Darlin' you're the highlight of my life

You're the one that makes it all worth while

You're the one that taught me how to smile

Darlin' you're the highlight of my life

You're the one I always think about

And you're the one I couldn't live without

And you've always been my guiding light

Darlin' you're the highlight of my life

"Highlight of My Life" by Dolly Parton

I bit my lower lip and rubbed my temples. "Okay, explain this again."

Jin fidgeted because he knew I was angry. He tugged at the bottom of his shirt.

Ranma Saotome: striking fear in friends and enemies alike. It felt like a very good moment for a maniacal laugh.

"Listen Flash, you've gotta get over Akane. This girl was such a sweetheart, great hips, and the most gorgeous hair!" Jin went off.

He liked to nickname me things like Flash, poking fun at the fact that most people thought of me as some sort of super hero. Sure I was super, but I wasn't quite sure about that other part.

He said it like it was easy. Yes, I'll just get over the girl that shaped most of my life in some small way. While I was at it, I might as well stop eating.

I folded my arms over my chest. "Ooh, lemme think about this." My tone changed from sarcastic o serious. "Uh . . . no!"

Stance of the warrior.

Jin poked me in the arm. "If I were to switch for one girl, it'd definitely be this beauty."

He scowled and I smirked. "You don't even know her name and you expect me to go out with her?"

He nodded.

On one mission, we were in Belize; it was a really hot night and we had delivered the package we were sent to. We were in this seedy bar and this guy with greasy hair and a swaggering walk comes by and basically sweeps Jin off his feet. I warn Jin with a word not to, but he goes off anyway. Five minutes later he ran out of the bathroom, pulled on my sleeve and told me we were taking the first flight back to Japan. I asked why and he replied that he asked the guy's name and the guy had said Crystal. Therefore, names were obviously important.

I sighed. I kind of, sort of, owed him one.

See, we were in China on a layover from a mission and I spotted Shampoo. Obviously, I completely freaked and hoped she didn't see me. Me completely freaking is twitching and maybe tapping my foot, but inwardly I'm stark raving mad. At least, that's how it's been for a while now. So anyway, I see her, she sees me, starts running over with a mean lookin' scowl on her face, and I freeze. For the first time in seven and a half years, I froze.

Probably because for the first time in seven and a half years, my past had caught up with me.

So she's trampling over, eyes popping out, probably figuring whether she wants to kill or glomp me. She's zeroing in and I feel something jerking me from the collar into the guys' bathroom. Jin's there by the door and our suitcase is in there. I could hear her outside the door yelling in Chinese, which I had picked up among other languages and wished I hadn't, and knew she was out for blood. Jin and me made eye contact, simultaneously stared at the bag and then back to each other. He groaned and told me his favourite clothes were in there. I told him I'd buy him new stuff, but knew I couldn't replace everything. In another second she kicked down the door and was in disbelief as to how I escaped. Jin gave her some story about never seeing a young man of my description come in, politely said sorry and that he'd really like to finish his business in there. She huffed and ran to the window, only to see clothes four stories down and nothing else. She walked out of the room then, not before tripping over Jin's suitcase, with me inside, and when she stood it upright and said sorry, we both bit our lip.

So really, designer stuff going missing because of my fiancée problems equals favour owing. Big favour owing.

I sighed. "Fine. This makes up for the clothes thing though."

He nodded labouredly. "I'm doing this for your own good and you say it's a favour to me!"

I grinned.

"Sucker."

He punched me in the arm and laughed along with me, both of us perched on the side of my bed.

"So, how will I know it's her?" I asked.

I knew it wouldn't be a stupid red rose on the table, a blue bracelet wrapped around her wrist or a green dragon tattooed across her face. Jin was trendy, his ideas were trendy.

"Well, we ended up going shopping together and I helped her pick out this gorgeous royal purple dress. There's not another like it. When you see the dress you'll know it's her. Believe me, nobody else is gonna be wearing it."

He smiled in triumph.

I lied on my back and stared at the ceiling. "How's she look in it?"

He inspected his nails. "Sex on legs baby."

The thought of Akane lingered in my mind. I needed to get it out of there. This was not a peace treaty trip into my past, this was a simple trip.

"Better be. How'd ya tell her she'd know it was me?"

He turned and stared at me. "If I tell you, it'll only inflate your white-house sized ego all the more."

"All the more reason to tell me." I put on a mock grimace. "My self confidence is just so low."

He punched me in the arm. "Oh shut up, fine, I told her to look for the hottest guy there."

Wow, I knew I thought I was the hottest guy around by far, but hearing it from Jin made me feel great. We were brothers pretty much and hearing your brother admit you were hot stuff was a triumph.

"Damn right. I taught you well." I stood up. "Am I gonna need a tux?"

He nodded. "Dinner at Chez? I think so."

"Chez?" I yelled from the bathroom. I had a tux ready at any moment, never knew when the occasion would arrive; and hey, I loved dressing up. Probably the remnants of my female side that stuck with me after I found the cure.

Yes, it was tough as nails, but I had found my cure. I suppose I'll leave that story for another time though.

Chez was, frankly, the best restaurant in town. Exquisite, exciting, and expensive.

My personal motto to a tee.

"Only the best for our little lone gunman." I heard from the other room.

I snorted. Obviously, I was not a lone gunman, but I did deserve the best.

I strolled out of the bathroom and Jin pretended to faint.

I walked over and smacked him upside the head.

He stood up, looked at the nightstand clock radio and sighed.

"It's six thirty-five. Meet there at seven. You should probably leave now, I suppose."

He straightened my bow tie. "At least you're broadening your horizons and wearing a color other than black; even if it is just white."

I winked and moved for the door.

He called out after me. "Be nice . . . and you better come home tonight! She's a sweet girl and doesn't deserve her heart to be preyed on by a certain emotionally unavailable man!"

I turned back, hand on the door and all innocence. "Who, me?"

I arrived at the restaurant ten minutes late. It was on purpose of course, but I still hated the traffic Nerima had succumbed to.

Fashionably late, she'd be even more impressed. I was not nervous, but I had to admit, I really hoped she was cute.

I scanned the place for a purple dress: nowhere in sight.

Then my heart stopped. I always thought people were being melodramatic when they said that, but I had found it really did happen. I clenched my teeth. There, sitting at the bar in a big black coat was Akane Tendo.

I knew right away that I had to do something and before I knew it my feet had dragged me over to her. I took the seat next to and watched her grasp her glass, staring the other way, not noticing me yet. I grinned, another surprise for her. Since purple dress girl wasn't here yet, I could make Akane jealous or just bug her, and make the other girl a bit jealous too. A girl doesn't notice a guy more than if he's already taken. If I was talking to Akane, looking very attractive huddled in her black coat, the woman would b-line over.

She turned as I flicked my hand at the bartender, signalling a beer in my direction. She turned to see who would be haughty enough to just flick his hand and not ask for one like everybody else. I turned at the same time so she only saw the back of me.

I heard her stall for a second. She pulled on my sleeve. "Ranma?"

When I turned around grinning, "surprised" to see her she jumped out of her seat. I mean that literally, she fell flat on her face off the stool.

I let my head fall back and laughed for a solid minute. "Still clumsy as ever, eh?"

She scowled and picked herself off, slapping at my outstretched hand. "I don't need your help. I could see her take in my appearance: bow tie, suit, hotness all present.

She adjusted her coat and unbuttoned the top button, revealing just a bit of her décolleté. "Hello Ranma, I wasn't expecting you to be here. Out with one of your bimbos?"

I leaned back and faced her, scanning the place. "Ya, but she doesn't seem to be here yet."

She grabbed her glass and raised an eyebrow. "Don't think you got stood up, do you?"

I grabbed at my chest. "My glass heart couldn't take it."

She snorted and knocked back her drink. "Well, mine is a bit late too."

At my smirk she pointed at me. "Fashionably, probably, and the traffic today is brutal."

I stared back at her. "Well, if we do get stood up, at least we've got each other." I raised my glass to her.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh joy, I think I'll die of delight."

Wow, sarcasm was high on her list of priorities, probably the only way she could answer that didn't include breaking anything.

"So, how's work?" I asked.

She pondered for a moment, staring at the bottles adorning the back wall of the bar. She looked gorgeous, thoughtful and modest. I was ready to jump her.

"Can something be frightfully boring and terribly creepy at the same time?"

I raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "If you want it to be."

She smiled then and stared at her toes. She rested her head on her folded arms on the counter and turned it my way.

"I kept my hair short, y'know." She told me.

"I noticed." I said back.

I really did. I would have thought she'd have it all elegant and long considering the fuss she made of it being cut in the first place. I had to pull out the c-word to cheer her up from that.

I had to admit, she really did look cute with it.

I sure hoped that girl was cute now. Not just cute, ridiculously gorgeous. If not, Akane would be the thing I would be thinking about tonight, the exact opposite purpose of this evening.

She nodded into her coat. "I'm trying to get Nabiki to hook me up with a new job; she owns all these businesses so hopefully I'll snag a job in one."

I was a little shocked she didn't want to do it all on her own, thought she was still on her stupid independence kick.

She noticed and explained while shrugging. "When you're poor like me, using family ties is fine and dandy."

If I were a few years younger I would've poked fun of her at this point. I had learned to keep my mouth shut . . . most of the time.

"So who was the guy assigned to your case?" I asked.

I knew, of course, but I had heard a few things about her and my old friend Hiroshi that interested me, and not in a work sense.

"Oh, just Hiroshi." She sighed. I saw her thinking about something and decided to continue before she could finish the thought, just in case it wasn't about me.

"He's a cop now, how long's that been goin' on?"

She sighed. "A while I guess, not long enough to make him serious though. "I heard some spite in her voice and smirked.

"You guys . . . together?"

She turned to me, with that face she gave when she was pointing something out in front of the person she was talking about. Hiroshi wasn't here though, and she looked peeved to the untrained eye.

"No one goes out steady with Hiroshi, he's got commitment issues."

"Commitment issues? What, is he afraid of relationships?"

"No, he should be committed."

I laughed.

I would've liked to know if they ever had gone un-"steady" but I'd ask that later.

"Babe, it doesn't seem like our dates are showin' up anytime soon, wanna have a coffee or something?"

Smooth. I was a little peeved that I got stood up, but maybe she was just too embarrassed to show up because she was circus ugly or some evil being.

Akane reached for the next button of her coat. She stared me down suspiciously. 'If he shows up, you promise you'll leave?"

I nodded. She stared me in the eyes and played with her coat button, daring me to look away and at her chest, where the button currently presided.

Wait a minute, she was trying to get me all hot and bothered.

"Akane, stop trying to seduce me."

She snorted and made her eyes all confused, but I noticed her cheeks color just a little bit under the thin layer of blush she had applied earlier.

She undid it to reveal more skin, and no dress yet. Low necklines were fabulous, they worked on anyone. She jumped off her stool, turned around so I could only see the back of her, and headed toward the nearest coat stand, scattered all over the restaurant for those who were too good to check their coats. She undid each button, staring down at one that didn't want to part with it's other half and finally pulled the sides apart, slinking it down to reveal a gorgeous, shimmering purple cocktail dress.

I stared for a second, and then smirked.

This was gonna be fun.

A/N: Short chapter, I know, but I'm setting up for the next one. I like Akane's point-of-view more so I'll probably end up favouring her narrating the chapters, but only just a bit. So, what do you think so far? I know it's slow moving, but I like it's pace. Don't worry, it will be packed with twists and mysteries and at least once you'll be astonished (if all goes according to plan). Read review, and have a good night!

A Night Walker: What was confusing? I'll explain unless it's confusing for plot purposes

Angela Jewell: I played around with her hitting him, but I thought she matured and was pretty much shocked. Not freaking out was kind of her revenge since Ranma would probably love to see her flip, eh? And thanks for the compliments!

TheEtherway: Oh yes, understanding half of the plot is excellent since it'll all come out in time. I love the Stephanie Plum books too, are you excited Eleven On Top is coming out in almost a month? I know I'm ordering off chapters.ca when it comes out (hopefully I can pre-order). I have to because last time I forgot and it took me forever to get it

Just a Reviewer: Oh don't worry, many an excellent thing will happen to Akane and many other, crazy things too

Ikerana: Thanks so much, I enjoy dialogue and if they hadn't grown a bit it would be a bit sad, eh?

Vaniah: Don't feel sad I know how to spell, feel happy, you're such a celebrity everyone knows how to spell it :) Notice how those background characters come up in the story. I've aready mentioned one other than Hiroshi . . .

Icy: I love the word wicked so much and it reminds me of the awesome book/musical which makes it all the better!

WhiteTigress666: It'd be a good acting experience if it was Jin, very funny. Although, it would be quite the accomplishment if Akane made Jin switch teams, huh?

Peace and cupcakes, thanks for reading.