As The Sun Rises

Chapter Four: Seeing

He could see her clearly.

When he reached for her, she moved back, her face cased under shadows at the movement.

He moved forward and reached out again, wanting to touch her, wanting to see if she was real.

She moved back, this time further away; more of her engulfed under the shadows.

Fearful and desperate, he lunged for her. Just when he was about to pull her in a fierce embrace, she disappeared. His heart cried out for her, now even more desperate. He frantically search the darkness for her, any sign of her.

"Ranma."

Her voice. He spun wildly around, trying to locate were her voice was echoing from.

"Ranma."

Where is she? He could smell her light scent, one that he recognized anywhere, yet.........

"Ranma."

His heart twisted when he heard her voice. Sadness was laced into every letter of his name as she said it. She was crying......... he could tell.

"Please......... don't leave me."

Desperate, he ran at one direction. He would never leave her. Never......... only if she would never leave him.........

"Ranma, Please wake up."

The darkness that engulfed her earlier swallowed him whole.


Fear was the only thing that ran through him as he broke through to consciousness, the dream still lingering vividly in his mind. He could still smell her jasmine scent—the bath oil scent that she often used—the one that calmed his nerves like nothing else can.

"Ranma, wake up."

His eyes shot open. Without thinking, he grabbed the figure above him in a swift movement. He didn't register who it was until her scent filled his senses. His eyes widen and the fear from his dream came back to him.

"Akane!"

She looked started and confused but otherwise fine. He took his time looking her over, making sure that she was well and genuine in front of him. That dream scared him and if it was supposed to mean anything, he would make sure she stayed in his sight. She looked slightly pale and weary but that could have come from being sick. Other then that, she looked positively radiant.

Her cheeks turned red under his steady gaze and, tentatively, she broke eye contact to turn her head away from him. He smiled, noticing it and the fact that he still had her arms in his firm grasp and holding her uncommonly close to him.

"Are you ok now?" The question came out of nowhere but he needed to break their silence. He let go of her arms and took a look at their surroundings as she settled back onto her bed. Right......... he spent the night in her room; her sudden collapsed yesterday morning worried him so he stayed to watch over her.

"I'm fine Ranma. No need to worry," she assured him. Her voice sound slightly strained but it was hardly noticeable.

"Who ever said I was worried?" he said defensively. He glanced at her. She was still on her bed, sitting upright with the blanket draped lazily on her lap. He wanted to push her back down into the comfort of her blanket so that she could fully recover but that would only contradict his words. Instead he got up from the bedside seat and stretched. Sitting on a chair all night was quite uncomfortable.

"Then why were you at my bedside all of yesterday and last night?" she shot back quickly. He froze mid-stretch. Caught off guard, he could say nothing in return. Thankfully, Kasumi choose that moment to enter the room.

"Hello Ranma. Breakfast is ready downstairs if you're hungry," greeted Kasumi in her regular optimistic voice. She then turned to Akane. "I'll bring up your breakfast for you if you want. Unless you feel that you're well enough to go downstairs."

"I'll go." She pulled her blanket off and swung her legs cautiously over to the side. She managed to stand up for a full three seconds before her knees buckled and she fell over. Fortunately Ranma was right beside her to catch her as she fell. In two steps he looped one arm around her waist and the other under her knees and pulled her up, bridal style.

"Stupid tomboy. Still clumsy," his scold came out less stern then he wanted it to be. He half expected her to scowl and hit him but it never came. She merely leaned her head on his shoulder and releasing a heavy sigh. He gently disposed her on her bed. When she made a move to sit up again, he gently pushed her down and pulled the comforter over her head. "No, you need more rest."

She pulled it back down to her shoulders and glared at him. How dare he treat her like a child!

"Akane, you need to stay in bed for another day," Kasumi spoke up from behind Ranma. She reached over and, in her motherly fashion, tucked the blankets securely around her younger sister. "Go back to sleep. I'll bring up a late breakfast later."

Defeated, Akane nodded and resigned herself for another day in bed. When she heard her sister leave the room, she curled herself into a ball and slowly drifted off to sleep. She didn't notice the person still left in the room.

Ranma watched her for a few more minutes then left her room. He went back to his room, gathered bath supplies and head to the furo for a relaxing bath. Thank god it was a day off. He didn't feel like going to school just yet.

Updated: Sept. 15, 2004