A/N: Always remember guys, who is writing this fic.. A BIGGGG RANMAXAKANE fan!
Things will turn complicated from now on, but my dears, this couple is safe in this fic. Don't worry… I am always the spoiler of my own fic :p and that's because I care about you guys and I know we don't want to share Ranma with anyone else! And we won't share! Some times maybe, but not fully :p! They will surely going to get together in the end :)... So, Let's take some deep breaths, calm down, relax and let's begin and let's ENJOY some drama :D :D!
"Please, you have to take Ukyo on a date, Ranma.."
Ranma paused for some moment, it was like he hadn't even heard what she had just asked him to do. But, did she really ask him what he thought he just heard her asking him! But that can't be right! What is happening in here! Is he dreaming or something! Then after some moment, when he heard her calling his name with her trembling voice, he came back to reality. With a blank expression on his face he snickers at her and asked her,
"You're joking with me, aren't ya!?"
Akane sighs as she tightened her hold over his hand on her cheek, then shaking her head she said,
"I am not joking with you.. I am really serious about this.. I am asking you to take some load off from my heart, Ranma. Please, go on a date with your Ucchan.."
Ranma immediately removed his hand from her cheek as he growled in frustration. Then giving her a heated glare he said,
"I just can't believe you asked me to do that! How could ya, Tomboy! Do ya hate me that much!"
"No! I don't!" She replies hastily.
"Then WHY! Damn it, Kane! If ya don't hate me then why are ya asking me that!"
Giving him a helpless look she says in a soft tone,
"Ranma, because I want to prove Ukyo that I am not stopping you from meeting her. She is thinking that I am the one who is interfering between you two! "
"Wait a minute! This is not making any sense to me! Who told ya all this!"
She paused for a moment as she chooses her answer carefully,
"This afternoon, I saw Ukyo at the park and I went to talk to her.."
"No ya didn't.."
"Yes I did, Ranma! She looked really miserable to me! And now that she knows that Shampoo is married to Mousse she has lost all her hope to.."
"Shampoo is married!" He asked, surprised to hear that.
"Yes!" She sighs and continues, "Ukyo was so disturbed, Ranma! I have never seen her this devastated before! She thinks that because of me, nowadays you are ignoring her…!"
"So what if it's true?! And why do ya care if she thinks that way!"
"Because the BLAME is on ME, Ranma! And why won't I care! She was right about what she told me! We share the same relationship with you! If it's friendship or being your Fiance, we both are the same to you! Can you deny this fact, Ranma!? You can't, you know why, because both our relationships are valid! If me being engaged with you is the right thing, her being your fiance is reasonable as well..! You just can't deny that… "
"STOP IT! Just KEEP QUIET!" Ranma snapped at her angrily and made her rumblings stop.
Akane was also slowly losing her patience as she tried to reason him,
"It's just a date, Ranma! Why are you making it so complicated!"
"It's not JUST A DATE, DAMN IT! YOU ARE WHAT, STUPID OR SOMTHIN! I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET HER FOOL YA AGAIN!"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT! I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT, RANMA! AND YES! THIS IS 'JUST A DATE'! IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT WON'T BE YOUR FIRST TIME DATING THEM ! YOU WENT TO DATE THEM BEFORE ALSO! SO, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE NOW!?"
Ranma was about to snap back at her but bit his tongue at the last minute to control himself! He tries to cool down as he closes his eyes as he started to take some deep breaths. Then opening his heated eyes, he unintentionally gripped her shoulders tightly and made her walk backwards to make her sit down over their pile of futons. He kneeled down to her level as he faced her. Their eyes locked with each other as both of them stared at each other with helplessness on their faces, their breath heavy as it blew over their skins. For a moment he forgot the reason behind their fighting as he fully lost himself just by looking at her beautiful eyes.
He was feeling desperate now, as if some unknown force is continuously trying to pull them apart. But he can't let that happen! He needs her! He can't think about anything without her!
Can't she see that!? Why is she pushing him away like this?!... But, can he blame her? Because, on the other hand, she is right! It's not his first time dating them. He had dated them before, to restore his pride or to boost his ego or to be the manliest man, or to just pay Nabiki back, he had always agreed to date them. But, how can he make her understand that, that was past! He was a fool at that time! He doesn't want to repeat his mistakes again! He wants to be honest with his feelings for her! He only has feelings for her, no one else..! He can't think of anything else, but her.. Why Is she shoving him away like this.! She can't do that to him..
Ranma becomes depressed thinking that and without thinking much about the consequences, he impatiently closes the gap between them and softly seals her lips with his.
Akane's eyes went wide with surprise as her body shook with the sudden chill that ran through her body. But she didn't give into the moment as she hastily moved her lips to the side , making him stop kissing her as his nose touched her cheek.
Ranma was breathing heavily. He was feeling amazed by his sudden boldness and hurt by her unexpected action. His hands were still holding her arms as he tried to regain his breathing just by closing his eyes and resting his forehead over her cheekbone. He could feel her body trembling like his, as he heard her saying with a shaky tone,
"Ranma, why did you.."
He didn't let her finish as he whispers to her harshly,
"Because it's the right thing to do.."
"No! No! It's not.." Saying that in a low tone she softly burst out crying, which made him worried as he made her look at him by putting both his palms over her cheeks.
"Why not, Kane? Don't you.. L..L.. Like me?!"
"It's not that!" She says whispering, "Please don't do or say anything like this now. It's not the appropriate time for all this.."
"Akane!"
"If you do this now, then I will always think that maybe Ukyo was right. That I had stolen you from her and I came in between you two.."
Now Ranma become even more desperate to make her understand him as he says in an urgent tone,
"No, Kane! That's not true at all..! Please don't do this to me.. Ukyo is just a friend and my.."
"Fiance, Ranma! Your cute fiance!" She said with a trembling soft tone as she saw him averting his eyes from her. She suddenly felt cold as she felt him removing his hands from her arms and cheek. She sighs sadly and wiped her tears clean, then pretending to be normal again, she said with a much calmer tone,
"Ranma, you know, you are the best man I have ever met in my life.. And trust me, I believe in you so much! It's just, my heart is not allowing me to forget the look Ukyo gave me this afternoon.. She has a heart too, you know! Don't just break it like she is just non-existent to you! She is your childhood friend, Ranma.. She deserves at least some respect from your side. Becoming your fiance was not in her hands as well, right? If it's Shampoo who had asked me this, I would have never agreed. But for some reason I can't seem to do the same with her.. Ranma, we all are the sailors of the same boat.. How can you ignore her and tell her off this easily?! She didn't ask me to force you to marry her, she just asked for your…" she gulped down the lump that suddenly formed as she tried again,
"Your.. time, Ranma… Just.. go and spend some time with her.. And look, if you also want to clear anything to her, then you can do it at the end, right..? That will make her understand what you really want in your life! You have to come clear to her about your true feelings. Ignoring her is not a solution, Ranma.. She is hoping for your response, at least just go as a friend and tell her your real intentions and make sure to clear to her how you really feel about her… You are the only one who can release her from her burden and convince her, Ranma… And after that, she won't blame anyone for anything then.."
"I can do it just now! I DON'T have to pretend to play a dating game with her!" He said with an angry tone.
"Ranma!" Akane sighs, fully strained, "I mean, that will surely make her convinced that I am moving you like my puppet!"
"Puppet! What the hell are ya talkin 'bout! What did she say to you?"
"That's not IMPORTANT, Ranma!"
"AKANE! I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH FROM YA!" He snapped at her as he looked at her hard, then taking some deep breaths to calm himself, he said with a much calmer tone,
"Yes! Before I used to take this bullshit stuff normally.. But now, things have changed…"
"That's what I am trying to make you understand, Ranma.." She didn't let him finish as she started making her points,
"Just go as she wants you to go with her and convey to her the msg that you are telling me now. She won't believe anything until she sees it from your side and hears it from you. She just wants a day with you, that's all! It's not a big deal!" Akane sighs as she says in a soft tone,
"Ranma, I have listened to you every time you have asked me to do things, haven' I? Whether to come to stay here with you or to ignore all rumors people were spreading about me, I did all that because you told me to. Not only that, I have swallowed all my pride and agreed when you started helping me financially as well. And now , all I am asking is to do me a favor, so that Ukyo gets a little fair chance in all this! Please , Ranma.. Try to understand.."
Ranma abruptly stands up and looked at her hard, then he says in a hard tone,
"And my answer to your request is "NO"! Seal it to the thick head of yours! I AIN'T GOING TO NO DATES!"
Saying that, he hastily left the room while slamming the soji door after him. Akane stood up as she kept looking at the door. She balled her fists in anger as she started to breathe unevenly, furiously…
'Don't forget, Ranma. If you act this stubbornly, I can be more stubborn than you are..'*******
The loud slamming of the door came from upstairs. Kasumi and Nodoka stopped spying on them as they hurriedly ran to the living room. They started pretending to clean stuff nervously as they heard Ranma's footsteps thumping towards them. His furious steps were nearing the living room and soon he came into the room to find them staring at him with curiosity. Looking at his devastating state, Kasumi came forward as she asked,
"Ranma…what happened?! Is everything ok?"
"OK! Oneechan, she had gotten FULLY MAD!"
"Who, my Akane?" Nodoka asked worriedly.
"WHO ELSE!" Ranma roared.
"Oh my! Should I call Dr Tofu then?" Kasumi asks worriedly as she lays her palm over her jaw in worry.
"Oh please DO! SHE BADLY NEEDS TREATMENT!"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!"
Just like a sudden storm struck the place, Akane also entered the room furiously as she eyed Ranma angrily. Ranma instantly turned to face her with furiousness as he replied heatedly,
"YA HEARD THE TRUTH, KANE! YOU HAVE FULLY LOST IT, YOU STUBBORN UNCUTE TOMBOY!"
"STUBBORN! ME! YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS ACTING UNREASONABLY STUBBORN THIS TIME, BAKA!"
"DON'T CALL ME BAKA, YOU DUMMY!"
"INSENSITIVE JERK!"
"My, my, stop this!" Kasumi said as she came by Ranma's side and puts her hand over his arm to stop him. Then suddenly she noticed something that Akane was holding as she asked her,
"Akane! I understand you being crazy sometimes but what are you doing with the bag? Are you going somewhere!?"
Hearing Kasumi say that, Ranma also noticed that and got fully taken aback as he looked at Akane's hand, which was holding one backpack. He looked up at Akane with surprised eyes, still not getting why she is carrying a bag with her.
" Akane dear..?" Nodoka asked in a concerned tone.
That made her attention back to focus as Akane looked at Nodoka and tells in a hard tone,
"I am leaving, Obasama.."
"You are leaving!" Kasumi asked, "But why? Where?"
"Oneechan, I will be living with Sayuri from now on. She is living alone in her house, she once asked me to accompany her, but I declined… Now though…" She looked at Ranma who was staring back at her with a hurt expression on his face. She gulped her lumps as she tries to continue as calmly and sternly as possible,
"Now.. I think it's time for me to leave.."
"No, my dear! Don't go like this! What will I do without you? I mean to say, we have to get prepared for Kasumi's wedding and now if you leave…"
"Don't worry, Obasama.. I will join you in every preparation.."
Nodoka came forward and held Akane's hand,
"I know that it's Ranma's fault, my dear.. I will scold him and punish him for teasing you.. Please don't leave your Obasama like this.."
Still eyeing Ranma, Akane said,
"It's not his fault, Obasama.. It's mine.. I shouldn't have asked him for anything.."
Saying that with a shaky tone, she squeezed back Nodoka's hand and started walking away from the room. But she could only take a few steps forward as Ranma suddenly came and held back her bag tightly, preventing her to move forward, as she turned to face him with an annoyed face,
"Let me GO, Ranma!"
"YA ARE NOT GOING NO WHERE!"
"IT'S MY DECISION TO MAKE RANMA, NOT YOUR'S!"
"DON'T YA DARE..!"
"I WILL! I AM NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE!" Akane said heatedly as she eyed him in the eyes.
Ranma growled in irritation and harshly snatched her bag from her hand. The bag's handle came off with that force, seeing that she yelled at him, feeling frustrated,
"HEY! WHY'D YOU DO THAT FOR?!"
"WHAT DO YA WANT ME TO DO, HUH?!" Ranma yelled back at her as he faced her furiously.
"YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT, RANMA!"
Ranma's expression suddenly changed into a depressed one as he comes closer to her and asked her in a hard tone,
"You really want to send me to her?!"
Akane averted her eyes from him as she replied with a shaky tone,
"Just give her some of your time that she deserves.."
Ranma sighs angrily and threw her beg away,
"FINE! I will go..But ya can't leave this house!"
Akane looked at his eyes and says bravely,
"I won't believe you, until you call her and tell her.."
Ranma grunted and without any word , grabbed her hand tightly. He dragged her with him to where the phone is to call Ukyo. He dialed the number , doing everything with his one hand, all the while holding her hand tightly with his other hand. He glared at her, expecting her to make him stop, but all he saw as she stubbornly looked back at him, with fixed determination in her eyes..
"Hello? Ucchans Oknomi…"
"I will pick ya up tomorrow morning.. Make sure to get ready.."
Saying that moodily, he didn't wait for Ukyo's reply as he hung up the call.
"Happy now?"
He realised her hand not so gently, a hurt expression on his face as he turned around and hastily left the house.
Akane's voice got caught in her throat.. It was feeling as if someone was choking her..
'Happy now?!'
Ranma's question roamed in her ears as she realised the breath she was holding. Then suddenly, out of nowhere,a mocking sound of her own voice came to her mind,
'Happy now, Akane? You finally won the battle of being the most stubborn woman! Now celebrate! You won Akane! Finally, you have beaten Ranma! Isn't it great?!'
A soft sob escaped her mouth, she kept standing there as she looked down, completely broken. After some brief moment, she felt a soft touch on her shoulder and a warm motherly voice came, soothing her,
"My child, don't worry, I know my son, he will surely come back to you.."
Hearing Nodoka say that, Akane slowly turned to her and hugged her tightly. She gave in to the motherly love Nodoka was offering her and poured all her guilt with her tears on her warm chest.
The next day..
Akane opened her eyes lazily, she was still feeling so tired after her long slumber.. She was feeling dizzy and the feeling of uneasiness surrounded her heart. Then suddenly, she remembered.. Today, Ranma will go out with Ukyo.. But before that, she have to talk to Ranma and apologize to him. Yesterday, she tried to wait for him to talk to him, but after her long emotional breakdown, she fell asleep on Nodoka's lap. And now that she woke up…
"I need to go down fast.. Or else he would leave.."
Saying that, she didn't waste anymore time and stood up to go downstairs. She checked the clock and gave a sigh of relief.
'It's still early.. He never leaves this early..'
Thinking that, she hurriedly went to the washroom and after that, she ran to the dining area to find Kasumi and Nodoka having tea together. They turned to look at her, surprised to see her awake at this hour. Nodoka smiles at her and says,
"Good Morning my dear… you woke up so early today.."
Akane gives them warm smile and greeted them back, then without any hesitation she asks them,
"Where is Ranma?" Her eyes roamed through the house.. "Is he still asleep?"
Kasumi shakes her head and replies,
"No Akane. He also woke up earlier than usual and left without having anything for breakfast.. And he said us not to make any dinner for him today, he will be late…."
Akane's heart dropped hearing that, her belly started to crumble in anticipation. She gulped as she took support from the soji door to stand still. She looked down at her feet, completely shattered, her lips trembling. This day is surely promising her to her to give her all the punishment she deserves for being a stubborn baka. But, is she ready to face it? How can she…
"Akane dear?"
She looked at Nodoka and faked a smile at her and said while clearing her throat,
"I hadn't slept well.. I think I should go and rest more…."
A/N: Important::
I want to reply to one Guest who had asked me some questions (because there is no option to send pm to them)..
"Dear Guest, thank you for following me from ' Love you again'... And I am so touched by your love.. You are right, my 'this' fic is definitely shorter than what I used to write on "Love Your again". And that's because, I really can't make time for this anymore :( . I can't give time to sit and re-check my post before publishing it. That's why if it's shorter, it becomes easy for me to take some time off from my works and check and publish them. Because of this shortage of time, I can't manage to write the big 'A/N' that I used to write before. I am missing it a lot. To talk and share some thoughts with you guys. And then thinking, why am I babble too much! But now, it has become quite impossible for me and you know what, because of this A/N, I am publishing one day late, or else I would have posted yesterday :p!
And about reviews, if I had waited for them I wouldn't even come to where I am now. It is hard to get reviews in English fanfiction, this is the truth, take it or leave it! I can't leave it! I have to finish my fics for the sake of my sanity ;p..
So, please guys never think that writing short chapters is my strategy or something like that to grab attention… I promise, I don't have time, and these days, it has become so hard for me to make time for myself and for my fanfiction.. But whatever it is, I don't want to leave fanfiction. I want to keep going, whether I write 100 words or 10000, I want to keep :)..
Thank you all for your kind reviews and support! It always makes my day and I love you all! :) :)