Wow... it's been a long time. School has been really tough but I'm almost graduated so it should be better. I was listening to music and came across my Ranma ½ CD and got inspired. So here I am to do more damage!

Akane and Ranma made it back to Ranma's house. Ranma let go of Akane's hand so he could unlock the door, which he did clumsily. He took off his shoes and nodded for Akane to come in. Akane hesitated but took her shoes off and entered the Saotome residence. ((This house must be trashed since two guys live here. There are probably clothes everywhere and dishes to the ceiling and…)) When Akane stepped inside she was surprised to see how well organized and clean their house was very well organized and clean. She stood there in shock for a second. Ranma set his keys down on a table in the living room. "Is something wrong?" Ranma asked without making eye contact.

Akane's gaze was broken by is words.

"Oh, no. Nothing at all." She answered and looked down at her feet timidly.

Ranma looked up at her because she had not said something else. He sighed.

"You can sit down ya know."

"Mm hm." Akane then took a seat on the couch and folded her hands in her lap while Ranma went into the kitchen. ((This is a lot more awkward than I imagined… although it can't be entirely that bad because he did hold my hand the whole way home have been as assurance incase he started to feel dizzy.)) Ranma reentered the room with two cups of tea. He placed one in front of Akane and took the other one with him as he went and sat down on the other side of the couch. There was a long drawn out silence as they both sat there drinking their tea.

Ranma finally placed his cup on the table and decided he would be the first to speak.

"You didn't have to walk me home ya know."

"I know."

"Then why did you?"

"Because."

"Because WHY?"

Akane sat there.

Ranma sighed aloud. "You know, you DON'T have to feel sorry for me about everything. I can manage on my own. I don't need you as my baby sitter. I mean, honestly, do you think there is anything you old do for me that I couldn't do myself?"

Akane got started to get highly offended the more that he spoke. "I mean, I don't need your friendship, I have friends. I don't need your company; there are plenty of people I can be around. I don't need you to talk to really; I can talk to lots of other people… I…"

Akane cut him off abruptly. "So you can talk to all of those people about your secret?"

Ranma said nothing but slightly cringed; if Akane had not been staring at him in fury she would not have seen the twitch.

"You know Ranma, I didn't ASK to move here! And I didn't ASK to be your friend! And I didn't ASK to know your secret okay! So WHY are you trying to make ME feel bad about being around you! You say it like I've been stalking you or something when really I just wanted to make sure you are okay! Would you not have done the same for a total stranger?"

Ranma looked at his cup of tea on the table and stuck his finger in it and started swirling it around.

Akane relaxed herself and put her cup of tea o the table and rose to her feet. "I know when I'm not wanted". And with that she walked by the door, put her feet in her shoes and walked out of the house. Ranma got up to go after her but when he went to speak so that she would not leave but when he went to speak, nothing came out. ((OH, God.))

The there was then a knock on the door. Ranma got up to open it. And to his surprise, it was Akane. He stood there and looked at her.

"I don't know my way home from here."

A small smile ran across Ranma's face. He got his key, wrote a note on a piece of paper, put on his shoes and left the house with Akane. They walked down the street mostly in silence, taking many turns along the way.

"This doesn't exactly look like the way home Ranma."

"It is; it's a short cut."

"It doesn't SEEM like s short cut."

"Trust me, I've lived here almost my entire life, I know how to get to your house."

Akane kept walking next to Ranma. Ranma stopped walking. "We're here."

Akane looked up. "What do you mean, no we're not!"

Ranma smiled and grabbed Akane's hand gently. "Yes, we are."

They were in the local park. Since most people were in school at the time the park was fairly vacant except for the occasional couple to walk by and the mother with her baby and stroller in the park.

Akane was reluctant to take his hand and wanted to pull her hand out of his; but the long walk had made the anger subside and she decided not to. Ranma walked Akane up to an ice cream truck. The man inside of the truck said, "Hi there you two! What can I get for ya?"

Ranma smiled in return and said, "I'll have one vanilla cone." He turned to Akane, "What would you like?" Akane shook her head. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, I left my money in my locker at school."

Ranma laughed. "Don't worry about it. It's on me." He smiled at her.

Akane hesitated, and then returned the smile. "I'd like chocolate please."

Ranma paid for the ice cream and the two sat down on a bench and at their ice cream. There was a small lake that the bench. There were a few ducks in the pond that another couple was throwing bread at. Akane and Ranma watched the other couple feed the ducks as they ate their ice cream. Occasionally a duck would splash the couple with water causing the young woman to cream and both Akane and Ranma to smile. The couple finished feeding the ducks and put the rest of the bread away. "That was pleasant. Don't you think so Ranma?" Akane asked in between licks.

"Mm Hm." Ranma replied as he continued to eat his ice cream. The man I the couple then grabbed the young woman by the waist and kissed her. Ranma and Akane immediately looked away and they both started blushing. The two continued to eat their ice cream until they both had finished.

"I'm sorry Ranma if you feel like I pacified you. I really didn't mean to."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

"And you don't have to worry, I won't tell anyone."

"I know."

"Do you want to go back to school now?"

Ranma sat there for a second and thought about whether or not he wanted to. (( She's not all that bad. And I haven't really done anything in a while. But if we go back to school…))

"Nah, that's okay. Why don't we go see a movie instead."

"Ranma I told you I don't' have any money with me."

"And I told you not to worry about it." He said and then winked at her.

Akane looked down and blushed. Ranma leaned back on the bench and put his arms behind his head with satisfaction.

"Plus, what kind of guy would I be if I made a girl pay when I took her on a date?"

"A DATE!" ((What does he mean by date? Is this what this is? I've never been on a date! He can't be serious! He didn't run into my locker on purpose did he?))

Ranma laughed. "I was kidding ya know."

Akane then relaxed half out of relief, and half way out of disappointment. "To the movies it is then!"

The school bell rang to end school.

((I can't believe that girl snuck up on me like that when I was thinking about Akane.))

"HEY RYOUGA!"

Ryouga turned around to see Sam running towards him.

((Now lets see what kind of damage I can do.))"Hey Ryouga! What's up?"

"Eh… uh.. nothing much Sam. How about with you?" Ryouga replied nervously. ((This is kind of awkward. Wait, no, REALLY awkward.))

"Oh, nothing. I was going to go see a movie. You want to come with?" she gave him her most charming smile.

"well, I don't…"

"Pleeeeaaaassseeeee…."

"well, uh… I guess so."

"Great! And we'll have plenty of time to talk on the way there!" She winked at him, grabbed his arm, and started walking towards the movie theater.

They walked for a while without saying anything, then Sam finally decided to break the ice. "So, you seemed pretty fond of that Akane girl." She said with a smile on her face.

"What? Who me… uh… NO! I mean, we just met today! And uh, there is no way she'd like me, I mean…" Sam started to laugh so Ryouga stopped tripping over his own words.

"I kind of figured you were fond of her from the way you were looking at her through the window. Do you think her and that guy she was with- Ranma- are together?"

"No, I mean, I don't think they are. I talked to Akane when we got let out of first period and she don't to me that she was seeing anyone." ((YES! PERFECT! Now all I have to do is get Ryouga to go along.))

"You know Ryouga, if you like her, why don't you ask her out or something?"

"ME? Oh no! I could never!..."

"Ryouga, Ryouga! Calm down! It's just me you're talking to, not Akane, so calm down first of all. And second of all, you shouldn't put yourself down like that. You seem like a nice guy and your handsome too! So I'm sure you have a chance!"

Ryouga blushed at the though of Sam saying he was handsome. "Do you really think so?"

She nodded." Of course I do." Lets hurry so we don't miss the movies that are showing!"

The two ran to the movie theater. Ryouga was surprised at how athletic Sam was and commented no it.

"Yeah, I've been practicing martial arts since I was about 5 years old."

"Really?" Ryouga said, still running "I study martial arts too."

Sam turned to him and smiled and the two continued to run until the movie theater was in sight. Also in sight were to figures walking to the movie theater. Same stopped running because they looked fairly familiar. ((No, it couldn't be…)) She took a closer look. ((It IS!))… She grabbed Ryouga by the arm , "Come on Ryouga, I've got a plan."

Well, that's it. Sorry it took me so long to post again. Like I said, I've been very busy with school. Well, please Read and review and tell me what you think!