Chapter 2

First schoolday

Ranma walked on the fence on his way to school, in his usual black pants and red chinese shirt. But today, something was different than the other times when Ranma went to school.

He was h a p p y !

He had a big smile on his face, which even reached his eyes!

Why that is so?

Simply, two reasons: One, now that he is back in school, the others don't have as much time to chase him!

And two, Akane would be back! She got home yesterday, with Ayumi, but it was very late, so Ranma didn't get to see her.

'Now everything will get back to normal! Akane is back! We'll say hello to each other, get into a fight, and everything will be normal again! And I won't be as much chased around!

'Are these the only reasons?'

'What? You again? Wait, what did you mean?'

'Are these the only reasons why you're that happy?'

'What do you mean happy? I am completely normal! I am not happy, nor sad, nor anything! I just am!'

'Is that so?'

'Now honestly, who would be happy, when he knows he has to go to school, get bored, see a tomboy again after a two months vacation and get hammered?'

'So, if you're not happy, like you claim to be, what's then with that big smile on your face?'

'Smile? S m i l e ? Where do you see a smile?'

'...'

'Hey! I'm talking to you, you know!'

'...'

'Fine! Be that way! I don't need you!'

While thinking all this, Ranma realized that talking to himself isn't really healthy, and wondered if his mother considered such a thing 'unmanly'.

Ranma snorted, looked away and his gaze fell on the stream beside him, and on his reflection, where he spotted... a smile!

'Oh my! I am really smiling!'

Some seconds passed, and Ranma was still staring at his reflection, as he realized what he just had said.

'Arrgh! I'm sounding like Kasumi! Not that this would be something bad, but I don't want to risk something that could be considered 'unmanly'!'

'Oh yeah! As if someone could hear your thoughts! Or even be interested in them!'

'Yeah, sure. When it comes to insulting me, you're back! What do you want?'

'Well, now that you saw for yourself that you really are smiling, could we now talk about the cause of this? What do you think?'

'That you are completely nuts! And that God probably only made you to annoy me!'

'This isn't my purpose, no.', said the voice a little irritated.

'Don't tell me that you're offended now! Now come on!'

'Don't worry! I'll make it short!' The voice sounded now even more irritated.

'Ok, ok. So you want to talk about the 'cause' of me smiling? Okay, do as you want. But it won't change the fact that there isn't any 'cause' to this!

'You stubborn, blind, little...'

'Hey!'

'You know what? You're helpless! I'll come again, once you'll be more open with yourself, your heart, your conscience, your pride, and your damn feelings!' , shouted the little voice, who didn't sound that little anymore.

Ranma didn't say anything else, and walked his way to school in complete silence.

Once arrived in school, Ranma automatically searched the grounds of the school for a sign of Akane.

There he spotted her! But she wasn't alone. And she wasn't with her usual friends Yuka and Sayuri either. No, it was that girl, with whom Akane went on her training trip.

'What was her name again? Ah, yes, Ayumi.'

Ranma walked to the two girls, and was just about to say hello, when he suddenly heard:

"Ranchan! Over here!"

'Sure, my luck! And why now? Why can't she get if through her thick skull, that she is and will always only be a friend?', thought Ranma irritated, but didn't let it show.

'Well it's just a matter of time...', and this brought even a tiny smile to his face.

"Ranchan, I am so happy to finally see you!", said Ukyo cheerfully while hugging Ranma, "I mean, we saw each other during the holidays, but we never really got to be alone", emphasized Ukyo, with a glare to Akane that clearly said, 'don't get near him, tomboy!'.

Ranma got slightly nervous and risked a peek at Akane. He was sure, he would once again be introduced to mallet-sama after this two months vacation.

But...

Nothing happened!

Ranma couldn't believe it! Was Akane okay? Did she get hurt? Did she fall on her head? Why wasn't she malleting him yet? Or yell at him? Glare at him? Or at Ukyo? Or at least do something?

'She is surely waiting for the right moment! She probaly wants to really hurt me! Wants to show me, how much stronger she got during her training trip. Man, I'm doomed!', thought Ranma frantically, and looked expectantly at Akane.

However, Akane, since the first "Ranchan", till to Ranmas end of his train of thoughts, just looked with a neutral expression at Ranma, and occasionally at Ukyo.

Several seconds had passed, and Ranma could see several emotions flicker in Akanes warm chocolate-brown eyes, but couldn't decipher them. He was also quite sure that Ukyo didn't notice them, although she stared in Akanes eyes.

Then, finally, Akane looked in Ranmas eyes, gave him a small smile, and said: "Hi Ranma, Ukyo. How were your holidays?"

Akane never looked away from Ranmas eyes while speaking, and even afterwards. Then, after some seconds, the bell rang, and Akane looked away at Ayumi.

"Lets go.", she said, and she and Ayumi walked into the school building in their classroom, with Ukyo behind them, who still glared suspiciously at Akanes back.

Ranma stood alone, speechless and shocked. He didn't know what to think, when the only thing that finally came to his mind was,

'Akane...'

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½. It does belong to Rumiko Takahashi.