Clumsy at Love
Chapter 14: His Guardian Angel
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
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"Ranma…" somebody whispered. Akane peeked to her side and saw Ranma leaning towards Ukyo, who was sitting beside him. The lady then moved her sexy red lips over his ear and whispered something. Ranma listened contentedly with a slight smile playing on his lips.
She's Ukyo Kuonji. She's Ranma's friend from the U.S. And she's a surgeon. One of the best of their kind, Ranma says.
The lady doctor looks sumptuous in her mustard jumpsuit while her long brown hair is tied neatly in an unadorned white hair tie. She doesn't look like a surgeon at all, but more like a model like Shampoo. That pervert must really like that type.
It's good that she's not competing with those women for that idiot's love and attention because if that's the case, her fight would be pointless. And pitiful. She sighs dejectedly. She felt pathetic wearing a fussy dress and strappy sandals that weren't her style at all. And she had a feeling that she looked like one as well.
Ukyo's stare fell at her and caught her ogling at them. The lady then offered her a bright smile, but before she could smile back, she had already returned her attention to Ranma. So, she decided to return her attention to Aunt Hinako. They were in the middle of the last-minute briefing for the upcoming welcome party and dinner rehearsal next week.
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"If I didn't know your love story and how much Ranma adores you… I would think that you two were a fake couple."
Akane smiled weakly. We are. But she couldn't possibly say that to Aunt Hinako.
The old lady then sat beside her. "Don't you lose on those girls trying to steal that fool, ha?"
Akane chuckled, but Aunt Hinako could unmistakably see the chicken-heartedness in her oval brown eyes. "Let me tell you a secret. Take this as my wedding gift, okay? You know, when Ranma lives with me in the U.S., he talks about you all the time. Hmm, the truth is... I know about the love letter incident."
Akane gasps. Her eyes widened in surprise. Then she clapped her hands over her embarrassed face.
Aunt Hinako laughs. "Why I think it's cute... if only that idiot didn't mess it up. But you know what, he's gone miserable when I told him he seriously hurt you for acting the way he did. When he recovered, he busied himself trying to reach you in every way he could, but I couldn't blame you that you ignored him with all you might. But still, seeing how he worked hard writing you letters and sending you gifts via airmail. Emails, calls, and SMS that I knew you'd never entertain, he still tried it, even using your family and friends to get to you... would like you to know how sorry he was."
Akane's stare fell on Ranma, who was busy chatting with his colleagues. He did all that? She knew the emails, calls, and SMS from him through her family and friends, but she never entertained one. But emails, calls, and SMS on her own address and personal number? She never heard or read one. She never knew because her phone was miraculously lost, and her email account suddenly refused to open. But letters and gifts? Did he send her those? When? Where? Why she'd never heard of it?
"He loves you, Akane..." She added. "More than he realized."
Or maybe not... maybe it's his guilty conscience that wouldn't let him sleep who pushed him to do those unnecessary things.
"So, have a little more faith in him... and remember to always listen to your heart."
Akane smiled thankfully. She knows she means well. "Can I call you sometime when I miss you?" she said instead.
"Of course. Anytime." Aunt Hinako replied happily, hugging her tightly.
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"So, how are things going on between you two?" Asked Ukyo to Ranma, who watched Akane and Aunt Hinako talking as they strolled towards them.
"Huh? You tell me," he muttered.
"Hmm," she stops and thinks for a moment. "Let me observe some more. But, she's more pretty than I expected her to be, and timider too. I shouldn't have relied too much on your description."
He laughs. "I tend to exaggerate things when it comes to her." So, true. He sighed.
"Hey, Akane," he called out. "Let's go?"
Akane's probing eyes settled on him. He ditched her this morning to fetch Ukyo. Why ditch the lady doctor now? She opened her mouth, but before she could utter a word, Ukyo chimed in.
"I thought you're accompanying me shopping?" Aww, she looks like she's going to throw a fit.
"Oh, right," he replied. "How did you get here?" he inquired.
"I took a grab," she answered hesitantly. Her eyes were back and forth towards Ranma and the perturbed lady beside him.
"Do you mind calling one for Ukyo?"
"Eh?!" she exclaimed.
"Book her to the nearest shopping mall," he told her before turning to Ukyo. "I'm sorry, but Akane's feet are sore from wearing sandals all day, so I have to send her home." He then turned to Akane. "I'll send you home."
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I can't believe he noticed. She thought as the disappointed look on Ukyo's face, and Aunt Hinako's knowing smile flashed through her head. She shook her head, driving unnecessary thoughts out of her head, but doubted that she could shake off the unwelcome warmth spreading through her heart.
"Ahhh! Finally, freedom," he exclaimed, both of his hands placed at the back of his head. They were both watching Ukyo's grab car drove away.
What if he's truly sorry and did those things for her? Would she forgive him then? But how come he never apologize in person?
Ranma then turned to her as soon as the car disappeared from their sight. "So, can you walk, or do you want me to carry you to my car?" he asked.
She blushed. "I can still walk," she huffed, then started walking err, limping. "Which way?"
"This way, princess," he said, leading the way. "You should have worn sneakers. You're more comfortable wearing those," he then commented.
"As if it would look good with this dress."
"Who cares? It's not your style anyway."
"Right," she muttered.
"I'm hungry. Where do you want to eat?"
"You're the one who's hungry, not me."
"Right. Uhm, there's this pizza parlor I discovered, we..."
"I'm not hungry." She said, cutting him off.
"That's impossible. After all those things Aunt Hinako made us do?"
"I just wanna go home. My feet hurt, remember?"
"I'll buy you slippers on the way. Uhm, the truth is... I just want to spend some time with you. I feel like Ukyo has been taking so much of my time from you... that's why. And you're letting her." He said, frowning.
Akane halted and threw him a withering glare. "Are you playing tricks on me?"
"No. I'm just asking you to spare me a little of your time." He said, his almond-shaped eyes fixated on hers, and the softness in them made her knees go weak.
Thump, thump, thump... She retrieves her melting glare. "Fine! Just move out of my way." She spat. He moved.
Ugh! She hates it when he attacks her like that... It felt like he was tearing her defenses apart. She frowned at the thought.
He followed her in haste. "So, what do you think of Ukyo?"
"What I think of Ukyo?" She repeated thoughtfully. "Hmm, I think she's beautiful, smart, and charming with lots of confidence and oozing feminine vibes," she told him. "In short, she's everything I'm not," she added.
Ranma laughs. "What's that again?"
"What I think of Ukyo."
"Well, she's more or less of what you describe. But she's more than those to me. For me, she's like an angel in disguise that gave me that one big push that I needed to fulfill my dreams. You see, I owe her so much. She's my great confidante." he said.
"Oh," she uttered.
"Yeah, and a sister I never had, I guess," he added.
Oh. Her heart and mind echoed simultaneously, still stuck at the "angel" statement.
"What I'm trying to say here is... bear with her a little more. I know she's a bit manipulative and way too clingy at times but, bear with her; I ask of you. She's far different from Shampoo and all other women that cling to me. But that doesn't mean that you'll let her win all the time. If you could, take me away from her, okay?"
"I don't mind her winning if she meant that much to you," she said snidely.
"Huh?" He stopped on his track. "Did you get what I'm trying to say here?"
"I do," she said promptly.
"Why do I feel like you don't get me at all?"
"I'm not dumb, idiot." You made it so clear, making it impossible for me to twist its meaning that that Ukyo girl is your guardian angel or something.
"Ugh!" she grunted. "My feet hurt. Can you just drive me home?"
"But you already agreed to eat with me? You can't just take back your word," he said. He's standing on her way again.
"Why not? I want to take it back, and I'm taking it back, right now!" she fumed. "I already told you that I'm not hungry, didn't I? But you're annoyingly persistent. Honestly, I hate pizza. I hate being caught up with you, and most of all, I hate you."
"I get it. Your feet hurt. You're not hungry. And you want to go home. I get it." He said, his voice seeming caught up in his throat. "Wait here. I'll get the car and drive you straight home, right away."
But she's not finished yet. "What's that for? Why are you being nice? Why are you acting that way? Stop it, will you? It's disgusting. Drop the act already, Ranma. Show me who you really are. Because it seriously gets into my nerve every time you act all nice and friendly with me when we're not even friends at all."
Ranma chuckled darkly. "You're really good at crashing people's spirit, huh?" he remarked, finally shifting his cold gaze towards her. "Very likely from a childish, stubborn, short-tempered you," he muttered, then turned his back on her.