Disclaimer: Of course as we all know the great Rumiko Takahashi owns all rights to the wonderful characters of the Ranmaverse! I am merely borrowing them for this wacky little story!
Notes: Okay, since you guys wanted to see more of this I reworked the second chapter, and after some last minute tweaking decided to submit it for your review. Hopefully it's up to par!
Now on with it...
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Akane exited Club Kindred a little after two-thirty in the morning. She'd agreed to do a second set that evening and she was thoroughly exhausted. All she wanted now was to go home, fall into bed, and hopefully enjoy eight hours or more of blissful, undisturbed sleep. So wrapped up in these thoughts was she that she failed to notice the handsome stranger watching her from the shadows.
Ranma kept himself well hidden for the moment. He was trying to figure out the best way of approaching her, when an unexpected opportunity presented itself.
"Akane." The voice was low, demanding. Akane squinted into the darkness, trying to adjust her eyesight enough to see the shadowy figure ahead of her.
"Who's there?" she asked with a bit of apprehension. She watched as the man pushed himself away from his car and into the light of the streetlamp. Akane recognized him instantly, and fought to control the panic welling up inside her.
"Get in," he demanded, opening the passenger side door. Trying not to give away her fear she crossed her arms and put on a tough façade.
"Hello Takeshi," she said, surprised by the calmness in her voice. "I see Tatewaki is sending you to do his dirty work now."
"Shut up and get in the car," Takeshi replied coldly, an evil glint appearing in his eye. "Or do I have to drag you?"
"Quite the turn on," Akane admonished. "You're almost as sick as your brother."
He gave her a sly smirk. "You want me to show you what turns me on?" he said coming closer.
Akane felt her stomach give a slow roll at his words, part in apprehension, part in pure disgust. Still she refused to show him any fear.
Returning his smug smile she then replied, "You get turned on? You mean by something other than your left hand?"
From his spot in the shadows Ranma smiled. He had to admire her resolve, even though he could smell the fear rolling off of her in waves.
Akane knew she was treading on dangerous ground by deliberately provoking him, but she couldn't seem to stop herself.
"Bitch!" Takeshi spat, lunging forward to grab her around the wrist. He tightened his grip painfully, forcing her to gasp as she struggled to break free, his fingers biting into her leaving bruises in her soft flesh.
"Get in the car!"
Akane grit her teeth against the pain and rising panic. If he got her in the car she would be in trouble. She planted herself, using all the brute strength she could muster to anchor herself to the spot.
"Let go!" she yelled, trying without success to yank her wrist free of his iron grip. She felt her anger beginning to rise even over her panic, as she lashed out with her left foot, connecting it solidly with his right calf.
Takeshi gave a growl of pain, tightening his grip on her wrist, making her cry out in pain, as he began slowly pulling her toward the car.
Akane lashed out again, this time connecting with his shin hard enough to cause him to halt his forward momentum.
She used the opening to get in several more blows, finally feeling his grip on her begin to loosen.
"Let me go you bastard!"
It was then that the voice drifted out of the shadows.
"You heard her. Let her go."
The tone was low, deadly, laced with warning. Both Akane and Takeshi turned startled toward the sound. Slowly Ranma emerged from the darkness, revealing himself.
"I said let her go."
The relief Akane felt slowly faded into nervous apprehension as she eyed her rescuer. He was tall, with a lithe muscular build and long dark hair that he wore tied back in a pigtail. He had on dark jeans, a faded black t-shirt and a long black leather coat that came to his knees.
There was something foreboding about him, and yet she found herself strangely attracted to him, as if she were drawn and repelled at the same time. But it was his eyes---they had her simply captivated. They were a unique shade of gray-blue, so breathtakingly beautiful that she found herself drowning in their depths. At this point she wasn't sure who she was in more danger from, Takeshi or this dark stranger.
Takeshi could feel his blood begin to boil. First the bitch had insulted him and now he had to contend with this jackass trying to play hero.
"Look pal, the lady and I have some unfinished business so I advise you to stay out of it."
Ranma gave a small smirk at the suggestion, moving closer. He eyed the man with searing concentration. Takeshi gave a small jump with the force of it, his eyes going wide. Ranma spoke slowly, punctuating each word.
"Let her go."
Akane watched fascinated as Takeshi released her wrist, his gaze never straying from the dark stranger as if mesmerized. It looked as if he had had no choice but to obey the command.
Ranma took the opportunity to step between the two of them so that his back was facing Akane. He gave a sly smile, bearing his razor sharp teeth, his eyes blazing a bright red.
"Now turn around, get in your car, and drive away."
Akane was astonished to see Takeshi's eyes go wider. He gave a terrified nod then turned and walked back toward his car as fast as his legs could carry him. She watched as he slammed the car in gear and gunned the engine, the tires squealing as he peeled away from the curb and down the street.
Akane stared after the car in confused wonder. She'd never seen Takeshi Kuno back down from anything in his life. He had a streak as mean as they come, and he didn't take kindly to being told what to do. Which begged the question, what had caused him to turn tail and run?
Her glance slid slowly, curiously, almost apprehensively, back to the stranger standing before her. Casting her uneasiness aside she reached out and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned slowly, those gray-blue eyes making her gasp as they met her own.
Akane silently chastised herself for her behavior. It wasn't like her to become the flustered female the moment she laid eyes on a good looking man. Although there was something about this one… she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was, but it definitely intrigued her, even as it filled her with trepidation. No one had the right to be that beautiful. She cleared her throat in an effort to regain control of her runaway thoughts.
"You okay Miss?" his voice was deep, resonating, and it washed through her, making her feel warm all over.
"Uh, I'm fine," she returned, still trying to gather her wits about her. "I could have handled it, but thanks."
"I'm sure you could have."
He smiled softly, breathing in the scent of her, feeling his lust rise at her wonderful firey nature. If he thought she was amazing from a distance, this sudden closeness only made her all the more appealing. He couldn't stop staring at her. He felt the lust begin to grow stronger within him and did his best to tamp it down.
"Exactly what did you do to make him run off like that?"
Ranma shrugged. "Must have been something I said?"
She eyed him curiously, her brow furrowing in puzzlement. She shook it off quickly, however he had done it she was glad that he had.
"I'm Akane." She offered, extending her hand out to him. Slowly he reached and grasped it, feeling a rush of warmth travel up his arm at her touch. Akane felt it too, that warm, tingling sensation, not unlike what she had felt earlier, just on a much smaller scale. She blinked, a bit alarmed, as she drew her hand slowly back.
"Pleasure to meet you Akane, I'm Ranma." His voice was husky, almost like silk. She felt the tingle continue down her spine, it made her feel warm all over even as her mind screamed at her to turn and run. She swallowed hard, trying harder to collect herself.
"Thanks again, Ranma," she managed. "I really should get going."
"Can I see you home?" he asked smoothly.
"Oh, well…" she started, taken aback by the request. "I just live a couple blocks from here."
"It's no trouble," he interjected, his voice echoing concern. He seemed so sincere that she felt her guard drop a little. She gave him a small smile.
"It really isn't necessary."
"I insist," he said easily, offering her a smile of his own. "The dark city is no place for a lovely girl like you to be wandering alone." His voice was so smooth, so light and friendly that she totally forgot her earlier uneasiness. Her smile grew wider.
Ranma could see the disquiet leave her eyes as he lightly put forth the mental suggestion that he was to be trusted. It amazed him how little effort it took.
"All right, from the way Takeshi ran out of here I doubt he'll be back, but it's always better to be safe than sorry, right?"
Ranma nodded in agreement. "Shall we?"
They began walking in silence, each one trying to think of something to say to the other. Ranma still trying to figure out how he would protect her from Ryoga without putting her in danger from himself, and Akane still pondering the tingling sensation she'd felt when he'd touched her. When they finally spoke it was at the same time.
Akane gave a soft laugh that sent waves of fire to Ranma's every nerve ending. He couldn't help but smile at her sweet, carefree nature. It had been a long time since he'd felt anything like it.
"You first," she said, her smile nearly taking his breath away.
"You seemed to know that guy back there. Old boyfriend?"
"No!" Akane said quickly, her mind balking at the thought.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
Akane shook her head. "It's okay. The reason I know him is that I was engaged to his brother, Tatewaki."
Ranma was silent for a moment, mulling this bit of information over.
"Was?" he asked.
"Yeah, I broke it off and Kuno has had a hard time letting go. He sent Takeshi to teach me a lesson."
Ranma felt the anger start to rise inside him and the protective urge that seemed to come with it.
"How long has this been going on?"
"A few months now," she replied. "He is a persistent pain in the ass."
She gave a long sigh, "So, what about you?"
"What about me?" Ranma replied.
"What is your story? Do you make a habit out of rescuing damsels in distress?"
Ranma smiled. "I do what I can."
Akane felt her heart race at his smile. There was something so sexy about it. Part genuine and yet part mischievous. It definitely intrigued her.
"Seriously, what's your story?" she asked. "I'm assuming you are new here in town. I think I would have remembered seeing you. You aren't exactly forgettable if you know what I mean."
He gave a far away smile. "My story is a long one, but yes, I am new in town. What about you? Have you lived here long?"
Akane nodded. "Sort of, I've been here about a year now." Ranma sensed a touch of sadness in her but made no comment. Instead he shifted the subject.
"I saw you perform tonight," he told her. "You are quite talented."
Akane shrugged. "I try."
"Have you been singing for a long time?"
"Well, I did some singing as a kid, nothing very serious, mostly karaoke. But I've always enjoyed the peace it seemed to bring me. My dad said I had a voice like my mother's, he was always trying to get me to sing for him." She smiled wistfully at the memory.
"Sounds like you and your dad are close." Ranma observed.
Akane gave a soft sigh. "We were. He passed away last year."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. He used to teach martial arts and one day one of his students got a little overzealous..." She didn't know why she was telling a practical stranger all this. For some reason she couldn't explain she had started to feel like she could tell him anything. It was peculiar, but there it was.
"Is he the inspiration behind your songs?"
Akane smiled, remembering. It felt good to remember. "Yes, in some way or another he is part of all my music. He was very kind, always willing to help someone less fortunate than himself. After mother died he became the whole world for me and my sisters. Even though her death devastated him, he always made sure he was there for us. I only hope wherever he is that someday I can make him proud."
"Wherever he is?" Ranma inquired, raising his eyebrows with interest. So you believe there is life after death?"
"Yes," she said simply. "I do."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, each contemplating the other. Akane thinking she'd like to see more of him and Ranma realizing how impossible it would be now to resist her.
He wrested with the thought. How he wanted her, but wanting things always came with a price for him and for those close to him. He didn't want her to have to pay because of his desire for her. He was still mulling over the situation when they came to a halt in front of her building.
"Well, this is me," she said, pulling the keys out of her jacket pocket. "Thanks again for your help. I guess I owe you one."
He gave a modest smile, his gray-blue eyes warming her down to her very soul. "Like you said, you would've handled it. I'm just glad I could be of some assistance."
She felt her heartbeat quicken and she had to tear her eyes away. Her response to him was nothing less then alarming. He was dangerous, she could feel it, yet it seemed to attract her all the more. Maybe it was true what they said. Nice girls always went for the bad boys.
"Well, I still feel like I owe you one," she replied when she could find her voice. "I am singing at the club again tomorrow. Maybe you could stop by and I'll buy you a drink?"
She watched as his smile widened, lighting up those beautiful eyes.
"I think I'll take you up on that," he replied wholeheartedly.
"Okay then, it's a date," she said, and before she could stop herself she stepped up and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. She then turned quickly on her heel and walked up the steps to her building.
He watched her go, still feeling the warmth of her lips on his cheek where she'd kissed him. He knew instantly there was no turning back now. And to tell the truth, he was already looking forward to their next encounter. Everything else be damned.
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Well, there ya go! I had to give Kuno a brother, and couldn't think of a suitable existing character to fill the role so I made one up. Hope you guys enjoyed this installment! If you did let me know!