A.N—I don't own plz don't sue!

Sorry for the long wait...

Cyclamens

Earlier chapter

Mrs. Ono thought for a long moment before she answered. "I would study more", finally she said. "Get more education. Young people don't know it yet but being unintelligent is very hard".

She's right, Akane thought when she cuddled in her bed. Before she fell asleep she made a decision. Life is too short and she's wasting it. Instead of sitting and feeling sorry for her self she should move that useless ass of hers and get a grip. She was hungry for knowledge, for culture, for art, for literature, for beauty. Even if she won't win love she can be happy, content and full of things that will come from inside of her. Things that aren't depend on anything. She decided that starting of tomorrow she'll sign up to some seminars in the university. No matter how much it'll cost her. She'll lessen her expenses, she'll talk less on the phone, walk more on foot, she'll... Eat less!

Luckily help came from an unexpected place. When she told Mikado about her decision he immediately said that anyway he was going to give her a raise and a bigger bonus then usual for her dedicative work.

Now continuing

The days turned to weeks, the weeks into months and soon a year past. Akane visited Mrs. Ono almost every day and they would sit together sipping the tea that Mrs. Ono loved so much and talk. Akane especially loved to hear about Mrs. Ono childhood in Kyoto, about her life, her memories and about what was in the 'good old days'.

"I wish you were celebrating with a nice young man", Mrs. Ono sighed when Akane began planning their dinner for the holyday evening two day from now. "You don't need to spend the holiday with an old woman like me".

"I like it better with you", Akane passed. "You're..." she felt embarrassed with the feelings that suddenly filled her, "you're like family for me. Even more then my real family", she added quickly. Later, before she parted from her she said "tomorrow it'll be a loony bin at the shop. Don't worry if I'll come late".

At ten thirty the next day, when the shop was closed, Akane's gaze fell on the Cyclamens. She smiled to herself when she wrapped them in a brown clean paper. It became a tradition. Cyclamens bouquet for the holiday. Mrs. Ono will enjoy them. Last year she claimed again and again that there're no other flowers she loved more and were more beautiful then the Cyclamens and that every time she looked at them she saw Akane. When the holiday evening came Akane took the steaming pot of soup got out of her apartment, crossed the hallway and knocked on the door, but the familiar 'come in' wasn't heard. She knocked again and then ringed the bell, but there wasn't any answer. Troubled she opened the door with the extra key she had in her possession and got inside. Mrs. Ono was sitting on a chair in the kitchen dressed in her finest clothes her eyes closed and her face relaxed. Akane put the pot on the table. "Mrs. Ono?" she asked gently. She didn't want to scare her. Maybe she fell asleep.

The silence wasn't disturbed.

"Mrs. Ono!" she repeated more loudly.

She didn't move.

Akane went to her and touched her hand. The hand was still warm. On the table in front of Mrs. Ono the dishes for the feast were ready, and in the middle of the table there was a jar half full with water and inside of it the Cyclamens Akane gave her yesterday.

"Mrs. Ono..."

There was nothing but silence.

"Mr. O –no", her voice cracked. The tears chocked at her throat. "Granny", she whispered. "My good granny". In her life, she never called her like that to her face. Always 'Mrs. Ono'. But in her heart, a long time ago, she turned her to her grandmother. Her private and special granny. "Don't go, please". But Mrs. Ono just set there, her face turned to the Cyclamens in a content and satisfied look.

"Where did you go to?" a pleasant voice, slightly amused, echoed in her ears.

"I'm sorry I wasn't focused. What did you say?"

"That I'm sorry I didn't give you any attention on the airplane. I saw you looking at me, but I had to finish going through my papers. I'm going from here to a business meeting and I couldn't waste any time. Any way", the tip of his lips rose for a little smile, a little cynical, "this evening I'm available. We can get to know each other... better".

His forwardness bothered her. She wasn't used to this kind of rudeness. Like it was obvious to him that she was interested in him. That he only needs to tap his fingers so that she'll fall all over him. He interpreted her looks wrong, she thought. She looked at him because she thought that maybe he'll remember her, and he assumed she was trying to come on to him.

"You're traveling without your wife?"

She was pleased with his response. He certainly looked surprised from the question. "My wife?" he examined her face and her heart skipped a beat. That's it! She thought with relief. Now he'll remember. But no. he only asked in the same amused tune, "and why do you think I'm married?"

For a split second she hesitated, but then she said, "I assumed you're married. Men like you..." she stopped. She wasn't used to making this kind of conversations, and her natural shyness prevented her from finishing the sentence.

"Don't stay alone", he finished for her.

"Yeah". She blurted.

"In that case", he said, "your interest in me is even more flattering".

She didn't exactly understand what he meant so she decided not to respond. He moved lightly, his arm pressed hers, his hip pressed to hers. She moved uncomfortably. He was probably unaware to what their physical closeness caused her. Her belly turned upside down and a lump of excitement stock in her throat. "I'm not married", he said in a low voice to her ear. She thought she's going to faint from pleasure. When he talked his lips touched her neck.

"No?" she mumbled.

"No. I'm divorced".

"And children?" she managed to whisper.

Suddenly he moved away from her. His face was hard. "I don't have children".

A few more minutes they set in silence. She fought herself. The knowledge that he was single caused her great excitement. On the other hand, it was obvious he only saw her as a fling. So what? She convinced herself. How many times in life somebody like her can get a chance to meet a guy like him? You can never tell what will happen! She's going to let destiny, coincidence, the unpredictable to guide her way. Once in her life she'll let her self go with the unknown.

"So tell me about yourself", the lighten tune came back to his voice. "If we're going to spend time together, I should at least know what your name is and where are you from".

"Akane".

"Akane", he repeated. "A very beautiful name. It suits you".

"Really?" she was curios. "How is that?"

Again he tilted his head in an angle that started to be familiar and looked at her. "Akane, A feminine name of a woman that life is smiling at her. That the only thing she needs to do is tap her finger to get what she wants. That good old daddy takes care of every thing for her." She didn't miss the mockery in his words.

"You're wrong..." She started to protest.

"Don't worry, it doesn't bother me", he promised her. "I'm used to it. My ex-wife was something in your style".

Akane almost chocked. How could someone compare her to the beautiful woman he married. He probably lost his mind. "You think I'm pretty?" she managed with all her courage to ask.

He smiled with the same deadly smile of his. "I think you're stunning. From head to toe"

It's the clothes, she decided. And the hair cut. When Mrs. Ono gave her an inheritance of 30 thousand dollars in her will and determined that half of it she should spend on a one and only week in abroad, she purchased a wardrobe that wouldn't put to shame a rich girl, went to a beauty salon, and got a hair cut, and the result was impressing. She didn't turn from a duck to a swan, but she looked polished.

"I want to be with you", he said and closed on her again. "It seems to me we can get along pretty good together... At least for the next few days"

She dragged into the game. "And what if I'm married? Wouldn't it bother you?" immediately she regretted her words. In his eyes passed the same look of mockery.

"No. it wouldn't be a first".

"I'm not married".

He pulled his shoulders indifferently. "And where are you from?"

"Hokkaido". Ho my god! For a moment she panicked. That was her first lie she ever said in her life about something that important. What amazed her most was how easy it came out.

To her relieve he accepted every thing she said naturally. "And what are you doing in your life, if ever?"

"Nothing. going from here to there. Paris, New York, Rome. Passing time", she laughed. "Like you said, daddy takes care of every thing".

"How old are you?"

"I'm twenty six. And you?"

"I'm twenty nine".

The car went up the bridge and Akane suddenly saw the city, spread out in all her glory. Her breath was taken. "Wow. How beautiful", she breathed. "Beautiful". She turned to him with sparkling eyes, but he wasn't looking at the view. His eyes were starring at her. She realized she made a mistake. "Every time I see it I'm overwhelmed by its beauty", she quickly added. "I can't help it".

"I see", his eyes narrowed a little, in an unnoticeable gesture. For a moment he was immersed in himself, in his thoughts.

She looked for something to say. "I still don't know what your name is".

He extended his hand. "Ranma, Ranma Saotome". She put her hand in his and immediately knew it was a mistake. His palm tightened on hers, sending waves of passion. She went deep in her sit, trying to lose herself from the crazy spell his touch leads her to. His other hand closed on her neckline and his fingers caressed the little piece of skin under her earlobe. His lips were so close to hers. Not really touching, but almost. He's going too fast, she panicked, but even if they put a knife to her throat, she couldn't pull herself away from him on her own free will.

"God help me, I don't know what's happening to me, but I really, really..." The desire controlled his voice. "Want to make love to you". With her last will power she managed to mumble "we barley knows each other..." she should retreat. Tell him the truth. This part is too big for her. "So what?" his voice stopped the fight that was going inside her. "We will..." And then his lips closed on hers and she forgot who she was and what she was, forgot what was true and what the lie was, what was yesterday and what will be tomorrow. The touch of his lips, his tongue, his hands that invaded beneath her cloths, his chest pressed to hers, her feet tangled with his, was so strong, so intense she felt pain. Sweet pain. Wonderful magnificent pain, she never wanted it to end. When he disentangled himself from her she was still captive in the dark magic, in the rare pleasure. "We're here". He said shortly.

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