I don't own Ranma nibun no ichi...

-.Chapter eight.-

It was a quiet morning in Nerima. The sun was coming out, the trees were swinging along with the tender breeze, and the birds were awakening with beautiful tunes that seemed to cover the air with joy and freshness.

But Akane wasn't awakening... that's 'cause she couldn't even sleep because of Ranma's snores... she tried to go to her room in the middle of the night, but he was holding her too tightly and she couldn't move.

Finally, Ranma started to stretch and yawn. He rubbed his eyes and turned his head to see his beloved... he smiled.

"mornin' Akane..."

" yeah..."

"You don't look so good... is anything wrong?"

"yeah..."

"Akane... are you alright?"

"yeah..."

" ...the clown's coming downtown tomorrow, and he'll be bringing red balloons"

" yeah..."

Ranma's eyes narrowed "Akane, are you even listenin' to me?"

"yeah..."

Ranma sat down and scratched the back of his head, staring at his fiancée... she looked terrible, she wasn't even blinking.

He decided that a hot bath would help her regain some poise. He grabbed his girl, and went to the bathroom.

He placed the "unconscious" girl in the furo, and turned on the hot water. He sat on the edge and admired her.

Akane slowly began blinking, and she rubbed her eyes. She looked at Ranma, and smiled.

"Morning, Ranma."

"Mornin' 'Kane..."

"Did you sleep well??"

"yeah, very. U?"

"Oh, well... I didn't sleep at all..."

Blinking- "no?"

"No... Let's say... I'm not used to having someone snoring in my ear all night..."

Ranma was a little embarrassed "Oh...oh well...I'm very sorry 'Kane...it's just I... I'm sorry"

"Aww, It's okay. " she gave him a malicious glare "C'mere...Ranma-kun...sit next to me."

The guy blushed "O-Ok..."

Ranma sat beside Akane in the furo and looked deep into her eyes, there was a flame... She returned his gaze intensively, and stroked his cheek. Ranma posed his lips on Akane's, and started to kiss her deeply and vigorously. She wrapped her arms around him and got carried away. They soon found themselves strippin' each other.

Ranma ran his hands down Akane's back, reaching the base of her column and holding her hips with both his hands. He felt her scratching his back softly.. he liked how that felt.

He then broke the kiss and began kissing her neck, and the spot under her ear. She laughed playfully and held tighter to him, then she started biting his ear lobe. Ranma pressed her body against his, and sensed how small she was under his arms, how soft and feminine, despite all the "tomboy" stuff he'd been saying... she was as delicate as cotton and as smooth as porcelain. He felt heaven just by touching her. He again kissed her deeply and pressed her against the furo's side. She was playing with his pigtail, and he was biting her lower lip when they heard the changing room's door opening.

Ranma jumped out of the furo, and grabbed a towel. He dried and put on his pants, then hid behind a pile of clothes.

Akane then asked, in a loud voice "Who is it??? I'm taking a bath!! It's occupied!"

Kasumi answered from the other side of the door "Gomen, Akane-chan. I'm just taking some clothes out of the drier! I won't be going inside the bathing room. Make sure you finish soon, breakfast's ready."

The youngest Tendou sighed, relieved "thanks oneechan!!!"

"Oh, and by the way, Ranma's nowhere to be seen!"

"I'm sure he'll be back for breakfast Kasumi. Thanks!"

Ranma looked at himself... his clothes were soaked... he was weraring his tank top and boxers when he went into the furo...

He had to get some clothes from that pile.. but he couldn't find any of his chinese outfits... all he could find was his gi.

Akane needed clothes too... she found a pink dress (that Ranma loved).

They went downstairs, ready to eat.

Genma approached his son, suspicious "Where were you, boy?"

"uh, trainin' "

"I was in the dojo all morning... didn't see you"

"I was, uh, trainin' somewhere else"

"Ahh, you found a new training ground?"

"Uh, yeah"

"Alright son, show it to me this afternoon"

"Don't think so, pop."

"What do you mean "Don't think so"?!"

"Exactly what ya heard, "I don't think so" pop."

Genma frowned "Don't make me spy on you, kiddo."

Ranma frowned "Don't ya dare spyin' on me ol' man."

Genma stood up, angry "Don't you threat me, boy!"

Ranma stood up, angry "Enough! stop botherin' me!!"

Genma tried to punch his son, who dodged and threw him all the way to the koi pond. A large panda emerged, holding a sing that said: "Not Fair!"

Ranma sighed and resumed eating angrily. Akane couldn't help but giggle a little bit. Ranma glared at her, and she concealed.

Nabiki was smirking, staring at them, while finishing her green tea. Akane saw her, and remembered the tape her sister recorded the day before. She asked her "Hey, Nabiki-chan, what's that plan of yours? The one with the audio tape.."

Nabiki gulped her tea "None of your business. Let me handle it."

"Come on, it involves Ranma and I. We deserve to know."

Ranma pumped into the conversation "What involves me? wha?"

"Shut up Ranma, and pay attention. Remember the tape Nabiki recorded yesterday?"

"Ahh, yeah!" to Nabiki "What will you be doing with it?"

Nabikismiled "As I just said... let me handle it."

Akane was truly concerned "I just hope it's nothing bad... "

"Don't worry little sis, It'll be better than good... it'll be great."

That afternoon, Nabiki went to the Nekohanten, to order some spiced ramen. She used the opportunity to speak with Shampoo.

"Hello, mercenary girl. What order?"

"Hey ya, Shampoo. I'd like a box of spiced ramen to go, please."

"What else you want to take?"

"Oh, nothing else, thanks. You know, Shampoo, I'd like to talk to you for a second."

" What mercenary girl need?"

"You know, with you chasing my brother-in-law and all... you quite bothered my little sis."

"Shampoo want airen, don't worry if bothering violent girl. Shampoo don't care."

"You see, I do care. And I think there's something you ought to know. Ranma wants Akane."

Shampoo laughed sarcastically "good joke, mercenary girl. Ranma want violent girl!!" keeps laughing "airen wouldn't touch violent girl even with gun on the head!!"

"I wouldn't be so sure, sister. Here, listen to this."

Nabiki played the tape to Shampoo, and the amazon heard what Ranma said about loving Akane. A slight expression of sadness crossed her face, but fastly returned to her usual mocking stance.

"You expect Shampoo believe this??" she laughed loudly "Shampoo not stupid. Shampoo know airen loves her! Mercenary girl has tricked tape. That not airen speaking."

Nabiki rolled her eyes "Fine then, don't believe me... what if I bring Ranma here, and have him telling you this, live?"

"Airen come here, so Shampoo cooks for him and show him what a lovely wife she could be. Ranma will stay with Shampoo, and be my husband!!"

" yeah, yeah... wow, you are delirious! ... anyway, I'll bring Ranma here, and you will give up on him."

Shampoo frowned, looking angry and dangerous "Never. Now, here's mercenary girl order. Please leave."

Nabiki waved her hand "Thanks Shampoo...have a good day!"

The amazon crossed her arms "whatever.."

Well... she didn't succeed on making Shampoo realize that Ranma wasn't going to be with her, ever. Maybe Ukyou was a bit more down to Earth... so, she went to her restaurant.

"hey! Ukyou! Long time no see!"

Ukyou was already suspicious "Hey, Nabiki, how's it goin'?"

"Fine, fine. Thanks." she looked around the place while walking towards Ucchan's counter "it's been quite a while since I came here the last time... when I won that bet and you had to cook for me during a whole week."

Ukyou frowned "yeah... I remember... You know cooking for you free didn't quite help my business."

Nabiki laughed "Well, sis, a bet's a bet. Anyway, that's not the reason I'm here."

" I told you, I'm not betting again. I learned my lesson."

The Tendou grinned "No, no. It has to do with Ranma."

"What happened to Ran-chan?"

"Let's say... hmm... how to put this on words..." Ukyou kept staring at her, expectant "ah, yeah. He fell inlove."

"I knew it! He loves me! And you're here to tell me!!" she was bursting with joy. When she saw that Nabiki wasn't answering affirmatively, she calmed down, and blinked. "That's why you're here... Right?"

" Hmm.. not really, no" Fortunately, Nabiki wasn't worried about breaking Ukyou's heart.. 'cause she didn't really care. So she spit it out "Ranma's inlove with Akane and they're now a serious couple. They kiss, they hug, they say "I love you" to each other... and god knows what they were doing in the furo this morning..."

Ukyou freezed "You're joking... come on... you can't be serious...." "Don't trust me? well, hear this then. "

And she played the tape. Ukyou's eyes became wet and glossy. Her face showed anguish... and unmistakable signs of heartbreaking. Everything was so sudden...

The cook then coldly requested "Get out of my restaurant."

"I hope you understand this. Leave them alone. Now you know the truth."

" GET OUT OF MY RESTAURANT DAMN YOU!!!!!"

"Yeah, you go to hell."

And she left the place with a wide smirk. Now the middle Tendou had a final place to go to... the Kuno's residence.