A/N: Thank you all so so much for your constant support for this fic, trust me it really means a lot to me..
I want to thank my one Guest reviewer, who had so beautifully explained the reason behind Akane's action. I mean, seriously, this is what I should have told you guys because this was the original reason why I made that twist. But, being a confused woman all the time, when I tried to explain why Akane forced Ranma to go on that date, I completely ran out of reasons to explain, why?! And after I saw all your outrages, hahaha, all I did was scratch my head and think, why did I do that!? I mean seriously guys, sometimes I even surprise myself with my own level of confusion!! So, thank you so much Guest, you saved me this time :p..
I am feeling so happy and excited that now more people are sensing the same emotions that I was feeling alone for a long time. Your reviews prove that I am not alone in this emotional turmoil. And Thanks to my dear friend Kaysachan and Mundo Fanfics…… for supporting this fic.
And this chapter I am dearly dedicating to my lovely friend "Niome" to celebrate her birthday, who has been with me from the very beginning of my writing journey. I hope you all will enjoy this..
"Akane! Akane, stop! please wait up!"
Akio called out to Akane to make her stop running, as he tried to follow her path. Finally, after long tries, he finally managed to stop her as he grabbed her arm to prevent her from running away from him. She was still looking away from him, her one palm hiding her face from him. The way her shoulder was trembling, he could say that she was still crying at that moment. He was panting hard as he asked her in a worried tone,
"Akane, please don't leave like this.. What happened to you? Talk to me! Why are you looking so disturbed?"
He still didn't get any answer from her, she kept looking down. After some long pause, her tears slowly dried off as she was trying to stop the hitching sounds from coming from her mouth. Akio sighs knowingly as he whispers to her,
"Hey! Look at me.. And here I thought it would cheer you up and look, I have mange to make your day even more worse,huh!? I am sorry, Akane.. Please forgive me if you can.."
Akane hurriedly shook her head as she slowly looked up at him with her sad eyes, then she whispers to him with her trembling voice,
"No, Akio! It's not your fault, please don't apologise to me.. It's all my fault.. I am the one to blame here, not you.."
She couldn't finish as a tear fell from her eye as she bites her lower lip to control her emotions in front of him,
Akio smiles asdly and with his trembling finger, he slowly wipes her tears clean. Then he puts his finger on her jaw and made her look at him as he politely says,
"You know what, Akane? I have never met such an innocent girl like you ever before.. And now as I know how you really are, this side of yours could backfire you anytime, like it's doing now. As a friend, I just want to request you one thing, this time though this girl played with your innocent side pretty well, but promise me, you will never ever let anyone take advantage of your this side anymore, not even me."
Akio winked at her while grinning at her, she also smiled a bit and slowly nodded at him.
"Thank you, Akio.. Say, can you do something for me?" She asked hopefully.
Akio dramatically bowed down in front of her and said,
"Anything for my mistress! Just order me.."
Akane blushed and hastily replied,
"Akio! People are staring at us! Stop it!You are such a kid..!"
He smirks and looks up at her, then standing straight up again, he asked her,
"Now say.. How may I help you mam?"
Akane sighs and said,
"Please tell Kasumi that I have forgotten something important in the house, that's why I had to return home."
"What!? But why? Won't you do shopping with us!"
"Akio.. I am sorry, but my mood is too sour now. If I join them now, they could easily tell my state of mind.. And I don't think I can pretend to be in a happy mood anymore.. My oneechan has gotten this chance after so long, Akio. I don't want to ruin their day.. Please you have to help me with this.."
Akio sighs and said,
"Do I have any other choice left?" He shook his head and said while smiling, "Okay, no worries.. I will let her know.. But do you want me to take you home? I will be glad to do that.."
"No, Akio! You are already doing enough for me … Please just enjoy your day, okay? Don't think about me too much! I will be just fine.."
Saying that with a tired tone, she didn't even wait for his reply as she gave him a small smile and left to go home.
At Weavers Festival
The sun has set down a long time ago, leaving a charming evening sky behind. The sky was twinkling with diamond like stars as the breeze was blowing slowly. The whole festive area was filled with fairy lights and decorations as the festive smells roamed through the air. People were cheering in a happy mood, couples clinging to each other, kids were playing heartily, parents holding hands, all in all the jovial atmosphere was so lively and beautiful.
But despite being surrounded by this great environment, Ranma started to feel suffocated and it was like his whole world was swinging in his head, nothing is making sense to him anymore, no words going through his ears and he can't even see what is in front of him. He was desperately looking for a place to hide, because he wanted to spend some time alone.
Soon after Ukyo had brought him to this place he realised very late that he had made a big mistake.. A great mistake by agreeing with her to give her some more of his time . He should have known her better! He shouldn't have fallen into her trap like a fool. And here he was blaming Akane for getting tangled in her bait last night!! Ironically, he had done the same, didn't he? And now he is regretting it badly!! Because, after entering the gate, Ukyo had suddenly started a new drama of hers. She started acting way too girly and she began to cling on him, making him way too uncomfortable. He tried to put some distance in between them, but that only made her cling to him even more tightly .
He came here last year, that's why he knows what happens in this particular festival. Ukyo desperately tried to take him to the counter where the 'love knot bamboo leafs' were being sold. But every time she tried , he made some lame excuses and took her somewhere else, either to play or to eat or he offered her to buy some souvenirs. But then after lots of tries, she eventually understood his motives and forcefully made him come with her to the bamboo leaf counter . When he saw no way out from her deadly hold, he silently prayed to Kami for a chance to escape. Soon, when she became busy buying the perfect bamboo leaf for her and at that time he found one opportunity to escape that place. He didn't waste any more time and fled from her side. He was planning to leave the festive area, but the problem is, he promised her two hours and there is still fifteen minutes left to complete that time. Yes, he escaped from beside her, but still he is keeping his promise by staying at the same place.. So for him, it still counts..
He sighs in a defeated form and walks in a deeper zone of the area. And to his relief, he soon found one isolated area. It was the backside of the festival place, that's why the sounds were not so vivid as it was in the main area. He found one bench nearby, which was darkly shadowed by the trees above. He sat down over the bench tiredly and focused his attention to the view it was offering him. It has a beautiful riverside, the crickets' sounds were coming from everywhere around him . The river's water was still as the dark and low lights illuminating a calming sense to him. Then suddenly something clicked in his dazed mind, making him pleasantly surprised as he thought to himself,
'Hey! I… I know this place… This was..'
He couldn't think much as suddenly he saw with wide surprised eyes that the river's water was slowly starting to glow with soft lights. The soft light patels slowly started to flow through the sky, making the sight look so magical. His wandering wide eyes then suddenly noticed a beautiful figure, clad on a white floral kimono, who was looking at the river while standing on the bank of it. His eyes were fixed at the elegant sight in front of him, he couldn't take his eyes off from her, he knows her very well. He knows her because, he knows that she wore that same kimono last year as well and her elegant blue hair was the prove that this gorgeous woman was none other than his,
"Akane?!!" He whispers in a nervous voice as if if he talks any louder, she might vanish from his sight.
She didn't turned to face him as he heard her saying in deep feminine tone,
"Ranma, doesn't it look like the river is flowing through heaven?" She slowly turned to face him then with a soft smile as she asked him in a warm tone, "Just like it flowed last year as well? You remember that, don't you?"
Still looking at her with his ftantic eyes, Ranma stands up immediately as he hastily comes in front of her. She turned to face him fully with a stunning smile on her face as her elegant smile made her look even more glorious to him. Her smile was magical, because it was slowly healing his wounded heart. His body started to tremble with anxiety as he kept looking at her helplessly. Now all he wants to do is to hug her with all his might and to elope with her somewhere, where no one would ever found them. He gives her a longing look, his eyes glossy with the tight emotions he was feeling for her, his lips shaking as he tries to control breaking down in front of her. Then he started saying in a troubling tone,
" Kane… What are we doing to each other? Why are we doing this?"
She smiles at him and replies in a soft tone,
"Because we are baka.."
Ranma released a sigh as he shook his head at her, his lips slightly trembled as he said with a broken tone,
"Do ya have any idea how I am feeling right now? To see ya hanging out with someone else rather than me? I couldn't even snatch ya out from him, like I always used to do.. Do ya have any idea how helpless I was feeling at that moment?!"
Akane sighs sadly and replies with a broken tone,
"I couldn't pull you out from Ukyo too, you know.. I really wanted to, but, I was unable to do so.. It really hurts, Ranma."
"If it hurts like this for both of us, why are we doing this to each other, Kane? Why are you pushing me away from you? Can't ya see what I really want? Do I have to say it to make you believe it?"
Akane's eyes filled with tears as she slowly shook her head,
"We don't need any words to express what we feel, Ranma. Your actions are more than enough for me.."
"If that's how ya really feel, Kane, then please promise me, promise me that we won't ever hurt each other like this.. And you will never ever push me away like this.."
Akane smiled at him and laid her soft cold hand over his cheek. Ranma placed his hand over her hand which rested over his cheek and held it tightly. Then without any hesitation he slowly puts his other hand over her waist and tugs her towards him. Their bodies slightly touched, breath tangled as he slowly started to lean in to kiss her with all the love he was feeling for her. Suddenly, his all senses went heavenwards as he closed his eyes as he whispered to her with a longing tone,
"Akane…"
His lips were closed to hers. He could feel her breath over his face as ever so slightly, their lips touched. But for some reason, a bad feeling came to his mind as he immediately moved away from her as he looked at her.
Just like as if a thunder just struck upon him, he noticed with his horrifying eyes that, the girl that he was holding was not Akane. It was someone who he could never ever think of doing this thing with. He hastily removed his arms from her waist and puts a big distance between them, then he said in a frantic tone,
"What the…!! Ukyo!!"
Ukyo looked at him with hard eyes as he greeted her teeth in frustration. This guy really has been giving her a hard time since morning. She never thought that it would be so tough to deal with him. But to her surprise, it started to get worse and worse as the time passed for them. She had a mission when she planned to bring him to this place and she didn't know-how he had found out about her real motives. At first she thought, she was just overthinking stuff, but when he constantly tried to distract her to go buy that bamboo leaf for them, she started suspecting him. Then her suspicions turned into reality when she found him missing. After that, she was desperately looking for him, she began running like a crazy because she knew that she didn't have much time left. And to her relief, she soon found him standing on the bank of the river. She came running to him and tried to call him. But when she came in front of him, she noticed some unusual expression over his face. He was looking at her as if he doesn't even know who he was looking at. She tried to break his dream-like stance when suddenly, he grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him. At first she became stunned but it was as if a dream came true for her. So, she became quiet and let him do whatever he wished to do with her. Her heart began to beat with tremendous happiness when she saw him leaning to her to kiss her and then, he whispered her name.
"Akane.."
At that exact moment she felt as if her whole world just shattered in front of her. She inwardly growled in irritation, but didn't do anything to stop him. She wanted to return his kiss and prove her worth to him. And soon, her chance came when she felt his breath over his face and their lips met. But to her irritation, it stayed just for a brief second as he quickly moved away from her and didn't even gave her one chance to kiss him back. And the way he looked at her after that, like he just had seen a ghost, it was making her even more furious at him. He just can't back out like this. She knows, he might have been daydreaming of kissing that damn woman, but she doesn't care. He started it and now he can't push her away like this. He have to finish what he had just started, whether he likes it or not, he have to kiss her this instant. So swallowing all her anger and curses, she tried to act nonchalantly in front of him as she said,
"Oh Ranma honey, I am so happy to know that you feel the same way for me as I feel for you. You make me so happy now! Umm I think it's too forward of you, but I think I am ready to break all the rules…"
She said with a passion-filled tone and tried to get closer to him again. Ranma backed down from her frantically and said,
"Look, it's not what its looks like! I am sorry, I didn't meant ta do that. I was not thinking straight.."
"Oh sugar, I know you are too shy to accept what you want. Please let me help you.. "
Ukyo got happy when she saw Ranma couldn't back out from her anymore as the trees blocked his ways to escape. She moaned passionately and hurriedly closed the distance between them. She hurriedly hooked her arms around his neck and stood up on her tiptoes to continue what he left a few minutes ago. But to her surprise, suddenly she felt a hard push as she knocked over the grassy field on her butt. She looked up at Ranma with disbelief as she asked,
"Ranchan… Why did you…"
"JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!!"
"Ranma honey.. It's okay! Please you don't have to be shy.."
"Aww!! DARN IT!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YA!!! ARE YA NUTS OR SOMETHING? DO YA HAVE HEARING PROBLEMS? CAN'T YA UNDERSTAND THAT I AM SAYING NO TO YA.!?."
Ukyo slowly stands up and tries to approach him again,
"Why would you say no to me, honey? I am your cute fiance! We are going to get marry soon! We will have lots of kids after that.. So, these things are normal for couples! We are meant to be together, honey. I love you and i know how much you love me back.. Oh, now I see.. You must be feeling guilty that you haven't broken your engagement with that crazy violent girl!! Don't worry about that, honey. She is a great cheat anyways, I can slap some sense on her if you want.. We will be happy together, honey.. Forget about her.. She is a cheap woman. Nothing but a two-timer!!"
He gave a low growl as he heatedly looked up at her.
"How dare ya!!! Don't ya dare.."
"Ranma honey.. But it is the reality.."
" AND I SAID, DON'T YA DARE SAY HER NAME FROM THIS DIRTY MOUTH OF YOURS…"
"RANCHAN!!"
"DON'T RANCHAN ME! Today you lost all the RIGHT to call me that… YA DARE TA SAY BAD ABOUT HER! THE GIRL WHO HAD ASKED ME TO GO ON A DATE WITH YA? WHO DID A FAVOUR FOR YA?!"
Ukyo snickers humorlessly and says,
"Oh please.. Give me a break!! She sent you with me because she wanted to spent some private time with that Akio guy!! Oh honestly Ranma! STOP BEING SO DUMB AND WAKE UP!! DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU DON'T Know WHAT PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY SPEND ALONE TIME IN A SEPARATE ROOM!! You are so cluelesss, my God!! You are letting her play with your emotions!! She is such a.."
"JUST KEEP YAR MOUTH SHUT!!" Ranma scowled so loudly that Ukyo had to take a step back in fear. Ranma was glaring daggers at her, if looks could kill, he would have killed her long ago. He started panting hard with anger, his rage was blinding his every senses. He balled his fists tightly and said with a tightly controlled tone,
" Ya have said enough, Ukyo.. Not anymore!! Don't take any more tests of my patience right now woman.. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE! But, if ya decide to carry on your shits , then believe me, I won't regret breaking my own rules to not to hit any woman.. STOP — YAR— FILTHY— MOUTH!! I won't repeat my words again.."
Ukyo gulped and stepped back. But she tries again to convince him,
"Ranma, look, I am your cute fiance! How could you say this to me? I know you don't mean it! We are going to get marry soon!! And soon you have to leave that.. I mean, you have to say no to Akane.."
Ranma smirked humorlessly as he muttered in a deep tone,
"I don't know about leaving her or not. But trust me Ukyo, if you are the only woman left in this earth, I wouldn't even peak at you. Listen carefully, I never loved ya, I will never ever love ya. I would rather commit seppuku rather then marrying a selfish woman like ya. So, save it to yar thick mind woman, their is nothing left between us! You are not my fiance, not my friend, YA ARE NO ONE TO ME!!! And don't ever dare to harm Akane and talk bad about her.. If Ya do, you won't even be alive to regret it later.."
Saying that with deadly tone, he dismissed further talking with her and left that place in haste. Ukyo hastily turned to look at his retreating form as she said to him yelling,
"YOU CAN'T END IT LIKE THIS, RANMA! I WONT ALLOW THAT! YOU ARE LEAVING ME FOR THAT DUMB AKANE, HUH?! I KNOW SOON YOU WILL COME RUNNING TO ME WHEN YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT I WAS RIGHT!! YOU WILL SOON FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THAT CHEAP WOMAN AKANE! YOU WILL SOON COME BACK TO ME!! RANMA!! RANMA!!COME BACK!!"
Ranma was running with all his might. He heard every single syllable that Ukyo just yelled to him. His feeling of frustration was rising high. His mind went crazy as he started debating with his own mind,
'NO!! THAT WAS A LIE!!SHE WAS LYING!!! AKANE COULD NEVER PLAY GAMES WITH ME!! NO ONE CAN TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!! SHE IS MINE!!! SHE IS DAMN MINE!! I WON'T LET HER LEAVE ME!! SHE CANT CHOOSE ANYONE ELSE RATHER THAN ME! SHE IS MY FIANCE!! SHE HAVE TO LOVE ME! SHE WON'T DARE TA LEAVE ME!!'
Thinking this bitterly, he quickened his pace and kept running with blinded rage. He didn't even know where he was heading towards. Only one thing was roaming through his furious mind that, he had to see her face. Then Soon he found himself outside of the Saotome residence. He didn't waste any time and ran inside the house. The house was quiet and no one seemed to be at home. He ignored all this and hurriedly went up to Akane's room, hoping beyond hope that he would find her there. Without even thinking of knocking on the door, he forcefully opens the door and to his relief, he found her in there sitting over her futon.
Akane came back to the Saotome house hours ago. She kept feeling lonely and anxious in this empty house. She stayed at her own room and locked the door for no reason. She tried to take her mind off from Ranma, but whatever she did, whatever she read or whatever she thought, she couldn't shrug off the hurt expression she saw on his face. Her guilt was eating her, making her miserable as the time passed. Its like the time has just stopped moving for her, so she ignored looking at the clock and hoped that he will soon return home from his forced date. She wants to apologise to him so badly and she will apologise to him wholeheartedly. After thinking about what went wrong since morning, she soon realized her mistake and inwardly promised herself that she won't ever let people play with her again. She was a dumb to fall for Ukyo!! Today, after Ranma will return, she will swallow her pride and will keep apologising to him till he forgives her.. She won't even care if she had to do it in front of others!! Determining this on mind, she started mentally preparing herself. She was sitting over her folded futon and resting her head over her bent knee, when suddenly she heard some loud footsteps coming towards her room. But before she could even think what was happening, someone forcefully pulled her locked door open and to her surprise she saw Ranma standing there, furiously looking at her direction.
After that, things happened so quickly that she didn't even got the time to react or say anything. Before she could call out his name, suddenly she saw him furiously running towards her and without any warning, he forcefully pulled her up in a standing position. And before she could contemplate what was happening, she felt him groping her tightly as he sealed her lips with his in a desperate kiss.
Akane screeched in surprise as she closed her eyes. She could feel in that kiss how angry he really was. He was not letting her go, if it was even possible he was squishing her body with his even more tightly. In one point, Ranma pulled her up from the floor to make their kiss even deeper. He then started walking while carrying her and pushed her towards a wall for more support.
Akane couldn't think of anything else rather then what Ranma was doing to her. She could never imagine in her wildest dream that her shy Ranma could act this wild. When she felt him pulling her up and taking her foot out from the floor, she became excited. And then when she felt the wall behind her back, she became couscous.. She didn't even know what she should do next. How she would respond to his rough kisses. She hadn't even experienced a normal kiss before and now this is the way Ranma had decided to make her first kiss to be like.
Ranma was still kissing her mercilessly, not even giving her time to regain her breath. She was trying to kiss him back, but she couldn't even match the franktic level he was showing her. She slightly opened her eyes and saw him. The way he was shaking while kissing her, his troubled expression, his sweaty face. She knew he had to go through so much hard time today, but she was anxious to know what had triggered Ranma to act this way. But one thing was clear to her now. This kiss was actually what she needed after all this turmoil she went through today. Her heart settled with a calming feeling as she devoured herself into that frantic kiss of his. Instead of getting scared of his action, soon she started acting desperate herself.
Her heart was worn out all day today. The fear of losing him to Ukyo was so vivid! She was continuously thinking, what if he would choose Ukyo and leave her all alone. She can't think of living without him. She needs him! After so long, she had found someone who she could blindly trust, who she could blindly love.. But if he decides to leave her now, because of her own stupidity, how would she manage to breath without him.
The fear was so intense on her heart and now that he was kissing her this wildly, all she want him to be more rougher towards her, so that she won't even dare to think of doing what she did today.
She slowly spread her palms over his neck as she crossed her legs over his thighs, to make their position more comfortable for both of them. Her one palm slowly started to go up towards his hair as she clutched his hair tightly. Ranma growled loudly and pushed her even harder on the wall. Akane moaned loudly and she finally managed to play the same rhythm as Ranma was showing.
They didn't even have any track of time, for how long they have been kissing each other.. After a long time, they finally broke the kiss and looked at each other. They both were panting so hard as they kept looking at each other. Akane could tell that Ranma was still mad at her. She could tell by the way he was staring at her.. She sighs and puts both her hands over his cheeks as she slowly, lovingly bumped her head with his. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and whispered to him,
"Oh Ranma.. I am sorry, Ranma.. Please forgive me.."
Ranma growled in outrage and without saying anything to her, he slowly puts her down in the standing position. Akane looked up at him surprised and whispers,
"Ranma?!!"
In reply, he just glared at her and without saying anything to her, he hastily turned on his heels and started going out of her room. Akane was so surprised to react at first, but when she saw him leaving her room, she composed herself and started running after him as she kept calling his name.
"RANMA!! Ranma please stop!! RANMA, PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.."
She thought she had missed him again as she didn't see him on the stairs. She rashly went down the stairs, all the while pleading him to stop. But to her surprise, she didn't have to run more as she suddenly bumped over his back as he was standing outside the living room. She realised a sigh of relief as she hastily grabbed his arm.
" Ranma! What is wrong with you? Why did you left like this? Listen to…"
She couldn't continue babbling as she saw him looking straight with a troubled expression on his face.
"Ranma, what's wrong?"
She asked him and turned to see what he was looking at. And what she saw made her whole body cold. To say that she was shocked was beyond imagination. Because, they were so lost in their moment on her room that they didn't even hear the family returning from the shop. And not only that, when Akane's eyes fell over the person who was standing beside Kasumi, giving her a loving stare, it certainly took her breath away. She unknowingly hooked her arm with Ranma, which made him turn towards her as he gave her a worrisome look.
Akane first looked at Ranma and then again turned to look at that person as she whispers in disbelief,
"Aunt… Aunt Su.. Mother!!"
Suki's eyes tears up as she bites her lower lips. Then nodding at her direction she says,
"I am back, Akane.. Your mother is finally back.."
A/N: I can't tell you guys how hard this is getting for me!! Writing, checking, posting… It is proving to me to be the most hard work now T-T.. But then, when I saw how you people are getting involved and gave me so many reviews in last chapter, I was like, I have to do this for you guys! If I couldn't manage to post today, it would have taken 7 more days for me to post it.. So I hope you will see any mistake here with forgiveness.. And please do let me know how you feel about today's episode.. :)