Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, please do not sue.

The Long and Winding Road
The Wild and Windy Night, That the Rain Washed Away

One of the first things Akane learned in her training was to control her anger, but old habits die hard, especially in Nerima.

"What?"

"I'm using your…" Akane held her hand in front of Ranma's face.

"Yeah, I got that. Why?" Ranma looked away from her.

"Well, after you left things were…different. After a few months my mom moved in to help console your dad and sisters. Naturally she stayed in my room with my dad and I really had nowhere to sleep. I would have just slept in the dojo or on the roof, but Kasumi suggested I take your room. She said it would be better if it wasn't empty. I couldn't say no to her." Akane knew the feeling well, it was always extremely hard to go against Kasumi's wishes, especially if she was upset.

"Ok, well, same plan then. You go in the front, make some noise, and I'll sneak in the window. We'll discuss the rest later." It wasn't late, probably somewhere around 9, but Akane assumed that Nadoka had strict bed times for Genma and her father and Kasumi always went to bed at around 9:30. And Nabiki, if she noticed anything, would probably keep her mouth shut to keep out of trouble.

When Ranma got into the room he noticed Akane standing on her desk, with one foot on her chair, as though she was going to step down, but she seemed to be frozen.

"Ranma…what's that?" Ranma looked at the object in question and answered her in the same whispered voice that she had used.

"A futon." Akane stepped off the desk.

"Yes, but what's it doing here?" Ranma looked away from her.

"I wasn't going to sleep in your bed." Akane's anger raised, but she was able to keep it and her voice in check.

"What's wrong with my bed!" Ranma eyes met Akane's with anlook she wasn't used to, it was so remorseful.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that, it was bad enough that I was in your room without permission, your permission, I wasn't going to use your bed. It didn't seem right." Akane's gazed softened.

"Well, you have permission tonight." Ranma's eyes widened in shock.

"W-What!" Akane turned down the bed and gestured to Ranma.

"I think you deserve a good nights sleep on a nice fluffy bed." Ranma was blazing red.

"With you?" Akane realized what Ranma was thinking and turned the same shade of red.

"No! I meant you take the bed, and I'll take the futon!"

"Oh…" The color soon drained from both of there faces. Ranma took a seat on the futon.

"It wouldn't be right for the guy to take the bed and have the girl sleep on the floor. Besides, I've always slept on the ground." Akane looked towards the bed.

"Well suit yourself." Ranma was expecting to fight with Akane half the night about the sleeping arrangements. He guessed that she had also learned to pick her battles while she was training. He noticed Akane pulling an outfit out of her bag.

"Close your eyes."

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to change." Ranma looked towards her and blushed.

"I'll just go, I wanted to take a bath anyway."

"Well, if I happen to make a noise in here and you're in the bath someone might suspect something and that couldlead toproblems." Akane started to unbutton her shirt and Ranma almost freaked out.

"Hey, what are you doing?" He was trying to keep his voice down, but it was difficult.

"What?" That's when Ranma noticed that she was wearing a shirt under the one she was unbuttoning.

"Nothing."

All of the sudden a thought occurred to Ranma.

"Since when have you been so comfortable undressing in front of me!" A light pink tint arose on Akane's face and she walked back over to her desk. She sat down on the chair and looked at Ranma.

"It was part of my training." Ranma jumped up.

"Getting undressed in front of guys!"

"No! Don't be ridiculous!" Ranma relaxed a little and sat on the bed so he would be at eyelevel with her.

"My training focused on control and trust."

"So you were training with a man?" Ranma looked slightly downcast.

"How'd you guess?"

"How else would you be so comfortable with men?" Akane laughed.

"Well, he couldn't see me half the time any…" Akane's eyes widened in shock, realizing what she had said and hoping Ranma didn't.

Ranma was thinking. The phrase 'couldn't see' stuck out in his mind. Was Akane's trainer blind? Then the rest of Akane's statement caught up to him 'half the time', so his eyesight was bad. A martial artist with bad eyesight, it sounded familiar... Then it clicked.

"That jerk! All that time and he knew!" Ranma was now yelling and Akane knew that the rest of the house would be showing up at her door any moment.

"Ranma, you don't understand! Just let me explain." But before Akane could say another word Ranma was out the window.


Again, I'm not too happy with how this turned out, and I was actually going to continue, but I think the next chapter should stand on its own. Next chapter will be the entrance of a few member of the NWC, and possibly Akane's family. I'm trying to go be consistent as far as my chapter sizes go, so if there is room, they will be added. Unless people don't mind a couple of long chapters here and there. Comments and criticism are still welcomed and appreciated. Thanks again.