Chapter 4

The next two months were, for Nerimas standards, relatively quiet.

Ukyo and Shampoo still fought every day during lunch time, but people got used to it, and Ranma didn't mind. In fact, he was rather happy that they fought. This gave him the time to get away without them noticing it, and find a good place to eat.

He still ate with Akane. Sometimes he would bring his mothers lunch for both of them, and sometimes Akane brought Kasumis lunch. They didn't always eat on the roof. They weren't that foolish. This would have meant that it would only be a matter of time until Shampoo, Ukyo, Kuno or any other fool would find them. So they changed always between different roofs and different trees.

Ayumi didn't go with them, since she returned home a month ago.

Ranma still didn't ask Akane how her training trip was. He sometimes might be an idiot, but he wasn't foolish enough to disturb the good relation he had with Akane at the moment. Not that it was a real relationship. It was just that they could eat in complete silence, but it still was a comfortable one. Not one full of tension. Or they could just chat about school, family or they made fun of Kuno.

No, Ranma wasn't that foolish to ruin all this.

But that didn't mean that he forgot or would never ask.

During school itself they didn't really talk with each other or act any different than with their other friends. At the beginning the class and the teacher were suspicious, but then they heard that Akane went on a training trip and then all sorts of rumors went around school.

That Akane fell on her head.

That a witch put a spell on her.

That she went crazy.

And many others.

Nabiki, never one to pass a good oportunity, sold the truth for a high price. And the truth was... well, actually she didn't have a clue. Nothing had happened, and that's what she said.

Akane didn't care what the others said. Those who mattered knew the truth, and that was enough.

After a month everyone got used to it. Besides, the teachers couldn't very well say that they had a problem with the fact that there were less fights, arguments and holes in the wall.

Ukyo didn't mind either. In fact, she used every oportunity, but Ranma knew every time what she was up to, and could somehow always avoid her.

§°°§°°§°°§°°§

However, today the routine would change.

Nodoka told Ranma that since he could change into a girl, he should know the basics of being a girl. Mainly cooking. Akanes father, who heard of Nodokas intention on teaching Ranma how to cook, asked her if she would also try to teach Akane.

Nodoka very well knew that Akane couldn't cook if her life depended on it, but she thought that everyone deserved a chance, and promised that she would try. Ranma could help her and perhaps it would also bring them closer to their marriage.

Nodoka respected Ranmas choices but in her opinion Ranma and Akane were the perfect couple. Besides, if one had her rights on Ranma as his fiancé, then it was Akane. She was his first fiancé, and the only one Nodoka approved from the beginning on.

So here was Ranma on his way home, but this time with a guest.

They walked in silence, Ranma as usual on the fence and Akane beside him. Akane constantly looked at the ground and Ranma stole glances at her.

Finally, Akane said something. Actually, it was more like a murmur, and Ranma wasn't really sure if he was even supposed to hear it.

"You know Ranma, I can go home if you want me to."

Ranma, startled by this, didn't know what to say, and decided to better don't say anything.

They finally reached his home and Nodoka greeted them warmly. Then Ranma proceeded to turn in his female form when his mother stopped him.

"Oh no, dear. I don't want to force you to change, just because this is a traditional female duty. Just stay like you are."

"You had hoped that he would change on the way here, right?", Akane said with a little smile.

"Yes", sighed his mother.

They then proceeded with the lesson. Nodoka told them to take an apron and showed them carefully with some comments how to prepare the meal. Once she was finished, she told them that it was their turn and that she would wait in the living room and that if they needed any help, they just would have to ask.

And now came the moment Ranma most dreaded. He was alone with Akane, in a kitchen. Ranma contemplated his possibilities, when Akane said that they should probably start. Ranma nodded and prayed to every god he knew.

§°°§°°§°°§°°§

He was surprised.

That's all he could say.

He was astonished.

He was cooking with Akane. And until now, everything went well. Nothing burned, nobody cut itself, heck, they even took the right ingredients!

Akane was very concentrated. She asked Ranma every time she wasn't sure of something, and even when she was, she still asked. Before adding something she double checked, made sure she took the right things, and then even asked him!

And Ranma, instead of getting annoyed or even suspicious of the constant asking, was grateful. He helped her where he could, assured her and thanked the gods each time she asked instead of just adding something.

They were now nearly through.

Akane was stirring the soup in the pot. Very concentrated, because she didn't want to spill a drop because of carelesness. Ranma wanted to tell her to ease up, that she would do fine, but he was scared that that would result in spoiling the dishes and he didn't want that.

At the moment he was cutting some vegetables as decoration to the meal. And while he would never admit it to anyone, he could to himself, that he was enjoying cooking.

'Are you enjoying the fact that your cooking, or the fact that you're cooking with Akane?'

'Not you again!'

'Answer the question. She is simple enough.'

'None of your damn business!', hissed Ranma.

The little voice just laughed and then said, 'I am a part of you Ranma. This question concerns you. This is my business. Well, partly.

'Shut up! I don't need you to distract me! We did well until now. I don't want to disapoint mom. And I sure as hell don't want to fail now!'

'Isn't there someone else you wouldn't want to disapoint?'

Ranma decided that this question didn't even deserve an answer and so remained silent.

But then...

'Something feels odd... What is this feeling? ... Two auras? Whose? And why are they here? Shampoo? The old ghoul? But what would they want? Did I miss something while I was talking to myself? Akane couldn't have noticed something, she is concentrating too hard on not failing the dish. And mom is in the living room. But...'

Just then Ranma noticed something in Akanes soup.

'Is that...?'

Yes, it was. Ranma made a dash for Akane, grabbed her around her waist and fled from the house, picking his mother on the way.

They barely reached the outside, when the house blew up.

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