip?" Ranma looked dumbfounded at her. 'What the hell? Since when does she throw her stuff away like that, without even trying to poison me?'. "uhm… not bad I guess, well… not including the dying part and all, and you being ra… and of course the fact that you jumping after me… actually" suddenly Ranma leaned heavily against the doorframe, and descended to the ground, looking somewhat crestfallen.

"Actually… It was again a nightmare… none of them is "not bad" every one of them, is horrible, the one more then the other, but…" Akane rushed to Ranma, sitting on her knees looking at him, savouring his skin with her soft hands, softly, gently.

"shhh… everything is alright…" Akane knew what would come, tears probably. Very unlike Ranma, he indeed cried because of it. Sure, it was nice to see how he opened up to her, to let her see his weaker side. But still, seeing her love and life in such pain, made her want to burn this place, destroy this place… it made her lethal for the one who did this to him. Not only was he forced to see his "brother" die, but also every story ended tragically. And it pained him, pained him greatly, and she – though really not wanting too – could do nothing except accept it. This was, for all they know, the only way to get out of here.

However, she had been thinking of something lately. They were here for about… 2 months or so. And, except the trips to his brother's demise everything was fine here. They had all the luxury they needed, all the food they needed, everything anyone would want was right here. And even without all that, the most important thing in her life was her, Ranma Saotome. Even if they had to live in a hole in a tree, if she was with Ranma, she would be happy. So, she was happy, here, because Ranma was here. So why would they want to get out? They where happy, weren't they? And if there was no need to go, then Ranma didn't have to suffer all those things. Yeah, that was it… she sighted, she knew that wasn't the answer, but… but, she couldn't bear to see Ranma like this. It had to end… she didn't know how long Ranma could take this.

She looked at her love, and saw him looking in the distance. He probably was trying to not cry. Well… he'd already failed; the light being reflected by a single tear on his cheek betrayed the presence of more tears to come. Till now, he had never succeeded in not crying, no matter how cool and uncaring he behaved. As soon as something, anything reminded him of those sessions, he would break out crying. So, she wanted his pain soothed, the minute he was out of there, thus asked every time how it was. He would try to act cool, like everything was going perfect, but eventually; he would stop trying, and start crying.

And she wouldn't accept his pain no more

"Ranma… I've been thinking" Ranma turned his face to her, his eyes wet from holding back his tears, which enforced the already sad look he had.

"You know… we don't have to go" Ranma sighed, he had expected that. She had proposed this alternative multiple times before. And every time he would come up with the argument of:

"You know we can't do that… everyone we know and everyone we care about lives in Tokyo" but now, she had a counter argument.

"So what…I mean. Who tells us that if we get out of here, we'll go back to Tokyo, heck, who says we'll get out of here? I mean, the only thing that said this is the way to get out of here is that little voice in our head… literally a little voice in our head".

"We've still gotta try…" Ranma looked a little irritated. She knew it was a bad timing to confront him with this now. He felt bad, really bad, on the verge of crying even, but she didn't feel like wasting every other cosy moment they had together. And besides, talking about this got his mind somewhat of the sadness.

"Why…? So you can hurt yourself even more, for what…? Nothing?" oh, she hated to discuss these things with Ranma, and hated to be so dead serious about it. She was always so serious, and being so close to Ranma, he didn't give her a change to be serious. But now, she had to be serious, had to convince Ranma not to suffer anymore.

"For nothing?" his voice gained some octaves, as he spoke the word "for nothing? You say that all the pain, all the suffer I've gone through was for nothing? No chance Akane. I've been through all that, because I want out of here." Ranma looked at her, saw her tense up, as he yelled the words. He… he didn't want to scare her, didn't want to ever hurt her. But, the pain of the session, made him… touchy. "Sorry… I shouldn't've screamed at ya. But… we can't stop now. I've been through too much to give up now. I'll beat this – whatever it is – eventually, I promise. I can beat it, believe me. "

"But, why hurt yourself so much more, when there is only a little chance we'll get back to Tokyo?"

"Because I don't want to be no prisoner of this… thing. I don't want to be beaten by this thing. If we won't make it back to Tokyo, then though luck, but at least we'll be out of this thing"

"But…" Akane wanted to interrupt, she didn't want him to suffer anymore… she hated it, hated it so much. It brought tears.

"Sorry Akane… I'm gonna go to bed, I feel tired" she softly mumbled an "ok" as he left.

Maybe… maybe not everything was perfect here. These discussions were also present. While not very frequent, they certainly had them. Why had Ranma the need to always be so damn chauvinistic about these things? I mean, they were clearly dealing with powers beyond powers he had ever seen before, so there was no shame to admit defeat. But still he had to fight on, still he wouldn't accept that he had lost this battle, and stay here with her.

Suddenly a realisation struck here. Maybe, just maybe he didn't want to be here with her, maybe he wanted to be somewhere else, somewhere away from here. 'Ow no, please let that not be true, I… I wouldn't survive something like that. Gods please, let this not be true'. She – for a second or three – just sat on the kitchen floor, staring in the distance. 'Calm yourself girl. That's just a hasty conclusion based on nothing… but still'. She looked at the kitchen, harbouring everything she used to create Ranma's failed dinner. She really didn't felt like giving it another try, thus she left everything behind, and went out, heading for the bathroom. Somehow, she needed a hot long soak in the tub.

Ranma couldn't sleep. That on itself was no surprise. As soon as he'd sleep, nightmares would come, and steal his sleep from him. Also, the fact that the dialog with Akane didn't went so well, ate at him. Actually, he didn't come here to sleep in the first place. He just needed to think, needed to sort his thought out, and in the first place, needed to cry. And so, he sat on the bad, back leaning on the wall, looking at the red warm looking wall. A beautiful wall, a wall that gave such a cosy and warm feeling, a homey feeling. Like the feeling the diamond gave, he hated it. And at the same time, he loved it. But not for its magnificence, but solely for the fact that this wall had witnessed countless beautiful moment Akane and he had.

He remembered, when they first arrived here, both of them were scared out of their wits. But, back then, they already knew they loved each other. And so, they could find shelter and peace in each other. They had no idea back then, that there was such a beautiful soft bed awaiting them, so they just hid under the table in the centre room. How he remembered it so vividly, and he would never forget it, because… it was their that both of them took that one thing that could only be taken once.

- Flashback -

"Ranma, where… where are we?" Akane was scared, and she was not the only one. He didn't like to admit it, but he also was scared. Not… much, but still scared enough to be pissed. He could fight enemies, could fight everything he saw, but "things" that just transformed him like that, were, as far as he knew, not really fightable, this because he simply couldn't see it. He wanted something to come out, and challenge him, but nothing did. So, just to make sure nothing would hurt Akane. He'd choose to hide under the table. Strange that was. He never thought of himself to be such a coward. Just hiding under a table like some scared little kid, it was pathetic. But he was here, hiding under this table, just because something might be out there, something he couldn't see, something he couldn't kick or smash. God he hated this.

"Ranma, where are we?" she asked the same question again, but he had no idea. How was he supposed to know? Something told him that something like this was bound to happen. Well, not like this, but something alright. Then again, the adventure had ended, so he thought. But still, he had the feeling it wasn't done. Firstly because both of them had such altered looks. Not that they were unrecognizable, but they certainly had changed, and secondly… he had an instinct for coming trouble. And this instinct told him that this adventure was everything but finished.

And so they ended up here. They had "materialised" in the middle of a room. Both of them had no idea where they were, and both of them were too scared to actually go and examine the place. Akane because she was scared out of her wits, Ranma because he also didn't trust the place (if something invisible can transform us here, some invisible might still be here, and try to harm us), and otherwise because he didn't want to endanger Akane.

And thus, they crawled under the great golden tables, hiding from whatever could be here. And under those tables it happened. The darkness fell, but strange enough, there was still light under the table. Just enough that you could scarcely see colours, but not much more. The ground was soft, the air was warm, and the place they ertr was cosy. They held each other tightly, not daring to let go.

"Ranma" Akane asked him frighteningly.

"Yeah?" he tried to sound assured, tried to give Akane something to count on, tried to not look like a coward.

"What are we going to do?" Akane looked at him. He couldn't see very well, but he knew she was looking at him.

"I have no idea" still sounding very assured of himself.

"o- Okay" Akane was scared; he could feel her trembling in his arms "please, hold me. I'm scared"

"Well well. This can't be. The future wife of Saotome Ranma can't be such a scary cat" he tried to say it jokingly, to lift the tense mood.

"Stop that Ranma" he could just feel her smile. "Okay then…I'm not scared"

"That 'a girl. Just relax. Everything will be alright. No one can defeat Saotome Ranma, and I'll let no one hurt ya, so don't worry. Besides, ain't like you can't kick some but here and there yourself." The feeling of her soft muscles relaxing in his embrace felt good, very good. It was indeed a good thing, he thought, having learned that complimenting Akane always got better results then actually insulting her. Indeed, insulting was… in a way attractive. It was a strange way for him to communicate. Compliments were something he wasn't used to though, having a father who wanted to push him as far as he could, so, never giving him that much compliments. But compliments apparently loosened some things in Akane. And well… he couldn't say he was 'against' those things. More appropriately, he craved for them, so compliments were necessary. After some times even, they gave him a strange satisfaction, seeing how Akane just began to glow when he said something nice to her.

This was all so strange, so bizarre, and so good at the same time. Here he was, in a place he never saw before, a place he was… and it was hard to admit it, but a place he was afraid of. It was dark, very dark. He could see from under the table that the room was lighted, but only scarcely. The scarce light rays that made it under the table only prevented them from bumping into one another. Also, it wasn't cold; on the contrary, it was warm, very warm so he unbuttoned his shirt.

After having done that and Akane again leaned on him, he felt her soft touch of her face on his chest surging through him. They never really had the change to really express their new found love for each other very well. Besides long kisses, and passionate hugging, they hadn't done anything. Neither one of them had said anything, but he half expected that – after their adventure – things would go more intense… well; he half hoped that they would go one step further in their relationship.

But no, of course, the gods didn't let them. As soon as one adventure was finished, both were being sent to some strange world, not knowing why, where or how.

And so, again a tear escaped Ranma's eyes, and a thought with that tear 'Damn… since when do I cry this much? I don't cry over such stupid things. So what if we couldn't have sex? It ain't like I'm some pervert or something. Damn, why'm so changed?'

Akane looked up at feeling something wet in her hair. She touched her hair, and felt the moist spot. She tilled her head father up, and saw the source of the water. Ranma was crying, not much, and not with a grief stricken face, but nonetheless his eyes were moist, and the expression on his face somehow told her that he was trying to hold back his tears. She hadn't seen Ranma crying before, well not very much. Not more then 6 or 7 times, and most of them were tears of happiness. But here he was, the brave, undefeatable Ranma Saotome was crying.

She understood him though. She herself, while not much, was crying herself. This place freaked her out, and… well, somehow, she hated all this. Both of them had done so much, had worked so hard these last two months. And just when they thought it was over, just when they thought they could finally enjoy their Love, they were transformed here. Oh sure, she had hold, and kissed Ranma, but that was not nearly enough. She wanted to be alone with, wanted him somewhere far away, with no worries, no tasks, no nothing, just the two of them, totally free to do what they wish. But no, they even weren't entitled to that.

She softly caressed Ranma's cheek, and removed the moist that was on his cheek. At that Ranma smiled, and said, sniffing that he wasn't crying, and that… that was all he said before sniffing once more and then apparently out of nowhere exchanged his sniffing crying expression for a cocky smile. Akane couldn't help but giggle at that.

"Oh come' on there's no shame in crying." Akane said, holding his cheek softly.

"Me…? I ain't crying… err, I had something in my eye… it is ehm" he looked around him "I got a dusty in my eye… yeah, that's it. It's really dusty here, so, I got something in my eye"

Akane looked around, and saw to her amazement that the place actually was pretty much without dust, which was strange, because they were hiding like little scared cats under a table. And you'd expect dust under a table. Not that this was their biggest problem, but well, it kinda screws up Ranma's excuse to cry. Ranma, at Akane's inspection of their accommodations, did a second scan of the space they were using.

"Ehm… yeah well. Maybe you don't see much dust here now… but actually… it is err… invisible dust and err…" Akane turned to Ranma, interrupting her observing, and smiled at him. "You see… this dust actually has transported us and well… that's why we are under the table. To… defeat the invisible dust that has transported us…" the last words came out weakly, with an awkward smile, and some hair scratching. "And well… I kinda think the story's gotten a bit to abstract to be believable. Héhéh…" with a laugh, Akane jumped into Ranma's arms, and pinned him on the carpet, with a long deep kiss. Ranma received it eagerly, even encircling her, pressing her body harder against his, to make sure she wouldn't let go.

After 3 or so minutes, they both let go, and breathed deep. Kissing was new to them, kissing was good for them, kissing was heaven to them, kissing was also breathtaking, in more then one way.

"Ya know Akane. We really ought to learn to pay attention to breathing, and ehm… do that through our nose. I mean… Ain't much I know 'bout biology, but I do think that breathing was one of those really necessary things" he smiled, she laughed back.

Somehow, Ranma had done something that made the whole, "I'm so scared" mood seem so… gone. It was just there any more. Instead, she felt merry, she felt like laughing, giggling, she didn't know how she felt. She felt like a little school girl, in the sun, playing with Ranma in the grass. Rolling and doing innocent mischief. She couldn't help but suddenly laugh. Not a strange or weird laugh. But a laugh filled with pleasure, endless joyful pleasure.

'Oh god. Why do I feel so merry? I still should be scared as hell. But for some reason, my stomach is so full of a sort of flying things.' She looked at Ranma, and couldn't hold her laughter. 'This is so wonderful, I feel like flying, oh damn, Ranma… I want you'

Ranma scratched his head, not understanding what the hell was going on. "Ehm Akane. Got not problem if you laugh like that, but err… what's so funny?", Ranma got only more laughter as answer. He felt twinges, little twinges really, of irritation. He couldn't see anything funny about the situation, so she had to be laughing with him, or at him. And the later was really not appealing. But, she laughed, and she had clearly fun, and for some reason, that was so much more important then his own need to be not laughed at. He looked around, and saw that still no one had joined them. And besides, there was no one around to feel ashamed for. So he just smiled at her, and felt getting high on merriness, just by watching here.

So through laughter's, Ranma asked Akane again, what was so funny. Again Akane just laughed little cute laughs, solely out of pleasure. Then Akane suddenly got a serious face, and looked straight at Ranma, a dead serious, glare that held Ranma's gaze perfectly. Ranma, who had been laughing with her, stopped abruptly, and looked straight at Akane, gulping. He saw as Akane lifted a finger at him, and slowly opening her mouth. "You" she said slow, and assured. "I love you". Then she jumped at Ranma like a little schoolgirl, and pecked him on his cheek. Ranma, not understanding the situation in the slightest, just complied with it, and received the pecks joyfully. Then suddenly, he got this really strange idea. So, he avoided the next pecks of Akane. Instead of kissing her right back, he hold his hands behind his back, and let himself stand in battle stance on his knees, under the table.

Akane cocked her head a little, and looked at Ranma. He suddenly, got instead of a merry joyful smile on his face, an assured cocky, also challenging smile on his face. And instead of being loose, he stood ready, in battle stance. She looked wonderingly at Ranma, hoping he would give her an explanation of what he was planning.

Ranma looked at Akane as she cocked her head, and looking questioningly at him. The face, the expression and those eyes, it was just too cute to bear, he couldn't hold himself, and jumped at her.

Akane eeped a little when she suddenly saw Ranma moving fast towards her. She, in reflex, immediately held her hands in defence, when she suddenly felt a quick fast brush of something warm and soft on her cheek. Slowly, she dropped her defence, and looked now in complete shock at Ranma. She lifted her hand to her face, and touched the spot where he had pecked her. Then suddenly, as lighting, she understood what they were going to play.

She planned her knees sternly on the soft carpet, put her arms behind her back, and placed one of her own cocky, by Ranma educated, smiles on her face, and watched Ranma intensely.

"This is a game I can win" she said cocky, and extremely sure of herself.

Ranma smiled his own arrogant, smile at her. "We'll see about that, now won't see, my love and life?

"Hmmm" Akane only gave a soft gently, but again oh so arrogant smug smile.

And then the battle began.

Ranma began like he always began a fight. Softly circling his enemy, searching for a weakness, searching for an opening. Akane, having learned some things from Ranma, did exactly the same. Both to hinder Ranma in finding any opening in her defence, and also looking for an opening in his. Well, there wasn't much defence of course. It was hard to form one, when you had both of your hands on your back. But Akane looked assured, will she win this battle? Who knows?

In the mean time, Ranma apparently had found an opening. He had stopped turning, and has his eyes eyeing his opponent with a glint in his eyes. What will happen? Will Akane be able to deflect Ranma's attack? Now, Akane has also stopped, looking at her opponent, looking both for an opening, and his plan to attack her. But, Ranma is keeping his attack low, and doesn't show the least what he is planning to do. Both stand before each other now, eyeing each other like preys. Both combatants have certain smiles on their face, both fully intending on winning.

Then, like lightning, Ranma jumps at Akane, but… he completely jumped the wrong way. Akane looked in wonder how her opponent completely jumped besides her. Not even moving, Akane watched her enemy with a question in her eyes. No wonder of course. Saotome Ranma of the anything goes Saotome School of martial arts has just jumped completely the wrong way. But then, in that moment of wonder, Ranma jumped from 2 meters beside Akane, to Akane's right cheek. And with one beautiful leap (but controlled, they were still under a table), he reached for Akane's right cheek, giving it a soft gentle peck. One – zero for Ranma.

Akane, as soon as she felt the wonderful feeling of Ranma's lips fading, reacted, by turning to her opponent, and attacking. And so the battle raged on. Akane was almost always in the attack, trying to give Ranma pecks, everywhere on his face. Ranma defended furiously, evading every peck she wanted to place on his face. Ranma apparently had a hard time doing it. Of course, having such nice pecks from the beautiful Akane, who wouldn't want those? But Ranma hold on, evading and ducking as much as he could. And while Akane was attacking, adjusting and steering her face to Ranma's face, Ranma gave her pecks also whenever he could. Some hit, some didn't. and then, Ranma began attacking, and the game was fast decided. Almost every attack Ranma made was a hit, and every frantically defence of Akane failed, her parries failing, she tried to attack back, which only gave her more pecks.

Slow losing ground, she found that she was nearing a wall. Her certain smile self assured smile stayed though, but was now more filled with gentle laughter, and chipper happiness. She did one last desperate attack, she gave the impression she would kiss his left cheek, but intending to kiss him on the right cheek. Ranma gave indeed the impression he would defend left, but she knew he would just as fast defend the right side, so, almost knowing that as soon as she'd attack he would jump right, she attacked left… and found herself pinned against the wall, with Ranma's lips full on her.

He moved his arms towards her face, and gentle stroke it as he kissed her deep hard, furious with a need greater then anything he ever had felt. He needed her, needed her more then anything in the world. The kiss they were sharing now, was so much more valuable then any victory he would receive on the battlefield.

And he wasn't planning to let it end. From her face, his hands went to the hem of her white blouse. From that point on his instinct, his every uncontrolled desire was taking over, and he was not alone in that action.

Akane places her hands above those of Ranma. Not that she wanted Ranma to stop tugging at the hem of her shirt, not at all. She wanted to make sure that Ranma's hands would stay there. Past experience learned that Ranma quickly concluded that he was in some way treating her not right, and he might conclude that now, which certainly wasn't really what she wanted this moment. Then slowly, she did more with her hands then just holding them. She ever so slowly, brought his hands under her white shirt – this all of course while they were still kissing like their lives depended on it. She had her eyes closed, but she could feel Ranma getting startled when she directed his hands under her shirt.

For a short while, there was a certain hesitation in Ranma. His tongue, mouth and lips were moving slowly unsure of what to do, and his hand stopped caressing and stroking her back. However, in no time, Ranma understood her message. He replaced himself – all the while holding that same kiss, and when necessary, breathing – so that Akane sat on his lap. Akane, while they moved, Akane had removed her hands from Ranma's – not before gently convincing those hands that they were expected to continue what they were doing – and placed them in his neck, so being able to kiss him harder, having a support.

Now sitting in a new position, Ranma was able to move his hands upwards on her back, which he thus did. Softly, slowly centimetre a centimetre he moved his hands upwards. Stroking, caressing, roaming her back. Her and there, he even kneaded her soft flesh on her back. And when he felt Akane reacting very eagerly to his movement – which wasn't hard to notice, when she began breathing hard in his mouth, he knew she really liked it – he kneaded and moved his hands longer and more intense. While Ranma's hands moved upwards, Akane's shirt did the same, and left her belly quite exposed. Another thing it did was getting very stretchy at certain parts – even more stretchy, the thing was already quite stretchy to begin with – so that Akane's breasts at one point were very noticeable for Ranma, the shirt being stretchy, and Akane getting very excited, already had made them quite clear for the young martial artist. But now that he was pushing her shirt backwards, they really began pushing in his chest, which excited him to no end. If it wasn't for the clasp he earlier discovered on her back, he'd believe she didn't have a bra on.

When Ranma reached Akane's neck, and so almost completely exposed Akane's belly and chest, and thus had the support he wanted; he began pushing his tongue, mouth, lips and his complete body even harder against Akane. Akane already having pushed herself against Ranma's with all her strength, was inspired to see if she could push herself even more intense against Ranma.

And so, under the table, in the middle of a room, a room in the middle of a sort of apartment, they made love to each other. Desperate love, loving love, craving love, anxious love. Love that was for so long held back by both of them. Their love, in both so stupidly strong, could only held back by but one force, the force of both their personalities. But their love did not falter, not ever. It had grown, grown, till it was immense. Being unbreakable from the beginning, it was now indestructible, immortal, and it wanted to be released.

-end of Flashback-

Ranma looked at the beautiful decorated ceiling in their room.

"Damn… now I'm excited again" he sighed, turned and looked in the mirror.

'Hmmm… that was a night to remember.' He smirked as he remembered something. 'Whoever was there at that moment, they would without doubt notice we were there. I had no idea Akane could scream that loud. Not only that, but both of us had more then once smacked our heads against the table. Well, after the second time luckily, we didn't care anymore if there was someone in there no or yes, we just needed room, and left from under the tables, and had fun in the middle of that big room.'

And now, 2 months later, they are still were they began, not having moved an inch. Well, they had searched through their new home, but they still hadn't left it, or had discovered a way out. No, he was wrong, there was a way out. A sticking, rotting way out. A way out that was so disgusting, so screwed up, so everything he hated, that he… well… that he didn't think there existed something that he could hate more. Alright, it wasn't hard to imagine something that he would hater harder, but he didn't want to think such thoughts.

He scanned the room wearily, and idly wondered how long it was since he had slept. Well, it wasn't that long ago, maybe 12 hours or so. Not longer then Akane. Well… he didn't think he would sleep for 20 hours or so, not till his eyelids were too heavy to heave. Well… of course, in those 20 hours, Akane's help was in calculated. After each intercourse he would sleep in, heavenly. Problem was that when the nightmares came, and those can come soon, after an hour or so, sleep was disturbed and getting back to sleep was not possible anymore. He wouldn't be surrounded by the blissful embrace of heavenly pleasure brought by Akane's beautiful Body. Sure, the afterglow always hung for quite a long time, but even those weren't strong enough for the nightmares.

Luckily, he hadn't had much trouble with it when he was awake. That is, as long as he wouldn't daze away, and start daydreaming. But then again, he wasn't a daydreamer. He could practise his martial arts without any problem, could cook, could clean, could work, write and anything else without suffering from those horrible nightmares. Just as long as he didn't have to close his eyes, everything was alright. And when he had to close his eyes, he just had to hope that he was weary enough to not let those stupid nightmares wake him.

It had one bright side on it. This way, he had an excuse to enjoy Akane's love, and give his love to her, every time before he went to sleep. And damn, he still wasn't sated, not by a long shot. And as far as he could think, he'd never be. Akane was just the same. Every possible situation that was open for a pleasant intercourse was used for that pleasant intercourse. He knew that women were able to be nymphomaniac, but were males? Maybe he just had a great libido.

Another great thing was that situations like these, where they reach a disagreement, were quite rare. Actually, they only happened two times before. Both had the same subject "him not having to go through all these horrible things, and just staying here." He understood her, and he really appreciated the thought. But it was just impossible for them to stay here. For one, they just couldn't be disconnected to any other form of life for so long. Second, people would worry over them, and would be hurt over the fact that they suddenly disappeared. That, after actually just having returned from a rather strange adventure. No, they couldn't stay here, that was for sure. They need to go back. Besides, they missed some things here. Like the sun, like movies, and other means of entertainment. Sure, they had endless supplies of paper, pencils, food, water and all other such things they needed to live. But something as a television, or some dummies to train on, that was seriously lacking in this building.

And one last argument against it, and maybe the most important one for him. If he gave up, if he chooses to stay here, and not fight it any longer, he would be well and truly be defeated. And that wouldn't happen, not in a thousands years, Saotome Ranma wouldn't be defeated, not now, not ever. Even if his enemy was a strange looking building, with nice delicate rooms, and apparently never ending resources; he wouldn't lose. And somehow, he had to convince Akane that he was right. Because, Akane was now with him, so no one would defeat Saotome Ranma, Or Tendo Akane. Besides, it was he who went through it, wasn't it? Sure, it was sweet that she was so worried about him. But she needn't to worry about it so much. Sure, it bothered him to no end, made him feel sick, made him feel depressed, but heck, that just lasted till he saw Akane's bright chipper face. Their love was so much stronger then this depressing sad feeling. Besides, somehow, he had succeeded in thinking that all those "brothers" were little graphics of himself, and that all of them were playing in some weird bizarre adventure game. Which not, by far, meant that he would address them with "it". Somehow, while he could imagine them being nothing more then not living and thinking dolls, he still received their emotions, their feelings, and their thoughts. And for some reason, that left him with a certain bad aftertaste when he spoke badly of them. It was weird really. He could imagine them being nothing more then computer animated dolls, and still he didn't want anyone speak badly about them.

Ow well, he didn't feel like breaking his head over his own psyche. He'd better start doing something useful, like, looking what Akane is doing.

'Okay, so Ranma was right after thinking it through. But still, I don't agree with him having to go through all that pain and misery. Isn't there a way I could take his place?' Akane looked at the plastic yellow ducky that floated in front of her.

"What do you think ducky? Don't you agree with me? That Ranma is again to self sacrificing, believing in his endless ego that he could take all that?" Akane grabbed the plastic ducky out of the water, and stared with a diplomatic expression at it, as if really communicating with the fake sun coloured animal. She pressed the innocent ducky. The ducky heavily complained by making a sound that could be meant as a quack, but then more a quack of a demented, stoned drunk duck. Akane though accepted his answer gratefully.

"I knew you'd agree with me. Now if only I had any idea how to do that and if it wasn't so stupidly impossible for me to do that, I might just be able to replace his place. What do you say ducky?" Still staring at the yellow plastic, Akane again pressed the duck. Again it gave something that could've, in the mind of someone drunk stoned and dement, sounded like a quack.

"That is something interesting you mention there. Now if only I could make out what you actually say, it would be even more productive." Akane looked with piercing eyes at the duck.

"Anyway, next time he goes into that chamber, I'll force him to take me with him. Don't you think there must be a possibility for me to actually join Ranma in one of those sessions?" again, Akane gave the golden duck a squash. Again the Duck made exactly the same none – quacking sound.

"I thought as much. But you know ducky? I really want something, and that is me and Ranma somewhere, somewhere where no one, but really no one can find us, just the two of us, with no worries, no things to do, no adventures, just the two of us. And I've gotten part of my wish. I am somewhere, somewhere I don't even know, where no one will find us, where Ranma and I are all alone, and where we have all the time of the world. Problem is that part of it didn't come true. We are in an adventure, and we do have worries. And you know ducky, that's why I want Ranma to stop doing that. If he stops, then there will be no worries, there will be no adventure. Just the two of us, in this really neat place, where every place is a great place to… ehm…I don't know if you young duckies are supposed to know about these things." That last what said with a sort of wicked smile.

"Hmmm… you know you might try to come up with an agreement with Ranma" Akane looked confused at the ducky that just spoke. 'Weird'. She made the confused look on her face seem stronger. "Really weird ducky. I've never heard you speak before". Somehow, Akane's confused look looked…confusing. "And you sound so much like my little sex toy." She smiled with satisfaction when she heard from somewhere a low grumble.

"Anyway" said the ducky eventually. "Ya really should try to find some agreement with that ... Ehm… kof sex … kof toy of yours." Akane smiled scurrility at the duck.

"What do you propose then, oh wondrous talking duck?" she said, with not the least hint of being not serious.

"You could ask him to put more time between every session. That way, he'll have more time to forget…err…and err… enjoy…" Akane suddenly got a serious shocked look on her face, as if just having heard the naughtiest thing that could possibly be.

"What do you say now ducky. You are far too young for such dirty thoughts." Akane punished the ducky by squashing it.

"But still. What you are saying isn't really that stupid. Good that I have you. I mean, Ranma would never even consider such an idea." Akane smiled gave the duck her perfet cute as ten buckets of plush bunnies smile.

"So you really think I got good ideas?" The ducky asked curiously. Akane nodded furiously.

"Without doubt. You are the smarted plastic bath ducky I've ever seen in my life. And I've seen quite some duckies"

"You've seen many duckies like me? Err… I'm not even going to ask. Anyway, so you'll also follow my next advice?" Akane smiled warmly, but also with a bit of grin at the corner of her mouth.

"Sure, as long as they are good, I'll follow your every advice ow wise ducky." At this, she grabbed the ducky, and lifted it above her head. She herself bowed her head down, making a very humble impression at the ducky.

"Good. Now, my advice to you is to let that poor Ranma, take a bath with you, and afterwards let him massage your muscles really good, 'cause he's craving to feel your soft white skin under his strong hands". Akane lifted her head, and looked in complete shock at the duck.

"But… but… is that really what you want me to do?" Akane asked in completely amazement at the duck she still held high above her.

"Yup" the duck said short and plain. Akane scratched her wet hair at this.

"But aren't advices mostly things you don't like? Or at least, something you wouldn't kill for?" Akane looked at the Duck hopefully.

"Huh…"? Dunno, I do know though that, that is a real good advice" the duck was really short, somehow not wanting to waste any time anymore.

"Okay. But I don't know where Ranma is though. Do you have an idea Ducky?" Akane again looked at the duck, with an almost genuine looking hope in her eyes.

"Ehm… yeah. You err… close those cute bright brown eyes of yours, that would make any man insane for love, if you look at them, as you just did."

Akane complied, and shut her eyes abruptly. She waited and waited, but felt nothing happening.

"Ehm… ducky, what do I do now?"

"Ehm… ehm…Ranma is having a little problem with his shirt. Just a sec." Akane smiled a full smile.

She now heard some rustling at her right. After some time, she thought she heard someone disrobing a shirt, and letting it fall on the ground. But she could be wrong of course. She had a great imagination. Then she thought she heard someone pulling a shirt over his head, and throwing that next to the fallen shirt. Still, it could all be in head. Weird, because now she was almost certain she heard someone sitting on something, and making a disturbingly loud sound with the stool he sat himself on. But, those sounds still could be imaginable. Then thought she heard someone pulling off his pants, and eventually, yes, throwing it on the heap of the clothes. Curious imagination she had.

Now her imagination was playing even more joyful tricks on her. She could've sworn that she felt the water softly ripping against her belly, as if… no kidding, but as if someone else was entering the bath. But whoever could enter her bath at this moment? To be certain she spread her legs, you never know what might happen, and it was always better then to have your legs spread. Huh? How strange, she felt something warm and soft against her legs, as if someone was coming near her, and touching her legs while doing that. The world was a really strange place to live in, certainly this one. Not that she minded, not at all. So just to be certain she was on the safe side, she spread her legs even wider, and pushed her breasts a little forward. It might just be her imagination, but hey, you never know, can't be safe enough.

Hey, this was insane, she felt someone softly touching her breast, which… oooooh, sent shivers down her spine. And then, if it wasn't enough, she felt someone's soft warm lips being pressed hard on hers. But she was ordered to have her eyes closed for as long as no one told her to open them, and since she was a very nice girl, she obeyed every command. And thus had her eyes closed, when he began playing with her body, like it was nothing more then a little sex toy.

next time:

Wild Horse's Run

First move

Duds

four of spades