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words: 3,869

*have done very mild editing

When Ranma texted Akane that he was on his way to her apartment so late in the evening, she didn't bat an eye to reply by leaving the text bubble pressed to tap on the thumbs up, not only because she knew he hated that, but because Ranma barging into her apartment any time of the day wasn't abnormal. Her response simply was to let him know that yes, she was home.

It wasn't that late, a few past nine, except it was a Saturday, and he usually went out with his girlfriend – whoever that was this week. Not that she cared; just curious. They were always pretty, based on their social media pictures, and she knew that was usually the only thing he cared about.

The light knocks at her door brought her to her feet, dragging her slippers in a quick stumble as she opened the door to be greeted by the mischievous, cheeky grin he always seemed to have just for her.

"I brought dinner!" he offered, lifting a corner store bag filled with goodies, which she swiftly snatched from his hold to inspect. Her own childish smile overtook the corner of her lips as she snagged a canned milk tea, still cold, and one of the two strawberry sando, hardly considering it a meal. More like a treat.

"How did you know I was craving something sweet?" she asked in a lively mood, encouraging him to follow her bouncy steps into her living room. It was a small living room furnished in a hand-me-down loveseat she washed senselessly, and a very sturdy coffee table where they'd be having dinner, per usual.

"Well, you know me, 'Kane," he grinned, "I always know what women crave ." His egoistic remark earned him a very dramatic eyeroll as she plopped on the floor and snapped her drink open.

Akane scoffed, chuckling insensitively at him, "Whatever you need to tell yourself to help you sleep at night."

Ranma followed suit, opening his own drink and gulping almost half of it down in one swing. She couldn't help but stare at him a few seconds longer, tracing the wrinkles on his furrowed eyebrows with her eyes, holding back a scoff of his own. He seemed dressed for a night out, sporting a red windbreaker jacker over a simple top underneath, his scruffy hair intentionally messy.

"So, what are you doing here?" She asked too directly, reaching for the sandwich, slowly and careful not to get her fingers dirty as she unwrapped it.

"Too cool for company?" He teased, his smirk never faltering, and she chuckled at that.

"I'm always too cool for you." She glanced up at him, blinking a few times before looking back down at her meal.

"I was thinking we could watch a movie, or something. Ya' know, hang out."

Akane bit down, her mouth full, pondering with a nod as she chewed. "Jeez, somebody missed me tonight," she joked after swallowing, and it was his turn to roll his eyes, shaking his head gently with a stern look. "What happened to, what was her name ? Why aren't you with her?"

She could see him swallow nothing in particular, rather a lump lodged in his throat, and she decided to ignore the buzzing at the back of her mind telling her to shut up.

"We broke up."

"Another one?" Akane wanted to laugh, and her statement rather than question came out almost like laughter, as though it was funny even when it wasn't. There wasn't anything particularly funny about her best friend continuously dating new women every few months under the false pretense that he wanted something with them. In fact, she didn't like it. Sometimes she felt bad for these women.

She hardly ever met them, and she wasn't offended that Ranma didn't bring them along or rushed to introduce them; glad, was more of the descriptive word. Even back in high school, she hated tagging along when he would hang around new girls.

There was a moment of silence, Akane taking another bite to use as an excuse as to why she wasn't talking. But he still wasn't talking, and she hated it when he did that – hide behind awkwardness. They could share silence, not talk all day and it wouldn't offer any sort of discomfort, but he wasn't good at hiding his own distress. And she could sense it.

And maybe she shouldn't have, but her inquisitiveness dragged the question, "What was it this time?" out of her. She was prying now.

"This time?" He asked back, his black thick eyebrow darting upwards in his own offensive stance.

"There's always a reason to your break ups."

"Other than not feeling the vibe, there is not."

"Uh, yes there are."

"Name one."

"Okay, last year," Akane began, shifting her sitting posture as though war was about to begin, and she needed to ensure her tactics weren't overthrown, "you dated that girl that worked at the ramen shop, the one with purple hair. Dumped her after, what, three weeks because she adopted a kitty."

"No, wait! That's not fair, I'm allergic."

"You are not!" Akane laughed loudly, shaking an accusing finger at him, her arm stretched out forward enough that she could almost bop the tip of his nose had she wanted to. But instead, she retracted, her dull fang showing through her toothy grin.

"Well," Ranma sighed, "I don't like cats." She could give him that one.

"And then!" Akane exclaimed, reclaiming her aha moment as she easily remembered another one, "that gymnastic girl. You only lasted like two days with her." That one was absurd to her.

"Okay, that one was loony."

Akane laughed, nodding in agreement, remembering the inane things he endured to get her off his back. She couldn't seem to accept that he didn't want to see her anymore.

"And then the ice skater chick," she spoke mindlessly, more to herself, thinking out loud, "man, you were into athletes that summer, huh?" She hadn't expected to see him get as flustered as he suddenly did, and all she could do was flash him a cheeky smile. What a goof.

"I said one, 'Kane."

"Whatever," she retaliated, prompting her elbows on the coffee table to rest her chin at her hands getting the gist that for some reason he didn't want to talk about all his ex-girlfriends (whether they qualified as one, or not). And that was okay, she didn't need – and didn't want – to know about them. He was being odd tonight; she could cut him some slack. "So what movie are we watching?" She asked instead, quick to notice the way his face perked up at changing topics, and she could feel her ears heat up, urging her to push wild short strands of hair behind said ears as a distraction before quickly getting to her feet.

"I get to choose?" He exclaimed, watching her reach for their trash, his eyes following her body walk towards the kitchen just a few feet away to throw away into the waste basket. "Let me see," he began to think obnoxiously, tapping his index finger against his chin, shifting himself to lay on the floor.

She crossed her arms over her chest, letting him soak in the glory he deemed came with picking out the movie. And there it was again, a subtle but noticeable tug at the pit of her stomach, ticklish almost demanding to be noticed by her. But instead, she shoved it aside because what was she supposed to do about it?

"As long as it's not a lame movie," her comment stabbed at his chest it seemed, as the young man was dramatically displaying hurt, but she ignored him and instead let herself fall on the loveseat. And just as easily, Ranma swiftly got to his feet and joined her. "Don't get too close, you over-sprayed tonight," she laughed referencing to his cologne, lying right through her teeth because in all honestly, he smelled wonderful. Generic, sure, thanks to his brand of fragrance; but he also smelled of what he has always smelled liked. His odor was a strong one, and attractive, something she relished most times, as she was now.

"Whatcha' talking about," he sneered in disbelief, "I do not smell bad."

"I never said you smell bad."

"Oh, so you like it?" He looked at her with wide eyes, closer than she had wanted to notice, and she could feel her chest tense up. Everyone always noticed Ranma's eyes; they were soft, and very blue, and they reminded her of picnic skies. His long eyelashes batted at her in such an alluring way, she found herself almost not being able to retaliate against a banter, feeling her brain easily turn into putty.

"Pick the movie, you dummy." She managed, pushing herself away with the excuse of reaching for the throw blanket hanging over the armrest of the loveseat. Breathe in, breathe out .

It was all so natural, she noticed. The way she comfortably leaned her body against the armrest and outstretched her legs over his, usually good at ignoring the flips her stomach did when she'd feel the warm press of his palm against her knee, because it was normal that he'd always rest his hand on her knee.

Ranma was surfing through film categories, still not quite sure, but she wasn't rushing him. She wasn't in a hurry, considering she didn't work the next day. She could sleep in, and they could watch movies all night long and then all day the next day, was he wanting to.

Sometime during the movie, Akane had rearranged herself to rest her head down, and when she opened her eyes the ending credits were rolling down. She must've fallen asleep half-way, not realizing how tired she apparently was. She easily remember where she was, noting Ranma was still seating next to her.

She adjusted herself up, glancing over at her friend, who seemed quite engulfed by his phone. And just because she was an ass, because she thought it'd be funny, she stretched her foot at him and slapped it off his hand.

"God, you're annoying." Ranma moaned, and all she could do was laugh through clasped lips. "But at least you're awake, I was getting tired of your snoring," he snickered, and she was quick to sit up with an offended look.

"I do not snore," she disputed, scrunching her nose with knitted eyebrows at him, pushing the bubble threatening to burst all the way down her throat and past her chest.

"You're worse than most men, actually. And considering you're such a macho chick, it doesn't surprise me."

"You're such a liar."

"Whatever you need to tell yourself to help you sleep at night." He smiled childishly at her. And she could feel the suffocating knot gnawing at her throat, itching her, finding the strength to pull herself away even if just a few centimeters.

It was past midnight.

"Are you spending the night?" She found herself asking, stretching her arms high, quietly groaning with a soft sigh. She pushed all her hair away from her face, trying to compose and redeem what she knew would be teasing ammo. She found herself tired, groggy. And then she glanced to her side, watching him watch her. He was quiet and put together, almost. Still dressed, she noted. "Take off your jacket, Ranma. Why is it still on?"

As though automatic, her hands reached for the jacket and tried to shove it off his shoulders, wanting him to be comfortable. She always found herself wanting to care for him, and she came to the realization of how inappropriate she was probably being. Which was odd, because she never used to care about those things. Yet, she stopped, pulling her hands away.

"You can sleep with me today," Akane continued, yawning small, "that way I don't have to pull out sheets. Unless you want to pull out the sheets, because I'm tried."

"Is that an invitation?" The questions rolled out his tongue so easily she hoped her tensed shoulders weren't noticeable as she glanced back at him. Yet he still seemed composed, tied together by his confidence, and she knew her mind was still drowsy and foggy, and she was probably misinterpreting because he couldn't have just said that. Right?

"To share a bed like we've done since we were seven, sure." She challenged, straightening her back trying to appear as though she was just as confident (even if she wasn't).

He didn't look away, and neither did she. She didn't want to look away, she wanted to reach and hold his hand, and feel the warmth of it. Her mouth was dry, and her hands felt clammy, and she knew she needed to breathe in, but he was closer now.

And he was looking at her differently, in a way that only tightened her chest, suffocating her lungs.

"If you want, we can share a bed like we're seven again," he said lowly, his hoarse voice scratching a part of her brain she couldn't reach. She felt a shiver run down her back, down her legs and toes. What was he doing?

"Or...?" She knew there was more to that offer. She wanted to know what her options were. She needed to know. She gulped the forming knot threatening to choke her.

His gaze softened, his half-lidded eyes scanning her face momentarily before he got relatively close and held in her breath, afraid she'd accidentally break something.

She could feel the air pushed through his nostrils against her upper lip, her eyes scanning his, waiting for something. She could feel his lips ghosting over hers like he wanted to kiss her, and he should have been able to. She was merely a centimeter away, she could have kissed him, too.

Ding!

Akane pushed herself away, gasping loudly as if she had just resurfaced from under water having held her breath for far longer than she should had been able to. Her chest was panting, and she could feel the heat of her flushed cheeks overlaying red as she looked away from him. Her eyes landed on her phone, abandoned on the coffee table, noticing she had been the one on the receiving end of the text.

Her hand reached for it, trying her best to ignore just how shaky her hold was when she captured it, quickly unlocking to find a text from her friend. And then a facetime?

Her heart felt like it was going to implode when she heard Ranma ask, "Who's Shinnosuke?"

"Uh, my friend." Her mouth still felt dry and the constricting knot that felt like sandpaper dragging itself down her throat hadn't gone away. "Remember, the one that works at the coffee shop two blocks down..." Why was she still having problems breathing?

Ranma's face turned sour, his nose wrinkling up with knitted eyebrows as he looked at her, confused, like she'd grown a second head and he'd just noticed. "Didn't you go out with that guy?"

"No!" Akane scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief, "you teased me about him, saying I need to get laid, and he seemed like the perfect candidate to take on my violent tomboy demeanor."

"Well," Ranma ran his fingers through his ruffled fringe, somehow feeling deranged for having suggested that then, "you do need to get laid."

She looked at him, once again in disbelief, jokingly punching his shoulder, "Shut up."

She looked back down at the now missed facetime, with another ding . It wasn't weird that he was calling her this late at night, considering he's called her past midnight before; usually it'd be when he'd be closing, and he'd offer to bring her some leftover pastries from the coffee shop since she was on his way home. But they were just friends.

"And did ya'?"

"E-excuse me?" Akane was baffled by his question. Was he serious? Did he really ask her such a question?

"All I'm asking is if..." he seemed frustrated trying to remember the name that had just appeared on her phone's screen, giving up too easily as he continued with his inquiring, "what's-his-face got you laid."

"Go home," she looked at him, half-joking, half-serious. She wanted to seem put together, but she wasn't. He still smelled amazing, bewitching; and he was still very handsome, looking at her in a way that squeezed her heart.

"You're kicking me out?"

"Well, you won't shut up and go to sleep."

He took a deep breath and with his hands up in a give-up-stance as he tried to admit his mistake, all Akane did was reach for the blanket to put over his head. "Go away."

He laughed pulling the blanket off, caving in, "Okay, okay! Let's go to bed."

"Um, you're sleeping on the sofa."

"Aw, c'mon, 'Kane!"

She laughed, shrugging her shoulders, "Be nicer next time!" And she wanted to walk away feeling victorious, but before she had a chance to do anything else, Ranma was running past her with the liberty of stumbling onto her bed.

"The only way you're getting the bed to yourself is if you manage to pick me up and throw me out." And that, she knew, would be impossible.

"You're so annoying." And with defeat, Akane let herself fall onto the bed, putting her phone away.

The lights hadn't been turned off both noticed, and someone was going to have to get up and shut them off. She rolled to her side, looking over at Ranma who was now staring aimlessly at her ceiling, and she wondered what it was about the ceiling that engrossed him in such a pensive mood. She wanted to say something, anything, but disrupting his mindful pondering felt rude. And so, she closed her eyes and tried sleep, even if she didn't have work tomorrow.

"You're actually going to sleep?"

Akane blinked her eyes open to see him sit up and begin removing his jacket before settling back into bed with her. Usually, he'd bring a duffle bag with an extra change of clothes, but he had shown up unprepared for the surprise visit.

"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" She inquired, looking at him very clearly with the bedroom light still on.

"What 'cha mean?" He rolled to his side, both now eye to eye. She inhaled a little too deep, she noticed, as his aroma engulfed her fully.

"I don't know," she hummed, tensing her shoulders up with a musing gaze, "you seem like you have a lot on your mind. Does it have anything to do with your now ex-girlfriend?" Why did she keep looping back into his relationship. It had never been discussed, but she always made it a point not to ask too much about them. Aside from their names and how they met, she didn't know much. And he never bothered sharing more than that, their agreement working wonders on both parties.

But tonight, it seemed he had been the dumpee rather than the dumper. And she figured his ego had been stricken, of course, he'd feel out of his game.

She pursed her lips, waiting for an answer that wouldn't be coming.

"Can I ask you a question?" He asked instead.

"Always." He grinned at that, and she mirrored it.

"Have you ever thought about someone as more than just a friend?"

Akane's face wrinkled with her own pondering, considering his questions seriously – it really seemed like he needed an answer. "Are you asking because of Shinnosuke?" she asked in a low tone, slightly annoyed, but understandable. She didn't date much, and when she did it was a big deal . And he never really met her boyfriends, or dates, considering they usually never went beyond that. But she didn't care. He took another deep breath.

"No, stupid," Ranma sighed, rolling back to his back, dragging his palm up his face and into the bundles of hair.

Akane rolled her eyes at him, confused; what did he want from her? "Then no, Ranma," she lied, exhaling through her nose, "I have not."

His face turned to look at her, a serious undertone she wished they would leave behind, but it seemed that was all Ranma would be bringing to the table tonight (aside from convenience store snacks). Serious, mindful thinking.

"Not ever?" He asked again, his voice low and a tad raspy, vulnerable almost.

She swallowed another lump, feeling her chest beginning to close itself off, wondrous as to what he was getting at. And her brown eyes betrayed her in the most heinous way, as they trailed down his straight nose and traced the shape of his upper lip.

Easily self-conscious, her eyes darted all the way up to see the flutter of his long eyelashes, trying her best to ignore the burning smirk directed at her.

"That's a very," she inhaled, "irrelevant question." She exhaled.

"Are you sure?"

"Why are you so interested in my love life, out of nowhere, Saotome?" There was a tad of teasing in her singsong tone, encouraging her own mouth to smirk or grin at him, to challenge him. But even laying down, her whole body felt wobbly; as though she was melting, and soon enough she'll soak into the bedsheets – which might be a good thing, she'll become one with her duvet and won't have to answer any these silly questions he's suddenly so inquisitive about.

He was so close. Had he been this close since the beginning? She could feel heat resonate all about her body with sweat trinkling down her temple. She was nervous. Why was she nervous? There was no reason to be nervous about anything.

"I'm curious about a lot of things." His voice mingled in between them for a second too long, challenging a dynamic she had always considered but never dared to cross. Not with him, her best friend. Not charming, Mr. Heartbreaker.

He could have kissed her, had he wanted to. His breathing was overlaying hers, and she could feel the subtle touch of his nose skimming against hers. She felt hazed again, but not because of her need to slumber.

"Like...?"

"Can I...?" She felt his hand stretch towards her, softly reaching and resting at the small of her back to gently pull her against him. And she allowed herself to be tugged at him, slowly pressing her hands onto his chest as she searched his eyes. The ones that were dangerously deep and would willingly get lost in (as cliché as that was).

They had never been this close before – not with the intention he now had, smacking her right on the face.

Ranma hadn't finished his question, but all Akane could do was nod timidly, and eagerly, at him. She could feel herself hold her breath just as he leaned into her, softly pressing his lips against hers. And she was melting, her whole body ready to burst at how wonderful it felt to kiss Ranma Saotome.

This piece will actually be a longer than I anticipated, so I hope you read the upcoming chapter! It won't be many chapters, but just some unresolved feelings getting all jumbled up here and there.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read!3