AN: Hey people! I am BACK! And you know what? I'm so happy that history day is OVER! Hahaha! Well, I'm posting cause I figured out how to fix the format! YAY! I know you guys have been waiting a while for this part so here it is! Thank so much for your reviews! I'm past 100!!! At the moment I have about 125 reviews! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
Special thanks goes to Butterfly who was the reason I figured out how to fix it! I LOVE YA!
Chapter 10!
The car ride home was a silent and rather calm one. Nabiki sat in the front with Jun, happy with the picture she had just snapped. No doubt she was thinking of way to make huge amounts of income off of it. * Hm… now if only I can snap one of them kissing . . . and with Ranma in his girl form too . . . Kuno would pay me all the money in the world for that!* Slowly she turned to the two sitting in the back seat. "You guys alright back there? You're pretty quiet." Ranma just nodded and Nabiki turned back around, never noticing Ranma's slight shudder.
"Man, she's planning something," he said to himself quietly so that only Akane would be able to hear; however she wasn't listening. Instead she was staring out the window to her left, lost in what could only be thought. Ranma stared at the back of her head for a bit; think of all the possible things that could be running through it. Suddenly his own mind recalled the current events that had just took place not even an hour earlier. Turning his head to his right, he studied the trees as the flew past him in a dark green blur. * What was that all about?*
He was a bit confused to say the least. Sure he had played like it was normal for her to be saying that they need to talk, but when she had said that she was sorry, well, that's when he began to worry and be in the state that he is now. She rarely apologizes to him, it's like a once in a blue moon kind of thing, so for it to happen, something must be really bugging her. * Was it all because of what I had said? Hm, if it is, I really need to tell her that I never meant it.*
His eyes focused on an all too familiar park, which suddenly came into view. It was the park that he had become all too friendly with since his return home for the first time in ten years. He smiled. He would always go there whenever he would do something stupid and would be banished from the dojo until he fixed it, or whenever he just needed to clear his head. * Hm, we're close to home then . . .* As if on cue, the Tendo dojo had suddenly come into view and the car slowed to a halt.
Nabiki was the first one out of the car, followed by Akane, and last but not least Ranma. Akane and Ranma said their thanks to Jun then headed off into the house, leaving Nabiki and Jun outside by the car. Nabiki watched the two walk away silently then turned back to Jun, noting to herself that the boy about her age was staring at them. Nabiki followed his line of vision and found that as she had suspected, her sister was Jun's object of observation. Nabiki, being the person that she is, couldn't let this opportunity pass her by. "So, see anything you like?"
Jun snapped out of the trance he had been in only to see Nabiki's smirking face. "Wha-what are you talking about?" If possible, her smirk widened. "You were staring at my sister. . . weren't you?" Jun blushed. "Ah, so you think she's pretty right?" Slowly Jun nodded. "Well, I hate to break it to ya, but she's engaged." Jun's head drooped a bit, but his ears perked up at what Nabiki said next. "But, for a certain amount, I might be able to put in a good word for you."
"How much?"
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Akane slowly took off her shirt, bent on changing into her pajamas. Once out of her street clothes and into her warm night clothes, she sat on her bed, recounting the day's earlier events. * Why did I apologize to him? What in the world made me do that?* She flopped backwards like she had done so many times before. She was confused, very confused. * I bet he is too.* For the life of her, she couldn't understand why she had done and said the things she had. It was like a spur of the moment thing, when she had unconsciously let her emotions take over, and she had done things out of the norm.
She rolled over on her side, taking in a deep breath then releasing it. "What was he going to say??" She sat up silently at the sound of knocking on her bedroom door. "Uh . . . who is it?" A moment of silence passed before an answer came. "Um, it's me . . ." Akane swallowed what could only be uncertainty and made her way the brown door. Opening it, she instantly came face to face with a red material. Right away she backed up and blushed slightly, refusing to meet Ranma's face.
Ranma noticed and inched forward a bit, trying to peer into Akane's big chocolate orbs. "Hey, Akane-chan, what's wrong?" Her head had shot up at 'Akane-chan' and their eyes finally met. Ranma could easily tell that she was a bit surprised at the affectionate attachment that he had used while calling her name, but he decided to ignore the look she was giving him. "Are you okay?" He asked again, this time bringing her back to reality. "Oh, uh yeah . . . why are you in my room? I thought we were gonna meet in the spot?" He straightened up. "Oh yeah, I know, but Kasumi sent me up here to tell you that dinner is ready."
They both stood there, silent and avoiding eye contact to the best of their ability. Finally, Ranma's words had registered into Akane's brain. "Oh yeah, dinner. Well, um, I guess we'll have to talk after dinner then." She turned around and began picking up the clothes she had removed earlier. "Well, I guess I'll be heading downstairs. . . see ya down there." She grunted an answer and waited for the door to shut. Once the sound was heard, she dropped the clothes on the ground in a frustrating heap and placed her hands on her hips. "Why does he do this to me?"
Outside of the door in the hallway, Ranma began his journey downstairs. He released a breath he had been holding as he placed his hand in the railing, and then a moment later sighed.
"Why does she do this to me?"
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Dinner had seemed a bit un-normal. Everyone was absorbed in their thoughts, well, everyone except for the elders of the house and young Kasumi, whom was trying her hardest to keep the silence from growing with small questions here and there. Soon however, dinner was over and everyone made their way to different places as to entertain themselves.
Ranma sat quietly in their 'spot' waiting for Akane to finish up in the bathroom. The 'spot' was in fact the roof. He smirked and placed his head in his hands. This was where they had often come to discuss things or, when neither of them could sleep, simply talk. He eyed the stars. * What could she possible want to talk about? I hope it's not about what happened in the janitor's closet. If so . . .* His thought ended abruptly as his ears picked up the sound of footsteps on the tiles of the rooftop.
"They're beautiful aren't they?" She knew that he was fully aware of her presence, but yet she still hoped that her sudden question would bring him surprise. He looked so peaceful sitting there, staring at the stars. When he jumped she smiled. * So he seems like he's just as nervous as I am.* Carefully she made her way over to where he sat. She studied him for a bit before asking a question that she knew was useless, but yet felt the need to ask.
"Is this seat taken?"
Ranma smiled a bit, then patted the space a couple of inches away from him. "No, it's open." Nodding she slowly lowered herself down on the roof, moving around a bit until she was comfortable. Once she was sure she would be able to sit that way for a long period of time, she placed her hands on her arms and sighed, raising her head to the sea of stars. The wind blew silently as the two adjusted to each other's presence.
"I'm sorry."
She looked to her left at Ranma. * Sorry?* "Sorry for . . . ya know . . . calling you all those names." His eyes never left the sky and he seemed a bit . . . spacey? She couldn't really find a word to describe it. "I guess you want to know why I say them right?" He looked at her then and she him; both had half their faces illuminated by the sparkling lights in the sky. He cracked a lop-sided smile. "That is what you wanted to talk about, right?"
She turned around suddenly and studied her crossed arms. "Yeah, but . . . let me say this first. Tonight Ranma . . ." she looked back at him, " Tonight I want you to answer me truthfully. Don't lie to me tonight, ok? I want . . . I want to know what you really feel." He blinked. She was asking him to be truthful, to not hold back and tell everything. He continued to stare at her as he continued to think. Could he be truthful? * If I do then that means I might . . . more like I'll have to tell her that I . . . that I…*
"Ranma? Are you ok?" He shook his head slightly. "Yeah, uh, I'm fine . . . just ask away." She eyed him suspiciously but decided that he would be able to tell her the truth. There was nobody else around. Everyone else had gone to bed, leaving the two to be the only ones awake. They were all by themselves and with no interruptions. She thought for a moment.
No interruptions.
No interruptions meant she could ask him whatever she wanted to without the fear of somebody hearing her. With that thought in mind she asked a question that Ranma never thought he would hear in her voice. "Ranma?" "Hm?" He turned his head slightly to the side to glance at her. "Do you hate me?"
"What?"
His head shot back in her direction, eyes wide in astonishment. Had she really asked that question? If his mind wasn't playing tricks on him then why? Why would she ask such a thing?
Akane chewed on her bottom lip relentlessly since the question had fell from her lips. She knew it was an out of the blue type question but she had to admit that she was curious as to what his answer would be. He had, after all, silently agreed to be truthful with her tonight. Ranma on the other hand was thoroughly confused. "Why would I hate you?"
Akane stopped biting her lip and sighed, frustration evident in the breath she had suddenly released, but she kept a calm front. "Ranma, think. Think about all the arguing, name-calling, fighting, everything! We seem as if we can't get along for about ten minutes! Think about all that, and give me a reason why I shouldn't think that you hate me." He frowned slightly as he watched her. He scooted closer to her, all while keeping her eyes locked with his. "Because I don't." Shivering she turned her head away. "You don't what?"
"I don't hate you Akane. Look, I don't mean any of the things I say, honestly!" Akane snorted. "You say that now, but wait until tomorrow comes around and your fiancées show up! Bet you anything that when those bimbos come around you'll be calling me everything under the sun!" She glared at him then turned her head back around. She didn't want to yell or anything really, but for some reason she couldn't help it. She was tired of everything and this talk wasn't really going how she had planned. A breeze blew past and she shook involuntarily. * Damn, I should have brought a sweat shirt or something.*
He noticed her slight shaking and moved in even closer. She didn't seem to notice so he lifted his arm, hesitating at first, then firmly wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled her close as to warm her with body heat. At first, her utter shock made her resist his warmth but after realizing how truly cold she was, she gave in and snuggled up to him. His eyes widened a bit when he felt her moving closer to him but he only did the same and snuggled closer to her in return. "I don't hate you Akane, I could never do that."
"Then why Ranma? Why do we constantly fight and squabble (An: hehehe love that word) like we do?" Her mind suddenly ran over all the fights that they had gotten into over the past year that he had been there. A frown made itself known on her face when only a handful of the memories of them were pleasant ones. "Why? Why are we always fighting?" She felt him shake his head as she listened to his heart beating in his chest. "Honestly Akane, I don't know." She leaned her head back on his chest. "Then why do you call me names? You know as well as I do that that sort of thing sets me off."
He smirked slightly, happy that she couldn't see his face at the moment. He had to admit, if only to himself, that he thought she was rather cute when she was angry, but that's not to say that's the only reason that he calls her those names. "I don't know why, I guess it's because I . . ." She looked up at him expectantly, and as soon as he saw her moonlit face, his words caught in his throat. "Because you what?" She urged him on. He had started this sentence before while they were locked in the janitor's closet but he never finished. She was rather curious as to what his reason would be. He closed his eyes suddenly and she started to worry a bit. * Why is he closing his eyes? What could he possibly have to say that he can't look at me?*
". . . I can't really say what I want to say." He had started talking again, catching Akane a bit off guard. "What would that be?" She was becoming skeptical and beginning to question herself if swearing him to truthful answering tonight was a good idea. All the possible things he might say were running through her head and it was starting to get to her. * Ranma! Answer me!!* She wanted to shout that at the top of her lungs but she held back. Whatever he had to say must be important because he seemed as if it he searching for the right words to say.
His eyes opened slowly and Akane peered into them. Something in those storm-blue eyes of his kept her drawn to them, some kind of emotion in them wouldn't let her turn away. What was it? She couldn't place it. It seemed like deep concentration, but on the other hand kindness and love. What could he possibly have to say? All of the delaying was driving her nuts! (AN: I bet it's driving you guys nuts too huh?)
She couldn't take the staring contest they seemed to be having anymore so she turned her head and closed her eyes, trying to calm her wildly beating heart. * What . . . what was all that about?* "Akane . . ." she didn't turn around, because she couldn't. She felt like if she did and looked into those eyes of his, she would lose it and probably do something stupid. * Whoa girl, settle down.* "Look, Akane, what I really want to say is . . . gawd, I'm no good at this kind of stuff . . ." "Just say it Ranma." She kept her face from view, but unconsciously moved in closer to him. Silence was present and once again, Akane was ready to scream because of it.
"I love you."
Her eyes that were closed tightly in anticipation shot open. * What?* she whipped her around, asking her question aloud, but was un-expectantly met with a pair of surprisingly soft lips on hers. The kiss was light and short, lasting only about five seconds. Akane pulled back and stared into Ranma's smiling eyes. * He . . . he said . . .* "I love you," he repeated again for the second time, this time the words falling effortlessly from his lips. "I say all those things because well, I'm not really use to giving compliments." She nodded slowly. That's right, he's always concerned with his martial arts, so learning how to please a girl wouldn't really be his forte. "But what about Ukyo? You told her that she was cute and you seemed to have no problem with it."
Ranma tightened his arm around her and placed his head on top of hers. "I know." Akane huffed a bit. "You know? What's that supposed to mean?" He smiled into her hair. "It means that she is cute, but not like you." She pulled away a bit to look at him. "What?" His smile never left his face, and a cute little blush had made it's way up there. "She's cute, but you're cute and beautiful." She felt the blush rising on her face. "You . . . you really think I'm beautiful?" He nodded. "Then why did you call me ugly?" He sighed and leaned back on his hands. "It was one of those spur of the moment type things, you know, when you say something you don't really mean to say. It just came out, and believe me, I really wish it hadn't." "Ok, but what about the tomboy jokes, the cooking jokes, all of that?" His eyebrows raised suddenly. "I don't really mean it. But if you want my honest opinion, I wouldn't really want a real girly girl for my fiancée, that's not really my style. You're feminine, don't get me wrong, but you're not too feminine. I like that." A blush seemed to burn away at her face when his comment was heard.
She watched him for a moment. He was staring at the sky again, and he didn't seem as tensed as before. Smiling she stood suddenly and walked in front of him, gazing at him for a moment before she shyly placed herself into his lap. This action only caused his blush to grow wider on his face. Never had he thought that she would be in this kind of position with him! What was going on? Ever so slowly she wrapped her arms around his neck as she began to speak. "I'm sorry Ranma." "Huh?" "I'm sorry for hitting you all the time and for jumping to conclusions whenever I see you with . . . them." Ranma titled his head to the side. "Huh? Who are 'them'?" "Ranma!" He chuckled slightly. "I know I know, I just wanted to see if you the real you. I knew asking that would get that reaction from you." She blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?" "Well, you're apologizing for one, that's not really like you."
She snorted lightly. "Huh, it should be the other way around, but whatever. You said you were sorry so it's only right that I say I'm sorry too." He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a hug. "Thanks Akane-chan." She pulled away and looked at his face once more. "Hm? What is it?" Without warning, she dipped her head down and caught his lips with hers for a slightly passionate kiss. Once it was over, he looked at her questioningly. "What . . . what was that for?" She only smiled.
"I love you too."
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KTKG: OOOOOOOOK! Well, I hope you guys liked this chapter! Tell me what you guys think about it. I'm afraid I'm not really good at writing fluff or WAFF or whatever you call it. I just had this vision one night and I was like, 'yeah, that would be cute' but I'm not too sure if it turned out right.
Oh yeah, if you're perchance wondering what History Day is, it's a competition where you pick a historical event and say how it relates to the year's topic. I, like a true Kenshin fan (I love Ranma too!), did the Meiji Restoration! NEVER AGAIN! Yeah, I thought it was going to be fun, but I couldn't find any info that was in ENGLISH! But I'm over it now, so it's allllllll good! J
I have to say, however, that HD has ruined my whole 10th grade year! L
Well enough of my rambling! You guys know the drill! REVIEW!!!!!!