The Third Night

The day had gone by in a haze, his thoughts lingering too much on the brief memory of Akane's lips pressed to his skin, and the dreams he'd had later on.

#I wonder if she'll cook again tonight… And if she'll kiss me again if I show up in the kitchen…#

He had gone to bed early this evening, not bothering to explain why as the whole family had commented on his obvious lack of sleep. Ukyo – a childhood friend he'd found out was really a girl instead of the boy he believed her to be, and being another of his fiancées – had stopped by in the afternoon, and she had started asking questions about why Ranma was so tired. He was even slower than normal in his fights with his father, ending up soaking wet and in his cursed female form, floating in the pond, several times in a row. Akane had saved him, giving an semi-explanation containing nightmares and wet panda-fathers snoring louder than usual, and Ukyo quickly accepted it in exchange for pouring her attention over her poor 'Ran-chan'. Ranma had breathed easily again as soon as Ukyo left, and was thankful that Shampoo – his third fiancée by Amazon law – hadn't popped up as well. She tended to be even more clingy than Ukyo, and Ranma got pretty claustrophobic in her 'tender' hugs.

He suddenly woke to the light sounds of bare feet tip-toeing through the house, and with a glance towards the clock in his room he found that it was time for the appearance of his midnight cook.

#Mine? Uh, I didn't just think that, did I? Granted, she did make yummy chocolate balls and cookies, but only the gods know how her other stuff turns out… Argh! I don't want to think about this! It makes my head hurt!#

His inner ramblings got interrupted as his senses told him that the footsteps had hesitated before they turned towards his room, now silencing in front of his door. The slight tapping on the door made him jump, and he scrambled out of his wrinkled blankets, slipping out of the room with a final glance back at his snoring father – who for once slept in his human form.

"Hey…" he greeted Akane silently, looking down at her bent head and shuffling feet. Tonight she'd pulled on a pair of old grey sweat-pants and a fire-truck red, thin strapped tank top in stead of her pyjamas, looking quite comfy.

"Sorry if I woke you… I just wondered… if you maybe wanted to join me in the kitchen..? We don't have to talk if you don't want to, but you could taste what I'm making..?" she whispered, glancing up at him with a small smile.

"Sure..! Who am I to say no to a midnight snack…" He grinned, offering to take the bag she held behind her. She hesitated for a moment, but quickly handed it over with a conspirator wink, silently taking the lead towards the kitchen.

In the kitchen he turned on the radio while Akane took out her groceries, and he sat down at the table to watch her work. He felt relaxed and comfortable, studying his fiancée as she moved around the kitchen while humming to an old Louis Armstrong song playing on the radio.

"So, what are you making tonight..?" Ranma asked curiously, trying to guess from inspecting the things she'd put out.

"Tonight… I'm going to try a whole meal… So I hope you're hungry...!"

Ranma looked at her with a smile, propping his head up in his hand.

"I always am… You're gonna tell me what you're making..? Or am I supposed to guess..?"

"He, he, Ranma… Don't worry, I'm sure you'll like it. I loved it when mom made it… Have you ever had Lasagne before..? I'm making it from scratch, with a salad."

"Nope, don't think I have… Akane, why do you bring everything in a bag..? Isn't it easier to just take the things that's in the kitchen..?"

Akane turned to him from her cooking, looking sceptical at him.

"And you don't think that Kasumi would notice..? That the place where she's spent most of her days, where she's cleaned and tidied and polished wouldn't look different to her if I were to take the things I needed night after night..? This is her kitchen, after all… I'm just being cautious, as I don't want them to know yet. It's kind of expensive, but it's worth it." She continued to prepare her ingredients, cutting and cooking and stirring and mixing. She sung along to The Corrs 'Irresistible', playacting that she sung the lyrics heartfelt to Ranma, and he blushed heavily at her theatrics. As she put the lasagne in the oven to cook, she waved Ranma to join her.

"Come on, Ranma, you can help me clean up this mess. I always clean up right away, so I can relax after eating. Besides, if someone comes along it's best to have hidden all the evidence... Something I didn't think about before you discovered my secret."

"Heh, don't you think that the smell will tip anyone off? You can't hide that." Ranma wrinkled his nose as he went next to Akane to help dry the dishes.

"I know. But it's a kitchen after all... And anyone who's up at these hours should be pretty woozy, so they'll accept a partially prepared explanation quickly - I hope."

Ranma silently did his part of the cleaning, listening to Akane humming along to the radio. He marvelled at how relaxed he felt around her, and realised that she was the one he'd always felt most relaxed with - and most nervous with at times too. They cleaned up everything, putting things back at its exact place so no one would discover anything, and chatted easily about small things, preparing the salad together just before the Lasagne was ready. When it was finally time to eat, Ranma thought he'd die of starvation if he wouldn't get to taste this 'Lasagne' that filled the kitchen with a mouth watering smell. Not hesitating one bit – which made Akane raise both of her eyebrows in a surprised motion – he plunged into his bigger part of the meal, wolfing down the first parts and then slowing down until the both of them ate slowly with enjoyment. He surprised himself even more when he realised that he liked to eat slowly, savouring the flavours.

"This is really good…! Akane, can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"What do you really think of me…?" Ranma's eyes grew big when he realised what he'd just asked about, his eyes riveted to Akane's calm face.

"Well… I don't really know, to tell you the truth… Sometimes I've thought that I really liked you, and at other times I've been so frustrated with you that I almost gave up on you… But somehow I've always considered you a good friend." Akane talked quietly, eating with an elegance he'd never noticed before.

"So, you don't love me…?" What's wrong with me? Did she put something in the food? Why do I ask these stupid questions? Ranma's mind screamed. Akane looked him in the eyes for a long moment, startling him when she finally spoke.

"How can I love you, when I don't know you, and you certainly don't know me? I might have almost fallen for you at certain moments… But I can't say that I love you the way you're talking about." Ranma almost blurted out something that would have earned him pain, but the Lasagne in his mouth prevented him from talking until Akane continued. "All the people I like have won my affection through their personalities. I've never bothered with looks, those kind of things don't last long, and besides – when you meet someone nice they look better to you, and those who are morons will become disgusting no matter how pretty they are. Whether it's love for friends, family or lovers, the rule remains the same – I love them for the person they are, make sure to fall for their flaws, and the rest is pure bonus. You, Ranma Saotome, aren't even true to yourself most of the time, so how can I love you when I don't know what to love, and with your changing attitude I'm not even sure of what kind of love to give you… The sisterly kind? Or like a mother when you're acting childish? Like a friend? You certainly wouldn't have me love you like a lover…?"

They were both silent for quite a while after her little monologue. Akane had said what she wanted to, and Ranma needed time to process the words, letting his confused mind think properly. She had said things that sounded smart to him, which he already knew she were, and it gave him a whole knew perspective to think through. Without talking, they cleaned up the last bit of mess after themselves, and headed back to their bedrooms together. Before Ranma went into his room, he turned to Akane.

"I need to think some more… But it's been nice tonight, and I wouldn't mind testing more of your cooking if you're doing it again."

"Okay Ranma. I'll let you know. Good night." With a smile, Akane went back to her room, and Ranma glided into his own room without waking his father. Laying on top of his blankets, he tried to apply her philosophy into his own little world. He thought of all the people he knew, and suddenly found new sides to every one of them – and not all good sides either. Thinking about himself, he decided to try to be honest with himself from then on out. After all, what was the point of deceiving oneself? It wasn't as if he got anything out of it other than trouble. Happy with his noble intentions, he yawned tiredly. In the morning he'd have a serious talk with himself about his attitude.