Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Ranma and Co...Whatever damage was sustained during the writing of this piece is purely surface, and can be fixed with a good washing...
The School
Ranma Saotome raced down the stairs and burst out the front doors of Furinkan High School, heading for the side yard. He scanned the groups of students enjoying their lunches in the bright pre-summer sun. He grinned in relief as Akane Tendo waggled her fingers at him from her spot against the boundary wall, and his relief grew exponentially when he saw a second, larger bento sitting beside her open one. He dropped to her side and snatched up his lunch, digging in quickly. He flashed her a quick smile as he practically inhaled his food.
Akane rolled her eyes and continued eating at a normal pace. "What did the principal want?" she asked when Ranma's bento was almost empty.
"Feh, it was just another stupid plot to try and buzz my hair. I beat him down again, no surprise there. 'Sides there was no way in hell I was gonna let him make me miss lunch." Ranma grinned smugly down at his fiancée through a mouthful of food.
"You are ridiculous Baka. Can't you go one day without fighting?" Akane asked, poking his well developed bicep as he finished his lunch and set down his bento.
He leaned back against the sun-warmed bricks of the wall and twined his fingers with Akane's small slim ones where his action would be hidden by her uniform skirt. "What would be the fun in that?" he asked, squeezing her hand.
"Right, of course. Silly me, whatever was I thinking?" She finished her lunch one handed and put her bento off to the side. They sat side by side, chatting idly, and Ranma glared down the few boys who dared to try approaching either him or Akane. "Hey, you up for a sparring match tonight?" Akane asked suddenly.
"Really? You wanna spar with me after training with Pops for two hours? Are you sure Tomboy?" he asked, closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall, hiding his concern behind nonchalance.
"Well, I've got to build my stamina somehow, you know. Besides, I'm still so thrilled that you're taking me seriously in the dojo that I want to enjoy this as much as possible while it lasts."
"'Kane, I can think of much better ways to build your stamina that have nothing to do with fighting." Ranma's blue eyes sparkled as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.
"Pervert," she growled, blushing cutely as she yanked her hand from his and punched his arm. "I told you, not until we're married." Her voice lowered to a whisper and her eyes darted back and forth, worried that someone might be close enough to hear their conversation.
Ranma snorted and was about to reclaim her hand when he heard a cheerful voice carol out: "Ranchan!" He groaned as Akane inched quickly away and picked up her juice can, cradling it in both hands, studiously ignoring the faint blush still staining her cheeks.
He rearranged his features into a sort of welcoming smile that was significantly less than heartfelt. "Hey Ucchan, what's up?"
"I thought you'd probably still be hungry, so I brought you some okonomiyaki. It's your favourite – pork special with extra tempura." Ukyo plopped down to sit on her shins beside him, her smile sunny and just a bit seductive. "Hey Akane, how's it going?"
"Oh, fine Ukyo, just enjoying the sunshine. How about you?" Ranma was impressed with how well Akane played friendly with her rival. Anyone who didn't know her as well as he did would think that she was happy to see the perky chef.
He bit his lip and his eyes darted between the steaming okonomiyaki and the tightness around Akane's eyes that belied the easy smile on her face. His stomach rumbled and he watched as Ukyo's grin widened and Akane's smile drooped. He opened his mouth to refuse Ukyo's gift, just to bring back the sparkle in Akane's eyes, but instead heard himself thanking Ukyo and grabbing greedily for the pizza. Dammit, this lack of control over my stomach is gonna get me into serious trouble one of these days, he thought as he licked his fingers.
Ukyo giggled and bumped her shoulder against his. "Oh Ranchan, I love cooking for you, you enjoy it so much."
Ranma winced as Akane's expression turned stormy for the short moment that Ukyo looked away at a shout from their left. She had tried to cook dinner again last night, and the results had been less than edible. He'd spent a good chunk of the evening hugging the toilet as Akane tearfully tended to him, apologizing over and over, cursing her inability to do anything considered a womanly art. He opened his mouth to try and reassure Akane, although with Ukyo around, he wasn't completely positive as to which words would actually escape his lips, but Akane quickly got to her feet.
"Sensei asked for my help with something before class starts again. See you two back in homeroom." She smiled weakly and walked quickly away.
Ranma growled quietly and was moving to gather his feet under him when Ukyo latched onto his arm and snuggled up close.
"Alone at last," she sighed. "I hardly ever get to be with you alone anymore Ranchan. You're always at the Tendo's or those other hussies are hanging around you."
"Hey, Akane ain't no hussy," he muttered, frowning down at the fiancée he had once considered his best friend.
"Sure Ranchan, whatever you say," Ukyo giggled.
Ranma gritted his teeth and was about to argue with her when the bell rang. "C'mon Ucchan, we gotta get to class." He jumped to his feet, dragging her up with him.
'"Since when have you cared about class Ranchan?" she demanded, hurrying to keep up with his longer stride without letting go of his arm.
"Well, y'know...a-another year and we're gonna be graduating, an' I don't wanna get left behind," Ranma babbled, dragging Ukyo up the stairs with him.
Akane was already at her desk when they reached their classroom. He watched the muscles in her jaw clench, the way she refused to meet his eyes, and his heart sank. Things had been going so well lately and now she was mad at him again. If only he could figure out a way to get rid of all the excess fiancées he'd managed to acquire over the years.
Throughout the rest of the day, he tried to catch Akane's attention, with notes and with forceful glances, but she stubbornly kept her gaze facing front and ignored him. The second class was over she packed up her books and notes and was out the door with speed that surprised him. Her training was really paying off; she was nearing Chestnut Fist speed there. He gathered up his own stuff and chased after her, anxious to catch up to her before she left school grounds.
"Hey Tomboy, wait up," he called, his eyes glued to Akane's tensely retreating back. She spun to face him just as Ukyo caught up to him and latched onto his arm again.
"Ranchan, why don't you come by Ucchan's and I'll whip you up something extra special before the dinner rush," she purred, rubbing her cheek along his bicep.
Ranma froze, looking at Akane with desperate eyes. Ukyo was acting way too much like Shampoo and all the purring and rubbing was making his skin crawl.
"See you at home Saotome," Akane growled, spinning on her heel and running out the gates. Ranma swore as his stomach clenched at the tears he'd glimpsed gathering in Akane's chocolate brown eyes.
"Look Ucchan, I really gotta get home, maybe some other time? I, uh...promised I'd help Kasumi with some stuff, you know, moving heavy things and crap like that. Rain check?" Ranma lied, hoping Ukyo couldn't tell, considering the fact that his poker face had never been very effective, it was a pretty slim hope.
Ukyo pouted up at him. "You never come to the restaurant anymore Ranchan. It's almost like you're avoiding me."
Ranma rounded on the brown haired girl, using a move to escape her that he would normally avoid as it tended to hurt the person on the other end of the hold. As Ukyo gasped in pain and pouted up at him even more, he folded his arms and took a step backward to maintain the distance between them as she took a step toward him.
"Yeah, well, maybe you should have thought of that before you attacked Akane and me at the we-wed...when we got back from China. Didja think I was just gonna forgive you for all the damage you caused? You could've really hurt someone – I mean, my mom was there, Kasumi was there, and you were aiming those bombs at Akane! That's just not cool Ukyo. I ain't ready to forgive you yet, so you should probably just leave me alone for a bit until I come looking for you or you're not gonna be happy with my answer, okay?" Ranma frowned down at the stunned looking girl in front of him, hiding his surprise over the fact that he'd actually managed to get all that out in one go. He'd been trying to say that for months, ever since the wrecked wedding. For once, he'd gotten this right, and it would have been perfect if Akane had been here to see it – she'd have been thrilled.
"Ranchan, you can't mean that..." Ukyo's lip quivered and Ranma hardened his heart against the inevitable tears.
"You know what Ukyo," Ranma said, emphasizing the lack of her usual nickname. "I gotta split. See you around." Ranma turned his back on Ukyo as the tears began to fall and he started to run, taking to the fence as soon as he hit the canal.
Halfway home, after checking to make sure he wasn't being followed, he leapt off the fence and allowed himself to react to the stress of finally releasing his anger at Ukyo, hyperventilating as he braced his hands against his knees. "Oh my God, I can't believe I just did that," he gasped. Oh, he was going to be in a world of hurt when Ukyo recovered. She had a tendency to get violent when she was embarrassed, confused, or angry, and he was betting she was feeling all three of those emotions right about now. "Deal with Ukyo later," he muttered to himself. "You gotta make things right with Akane now."
He jumped back onto the fence and continued home at a slightly slower pace. When he reached the dojo compound, he found Kasumi sweeping the front walkway. She sighed and looked at him with reproach in her eyes.
Ranma sagged. "Is she really mad?" he asked softly.
"She's out in the dojo with Uncle Saotome. You may want to give her some space." Kasumi shook her head. "Ranma, when are going to start thinking before you act?"
"It wasn't all me this time Kasumi, I swear; and I have been getting better, we've been doing great lately...except for today, I guess. I did something good though, after she left I mean, and it'll make her happy if she'll just give me a chance to explain," he defended, hating the fact that he had disappointed Kasumi again.
"Does she ever?" Kasumi asked wryly, shaking her head over her youngest sister's legendary temper.
"Well, sure, after she's...calmed down a bit...or hit me – one of the two."
"Ranma, you have to be careful," Kasumi sighed. "I know you mean well, but one of these days you are going to push her too far..."
"It ain't gonna happen Kasumi, I won't let it. I'm working on it, and I will make it better; I promised her." He took a deep breath and shook his head. "I gotta go talk to her. Thanks for the...warning."
He raced around the house, coming up short at the doors to the dojo as he saw his Pops go flying across the room. His gaze was riveted to the sight of Akane, flushed and sweaty, glowing with frustration, and fire sparking in her eyes. Her gi top had been loosened by her workout, allowing him quick glimpses of her dark blue sports bra, the hint of cleavage, and creamy skin. God, she's incredible, he thought in admiration. As her burning gaze turned and met his, he shook his head sharply. This was not the time to be ogling her, he had to fix this, give Akane a reason to forgive him without freaking her out with the fact that her anger turned him on more than Shampoo flaunting herself naked in front of him.
"I thought you'd be at Ucchan's getting your extra special treat," Akane muttered, glancing absently over to where Genma was dragging himself up against the wall, groaning as he moved.
"I'll take over from here Pops. Thanks for warming her up." Ranma waited until Genma was making his way up the porch to the house before slamming the dojo doors closed and rounding on Akane. "D'you honestly think that I would do that to you Tomboy? After everything that's happened? I told you I couldn't let you go and I meant it." He raked his fingers through his hair angrily. "You know, I thought we'd talked about the whole jumping to conclusions thing. She attached herself to me, not the other way around." His jaw was clenched so tightly that he could feel a muscle jumping in his jaw.
"But you never turn them down or turn them away," Akane growled, turning her back on him, fists clenched tightly. "I keep forgiving you and taking you back, and you keep letting them in, letting them hurt us. I can't keep this up Ranma, I just can't. It would be easier to just end this all now – it'll hurt less in the long run." Her shoulders shook with the tears he knew must be slipping from her eyes.
"Dammit Akane, quit talking like that," he growled, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her around. His suspicions were confirmed as her eyes overflowed with tears that slipped down her cheeks. He yanked her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the fists that beat half-heartedly against his back. "I refuse to give up on us Akane, I refuse. Especially not now. I mean, you're really gonna to tell me to go away after I told Ukyo to take a hike just so I could get back here to you?"
Her fists stilled on his back. "You did?" she asked, her voice muffled by his hard chest.
"I told you I was in this for the long haul 'Kane, and I wasn't lying. It may take me a while, but I'll figure out how to deal with the other fiancées, even if we gotta elope to do it. I know I ain't any good at saying it and I'm kinda clumsy at showing it, but I don't ever want anyone but you Tomboy, you got that?" Ranma's arms tightened around Akane's lean muscular body, loosening his hold as she squeaked in surprise and pushed back away from him. When he would have let her go completely, she wrapped her own arms around him, keeping him close.
"Wh-what did you say to Ukyo?" Akane hiccoughed.
Ranma related the story to her, glossing over his panic attack halfway home, knowing it would make her doubt his sincerity. He bit his lip as Akane stared at him for a long moment after he'd finished before laying her head against his chest. "So, am I forgiven?" he asked tentatively.
Akane's only answer was to reach up to tilt his head down as she rose onto her tiptoes to press her lips to his. Ranma felt the tension leave him and he kissed Akane back, walking her backward until her back hit the wall. He pressed into her, deepening the kiss. They became more and more entangled in each other, and Ranma slid one hand her neck into her hair, while the other slid down over her butt. God, I wish we could take this further, he moaned to himself after a long timeless moment, knowing that he would have to end this soon if he was going to have any hope of stopping. His lips left hers to trail down her throat, making her whimper quietly.
"Ranma...we've got to..."
"Stop, I know. I just wish..." Ranma pulled away to press his forehead against hers.
"Me too Ranma, but it's only another year or so...Just until we graduate, then..." She licked her lips then pressed them lightly to Ranma's. "Thank you for standing up to Ukyo, it means a lot."
"Well, y'know, once upon a time I thought she was my best friend, but then I realized another girl had taken that place in my heart," he grinned ruefully.
"Who? Shampoo?" she demanded teasingly.
"No dummy. You. I'd do anything for you." He kissed her forehead gently, marvelling at how far they'd come over the past six months, though it was a bit frustrating to see how easy it was to slip back into bad habits.
"Wanna spar?" Akane asked suddenly. "Seems like my sensei is, uh, out of commission right now, so I guess I'm going to need a new sparring partner for the night."
Ranma snorted. "We still gotta work on some of your anger issues Tomboy, so let's get going. We've got a long way to go."
Akane pulled away from her fiancé reluctantly to move to the middle of the dojo. She bowed and dropped into a defensive crouch. Ranma moved to mirror her, pushing aside the guilty twinge he always felt when they sparred with the ease of practice. They met in a vicious dance that personified their tumultuous relationship, spinning, punching, kicking, and dodging at speeds that almost defied the human eye.
When Kasumi came out to give them the half hour warning before dinner, she found them laughing as they engaged in an aerial battle that had them bouncing off the walls and ceiling. They mock absorbed Kasumi into their fight, and by the time she escaped their teasing clutches, she was giggling along with them.
"Hey," Ranma said, grabbing Akane's arm as she moved to follow Kasumi.
"I told you Ranma, I get the first bath," Akane replied, spinning to face him.
"I ain't suicidal, I wasn't gonna fight you on that one Tomboy. I was gonna ask if we're okay." He felt a muscle in his cheek begin to twitch, but he held his ground, needing to know the answer.
"Yeah Baka, we're going to be fine. Thanks for coming back." She smiled and Ranma felt as though the sun had suddenly emerged from behind the clouds. He nearly found himself blinking at the brilliance of it.
"Good. Very good. See you inside Tomboy," he sighed in relief, caressing her cheek gently.
Akane returned the caress and headed for her bath, and Ranma began his cool down routine again. After all the insanity and emotional upheaval of the day, he was kind of dreading school tomorrow. He groaned, remembering the time he'd told Akane that he didn't want a normal life because it'd be too boring. "Sometimes I should just keep my mouth shut." He muttered to himself as he headed into the house.
AN: Wow, sorry this took so long! This summer has been stupidly busy...but the upside is that the next chapter is almost done too! I am in the process of editting and re-writing (I am doing my own beta work at this point), so hopefully it won't be too long before I can post again. As always - please review and thanks for reading!
Tomboy.