Chapter 8

AN: Well I think this fic will soon be coming to a close. I have an idea that might take it a few chapters more, or I might just end it quick. We'll see what the reviews have to say.

Ranma laid Akane down in her bed, the poor girl still unconscious from her little explosion. He had made the first steps. He had been able to admit his feelings to his ex-fiancés, yet he still couldn't speak it to Akane. He wondered if he would ever get that amount of courage. They had shared tender moments in the past, and he wouldn't be tongue-tied then, so why now?

"Oh Akane. What am I going to do about you? About us?" he said slowly. Giving her a soft kiss to her temple, he slowly left the room. He decided he wanted to be alone, so he went back to the dojo, hopefully for some quiet time. As he headed down the stairs, everyone was returning. Nabiki was the first to notice the expression on his face.

*Still couldn't do it eh Ranma? What am I going to do about you?* she thought. Then she snapped her fingers. Maybe she could help him out without actually telling Akane. She pulled a hidden recorder from beneath the table in the living room, and returned to her room. After listening to what had happened in their absence, she went through her secret stash of black mail items. After a few moments she had a few things placed in a semi-circle around her.

"Okay sis, even you should be able to pick up on something with these items." She said. Gathering them up, she snuck into Akane's room.

*                      *                      *

After a short while Akane awoke and found that when she moved her legs, there was stuff on top of them. She sat up and turned on the light, noticing an assortment of things on her bed.

"Why is all this junk here?" She said to the empty room. "Wait a minute. This looks familiar." She said picking up a package.

"Alter Ego Shadow Powder? Oh right. This is when he was fighting his shadow to train. Oh and this is the map of our meeting place when we had fought and broken our engagement. He was so sweet that day. Come to think of it, when he's not being a total jerk or pervert, he's really nice." As she continued over the items she couldn't help but think how much she liked him. Then she noticed a tape. She'd have to find a player to hear what was on it. But did she really want to hear it? Maybe it was just Ranma insulting her again. But then why would it be here with all this stuff that reminded her of good times? She was about to put the tape in a player when there was a loud crash downstairs. Then another, this one closer. Suddenly the door burst open.

"Get BACK here you little runt. I'm gonna rip your head off!" Ranma growled as he reached for something. That something quickly jumped into Akane's arms.

"P-Chan, where have you been?" She asked, then looked up at Ranma. "I told you to leave him alone. Poor baby."

"Why you little… cowering behind Akane like that. Aren't you the one that wanted the fight?" he growled. As he stepped more into the light, Akane saw blood on his cheeks. Scratch marks that had penetrated the skin.

"Did… P-Chan do that?" She asked, suddenly come over by a wave of coughing. Ranma nodded slowly, his scowl deepening. He went to grab P-Chan but Akane blocked him.

"Leave him alone. What ever reason he had for doing that, you must have done to him. Why don't you admit it Ranma." Akane glared. Ranma was about to counter when he saw her eyes. His stomach cramped up into knots and he face faulted.

"Fine Akane. I'm sure what ever he's mad about is my fault. I'll leave you now." He said as he closed the door. She didn't see the tears in his eyes as he left. His heart was in shambles. She chose the PIG over him. He needed somewhere to be alone and think. He walked back to his room, then jumped up to the roof.

"This isn't over Ryoga. I'll get you for this. No vow is worth this." He said into the night. It wasn't much later that Ryoga appeared on the roof.

"Hey Ranma, can we talk?" He said. His voice was soft, unusual for someone who hated Ranma so much. But then again, there had been times when they got along.

"What's there to talk about?" Ranma said, his voice cold. Ryoga winced. He had seen Ranma's expression when he left.

"Ukyo told me about what happened. That is when she stopped crying long enough to speak. I guess in my rage I couldn't wait to hurt you. But when Akane shut you out like that and you crumbled, I knew that there was no chance for me." He said. Ranma almost fell off the roof. This? From Ryoga?

"What do you mean?" Ranma asked. Ryoga gave him a soft smile.

"She's never really loved me. Sometimes I'm barely even a friend. But she cares for you Ranma, almost as much as you do for her. I can see that now. Don't get me wrong though. We're still rivals." Ryoga sat down on the roof.

"She won't forgive me for how I've mistreated you in your pig form." He said. Ryoga nodded.

"I'm to blame for that. There might be a way we can make things right." He said.

"You're not planning on runnin' away again are you?" Ranma asked. Ryoga shook his head.

"It never works anyway. I just end up back here sooner or later. But I can't let her know about my curse either. She would never forgive me." Ryoga said. Ranma nodded. He knew exactly how she would act.

"So what do you propose?" Ranma asked. Ryoga half-smiled.

"Whenever I become the pig, I'll try to be nicer around you. Just promise me you'll take good care of her Ranma. I won't forgive you if you hurt her." He said, jumping off the roof.

"Don't worry Ryoga. I won't let anything hurt her. Even if it's me." He said, returning to his room.

AN: ACK! Writers Block! Sorry about the short chapter everyone. My writing talent has gone AWOL. I hope to get going again soon.