A/N: Yes, yes the title is long, I'm sorry!
If you find any grammatical errors, please let me know "^^
Thank you for reading!
words: 8,889
Ranma had agreed to help her run errands only because she had promised a treat afterwards, usually consisting of a large fruit parfait cup, which he was really good at finishing entirely. But now, as they walked among the sea of people on such a hot day, he wondered if it was worth it.
Akane seemed to be simply shopping, stopping constantly to observe hair jewelry and other trinkets that hadn't really caught much of his attention. Nonetheless, he had followed her into endless stores, and waited patiently as she tried on clothes, unnecessarily so. The clothes were going to fit the way they did, why did she have a need to observe herself in the mirror? She was box-shaped, with hips too wide and not enough on the northern region to help balance it out; or so, he tried to convince himself.
Which was why, a few stores ago, when Akane had asked him for his opinion about a dress she was on the fence about, he didn't say much. When she stepped out, he felt his chest clench up, his lungs suffocating as he felt the heat of his flushed cheeks overtake his face. The young woman had walked out in a strappy sundress, the creamy cloth embracing her wonderfully as she nervously pressed her clammy palms at the sides of her hips.
"It's on sale, but I don't know how I feel about it," Akane found herself having to say out loud, as if explaining why she needed a second opinion, and he found it very out-of-character for her to ask him, but God, did she look good in it.
Ranma cleared his throat, trying to regain his nonchalant composure, acting like he didn't care (because he shouldn't care, right?). "It don't matter what you wear, with your bucket waist, 'Kane."
She sighed loudly, clearly annoyed as she rolled her eyes and walked back into the dressing room, murmuring some very creative words under her breath. "You're such an idiot," was what he did manage to catch just before she closed the curtain behind her.
What was she expecting? For him to admit that she did look a little cute in that dress? It wouldn't have been a lie, but something about saying such words to Akane flustered him completely. He was really good about expressing his thoughts aloud, although he never gave much thought into what he was saying. Bickering had become almost like their secret language that helped flourish their fruitful relationship (whether he wanted to admit it or not). But he did find it so hard to admit such embarrassing things out loud.
Still, she bought the dress.
Kasumi had insisted on one of her parasols, tenderly shoving it into his hands, now very thankful as the summer sun would have been hitting them directly. And although they were only sweating just a tad, easily wiping it off their foreheads, he couldn't help but notice the way Akane kept pushing bundles of hair behind her ears and over her shoulders, making him aware that its length just skimmed her shoulders.
Her hair was getting quite long; she was usually good at getting a trim on time, and he wondered if she had forgotten about it. She was wearing a clip at each side of her head, using it to help keep hair out of face, it seemed.
He watched her, her dainty hand picking up a claw clip bedazzled in gemstones, testing its grip as she squeezed it a few times before setting it back down and reaching for another. He held the parasol over them with one hand, and a few shopping bags in the other. He hadn't offered to carry the shopping bags, but also when she'd ask him to hold them while she looked at something, he easily took them and hadn't bothered to give them back to her even when she was done looking.
Her hand reached back to her hair, pushing it away from her neck once more, bothering him for some reason. She had always had short hair, for as long as he could remember; of course, their bizarre antics had gotten her long strands chopped initially, but she kept it short ever since. And it suited her well, he thought, and believed she should get a trim.
On the way home they had stopped for ice cream, Akane's treat, as she promised. The parasol had been stuffed into one of the shopping bags, the sun was setting down and the evening heat wasn't as intense. The cooling treat was definitely helping.
And he didn't know what it was that convinced him it was a good idea to bring up her lengthen hair, but before he could stop himself, Ranma found himself asking, "When are you gettin' your haircut?"
"What?" Akane looked curiously over at him, one eyebrow lifted waiting for him to elaborate.
"I dunno," he offered with shrugged shoulders, "it's getting kinda' long, don't 'cha think?"
"Oh," Akane inhaled, thinking to herself momentarily before she smiled back at him, "I was thinking about letting it grow."
"Why?"
Akane scoffed at the remarkably candid response, trying not to let it bother her. "What? You don't think I'll look good with long hair?"
"You've had short hair for the longest time now, why change all of a sudden?"
"Sometimes we need a change," she smiled this time, sincerely, "a change of pace." Her smile was small, but her cheeks were flushed and round, bouncing her glances from his face towards her melting ice cream cone.
He tried not to choke on the lump scraping at the back of his throat, suddenly very aware of himself, and the way Akane's steps matched his own.
"It's whatever, I guess."
"Does it bother you?"
He looked back at her, her doe-like eyes seeping into him, knowing if she tried hard enough, she could read all of him and everything he had bottled up since they first met many years ago at the age of sixteen. And so, he looked away, scoffing again with a cocked eyebrow, "All I'm saying is short hair has always worked for ya'," and he meant it.
She was leaning forward, trying to look more directly at his face with a childlike grin dancing at her cheeks, her knotted eyebrows challenging him to say more, but all he did was stick his tongue out at her as he blew a raspberry.
It had been a few days later when he noticed her short her, feeling an immense cramping feeling overflowing about his chest down to his lower abdomen.
Akane took a seat next to him during dinner, flashing him a small, but very mischievous, grin at him. Her cheeks were still round, and rosy, and her long eyelashes batting at him demanding attention. And he wanted to give her that attention, but he was still trying to remember how to breathe.
"Well?" she finally asked, combing her fingers through her dark hair, very silky and shiny.
Ranma cleared his throat, hoping his cheeks weren't as red as they felt. He was trying to give off "cool", and "calm", but he knew she could see through him. "It looks good, Akane."
She giggled quietly, unable to sustain her toothy grin as she said to him, "I know."
Usually, Ranma would shove his bare hands into his pants' pockets when he'd forget his gloves and deal with it – it being the blistering cold winter offered. But Akane always made sure to carry her mittens with her, wherever she went. They were of thick material, and seemed as though they were knitted, but he had known they were store-bought, although he didn't quite remember how she came to own them.
And so, when she sighed dramatically that she had unfortunately misplaced one of them, he couldn't help but wonder what upset her about losing them.
Akane was supposed to be meeting a few friends at the plaza, and had dressed herself accordingly, except for her mittens. The weather was cold, as snow continued to fill the streets of Nerima, but nothing they hadn't delt with before. A puffy jacket with a few layers underneath always did the trick.
He was walking her, after their fathers, and a very prying mother, insisted on it. But also, he didn't mind. It felt nice to take a stroll and enjoy the fresh winds, the tad specks of snow frosting his nose and cheeks offering him its own kind of warmth.
Akane had "borrowed" a pair of gloves from Nabiki's room, and whether Nabiki knew she had lent them or not was another story. Nonetheless, her hands were warm, stuffed into the pockets of her jacket as she glanced over at Ranma with pursed lips trying to say something but visibly considering her words.
"You gave me those mittens, you know?" She had decided on it seemed, the corner of her lips lifting just a tiny bit before looking away.
"I did?" Ranma's face scrunched in concentration, thinking, trying to remember getting her those mittens but nothing came to mind.
Akane couldn't help but roll her eyes in more of a habit sort of sense, although a very fitting reaction, nonetheless. "Yes, a couple of years ago. I think they came with a beanie that Auntie Saotome got for you, but you didn't want the mittens. Too girly." She sneered, lightly shaking her head to herself before shrugging her shoulders, "But I thought they were cute."
He was still looking at her, the memory of her taking the mittens and claiming them hers completely gone, or rather never registered. And he wanted to know why it bothered him, that such a tender memory about them – he and Akane – had gone unregistered. She held onto that interaction from years ago and had been witness to how much she cared for those mittens, even though they were just that: mittens. And it tugged at his heart, pulling at his strings to see the pouty face she offered when she first came to the realization that she wouldn't be able to wear them for the first time since getting them a few years back.
"They were just mittens, ya' know." Ranma shrugged, looking away from her, precisely to his side so she wouldn't catch his blushing cheeks.
Akane was only looking forward, softly nodding, "I know."
When they arrived at the plaza, Yuka and Sayuri were already waiting for her, as they esthetically waved her over. And before he could say anything else, Akane was already walking away, fully disappearing into the sea of people possibly shopping for the upcoming holidays.
And he should have gone home; not that he had anything to do, or anyone to see, but there was no reason for him to stay. Maybe he could grab a treat to snack on the way home or do some holiday shopping now that he was there.
Ranma groaned inwardly, mindlessly dragging his long fingers up his face and through his shaggy fringe, knowing very well he wouldn't be doing any of that this evening, but rather would be getting Akane a new pair of mittens. It shouldn't bother him, it shouldn't, at all...but it did, and so much!
He walked into the first store that seemed like they'd sell those kinds of things; winter clothes, and accessories. Easy enough – except, there was so much. What did she like so much about the last pair that she held onto them for so long? What if the new ones he bought weren't to her liking? Would she wear those like she wore the last pair? Mitten shopping shouldn't be as difficult as it was feeling.
And he never knew the many types of gloves and mittens there was; he found himself asking one of the employees for help and was given a detailed discussion as to the type of mittens they sold, for whatever activity, such as wool mittens, heated mittens, leather or synthetic mittens.
Ranma walked out of the first store empty handed, hands in his own pockets as he glanced around the shopping center. Walking about, thinking about possibly grabbing himself a snack after all, he stopped at a kiosk selling trinkets and winter accessories. And as though they were waiting for him to pick them out, he reached for a thick pair, in a maroon shade, matching her flustered cheeks in the winter's cold, with a chunky antler pattern pointing downwards. They seemed nice and like they would definitely keep her hands warm.
"You seem to like those." The woman working the kiosk offered with a smile, squinting her eyes tenderly at him. And he did like them very much. "Are they a gift?"
"Uh...eh," Ranma found himself stammering, swallowing a lump although all this woman did was ask a genuine question. With a shy smile, he simply nodded once and handed them back to get them bagged as he pulled out whatever was left in his zipped wallet.
Ranma stood nervously where he had last dropped her off hours ago, ready to pick her up at the time they had agreed on. The evening was dark, and colder than it'd been earlier in the day. He had gone home and returned, with the small bag containing the maroon mittens hidden inside.
His heart felt caught in his throat when he saw her heading towards him with a jaunty bounce to her walk, holding a couple bags in her Nabiki-gloved hands. Maybe he should wait to give them to her? She was already wearing Nabiki's, after all. But he was also already holding them.
Ranma felt a light flickering from Akane's fingertip to his forehead, snapping him out of thought as he glanced down at Akane looking up at him curiously, a thin eyebrow cocked as she pulled herself away from him, "Trying to find your brain in there?" She teased, a lopsided smirk jokingly punching his shoulder.
"Ha ha," he scoffed, rolling his large eyes away from her, "you're so funny."
"Why," Akane grinned mischievously at him, her cheeks already rosy without the need of the cold as she replied, "thank you very much. I do think it's one of my better qualities."
"And to think I was going to give you a gift early." Ranma found himself saying out loud, teasing her just as easily as he noticed her expression perk up before deciding to look at him strangely, wondering if his words had some sort of double meaning. But then she noticed the brown paper bag he was holding.
"And why would you do that?" Akane asked, genuinely wondering. All he did was shrug his shoulder at her, very nonchalantly, not giving it a second thought before he shoved the paper bag into her hands. "Wait, can I really open it?"
Her smile only widened, her teethy grin overtaking half her face as she chuckled softly, some sort of gleam in her eyes as she glanced up at him as her expression softened.
Breath in, breathe out.
"Why else would I give it to you, dummy?"
She could tell that the brown paper bag wasn't a gift bag, but rather the bag that came with whatever he purchased. No tissue paper was sticking out to indicate it was a gift either, but she didn't care. With anticipation, the young woman opened the bag as she held her breath a little too long. Was she allowed to cry?
"Ranma," she found herself saying, whispering, her voice stuck in her throat as her hands reached to take the mittens out. She offered a pouty lip, but not because she hated them, but rather because she felt a sort of squeeze around her heart just by looking at them.
"Ya' know, I have the receipt somewhere if you don't like 'em. We can return them – "
"Are you insane?" She quickly interrupted, some sort of desperation in her tone as she looked up at him, eyebrows knitted looking at him like he was a madman. "These are mine," she smiled childlike at him, soft and tender, and sweet. "Thank you, Ranma."
And he felt his own heart get squeezed just as tight. But all he did was nod at her, understanding that they were hers. He was hers.
When Ranma passed Akane's room, he could see her with her elbows prompted against her desk, and her cheeks resting against the palms of her hands as she looked out her window at nothing necessarily, he guessed. Spring wouldn't end for a few more weeks, but already they could feel the summer heat wanting to barge in unwelcome, he figured she just needed a breather considering her window was open.
He took the liberty to lean against her doorframe, resting his shoulder up against it, as he pressed his palms against each hip. "Wha'cha up to, 'Kane?" he asked, noticing her subtle jolt, indicating he had accidentally startled her, provoking some goofy grin making him look just as silly.
"It's hot," Akane groaned as she twirled around in her desk's chair, her body wilting lazily, her face gloomy and with discomfort. That easily got his attention, and he allowed himself into her bedroom, the space he had long ago become a part of. He let himself drop on her bed, watching her closely as he nodded in agreement, because yes, this day in particular was uncommonly hot.
"And what about it?" He found himself asking a little too frankly, and he noticed when her face turned sour as her lips twisted upside down.
"What do you mean, what about it? It sucks!"
He laughed, "It's the perfect weather to go swimming, some kid out there isn't sharing the same sentiment."
"Well, good for them, I guess," she sighed again, her dismal mood not dispelled whatsoever by his intent to cheer things up, if that was what he was trying to do.
"Is this about university?" He asked very suddenly, and very out of nowhere, not even sure why he had dared to ask. It wasn't a sensitive topic that he knew about, but she had been far more nervous than he'd ever seen her in the many years he had known her.
He noticed her body stiff as her shoulders tighten, her hands jittering together with her teeth fondling at her lower lip. "No?" she replied very unsurely.
Ranma smirked tauntingly at her, an accusing finger prodding her arm softly, "You don't sound one bit convincing, idiot." His voice was low, and soft, with no malice whatsoever in the way he called her an idiot, but rather strangely enough enduring.
Akane laughed an airy laugh, rolling her wavering eyes at him, knowing very well that he was right. "I know."
"Akane," he called, "I don't understand why you're nervous. You're smart, considering you aced the entry exam with flying colors." He, not quite.
She wasn't looking at him anymore, her eyes half-lidded as she gazed at the floor, seemingly preoccupied by the fuzz of her carpet. And he leaned closer to her, trying to find her stare again, not realizing just how close he suddenly was when she lifted her face to look back at him, startled.
"You're gonna miss me, huh?" He continued to tease, a Chesire-cat-like grin tugging at her. Her doe-like eyes searched for him, as if trying to figure out how he figured her out. Her cheeks were flushed, and her soft expression warmed him inside to the core, finding himself having to lean away to sit back on her bed before the strength to do anything else found him.
He cleared his throat, wanting to have something to say, but nothing came to mind or out of his mouth. And knowing she'd be missing him during the day was numbing his nerves and turning his brain into putty.
"It won't be the same, you know." She said to him, her own voice soft and low, as though she was whispering secrets. He wasn't as close as he was moments ago, but he could hear her just as clearly and directly, knowing she was talking to him about him.
He swallowed the very existent lump lodged in his throat.
"I am going to miss you," she finally admitted out loud, a very timid smile visible only for a few seconds before she inhaled a deep breath and quickly released it through her mouth. "But change is never easy, although sometimes necessary."
All Ranma could do was nod once in agreement, his own timid smile available for just a few seconds.
He thought about her all night. During dinner Kasumi expressed her pride in her little sister, as Nabiki offered guidance, as she was a university student herself. They were not going to the same school, otherwise they would be riding together.
Should he have offered to walk her? He shook his head, remembering he hadn't offered to walk Nabiki, so it wasn't like he could express concern as to how far the school was. But this was Akane, she was such a dope, he wanted to make sure she'd be okay, without him. But not too okay. He couldn't deny that it inflated his ego simply knowing she needed him, even if it was just to be with her. Gah – what was he thinking? Akane needed to be okay without him, university wasn't forever. They'd see each other at home, after class when school was over.
That morning as Akane finished getting ready to catch her train ride, an unexpected knock from Ranma startling her. She turned around from her desk's chair to find the young man dressed in his usual pull-string pants and classical red mandarin top make his way inside her bedroom and plop on her bed, holding a canned coffee, it seemed. And then he was outstretching the hand holding the coffee towards her, a very seemingly timid Ranma staring at her. She took the can with a confused smile.
"Thanks?" she said with a muffled laugh. And then she looked at the can, her eyes widening for a quick second with her breath caught in her throat as she recognized that the canned coffee. It was their coffee, the one they'd sometimes buy from a vending machine on the way to school. It was just a couple of blocks down when heading towards Furinkan High, and they'd take turns buying each other a can.
"I know we're not getting it together," Ranma found himself clearing his throat, a sly smirk aimed at her, wobbly but present just for her, "but I'd figured since I won't be with you on your first day, some other things could stay the same. I dunno'," his hand reached to rub the nape of his neck as he glanced up at her, "I could walk ya' to your first day, if wanna'."
Why was she crying? Did he mess up, somehow?
"A – Akane!" Ranma gasped, sitting upright as he tried not to panic. "I didn't, I just...oh, god..."
"No, no," Akane interjected quickly, her free hand reaching to hold his, easily intertwining her fingers in between his and gently squeezing as she searched for his gaze, "this is so thoughtful." His hand was warm, soft to touch, gentle as she felt him squeeze back.
"It – it is?"
She nodded, setting the can on her desk to clean the corner of her eyes as she smiled widely at him again, a wet laugh very much like music to his ears.
"This is exactly what I needed on my first day."
He didn't want to get flustered, but it was so hard to avoid it each time he was around her, and he could feel the heat travel down his chin and up his ear simply thinking about the warmth of Akane's palm pressed against his.
"Good." was all he managed to say out loud as they shared the moment just a few seconds longer.
"I really could help, you know?" Akane insisted as she walked alongside the man who didn't seem to find another top besides his classical frog-button tee. They walked down the calm neighborhood going home, with the sun setting down quicker than usual, it seemed.
The day had been cooler than she'd expected it to be, but nonetheless, her sundress with puffy sleeves had been enjoyable wear for the weather.
She turned to walk backwards, facing Ranma as she steadied her pace, her face tender and watching the man haul the many bags of groceries he persisted firmly on doing himself. And even if she knew he could carry all of them by himself, she wanted to help.
"I need to build stamina," Ranma shrugged his shoulders, like holding the bags wasn't a big deal.
"Training, training, training. Is that all you think about?" Akane teased, swiftly turning back around to walk normally alongside Ranma. She placed her hands behind her back, holding them together as she lifted her chin to look up at him, not saying it, but noticing just how much taller he'd gotten since years back.
"What else is there to think about?" He challenged, scoffing teasingly and all she could do was chuckle a muffled breath at him.
"So many things."
"Oh yeah? Well, what do ya' think about?" He found himself asking, stealing glances down at her every other second as she was now looking around at all the many houses they'd walked by countless times over the years. The same people that have always lived there continued to live there. And there was some sort of comfort in all of it. Walking together with Ranma, talking amongst themselves in such a familiar way. Bumping shoulders in such a friendly way, as she could proudly say that they were friends. Affianced, based on circumstances, but friends.
"I think about my house sometimes."
Ranma scoffed for just half a second, confused as to why she thought about home. "And why is that?"
"I want my own house one day, you know?" She didn't want to make it so obvious as to how she envisioned her future most times, but her eyes kept stealing glances up to look at him, biting down on her lower lip to stop her lips from smiling so wide as she continued, "It doesn't have to have a huge backyard, but I'd like a front patio."
"Oh." Oh. Somehow, her answer shocked him. He wasn't expecting that. Akane moving out had never crossed his mind.
She wanted to take in his face expression; he was thinking, she noticed, as he'd tend to scrunch his eyebrows together with squinting eyes, as if hoping the answer to his question would appear out of thin air. And she laughed very quietly, almost nervously. She brought her hands back to the front of her, twiddling her thumbs together as she continued, "Nothing too far from daddy, I'd like to see him often."
"What about the dojo?" Ranma found the courage to ask, clearing his throat and trying to sound casual, not quite noticing how bad he was failing at it.
"It'll still be there, you know."
He nodded slowly in agreement; his mind still preoccupied, it seemed.
But, why? Why did she want to move out?
She didn't hate home; far from it, actually. Her sisters were always fun, and there was never a dull moment with the Saotomes stirring themselves into their usual antics, her father never falling behind. She loved them very much. But there would come a time in her life when she would have to make a life of her own.
"Ya' know," Ranma said, fixing his face as though pondering, perking his lips just momentarily as he continued, "it can be dangerous for a woman to live alone."
"Oh?"
He nodded confidently, as if in a matter-of-fact-listen-to-this, "At night, a lot of weirdos out there might be keeping an eye for ya'. It aint't safe."
"Very true."
"And!" He scoffed, again, not quite noticing the way Akane couldn't seem to contain her widening grin, all-too-knowing, "Who's gonna carry your groceries? I mean," he glanced down at her with a lifted eyebrow, "it ain't like I'ma come every time you buy something that's too heavy for ya'."
"No?"
"Unless Pops or Ma' or Mr. Tendo send me."
"Gee, and you consider yourself a gentleman?" She hmphed, still she laughed, and he chuckled lowly, shaking his own head. They both knew what big lies these were.
"Plus!"
"There's more?" She laughed dryly.
"Are ya' really gonna survive off takeout? Cause with your cooking, I just don't know."
"I've gotten so much better!"
"All I'm saying," he cleared his throat for the umpteen time on that walk home, his fists fastening their grip on the bundle of bags, "you need like a guard dog, or something."
"I have P-Chan."
He laughed a lot louder than she'd expected him to, his face turning sour as he shook his head, "Absolutely not."
"You're forbidding me from keeping my pet pig?"
"C'mon 'Kane, he can't protect ya'."
"Then who?"
"Me." He hadn't noticed what he had just said, not completely. There was steam seemingly coming out of his nostrils, and a throbbing eyebrow daring to implode at the idea of P-Chan snuggling to Akane inside her home, alone, of all things.
"You know what that means, right?"
When he looked back down at her, Akane really did do her best to contain her smile to the minimum, her flustered cheeks almost giving her away as she rolled her eyes away from him.
"No."
"You'd have to move in with me."
They were silent for a moment; a moment that felt too long, and she wanted him to say something. Anything really. He was usually great at putting his foot in his mouth in moments like these.
Ranma could feel heat overtake his entire body, from the tip of his head all the way down the balls of his feet. His throat dried up, and his chest clenched up at the idea of living alone with Akane.
"I mean," Akane continued, "you, being my protector, and all." Of course, she was kidding, and there was a hint of overdramatic playfulness on her tone. Her mischievous grin said it all, but she wondered if Ranma knew that. Within seconds, she had an answer.
"Yes."
"What?"
"I'll be guard dog, I guess."
That was when Akane had stopped walking completely, quickly crossing her arms over her chest as she stared at him, trying to read him. Was he joking? "You want to move in with me?"
"Well, aren't we engaged?"
Fuck. She knew she needed to settle down, allow her heart to slow down as she looked away to hide her grin and those damn heated cheeks so obvious. But just as she covered half her face, she glanced back at him and nodded slowly, agreeing completely.
"Yes. We are."
"So that settles it," he sighed, "I'm moving in with ya'."
"Okay."
"Just so, ya' know, you're protected, or whatever."
"Yeah, or whatever," she laughed lowly.
This time, Ranma could admit that he was tired. He needed a bath, in his home, rather than in a pass by public bath days in between training. After getting dragged away by his Pops, Mr. Tendo and their master, or as Ranma referred to him as, old freak, they had driven themselves into intense training. It keeps the muscles trained, young boy!
He could see the dojo, smell Kasumi's and his Ma's cooking, and hear her voice. He closed his eyes for a second too long, he figured, thinking about things he wasn't supposed to; or rather, didn't allow himself to. But tried and he tried, he couldn't deny that he thought about her most nights. When he'd be lying on the camping ground, zipped in, looking right ahead at the lit-up sky, he wondered about what she could possibly be doing.
She'd probably be studying, as she usually was. Or catching up to reruns of the daytime television she missed because of her classes; of course, he wasn't home to be dragged into the living room forced to watch with her. Meaning she'd probably spent a whole afternoon catching him up on the important details he needed to know in order to understand the upcoming episodes once he returned. And he scoffed a chuckle mindlessly at that.
"I'm home!" Mr. Saotome announced himself first, and then Pops, while Ranma stayed quiet, dropping his oversized backpack.
Kasumi was the first to welcome them home, followed by Nabiki who had been in the family room. Apparently, ma' and Akane had just left for the market, as they'd be baking a dessert for tonight's dinner.
Ranma snorted, scrunching his eyebrows, amused that after so many years she was still so persistent. Of course, she was a much better cook than she tried to be in high school, her food beyond edible, but rather enjoyable at times. She found that she was a much better cook when it came to western dishes, rather than their traditional ones, but a win was a win on her books, he figured.
The first thing he did was shower and excused himself to rest upstairs in his bedroom as he waited for dinner. His ears perked up as soon as he heard his ma' announce herself, along with Akane shortly after. And he stayed laying on his futon, staring at the boring pattern of his bedroom ceiling, knowing he wanted to get up and go greet her.
He could hear her high-pitched voice of excitement as she called for her father, hearing her laughter, imagining her toothy grin. His question had been, would she greet him the same way? He wanted her to.
After a few moments he could hear the pitter-patter of rushed feet coming up the stairs, and then down the hallway straight to his bedroom door. And he sat up slowly, waiting, until the door was slid open to reveal the feisty dark-haired woman standing at the doorway with her arms now crossed over her chest. Upset, it seemed.
"Uh?" Ranma said first, trying to rattle his brain into remembering what he did now, only having less than an hour since he had arrived. "Hello?"
"A lot better than not saying anything at all, if I'm being honest," she found herself saying back to him. He grinned nervously as she walked to him, quickly sitting on her knees, just inches from him as she light-heartedly pushed his shoulder with her hand. But she wasn't laughing, or smiling, and he wished she were.
"You're gone two weeks," she continued, as if he needed a recap where he's been, "and when you come back you don't even say hi. Especially to your mother. She's downstairs waiting for a hug, you know" she searched his face, hoping he'd say anything. And they were quiet for another moment, watching him shift his composure to sit upright as she found the courage to ask, "Didn't you miss me?" Her question was fully loaded. Did he miss her? Every goddamn day.
He smacked his tongue against his teeth, with a wider grin as he leaned closer to her, "You dummy, you knew I was coming back."
"That's not what I asked, Ranma."
"Gee, 'Kane, making me say such embarrassing things." He was looking away now, finding the ceiling and corners of the room a lot more interesting, it seemed. Still, his cheeks were reddening.
And she grinned childlike at him, daring to cup his cheeks with her warm palms, teasingly, as she leaned closer, and he could have sworn she would kiss him. Her fingertips dug softly into his skin, hardly pulling him forward but he followed so easily, "So you did miss me?"
He hmphed at her, rolling his eyes, because what was he supposed to do – lie to her? He pulled away from her hold, rubbing his cheeks with his own hands as he looked back at her, her smile still mischievous as she sat incredibly close to him. "And what if I did?"
"That that would make me happy," she replied truthfully, her eyebrows high as she grinned innocently.
"You're such a dork, ya' know."
"I really did miss you." Her voice was gentle, alluring in the way she almost whispered it, just for him to hear but not in a shameful way. And he smiled quite widely this time, having to look away otherwise she'd have him admitting other things, too.
"Yeah, well, I suppose you're gonna catch me up on those daytime shows you make me watch at night, huh?"
"Oh! Yes! You've missed so much!"
And it was almost back to being normal, except this time she stayed sitting a lot closer than usual. And her hand would mindlessly reach to touch his own hand, or knee, and shoulder when she wanted to enunciate just how important it was for him to know specific details, just like he knew she would. And he could listen to her all night, as he would most likely do. The excitement in her voice made it all worthwhile.
"Anyways, c'mon." Akane smiled, quickly getting to her feet as she tugged at the hem of her top to fix herself momentarily.
"Where are we going?"
"You still haven't greeted your mom, you know. She's missed your just as much." Her smile was tender, and wide, and welcoming, and just for him as she began walking out of his room, knowing perfectly well he was following suit.
"Okay. Okay," Akane released a deep breath as she closed her eyes, taking a moment to relax her mind and body as she sat with crossed legs atop her bed. "Just walk over to him. Mistletoe over his head, and then kiss him." If it was that easy, why was she a nervous wreck?
According to Nabiki, after talking to Auntie Saotome and Kasumi, they were to be wed by Spring. They, being she and Ranma, of course. She was fine with it, had come to terms with the whole situation long ago. All she had asked of her father and Auntie Saotome was to wait after graduation, which was the upcoming semester, and they had fulfilled the end of their bargain by agreeing.
Naturally, after the misfortunes that came about their last attempted wedding so many years ago, this wedding would be hushed with only immediate family attending. Afterwards, at Auntie Saotome's insistence, they'd throw a larger celebration to announce the union of both schools and families.
Ranma had trained all night at the dojo after the rest of their lives had been arranged that evening during dinner, as if it were another task on the to-do list, and she had wondered if he was upset at her. Maybe not at her, but the whole ordeal. But then, it all continued as it was. He'd bump her when racing down the stairs at Kasumi's call for dinner or battle as to who had dibs on the bathroom when they'd reach it at the same time.
But then Nabiki asked, oh, how she had hated that damn question, "Have you two even kissed?"
Their relationship had remained so normal, sometimes she'd forget the wedding was actually happening and she'd have to kiss him and live with him and introduce him as her husband. Of course, she didn't have to kiss him, but oh god did she want to. And thinking about it, she didn't want their official kiss to be on their wedding night.
Her cheeks flustered quickly, imitating berries, and she cupped them as she shook her head embarrassingly thinking about it, their wedding night.
Akane jumped slightly at the sudden knock at her door, starling her as she called for them to come in.
"Hey," Ranma popped his head in, holding a mug, steaming as he offered it to her, "Kasumi sent me to give you some hot chocolate. The climate's dropping, and she just wants to keep us warm, but insisted on something yummy because, well, it's almost Christmas," he smirked, inviting himself to take a seat on the bed next to her.
She could feel the scrambling of her insides jumble and knot within her abdomen when she felt his shoulders press against hers. They were both wearing long sleeves, but nonetheless, their shoulders were touching. She took the mug from his hand, thanking him under her breath as she looked at the hot chocolate filled mug with a soft smile, hardly visible, but present.
She held a tight grip on the handle of the mug, breathing in slowly and then breathing out slower. Just do it. Right? No, that wouldn't be right. Also, Ranma would stop it before she even got close to him, considering his agility. Bad plan. Bad idea. She chewed her lower lip nervously.
"Everything alright?" He asked suddenly, and she glanced up at him with one raised eyebrow.
"Uh, yeah. Why would you think otherwise?"
"Well, for starters," he sighed rubbing his shoulder against hers, "you have a hot chocolate and haven't taken a sip." He had noticed her distracted face as soon as he had walked in, unable to mask it as quickly as she would have wanted, and he was curious. Worried, too, but she didn't need to know that.
"What if I wasn't craving hot chocolate?" She inquired with a cocked eyebrow, and just as she did so, her hand lifted the mug slowly to her lips to take a slow taste as to test how hot it was.
"You're a dork."
She only grinned.
Half done with her mug, Akane placed it on her desk, adjusting herself comfortably on her bed to be facing him rather than sitting sideways next to him. They had sat together for quite some time, chatting, and one topic led to another and now they were discussing how pressing and overindulged his mother was. Something she was glad they could both agree on.
"If it was up to your mom, we'd be getting married tomorrow," Akane grinned at the absurdity of it all. It felt incongruous sitting together knowing they'd to be married in just four months when they hadn't even officially kissed yet. Yet implied that the moment was to come, and what better time than the present, right? She knew she shouldn't be thinking about it, their nonexistent kiss, but he was right there and she was sitting so close. She could just lean foward, and maybe he'd allow it. Maybe he wanted to kiss her, too.
Her laughter decreased softly, clearing her throat as she watched the pigtail wearing man drag the palm of his hands up and down his face with seemingly frustration.
"I know, I know," he replied, a sigh of his own before looking over at her, noticing the intense stare she was offering. One that told him she was thinking about something, brewing an idea, but wasn't quite sure how to drag it out of her. "You sure there isn't anything ya' wanna talk about?" He tried again, shimming at her side, hoping his persistence would get him just a bit further.
"Well," she pursed her lips, glancing to the left and then to the right, as if pondering about the outfit she'd sport to a classmate's holiday party.
Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP.
"Well?"
And then he watched her lean towards her desk, watched her open the top drawer and pull out a plant of some sort, as she held it delicately. And then she brought it to them, spreading her palm of the small stem laid on her flat hand in between them, watching him stare at it.
"I was thinking...and I think we should...?" She gulped the inventible lump clogged at the back of her throat not letting her finish her question as Ranma's eyebrows furrowed together, curious as to what she was getting at.
"Should what?"
Akane groaned mildly, an eyebrow of her own twitching at his ignorance, "You're really going to make me say it?" Irritation was getting the best of her, but mainly because she already found this embarrassing enough.
But they were to be married; they were to share a lifetime of embarrassing things, right?
"Kiss."
She blinked a few times, staring at the mistletoe laying on her palm, like that was the kiss itself.
"Kiss?" He repeated, and this time she looked up to find him pondering, tapping his index finger against his chin and she couldn't help but chuckle at just how dumb he looked.
"We don't have to," Akane sighed, pulling away, but almost instantly both of her wrists were gripped and tugged forward by Ranma's hands, and suddenly she forgot how to breathe.
Ranma must have yanked her a tad too hard because she was now only centimeters away from his face, and she could see his light eyes scanning about her face as she tried to keep herself calm. His messy fridge just reached his nose bridge, and easily caught a whiff of her citrus shampoo on him.
"You want to kiss me?" He asked, and that was enough to knock her out of her daze. It wasn't a lie, but she figured his question was coming from his egotistic self, rather than curiosity.
"I was saying," Akane continued, gently trying to push herself away but not successfully releasing herself from the grip of his hands around her wrist, "maybe it'd be a good idea to kiss now," she swallowed as Ranma softly pulled her once more, "rather...rather than wait...for the...wedding."
"Okay." He breathed in, his half-lidded eyes watching her carefully. His voice was low, and she almost missed his verbal agreement at how distracted she was by his eyelashes pulling her in.
"Okay?" It was that easy?
"Y-yeah," he stammered, his face so close that the tip of their noses skimmed faintly, "if ya' wanna."
"Do you...do you want to?" Her voice was so delicate, it seemed, hushed as she waited for his answer. The question itself was insecure, and full of hope, and could easily break her. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to ask so early, but rather two months before the wedding. The thought itself sounded so absurd in her mind, she wanted to laugh.
"I mean, I don't mind if ya' don't," he answered truthfully, and she scanned his face for any sarcasm, any disgust, and malice, but there was none. He watched her in wonder, with curiosity, making her feel dainty.
"I don't mind." She replied quickly.
And then she closed her eyes waiting for him, and he looked down at her, taking an extra moment to take in all the soft features of her round face with her glowing cheeks and curved nose. The hold around her wrist lessened, and instead he pushed his palms higher around her lower arm, as if to ground himself before kissing her.
It was timid, the way he brushed his lips against hers; like feathery light touches, almost tentative about kissing her. But then he pushed just a tad further into her, and his hands lightly squeezed her arms. It felt good. He figured he was supposed to pull away after just one kiss, but he found himself wanting to continue kissing her.
And maybe she did, too, because he caught the way her mouth opened just a bit when he pushed for another. It was slow, and very new, but there was a tingling sensation vibrating from his mouth down his neck and up his face that kept him wanting more. It was a good new.
Her lips were softer than he'd imagine they'd ever be (not that he thought about her lips often), and as he continued kissing her, they were beginning to burn, in a good way; in a great way.
He could feel her hands reach for his face, each fingertip almost stinging as they pressed onto his cheeks, easily melting against his skin. Had he known that kissing Akane felt this good, he would have done it a long time ago. Her palms smoothed across cheeks and ears, dragging themselves down to settle on his neck, edging him to pull her closer.
This was supposed to be a chaste kiss, right?
He felt her nudge away momentarily, and he took that as a sign to pull away instantly because otherwise he wouldn't. And when he did so, it took him a moment to open his eyes to look down at her already gazing up at him. She was breathing heavily, as was he, and her lips were reddish, like cherries. And she looked so beautiful, and he could admit that to himself and to her if she wanted to hear it.
And then she laughed a breathy laugh, one that kept her smile intact with a toothy grin, her eyes searching his as she found herself compelled to say, "That was a good kiss."
Ranma chuckled, not sure why they found the situation amusing, but nonetheless refreshing. "Good." He could feel the warmth easily diminish as she pulled her hands away from his skin, and he went to catch them, holding her hands in between his, "Are we...can we...?"
Akane's eyebrows pricked up at his unfinished question, allowing him a moment before she asked, "Do you want to kiss me again?" This time it was her egotistic-self rubbing it on his face, but she couldn't help but find herself just as flustered.
He knew she could see his ruddy face as soon as she was done asking, but man, did he want to kiss her that way again if she'd let him.
"Ain't that the sort of thing people do when they're in love?" His question had been rushed out, in an attempt to remedy his embarrassment, with pure genuity. And then he heard himself ask it. "What I mean–"
"Ranma," Akane giggled, her hands pushing strands of hair away from his face, her touch very soft and tender as she looked at him, "you can kiss me any time you want."
"Any time?"
She nodded slowly; a sly grin plastered on her face as she leaned closer to him, enough to peck him into another kiss, had he pushed himself forward.
Bonus:
Akane sighed as she pricked her index finger again. She knew she had never been great at crafts, even after all these years of trying, but she was really trying this time.
Auntie Saotome and Kasumi had been getting together with her every Tuesday afternoon to help her learn some embroidery, her newest fixation, according to Ranma. It had started becoming her favorite pastime, she found herself admitting, as it gathered all the women of the family to share teatime and some treats. Nabiki did tag along; hardly ever did she join the activity, and rather brought her magazines instead and contently sat beside them.
"I'm home!" All the women heard Ranma call from the foyer, and Akane tried her best to stay calm and collected, but she couldn't help that she beamed at the sound of his voice. The women quickly excused herself, almost shyly and embarrassed at how excited she seemed walking away as she made her way to him.
"Welcome home," she smiled, her arms extending to wrap themselves around his neck to pull him in as soon as he was done removing his shoes.
She sighed merrily at the way his arms easily went around her back, his palms spreading with his fingertips pressing into her. She pulled away just enough to peck his lips once, and then again.
"I'm guessing ma's here?" He asked teasingly, and she nodded with no shame displayed whatsoever, because they both knew it was Tuesday, it was to be expected. "I ain't complaining, I know dinner's gonna be good tonight."
She scoffed, his taunting smirk not enough to flatter his way out of this one.
"Not that your cooking ain't as good, it's just, a mother's cooking hits the spot, ya' know?"
"Whatever, Ranma. You prefer your mother's cooking, I don't care."
"It ain't what I meant!"
She tried to push herself away, but his hold was stiff, almost tightening around her back as he began to snuzzle his face against hers, her strength never enough. But she was laughing, and that was always a good sign.
"C'mon, 'Kane," Ranma ginned, "I know ma's gonna let you cook with her, teach ya' some new tricks." Was this his idea of flirting?
Akane did laugh that time, knowing she couldn't be mad even if she wanted to. He's such a dope. She instead rolled her eyes, her struggle melting away as she looked at him, defeated, because somehow, she never could win against Ranma Saotome.
"I grew another centimeter this week," she said instead of continuing their squabble, her cheeky smile pulling him in too easily.
"Yeah?"
She nodded eagerly, and within seconds Ranma had dropped to his knees to greet her growing belly. She had just turned twelve weeks pregnant, and her baby bump was hardly noticeable but to those who knew. There was some sort of ease in the way his hands felt pressed about her tummy. She was at bliss, looking down to see the familiar ruffled head leaning against her stomach, whispering God know what.
A/N: I know the ending is such a cliche, but c'mon, they deserve cute things lol
I genuinely love that they're friends before anything else, like actual dorky friends that fall in love lmao with of course, most of their tender encounters happening by accident (happy accidents)
Hopefully you liked one; I'm trying to get back to writing :) thank you for reading!
Please! I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks again for reading!