Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all rights to the wonderful world of Ranma 1/2. I'm just borrowing her characters for awhile.
Notes: Well, now, here ya go.. two chapters in one shot! heehee. I may as well also say here and now that this story is heavily influenced by a movie called Blood and Donuts (plug plug). If you haven't seen it, it's quite a little gem of a vampire movie. A little seen Canadian film that is worth catching if you get a chance!
Warning: there are some erotic "lemony" themes in this chapter... so if underage or if this offends you... kindly skip!
And now we bring you back to your regularly scheduled program...
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Ranma arrived back at the loft a little after three-thirty in the morning. Being a vampire did have some advantages, especially when one wanted to get quickly from one place to another.
He glanced swiftly around the room, pleased to see that Ryoga had yet to come home. He shrugged out of his leather jacket and moved hastily to the refrigerator where he swiftly jerked open the door.
He grabbed the nearest wine bottle, unplugged the cork and drank deeply, feeling the blood course though him.
He'd been restraining himself all night long, and the small taste of her he had gotten had sent his bloodlust into overdrive. He felt relieved to finally be able to quench his thirst, even if the blood wasn't human.
He took a few more long drags on the bottle and then made his way over to the oversized easy chair.
He placed the bottle on the table beside the chair and stripped off his t-shirt, throwing it haphazardly over the arm of the couch. He then sat in the easy chair, taking another long draw on the bottle, before leaning back and forcing every muscle in his body to relax.
He rested his forearms against the armrests of the chair palms flat, and stared straight ahead at the blank spot of wall above the couch. He'd been thinking about her the whole way back here and it had nearly driven him insane. Resisting her was futile. He wanted her, he needed her, and was about to have her.
He hadn't used the technique in quite some time, but he thought it would be worth a try. It would release him from this overwhelming need, and she would simply think it was all a dream.
Staring intently at the wall, he took in several deep breaths and let them out slowly, forcing his concentration deeper. Soon his breathing was rhythmic and even, his eyes looking straight though the wall as if in a trance. His mind flew outward, searching for her and finding her deeply asleep.
Perfect
He took another deep breath, trying to control his ragged emotions, not wanting to overload her senses.
Carefully he centered his concentration, sending out just a touch of his desire. He watched in his mind's eye as she gasped, her head flailing to one side of her pillow with the force of it. Her breathing quickened just a bit, but she remained asleep. He reinforced this, planting the subconscious suggestion that she linger there in the safety of her slumber. Her breathing once again settled into a normal pattern as every muscle in her body began to relax.
He took another deep breath and pushed again, this time slowly, channeling his sensations to several of her nerve endings, lighting on them with quick easy strokes.
Trapped in sleep all Akane could do was respond, and respond she did, a moan instantly escaping her lips, her head falling from one side of the pillow to the other.
Ranma felt her surge of pleasure and had to take several deep breaths to keep his concentration. She felt amazing, so pure of heart, he groaned with the weight of it. Again he pushed, a little harder this time, reveling in her reaction as she gasped and moaned, her back arching with the force of his desire.
Ranma's breathing became more ragged as he fought to keep his concentration. His hands gripped the arms of the chair as he channeled his longing in slow easy thrusts, releasing a little more of his desire with every wave he sent.
She groaned, her body reacting to his invasion, responding, filling him with her own want and need. It moved in rhythm as he continued to send wave after wave of desire, her breathing now coming out in short ragged bursts.
He felt her body tense with release and it nearly undid him. He gave one final push, finally letting go of everything he'd been holding back.
A scream escaped Akane's lips as it hit her full force, and she too finally had no choice but to let go.
Ranma grappled for the straight razor that lay on the table beside him. Slowly he brought it to his palm and made a long lazy gash across the taut flesh. It parted easily and he lifted it to his lips drinking deeply.
Suddenly he was awash with the very essence of her, as she flooded his senses, the purity of her coursing through him, bringing with it an ecstasy he never could have imagined. He closed his eyes out of sheer necessity and reveled in it.
In the same instant Akane came fully awake. She sat bolt upright, her breathing ragged, senses still tingling with sexual exertion. She swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure.
She glanced quickly around her bedroom, making sure that she was indeed alone. Never in her life had she had a dream that intense before. It left her feeling weak and a bit dizzy. She looked down at herself, shivering as she realized her nightshirt was now soaked with sweat.
She got up slowly, still feeling slightly faint. After changing her shirt, she got quickly back into bed and nestled herself deeply under the covers. She lay flat on her back for several moments, staring blankly up at the ceiling, letting her mind drift slowly back to her dream.
The sensations were subsiding now, leaving her with a deep feeling of contentment mixed with exhaustion. She couldn't help but wonder what was happening to her, first the experience at the bar, now this.
Ranma…
The thought was instantaneous, causing her eyes to open wide with surprise.
But I hadn't even met him when I felt the sensation in the bar, her mind argued. Yet, for reasons she couldn't explain, she was almost certain he was somehow a direct influence on what had just happened.
I know I felt him somehow.
Whether it was just her subconscious conjuring him up, or something else entirely Akane wasn't sure. She knew she'd had a strong reaction to him but… enough to cause a dream like that?
Whatever it had been, it both excited and frightened her. Slowly she began to feel a dizzying sensation, exhaustion then pulled at her, taking over her thoughts as she let herself drift, this time into a deep and undisturbed sleep.
Ranma felt her getting weaker, sleep once again tugging at her and knew he had to stop. With great reluctance he let his hand drop and leaned his head back against the chair. The wound on his palm closed instantly, leaving no trace that it had ever been there.
He sat unmoving for a few moments, his eyes still closed, feeling the last traces of her start to leave him.
He was still sitting this way, his lips tinged red with her essence, when Ryoga finally walked in. A broad smile began to stretch across his face as he took in the scene.
"Well Ranma, looks like we decided to partake in a little indulgence after all, ne?" Ryoga's voice was smug. Ranma ignored him. He opened his eyes slowly, continuing instead to stare at the blank wall, as if he could still see her there.
Ryoga walked over to the couch and sat in front of Ranma, forcing him to acknowledge his presence.
"I take it you talked to her. What happened?"
Ranma stared intently at his friend. With the taste of her still on his lips he replied, his tone a mixture of disgust and desire.
"I wanted her, I took her. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Ryoga stared at his friend noticing the war going on in his eyes, the look of contentment fighting the guilt that seemed ever present there.
"What I wanted was for you to snap out of it Ranma!" Ryoga argued. "You are a vampire and it's time you started acting like it."
Slowly Ranma wiped the blood from his lips. He looked at his fingers and then held them up for Ryoga to see. "Mission accomplished."
Ryoga eyed his friend with impatience. He leaned back contemplating.
"You realize she's yours now. You've put your mark on her."
Ranma felt the old familiar anger start to surge inside of him at Ryoga's words. He gritted his teeth, leaning forward, his hands clenched into tight fists. Ryoga smiled at the sight.
"Shut up Ryoga!"
He watched as the wine bottle next to Ranma began to shake, and then suddenly hurled itself across the room to crash into the wall beside his head. Warm blood began oozing down the white plaster staining it a bright red. Ranma cursed under his breath, angry at himself for losing control. He bolted from the chair and began pacing, trying to calm his frayed nerves.
Ryoga continued to stare at him calmly. "You know I'm right," he said simply.
Ranma stopped in his tracks and placed his hands on the back of the easy chair.
"Yes, I'm well aware of the implications Ryoga," he retorted hotly. "I couldn't resist her and now I've placed her from the frying pan into the fire."
Ryoga eyed his friend curiously. "What are you talking about?"
Ranma sighed, sitting back down. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I followed her, trying to come up with an approach, when some brute accosted her right outside of Club Kindred."
Ryoga smiled, now staring at his friend with rapt interest. "Let me guess, you stepped in?"
Ranma nodded. "The brute turned out to be her ex-fiancée's brother, and the ex is some possessive slime ball who can't do his own dirty work."
Ryoga mulled this over, excitement building within him. It had been a long time since they'd had a real adventure, and this was shaping up to be much more than simply a way to shake Ranma up.
"Interesting. So she's a woman of mystery in a very pretty package," he said more to himself than to Ranma. "This is good, very good."
Ranma stared incredulously at his friend. "What do you mean good? This isn't a game Ryoga. I let you goad me into entering her life, and now she's in mortal danger not only from her ex but from me as well."
Ryoga was shaken from his thoughts by the concern in his friend's voice. He felt the familiar frustration building inside him. When would Ranma stop denying who and what he was?
"Ranma, why do you make things so complicated?"
Ranma could feel the old lecture coming on and sank back wearily in the chair. Ryoga saw this but wasn't about to let his point go.
"You are a vampire Ranma. It is not for you to be concerned about a few human lives. If you are worried for Akane then bring her across. She'll never have to fear her ex again."
Ranma shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, or the ease with which Ryoga was saying it. He knew Ryoga was bored with his immortal life, and realized that he had just presented him with a way to relieve the tedium.
"Let's get one thing straight Ryoga," Ranma said, his tone deadly serious. "I will not subject Akane to this immortal hell and neither will you."
Ryoga saw the fire in his friend's eyes and smiled.
We'll just see about that Ranma, he thought smugly. He decided to humor his friend for now.
"Okay," he said holding his hand up in mock surrender. "Then may I suggest we teach her slime ball ex a lesson?"
Ranma sighed, at least Ryoga wasn't talking about bringing Akane across anymore. "Why do you even care Ryoga?"
Ryoga feigned offence. "What? You're just going to let this guy hurt Akane?"
"Don't." Ranma's voice was low, his anger evident.
Ryoga smiled slyly. "Don't what?"
Ranma struggled to get hold of his rising emotions. He didn't want to give Ryoga the satisfaction of seeing him lose control again.
"Don't use Akane to get me to agree to your little mission."
To Ranma's dismay Ryoga gave a hearty laugh.
"My mission?" he asked. "Tell me Ranma, just how did you get this man's brother to leave her alone? Have a nice little chat did you? Maybe you suggested some things and turned his mind into mush? After all, you do have quite a talent for that."
Ranma stared at Ryoga for one long moment before launching himself from the chair once more. He made his way over to the fridge and yanked the door open. Grabbing another one of the wine bottles he brought it to his lips and drank deeply, nothing like a dose of cow's blood to coat his anger and calm his already frayed nerves.
Ryoga watched with amusement as his friend tried to harness his runaway emotions… of course the attempt would be futile.
"Come on Ranma, I'm sure he didn't just voluntarily let you have her."
Ranma closed his eyes wearily. He should have known Ryoga would latch on to the fact that he had had to use his vampire's influence to stop Akane's would be kidnapper. He could sense his friend reveling in the thought that he might be coming back around to accepting his true nature again. Ranma had reasoned with himself that what he had done had been to protect Akane. And it had. Only he hadn't bargained on it making him feel so damn good.
"So..." Ryoga continued. "How much of an impression did you leave on this guy?"
"He's fine," Ranma blurted angrily, his grip tightening on the neck of the wine bottle. He took another swallow, forcing himself to relax. Ryoga watched the effort with fascination.
"Fine?"
"Yes," Ranma's voice was firm as he spun back toward Ryoga. He could see that he wasn't about to let him drop it. He rolled his eyes and gave a tired sigh. "I did use my influence on him, but not enough so that he would forget our encounter."
Ryoga watched with genuine pleasure as Ranma's eyes narrowed, a cruel smile suddenly appearing on his handsome face.
"I wanted him to remember."
Ryoga gave his friend a look of approval. "Well then," he returned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I'll bet Miss Tendo was very grateful to you."
Ranma heard the mocking in Ryoga's voice but chose to ignore it. "Let it go Ryoga," he warned.
Ryoga simply smiled. "How grateful was she Ranma?"
Ranma's eyes narrowed on his friend. He returned the smile with a sly one of his own.
"It's just killing you to know isn't it?"
He watched as Ryoga's smile faded and was replaced with a look of frustration.
"Maybe I should just see for myself how grateful she can be?"
Ranma's eyes narrowed even further. He knew Ryoga was just trying to bait him, but he wouldn't allow him to make such suggestions where Akane was concerned.
"Is that a threat?" Ranma's voice was controlled, laced with malice. Ryoga had to admit it was what he had wanted, for Ranma to rediscover his true nature, however even he knew when Ranma had been pushed past his limits.
"No threat," Ryoga conceded. "All I meant is that if you're not interested in getting rid of her problem maybe she'd appreciate me doing so?"
"I never said I wasn't interested," Ranma stated plainly. He couldn't shake the feeling he'd had when Takeshi had fled in terror. For once he had used his power to help someone, and he had to admit he wouldn't mind using it again. Ryoga felt a tingle of excitement at Ranma's words. Maybe there was hope for him yet.
"Just don't pretend you are doing this for her Ryoga," he said, astonished when Ryoga actually had the nerve to look wounded. "We both know the real reason. You just can't help yourself."
Ryoga nodded, conceding Ranma's words. "Fair enough," he said. "Truce?"
Ranma eyed him warily for a moment then nodded. "Truce."
"So what's the plan?" Ryoga asked eagerly, his eyes alight with mischief. Ranma didn't know whether to be amused or disgusted.
"She invited me for a drink tomorrow night," Ranma said matter-of-factly. "I'll get more information on her ex then."
"A drink huh?" Ryoga said, his voice tinged with mirth. "Does she know what you drink?"
Ranma shot Ryoga a look that told him he was not amused.
"I'm serious Ryoga," Ranma said, his voice laced with conviction. "You will not tell her what you are, and more importantly you will not tell her what I am. Understood?"
Ryoga's smile faded at the deadly serious tone of Ranma's words. He wasn't fooling around. Akane it seemed had made a real impact on him. Had in fact, brought out his fierce protectiveness and a lust matched by no other. Ryoga could respect Ranma's conviction, even if he couldn't quite understand it.
"Ranma," Ryoga said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. "It was a joke. You do remember what a joke is right?"
"Very funny."
"You need to lighten up," Ryoga admonished. "Forever is a long time to go without a sense of humor."
"Yeah, well what won't be funny is what will happen if we stand here when the sun comes up."
Ranma nodded his head toward the bay window, where the sun was just starting to come up over the horizon, slowly lighting the sky in a dusty golden hue. Ryoga glanced over Ranma's shoulder into the oncoming light and sighed.
"Get the shades."
Ryoga complied, drawing them slowly as if mourning the end of another night. Ranma saw this and wished he could be as at ease with what he was as Ryoga. He too looked out at the oncoming sunrise and mourned, but not for the loss of night, he mourned for the longing of day, one he would never see again.
Ranma forced himself from these thoughts. They never did him any good. Instead he focused on the coming night and seeing Akane again. Just the thought sent a shock of excitement through him.
Soon he would hear her sing again, knowing there was no sound in the world sweeter than her voice. He wondered if she'd sensed him tonight, and what their next encounter would mean to her if she had. The thought made him smile. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt such a fire inside.
Ryoga had been right about one thing. He had no intention of letting that lowlife ex-fiancée of hers hurt her. With this last thought in mind Ranma drew himself into one of the loft's large closets and promptly waited for night.
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Whew... well, how'd I do?? Still interested??