Childlike Features

Italics are thoughts

I do not own Ranma ½. I write this for entertainment only. But if you copy what I wrote, shame on you!

Chapter the First: Grim Realization

Ranma raced along the street towards the Dojo, Shampoo in hot pursuit, "dammit, Shampoo, leave me alone!"

"Airen! Shampoo make so happy!"

Ya would if ya just left me alone! Ranma thought as he raced down one street and up another. Losing the Amazon was always a laborious task, but one well worth it if he managed to do so in time to catch up with Akane. He knew from past experience that once she was in her room, she'd get angry.

But she's sticking to me like glue and…wait…she's not following me. She's driving me! Ranma ground to a halt so fast that she almost ran into him, but not so fast that he avoided the old ghoul throwing a strange-smelling powder in his face.

"Wha…" he began, swaying groggily, "what was that?"

Cologne chortled at him but it was Shampoo who answered, "magic make Airen dependant on wife. Then you forget about other girl and come back to China with Shampoo!"

Panicked, Ranma took off, both Amazons rushing to follow. He was blind to reason now, his only instinct was to get back to Akane before the potion took effect. Ranma didn't know why he felt this way, he just knew that if he got to her, everything else would sort of work itself out. After all, that was the way it always was. So long as he could reassure himself that she was fine, he could handle anything.

"Airen! Wait for Shampoo!"

The closer he got to the Tendo Dojo, the more Ranma became aware of how he was slowing down. But he still spotted Akane as she walked along towards the gate. He was too frightened to notice the size difference till he practically collided with her and suddenly realized that he had to look up, way up, to see her.

"Akane!" he gasped anyway as he staggered to a halt in front of her, " 'Kane!"

Startled, she looked down, her eyes growing wide, "R-Ranma?" she stammered, gawking down at him.

He grimaced, subconsciously grabbing her skirts and hiding his face in the soft fabric, "I'm sorry, 'Kane," he whimpered, fighting a rapidly crumbling composure, "I didn't want…please don't hit me."

"Aiya! Why Airen go to Pervert Girl!" Shampoo demanded from down the street, "we have too-too romantic date!" Just because Ranma was slowing down, didn't mean that he wasn't still incredibly fast.

Ranma cringed at her voice, shaking as he waited for Akane to hit him, to call him a jerk or a pervert as he felt he rightly deserved. His bout of self-loathing, however, was cut off when Akane scooped him up into her arms.

"What did you do to him this time?" Akane snapped, holding a startled Ranma protectively close, "can't you leave him alone?"

"Is none of Violent girl's business!" Shampoo protested, lunging. Akane moved aside, with a grace that both stunned and mesmerized Ranma, without jostling him in the slightest. He just held onto her shoulders and buried his unbearably hot eyes in her shirt, still fighting tears.

"Of course it's my business," Akane snarled, "he came to me, so he made it my business."

"Enough, Shampoo," Cologne chided, "obviously, the potion wasn't what we wanted. We should be home, researching an antidote. Let the girl deal with him for now."

Shampoo looked murderous, but still consented, "yes, Great Grandmother. Shampoo come."

The two watched them leave, then Akane sighed, shifting her grip and then she started walking again. But Ranma couldn't stand the silence and so, he chose to interrupt it.

" 'Kane?" he murmured unhappily, "I…if I'm disgustin' ya, ya can just leave me here an' I'll find something…" his voice cracked at that, so he just waited in silence.

"Baka," she murmured, the affection in her tone taking away the sting of the words, "you aren't disgusting. Don't worry about it."

"N-No?" he stammered.

"It'll be fine. Daddy loves children. Do you want to keep them from finding out?"

"Your sister wouldn't let that work," Ranma grumbled, "else…yeah."

"I'll tell them at dinner."

"Akane?"

"Yes, Ranma?"

"I…thanks. But I don't really feel like eatin' anything."

"Okay. Bath and bed?"

"Please?"

"Sure. I'll get the towels."