Word to the wise: any little squiggly line-type thing going across the screen depicts a sudden scene change, and not just a perspective change. You'll know when you see it, I trust in you! Everything else should be easy to figure out. 'thoughts' "Dialog" ::action:: etc

Chapter 4

It's four in the morning and Akane woke up before her alarm clock. Her brain was staring to function, and it was a matter of time before her eyes and muscles woke up too. Now, she was used to sleeping on the ground or in a tent or in a tree or in a cave or etc. She wasn't used sleeping on a nice mattress. Sensei had always said it would make her soft, and she didn't want to be soft. Out of all the (few) times she had ever slept in a real bed, she could never remember it feeling quite like this. First of all, she usually wasn't this comfortable. Secondly she didn't think that her pillow should be moving up and down in a rhythmic movement, she felt like she was in bed with a pet, but she didn't think her family had a pet. Thirdly, She never thought a blanket could be wrapped around her like that, it was almost like some one was holding her. oh wait.

Akane opened one eye, and she jumped. Why was there a male in HER bed? Then like a wall of bricks colliding with a motorcyclist going REALLY fast, she remembered the events of the day before. Akane felt a strong urge to just go back to sleep, but once a martial artist is up it's hard to put them down.

'NOW what do I do? Should I wake him? Is he expecting me to wake him? Does he want to spar? Should we spar? Well. there's only one thing to do now. Wake him up!"

So Akane went to go wake Ranma up. Akane tried to whisper in his ear "Ranma. Ranma? It's time to wake up!" She tried shaking him: "Honestly how deep of a sleeper are you?" She didn't want to slap him, because NOBODY likes getting awakened like that, she knew. "Maybe the feeling of something cold will wake you?" With that, Akane leaned under her bed and grabbed a dagger. She proceeded to touch the naked blade to his throat. There was still no response. "What kind of whacked danger sense does he have anyway? Oh, I know!" Akane got on the other side of Ranma and shoved him right off the bed. Ranma landed on the ground in a unceremonious heap, but it got the results she wanted.

"Ungh?"

"Ranma."

Ranma was still on the ground trying to figure out where he was and why. So his speech left much to be desired.

"Ungh?"

"Let's go spar."

Instead of responding to Akane verbally, still confused as to his surroundings, he just hefted himself up and walked with a heavy foot out the door.

30 seconds later in the dojo.

The two teenagers bowed to each other.

2 hours later in the dojo

Despite the fact that Akane had borrowed this pair of pajamas from Nabiki and was trying to not ruin them. She was still whipping Ranma's butt. Apparently Ranma isn't a morning person. (probably understatement)

Ranma and Akane were in a series of complicated attacks, when Ranma got a HUGE hole in his defenses (probably due to the time of the day) and was flown into the wall, and he didn't get up.

Akane walked over to Ranma, and since he was sitting up, she sat down in front of him. Then she decided that lying down seemed to be more comfortable.

They where both breathing heavily, and it was a few minutes before either of the spoke.

"So." Ranma started.

"MMmm?"

"Did you father train you?"

Akane smirked and felt like laughing. He must be joking.

"Heavens, no!"

"Who did?"

Akane lost her smile, and she thought before she answered.

"Promise not to tell anyone? Or think any differently of me?"

"I promise upon my word as a martial artist."

Akane got up and move closer to Ranma. She looked deep into his eyes as she answered.

"I was trained by the person that my father sold me to."

Ranma blinked, he couldn't believe that someone was that cold hearted to sell his child not only once, but twice.

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you wind up back with your family?"

"I don't mind. I don't really know much. Apparently something happened to change the original contract. So six days ago Sensei told me I had a family and that I was going to live the rest of my life with them. Five days ago I met them. Yesterday I was sold, again, to you." ::sigh:: "Seems like a never ending cycle for me." Akane was beginning to feel depressed. "Ranma, mind if I ask you something?"

"Ranma, Akane breakfast is ready!" Kasumi's voice rang out from the breakfast table.

"Later." "Hai."

They both stood up and trotted toward the food laden table. Ranma was about to sit down when a white blur kicked Ranma. Ranma flew a good five feet across the lawn and into the koi pond.

"You're getting sloppy boy!" Genma stood triumphantly, but not for long.

"Sloppy, This!" Ranma chucked the wash bin filled with water at his father. It hit him directly in the face. Instant panda.

"Oh my, looks like Mr. Saotome will need a different breakfast." Kasumi laid a huge bin of bamboo on the table. ::everyone at the table face- faults::

Akane, who was standing next to the table watching the entire thing with a mild interest, was wondering if that's how people are normally trained. 'Oh well, Sensei's method is just as good, and it doesn't involve pissing people off.'
Ranma and Genma are walking out of the furo and onto the porch, they are arguing rather loudly.

"Well, we are going to be staying awhile."

"What about what I think!!?!? Don't I get to have some say in this, who died and made you boss!?!? YAH!!" A more than slightly irritated Ranma kicked his father into the koi pond. "So there."

Nabiki runs out of the house and around Ranma.

"Hi there! You'll be going to the same school as Akane and me. See you later!" "Nabiki, wait I'll go with you!"

"What are you talking about? Ranma is YOUR Fiancée, remember? YOU should walk him to school!"

"Hey, Nabiki, That's not fair!"

Akane runs out the door and into Ranma. Ranma is a little stunned that she just nudged him slightly with her shoulder, so his intelligent response was. "Huh?"

"Well, Come on then, let's get going!" :: Slight Pause:: "What are you waiting for? I'll just go alone." Akane heads for the door.

"Well, maybe I'm not ready to leave for school yet.!"

A panda dramatically hands his son a book-bag

"Ok! Ok! Fine I'll go!"

Akane was half-running/half jogging it's somewhere between a jog and a run, while Ranma was slightly behind her on the metal fence.

"Why are we in such a hurry?"

"Don't you have to get registered today?"

Finally, they were about three blocks away from the high school, when Ranma noticed something. Usually people do this in Italy, but it's still effective in Japan, A person had baked broken glass bottles and bob-wire into the top of their cement wall. Ranma decided to hop down for the rest of the trip to school so that he could avoid getting holes in his shoes. As soon as Ranma jumped down though.

He got splashed with water. Akane laughed, not a mean malicious laugh, nor a giggle or a rolling on the ground insane laughter. It was simply an amused laugh. Ranma just sighed and turned towards the direction he came from."

"You just attract water like no tomorrow don't you?"

Ranma Nodded in acknowledgement, he had never noticed being splashed with cold water before his curse.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going home and taking a bath."

"We don't have enough time, you'll have to go to a place I know and ask for water."

"Ok, I guess, as long as I'm not a girl when I arrive to school."

They continue their walk, though this time in the direction of Doctor Tofu's office. Fortunately, it's on the way to the school, it is only about a block's walk before they got to his office.

"Thank you so much, Doctor Tofu."

"My pleasure, come back anytime!"

Looking up right after they left Doctor Tofu's, there was a digital billboard with a clock on it, as they walked up to the school the clock changed from 8:25 to 8:26

The rest of the run/walk to school both parties kept their mouths shut, and were in relative deep thought. That was. until they got in sight of the school gates.

"Ranma?"

"Yes?"

"I've been having a problem with school, and I would appreciate it if you would stay out of my business."

"ok." 'How bad could it possibly be?'

As soon as this thought process ended, two hordes of boys blocked the entrance way. Ranma, not sure what was happening, decided to jump unto the pillar of the front gate and watch. What he saw amazed him. Akane was beating over fifty boys, and was winning.

"She's something else! What's she doing?"

"Ranma, quit gawking and get to class, I've already reregistered you. Better get moving or you're going to be late!" Nabiki shouted from the second story, which was more or less eye level with Ranma.

"Yeah, I know, but what about."

"It's ok, she knows what she's doing. This happens every morning."

"oh." Ranma mumbled to himself. He looked down and smiled. Akane was just beating up her last attacker, and judging from the looks of her, she was holding back, a lot. Ranma decided to jump down from the pillar.

"Yo Akane! What was all this about?"

"I'll tell you later"

A rose flew through the air, and Akane caught it like it was nothing. ::sigh:: Ranma thought that Akane looked a little. a little green when she caught the rose.

"An earthlier happy is the rose distilled than that which withering on the virgin thorn grows lies, lives, and dies in a single blessing-ness. These, WEAKLINGS, what a boorish lot, truly. They fought for the privilege of your company, Akane. If they managed to defeat you, that is. What fools! These mortals be."

"Um, Kuno, excuse us."

Kuno barred her way with his bokken.

"Oh! Though she be but little, she is fierce! Wilt though spar with me?"

"Not right now kuno."

"Man, you sure are popular with the guys around here." Ranma commented next to Akane.

"you there!"

"hmm?"

"Aren't you being awfully familiar with Akane?"

"Yeah well, but." Ranma looked at Akane to help him fill in the blank, but Akane was pissed that Ranma had managed to set Kunou off.

"Yeah, but what? Ranma?"

"Who do you think you are, insolent whelp? Tell me how you know Akane."

"Well. I. uh.. I"

"Wait!"

"Huh?"

"Is it not custom to give ones own name first? Fine then, My Name I shall give." Kuno took in a deep breadth. "I am the undefeated captain of this school's kendo club, the rising new star of the fencing world. The sound of my voice strikes fear into the hearts of my enemies. My peers call me Blue Thunder of Furinkan high!" The thunderstorm, which is most of the reason why Akane was trying to get into the school building, was steadily approaching. As Kuno made this last statement, a thunderbolt appeared in the sky.

"Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen."

Meanwhile, Nabiki and her three friend were standing on the second floor; they heard everything that is going on.

"Did he just call himself Blue Thunder?" "Have you heard that?" "Nope, It's news to me."

(back to main scene)

"Well.. I .. um.. I.. uh.umm I'm staying with the Tendo Martial Arts Training Hall."

"Staying with the Tendos? Under the same roof as Akane? I shall never allow that!" Kuno attacks Ranma. Ranma all of a sudden seems to be more confident as he leaps out of the block, and does a flip while introducing himself.

"I'm Ranma Saotome of the Saotome School of Martial Arts. Here hold my bag a sec." Ranma lands in a defensive stance. "I accept you challenge."

"Not until after school." Akane walks over to Ranma and drags him into the building. They get inside the building just in time, because the rain began as soon as the were inside.

"Why did you do that for!?!?" Ranma yelled at Akane.

"Well, I." ::BEEEEP:: the tardy bell rang. "Never mind."

Both Ranma and Akane walked into homeroom two minutes late. Akane went to her seat, while Ranma stood front of the class.

"I see that we have a new student. He just came back from China. Everybody give him a nihao welcome. You'll be sitting next to Tendo-san. Even though it is your first day, it is no excuse for being tardy, you and Tendo san go out in the hallway."

They were both standing with a bucket in there hand.

"This is all your fault!"

"How could it be my fault, it was." The class shushed him "it was your fight." He said in a lower tone.

"And we would've been on time, if you hadn't set Kuno off on one of his speeches."

"Yeah, what was that all about anyway?"

::sigh:: "I'll tell you, but you promise not to laugh?"

"It was when I arrived here a few days ago. Kuno made this STUPID speech.

#flashback#

"The vengeance of heaven is slow but sure. If you wish to take Akane out, You must defeat her in combat. I, Tatewaki kuno, will permit no other terms. NOW AM I MAKING MYSELF PERFECTLY CLEAR?"

In the back ground there was a banner that said "Speech contest!"

#present time#

Ranma face-faults. "Wow."

".and so I fight them every morning."

Things were silent for a really long time.

Meanwhile in a different part of the school..

"Fiancé? He's HER fiancé?!?!"

"Uh huh, my daddy and his daddy decided. Akane's going to marry Ranma."

"NNOOO. Not Ranma!" Kuno, who is now dressed in a school uniform, decided to make a simple conversation into a class disruption. The teacher threw an eraser at Kuno.

"Kuno, go stand in the hall!"
Meanwhile, back to the two tardy students

All that could be heard was the monotone drone from the teacher. Ranma eyed Akane nervously. He contemplated what he should say, every thought that went through his mind, he shot down because he knew he would get beaten for the comment. He finally decided what to say, and began to open his mouth when.

::Splash::

"Hey!" Ranma avoided the water thrown at him with ease.

"I shall never allow it!"

"nononononononono" A joint and completely futile attempts of both Ranma and Akane to shut up Kuno, complete with the hand motions.

"I shall never accept you engagement to Akane Tendo!"

Suddenly the two sliding walls came open. All the students of the class were crowding. They were shouting various congratulations, sexual comments, and curses. They hadn't really known Akane, but the entire school had practically fallen for her. There were plenty of broken hearts of glass that day. Apparently not Kuno's heart, for his is made out of some sort of plastic. That's another story.

Kuno attacked Ranma. Ranma dodged, but his water bucket was split clean in half. Ranma got into a defensive position. Then Ranma got an idea.

"This is no place to fight. Follow me." Ranma started to jog past Kuno.

"I shall follow." Kuno ran after Ranma, and left the crowd in their dust. Everybody just stood and stared after the receding figures.

"Who do they think their kidding?" Akane threw her bucket down and ran after the two boy, everybody else followed.

"Here's a nice short-cut!" Ranma had been running when he spotted the open window.

Akane had the urge to point out that this was the third floor, but she thought that he new, and didn't want to be captain obvious.

"Hey, this is the third floor!" Some random student exclaimed.

"They're just lucky that there's a pool down there to break their fall."

Ranma finally looked down to see the huge swimming pool that he was imminently going to land into. "Water! Why does it always have to be water?" Ranma held his breath as he got ready for a landing.

Kuno, who just now noticed that he was on passing he second floor, looked down. His eyes bugged out and he soon did a humongous belly flop into the water.

Akane looked down at the unconscious figure lying at the top of the water face down, and sighed. 'I better get some water.'

Nobody even noticed. Anyway. back to the action.

"I gotta get out of her!" Ranma-chan exclaimed in the water at the bottom of the pool, so it sounded just liked when you gurgle water and try to say something.

"Saotome." Kuno, was apparently not so unconscious as we thought he was, made a grab towards Ranma, who was currently swimming not too far below him. He grabbed his boob.

"Pervert!" Ranma screamed as she flung Kuno out of the pool and head-first into the cement.

Ranma ran towards the woods in the back of the school.

"Did Saotome look shorter when he left the pool?" said a random person.

"You need to get your eyes checked!" was the response.
Akane ran as fast as she could without being seen towards the woods. She found Ranma there in a tree. He (currently she) had taken off his pants and was now wringing them out.

"Hey stupid-head!"

"What did you call me?"

"You heard what I said. Why are you picking fights with Kuno during school, anyway baka."

"I'd rather be a baka than a macho tomboy!"

"So you don't want this?" Akane raised up the hot tea kettle, and started to leave.

"Wait, Akane, I'm sorry!"

"Where art thou, vile Saotome?"

"Here! Catch this! I'll fight Kuno while you change back." Akane threw the tea kettle no-too-accurately and made Ranma lose his balance. He didn't fall out of the tree out of pure will and the grasp he had with his feet.

"Kuno!"

"My fair Akane Tendo you have come to challenge me? All right, but if I win you will have the honor of dating me!" "Who said I wanted to date you?" Akane almost screamed as she jump kicked Kuno in the head. Akane then dodges everything that Kuno throws at her while buying Ranma time. Finally, though, she got bored and simply kicked Kuno through the air in hopes that he would land somewhere far off.

Ranma had just gotten his balance, and was about to poor the contents of the kettle over his head, when Kuno landed head first on the tea kettle.

"You wouldn't have happened to see Saotome have you? That man is no man at all!" Ranma merely lets go of the tea kettle. "That hurt you know." Ranma jumps out of the tree and onto the face of Kuno.

"So you challenge me? I accept, but if you win I will allow you the honor of going on a date with me!" Kuno slashes at Ranma.

"Eww!!"

Ranma leaps onto the bokken and kicks Kuno in the face.

"That didn't hurt you know." Kuno falls on his back. Ranma takes Kuno's Bokken and walks away with Akane. "Guess what? Ranma's even better than I am!"

While Ranma and Akane are walking home, Akane spots a nice park and they go in and find a bench to sit on. They both sit there for a few minutes taking in the scenery.

"Akane?"

"hai."

"Thank you for helping me today."

"Not a problem, ano, Do you mind if I ask you the question from earlier?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Akane fidgeted, obviously at a loss at how to word her question.

"I..uh.. I. err. about yesterday." ::sigh:: "I just can't do this."

Akane shifts so that she is looking directly at Ranma.

"I'm not ready to get married yet."

Ranma gets the look of 'look at me I'm a deer, and are those headlights I see?' his eyes are like saucers and he is on the verge of mental breakdown. Akane runs her hand through her hair.

"That's not a question is it?" 'oh why didn't Sensei teach me more communication skills?' "I mean, I hardly know you, hell, I hardly know my own family. What are we going to do about this?" Akane waits, and there's no response. "Ranma, are you going to answer?" Akane saw Ranma's expression of I'm-out-of-it and did what she thought she must. She pushed Ranma off the bench.

"Huh? There's no way I'm getting married!" Ranma sprang up and yelled at Akane.

"Glad to see that we're in agreement." Akane looked at Ranma with amusement. "Now what are we going to do?"

"What do you meant "what are we going to do?" Ranma is almost going hysterical.

"Well, we can't go around pretending to hate each other and calling each other names just to prove how STUPID this whole engagement is. That would be pointless and destructive, and frankly I don't have the energy to pick battles that can't be won. What CAN we do?"

Ranma sits on the bench. "Maybe if I go back to China." Ranma catches the look that Akane gives him.

"No you don't! Do you have any idea what would happen to me if you left? They will not only not let me get married EVER. They would either disown me or make me find you. No_thank_you. You're staying here until we are released of this stupid thing!"

"So, what do YOU suggest?" Ranma asked haughtily.

Akane smiled. "I think we should make the best of the situation."

"You mean that we should act like fiancées?"

"No, not exactly."

"What do you mean then?"

"I mean we should ignore what our parents have imposed on us, and have a relationship that's more than friendship and less than being engaged."

Ranma sat there turning the last statement in his head. "So, would you like to be my girlfriend?"

Akane blushes. "Well, I've never had one before, okay, but only if you want to be my boyfriend."

"Sure, Why not? Now what do we do?"

"Go home?"

Both Ranma and Akane head home silently.

"Hey Akane!" Akane was in the dojo sparring with Ranma.

"What is it Nabiki?" Nabiki was now visible in the doorway.

"The postman just left to HUGE boxes outside, and there for you."

"Oh, good, I was expecting them. Ranma, I'll spar with you later."

Akane brought the boxes up to her room and opened them. There was a letter inside the bigger of the boxes. It read:

Dear Akane-chan, I received your letter. I'm so happy that you've finally found your family! I have finally collected enough clothing to mail to you. From the description of your last fight with Sensei, there's no wondering why NONE of you clothes survived. How's you do you like you family? I expect to hear about everything!

Nodoka-san

Akane looked at her new wardrobe and smiled.

"Akane?"

"Hai!"

"Supper's ready!"

"I'll be right there!"

By the time Akane came down stairs Ranma and Genma were already grappling over food. Akane sat down and quietly ate. When she was done she looked at Nabiki right in the eyes.

"Nabiki, would you help me after supper?"

"What is it." "I need help going through the packages I got today."

"Sure."

Nabiki and Akane left, while Ranma and his father were still fighting over the last piece of meat.

Later, that very same night, Ranma is neck deep in the furo. 'NOW what have I gotten myself into? NOW I have a girlfriend. I GUESS that's better than having a fiancé, but it's practically the same thing. We can't even break up with each other IF we wanted to. Not that I want to break up with her or anything. gar what am I thinking. What am I thinking? Well, unfortunately staying here in this furo won't solve any of my problems. Maybe I should get out now before I become pruned. I should probably talk to Akane before going to bed.'

Ranma went upstairs after getting dressed and outside of the door of 'Akane's' bedroom. He had heard another voice in the room, he didn't want to interrupt their conversation. Ranma was just about to leave when something made his ears perk up.

Nabiki: "So, what do you think about Ranma?"

Akane: "What's there to think? I haven't even been able to talk him about much of anything yet."

"You haven't talked to him yet? What did you two do last night?"

"Slept."

"Really? What about this morning? Or after school?"

"Oh, that's right! We DID talk after school. I told him I wasn't ready to be married, and we decided that instead of being engaged we'll try and go out instead. Do you think Daddy will let us do that?"

"He will now."

"Akane, if you don't mind me asking, What do you think of Ranma's curse?"

"What's there to think about it? Sensei always told me that cursed people are always either the most honorable or least honorable people you'll ever meet."

"Have you ever been cursed?"

"Twice, neither were permanent, but sometimes I still get side effects."

"What were they?" "It's against the code of Martial Artists to reveal their own weaknesses."

"I'm your sister, you can trust me."

Akane giggled a short giggled and stopped. There was a complete silence in the room. Suddenly the door flew open, revealing Ranma in front of the door, his hand was still raised as if to knock on it.

"Come on in, if you're going to listen to the conversation you might as well be apart of it."

"."

Ranma was stunned. Akane was standing before him in the most beautiful dress he had ever seen. It was a red Chinese with a yellow flower design, and it fit her like it was painted on her body.

"Are you coming in or are going to stay out there all night?"

Ranma walked in a little dumbfounded. He took in the scene unfolding before him. The Two boxes were empty, piles of clothes everywhere, and sitting on top of the bed was Nabiki in her pajamas.

"Uh, What's going on?"

"Auntie sent me new clothes today."

"Why is Nabiki taking pictures?"

"Because Auntie want to know how they look on me. Would you like to sit on the bed and watch the rest? I only have three more out fits to try on."

"Hai."

Ranma sat down on the bed, careful to avoid Nabiki and the pile of undergarments sitting on the bed.

"Ok, Ranma, Now close your eyes."

Ranma did as he was told, for he was a genuine gentleman, while Nabiki stared at Ranma in disbelief that he was actually NOT peeking.

"How do I look?"

Akane was wearing a blue bathing suit. The bathing suit had a little back it was like a sports bra, and her back was completely exposed. There was a little strap hanging over her hips connecting the front of her suit to her back part. In the front, There was a zipper that went from her belly button to the top, and on the right side in English letters were the words 'Body Glove'.

Out of all the times Ranma had ever been to the beach, he could not remember a better fitting bathing suit. 'Body Glove' was the exact right word for it. Ranma's mind was on overload from seeing his new girlfriend in the two most beautifully elegant yet-oh-so-provocative outfits he had ever seen. Just then the click of the camera brought him out of lala land.

"Ok, shut your eyes again."

A few seconds later, Akane has adorned herself in a jogging outfit. It has short-short and regular tee-shirt and matching sweat band. It was so cute that Ranma thoughts were along the lines of 'if I die now I'm a happy man."

Again, another minute later, Akane was wearing something else. This time, it was a pajama set. It had a long sleeve yellow shirt with a pattern of curly Q's and blue pigs, it also had matching pants. Nabiki was about to take the picture when Akane stopped her.

"Wait! Ranma will you join me?"

"Why?"

"Auntie will probably so happy to know what my boyfriend looks like."

"Ok."

Ranma went up and posed for the picture. A minute later there were good nights being said and light being turned off. Fifteen minutes after that there were two sleeping forms in one room, and the sound of money being counted in another.
End Chapter

AR: Author's Ramblings/Response/Rant

I hope I can do this ::sweat drop:: writing is SO much harder than reading. I hope that others can tell what I'm trying to say. I also hope it isn't too mechanical, I hope I'm not confusing anyone. ::made sense to ME:: ::shrugs:: I take this time to apologize for the rushing in the beginning. I was only trying to get the characters together so that *I* wouldn't be so confused. When trying to write multiple scenes at one time it's rather hard to look back and make sure everything correlates. I pinky swear that when most of the characters have been introduced, I'll do more character development. It's HARD to do both development and trying to keep the story moving. Not that I'm complaining. Why did I pick such a long complicated fic for my first try? ::sigh:: We'll just have to grin and bear it.

::end babbling session::