Disclaimer: (Insert pun here). I do not own Ranma ½ or any of the characters.

A/N: LAST chapter! HAPPY EASTER! -cries- I thank all of you for reviewing my Fanfic, every single review means a lot to me. I had a lot of fun writing this fic, and I am planning to start a new one shortly. Look for me on

Habana: To answer your question, it's a lunch. These types of festivals, and boy auctions actually happen in real life. Even though the festival lasts from morning until about 9:00 at night, they still call it a lunch because they think 'dinner' is too intimate for kids. Stupid, I know… xP

Special thanks to all who reviewed, and those special people that I listed on Ch.7. Thanks to all of you, I will continue writing different Fanfics! And of course, they'll be RanXAka ones! THANK YOU!

Chapter Eight:

What I've Been Looking For

Akane:

As Ranma ran, with me in his arms, through Nerima, I noticed it was pitch black outside. Plus, it was really chilly. The fall winds were nipping at my cheeks.

Finally, we came to a stop. I opened my eyes slowly, and I noticed that we were on top of the roof of someone's house. I peered around, while still in his arms, and noticed that this house was very old and abandoned. No one lived there, nor did anyone for several years. Actually, I'd only seen this house once or twice, why did Ranma take me here?

Ranma paused, and then he slowly and gently put me down. Before I could catch his eyes, he moved his gaze away from mine.

We stayed standing there, not speaking for a minute… but it seemed like an eternity. So many emotions pumped through my veins now that we were alone. So many questions were left unanswered. While I stood there with Ranma… I looked at his face once again. I realized that we weren't the same kids we used to be. We weren't the same old immature youngsters. Sure, we did bicker every now and then but… we were, more or less, adults now. Weren't we going to clear this entire suitor mess anytime soon? Did he care?

Then, Ranma turned around, finally meeting my gaze. He walked over to me, and sat down on a piece of stone (probably garbage) that was lying on the roof.

I stood there, watching every move he made. Finally, he broke the silence.

"You know… sometimes I come up here." he whispered, looking around. "Its like my getaway spot. Somewhere were everything just stands… you know… still. Oh, man. I must sound like an idiot telling you all this, ain't I, Akane?"

I was shocked. "No!" I said. My voice was louder than a whisper, but not quite moderate tone. I walked over to the rock that Ranma was sitting on and sat next to him. "Ranma, that's really… sweet, actually. I'm f-flattered that you would tell me something like this."

"Oh," Ranma turned his gaze, again.

"What's wrong, Ranma?" I asked, quietly.

"Nothing. So, how was the lunch?" he blurted, his gaze still away from mine.

I bit my lip. "Fine." I answered. What else could I say?

"Hm." Ranma said, quietly. Then he turned to face me. His face was solid, his mouth was clamped shut like he was trying to hide his gritted teeth. "Do you like him?" he asked me.

I was confused. What did Ranma mean? I didn't want to embarrass myself by making a mountain out of a mole hill. "Gosunkugi? Of course I like him." I answered. "He's my friend."

Ranma shook his head, now the anger was slightly visible. "No. Do you like him?"

My eyes widened in disbelief. Ranma thought I liked… Gosunkugi?! "What?" I answered. "No!"

"Oh. Then it must be Ryouga, right?"

"No, Ranma!"

"Kuno?"

"NO!"

Ranma clenched his fists. "Oh, I knew it. Shinnousuke!"

I felt the urge to slap him. What an idiot he was being! Didn't he realize it… yet? I stood up from the rock, my voice was practically in hysterics.

"What are you talking about, idiot?! No, no, no!" I shouted. "Ranma, how could you not know that…" my voice drifted away, and I fought back the urge to cry.

The urge was too strong. I broke away from him and walked to the corner of the roof, hiding my face from him. Tears were spilling down my face. Oh, no!

Ranma:

I'd lost my cool. I needed to know what was going on, and the questions just began spilling out. Akane broke away from me and walked to the corner of the roof. All I could hear were soft sounds of sobbing coming from her.

I made her cry?

I walked over to her and put my hand on her cheek.

"Akane," I said softly. "Look at me…"

She shook her head no.

"Chicken," I said, while smirking. Akane could never resist a challenge.

That set her off. Akane turned around and finally faced me. Her eyes were red and puffy, filled with tears and her makeup was running down her cheeks. She had an angry look on her face and her lip quivered. Yet, I couldn't find any other woman more beautiful than Akane looked right now.

She was shivering slightly, however. I'd forgotten she was wearing a dress! Man, she must've been freezing! I reached out, took off the jacket to my suit and threw it to her.

"Here, you must be cold." I answered, slowly.

"B-but… Ranma aren't you-"

"I'm fine. I have another shirt under the jacket." She was worried about me! I shared a secret smile, but I didn't show it on my lips. I knew that if Akane thought I was laughing at her, I'd end up spattered onto the pavement below.

She slipped on my jacket, silently and I couldn't help but notice how cute she looked.

I walked up to her, again and brushed the hair out of her eyes. And she looked up at me, her eyes were welling up with tears… yet again.

No, anything but tears!

"Ranma…" she began, her voice quivered from the tears. "Oh, jeez… I sound like such a baby." she groaned.

"No, your not, Akane…" I whispered, wiping the tears away from her eyes.

She looked up at me, again. "Ranma, don't you realize it never ends? The bickering, the suitors, the tears, the anger… the misery…" she asked.

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"Ranma, open your eyes!" she shouted at me. "Sooner or later, you'll have to tie the knot… with someone! And just think, there are some pretty amazing girls out there… dying just to look at you, to touch your hand, to embrace you… I mean… look at Shampoo and Ukyo they're all beautiful and talented women."

Ranma nodded. "They're pretty, I'll admit." he grinned. "But its too late my… my h-heart's… already been taken."

Akane's eyes widened. "I KNEW IT!" she shouted, hysterically. She began walking away from me. "You're in love with Kodachi! Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" she burst into tears. "And I actually wanted to-" before she could finish, I cut her off.

I couldn't take it anymore. That stupid, idiotic, smart, gorgeous, amazing girl. I loved her. I'd realized it long, long ago at Jusenkyo… but I could never say it out loud. I was too egotistic and proud. But all those emotions washed away and I grabbed her into my arms.

"Baka." I whispered at her. She looked up at me and I drowned in her brown eyes. I leaned down, and pressed my lips onto hers.

The fireworks went off. It was like magic. Our lips fit perfectly, like reason we were made was just to kiss each other. Her lips felt soft against mine, and I realized that was all I needed. Her. She was all I needed. All I ever wanted.

I denied the feelings over and over again, hoping they would go away. But they just got stronger and stronger as time passed. Every morning I would wake up to her smiling face, wishing that I could just reach out and kiss her.

And now my dreams had come true.

Since I was a preteen, before I even met Akane, I always had a dream of being married and having children of my own. Of course, a beautiful wife was always in the picture, too. I went many places in my life. Many training trips to different villages, cities and countries. I met beautiful, talented, graceful woman every day. But never did any of them interest me. I could live with the most gorgeous woman in the world for years, and I would never glance at her.

But, from the moment I saw Akane… I knew. I knew that she was… what I've been looking for. The missing piece to my puzzle. The meaning of my life.

Akane.

I took my lips off hers, slowly, hesitantly and let her lay in my arms for a few minutes. She wrapped her arms around my neck and it was extremely silent. The only noise that could be heard was our steady breathing and the beating of our hearts.

It was… perfect.

Then it hit me. What if Akane didn't want me back? I hoped she didn't think the kiss was forced on her? Maybe this love was only one sided!

"I'm sorry." I said, while breaking away from her. "I don't know what came over me, I-"

"Shush." Akane said, while placing a finger on my lips. "Ranma… I… I love you."

Now, tears were beginning to form in my eyes. I knew it was unmanly, but I didn't care.

I embraced her with all my might. "I love you, too, Akane." I whispered into her ear. The moment was perfect.

I reached into my pocked and pulled out something I was saving. Akane looked at it and gasped.

"One of our… cookies?" Akane said, with one eyebrow raised. "Why did you have one in your pocket?"

I smiled at her. "I packed a few in my basket… when I was sitting with Kodachi, I just couldn't eat it without you being there."

"Between us… I-I didn't even try one of our cookies." Akane whispered.

"What? Why?" I asked. I'd just realized it now… I'd never seen Akane eat one of the cookies!

"I was afraid…" Akane whispered, shamefully. "I was afraid they didn't taste good. That you were just being nice to me. I didn't want to ruin how proud I felt about the cookies."

"But Yuka tasted them…"

"Yeah, but I lost my appetite when the boys came." Akane laughed. "You never told me, Ranma, why you were so mad…"

A blush crept across my face and Akane pointed and laughed. She leaned down and whispered into my ear. "No need to be jealous, I'm all yours."

I grinned, widely and cracked the cookie in half. "Well, at least my jealousy did have some perks."

"What are those?"

"Now you get to taste our cookies for the first time… with me." I handed her half the cookie.

"Cheers." Akane smiled. "To Basket boy #4." We tapped our cookies together.

And we just sat there. Akane and me. Eating and laughing, looking up at the stars. Secretly, I noticed that they were shining a little brighter that night.