Chapter 6:

Lucid Dreams

"You're doing what?"

"Come on dad, you like Ryouga. I mean, we're planning to get married, why shouldn't I move in with him?" Akane glared at her father, this was a match she intended to win. In fact, she'd never actually intended to have this match in the first place. She'd expected her father to simply allow her to move in with her fiance, no questions asked, but his reaction had gone completely differently.

"Absolutely out of the question." Soun had to stand firm in his convictions. "What would your mother think?"

"What would my mother think, hmmm? You and her were both younger then I am now when you eloped." She'd hoped she wouldn't have to play that card, but apparently it was a necesary one.

Her father paused and sighed. That had taken some of the wind out of him, and he had to pause to think for a moment. "Well yes, yes we were, but that was a different time, things were different. Still, that doesn't change my answer. At least do your father a favor and wait until after the wedding, you are both still in High School, what would people think?"

"I'm going to live with him dad, whether you agree to it or not. I want you to give our love your blessing."

"You know I do Akane, it's just..." Soun sighed a bit as he watched his daughter. It was hard for him to watch her grow up, and she reminded him so much of her mother, down to the temper. He put his right hand to his face, an attempt to regain his composure, and finally he turned away from her. "Very well Akane, even if I tried to stop you, you'd do what you want, you really are so much like your mother. Just promise you'll come visit often."

"Thanks dad!" Akane threw her arms around her dad's neck hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.

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"So, you figured out everything with you and Nodoka then?" Nabiki was lying on Akane's bed, her head dangling over the edge as she looked up at her sister. She'd been a little concerned when she heard Akane wanting to move out, especially after the start of the arguement with thier father.

"No, not really, but that doesn't matter does it? I have Ryouga, I'm happy. Dwelling on what ifs will only cause problems." Akane was sitting backwards in her chair watching her sister do leg-lifts, a slight blush across her cheeks. "Besides Nabiki, we're both girls, and it's just wierd, ok?"

Nabiki almost chuckled as her legs hit the bed and she rolled over, then propped her chin up in her hands as her elbows rested upon the mattress. "My my little sister, you're blushing. Come now, I know you better then anyone, it's tearing you up inside to leave things unresolved, isn't it."

"It's not like it matters, I haven't seen her since the other day, she hasn't been to school or anything. She probably hates me." Akane sighed and looked away.

"Is that what this is about then? You're afraid she hates you cause you tried a little experiment, and haven't seen her since. She's probably been sick or something, I doubt she hates you, at least, if I judged her right by the way she was looking at you." Nabiki smiled and stood from the bed, then wrapped her arms around Akane. "You're thinking too much Akane, maybe you should wait a couple days before moving in with Ryouga, you know, make sure you're sure about this. Living with someone's a huge commitment, I mean I still haven't agreed to live with Kuno you know."

"It's not just that Nabiki." Akane sighed as she pushed away from her sister slightly, stood, and then looked out the window. "I don't know why, but I can't stop thinking about that girl, she reminds me so much of Ranma."

"Wait a second, what?" Nabiki spoke out rather startled, she definately hadn't expected that. "Yeah, I guess there are a few similarities, but come on Akane, they're really nothing alike. It's almost like you're looking for ways to sabotage things with you and Ryouga now. Didn't you just say you were happy?"

"I am, I really want to be, it's just... I've been so confused since that first day we met that girl. I guess you didn't see it, but she wears a ring around her neck, it's identical to the one I gave Ranma." Akane was almost ready to break into tears, but something made her hold them back. She'd already said more to Nabiki then she'd intended, but at least her sister hadn't gone into her Ice Queen persona yet.

"So, what, you trying to make her into Ranma? That's not possible Akane, you and I both know that. It's probably just a coincidence. Remember, I helped you pick those rings out, there were several just like them." She placed a hand on Akane's shoulder and tried to comfort her sister.

"I, I guess you're right Nabiki." She sighed and stared out into the night sky again. "But what if she knows Ranma, what if he's the one who gave her the ring?"

"So what if he did? It's been ten years since he left, you've moved on, he probably did too. If he knows her, big deal, you have Ryouga." Nabiki shook her head. "I know what you're thinking Akane, 'Maybe I'll ask her about it.' I wouldn't, but you'll probably do it anyways. Just, make sure you do it carefully, I don't want to see you getting hurt, ok?"

Akane turned around and looked at Nabiki again, then smiled slightly. "Thanks Nabiki, you've been a big help, again."

"Of course, I'm charging double tomorrow."

"Thief!" Akane stuck her tongue out as she chased her sister from her room.

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Nodoka looked around the classroom. She'd gotten there early today, the first time in almost four days that she'd been to school, and for some reason, it felt odd that the room was so empty. She'd felt differently since Ukyo figured out who she was, but that didn't bother her. She'd always had a special kind of friendship with her, and was glad that she could see the real her. Still, hearing about more details between Ryouga and Akane, that bothered her. She had already accepted that Akane had moved on, that she wasn't in a place to do anything, but still, it gnawed at her for some reason.

Her biggest fear still remained though. She still had to face down Akane at some point. There was that kiss, and letting Akane down the other day, then there had been missing of several days of class. To top everything off, she'd heard about Akane and Ryouga's plans to move in together. She'd given up crying about it, she knew that wouldn't change anything, she didn't even understand why it bothered her. "Dammit! It's not fair! Why do I have to feel like this?" She slammed her head on the desk an sighed. She had the good fortune that no one else was in the classroom yet.

A few moments passed and another student would enter, Nodoka sighed and looked away, her luck obviously hadn't improved recently. She wasn't ready to face Akane yet, and that was precisely the person who had appeared. Akane too looked a bit nervous, but walked straight to Nodoka's desk. "Uhm, excuse me."

Nodoka looked up at Akane, and though she wanted to smile, her face betrayed the turmoil she felt. "First off, I didn't skip school because I was avoiding you, if that's what you want to know."

Akane paused, something about Nodoka seemed a bit colder then usual. Sure, there were several things that had happened between them, but that was no excuse. She sighed slightly. "Actually, it's about the ring you wear around your neck. Did you get it from someone named Ranma?"

Nodoka's heart skipped a beat as she looked Akane over with a serious face. A pained expression filled her as she looked away. "I, I don't want to talk about this." She stood from her desk and ran from the room, her arm over her eyes to cover up the tears.

Akane sighed and sat down at her desk as Nodoka left the room. She shook her head and sighed as well. Obviously that was a touchy subject.