Author's notes: Hey everyone! Here's the next part. Shout-outs to Hououza, ranmaakane, DawnLove, Daouid, nonengel and borg rabbit for the feedback! I would have liked to use Nodoka more and have her tell off Ryoga, (heh heh wouldn't that be amusing) but felt as though he and Ranma really had issues to sort out :D

note: Very slight language and violence warning. Nothing horrible, nevertheless be warned.

Chapter 4 : Confrontations and Resolutions

The house and its inhabitants slumbered peacefully, unhearing of the loud squeals emanating from a small, black pig, and the thudded footsteps of a jogging pigtailed martial artist. Ranma knew he would have to literally 'take it outside' with Ryoga, there were bones to pick with that stupid pig which couldn't be done in the confines of the house. As he left the warmth of the dark passageway and hit the cold, bitter air of the open hot spring area, goose-bumps erupted over his skin and he shivered.

Without further ado, he threw P-Chan into the warm spring waters with force, watching as the figure of Ryoga emerged with a furious expression over his face. No need for the kettle after all, though it worked well to silence P-chan before. Ranma threw his clothes to the edge of the water and hurriedly put on his own long pants and jacket.

"Put your clothes on and fight me like a man, you sneaky bastard!" yelled Ranma, and before he could help himself added, "Trying to sneak into Akane's room like the pervert you are. What's the idea!"

Ryoga finished clothing himself hurriedly and shot Ranma a menacing glare, though his countenance was controlled with a deadly calm. He replied in a voice that was almost a whisper, though permeated with loathing, "No better than you. Taking advantage of Akane's innocent vulnerability, first in the mountains and now here, while all your hussies wait for you in Nerima."

"What did you say!"

Ryoga's calm disposition cracked, with all the pent up fury of the past few days emerging on his reddening face and bulging muscles.

"I knew this couldn't be settled with anything except fighting!" he yelled, sprinting at Ranma full-force.

Ranma did a quick sideways dodge, turning back and throwing a deft punch at Ryoga, which he blocked. Ranma continued the conversation as they exchanged blows, "Oh, that explains why you've been sneaking around with glasses of water during the night!"

Ranma's leg shot upwards and smashed Ryoga in the face, sending him flying backwards. He recovered to make another dash at Ranma, this time managing to slide and trip him, sending him to his back. Ryoga pinned him down; trying to punch through Ranma's upraised arms.

"I did those things so I wouldn't have to beat you up in front of your family, Ranma! I owe them for taking me in," said Ryoga between punches.

"Who's beating up WHO?" countered Ranma, grabbing Ryoga's wrists suddenly and throwing him behind him, flipping onto his feet skilfully. As Ryoga got up, Ranma landed a sharp blow to the stomach.

The boys continued to fight furiously, their battle auras burning. Ryoga grabbed Ranma by the shoulders and threw him into the hot springs, he leapt up and shouldered Ryoga against one of the many large rocks around the areas. They continued to leapt from rock to rock, from land to water, it was a battle of matched skill, strength and anger.

Then Ryoga yelled something which made the dynamic shift. They were locked in a close-up exchange of swift punches when he said spitefully, "You don't deserve her."

This hit a nerve. Ranma's aura flared suddenly; he landed a mighty blow which propelled Ryoga backwards until he thudded against a massive rock. Though he was used to communicating through his martial arts, Ranma felt as though it wasn't enough this time. He stood still, fists clenched, and asked Ryoga, "And why the hell not, pig-boy?"

The expected answer returned, "You're an unfaithful pervert! You're always rude to h-"

He was cut off, "You're not a pervert! I could have woken her up and poured warm water over you, then we'd see who's the pervert. Sleeping in her bed all the time, trying to even bathe with her – you're sick! I haven't told her out of honour, but it's something you should do yourself if you ever stopped being a pathetic coward."

The words stung, but then the finishing blow came, "Don't talk to me about being faithful. You've been alternating your fancies between Akane and Akari for months now, depending on your whims. I feel sorry for Akari, being stupid enough to first like you and then put up with your inability to make up your mind."

Akari… The thought hit Ryoga like a lightning-bolt.

"I found you little postcard, you jerk." He pulled it out from his back pocket where it had remained folded, walked up to Ryoga and threw it at his face, where he weakly caught it.

"Remember the date you were meant to be going to? Or did you become too distracted interfering with me and Akane?"

Ryoga's eyes widened, staring with terror at the postcard in his hands. It had truly vanished from his mind since he first arrived there. Everything Ranma was saying was actually… right! How was it possible? The dark gloom of depression and defeat tugged at the edge of Ryoga's senses as it sunk into him slowly, an all too familiar feeling.

Ranma however, so wound up from his confused emotions in the past few days, kept talking. Rambling, even, in a fast mumble.

"I may not be the kindest person, especially in the way I treat Akane (which I regret, the words just come out like habit and I can't help bein' a jerk), but we've had to go through a lot of crap from people trying to kill us, marry us, get us married, kidnap her, take me away for something my father did years ago, poison our food," he was talking to himself now more than anyone, staring at the sky, "and overall manipulate us. I think if that doesn't scare us away from each other then there's not much that can, except maybe me sayin' something stupid, but I'm working on that. The only thing that makes it worth staying in Nerima, and hell even enjoying it, is her."

He suddenly remembered himself and jumped, looking at Ryoga. He was relieved to see that the boy with the yellow bandana seemed to have tuned out long ago. Ryoga lifted his head and stood up straight. Looking Ranma square in the face, he moved a few steps closer and said, "I never thought I'd say it in a million years, Ranma… but… you're right. I've made a shameful mess of everything. I'm not worthy of the ground that either Akari or Akane walk on-"

Ranma was a bit shocked to see how much his words impacted the usually thick-skulled Ryoga, "Man, c'mon-"

"It's true Ranma. I don't deserve Akane at all."

He began walking towards Ranma in slow steps, but passed him as Ranma realized he was leaving, "You do, Ranma, as much as I hate to say it. Listen to me!"

Turning around to face him, an edge of his previous fiery zest was put back into his voice, "You have to tell her. I can't stand seeing her hurt by your jerkish, cowardly refusal to admit your feelings for her."

Ranma choked, then attempted to feign casualness, "What are you talking 'bout… you don't think Akane actually li-"

"I know she does, you idiot," he glared. Then he said in a very low voice which Ranma only just heard, "I learnt things being P-chan which I wish I could forget or ignore."

He began walking away again, and said loudly as his parting words, "I'll take care of things in Nerima. But don't expect to see me, or the pig, again anytime soon. Goodbye, Ranma Saotome."

With that, he vanished through the passageway, head down. Ranma felt something warm trickle down from his shoulder; he saw that he was bleeding very slightly from a cut through his shirt from the battle. He surveyed himself. Several small grazes were on his hands and face from being thrown to the ground and against the rocks. His stomach rumbled slightly, but that could be his usual hunger. More than anything, he felt achingly tired. He hadn't had a proper sleep since that night in the mountains…

Ranma's senses prickled; he felt the presence of someone near as he walked closer to the entrance to the passage leading to the house. His muscles tensed, habitually prepared for a battle, but his expression was dumbstruck when he heard a feminine voice sneeze twice. He moved around the large boulder obscuring his view and saw Akane standing there wearing a jacket over her usual yellow, baggy pajamas, shivering.

They looked at each other, Akane's eyes travelled from Ranma's messy hair to the cut on his shoulder and his bare feet.

"Akane! What are you doing here!" he was surprised not to have noticed her before, but her position was hidden from view.

She crossed her arms across her abdomen and replied, "I woke up and as usual, you were gone. I came to see what happened to you."

He went still, "How long have you been standing there?"

She seemed to fidget slightly. "Oh… I got here a few minutes ago and saw that you and Ryoga were arguing… I knew it was useless to try and interrupt. I notice you've been fighting, too."

"So, er," he began, with an arm behind his head, "did you hear what we were sayin'?"

"...No, not really. I couldn't hear over the noise of the water. You were too far away." She noticed his disposition change and relax at those words, and added suspiciously, "Why? What were you talking about?"

Ranma again went tense and self-conscious. He walked away a few steps with his back to her, feigning ignorance, and brought both arms up behind his head in his trademark stance. She wasn't going to let it go. Nearing closer, she poked him hard in the ribs and reiterated, "Well?"

He looked at her sideways, remaining silent. She broke the quiet with a sudden sneeze.

"Ah! Akane, you're gonna get sick…" he said, concerned and slightly guilty because it was his fault she was out here. Without second thought he unbuttoned his jacket, his favourite red Chinese-style one. "Take this, here."

Before she could refuse, he'd put it over her small shoulders like a blanket. It reached halfway down her thighs and was warm from being on Ranma's body, so in a way it was one. She blushed lightly, then noticing the bloodied gash on his left shoulder. His white singlet was stained with droplets of blood.

"Ranma, you're bleeding!" she exclaimed and, ignoring his modest "Aw, it's nothin'," she stepped closer to look at it. She gently ran her fingers on the skin over it; he tensed at her touch.

"Wait here!" and in a flash, Akane darted off down the passageway, leaving Ranma standing in the cold air without his jacket. He took the opportunity to slap himself across the face, trying to regain the composure which Akane had taken from him with her soft touch ad close proximity.

"Snap out of it, man," he said to himself, pacing furiously. 'How'm I ever gonna tell her… argh, I'm no good with words! I can't believe I wasted them on that idiot Ryoga.' He continued his pep-talk, but lapsed into negativity, 'Alright, I'll just say it, just say it that's all, and if she's bringing the first aid kit back with her, like I think she is, I can use that to patch myself up when she beats me to an inch of my life. Then I can escape into the mountains and live a life of solitude. Yea, yeah sounds good… oh no, what am I gonna do?'

Then he recalled what Ryoga had said about hearing things as P-chan, and he felt a glimmer of hope and the beginnings of courage. He'd never dared to think if Akane might like him or not, but… well it was all or nothing, he supposed, and with that his mind went blank, preparing for the 'battle' ahead.

Now that he was no longer running or fighting, he started to feel very cold. Walking two steps within the confines of the passageway, he was relieved that it was protected from the chilling wind; much warmer than the open air. He sat down cross-legged, leaning his back against the wall behind him. Akane emerged from the shadows shortly after, first-aid kit in hand as he had guessed.

She gave him a small smile, got to her knees next to him, rummaging through the kit to find disinfectant and bandages. He sat up straight and folded his arms, closing his eyes and thinking of how he could reveal his feelings. Akane swabbed some disinfectant on his shoulder lightly and it stung, he winced but he didn't flinch, mind preoccupied. "Does it hurt much?" asked Akane.

Ranma's eyes snapped open and he turned to Akane, his eyes burning into her own. He turned his body to face her own and said in a deep tenor, "Not as much as my love for you."

He paused for dramatic effect then continued, grabbing her by the shoulders, "I would endure aching pains and any battles if only, if only you were to return my love…"

His imagination abruptly ended as he realized that was much too Kuno-like, and also the high probability that Akane would end up nauseated from the lameness of the lines. Akane continued cleaning the cut as he replied honestly, "Nah, I'm used to it."

Akane finished bandaging his shoulder and patted it lightly. She noticed the graze on his forehead and shuffled closer, moving his fringe with her fingers. Ranma was surprised to see how much she was concentrating. All he could think about was her smell, the warmth of her fingers on his skin and of course, the things he had to say. She wiped his forehead with a cloth. He decided he would have to do it soon or he might never. Butterflies materialized in his stomach as nervousness overtook him. Remembering that in a battle, surprise is your best weapon, he opened his eyes.

"Akane?" he said, as she put a bandaid on his forehead.

"Hm?" she replied, moving her eyes from her handiwork to his own. She saw he seemed to be battling for composure and his face was turning red. He swallowed and said all he could manage.

"I love you."

She blinked; he had indeed taken her by surprise. The wind gushed between them as all seemed still. Ranma's heart beated rapidly and he wondered if she'd heard him or was just mentally planning the most efficient way to beat him senseless.

Still in shock, she sat back on her legs and, still staring at him as though she couldn't believe what he had just said, replied, "I…I love you too."

What happened next seemed only natural, being long overdue. Akane leaned closer as Ranma brought his head to hers; they were so close that as he breathed out Akane breathed him in. Shyly, their eyes closed and lips touched.

Akane drew her head back and giggled spontaneously, then pushed him lightly on the chest and said, "Why'd it take you so long to tell me!"

His expression changed, he shot back, "Me! I was too scared you were gonna leave me with permanent damage if I stuffed it up and said the wrong thing!"

She stood up. "The great Ranma Saotome, scared?"

He also stood, "Akane, you're a frightening girl sometimes…" he smiled radiantly, feeling light and relieved. "Anyhow, you never said anything either."

Reaching out for his hands, she pulled him closer and sighed happily, "It doesn't matter now, does it…"

His arms encircled her waist, lightly at first, as her hands went up behind his neck, and they kissed for a long time. The cold didn't bother them anymore, having once again found the best cure for it: body heat. They stayed like that, laughing, kissing, talking and occasionally whacking (on Akane's part, that is), until they saw the sky lightening and the darkness begin to fade away.

Akane ran her hands over Ranma's chest but frowned, "How are we going to deal with our families? If we tell them they'll knock us out and force us to marry…" she trailed off.

"We'll deal with them, don't worry," he assured her.

She shot him a disbelieving look.

"Trust me Akane. Like you said, it doesn't matter now. We'll see this through."

They walked back down the passageway slowly, hand-in-hand. Content and warm, neither said a word to break the perfect silence, savouring it while it lasted.

- End of chapter -

Awww the cuteness :) There should be another chapter coming up fairly soon - BUT - and this is a big but - it's conditional on your reviews! I need to hear yourcomments and inputabout where you want to see this story go. That is, in the next part, what do you want more of? Ranma/Akane together-ness, a 'family discussion', returning to Nerima, Ryoga owning up to his secret finally, or something else? I need to know! Be specific. Tell me all your suggestions and I promise I'll listen to themXD

Thanks everyone!

P.S. Sorry if I misled anyone to think that P-Chan's secret was going to be revealed. I would've, butthen the focus would beaway from the main thing - Ranma and Akane getting together.

P.P.S. You out there. Yes YOU. STOP! I have a hit-counter now /-eyes narrow-/ Don't think I don't know how many look at this page and don't leave a comment. Even if only 1/5 of the people who clicked on it actually read through it, that's still not many! ;) Please review?