Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma or any of the characters, they belong to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.
AN: Here comes a fluffy chapter. My music recommendation is 'Reiwa' by Vindu.
oOo
The unfamiliar but refreshening noise of a baby's cry dwelled through the Tendo house like a bell. Some of the family members were rather annoyed by its sound (Nabiki, Genma, least to mention Ranma) whilst other members welcomed the voice of life. Kasumi held up the little human like a doll. "My, isn't she adorable?" Tofu nodded in response, focused on his little great-niece that so perfectly fitted in his fiancé's arms. The posture holding a baby made Kasumi even more stunning in her feminine grace if that was even possible. Tofu realized he had to sink into a slight meditation to uphold his sanity facing the immense beauty of the moment. He lifted his glasses and glanced at Akane to state "You want to hold the baby?" before he retreated his thoughts inwards to a steady "Om".
"Hai!" Excitedly, Akane nodded and held out her arms to receive the giggling bundle, before Ranma lurked around the corner with a fishcake in his mouth. "Don't drop it, it's not one of your stuffed animals". She stuck out her tongue, ready to throw back some insult, when she suddenly felt the warm, soft body in her hands. She focused on the small human being in front of her. Her mother, Tofu's cousin, smiled brightly. "It's okay Akane, I think she likes you. Listen, she has become all quiet." Akane and the baby looked at each other and both started smiling. Ranma, still lurking and deeply pleased about the sudden silence, came closer and peeked over Akane's shoulder to make a face at the baby. Curiously, the kid regarded the pig tailed man without making the slightest effort to respond to the clown show. The women giggled. "I guess you have to practise on your communication skills" Akane prompted. With children, AND adults, she thought to herself. They haven't gotten the chance to talk privately yet… well, truth be told, they haven't used the opportunity to talk. The next morning after Ukyo, Ryoga and Taro had showed up at the Tendo dojo, the arrival of the first wedding guests, who came from all over the country, commenced. With more guests in the house, the chances for intimacy were scarce; whilst Akane had been engaged even more into Nabiki's wedding planner routine (even with more responsibilities), Ranma was more or less busy catching up with schoolwork for the upcoming semester as well as training upon facing an imminent battle. Four days have passed without pressing the issue and Akane started to believe, their kiss was mere imagination. Just yesterday, Ranma once again broke the camel's back.
"Come one, 'Kane, will you help me just once?"
"Like yesterday and the day before that?" She had crossed her arms in front of her and created a dark aura around herself to finally make him understand she was not to be played with. It was unbelievable. After robbing her sanity and making her stomach turn round whenever their paths would cross, Ranma made no move whatsoever to talk to her unless it was concerning his stupid homework. Moreover, she had studied all spring and summer, to enjoy her last vacations (with or apparently mostly without Ranma) and now, when it was her time to enjoy her life occasionally (without further kidnappings or other atrocities going on at the moment) the incarnation of her emotional misery asked her to spend that time on nothing other than schoolwork? It was ridiculous. Not only was she helping him with various school assignments, but she also literally wrote them out all by herself, secretly hoping to confront Ranma about the kiss while it took him no longer than five minutes after entering her room to start yawning, other three minutes to excuse himself to lay down on her bed for more comfort, and two more minutes to doze off without warning, leaving her to his assignments and the (somewhat comforting) snoring noise. She was torn between anger, the excitement of having him all to herself without interruptions as well as his singular smell in her bedsheets after she would finally make him leave her room, and the insecurity of only serving as his homework buddy with no further intention. Not that she wanted to have him make any perverted move on her, but the incident on the porch left her thoughtful all the while. In the end, as always, her stubbornness had won over and she had declared protest. "If you have the time to sneak around Ukyo's during the day, only to come home tired and unable to do your own homework, you can as well put in some more effort and get your work done before dinner, so that I can check on it earlier in the evening."
"Hey, who says I was sneaking around?"
"Who cares? What matters is, that you're being a jerk while I put all effort in saving your grades!"
"You need to understand, I wasn't sneaking around, I met with Ryoga and Taro to take precautions in case that scientist guy shows up." The answer didn't please Akane at all. Despite all her training and the apparent improvements of her skills, Ranma still did not take her seriously as a martial artist. He would gather around the squad for practise without even considering including her. She had slammed the door in his face. "Who cares?! Go do your stupid homework alone."
Now, Ranma took notice of the side blow and tried to fix ger gaze with his eyes, but she averted hers. Ranma grumbled. Today, you won't get away with this.
Kasumi and Hanuka, the baby's mother, laughed. "Maybe you want to take little Hi for a walk? Kasumi and I would love to have a small chat and I trust the two of you are perfect company to my little princess." The couple blushed, speechless over the compliment. Kasumi added. "It would be nice of you two to take Hi for a minute. I need Hanuka to help me with something and it would certainly be helpful." Knowing, they could not object the request coming from her, Kasumi beamed at her sister who bowed and smiled sheepishly. Why on earth would she need Ranma to accompany her on a walk with the baby? She could very well handle it herself. On the other hand, she knew she'd enjoyed Ranma's presence despite all the teasing. And maybe they could use the privacy to finally talk about their situation. About Ukyo, Taro, and their kiss.
Moments later, they were walking side by side on a quiet summer afternoon, focussing on that little bundle in front of them laying in the trolly. Somehow, the squeaking child lightened the atmosphere noticeably and the trip really evolved to a joyful distraction from the turmoil in the dojo. Akane chirped: "It has been quite a long time since I've felt that relaxed. Children do have a positive influence on a stressed mind."
"True that." Ranma took a deep breath. The days have gotten more and more busy. Ryoga and him have agreed to keep an eye on Taro, so they arranged to spar with the winged bull on an abandoned lot near Ukyo's. There, on the one hand, they wouldn't demolish the Tendo dojo, on the other hand, Ranma could find out more about that confidential connection between his old friend and the cynical cursed boy. Moreover, the involvement of the amazons was strenuous as expected, as he had to fight off Shampoo who confused the warning about the imminent battle with a declaration of love from Ranma's side. Naturally, after an exhausting day he would drag himself home, with no appetite for boring homework sessions. He still yearned for some quality time with Akane, not least to talk to her, so he'd convince her to settle down in her room, but as soon as he found himself in her bed, comfortability got hold of him and he fell asleep, savouring the scent of her pillow. Despite her vicious mallet attack a couple days ago, he weighed himself safe after having claimed her lips. Last but not least, her words still clung in his head like a mantra. I would not do anything with anyone but you. Thinking of these words alone made him daydream, which was not helpful whatsoever to his homework or the training sessions with the boys. However, last evening, when he finally had enough energy left to make a move, she denied him entry into the sanctuary of her room.
Ranma glanced at the blue-haired blockhead that was playfully shaking her head for the baby. She mumbled a melody, the corresponding lyrics to the melody seemed obviously forgotten. Ranma smiled at that, contemplating if he should press the issue now that they were alone.
"So how are your assignments going?" Akane pre-empted, as if she has read his thoughts. Ranma scratched his head. "I guess not bad, I am almost done."
"That's good to hear, so you can finally enjoy your vacations." And better use them, she thought.
"Yeah, I can't wait. Luckily, U-chan helped me this morning with the last report, so it should be done by tomorrow…" At least she didn't throw me out, she even fed me while I was there.
"You're unbelievable. Making Ukyo doing all the work." Her snippy reply lit his temper.
"I had no other choice as other people refused to help me." Come to think that I actually wanted to spend my time in your room instead of the restaurant.
"And while she wrote your report, what were you doing meanwhile, gazing at her in admiration?" she fired back in anger. They looked each other hard in the eyes. Although Ukyo had officially dumped Ranma, there was no guarantee that she was not interested in him or vice versa, albeit Akane remained suspicious. Her jealousy annoyed him.
"I worked on other homework to make space for some free time."
"Oh yeah, for what?!"
"I don't know, you tell me!" Their heated argument stopped as the baby made an insecure face and suddenly, started to cry viciously. "Darn."
"What now?"
"I don't know, is it hungry?"
"Hm, Hanuka-san has fed her right before we left. Maybe she made poo-poo?" Ranma flinched at that comment. "That's not my pigeon."
"Oh, cut it off, Ranma, it's the most natural thing in the world." Akane lifted the bundle to her face but did not smell anything. At the same time the baby stopped crying and started to giggle happily. "I guess she was just scared of us arguing." Ranma came closer again, "Yeah maybe. I guess you… I mean we shouldn't always make mountains out of molehills." Infected by the soft giggle, he took the kid and lifted it up above their heads. Little Hi started to giggle even more. A fond smile was set on Akane's and Ranma's faces as they watched the cheerful soul. They did not recognise the elderly woman approaching, who commented in awe: "This is a picture for the gods. Young parents enjoying the fruit of their love. The sight warms my heart." Ranma reddened in astonishment, whilst Akane negated head-shakingly "That's a misunderstanding, we're just taking the kid for a walk."
"Oh" the woman responded, disappointed, "too bad, I could have sworn it looks just like it's mother." She left off with a shrug, leaving Akane with a puzzled look on her face. Ranma picked up the reference. "She does look a bit like you." She turned to him and regarded the smiling baby in his arms. "See her eyes, they take up the same shape as yours when you smile."
"Really?" How is he so aware of my features? He must have studied my face well enough… Her heart unwillingly started to pound faster. "Now, I think her grin looks more like yours. Just imagine her with a little pigtail." Ranma laughed light-heartedly. "Hey, you might be right." Their eyes met again. Still smiling in agreement, this moment seemed so peaceful and amicable to them, when they suddenly came to the realization what they were just openly discussing.
A precious little Akane.
A cute tiny Ranma.
A small us.
Embarrassed, they averted their eyes. Ranma put the baby back into the trolly and finally took heart: "You know, we've never talked about …"
"Hm." Silence. Ranma looked to the ground, kicking away a small pebble stone on the trail. When he did not continue, Akane took over the word: "You mean we never talked about your jealousy of Taro?"
What? What the hell is she talking about?
"I mean, not that I care who you are jealous of, but a bit more decency might be appropriate after... well, you know what happened."
"No, I don't know. Just what do you mean happened?" Ranma's voice sounded challenging. Akane's cheeks turned crimson. Is he serious? Why would he want me to say it out loud? "Don't be like that. You know what I am talking about." Again, silence.
"Yeah, I know that the only thing you're talking about is some pipe dream about me being jealous of Pantyhose." He looked her deep in the eyes. "Now let me set this straight: Panty is a strange guy I do not intent to trust. If he came near anyone I care about, I'd react the same way. And so should you: U-chan is your friend as well." That hurt Akane. How could she have been so blind? Ranma was right, they did not know anything about Taro except that he was a vixen, cursed boy with an incredibly strong and dangerous alter ego. Nevertheless, Ukyo was an independent, emancipated woman who made her own choices, but maybe Akane had been a bit too dazzled by the prospect of losing Ukyo as a competitor. She sighed, yet before she could respond, Ranma waved her off: "Don't worry about it now. You are an insensitive tomboy; I wouldn't expect anything else from you." She clenched her fist, however, Ranma, feeling that his argumentation was on a triumphal course, continued digging his own grave: "You should be happy I have a sixth sense for weirdos like that. If it wasn't for me, you would be all over that guy. The way you were looking at him, I don't know what's so interesting about that dude." Akane struggled to keep her composure, so she exploded: "What are you talking about? I am not interested in him at all. Or was it him I was kissing?" A flock of birds emerged from the treetops nearby. The two stood there, motionless, regarding one another. There it was, she addressed the topic, now it was his turn to respond…
What do you say now? That you liked it? Or that you regret it? Say something, come on, don't leave me hanging here…
As Ranma opened his mouth to respond, a distant scream came inevitably fast to their ears. "Saotome, how dare you impregnate my dearest virgin and bring shame to thy, I challenge you!"
"Kuno-senpai!" Out of breath and with an expression of disbelief Tatewaki Kuno stood before the couple, staring at the snoozing baby in the trolly. An annoyed rumble emerged from Ranma's throat as he eyed the troublemaker.
"Bokken boy, I didn't know you're still in town" he hissed between teeth. Kuno was granted a scholarship to an elite university abroad: rather due to the arrangements of his father than to his curricular feats. Torn between this opportunity and his love to Akane and the pig-tailed girl who he would have to leave behind, he had used the summer to pre-write multiple love letters that were supposed to find their ways to the Tendo-dojo in the years to come. To Akane and Ranma, it was a chance that his obsession for the girls would soon fade once being out of sight. However, this very day, they would still have to deal with the blue thunder.
"How dare you Saotome, mire the fair Akane with your disgraceful seed?"
"Hold it right there, Kuno…" Akane growled, but Ranma cut her off, seizing an opportunity. Not only was Kuno slightly blockheaded, but he was also utterly lacking brain.
"Yo Kuno, we would have invited you to the baby party, but since you amongst others decided to ruin the house at our wedding, we decided to celebrate small. It was such a special occasion, thinking that the pregnancy lasted only a month." Ranma winked at Akane, who understood his intention and went with it. Sometimes you must let someone run into the open knife to make them understand. Apparently, Kuno did not understand but instead drew his bokken to attack Ranma anew. This time, Akane stepped in between the two guys. "Kuno-senpai, don't you see that we have a baby with us? How dare you attack us? On behalf of the kid's safety, I ask you to leave us alone." Startled, Kuno stepped aback. "But my fair Akane, my love for thy is still unchanged. How can I accustom to this unrightful circumstance for you are my first true love?" Now it was her time to play a game. Theatrically, she raised her backhand to her forehead. "Life is unfair, but it is time to part, senpai. I know, you still desire the pig-tailed girl: now let me tell you, she is still as much as a virgin as you left her. Maybe she can give you what I can no longer." She wiped a fake tear out of her eyes and turned to her puffing fiancé, smiling in victory. A vein on Ranma's temple bulged, the tomboy had played him well. He responded between his teeth, not taking his eyes off Akane: "Yeah, she still is a virgin, but maybe not for so long anymore." He eyed Akane carefully when pronouncing each word with a bitter-sweet ambiguity, and she couldn't help but flush deep red, gasping for breath. Content with her reaction, Ranma carried on: "If I were you, Kuno, I'd be off looking for her. Heard she headed to Okinawa or somewhere far, far away."
"Then I shall be off searching my feisty tree-borne kettle-fairy. Akane," Kuno approached her and took her hands in his own. "I will avenge the injustice that has been done to you. But first I must… take care of… something else." With these words, Tatewaki Kuno went off, not looking back, with the newly set goal of proving his manhood whatsoever before leaving to university.
Akane sighed deeply, and despite her initial shame started laughing full-heartedly at the miserable look on Ranma's face. "We played him well, didn't we?"
"I hope he got that Okinawa part, otherwise he'll be hoping around your residence for the next days." He shivered, inwardly deciding not to turn into a girl for the next couple days.
"I doubt that. I rather wonder how long it will take him to do the math." Again, she blushed, thinking about their bold move to spread the implausible rumour of having a child together. "Anyway, I think we'll be safe from him for a short while now." Ranma grinned and regarded the trolley. Little Hi has fallen asleep during the quarrel. Apparently, not all arguments made her cry. He sighed. "We should get back before we got the whole neighbourhood on our heels."
Akane supressed a grin. I wouldn't mind if it meant getting rid of further suiters, she thought. However, their initial conversation was yet again interrupted. Maybe the evening, without pending homework, would bring a new opportunity for privacy. "Hai, let's go."
oOo
AN: I dearly love Kuno in his wacky way, but his overblown choice of words gives me a hard time capturing him, so he only got a small appearance. However, the next chapter will be another Ra x Ak chapter, with loads of fluff, love, and intimacy.
Wherever you are, whatever you have to go through these days, stay strong, we can endure anything as long as our imagination can take flight!