Chapter 5: Are You Ready?
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
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Akane drove back home, dreading the idea of dressing up and makeup but dreading more the idea of crowd, gathering, and Ranma.
Ranma. Who would have thought that she would end up dealing with that awful guy again? she thought, frowning. God must have hated her, and she didn't even have to wonder why.
She asked for her sisters' help but regretted it immediately. They did more than their fair share. They forced her into a total makeover and into a piece of clothing that she'd never been comfortable wearing.
"Ugh!" Akane groaned while alternately tugging her sleeves and pulling down her skirts. "Seriously!" she grunted.
She looked around and found a couple of hotel visitors looking her way. Ladies seemed to hate her by the way she wore her dress while men were being their usual selves. "Jerks," she muttered. God knows how much she hates attracting people's attention.
"This way, princess." Somebody whispered into her ear, which made her jumped and almost tripped, but Ranma's hands always seemed ready to catch her when she fell.
"Shit, Ranma!" she cursed underneath her breath while trying to regain her balance.
She looked up and caught Ranma staring dumbly at her. "What?!" she demanded.
His eyes flickered, his mouth opened, then closed. He's totally speechless… until she finally caught up. "Oh, I get it. It's Nabiki's work," she said, rolling her eyes.
"I already told her that I don't like this dress but that wicked sister of mine came up with nothing but this." She said, pointing at the dark blue, off-shoulder dress she's wearing.
"She said, "it's this one, or you'll have to wear your own clothes?" she said, mimicking Nabiki's voice. "She knows how pathetic my clothes are. So, that's how I've ended up wearing this." she ended, sounding so depressed but making him smile.
"Then I'll have to thank Nabiki later coz she actually made you look like a lady right now." He told her.
She looked away to hide her blush but ended up noticing that they were attracting attention. She realized then that his arms were still wrapped around her. "Uhm, hands-off, please?" she asked.
"Ah, yes." he agreed, quickly removing his hands from her back and arm, standing back and looking away. Did he just blush?
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"So, are you ready?" he asked as they got into the elevator and pressed the tenth-floor button.
"Do you mind telling me where we are going and what I'm supposed to do?" she asked.
"To the benefit."
"Benefit?"
"It's a corporate event that usually happens around this time of the year, to be exact on my parents' wedding anniversary."
"Ahhh…" she replied, still isn't sure about what she's supposed to do, and it looks like he gets it.
"And it's where and when I'm going to introduce you as my fiancée," he told her.
"Ah." Was all she could utter as the predicament she got into started to sink into her system, making her wanna run and hide.
"What are you thinking? Please don't tell me you're changing your mind?" he pleads.
"I, err... I don't," she stuttered.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine... we'll be fine. You don't need to do anything. I just need your presence while I run the show."
"Okay."
Silence.
Ahhh! Her mind screamed. She needs a distraction, or her heart will burst out of nervousness.
"I was just wondering, what about your alternative?" she asked, looking at Ranma's back form, who's busy fixing his bow tie.
"Ah, Ukyo. She's a college friend. She's bound to be here in a month or two. Thank goodness you said yes before she can finalize everything. She actually offered her help since day one, but I just couldn't take her for granted."
"And you could... with me?" She swore that her glib tongue slips that one!
"She's a really good person, Akane... and have been a really good friend of mine."
"Of course." she agreed bitterly. Of course! She repeated in her mind begrudgingly.
"Akane..."
"It's alright. I stopped being your friend a long time ago. I could even hardly tell that we'd been friends before. And clearly, I said yes to you because I need to and that just made me an evil person."
"Ding!" The elevator stops and opens. Akane hurried out while Ranma tried catching up on her. When he couldn't, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"No, you're not. I will never think of you that way. You don't know how grateful I am that you decided to help me in the end coz I'm not kidding when I said I preferred you above all."
Akane turned and looked him in the eye. "Stop putting it like that." she spat. "I'm helping you because you're helping me. It's beneficial for both of us. Okay?"
A hint of hurt flashed thru his eyes, but instead of responding to what she said, he put on his most brilliant smile and softly whispered into her ear. "Are you ready? Coz here we are." Then to her surprise, he slid his masculine arms around her slim waist. Startled and about to protest, she looked at him, but he puts a finger over her lips. "I'm sorry, but this is part of the deal, and you must get used to it," he told her coolly.
Before she could respond, she felt that she was being dragged helplessly inside the hall. What did I get myself into?