Chapter 6

That was it. Tomorrow he would talk to her.

Since the explosion that had happened last Friday, the Saotomes had agreed to stay at the Tendos until their house would be repaired.

However, since then Akane hadn't talked with any of them. It was obvious that she still felt guilty and that she avoided them. The whole weekend Ranma had only seen her during the meals.

But tomorrow she couldn't avoid him any longer. They had school tomorrow and he would talk to her during lunch. He didn't care if he had to drag her to the tree.

He already told his mother about the cause of the incident and she understood. She was very angry at the Amazons and had said that she would talk with them about the repair costs that they would have to pay. Not to mention that she would give them a piece of her mind!

The Amazons had come to the Tendos to talk to them, offering them a room at their restaurant where they could stay until the repairs were done. Nodoka had kindly reclined, but the old ghoul was very persistant and even went as far as to say, that it couldn't be safe at the Tendos, since Akane stayed there and she was responsible for the accident.

When Ranma heard this, he was glad he wasn't there when that happened. He probably would have killed them. Lieing was one thing, but blaming such a grave thing on someone else, and reporting this to his mother was another.

But unfortunately Akane felt so guilty and avoided them where she could that they hadn't had a chance to talk to her yet. So his mother decided that he should talk with her tomorrow during lunch. She liked Akane and wanted to see her old self again. Not to mention that she wanted to continue with her teaching. Ranma had told her how good she was and how hard she tried and that had made Nodoka very proud. She wouldn't give up that easily now!

Ranma contemplated how to explain everything as he laid on his futon and was trying to sleep.

After deciding that he wasn't going to fall asleep any time soon, and that he wasn't in the mood to read, he stood up and decided to make some katas at the dojo.

But when he arrived the lights were already on, and there was an aura present. Akanes aura.

Ranma got curious and went in.

Akane was concentrating really hard and hadn't noticed him. Instead of wearing her usual training outfit she had navy blue slacks on and a black tight shirt that was still loose enough to stretch with her moves.

Ranma was mesmerized.

Akane was doing some katas. Granted, for her level rather easy ones, but she did them with such grace, elegance, so... not like her.

Ranma wasn't sure if she was doing katas or a hypnotising dance. She moved fluently, there wasn't a time when she stopped, there wasn't a move that stopped and a new that began. There were moves after moves, but somehow they weren't either. Somehow they all harmonied into one.

Ranma couldn't move.

He had seen a lot of martial artists doing katas, even himself.

But...but coming from Akane, it was something else. It wasn't just a kata, it wasn't just martial arts, it was art.

As simple as that.

Finally, when she stopped, she noticed him. She turned around sharply and their eyes met.

Hers were filled with guilt and fear.

His were filled with shock, wonder and... admiration?

Finally, she spoke.

"Ranma...What are you doing here? I didn't wake you, did I?"

Ranma shook his head. He had to get free from that spell.

"No... Was this what you learned on your training trip?"

Akane nodded vaguely and then said unsure,

"Part of. Ranma, what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep and wanted to do some katas. But I didn't want to disturb you."

"Well, thank you, I guess. I should leave you alone then. Good night Ranma."

She tried to rush out of the dojo but Ranma was faster than her. He blocked her way and told her that they had to talk. Why wait until tomorrow if he could do it now?

Akane looked as if she wanted to argue, but then she just bowed her head and nodded.

They sat down and faced each other. After several minutes, Ranma couldn't take it anymore to see her bowed head and started talking.

"You know Akane, that explosion, it wasn't your fault."

At this she perked up. She looked at him with hope in her eyes and finally asked suspiciously,

"Why didn't you tell me when I apologized?"

"I...I..."

Shit, he hadn't thought about that.

"Ranma?"

At this Ranma looked up. She had her head bowed once again, but her voice... it had sounded so vulnerable.

He couldn't take it. Nobody should sound like that, especially a martial artist!

"I was shocked, ok?"

Akane looked up, surprised.

"Look, fact is that is wasn't your fault. It were the Amazons. They put a bomb or such a thing in your soup, and we both were too hard concentrating on cooking that we didn't notice, until it was too late. I barely recognized their auras. Mom knows too, and she forgives you."

Akane just looked at him with an expression that he didn't know from her. He got embarassed and looked away.

She must have noticed it, because she stood up, and slowly walked away. But before she reached the door, she turned around again and softly murmured,

"Ranma?"

He looked up and saw one of her wonderful smiles. The ones she didn't use enough. The ones that were only meant for him... or so he hoped.

While she used them more since he came to Nerima and especially since her training trip, it wasn't enough. Always seeing her smile at him wouldn't be enough.

"Thank you."

Then she turned around and left the dojo.

And deep down, while he hadn't heard from the voice since Friday, he was sure that it was softly
smiling back at Akane.

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