Ranma ½ doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the great Rumiko Takahashi, if I did own do you think I'd be here right now?

-/-

Akane remembered watching little children playing with their mother's and father's through the market place. She would walk through the streets and peek in the windows of homes' and see families telling stories. Grandparents would shower their grandchildren with love and the occasional toy.

Akane also remembered walking down the dull halls of her home. She would feel no love and light. She remembered eating her meals alone. She remembered tucking herself in at night. She remembered being alone.

Grandparents weren't there to give her toys and kisses. She imagined what it would be like if her mother was alive. Would she have a better relationship with her father? Would she be with her parents while they told her stories?

But she didn't know what her mother would be like. Akane didn't think that she would sit around and tell stories all day. Sit around and be the housewife, doing nothing but chores. She always imagined her mother going out and playing with her. And if her mother had lived she wouldn't have played alone.

She envied the children who had friends and played with them all day. And scraped their knees when they fell down. But hate filled her heart when she over heard them talking about how they wanted to live in the palace. They had no idea what it was like. It was a cage and the key was buried deep in the ground.

But then she picked the lock and spread her wings. And the wind took her to the clearing where she met three other birds. She had to learn to trust for the first time and it scared her. She was afraid of getting hurt. The only way to keep from getting hurt was to turn them away before they had a chance.

But maybe she was protecting them instead of her. What did she have to protect them from? Herself? Her past? What?

But she also remembered someone else before the three birds. It was a boy who would visit her cage everyday. Every hour. He became possessive over her and she was happy for that. It showed that he cared. But then the boy stopped visiting her. Why? Then she found out and she wished she didn't.

Then someone after the boy and three birds; she was kind. She thought that the girl was the way her mother might have acted. She cared for her in a unique way. Like an older sister but not like the ones she already had.

She loved her older sisters but they rarely visited her. It made her mad and feel unwanted. They were her home and safe place and without them what would she do. They didn't leave like the three birds, the boy, or the girl. They were forever; at least that's what she thought.

Until the possessive boy took away the only light she had ever felt. No one could ever replace her light.

Unwillingly a mental image of Ranma flashed through her mind. She shook her head to clear these thoughts. No one could ever replace Kasumi. Could they?

Did she really hate the others like she claimed she did? If she didn't she was one hell of an actress. She felt something towards Ryouga and Ukyou that was foreign to her. But the thing she felt for Ranma . . . she couldn't put it into words. It was indescribable. The feeling you had to feel for yourself so you could understand.

But what was it? It made her mad just thinking of it. But it made her jetty at the same time.

"Akane?"

She snapped to attention at the sound of someone's voice from behind her. She whipped around and saw Ukyou behind her standing in the door of the hut. "What is it Ukyou?" she asked. She finished dressing in the thick clothes they were provided to keep warm.

"Elder Cologne told me to come and get you; supper's ready." Ukyou said to her. She walked out, expecting Akane to follow behind her. It took her a moment to realize that she was alone in the hut again; she was still in a daze. She slipped on the boots and tripped getting up. What was wrong with her? She was usually klutzy but she never tripped on air.

She walked out of the hut and saw smoke rise from the many chimneys as families prepared dinner for their children while they played. She felt a feeling of forlorn wash over her. She had an undeniable urge to walk to one of the families and join them.

She pushed that feeling to the back of her mind and walked through the mix of flavors and smells. Who knew fresh cooked food smelt that good. She was never allowed in the kitchen at home. She always burnt something or ruined a feast or something. So she wasn't good with a knife, big whoop. She didn't want to sit at home all day and care to her husbands every need. She wasn't some perfect little housewife and she certainly wasn't a baby machine.

"Ah, Akane; you finally made it." Akane looked around to see where the voice had come from. She heard someone clear their throat and looked down to see Cologne standing there, her hair veiling behind her. She didn't realize that she was in front of Cologne's hut. She smelt the wonderful aroma of one of her favorite meals and had to stop herself from running in like a starving animal.

Cologne must have seen her anxiousness for she chuckled and gestured for them to go inside. And there it was, in the center of the room above a fire, was a large pot of curry udon soup. It made her mouth water. She took a place on one of the pillows that circled around the pot. Around her sat Ukyou, Ryouga, Shampoo, and Mousse.

Cologne came in soon after Akane. She sat down and served everyone up a bowl of the soup, passing it around. Akane broke her chopsticks apart and had to force herself not to slurp. She had to keep her cool; she didn't want to ruin her reputation as the stone cold Fire Lord.

But when she tasted the soup she almost threw away the chopsticks and down it all in one gulp. Almost. How long had it been since she tasted something like this? She ate curry udon soup all the time but this soup was different. It had something else in it. What could it be?

While she was eating she didn't notice that another person had entered the room until they seated themselves next to her.

"What you doing here, Mikado?" Shampoo asked.

Akane choked and started hacking. She started to pound of her chest to get her airway clear. Everyone seated around her looked on in worry. When she could breath again she looked over to him. And it was true. There was Mikado himself with his simple but dazzling winter clothes, his sparkling eyes, and winners smile. It made her sick.

She clenched her eyes closed and continued to slurp her soup.

"I just smelt something really good coming from this hut and just had to have some." His silky voice was just as bad as stabbing needles in Akane's ears.

She knew that Mikado had an excellent sense of smell but she also knew that he wasn't talking about the soup. Her borrowed clothes had perfume lingering on them.

Akane heard someone else enter the room but didn't open her eyes. It didn't take a genius to figure out who had come. 'I always have had the worst of luck.' She thought pitifully.

"Ranma, its about time." Ryouga complained between bites. Ukyou made up a bowl of soup for Ranma and reached across Akane to give it to him.

The group ate in silence as Akane sat between Ranma and Mikado. She drank the broth quickly and tried to get out of the tight space the two boys provided her.

"What's your hurry, Akane?" Cologne asked as she served herself up a second helping. Akane tried to suppress the glare she was giving the old woman. Cologne looked over at Ranma and gave him a friendly look. "Why were you so late Ranma?"

As he ate the soup at lightning speed that would have most people choking. Ranma gave Akane a sideways glance and turned away faster than she even noticed he stared. "Nothing." As an afterthought Ranma said, "Thinking."

Akane felt something move around in her right pocket and turned to look at Ranma who continued to eat. She fished the object out and very discreetly smoothed out the piece of wadded up paper. She immediately froze and the paper fell from her limp fingers. Her eyes flickered like a candlelight blowing in the wind, but too stubborn to be puffed out. Her eyes' finally darted over to Ranma that was looking at her from the corner of his eye.

She got to her feet and stalked out. Her bangs hid her eyes and in her haste she dropped the crumpled paper and it landed right by Mikado. He snatched the paper quickly and looked up to see Cologne glaring at him.

The rest who were gathered around didn't know what to think of the scene that just played out in front of them. It was so fast paced and unreal they would have thought they stepped into the twilight zone if they didn't know any better.

Ryouga exchanged a look with Ranma. Through his eyes' Ryouga said to him, Follow her or I will then I'll come back and kick your ass.

Ranma's eyes said, Leave me alone porky, you don't know the situation.

Ryouga raised his eyebrows and shrugged carelessly. He broke their connection with each other and helped himself to more soup. Ranma burned a hole in Ryouga's head. He finished his soup and slammed the empty bowl down.

He stalked out of the warm hut and out into the cold hair. He could feel everyone staring at him while he walked out, even that creepy overdressed guy who sat next to his Akane.

'Wait, Akane is not mine! Snap out of it Ranma!' Ranma shook his head; where did that come from? He had to resist the urge to slap himself when happiness bubbled up in his chest at the thought of Akane wrapped in his arms. What was he thinking? They were at each other throats recently. You can't just change your feelings like that, can you? What happened if he did change his feelings? What would become of them?

Are you afraid? his inner thoughts asked.

'What? No way, Ranma Saotome isn't afraid of anything.'

Then why don't you do something instead of being a jerk to her?

'Well, b-because . . . um, you see . . .'

I think you just proved my point. The voice sounded so smug.

'You know what? I am not having a conversation with myself, that is just crazy! So I'm ending this now!'

I think we both know what you have to do to make it end, Ranma.

'I thought I said that I was done talking to you!'

You can't escape me Ranma. Just like how there is always a shadow if there is a flame.

Ranma finally realized that the voice that was talking to him was not his own. He had that same dark feeling squeezing his heart, the same feeling he felt when around Kuno, Kodachi and that weird guy.

'Who are you?'

There was a long pause.

I'm the master of this game and I will cheat to get whatever I want. Even if I have to use the dirtiest tricks in the book.

'What do you mean? This makes no sense!' Ranma felt something claw up his throat and suffocate him.

Everyone wants the beautiful Phoenix . . . look down.

Ranma unwillingly did as he was instructed and saw he was standing on the very edge of the Ice Cliff where ice stalagmites jutted from the frozen sea. Their edge gleamed threateningly in the light of the full moon. He started to feel dizzy as he swayed from side to side. He felt gravity betraying him. His body leaned forward and his toes started to slip from the edge until . . .

"Ranma!" Small warm hands clutched his muscular biceps and pulled him away. He snapped out of daze when he fell to the frozen ground. He heard someone huff beside him and saw Akane lying prone next to him. Her chest rose and fell as she took intakes of the icy air. Her cheeks were flushed from exertion and her hair was mussed from, what he guessed, running. She never looked more beautiful. Ranma internally slapped himself.

It took his fogged mind a moment to register that she had saved him. His mind flashed back to the recent times where she would be . . . different around them. Her feelings changed from devilish to panicked to sarcastic to happy-go-lucky to witty. It was hard to keep up with her. You would think from just a glance that she despised them all. But she just saved him and she also saved Ukyou. Did she really hate them or did she still feel friendship towards them?

"Are you alright?" the two asked at the same time.

Akane got up slowly and sat on her hunches, checking herself for injuries. "I'm fine." She scanned Ranma then when she was pleased he was not hurt she slapped him on the shoulder. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she shouted in his face. "Are you suicidal or something?"

Ranma opened his mouth to snap at her, his eyes filled with rage. But them he remembered the voice echoing through his head. He calmed and his face fell. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He pouted like a little kid and peeked through his bangs to look up at her.

She crossed her arms and stared at him straight in the eye. "Try me."

Ranma straightened and looked at her with an intensity so great Akane visibly flinched. "First answer me this, what does that picture have to do with you?"

Akane's eye widened.

"Who is Kimiko? How did Soun kill her?"

Her eyes searched his and for the first time in his life he saw tears well up in Akane's eyes. Even when she found out her sister had been kidnapped she still hadn't cried.

"Tell me your life." He asked more calmly. He was tired of playing games, he wanted to know. No, he needed to know.

Akane wanted to yell and scream at him. She wanted to be mad at him but couldn't find the strength to do so. The look in his eyes told her she could trust him. It was that same look in his eyes when they first met. When she was young and was afraid to trust someone. Then he walked up to her, unafraid of her and friendly, and he looked at her with that same look he continued to give her now. It was indescribable.

"Well . . ."

"Charlotte!"

"Squee!"

The two turned around to see a girl with big brown hair and pink fluffy clothes chase a little black piglet. She ran across the ice gracefully as if she was floating. She continued to giggle and the pig increased its speed. But the slick surface and its short legs proved to be a problem. It fell headfirst and skidded right into Akane's arms.

Akane cradled the small thing to her chest, her previous conversation with Ranma forgotten. "It's you little piggy!"

The bubbly girl slid to a stop right by the two of them, kicking up shaved ice in the process. As Ranma and Akane swiped the ice and snow from their faces the girl studied Akane. She glared daggers at Akane's hands that were wrapped around the piglet.

"What are you doing with my Charlotte?" she asked with her glass breaking squeaky voice.

Akane got up to apologized to the girl. She had no idea this was her pet.

Ryouga looked over Akane's shoulder to plead Ranma with his eyes to help. Ranma had to hold back the cheeky smile and responded with an amused shake of the head.

Akane opened her mouth to apologize when she saw him walking up to them. Ranma noticed he was coming before he could see him. He felt that weird feeling start in the pit of his stomach and shoot up his spine to his brain that shouted to him, Danger!

"I'm so sorry Akane, is she bothering you?" Mikado asked as he walked up to the group.

"Not at all." Akane tried her hardest to bite down a sarcastic reply but her true nature took over. "I was just about to say that the little piglet was a perfect choice for a pet. Since she is so used to hanging around a hog." Akane's deadly cute smile lit her face and Ranma had to bite the inside of his cheeks to keep from laughing. If Akane didn't like this guy too he would have no problem kicking his ass if need be.

Mikado took the comment good-naturedly. He chuckled heartedly and his eyes flickered to Ranma for a second who was still sitting on the edge of the cliff. Ranma quickly got up; he felt weak and worthless when he was literally being looked down upon.

"Oh, how I missed that good humor when I had to leave you," His eyes glazed over with a look of nostalgia. "I hope you didn't forget our goodbye kiss?"

"What?" Akane and Ranma shouted together.

Ranma looked down at Akane is disbelief and she quickly shook her head in defense.

"I swear that is a lie! When I were little the two came to the Fire Clan and . . . and . . ." Akane paused. She narrowed her eyes at Ranma. "Wait, I shouldn't have to be explaining myself to you or anyone!" She flipped her hair and stalked off, piglet still in hand.

"Akane, wait!" Ranma called after her.

"Leave me alone, Ranma!" she called back over her shoulder. She increased her speed and when she was out of sight Ranma sighed.

"Ranma?" The boy in question looked up at the sound of his name. He looked into Mikado's blue eyes that didn't compare to Ranma's. "You're Ranma Saotome?" Mikado asked again.

"Yeah?" Ranma said warily. "Why?"

Ranma saw the silly girl behind Mikado make a face at him and then looked over to Mikado hopefully.

Mikado's white teeth gleamed as he smiled his infamous smile. "I have a challenge for you."

-/-

Akane's inner fire set off a glow as she walked through the slowly growing night. She didn't know where she was going but at least she wasn't blind.

"Squee?"

The strange noise reminded Akane that she still held the pig. She looked at its curious expression and laughed. "I guess you know most of my secrets, huh?" Akane put a finger to her lips and winked. "But don't tell okay?" She meant it as a joke but the piglet eagerly nodded its head.

Akane smiled down at the pig and stroked the patch of fur on the top of its head lovingly. "I guess you're the only one left I can trust in the world." She walked over to a nearby pond. "The last person who really knows what I'm going through is long gone."

Akane looked at the reflection of the moon the cold pond let off. She looked up to see the real thing. "I hope she went to the moon. I always loved it so much." Akane clamped her hand over her mouth at the change in her voice.

She looked down at the animal in her arms that stared back at her wide-eyed.

"Squee!"

"What?" Akane asked frantically. She hurriedly looked down at her reflection that changed to a woman about one year her senior; her calloused hands gripped the pig. Her dirt-streaked face was panicked and her hair bounced with perfect, untouched curls. Her shaky hand reached up to touch her hair and felt the smooth curls on her fingertips. She brought her hair in front of her and saw the curls herself. She looked down and her original reflection was there but her hair stayed curly.

She felt the pain slice through her chest and the blood painting the ground beneath her. she felt the frantic screams work there way up her throat and the last thing that she remembered was seeing the smug satisfaction in Genma's eyes and the torn expression of grief and victory color Soun's face. She gathered her strength for one more scream and screeched, "Don't you dare lay a finger of her Soun!"

Before collapsing to the ground.

-/-

Ukyou laughed loudly, waking a few sleeping residents. Ranma blushed profusely and finally shouted. "Enough!"

"You got that right, now shut up!" yelled the person from the neighboring hut.

Ukyou wiped the tears from her eyes' and tried to hold a straight face while looking at Ranma. Her efforts were in vain for she started a light fit of giggles. She received a warning glare from Ranma. "I'm sorry, it's just that you . . . skating? You can't skate worth a damn Ranma! What possessed you to say yes to Mikado's challenge anyway?"

Ranma's blush grew darker and he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Well it had martial arts in the name so if it has that there was no chance I could lose."

Both of them knew that was a lie and Ukyou gave him a look that told him so. "Come on Ranma."

He sighed in defeat and muttered something intelligible under his breath. Ukyou looked confused and leaned in closer. "What did you say?"

He muttered it a bit louder and Ukyou asked again.

"I said that Akane was the prize for whoever won! Happy?" he screamed at Ukyou.

She was not afraid of him but she did lean back from this revelation. Since when did he start caring for Akane like that? Ukyou narrowed her eyes and studied Ranma's blue ones. "You love her don't you?"

Again Ranma blushed and avoided eye contact with Ukyou. "N-no! I don't feel a thing for that stupid tomboy!" What Ukyou didn't hear was the quiet after thought Ranma spoke aloud, "I'm dead to her anyway."

Ukyou licked her suddenly dry lips and stared lovingly at Ranma's conflicted eyes. "Good," Ranma looked at her in shock and finally noticed the look in her eyes. "Then I have nothing to worry about." She cupped both of Ranma's cheeks and pulled him down to lock lips with him the exact moment Shampoo walked in.

-/-

Ranma and Akane fan all the way!

Guess I'm going to spend a little more time in the Ice Clan than I thought, hope you guys don't mind. Review!