Cupid Inc.
CHAPTER 6 Another Point of View

Akane herself lived this moment very differently. She had started to panic when all of a sudden she lost control of her body, of her speech. She realised that she was moving in ways not familiar to her, saying things she would never say in a million years. What the heck am I doing? She heard herself say: "But then you must allow me to give you a goodnight kiss."

Her own mind was screaming. What? KISS that JERK? Now way! She tried to restrain herself, but her body was moving automatically. She saw her head go closer to Ranma's. He didn't look too comfortable either.

He better not be! You would think he knew me better. But why AM I doing this anyway?

From the back of her head the answer came. "This is happening because it should be," a voice said matter-of-factly.

What? Who are you? And what are you doing in my head and with my body?

The voice became soothing. "Don't get mad. My name is Mayami and I'm a friend. I'm here because this should be happening."

Akane mentally jumped back in disgust. You're a friend? Not another one meddling in our lives! We've got enough trouble with our parents already!

"I know that, but it should be happening, and if you don't do something, it's my job to do so!"

It's not supposed to be happening! We don't love each other and we fight all the time. He insults me, and he's just a big jerk!

But then Akane remembered the last time she hit him. Ranma had been staring in to space, and then blurted out something insulting. This reminds me of something... Have you been in Ranma's head too?

Mayami coughed and began to stutter. "Well...um...yeah...kinda...okay, I did..."

Well, will you please leave my head and body? We don't need any help, we have screwed-up lives already

"I can't. Sorry, if I back out now, you'll both be unhappy for the rest of your lives."

And Akane saw Ranma's lips come closer and closer, and there was nothing she could do about it.

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Ranma began to panic when Akane's lips where just a inch away, when suddenly she stopped and stared blankly in his eyes. After blinking a few times, Ranma took this opportunity and quickly ducked away from her and into the hallway. He stared at Akane, who still stood staring at her door.
Suddenly, she closed her eyes and opened them again, looking around a little dazed.

Okay, now I'm in trouble

Ranma tried to sneak past her to his room, when she noticed him. "Oh, god," she said, while looking at him, shocked, "did I...did we?"

Ranma, unable to speak, slowly shook his head. Akane let out a heavy sigh and fainted.

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"Come on, Akane, wake up!"

Akane blinked and looked around. Kasumi sat beside her and she was still in the hallway. Ranma, she noted, was nowhere to be seen. Thank Kami, I can't face him right now, I'm so embarrassed!

Kasumi looked at her worried. "What happened Akane?"

Akane looked at her feet. "I...I...," she muttered, "I fell, and hit my head!" Relieved she came up with something, she looked at Kasumi. Unfortunately, she didn't buy it.

"Akane..." she asked, her voice a little more persistent. When Akane didn't answer, Kasumi stood up. "If you want to talk you know where to find me." Before she went down, she turned to her and said: "But I think there's someone else who wants to talk to you more."

She beckoned down the hall. When Akane looked, she could just see the end of a pigtail disappear and the soft click of a door. She sighed and stood up.

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Oh, man, did she see me?

Ranma leaned against the door and listened. When he heard a door close, he sighed and moved over to his futon. Better try and get some sleep...

But every time he closed his eyes a little movie played in his head. He relived the scene with Akane time after time. And sometimes without the interruption... Ranma shot up. I have to get this out of my head. Nothing happened, so nothing to worry about. Right?

It didn't feel all right.

I stopped her before anything happened, I didn't want anything to happen, but then why do I feel...disappointed?

Deciding he wouldn't sleep anyway, Ranma walked to the window and climbed to the roof. There he lay down and stared at the stars above him, thoughts running wild through his head.

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The next morning came much too soon for both the martial artists. During breakfast they didn't look at each other once. When Ranma asked if Akane could pass the tea, she gave it without looking at him. Ranma grabbed the teapot and their hands brushed. Feeling his cheeks flare up, he quickly pulled the pot away and with that spilling it. Nabiki looked up.

I wonder what's wrong with those two. Could it be that my money was well spent? They're not fighting anyway.

She looked around. Kasumi was in her own little world and her father and Mr. Saotome were engaged in a fight over the last pickle. Nobody else seemed to notice the change in them, let alone the absence of the usual fighting.

Nabiki got up. "I've got some phone calls to make. I'll see you guys in school."

All day in school Ranma and Akane stayed out of each other's way. When they happen to catch each other's eye, they both blushed and looked away.

"Akane, is anything wrong between you and Ranma?" Yuka asked during lunch.

Akane looked up from her bento, chopsticks halfway to her mouth. "No, why should there be? I mean, why would there be anything wrong?" she answered way too quickly.

Her friends were immediately on her case. "So something did happen," Sayuri stated.

"What did he do?" Ayumi asked, "Did he force himself on you?"

After this all the girls looked over Akane's shoulder and glared at Ranma, who was sitting with his friends a bit further. "No, he didn't," Akane quickly reassured her friends, a bit surprised they'd even suggested it. He didn't, no... I did. She felt embarrassed. How could she look at him ever again after what she'd done?

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"So, how far did you get before she smacked you?"

Ranma looked up from gulping his lunch down his throat, bewildered. "How far? Before she smacked me? What are you talking about?"

Hiroshi took him in a headlock "How-far-did-you-get-with-Akane," he said extra precisely, like he was talking to an idiot, "You guys are real distant this morning, so we figured something had happened."

Ranma elbowed him in the stomach before answering. "Nothing happened, all right? We just had another fight."

Although his friends obviously didn't believe him, they left it at that. Ranma at that moment snuck a peek at Akane and her friends. For some reason they were glaring at him.

I really need to talk to you, Akane. But how? This is way too embarrassing.


Till next time,

Ameko