Disclaimers: You know the deal, if not read previous chapters.
Chapter Four: Ranma I'm Pregnant.
Akane:
Ranma is coming home today! Ranma is coming home today! Yes! Yes! Yes!' I thought when I awoke the next morning. 'Everything has to be perfect. Absolutely everything. Let's see, Kasumi is making Ranma's favorites. I would help if I could cook, but I don't need him getting sick. Besides, he'll probably want a feast, since he's been practically starving himself for three months. I better make sure Kasumi has all the ingredients she needs.' I got out of bed and stepped over Ukyo's sleeping form.
"Akane where are you going?" Ukyo asked. I screamed at first when I heard the question.
"I thought you were asleep." I stuttered out.
"I've been awake for an hour. Just waiting for you to get up." She sat up and stretched.
"Well I was just going to go to the kitchen." I looked at the clock it read 8:00. "Um… Ukyo, don't you have to open your shop?"
"Yeah, but I'm waiting to leave after Mousse get here." She also looked at the clock. "This should be right about… now." As if on cue the doorbell rang. I heard Kasumi go and open it.
"Well hello Mousse," I heard Kasumi say through the door.
"Good morning Kasumi. I'm here to see Akane," he announced.
"I'm not sure if she's awake. She's been sleeping more and more, since you know. Why don't you go have a seat in the living room?"
"Okay. But I'll do that after I tell Ukyo she can leave." I heard him going up the stairs, so I opened my door.
"Hello Mousse." I said when I saw him reach the top.
"Oh, so you are awake Akane. Good, then I won't be sucked into being judge for your father and Mr. Saotome's game of shoji. It's brutal being judge…" His face darkened at the memory. I laughed, because I remember the last time he judged. When he caught Uncle Saotome cheating and pointed it out, Uncle Saotome punched him, then when he pointed out the dad was cheating, dad gave him a good kick. So Mousse left the house that day with a black eye and a limp. It was hilarious.
"What's so funny?" Ukyo asked, coming up next to me.
"Oh nothing, just remembering something."
"Okay," she looked at me strangely then turned her attention to Mousse. "Hey sugar! You're right on time. Now goodbye you two I've really got to go. Stop by the shop for lunch, and Mousse, don't take your eyes off her. Got it?"
"Of course commander Ukyo," Mousse said, and saluted to her.
"Very funny. I've got to go. Have fun." She took off down the stairs.
"Bye Ukyo!" I shouted after her. I turned to Mousse. "Well Mousse I was going to head down to the kitchen. Want to come, or would you rather watch dad and Uncle Saotome play a game of shoji?" I laughed at the grimace that came onto his face.
"Very funny Akane. I would rather go with you, besides, I'm not suppose to take my eyes off of you." And he started to stare intensely at me, never blinking.
"Fine by me. Let's go." We started down the stairs, and went into the kitchen. "Good morning Kasumi."
"Good morning Akane. You're just in time for breakfast."
"Great. I'll set the table if you like."
"That would be excellent. Will you be joining us Mousse?" She asked politely.
"I already…" But I cut him off.
"Of course he will Kasumi. Mousse you can help me set the table?"
"Um sure, Akane." He and I grabbed some dishes and went to the dining room. We kept going back and forth between dining room and kitchen, until every plate was ready to be eaten off of. We all sat calmly at the table eating our meal. At the end of the meal Kasumi asked me to go into the kitchen with her.
"Yes, what do you need Kasumi?" I asked.
"I was wondering if you could head to the market later on today." She handed me a list of food and party accessories. "I need you to pick these items up for Ranma's welcome home party."
"Sure Kasumi, I'll head out right after a bath."
"Thanks, that'll be great help."
"Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes, and then I'll leave." I ran up to my room to pick out an outfit, I picked out a new yellow sundress. It looks similar to my old one except a size or two bigger. I didn't get that much bigger, but enough that Ukyo and I had to buy a few new outfits yesterday. I opened the door of my room coming face to face with Mousse. "Hello Mousse. We'll be leaving after my bath to go shopping for some things for Ranma's party. You'll be there right Mousse?"
"If you want me to be Akane." He answered back.
"Of course I do. Now I must take my bath so that we can leave. You can wait in the living room, I'm sure you'll be welcomed with open arms," I was remembering that dad and Uncle Saotome just started a game of shoji. I started towards the bathroom with Mousse right behind me. I stopped at the door and stared questionly at him. "Where do you think your going?" I asked quizzically.
"I'm going to wait out here in front of the door." I looked at him bewildered. "Go take your bath, I mean we want to get back here before Ranma does, don't we?"
"Of course!" I said, getting out of my stupor. "I'll be right back." I went into the bathroom and took a quick bath. I was back in the hall in no time, in my brand new sundress. "Let's go tell Kasumi we are ready to leave. Shall we?"
"Yes," Mousse said, getting up off the floor. We went down to see Kasumi.
"Kasumi I'm ready to leave," I said.
"That's good," she said, coming out of the kitchen. "Here's the list Akane." She handed me the paper.
"Thanks. Come on Mousse." I grabbed Mousse's arm and started to drag him. "Oh, and Kasumi, we won't be back till after lunch. Because Ukyo told us to stop by Ucchan's." I called over my shoulder to her.
"Okay. But be back before 3:00 please."
"Okay!" As soon as I got my sandals on I started off in a sprint with Mousse right behind me to the market. The shopping was done around 2:00. It was so much fun. Except for Mousse complaining that girls are so indecisive. That isn't true. He's just not use to going shopping for more than 20 minutes at a time. Well that's just plum dumb for him. Well when the shopping was done we decided to go to Ucchan's. I decided to carry all the bags, seeing how Mousse had to carry them store to store with a new bag adding on with each store. So I was walking with my arm locked with Mousse, with about twelve bags in my hands. Well me carrying the bags was a huge mistake. For when we reached Ucchan's, Ukyo was outside sweeping. When she saw Mousse without any bags and me with them all, she went berserk.
"Mousse! Why aren't you carrying any of the bags?" Ukyo asked as soon as we were close enough for hearing distance.
"Akane wanted to carry them all!" He replied back.
"Mousse, you irresponsible jerk! She shouldn't' be carrying so much things. It might stress her out, and she doesn't need any!" She yelled back.
"I know that!" Mousse tried to defend himself. The two kept on doing that. Ukyo telling Mousse he didn't know anything, and mousse trying to defend himself. Their commotion made a passerby stop.
"Akane," the person said. I turned my head to look at the person in front of me and there he stood… there stood Ranma staring at me.
*~*~*~*~*
Ranma:
I got home earlier than I thought I would. But it feels so good to be home. Now I'll get to see Akane… my Akane. It felt good to think that while I was walking down a street, when I heard the yelling of I think two people. It sounded like Ukyo and Mousse… and it seems like they are yelling about Akane. That's really strange. It's strange for 1. Mousse and Ukyo barely talk to each other, and all of a sudden they're fighting, and that brings me to my second point. It's stranger that two people who hardly talk to one another all of a sudden are fighting, and fighting over Akane no less. I figured the fight was coming from Ucchan's. So I walked over, and I was right. There standing in front of the entrance was Ukyo yelling at Mousse, and Akane who had her arm locked around Mousse's arm! I said the only thing I could think to say. "Akane…" Yeah that's all I could say. Her name. Stupid me. Well she heard me. She turned her attention to me and stared at me for awhile. Then us being the intelligent people we are, just kept on staring. Then she said my name.
"Hello Ranma." Akane said. 'But at least she added a greeting.' The two quarrelers stopped arguing after she said that. Ukyo turned and looked at me.
"Why hello sugar. Long time no see." Ukyo greeted.
"Hey Ucchan." 'No Ranma honey. Something must have happened while I was gone.'
"Ranma, you decided to come back eh?" Mousse said in turn, looking at me with no glasses on. 'Strange.'
"So you actually saw me without glasses eh duck boy?" I must find out what's going on.
"It's called contacts Ranma. Ever heard of them." He said sarcastically.
"I've heard of them, but why did you get them all of a sudden?"
"Ukyo made me. Besides Akane says I look good without glassed. She says they bring out the green of my eyes." Then the dummy fluttered his eyes at me. Now any guy with half a brain would've known that he was joking. But as soon as he said that I lunged for his neck. I was stopped midway though by Ukyo. She grabbed me by the collar and dragged me into Ucchan's Okinomiyaki.
"Let me go Ucchan, and let me at him while you're at it." I demanded, thrashing in her arms.
"Can't do that sugar, I can't have you starting a fight in my restaurant." She tightened her grip.
"Really Ranma, you just got back and you already want to start a fight." I heard Akane scowl. I turned around towards the door to see she and Mousse enter still arm in arm.
"So," I muttered.
"Don't 'so' me Ranma." She glared. 'Great! I just got back and she's already starting a fight.'
"Akane go sit in your booth and I'll bring you an okinomiyaki and the other stuff," Ukyo said cheerfully trying to change the subject. She turned towards me, "You too sugar, it'll be my welcome back gift."
"Thanks Ucchan," I smiled.
"You can also Mousse. As soon as you take those bags out of Akane's hands and put them in the back." She commanded.
"I can do that myself Ukyo," Akane said.
"That's quite all right Akane; Mousse can do it and be a gentleman about it too. Besides I already said we don't need you stressing yourself out. It's not good for your health."
"But…" Akane started but stopped when Ukyo gave her a look that said the matter was final. Akane hung her head and handed the bags to Mousse. Mousse took hold of them and headed to the back. Akane went to a booth closest to the bathroom and sat. I followed suite and sat across from her. Mousse soon joined us. He was mumbling something about "How can girls buy so many things? It's immoral to buy so much crap, and for a man too! A man does not want this much crap or needs it. All we need is a good pair of shoes, good pair of clothes, food, sake, and a pretty woman like Akane." I was laughing at that until he said a pretty woman like Akane. I narrowed my eyes at him. 'Who says he has the right to say that Akane is pretty. Has something been going on with these two?' I thought to myself.
"How can you stand going shopping with Akane?" Mousse asked to me.
"I can't. I barely go unless she offers to buy me some chow." I answered.
"That's unfair!' He proclaimed. He turned to Akane. "You never bought me food out of all the times we went shopping." 'They've been together shopping alone?!' I started to dislike Mousse more and more.
"That's because I always spent all the money on the clothes and other stuff. Besides you always offered to buy me food. Remember?" She questioned offhand.
"I know," Mousse said. He took the seat next to Akane. I glared at him. Giving him a look that said 'after lunch you are a dead man!' But he didn't seem affected. I started to think of all the ways to torture Mousse for even thinking about being close to Akane. I was broken out of my happy thoughts when the smell of food reached my nose. I looked down at the table and saw Ukyo had placed various dishes on the table.
"Well eat up sugar." She said handing me a bowl of rice.
"Thanks Ucchan," I said gladly taking the bowl along with some fish, an okinomiyaki and some sweet and sour pork.
"Yeah, thanks Ukyo," Mouse and Akane chimed together. Akane took a bite of an okinomiyaki and no sooner had she swallowed then she pushed Mousse off the seat and ran to the restroom. I stared blankly at the place Akane had sat. Akane, after a few minutes, returned to the table looking a little pale.
"I'm so sorry Akane," Ukyo began apologizing. "I gave you the wrong okinomiyaki. Oh, and it had to be a shrimp one too. I'm so sorry." Ukyo kept saying.
It's okay Ukyo. I'm fine," Akane said giving a faint smile. "It's really okay." She said after seeing Ukyo's face.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. But I'm sticking to just rice and fish. Let's just get back to eating." Akane sat down. "I'm sorry I pushed you Mousse," Akane said as Mousse sat back down, after allowing her to sit.
"That's quite all right Akane," Mousse said smiling. I looked at the two strangely. Wondering yet again what has been going on with the two. 'I will find out!' So I decided to start a conversation that will bleed the answer out of the chattering 'couple.' If that is what the two are. Which they better not be!
"Are you sick Akane?" I asked.
"No, not at all. Just the taste of shrimp makes me sick." She replied.
"Since when?" I blurted without thinking. Akane looked upset at my rudeness.
"It's been awhile," Ukyo intervened. "So sugar how was your trip? Good I hope."
"It was fine." I said matter of factly.
"Did you get me anything?" She asked.
"Maybe," I said offhand.
"Is that a yes?"
"Maybe. You'll just have to wait until later." Ukyo was about to persist the subject more, but Akane began to speak.
"What time is it?" She asked. I nearly fell out of my seat. 'Great question! I just come home and all she can ask is the freakin time. I guess she didn't miss me as much as I thought she would.'
"It's half past two." Ukyo told her.
"Oh, it's that late. We have got to get going. Kasumi wants us home by at least three." Akane informed us. She stood up. "Mousse move your butt and get the bags." Akane commanded him.
"Wait!" Ukyo shouted. "Is Ranma walking with us?"
I was about to protest but Akane spoke up.
"Of course he's coming! It's just as much his home as it is my!" Akane shrilled.
"Calm down Akane. I know that. It's just is he going with you and Mousse or by himself?" Akane just stood there deciding on the answer. I stood wondering too, but not what Ukyo said it hadn't had time to digest in my brain. She said it was my home too, MY home. All my life I've never really had a home and now Akane who I told I love says her house is my house. I had that urge again. An urge to just grab her and kiss her. Just like outside in front of the shop, but Ukyo was there. I don't want to hurt Ukyo. But then Ukyo's words finally got to me and I was back in action. Like hell I was going to let Mousse walk home with Akane alone!
"I'm going to go with Akane," I announced.
"Then it's settled. Ranma you be careful around Akane. Don't let her get hurt or annoyed too much." Ukyo said sternly.
"Aren't I always?" I asked jokingly, but my smile was gone when I saw the serious look on Ukyo's face. "What?"
"I don't need Shampoo or Kodachi hitting Akane or getting Akane mad when they glomp all over you."
"That ain't my fault!" I protested. But Ukyo wasn't listening for she moved on to bossing Mousse.
"I swear Mousse. If I hear that you just sat around on your butt I will kill you personally. Now if Shampoo or Kodachi attack I want you to keep them busy and let Ranma and Akane get away. Got it buster?"
"Yes sir," Mousse says saluting. Everyone laughed except Ukyo.
"Anything goes wrong, and I mean anything. You are going to be a dead DUCK!" Ukyo shouted. "Got it Mousse?"
"Y...yes ma'am." Mousse said timidly. He wasn't the only one frightened about Ukyo, I was too. She was almost as scary as Mr. Tendo when something happens to his girls.
"Well now that everything is set, you guys go first through the front. I'll close up the shop and leave through the back with the bags. Just in case something happens the bags won't be ruined. Okay bye." She started to push Mousse and I out of the door. Akane walking behind us. 'Why would she push me and not Akane? I thought she hated Akane.' I wondered. "Bye Akane. See you in about oh maybe 20 minutes."
"Bye Ukyo." Akane said back. Then more surprises to me, they hugged. They the rivals they are hugged. 'They're doing this to freak me out that must be it! I figured out their plot. Ranma you sly dog you.' Akane and Ukyo said bye one last time then Ukyo closed the door. "Come on you guys, let's hurry!" Akane shouted running ahead.
"We'll keep at this slow pace, but if you want to go ahead that's fine by me!" I shouted to her.
"Okay, but don't be too slow!" Akane called back.
"We won't, but you don't go to far Akane!" Mousse commanded. "Keep within my eyesight!" He added.
"Fine dad!" Akane shouted annoyed by something. I took this time to question Mousse.
"Hey Mousse!" I called out.
"Yeah Saotome." He answered.
"What no Ranma?" I questioned.
"I only have to call you Ranma in front of Akane. So when we're alone don't get used to it," he said plainly.
"What do you mean 'only' in front of Akane?" I asked curiously.
"She doesn't think it's polite to call your friends by their last name. So if I want to stay near her, I'll have to address you by your first name." He said plainly.
"What do you mean stay close to her?" Anger rising in me again.
"Meaning she needs protection and Ukyo feels that you'll need my help in giving it to her."
"I can protect her myself!" I shouted at his face.
"Like you did when Pantyhose Taro came and kidnapped her?" He sneered.
"That's a low hit Mousse." I said agape.
"It might be, but it's the truth." Right then and there I was so tempted to rip his head off but I stopped and froze when I heard her.
"Ohohohoho." Came a maniacal laugh. 'No not her, please not her.'
"Hello Akane Tendo, we meet again." A voice rang from up the street.
"Hello Kodachi." I heard Akane greet back. 'Shit, it is her. Why me?!'
"Where's your bodyguard oops I mean boyfriend Mousse at?" I heard Kodachi ask. 'BOYFRIEND! What happened to the whole I love you Ranma, huh?'
"My friend Mousse is with my boyfriend Ranma." Akane said bravely. My heart leapt for joy when I heard that.
"Stupid Akane," I heard Mousse say next to me before he took off running in the direction of the voices. I went after him.
"Why is she stupid?" I asked when I caught up.
"Just listen." He answered running even faster. "I told her to stay within my eye sight. Not only that, she's been itching to tell Kodachi and Shampoo you're hers. Now that you're back, she's going to try more and more. Look she's digging her own grave telling Kodachi. She can't fend for herself. Besides if something happens Ukyo is going to kill me." After saying that Mousse sped up more. It didn't take any energy to keep up with him. We finally reached the corner and turned and there stood Kodachi and Akane. Kodachi looked in shock. When she finally came to her senses she gave Akane a death glare.
"You lying wench. As if my Ranma honey is back, and if he were what makes you so sure that he would love you?"
"He said so to my face." Akane answered simply.
"YOU LIE!" Kodachi shrilled, now getting into a fighting stance.
"Do I? I think not. I don't think he was lying either when he got me…" But she was cut off by Mousse.
"AKANE!" He shouted. 'Great timing to cut her off. What did I get Akane?' They both turned to look at us.
"Ranma, what took you so long?" Akane asked.
"Ranma darling! You are home." Kodachi shouted with glee.
"No one is happy to see me. Just great. You come home and everyone forgets me. While you were away I was loved by all." Mousse muttered.
"You were only loved by your wench Akane." Kodachi said in disgust.
"Take that back!" They both shouted.
"Tis nothing but the truth." Kodachi cackled. Kodachi then leapt into the air and landed on me. I turned to see Akane's expression and my mind went into danger mode.
"Mousse, if you don't move your butt in 5 seconds and fix this problem, I'm going to tell Ukyo everything when we get home. Especially the part where I got really stressed out!" Akane hissed seemly. Mousse's face paled as soon as she said that. "5…4…" and as she said 3 Mousse moved into action with I suppose he thought with a brilliant plan for he shouted "I got it!" before taking off. He ran over to Akane and lifted her up in his arms, then he began running along rooftops towards the dojo. 'Brilliant plan my butt!' I screamed in my head. I saw him move his hand lower and lower, making it get loser to Akane's butt. When I saw that I finally found the strength to get Kodachi away from me, which is to say tie her to a pole with her ribbon. And started after Mousse. 'He's a dead duck! He's a dead duck! HE'S A DEAD DUCK!' As soon as I caught up I grabbed Akane from his arms and punched him in the face.
"What was that for?!" He shouted.
"That's for getting to close to Akane!" I shouted. I then finally realized something strange. "Jeez Akane, did ya gain some weight while I was gone?" I knew I made a mistake when I said that. Her face twisted in anger. I knew I shouldn't have said it when I heard Mousse mutter "Shouldn't have said that dead man."
"RANMA YOU JERK. Of course I haven't!" She yelled slapping me up side the head. Me having the brain I have shouted back.
"Of course you have! You are heavier than I remember ya ta be!"
"Leave me alone you jerk!" She said, starting to cry. 'She won this fight. I can't stand to see her cry.'
"I'm sorry Akane. I didn't mean ta hurt ya, I just was being… um… ah…" I started to stutter.
"Is it so wrong for a pregnant girl to gain some weight?!" Akane's eyes widened and her tears immediately stopped when she realized what she had said. "Oh my god." 'Oh my god is right.' I immediately stopped running, and when I stopped I accidentally dropped Akane. "Ow!" She cried out in pain. But I ignored that.
'Pregnant. That's what she said. Pregnant, she's PREGNANT! Who's the dad?' Then I remembered Akane and Mousse being close. 'That bastard!' I turned towards Mousse who had caught up with us and turned to look between us. I stomped over to him and punched him in the gut. He crumbled to the floor easily. I kicked him once…twice. I was going for a third but Akane stood in front of me, in my way.
"How could you do this to me?!" I shouted at her.
"Ranma listen…" She started but I cut her off.
"I was only gone for three months Akane! Three months! But obviously it was too long to wait! I can't believe you, you would pick him over me! The duck boy!"
"Ranma calm down and listen." She started to plead.
"Why should I?"
"Because…" I again cut her off.
"Why should I listen to you?! Did you forget what I said to you? What you said to me? Didn't it mean anything?"
"Of course it did." She started to cry, but her tears didn't even faze me. I was pissed off.
"Obviously it didn't mean a lot. You slut you dis…" But I was cut off when she came up and slapped me.
"Listen you! I love you, and only you! What you said meant the world to me. Now I'm going to say this once and only once. Yes I'm pregnant, but Ranma, I'm pregnant with your baby!" She shouted. My brain completely froze. The words 'your baby' ringing in my head.
"It's mine?" I asked subconsciously.
"Yes it's yours. I can't believe you thought I would ever sleep with Mousse." She said.
"I'm right here," Mousse protested.
"Shut up duck boy." I mumbled. "I'm going to be a da? I'm a dad?"
"Yes, you are. At least you are going to be. Unless, you… unless you…" Akane started.
"Unless I what?" I asked.
"Unless you don't want to be part of the baby's life." She asked in a voice full of worry at his answer.
"Akane I…"
A/N: I'll leave you off there. Thank you to all of you that reviewed. They mean a lot to me. Bye for now.