A/N:
Ok! First of all, I want to say to my dear reviewer "D-Infinity", that thank you so much for being so kind and clearing the meaning of what you meant by what you said. It means a lot to me, because I am working so hard to make this fic :).. Thanks for understanding.. :)
And to my guest reviewer Yuna, No dear, it's not an angst fic. It's romantic\drama rollercoaster, as my other readers says always :p.. But with a happy ending of course :)!
One more important thing.. Ahm ahm..Guys, you have really hurt me T-T.. The way you kept commenting slapping my Akane, that hit me directly T-T :p … I think I should stop my melodramatic over acting now ;p :p! But seriously guys, think about it! I know we love Ranma very much and I know he is so utterly handsome! And so damn cute! But that doesn't mean he could play with girls' hearts! For once, he never said no to Ukyo before! On various occasions, he only kept praising her and calls her cute amongst his all fiance's too! Don't just blame my Akane like this! I mean, you guys know, Akane is actually like this. Always thinking about others before her own happiness. She is the one who always considered asking what Ranma feels, when Ukyo and Shampoo tried to force themselves on him.. So, I think it's quite reasonable that she would want to give a fair chance to Ukyo, right?!
But, yes, she did force Ranma! Not for her, for someone else's happiness! But whatever it is, she shouldn't have forced him :p! And for being this selfless dumb as she always behaves, she will surely get her punishment! But it's not what you might thinking ;p! This punishment will be unique, that you can never think of :p ! Ummmm I think I should stop spoiling my own fic now :p! Sometimes, I forget that I am the writer here :p !...
Ranma was shaking his legs continuously non-stop, while he sat on a chair inside Ucchan's Okonomiyaki shop. He was getting impatient as the time passed by as he kept waiting for Ukyo to get done with her dressing up. He desperately wants to leave this place as soon as he can. He came as early as possible to end this day in a blurry. But, he also knows that it's only the beginning of this punishment that his uncute tomboy had given him. And now, he is stuck with this damn situation, where he couldn't even think of running away, fearing he will hurt Akane's feelings if he did so.
'Why 'Kane? I know how much it's hurting ya, then why have ya send me here! Oh Kami!'
He sighs sadly as he pinches the bridge of his nose. He knows very well why Akane has pushed him to do this. If he had already made clear to Ukyo how he really feels about her, this situation wouldn't even come today! He just can't put his foot in two boats and live peacefully! He should have made things clear with Ukyo.. That he always thought of her as his friend, nothing more than that. It's not like he didn't tried though! Its just, he felt trapped at his own foolish game! Unknowingly, he has successfully made a maze with all of them and now he have to deal with this tangled relationships.. He knows that he should have fixed this problem a long ago! But his damn ego never allowed him to suppress the fact that he has one more fiancé on his account! It's too much of a booster dose for his pride that he has three fiance's, who always roams around him and not only that, he also has a crazy follower, who always wants to be with him! He never really thought of what others might feel about him or how serious they are... Never once came to his damn mind that maybe, they might not be fooling around with him, like he is doing with them. That they might be serious about him and have seriously fallen for him. Like the way he had completely fallen for Akane.
In those days, he never thought that he could ever love someone so deeply and want someone so desperately, that thinking about that person would take his breath away. But , eventually, it did happen..! He is now deeply attached to his unwanted uncute tomboy.. And there is nothing he could do to fix this problem now..
When he found out that his father had engaged him with multiple girls, at first he used to fight it and get angry about this whole situation. But, eventually, when he saw how all the girls were fighting to be with him, the way they started pampering him, giving him free foods and competing everyday for his attention, he kind of started to feel desirous. And when he found out that all the boys at his school, his rival Ryoga, every single person he knows, wanted a life that he was leading, that made all his complaints vanish . Pride engulfed his every sense as he started to welcome whoever was willing to date him or be his fiance!
His plan of life was simple after that! He had everything he ever had wished for ! A house to live in, a dojo to practice, getting his mother back, having girls roaming around him.. What else a guy would want in life! He wanted to go on like this and in his mind, he had planned to run off to the first possible opportunity his martial artist would give him, leaving all the crazy chaos behind him.. And that would have been the great punishment for his old man, to handle every person fury's single-handedly.
But whatever plan he may have made in his mind at that time, he never played with Akane's feelings. How could he? To be honest, She had never given him any chance! She was the only one who had offered her friendship to him from the very beginning of their meeting. And when he saw, how she was fighting their engagement like he was doing, he started to feel comfortable around her. Sometimes, he felt angry and beyond frustrated at her, when he saw how she kept acting so indifferent to his supremacy. It was as if she had some different sets of eyes, which was not noticing the superiority of him, which was making other girls go crazy over him! And that was a big blow to his ego.. He still remembers how that used to affect his pride! That's why, to show her off, he started acting like a hero towards all the other girls, while he kept insulting her. At that time he knew how much popular she was with all the boys. And that was the main reason why he kept insulting her, telling her words that are not true at all and making her angry all the time. He used to seek pleasure by insulting her in front of his other wanting girls, all the while praising his other fiance's in front of her, to make her jealous.. He wanted to rub the fact on her face how worthy he is to other girls. But whatever he did or tried to make her feel, she always stayed indifferent and never changed her approach towards him.
Now, when he thinks back at times, he feels disgusted about his behavior towards her. Sometimes he thinks, why did she never hate him? The way he kept letting her down in front of others and insulted her, it was so unfair! But surprisingly, she never took those insults to her heart and stayed by his side. She is the one who had noticed how big a baka he really is, who was only pretending to be the man amongst men in front of others. She is the only one who noticed the need for my own opinion when no one thought of asking me what I need. She was the only one who actually saw through me and made me realize that, under these so-called overgrown muscles, hides a heart that was yearning for love and care.
She had truly defeated me! Fully! Despite how I behaved with her, she never held any grudge against me.. Then, when I saw she was the only one who jumped to any possible danger to save me, the way she stood by my side in all my difficulties, her all selfless acts, her tears, her anger, her loneliness, her caring, everything started to change me. And before I knew what was happening, she had become the reason for my existence. And now, I can't even think of living my life without having anything that does not include her. Let Kami take all his power, his all supremacy, He won't flinch a bit. Because he knows, if he has Akane in his life, he won't have to prove anything to her. He could be complete no one and she will except him and care for him, without any resistance. He needs her in his life, because sometimes, he feels tired. Tired of pretending to be the strongest of all, tired of showing off, tired of his surroundings who always wants something in return from him, tired of showing all of them that he has a heart of a stone that doesn't want to break down.
Sometimes, he just wants to be left alone, completely isolated from all this whole crazy world. Only to be with Akane. Where he could toss all his tough deeds and where he could only be himself. All he wants is to lose himself fully in her presence, where no one will try to pull them apart or disturb them. Where he could be closer to her without having any fear of getting caught by others. How he wished to just lay his head over her soft lap to relieve all these crazy thoughts of his . How he wishes to look at her beautiful face while putting his head over her lap as he gets melted by all her soft touch as she would slowly creases his hair lovingly. How he wishes to crawl to her and to hide his face on the warmth of her chest, to break free from all the misery that he feels. Because he knows, she is the only one who will never call him weak or unmanly for breaking down. Instead, he knows, she will embrace him tightly to her and will take his all sorrow away with her loving touch and soothing words.
Ranma gives a defeated sigh, suddenly missing her presence by his side. It's not like he hadn't tried to meet her before coming here. He did.. Not today, but last night he did. He was not ready to face her, but suddenly one thought came to his mind. About how disturbed and troubled she looked. And the word she said,
"Because the blame is on me, Ranma!"
The way she said those words suddenly came to his mind and made him wonder, what the hell does Ukyo has accused her for? How she might have talked with her! How might she had hurt her feelings? That thought alone made him realise that, because of his ignorance to this topic, now Akane has to face the worth of all the hatred of his other suitors. He is lucky that Shampoo is gone now! He don't have to be worry for her wellbeing anymore… But he knows Akane's weakness, that she has a heart so genuine and she could never see people suffering. That's what just happened maybe.. Ukyo took that opportunity and knowing how Akane is, she purposely put all the blame on her, to make her believe that she is making things tough for him. And that made him guilty that because of him, now they got the right to insult Akane and talk badly with her. He went to talk to Akane at night after he returned home, but he found her on his mother's lap, sleeping like an exhausted child. His mother told him how much she cried after he left, which made his guilt getting even more worse.
That's why he came as soon as he could to finish this date as fast as he could, so that he could return home to his baka. He has made up his mind to make Ukyo understand the seriousness of his situation and to tell her straight that there is no future for them. And he will make clear to her that, from now on, no one has the right to talk rudely to Akane or blame her for anything… And if anyone behaves disrespectfully towards her for the deeds that she is not responsible for, then they will see the worst side of him..
"Ranchan! Come to the earth, Ranma!"
Ranma blinked his eyes in confusion and curiously looked up at the intruder who had just disturbed his train of thoughts.. He inwardly growled in irritation and tightly smiled at her as he says,
"Took ya long enough.."
Ukyo sighs tiredly and says,
"Oh my God, Ranma, I was calling you for the last couple of minutes you know? You just dozed off! What were you thinking?"
Instead of answering her, Ranma stood up and said in a plain voice,
"Nothing that ya should be worrying 'bout… So.. Now what?!"
"Well.. Ummm.. I don't know.. You are the one who called me yesterday for a date, silly! You should be the one to make the plan!" Ukyo said cheerfully.
"I didn't plan anything, sorry.. I just came because Akane had asked me to.."
"Akane!" She asked bitterly.
"Yah, and she said you asked her that? You could have talked to me directly, ya know? Why did ya involve her in all this?" Ranma asked in a hard tone.
Ukyo crossed her arms in front of her chest and says slyly,
"As if that would have brought you here today..! Anyways, let's not waste our time talking about that good for nothing kitchen wicker violent girl!"
"HEY! Watch what you're saying! And if Ya insult her one more time, I am outta here!" He scolded and gets ready to leave that place.
"No, no! Okai, I am sorry! I won't talk about her anymore, but you also can't bring any topics related to her as well.."
Ranma grimaced and averted his eyes from her. Ukyo noticed how angry she had made him and this is not what she wanted. When last night she got a call from Ranma, telling her that he will come to her tomorrow, it was like she had suddenly won a big jackpot. From last night, she kept making plans about what she would wear today, where they would go and how far she is ready to go with him. And now that he is here, the last thing she wants is to make him angry at her.. No, she can't let that happen.. This is the day that she had been waiting for so long! The day she will make him realize how worthy she is for him and she would make him see the other side of her that he had been hesitating to see before.. So, swallowing all her insults, she tries to cheer him up again,
"Oh Ranma honey, please cheer up! It's been so long since I last went anywhere with you.. Look, lets not make this day complicated anymore. We are childhood buddies after all! Let's enjoy this day like we used to do when we were kids, ok? Please Ranma, lets not waste time getting upset or being uncomfortable.. I don't know when I will again get the chance to spend some time with my childhood friend again.."
Ukyo said with a soft pleading tone while giving him a hopeful look. Ranma sighs defeated and nodded..
'Gotchaa!'
Ukyo thought satisfied with her acting. She knows how to play him, just mix some emotional speech with some tears, and there, your recipe for a place in Ranma's heart will be open for you.
'That's what you have been doing, isn't it Akane?! Now it's my turn!' she thought bitterly.
"What ya wanna do then?" Ranma asked , not so interested.
Ukyo gives him tight smile and slowly tries to show off what she was wearing by holding the sides her short black dress and moving. Ranma blinked his eyes in confusion as he asks her,
"What is the matter with ya? Yea wanna sit down or somthin!"
Ukyo's shoulder dropped as her giving him hint plan back faired her. She shook her head at his naiveness as she says,
"Well, for the first thing, do you like what I am wearing for you?"
Hearing her question made him even more confused. Then it clicked him, she is obviously dressed up for the occasion as she is thinking that its their date. He noticed what she wore at that moment, a tight black dress, which was clinging to her upper body. Her sleeveless dress was showing off lots of her curves as her lower part was way too short, making sure to show off her long legs perfectly. But is she looking good! Do he even care…
He shrugged his shoulder at her and says,
"Isn't it too fancy for morning dress!"
Ukyo's face faltered as she sighed angrily,
"That should not WHAT you should say, Ranma.." She closed her eyes to calm herself as she says, "Okay, forget about my dress. Let's go and have some breakfast.."
"Why we have to go out? You go make okonomiyaki and we can have them as breakfast!"
"What did you just say!" This was getting tough for her. But she bits her tongue and says way too cheerfully,
"You are so silly.. We are on a DATE, Ranma.. And I am not going to cook today.. You are going to treat me for the whole day.."
After saying that, she didn't gave him time to argue with her anymore as she grabbed his arm and practically dragged him out from her shop…
"Are you going to keep moping like this , baby sister?"
Kasumi asked in a warm tone as she slowly enters their shared room and went to sit in front of her imouto , who has been moping since morning while hiding under the blanket. Akane looked up from her upside-down position and looked up at her onnechan with helpless eyes.
"What's the time now?"
"Umm.. Half past ten.. Why are you asking?"
Akane growled and crawled under her blanket and said while whining,
"Why time is moving this slow? I think we need to change the clock's batteries?"
Kasumi giggles hearing that and says,
"What we need to change is your mood , my dear.. Nothing else.."
"Awww.. I can't even sleep! What should I do!?"
"Well, of course you will come with me.. We are going for shopping for my wedding today, or have you forgotten about it?"
Hearing Kasumi, Akane slowly sits up on her knees, her blanket still over her head. And at that exact moment Kasumi realized that her imouto had been crying her eyes out. Kasumi sighed and laid her palm lovingly over Akane's cheek, then she ask her with a soft tone,
"If it's hurting you this much, why have you sent him in the first place, hum?!"
Akane bits her lips and replies her with a shaky tone,
"What else would I have done, Kasumi? He was fully ignoring Ukyo for my sake! And Ukyo was assuming that I am the one who is stopping Ranma to meet her! I am the one who.."
Kasumi puts her slender finger over Akane's mouth to stop her from talking as she says,
"You don't need to tell me anything.. Akio told me everything.."
"Akio! But he.. how?!"
"He said that he saw how Ukyo talked with you.. He actually spied on you that day.."
Akane looks down and bites her lower lip. Kasumi sighs as she tugged Akane's bang on her ear and says politely,
"Listen to me carefully, I know why you have done it, but you shouldn't have done that, Akane.."
At that Akane looked up at her and tried to make her point to her,
"But, Onee-chan! You don't understand! She was blaming me for.."
"Are we here to prove every single person about our motives, Akane? When are you going to learn the fact that not everyone here thinks the way you are thinking!"
"But.. Ukyo said.."
"Ukyo is Ranma's problem. Whether He ignores her or talks to her to solve the problem, it's totally his decision to make! You just can't take all the loads to your back now, can you?"
She stared at Kasumi with helpless eyes as her guilt was eating her alive. She saw Kasumi giving her a warm smile again as she says in a warm tone,
"I know how soft-hearted my sister is, who always hides behind a tough exterior! But you know what, let yourself be free from all the stress , Akane.. You don't need to pretend anymore.. I am telling you, don't worry.. But, always remember, you don't have to prove yourself to any people, never do that again. But, if in certain days, you have to prove something to your loved one's, then don't hesitate to do so.. But only do this for those who deserves it, not for those who demand it.."
Akane slowly nodded her head and asked her in a low trembling voice,
"Now what will I do, Kasumi?"
Kasumi sighs and says,
"You have made a mistake.. So, the first thing you have to do is apologize to Ranma.."
"I tried to apologize, that's why I woke up early today!"
"But, you missed him!" Kasumi says and saw her sister looking down again,
"Now, please stop moping already!" Kasumi said encouragingly as she stood up and starts to pull Akane to stand up as well..
"Kasumi what are you.."
"Did you forget that you have to go shopping for my marriage? Or you are not interested in my wedding anymore!"
"That's not true! But oneechan.."
"No buts! Come with us to go shopping and I promise you that your time will just fly by.." Kasumi said as she winked at her and didn't listen to her protest anymore….
Ukyo growled in irritation as she looked at Ranma with hard expression, then with an impatient voice, she asked him,
"Are you going to take me to the restaurants only?!"
Ranma raised his eyebrow at her and said,
"What do ya mean by that?!"
"Well, first you took me to have our breakfast.. Then after that, you took me to another restaurant to have drinks.. Now you have to bring me to this burger shop! What, are you planning to take me to all the restaurants in Nerima!?"
Ranma didn't turned to her and took a big bite from his food as he thought,
'So what else would I do then? These foods are the only thing that is making me comfortable right now.. I wish I could say that to her face though!'
He looked at her with bored eyes and suggested nonchalantly,
"We could always head back home, ya know.."
That made her panic as she sits straight up and says cheerfully,
"No! It's just mid afternoon.. We have a long day ahead of us.."
Ranma growled and said,
"Then what ya wanna do?"
"Umm, let's think! Oh yes! We could go and watch a movie!"
"Movie! What movie!?"
"Oh, I heard my one customer discussing about a horror movie that's now playing on the movie theatre. She said it was really scary and she said, the hall was so dark, it is perfect for any couple!"
She said the last part hopefully as she looks at Ranma. And to her surprise, she saw Ranma started to laugh hearing her say that.. She become totally perplexed as she asked him,
"What's so funny! Why are you laughing like this?"
Ranma tried to compose himself as he said in between his laughter,
"Oh! I think I have already saw that movie with Akane.. Oh my God, she was hilarious! She didn't even knew which movie ticket I bought for us! But when she first saw the scene, she was ready to fly the hall, crying like a baby! I had to hold her to keep her sitting on her chair! But, oh my ears! You know what, at one point I thought my ear will start bleeding, but thankfully my ears were fine, but she did manage to scratch my hands..! Oh she is such a baby! She kept squeezing me so hard, that baka! I still have the marks on my arms.."
Ranma stopped his rambling as he suddenly noticed the way Ukyo was looking back at him, with fury that was burning through her eyes. He clears his voice and fully composed himself, then said in a normal tone,
"There is another action movie that's playing there, I think.."
Ukyo growled loudly and said in a tight sweet tone,
"And I would love to see that romantic one that I know there is showing.."
"What are ya doing sitting here like this!?"
Akio asked as he sat beside Akane, who was sitting in the waiting area of a clothing store, looking bored and ready to cry anytime... She turned to look at him with a blank expression, but didn't say anything.. He chuckled looking at her state, making her angry at him,
"What are you laughing at?"
"Obviously you..! Look at you, I have never seen you like this! But, hey where is Ranma? I am sure he is the reason why you are in this mood now!"
She rolled her eyes at him and says,
"As if you don't know already! You saw me and Ukyo talking, didn't you.."
"So?!" He asked her, still confused, then suddenly it clicked him. "Don't tell me that you have sent Ranma on a date with her!"
"Please don't bring this topic anymore, Akio.. I am really tired.." She said while lowering her head and moaning in frustration.
"That's so dumb!" He declared breathlessly. Then sighing deeply, he stands up and pulled Akane's arm to make her stand up as well.
"Hey, why are you taking me.."
"Well, we are here for a good purpose, right? And we need you to cheer up for that.."
"Look, I am cheered up.." She said faking a tight smile.
Akio laughed again and went behind her and started pushing her back to make her move with him..
"I know, there is only one way to cheer you up, my lady.. Let's go and dig into some ice creams! My treat!"...
{{{ Loud Snoring}}}... The movie Ukyo had chosen to watch was the most romantic one. But, the partner she chose to watch with was giving her a real headache. She hides her face behind her palm as some people kept complaining to her about her partner, who was currently in a deep sleep, his snoring coming like music. She growled angrily and tried to push him again, but he shrugged her off and drifted to sleep again.
'Awww! This jackass! I just cant believe this is happening! This is so humiliating!'
After a long two hours torcher, finally, the movie came to the end and when people started living while giving them glares, at that exact moment, Ranma yawned loudly and woke up from his slumber. After waking up, he scrunched his nose in confusion and asked her,
" Movie has finished already! That was quick!"
Ukyo narrowed her eyes at him as she rested her forehead with her hand.
"What happened ta ya? Yea didn't like the movie?! Do ya want to watch more?!"
Hearing him ask that, she hastily turned to him and said,
"I just wanna cool down, Ranma! I want to have some ice cream.."
"Well, in that case, I know a good place you may like.."
A/N: Hummm.. what do you guys think might happen in the next chapter :P! I wonder :D! But please don't forget to review this chapter, your reviews is the only way i find out if you guys are liking this fic or not. Work load has doubled up for me, but still I am trying my best to upload.. I hope you guys will like this chapter, and don't be shy, let me know how you guys liked it... Take care! :)