Ranma was laying in his bed looking at the canopy above wondering about the events of the day. He couldn't help noticing how captivated Princess Akane appeared to be by Prince Toma. Ranma didn't like that and it had been getting under his skin - seeing her eyes fill with wonder at the man's stories and adventures. Shouldn't she know that part of "keeping up appearances" would include not batting her eyes at another prince?
The thoughts were irritating him enough for him that he was having trouble falling asleep when he heard a light knock at the door.
"Yes? Come in," Ranma called.
In stepped Shinnosuke with an unusual expression on his face, "I hate to be doing this, but I was making my rounds and I saw Princess Akane and Prince Toma in the courtyard. Alone. I felt that maybe that is something you would care to know about."
Ranma felt a burning in his chest. He thought that Akane was at least on the same page as him about trying to stop the rumor mill among staff by behaving appropriately. What if it got back to Pop that she was secretly meeting Prince Toma? She might get put on lockdown or have a personal guard with her at all times to monitor her activities. It's like she had no idea how royals were supposed to behave. Akane's lack of regard for both her own and his reputation was getting, frankly, embarrassing.
Ranma stood up angrily and put on some casual clothes, "Take me to her…" And with that, Ranma followed Shinnosuke.
He took notice of the sound of his bare feet walking in the hallways of the palace. Such a distinctly different sound than he was used to hearing. This was likely his first time he had ever left his personal chambers without shoes. Was he really that in a rush to see what Princess Akane was doing?
As he rounded the corner to the courtyard, there he saw Akane and Prince Toma sitting on a small step together. Akane looked enamored as Prince Toma chatted with a suave demeanor.
The sight massively pissed Ranma off, and yet - he held his tongue and stepped behind a pillar. This wasn't his usual way of going about things. He was more of a 'take things head on' type, but this situation he found himself in was unusual. He couldn't quite place how he was feeling. Was he suspicious of her? She was a princess from a notorious kingdom that the rest of the nations barely knew anything about. Could she be conspiring with Prince Toma? Was she not who she seemed? Thoughts and explanations swirled around his head as to why he wasn't confronting their inappropriate behavior immediately.
He could feel in his heart though that he thought Princess Akane was genuine, so why was he hiding? ….She couldn't actually be interested in Prince Toma could she!?
Ranma could hear them talking, but couldn't make out what they were saying. He needed to get closer. It was quite handy that he was an excellent martial artist as he sneakily flitted from pillar to pillar.
Finally, he was close enough that he could make out at least some of what they were saying.
Prince Toma's gentle voice filled Ranma's ears, "we can talk about that heavy topic at a later date. For now, I would love to know how you are faring? I could possibly attempt to see your father and tell him of your condition. It must be hard being a Shiryian girl living in a foreign country when you were not remotely prepared for such an eventuality."
"My condition is of little concern to me. Here I am living a life of luxury in the wealthiest kingdom and married to…an actual honorable man. I feared he would be like the royals back home. But, while I get to live relatively peacefully my loved ones are probably being starved and beaten to keep me in line. My thoughts have been filled with nothing but guilt and despondent feelings, but for the first time since coming here I am feeling hope. Hope that maybe I can save Nabiki and Kasumi. Thank you, Prince Toma…thank you truly, for trying to check on them for me."
Clearly, their conversation was of a personal nature, but listening in had not made Ranma feel better. The burning anger in his chest had not abated. How had they gotten so close in such a short amount of time? Why didn't Princess Akane try to rely on him or at the very least reveal some of her worries to him? He'd felt his heart beating right out of his chest when he heard Akane describe him as an honorable man. But, apparently that hadn't afforded him any privileges of getting to be her confidant and that vexed him considerably. He was her husband after all.
Ranma didn't want to listen anymore.
"What are you two love birds doing out here so late at night?" Ranma took no attempt to hide the sarcasm dripping from his tongue.
Akane looked absolutely bewildered when she made eye contact with Ranma as though she couldn't believe he was here to witness her with Prince Toma.
"I assure you we are not love birds, Prince Ranma. I am familiar with her father and homeland and wished to discuss it with her," Prince Toma cooley replied. His suave behavior was replaced with a playful attitude. As though he found great humor in seeing Ranma in such a vulnerable position. Prince Toma attempted to provoke Ranma, "Jealous, are we?"
"I'm not jealous. I am just trying to protect our reputation. Come onnnn, Akane. We were just summoned to see King Genma. How do you think he is going to react when the whispers from the staff get back to him that you were secretly rendezvousing with Prince Toma? Do you WANT things to get worse for us?"
Her eyes grew defensive, "I wasn't secretly meeting with him! We met up by complete coincidence. Honestly Ranma, you should have more faith in me than that. I am not that kind of woman to throw myself at a man."
"What have I been witnessing you doing all day then?!" Immediately Ranma regretted his words. No wonder Akane didn't confide in him.
Ranma then detected the pitter patter sounds of Advisor Happosai on the move. That wasn't good news. In a mere moment, he saw Happosai hiding out of the corner of his eye. It was clear to Ranma that neither Akane nor Tōma were aware of his presence. He was clearly here to observe and report back to King Genma.
Ranma needed to change this situation right quick or they'd be getting summoned again.
He walked straight up to Akane and grabbed her by the wrist, "You're my wife."
Ranma pulled her toward the way he'd come. He needed to get them away from Prince Tōma before Happosai could gather any information to make half-baked claims with - that would get everyone in hot water.
Akane, surprisingly, didn't fight him as he led her down the hallway. He could hear Happosai following them. Ranma found himself thinking that this would be a good opportunity to get Pop off his tail about bedding Akane, "You're mine tonight."
Once again, Ranma was surprised at Akane's lack of resistance to him. Instead, she continued to let him hold her wrist and lead her down the corridors of the palace. He wondered what was going through her mind right now?
Ranma continued to feel Happosai's presence all the way to Ranma's private champers. He felt like he really needed to sell it now or Happosai might try to secretly find a way to listen in or watch what went on inside Ranma's room. He wouldn't do that if he had good news to report to King Genma, right?
Ranma twisted Akane around and pushed her up against the wall next to his bedroom doors. It seemed like it was finally hitting her how forward Ranma was being and she had no intention of submitting to him.
Ranma placed his knee between her thighs and held her hands above her head. Akane got an arm free and went to slap him, but Ranma was too quick and grabbed her by the wrist and pushed it up against the wall.
Ranma wondered how he could sell it to Happosai that things were heating up between him and Akane without going too far? He knew, in this moment, he needed to kiss her. But, boy, was that easier to plan in his head than actually do. Especially when she was looking at him so defiantly. Her cheeks were flushed and despite the fight in her - she clearly was feeling shy enough that she was speechless.
He leaned in, and whispered, "We were followed. Play along." Ranma forcefully placed his mouth against Akane's lips. They were soft in a way only womens' lips feel. He couldn't dismiss the feelings welling up inside him at how good it felt. Except, Akane wasn't having it. Next thing he heard was, "How dare you?!" And then he felt her uppercut him straight into the ceiling.
Boom
He fell straight back down on his ass, "What GIVES Akane!?"
"How dare you take my first kiss on the off chance that we are being followed. I'm not putting on a show for anyone!"
All of sudden Happosai hopes out from his hiding place and begins rolling on the floor laughing, "This is TOO good! I can't believe it. Wait until your father hears about this!"
Ranma stood up angrily. This could not have gone worse. Akane's face looked dismayed at seeing Happosai had actually been watching them.
Ranma couldn't stand the sight of Happosai laughing it up at his expense. So, he walked toward his room, grabbed Akane's wrist and pulled her inside. Slamming the door loudly behind him.
"Jeez Akane, can't you see I'm trying to HELP you? I just thought if Happosai reported back that we were getting cozy then Pop would get off our backs for a while longer. Yet here you are just making everything harder! Secretly meeting with a different prince and now punching me for kissing you?! We're so screwed. Pop is definitely going to get overly involved now. "
"I didn't want my first kiss taken like that! I always imagined…it'd be more romantic. With someone I loved. Not like that. Not like that." Akane's eyes were welling up with tears. Ranma immediately felt horrible and a flash of what he had overheard her and Prince Toma discussing flashed into his head. It sounded like Akane's father was hurting people Akane loved to force her hand into marriage. She was that against an international arranged marriage.
She had her arms crossed across her chest and her hands were holding her arms tightly. She looked shy, regretful, and embarrassed. It was an uncharacteristically feminine view of Akane.
Ranma wilted internally, "I'm assuming you wanted to marry for love, huh? And not for political reasons…"
"Of course not! Who WANTS to be sold like livestock?!" Akane retorted.
Ranma's mind was squirming with a million different conflicting emotions. He felt ashamed for how he dealt with the entire situation from confronting Akane with Prince Toma to kissing her in front of Happosai, but there was also irritation over her uncooperative behavior, empathy for her situation, and a growing ugly possessiveness over Akane that he couldn't understand.
Ranma's thoughts drifted, "I guess, I just never met a royal who thought they would get much say in who they marry. Even if there were no princesses from the other nations to marry - my marriage would have been arranged with the daughter of a noble family. Although, I think royals get a tad more say in their arranged marriages with people deemed lower in the hierarchy, but still rarely do we get full love marriages. Is it not like that in Shirya?"
Akane was silent for an uncomfortable amount of time. Ranma was leaned up against the wall, shifting around - not sure what else he should say to fill the silence. Had he upset her?
Finally, she spoke, "There were never any talks of marrying me off. King Gosunkugi didn't want me to marry and have a son before he remarried and had a male heir. He didn't want to cause a fight for the throne. He knows what an unpopular king he is and that the nobles might back anyone who could assert a claim."
Akane had heard these rumors amongst her people as to why Princess Kaori hadn't been married off, but she didn't know for sure. Her nation being incredibly secretive really was an advantage when it came to keeping up the façade of her being royalty.