Will you persist even after I bet you

A billion dollars that I'll never love you

Will you persist even after I kiss you

Goodbye for the last time

Will you keep on trying to prove it?

I'm dying to lose it...

I want it

I want you

I want a coin operated boy.

--The Dresden Dolls, "Coin Operated Boy"

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Akane walked down the hall she had stepped upon so many times before. The house was light, full of sun, and she smiled lazily. It was silent, evidence that no one could be home, but she heard a rustling. The rustling was coming from the closet and as she walked towards it cautiously; it boomed open and she was yanked in.

Someone was resting against her, holding her tighter than society allowed. Akane was ready to push them off when they breathed down her back, hot and sticky and spiced.

The person lifted their head from her neck, keeping their tight hold of her waist to them,and stared into her eyes. Akane stared back at the masses of grey blue. She couldn't believe it. She, Akane Tendo, was with him, Ranma Saotome, in a closet.

He cupped her face with one hand, still holding her lower back tightly to his with the other.

"Yo Akane," the insecurity in his voice had vanished and had been replaced with confidence and trust. There was also a high streak of necessity in it, something she wasn't accustomed to.

"Ranma," Akane began but stopped when he nuzzled his face in her neck and kissed it lightly, then progressed; kissing her deeper, pulling her closer. And she stopped; she stopped complaining, she stopped caring, and let her guard down. It was fun, good, and felt safe.

"Akane," he murmured charmingly, letting go of her arm and curling his hand behind her neck, fingers stroking her hair lightly, "I really needed this."

At the feel of her, not returning his kiss, he stopped, pulled away, and looked to her quizzically, "You okay?"

She had a chance to run. She had a chance to make a perfectly dignified escape.

Akane stared into his eyes one last time before breathlessly rushing him and kissing back, this time onhis lips; feverishly intensifying the kiss. She felt his tongue explore her mouth, and wordlessly explained everything.

Ranma smirked and parted to make a remark, "So that's a yes."

She nodded, out of breath anda bit dazed, and felt his back, his neck, his well built chest. She stroked his arms; muscular and tense. She ended up wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling herself even closer to him, letting her breath hover over him.

He stopped for a second and Akane felt herself physically yelp. He laughed.

"Babe, before we continue," he raised an eye brow seductively and pulled her in for another knee knocking, drawn out kiss, "which I really do wanna get back to," he smirked his famous smirk, "I gotta let ya knowthatI'm glad you're here. You're a horrible cook, and a bit of a brick, but I wouldn't trade ya for another goddamn thing," he kissed her again and she felt her eyes glisten. He wiped the tears away, still smiling, he breathed huskily into her ear, " man, I'm in love with you."

Akane choked on her tears, wiping the hair that was slightly perspiring away from his face, "I love you too Ranma. See, I love you so much that sometimes I cry when I think about it."

"Ya better stop that; I think I've been the cause of enough tears as it is," he quipped; resting back a bit, and just staring at her lovingly.

"They're all worth it though," Akane rushed; explaining what was on her mind, finally, "every last tear is worth the look on your face when you smile. And I love it when you see me and I'm smiling and you're not, but I make you. I want that again, Ranma. I just don't want to have to guess anymore. I've never been good at guessing games. I just need to hear it."

Ranma laughed, "Need to hear it? Akane, I say it every day! When I say "Yo Akane" it's "I love you", and when I say, "You tomboy" it's "I gotta have you or I won't be here much longer"! Akane," Ranma paused for dramatic effect, licking his lips,"I can't go on without you. I could stay in this closet with you forever because we'd be together and that's enough for me."

Akane stroked his face, "It's nice to hear it. Oh Ranma, you big dummy, you've got my heart wrapped around your pinky, and you know it."

Ranma grasped Akane's hand, a look of betrayal on his face, "Then why're ya with him?"

And that was when she woke up.

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Ranma rubbed his head, "So, when you were carting me off with you, did it ever occur to you," he glared at his companions in the forest, "THAT YOU HAD NO FREAKIN' IDEA WHERE WE WERE GOIN'?"

Ryoga's hand scratched his head, laugh nervously, "It didn't really come up in the planning stage."

Ukyo smiled pleadingly, "You want some food Ranma; we've got food!"

"No! I want to go home," Ranma informed, "but if I go back now it'll look like I failed, and that's why I came back."

They both brightened. Ukyo spoke gleefully, "So you're not leaving, Ranma honey?"

"Nope," Ranma told her, "I'm gonna stay and look for her, tell to get back to Nerima, maybe beat Shinboy up, and head home," he turned to them, "alone."

Ryoga rolled his eyes, "Oh Ranma, you suck at lying."

Ranma folded his arms over his chest, "Shut up, Pig-boy!"

Ryoga's face went red.

"Well, how are we supposed to find out where she went?"

Ryoga coughed to get Ukyo and Ranma's attention, "I think I know a shortcut to get out of these woods and-"

He was interrupted by Ranma's burst of laughter, "What, are you joking Bacon-breath? Do you really expect us to follow you? You're like an Atlas written by ants!"

Ryoga burst into a flash of fists, "You take that back!"

Ranma hopped out of the way, "Make me!"

He had been wanting to fight for a while; good ol' Ryoga knew just how to cheer him up!

"Ranma, prepare to DIE!"

"C'mon Pork chop, ya can do better than that."

"Stop taunting me, you'll only make me angrier!"

Ranma's sarcasm was quite thick, "Ooh, I'm shiverin'; Ukyo, save me!"

They hopped around and leapt and jumped until they were far ahead of Ukyo and she had to pick up all three bags and walk forward with them.

When she finally reached them she was beyond fed up and took each of their back packs, one in each hand and tossed them high into the air.

"These areyours I believe," She spat, lunging forward.

They both grabbed their back packs and slipped their shoulders through the straps. The new weight did nothing to their stamina.

Ryoga lunged forward one last time and Ranma ducked, sending him flying over his head and into a rock.

Ukyo rolled her eyes and walked over, Ranma waited for him to get back up, and start fighting. After a few seconds he realized the fight was over and pouted.

"Aw man, just when it was getting' good."

"Ryoga hun, you okay?"

He nodded groggily, removing his face from the ground he had a couple pieces of paper stuck to his face. Ukyo bent down and picked up the large piece of paper with symbols and signs written all over it. It also had a very large, very distinct ink stain tainting it.

Ukyo sat next to Ryoga and started to study it. Ranma took the small white square off Ryoga's face and stood back as Ryoga leaned over Ukyo's shoulder to get a better lok.

"Hey, that's Akane's writing! I'd know it better than anything," Ryoga gleamed, "She's probably following the map!"

They hummed over the map together, Ryoga and Ukyo, as Ranma stepped back a few paces, staring at the picture.

He rushed his hand over it and cringed inwardly. It was a picture; the map had to be Akane's. She must have left it for garbage, ink stain and all, but the picture . . . was that garbage to her too?

Ranma ripped it down the centre and put it in his back pocket.

Ryoga and Ukyo looked up as he walked over,. He sniffed lightly, "So where we goin'?"

"To 'The Dark Mountains'. Spooky, eh, honey?"

Ranma nodded seriously, "Let's go."

Ryoga nodded toward the other male, "What about that little piece of something that I found?"

Ranma looked away dismissing the question, "Garbage, she left it with the map because it was nothing."

They were a bit startled at the hostility of his voice.

"Let's go," he said venomously, "wouldn't wanna miss her."

He had reached the entrance and stalked in, immensely ahead of the others. He had made a discovery: Misery, sometimes, does NOT want company. Also, that when angry you walk at least twice your normal speed. Ranma was far ahead of the two delinquents when he arrived at the mouth.

"Well," Ranma said out loud, "they can find their own way through."

He had studied the map well and knew these had to be the right caves. He walked in and felt his world crumble. The rock beneath his feet fell and he was somewhere else entirely. When he opened his eyes, letting his arm fall to his side, he noticed he was in a different part of the caves, against a wall. He stood up, shook himself off, and headed towards the darkness in front of him, only to be stalled by what seemed to be a force field about ten feet away from the side of the cave he had been leaning against.

"What the-"

Ranma was interrupted by what looked to be a child walking out of the darkness, passing through the force field with a wave of her dainty hand. As she walked through the force field, a purple haze emitted and then heightened; a second later disappearing. He backed away until he hit the frosty wall.

"I like your shirt," she said sweetly, through a grin so heinous Ranma felt it staring through him. She was five feet away at the moment, but in another second she flashed to right next to him, causing him to jump back in horror. She tilted her head confused, "Can I have it?"

She spoke quite fast, and quite high, "Tell me Ranma, why not?"

Dressed in a deep red dress with a white petticoat, face covered in white powdered makeup, lips blood red. Her eyes were black, completely.

Ranma took fighting stance immediately, only stunned by the question for a split second, "How the hell d'ya know my name?"

She smirked, something Ranma decided was worse than her grin, "Why would I not, Ranma?" His name rolled off her tongue eerily.

"How," he persisted; knowing full well it might not work. She looked so harmless though, like a doll. He relaxed a bit and rationalized, "Listen kid, why don'tcha tell me how ya got past that thing," he pointed to the air where he guessed the force field was, "and I'll get ya back to your mommy, okay?"

She stayed silent, suddenly jerking her head and twitching her eye, "DO. . . NOT . . . HUMOR ME!"

Ranma felt himself being crushed, he squeezed his eyes shut, batting off invisible forces, 'Get offa me!"

And then it stopped; he fell to the ground in a heap.

Just before Ranma lost consciousness he mumbled, from the ground to the girl, "Who . . . are . . . you?"

She stepped over, taking careful baby steps. When she got to him she crouched down and stared into his eyes , smiling politely, "I am Id."

And then everything went black.

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Akane tried to move when she awoke, but her hands were tied behind her by ropes so thin they were almost transparent. In fact, Akane could not see them, but felt them. It was dark; yet, some light was let into the dank, cold room she had been situated in. It was in a cave, Akane knew that for sure, but not much else was clear at the moment.

At once, something came cowering toward her, lost in the dark as well. Akane pulled back in fear and it seemed to come at her. She closed her eyes, tears beginning to well when it reached her. She felt first contact with it as it licked her hand. She opened her eyes in disbelief as a ragged looking puppy looked up at her kindly. It nudged its way under her arm and lay protectively by her chest. Akane was confused, but let it stay. It was shivering, but it never made a sound.

She huddled in the darkness, pulling the furry bundle to her chest protectively, and shivered.

------------------------------------------------

Ranma stared at the little girl in front of him, "You look like a doll."

"So?" she said nastily.

Ranma smirked darkly, "I don't do well with dolls."

"Well you'll just have to learn to change then won't you," she studied him for a second, situated against a cavern wall, "I like you. Everyone else is too afraid to speak to me; they're all afraid I'll hurt them; not you hough," her eyes twinkled wickedly, "never you."

He huffed, "Well, I gotta get going soon so I'm sorry to tell ya our time'll be cut short."

She furrowed her tiny brow, "NO! I want you here with me, you're staying here with me. And we'll have tea parties an you'll love me very much!"

Ranma's eyes widened and he did something she was entirely unused to; he laughed. He started rolling on the floor, all over the cave; laughing.

"You're like seven, and you think," He had to catch his breath, "you . . . think could beat . . . me?"

The girl was not amused by the hysteric situation Ranma was currently in.

"Stop it," she panicked nervously, "I don't like this. Stop it!"

Ranma stood up, a whole foot or two taller than her; smirking, "Why should I?"

The girl smirked, letting her straight black hair fall over her bambi eyes, "you'll regret it," she sang joyously.

He took a step back, knowing he sensed something strong, but it couldn't be the girl, it just couldn't.

All of a sudden a huge wave of energy pounded him against the wall. Akane stood there, staring, "lemme go," he demanded, stuck as in shackles, "Akane, is it really you?"

Akane laughed, Ofcourse Darling, now why would you ever doubt me?"

Ranma wriggled, "How do I know it's you?"

She smirked, walked over, and kissed him passionately, "Does that answer your question she asked seductively.

Ranma paused for a moment, stared at her point blank and then nodded, "Yeah."

She laughed, "So Ranma, you don't have to worry about a thing," she said innocently, batting her eyes at him, "we can stay in here together forever!"

He considered for a second and then his plan changed entirely; he laughed lovingly, "oh darling, of course I was just joking before, I love you!"

Id's eyes, as Akane's, shot up in one swift movement, "You're lying, you can't love."

Ranma laughed it off sweetly, "Babe, don't break my heart; our love is eternal!"

She looked suspicious, and made a wispy throw of her hand, then waited for him to continue, "Tell me again, say my name."

He nodded, trying to keep up the grin, "Of course my love, I love you, I love you so much it hurts sometimes!"

Id smirked darkly, "Liar, you said you couldn't say it."

Ranma stared back steel eyed, in mild shock, "How did ya know I said that?"

Id rolled her eyes showily, "I'm Akane, remember. Just stay, things will be alright if you stay. Oh, but you can't say it can you?"

Ranma growled but kept composed, flirting through his teeth, "Well I lied 'bout that. I can say it; just nobody's made me wanna. Before this that is; you're the one for me," he tried to pull away as she became entranced with his words, "I just choose ya, get it?"

Id snapped back to attention, held him back against the wall and smirked in the darkness behind her. He squinted to see what she was staring at and saw a small mirror-looking object hovering in the air. Through it he saw the most frightening thing he could recall, aside from cats of course; Akane, the real Akane; heart broken, and barely composed. She had heard the whole thing and was crying.

'Ya big dummy, probably too slow to figure I was lyin',' Ranma thought to himself, agitated.

He heard a cackling and looked back to Id, "She's leaking. I should go fix her."

He pulled and tugged at the invisible chains, "Don't you touch 'er!"

"This routine is getting tired; I'm bored," she complained, fiddling with her ringlets, "amuse me; now!"

"Take me," he told her proudly, "leave her alone and take me instead. I'm way more interesting than her; y'know that. Besides," Ranma looked into the shadows ahead of him, "look at her, dumb as a brick, built like one too; who'd want that?"

Id laughed eerily, "Maybe I'll just take you both. Enough talk."

Id ran at Ranma faster than he could think; she twisted herself around his punches and had him by the throat in seconds. He could feel her tiny hand grip his neck with crushing accuracy. He tried to fight back but something had paralyzed his body. She cackled, a long, throaty, spiteful laugh.

She pressed her head against his face, "say good bye to your love."

He looked at her, the spitting image of Akane, down to the last freckle.

He couldn't let her do this, let Id massacre her name, "Don't you dare look like her!"

Id just smiled, shaking Akane's short mane. Her grip tightened and Ranma felt his world fade.

Suddenly, a huge light came crashing in, "Id," it screamed, "let them go!"

Id flickered to her original shape, stumbled a bit and stared dewily at the light; she strained and covered her eyes with her arm. She looked so tiny next to it, "Brother, please! H-h-how did you get out of your p-p-predicament?"

"I'm stronger than you, at least now," the humungous light shouted with authority, "let them go!"

"But I was just starting the fun," she whimpered.

"I don't care, these people do not deserve it," it calmly stated.

She crossed her arms and pouted, "NO!"

"Fine," it sighed heavily, "you leave me no choice."

Id turned urgently to Ranma and stuck out her tongue, "see ya around sometime. I always get what I want, remember that."

At that the light grew larger and everything was enveloped in it.

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And they were outside; Akane huddled a few metres away with something ruffling inher arms, Ranma breathing heavily and rubbing his neck, and Ukyo, Shinosuke and Ryoga standing absolutely still.

"What," Ukyo tried to grasp, "just happened?"

"Time stood still I suppose, I heard about it from an old man in Buryo; everything was fine one minute, and now . . . hey, where the heck did those mountains go?"

"Shut up Ryoga hunny, Ranma's hurt," Ukyo ran over worriedly.

"A little girl," he was muttering, "I couldn't . . . a kid . . . but what . . . how did we?"

Ukyo stroked his hair and he rested on her. He took a wuick gaze of his surroundings and succumbed to a deep, troubled sleep; in Ukyo's arms, in front of Akane.

Shinosuke was at her side, beconing her to tell him what happened. She stared at the scene; Ukyo taking care of Ranma gingerly, and Ranma, completely relaxed in her arms. She smiled, "Well," she said calmly, "we both went inside, got caught by a demon, and were saved by another, I suppose."

He nodded, worriedly, "And what is this?"

She turned down to her where he nodded; in her lap sat the scrawny puppy she had held. She smiled again, distantly, "Another survivor."

He looked to the ground, "Akane, maybe you should leave, not come on this journey with me. You're cold and it's my fault."

She laughed, staring at the couple, "Truthfully Shinosuke," her voice was simple, "I really don't have anywhere else to go at the moment."

She seemed to snap back to reality at that point and turned to meet his gaze. He crouched down beside her neatly and she took his hand, "I'd really like to help your grandfather. I owe it to you two," she stared at Ranma, "and I need a light vacation."

Shinosuke nodded loyally, but persisted, "A light vacation? I can assure you; this ordeal is only the beginning. The climates will be strong and harsh, the challenges pressing the laws of the world, the state we will be in when we - - that is if we find my grandfather, are unfathomable. Furthermore, the insa-"

She stopped him, pressing a finger to his lips, "Obviously," she smirked, " you've never lived with a Saotome."

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Everything sort of finished off after that. Ukyo, Ryoga, and Shinosuke traded supplies and food. They went in search of a town to buy more food and provisions for the trips. And so they left the two star crossed souls, deeming them too tired and worn out to go along. With a shrug of her shoulder Ukyo followed looking back worriedly. She was not the only one.

Ranma stared over at Akane. They were rested against two separate trees, situated across from each other. Ranma's eyes were shut and he rarely moved, but that didn't stop Akane from feeling his presence. She smelled the air, trying to get a whiff of his smell. She had to admit that was one of the things she missed the most. It was odd to describe; it didn't smell like any one thing she had ever smelt before.

Akane studied his sleeping form. The others were right; he looked quite tired, but still had that look about him, a slightly furrowed brow. She grinned fondly. Maybe if she just went over and sniffed him, just once, for the smell. She probably wouldn't wake him, he was busy sleeping and wouldn't wake at her passing. Just as Akane was getting up she stopped; she sighed and didn't continue. She couldn't; she didn't want to prolong the pain of getting over him.

With a nod to herself she was determined to go back to sleep. She scrunched her eyes, calmed herself, and tried to sleep. After a few seconds one big brown eye peaked across from her. He lay so lazily; how dare he! Here she was; distraught and bothered, and there he sat; comfortable. She kept staring angrily, but couldn't hold it long. It really wasn't his fault he could blend into any area. Both eyes had been open for a while now.

"Akane," he questioned lazily, "why're ya watchin' me sleep?"

She jumped at the change of conciousness. When he was asleep he was an angel, but awake: the enemy.

"Nothing," she replied, searching for an excuse, "you've got something on your nose."

He opened his eyes and squinted, yawning, "Sure I do."

"Yep," she nodded, "and you should wipe it off, it's quite unattractive. Don't know how you'll ever get married with that on you."

He smirked drowsily, "Oh don't say that," he stood up staggering, "you're dashin' my dreams."

She scoffed, "Oh yes, I bet you are Ukyo will be quite comfortable. Well, you'd better get that dirt off you're nose, if you'd like to get anywhere with her."

Ranma stared at her and their eyes met, "I'd rather not," he almost whispered.

She sat tall and nodded primly, "Whatever you choose."

"Don't act like an ice queen, Akane. You're such a spaz."

He stretched his arms, showing off his built stomach; Akane's stomach lurched.

Akane became frustrated with herself. She was supposed to hate him; did she even remember what he said to that girl in the cave?

"I am not a spaz Ranma. I have just been in a dangerous situation and I am . . . amiss."

Ranma stepped closer and sat directly across from her, only a foot away; raging through a pack for food.

"Whatever, it ain't any of my business," he looked up, grinning again "what you're amissin'."

"Exactly," she nodded, proudly, "thank you for understanding."

"Of course," he continued, "ya wouldn't be in this situation if ya just would'a stayed home."

"Ranma," Akane stressed, "do not try to change my mind! I'm helping Shinosuke and that's that. Besides," she lamented, "you don't even want to be here."

He sighed, "I just want things the way they were before."

"Well I don't!" Akane shot back.

Ranma laughed and pointed at her, removing one hand from the bag, "See; spaz."

Ranma focused himself back on the contents of the bag and Akane swiped at him. He easily grabbed her wrist gently, never parting his gaze from the grab bag.

"Y'know Akane, we could just leave," his eyes turned and sparkled at her.

Her stomach did a somersault, "What do you mean, you idiot?"

He smirked and lay her hand in her lap, never losing eye contact, "We've got a bit of food, enough to wait until we find more. We could leave right now, tour the world together; what d'ya say?"

Akane squirmed back. This had to be a joke, but the intensity of his eyes . . . , "Ranma, I . . ."

He laughed loudly and fell back, "See? Miss Commitment got afraid."

Akane looked down, and bit her lip to fight back the tears. She would never trust those eyes again. Her dream flittered before her eyes, "Ranma, I'm sick of this; why are you talking to me? Shouldn't you be getting along with your journey back?"

Ranma took out an apple, shined it on his shirt and tossed it to her while rummaging the bag. She caught it, finally alert, and sighed.

He took one for himself, shined his, and bit into it, "Nobp, I ain't go-in' a-nee-way-er wiff-out ya."

Akane's heart lifted.

He finished up and continued legibly, "Pop says I ain't allowed to come back without ya, and I really don't wanna have to deal with that at the moment."

And then it broke.

Akane sat in silence and Ranma sighed, looked down one last time into the sack, and threw it to the side. He laughed sadly, "Y'wanna know somethin' funny?"

Akane wiped her eye with the dignity of her sleeve, and sniffed, "What?"

He breathed in and out heavily, deciding something in his head. Like when you get on a really big roller coaster and regret it after you're teetering up the first hill.

"I can't look at the stars anymore," Ranma admitted, breathing out, and looking away into the light of day.

Akane became suspicious, "What do you mean?"

Ranma sighed, "I can't look at the stars anymore and it's all your fault."

Akane rolled her eyes at the side of his head, "Ranma, you blame me for a lot of things, but this is not my fault, it's your chiropractor's."

Ranma shrugged and started proceeding back to his tree. Akane didn't know why but had to keep him closer.

"Why?"

Ranma turned solemnly at her semi-yelp.

"Why do I make you unable to look up?"

Ranma moved towards her and hesitated, "When I look up in the sky, and I'm tired, or I'm hyper, or I'm just in the middle of something . . . I see the stars. And, at that very moment, I know ya could be lookin' at them too, but with him . . . and I can't take that."

Akane didn't move. She wanted to, but she just couldn't.

Ranma took that as an answer, but tried to prove his point further, "You're like an under-duck."

Akane was puzzled, "A what?"

Ranma turned to her, from so far away, "An "under-duck": on the swings when somebody's pushin' ya and then they push ya over their head and run up in front of ya from behind when they push. After that . . . normal swingin' just ain't cuttin' it. Nothing brings ya as high, or as free. And ya can never do an under-duck to your self, it's a two person deal, ya see."

Akane nodded, "Tell me in plain English what that means."

His eye brow twitched, "Akane, I can't; I just ain't that guy."

She laughed shortly, "Y'know, I thought if you went to all the trouble of coming here, and saving me, you might be able to drop the whole pride and just say it."

Ranma turned defensively, "Hey, I'm just here because people made me. Ya think I'd wanna go to all this trouble for a tomboy like you?"

Akane turned red, "Fine Ranma, I know where I'm really wanted," and she walked right past him, nudging harshly as she did.

They heard the others coming back and Akane took one last look at him before turning back and walking towards the noise.

She walked out of the wood, out of sight, and out of his hands. Again.

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A/N: Wow sorry for the insane sadness of this chapter. My computer has decided to hate me and not work for the last month so I wrote this one extra long. I'm sorry it has a sucky solution but it will all come around later. Ooh what does she mean? Please, keep reading, I'll update soon for sure!