Disclaimer: I never did, I do not, and probably never will own Ranma ½

Little Shack

By

VICCOLOVE

A/N: I was hoping to post a chapter a day but since I would be able to post this Friday, I'm doing it today.

Chapter 4

Kasumi had cornered Ranma and she knew he couldn't say no to her. Sometimes, she liked having that kind of power over people.

Ranma was shocked. How could Kasumi ask him this in particular? His brain was suffering from a blown short circuit. When he finally recovered he immediately started to protest in his usual manner.

"Why would I want to invite that tomboy? I don't even want to go to that stupid dance. It's just a cleaver plan from Principal Kuno to torture us, especially me." He was too busy talking to notice the rather disappointed look on Kasumi face.

"Ranma, I think you should really think about what you are saying. You know Akane is a very sweet girl but anyone would be upset if they heard someone calling her all those names. I think that your invitation to the dance would make the perfect apology." Ranma was just staring at Kasumi.

Ranma just gave up "I don't know Kasumi. Besides, I don't think that she would want to go with me"

"Just think about it, alright" she gave him her most sweet and motherly smiles she could muster.

Ranma was left alone in the dojo again. His mind hadn't really processed the idea of asking Akane to the dance. He felt blushing at the thought but decided that maybe it was the best thing. After all, he didn't really want to see Akane going with someone else.

The next day went exactly the same at the previous. Akane left for school early while Ranma was running late, yet again. When Ranma got to school everyone was already in the classroom. He only had a few minutes to get there and thank god, the vivaciously was able to get there on time by just a few seconds.

When it was finally time for lunch Ranma made his way to the cafeteria to buy something. When he was able to manage to get through the line he when outside to look for Akane. He wanted to talk to her right then and there. He walked around from a while but he couldn't find her, he even saw Yuka and Sayuri but they were alone.

He gave up and decided to go to the roof like usually did but when he turned around he ran into Ukyo.

Great, just great, he thought.

"Oh Ranma-honey, I've been looking for you. Have you been hiding from me?" She meant it as a joke, but Ranma could hear a tone in her voice.

"Hey Ucchan. Where you looking for me? Why, did you need something?" he really didn't want to talk to anyone right now.

All of a sudden, he noticed Ukyo getting a little nervous. "Actually Ranchan, I…I wanted…I wanted to see if you already had a date for the dance" she was fidgeting but had a smile on her face. Didn't we go through this already? What am I going to do? He didn't want to hurt her feelings but he had other plans in mind. "No, not yet" he didn't feel right lying to her either way.

Ukyo's face lit up, now was her chance. "Well, I was thinking…maybe we should go together" there was hope in her eyes. She was looking at him; with her eyes piercing thought him. How am I going to get out of this now? "I don't know Ucchan,.." he didn't know what to say, he wanted to say no but didn't want to hurt her. "You don't have to say anything right now, but think about it" she just walked away hoping he would say yes later.

Ranma then turned and started to walk towards the school building, determined to go to the room and have a peaceful lunch. But when he got there, he got a little surprise…

Akane had woken up in a very mad mood that morning. She just couldn't understand how her life had gotten so screwed up. She thought a lot about how much Ranma had changed her life. She wasn't just upset, she was really depressed. Everything was just so wrong.

She had decided that she would just have to live through it and go on like if nothing had happened. She wanted to take control of her life and it would have to start as soon as possible. That day she got to school earlier than normal.

By lunch time, she was too sad, she wanted to forget about Ranma but it just didn't help that she had to see him all day. She didn't want to talk to anybody, not even her friends. She just wanted to find a quiet spot where she could have lunch. She had wondered through the school looking for a good place, but students seemed to be occupying every classroom.

She knew of one more place, and when she walked there, she was thankful that it was empty. She sat thinking about him. The worst part was that now her friends were starting to notice that she was acting strange and had started to ask questions. She decided that a few days by herself would help her clear her mind.

She heard a noise coming from behind her, what now? She turned around and…him. He was standing there carrying his lunch, staring at her.

"Akane…" Ranma would have never guessed that he would find her here. He assumed she knew this was his favorite place, so why would she come up here too? Maybe it means that she wants to make up too. Funny choice of words, he thought to himself.

"Ranma…" Akane didn't want to see anyone, least of all, him. But now that she was looking at him, standing there, she realized how much she missed him. Despite all his insults she had grown accustomed to him, she needed him there with her to feel safe, protected and whole.

Ranma walked up to her, he noticed her face sad and it broke his heart. She seemed to vulnerable and it was a side of her that he didn't see often.

He sat next to her, getting ready to eat his own lunch. None said anything for a while, they just ate. They didn't really look at each other either, Akane was tired of the awkward silence, she was the first one to speak.

"What are you doing here Ranma?" she tried to give him the iciest glare she could.

"Nothing just having lunch. Why, is that a problem?" He hoped that after the few days she would have calmed down.

"Of course it is, if I make your life so horrible, then why the hell are you sitting here with me?"

Obviously she is still pretty pissed off at me! "Akane I just wanted to…well I was here because I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk to you" suddenly, he found his feet very amusing.

Wait. He came to apologize! Since when does he apologize? Especially to me

She was silent for a moment; well it was more like she was shocked.

"C'mon Kane, you know I never mean what I say"

"Really, Ranma" Akane couldn't help the smile that was forming on her face.

"Of course I didn't. Actually…I was…you know…I was wondering…"

At that moment they heard a noise behind them. They had been so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't even realize when Ukyo had approached them.

Ukyo's POV

I can't believe he doesn't want to go to the dance with me. I'm the cute one, he said it, and I'm the one he should be going with. And now I'm standing here like an idiot.

I looked at him until he was out of sight.

Wait, did he just go to the roof? Maybe this is my chance, that way we can be all alone. That would be great, maybe I can convince him to go with me.

So I made my way to the rood just after him. And just as I make it there, I see he's sitting there with her. They are so close to each other and it makes me want to kill her. My heart starts beating faster and I try to calm myself. And then it dawned on me, what if he wants to go with her? That is not going to happen, not if I can help it.

"Ranma-honey, I was looking for you. I was going to tell you that maybe before the dance we could go eat something first. What do you think?"

Shit, Shit, Shit. I m so dead! His mind was yelling.

"Wait a minute. You are going to the dance with her?" I can't believe it, that stupid jerk and here I thought that he was about to ask me. I should have known better. After what he said, I must be stupid to think that he would invite me. She didn't know what to do so she just ran away.

What do you think? I hope it wasn't confusing. Let me know.