A sudden deja vu ran through Ranma's whole body and mind. He had always dreamt of this happening with him. In his dreams and absurd imaginations, he always saw them sharing a pleasant hug with each other ; but not like the way it is happening right now!
His mind became jumbled with too many thoughts at once! In one hand, he was feeling sorry for her current situation, but at the same time he was feeling happy for himself too! His heart broke every time as he kept hearing the heart-wrenching sob which was coming from her. But at the same time, he could also hear some romantic violin music ringing on his brain from a far distance!! As the time stretched, his heart started to thump harder and faster; but he also couldn't make out why his heart was beating so hard for. One thing he was damn sure that, whatever the reason for the confusion of his innocent heart, it isn't because of why she was upset or crying at that moment! He could be sure of it because, the way she was holding him closer to her at that moment, this simple yet unbelievable incident itself was almost making him leap with joy and do a backflip in excitement! The way his mind began to work at that moment was actually making him doubt his sanity ! Is this the right time to celebrate or feel distress? However, he was feeling way too confused about what to decide at his current state of mind...
Then suddenly, he started to feel nauseous! His throat became dry and body became stiff. And at that exact moment he realized that he was holding his breath and he needed to exhale and inhale quickly if he wanted to keep living. He closed his eyes and tried his best to calm himself first. He started breathing softly, carefully as not to scare her off with his heavy breathing.
After a moment of slow breathing processes, he started to feel relaxed again. He gradually opened his eyes and looked at her with a small smile on his face. He was feeling pathetic of himself for smiling when she was crying like this. But, he decided to give himself a break and do what felt right to him. Then a big difficult question hit his gut hard, which made his smile disappear!
The big, frightened question was, now that everything is settled, how is he going to respond to her hug!!? Is he allowed to touch her? Or she would beat him up if he dares to lay a finger over her?! But she is the one hugging him and touching him intensely, isn't it? So.. he should be sure she won't hurt him if he hugs her back, right? Should he risk it then or leave it? But if he doesn't hug her back or respond to her somehow, won't she think that he is not interested at her? But she needs to know that he is indeed TOO much interested in her! But can he prove it to her..?!
He gulped hard as he bravely decided to show her that he did care for her! He prepared himself, at first he stretched his neck, then the next step; he stretched both his arms in the front, ready to grope her tightly. He was about to hug her, but his fear got the benefit of the doubt again; he got the warning sign in his mind and stopped himself before he could grope her.
First mission failed, then very soon he again took some deep breaths to get ready for his second attempt.
In his second try he decided to gently put his hand on her tense shoulder. He was happy with this idea and slowly proceeded to put his hands over her shoulders.
"I am sorry, Ranma!…. I… I shouldn't have cried like this.. This is.. this is so stupid."
Ranma's hand was halfway from her shoulders when she suddenly broke their hug and decided to put a small distance between them. He never felt this highly disappointed at himself like this before! He definitely missed a big opportunity just now. He was so frustrated at himself that he almost ripped his hair in annoyance. But then he heard her shaky sniffing as she was trying her best to wipe her tears with her shaky hand.
For a moment, he stopped his frantic thinking about his failure as he observed her closely.
She looked so broken, her eyes red and puffy for her outburst. Her body slightly shaking now and then, as she repeatedly wiped her face clean from her tears. She again made an effort to act tough in front of him, but her voice and her nonstop tears were telling him a completely opposite side of her.
This time though as he looked at her miserable state, it made him extremely furious and helpless at the same time. At that moment all he wanted to do was to hurt that person who dared to hurt her feelings and make her upset like that. He knows who to blame and who that person is! And this time, he will make sure that he teaches him a big lesson. However, this is not the right time to think about all that either. He might be acting as dumb as he is, but he has to take some responsibility right now and has to comfort her, or else maybe she won't stop crying or worse, feel more miserable and uncomfortable around him..! He made an effort to say something to her, but no words came out of his mouth as he became completely speechless..
"I don't know what was I thinking!" Akane said with a trembling tone as she looked down to avoid looking at him, "Please forgive me for hugging you without your permission, Ranma.."
That was the last thing he was expecting to hear from her! He is the one who should ask for her forgiveness, not her; but instead, she was the one apologizing to him at that moment! Then Unexpectedly the wind picked up its speed and he saw her body trembling more as she hugged herself tightly with her arms to give herself some warmth. Seeing the sight with his sad eyes, he sighed defeatedly and without saying anything to her, he carefully unbuttoned his red Chinese shirt and opened it. And just like a gentleman, he gently laid his shirt over her shivering body.
His delicate gesture surprised her. She immediately looked up at him, her eyes showing her shock and gratitude for him at the same time.
He was also looking back at her delicately, unblinking. He wanted to say so many things to her, but her expressive glossy stare kept him completely captivated. In his dazed mind he didn't even notice that he was holding her shoulders with his hands, in a not-so-gentle way. But he did notice that, she was not complaining about it as well, so he decided to take it as a positive sign from her. He became happy to see that her tears had stopped falling as she kept looking back at him. She looked so innocent and completely perplexed. He couldn't control himself as a small smile formed in his lips. The next words he said to her came out so naturally from him as he whispered to her,
"Why are ya apologizing to me for? You can always count on me, Kane! You don't have to feel guarded with me and you definitely don't have to feel sorry for expressing your emotions to me. I am always here for you.. As long as you... need me.."
His words made her heart flutter with an unknown calmness. For the first time in her life she felt as if she could trust someone outside her family. His so expressive ocean blue eyes, his genuine gentle manner gave her a warm secure feeling. She wants to trust him so badly and in her current state, she lost all her ability to fight back her inner mind which was continuously asking her to withstand his offer.
Akane bites her lower lip as more tears blinded her vision. She couldn't utter any words to him and his next action melted all her resistance completely.
Ranma couldn't stand to see her crying anymore. He doesn't even know where he got the courage to say what he just told her. He just followed his heart this time and everything came out so smoothly. But then , when he saw her tears forming again, without any hesitation he gently laid his one hand over her soft cheek and carefully wiped her tears clean. She looked so surprised by his action, but the way she was looking back at him melted his heart fully..
Akane sighs deeply, she tiredly nodded her head and without any word, she got closer to him again. Silently, she laid her head over his beating heart and hugged him again and whispered to him,
"Thank you, Ranma.. Thank you so much.."
As he kept following his heart and paused his frantic mind; the next step also became easier for him. Gently and carefully, he circled his one arm around her shoulder and gave her a soft friendly hug and whispered back to her.
"I am always here for you.."
And in his mind, he celebrated loudly as he thought to himself,
'Finally!! Victory!!!'*
They stood there for a few moments, each lost in individual thoughts of their own. After some time, they broke the hug and Ranma helped her to walk towards a nearby park bench as he kept his one arm around her shoulder. Ranma spotted a small cafe nearby which instantly lifted his mood. After helping her to sit on the bench, he quickly excused himself for a few seconds and as promised he returned by her side in a blink.
Akane just laid her head back at the bench and closed her eyes because of the headache which is a result of her sudden breakdown. But she couldn't keep her eyes closed for too long as she felt Ranma's presence by her side much more sooner than she anticipated. She sighed and opened her eyes and became surprised by the thoughtfulness of him.
Ranma smiled at her surprised form as he held the cup in front of her and said,
"Hot chocolate for a weary Princess! I am sure it will lift up your mood."
Akane couldn't stop but smile at his kind gesture. She nodded at him and took the offering cup from his hand.
"Thank you, Ranma. You are so kind.."
"It's nothing.." Ranma tried to act casual as he sat beside her, and saw her quickly taking a sip from the cup. She kept taking small sips from the cup as she looked down at the cup with a distant expression on her face. Then after some moments of silence he asked her,
"Akane, are you alright?
Her body jerked slightly as she gave him a confused stare,
"Huh?"
Ranma smiled at her and asked again,
"I asked, are you feeling alright?"
Akane smiled at him and said in a small tone ,
"I am always fine, Ranma! Thanks for asking... I just don't know why I lost control over myself today.. Maybe;.. I was too stressed and tired ; or maybe, I was not prepared for what happend today.."
Ranma sighs and said,
"Look, Akane, if you don't want, I won't say this to anyone! Not even to Ukyo! And if you want, I will stop Ryoga to spared this news as well.."
"And how are you going to do that? You work for him, Ranma.. You can't tell him what to do or not.."
"I CAN!" Ranma got annoyed as he continued saying, "I will call his mother and tell her everything he did.."
Akane shook her head and calmly said,
"Ranma, I really appreciate that you care about me, but I don't want you to lose your job because of me. I know how hard it is; and that's why maybe you understand my situation and Ryoga doesn't."
Ranma became speechless after hearing that as he kept looking at her with a shocked expression on his face. Akane sweetly smiled at him, she laid her hand over his hand and said,
"Believe me Ranma, If you had asked me before, I would have told you what I do for my living , I would never hide it from anyone. But no one had ever asked me about this, that's why I never told anyone. And; you can tell Ukyo about it, it's not a big deal at all. It's just.. I was so surprised to see you guys there tonight and the way Ryoga behaved with me it was so unexpected for me and you were right there too; I didn't know what to do and I lost my cool.."
Akane looked down at their hand as she became upset again. Ranma held her hand tightly and said,
"I am sorry about what happened there, Akane. I promise, I didn't have any idea that he would act like this with you, otherwise .."
"It's not your fault, Ranma. The type of guy Ryoga is, they always act the same way! So insensitive, they feel as if they can buy everyone and everything with their money. They don't want to understand that we have hearts too. Anyways, I just hope that the way you stood up for me back there , it won't make him angry at you.."
Ranma smirked inwardly and muttered,
'I wish I could tell ya..'
"Hmm? Did you say anything?" Akane asked, confused.
Ranma blinked his eyes and said sheepishly,
"Uhh; no!! It's nothing.. And please don't worry about my job, as arrogant as he acts, he also knows where his limit is and he can't abundant me, because a crazy person can also tell what's right for him or not."
Akane smiled hearing that as she shook her head and said,
"It's good for you then, I doubt that after what happened tonight they would want to hire me anymore! This is the second time this month this is happening.."
Ranma looked at her with astonishment, then he said in a serious tone.
"Why do you need to do this job? Ya don't have to go there anymore.."
Akane was taken aback by his sudden declaration, she gave him a small smile and said,
"I wish, Ranma. But I do need this job. Anyway, I need to tell you something; please don't say anything to Akio about what happened and what Ryoga did to me. If you say it then maybe he won't allow me to talk to you anymore."
Ranma shook his head in despair and asked,
"But if he is so concerned for you then how's he allowing you to work at that place!"
Akane smiles and shrugged her shoulders and said,
"Honestly, if it is in his hand then he wouldn't let me do this job, Ranma. But you have to understand, whatever relationship we may share, I will never burden anyone with my needs. Anyways, I am sure he is on his way to get me now.."
"He is coming to get you now?" He asked, stunned.
Akane nodded her head and said,
"Always! He always comes to get me. I still have time before I finish my shift though; but I am sure he got the news already.."
"But who is going to tell him about this?!"
Akane looked at the road ahead and said,
"It's his friend's pub and as his cou.. I mean as his fiancée, I get lots of facilities there.." As she talked about him, Akane suddenly looked ahead again on the road and smiled, "Speaking of the devil! Look how he is running towards us.." Akane said with a mischievous tone as she slowly stood up. "Are you coming, Ranma?"
Ranma looked at Akio, who was running towards them in an urgent pace. He then looked back at Akane with a sad face. He didn't want to end this moment so quickly, but did he have any other options left in his hand? The answer is, no! He sighed sadly as he thought that and stood up beside her,
"Yeah, ... let's go.."
"Oh Wait, let me throw this cup first." Akane said as she quickly finished the remaining drink and tried to go to the nearest bin.
"No wait!!"
"Huh?!" She stopped and turned to look at him.
"Give that to me, I will throw it away later."
Akane looked at the cup and then at Ranma,
"Are you sure? I can do that.."
"Uhh.. Why waste time in here? You should met Akio as fast as you can.. That poor guy is looking so panicked." He tried to convince her.
Akane sighed and said,
"You are right. I should go to him or else he might have a panic attack!"
She shrugged her shoulders and gave her empty cup to Ranma and thanked him again. After that they left the park area and waited by the entrance of the park as they saw Akio running towards them.
Akio stopped with a halt as he saw Akane standing in front of him. He was panting hard, he looked at Akane with his concern-filled eyes and hugged her tightly.
"Oh my God, you scared me to death! Are you alright?" Akio broke their hug and looked at her carefully as he asked her in a panicked tone, "What happened there? Who did this to you?" At that moment his eyes fell on Ranma. At first he became extremely shocked to see him standing there; but soon his shock turned into rage as he asked her, "What the hell is he doing here? Is he to be blamed for all this?"
"Akio!" Akane's stern voice pulled his attention towards her. She smiled at him and said, "If you look at me carefully you will get your answer, Akio; if Ranma is to be blamed or to be thanked.."
Akio became even more confused hearing that, but then again, he noticed their current state. He saw Ranma in his black tank top and his usual red Chinese shirt was draped over Akane. Before he could say anything about this, Akane continued saying,
"Ranma stayed by my side all the while I was upset, Akio. He actually helped me to calm down. I don't know, if he hadn't helped me out, what I would have done this time.." Akane turned and looked at Ranma and nodded, "Thank you, Ranma."
Ranma looked at Akane and nodded his head.
Akio examined Ranma carefully, his expression troubled as he didn't want to trust his intention fully. But as Akane turned to look at him again, looking at her happy face made him discard all his negative thoughts about him. He sighs and nods at her. He looked at Ranma and slightly bowed at him and said,
"Thanks for taking care of Akane for me. I really appreciate that."
Ranma wasn't expecting this to happen, he got confused as to what to do next. He tried to bow back to him and said,
"No problem, anytime.."
Both boy's awkwardness made Akane giggle, she shook her head in amazement and said,
"Enough already! You guys act so awkwardly sometimes."
Akio growled at her and said,
"Keep quiet; let's go home.."
Akane smiled and nodded. Akio took her hand in his and they began to walk in the dark roadside to head home.
Ranma kept staring at their retreating form, and suddenly, a feeling of loneliness hovered over his entire form. His eyes then fell on the way Akio was holding Akane's hand, so tightly, so possessively; just like the way he wished to hold her hand and never want to let go…
Then suddenly his dazed mind paused it's diverse thinking as he saw them stopping. He looked up at them, surprised; then the level of his astonishment reached a higher level when he saw Akane turning to look at him. He saw her taking off her hand from Akio's hand as she started running towards him. Before he could contemplate what was happening, Akane rushed towards him and tightly embraced him again. The hug lived very short, but it felt like an eternity to him. She quickly broke the hug and looked at him with appreciation. She was smiling, but her eyes had tears in them. Ranma got concerned for her as he asked,
"Akane?"
"Thank you for everything you did today, Ranma. Thank you for being so supportive..I will never forget this day! Thank you!"
Saying that with a shaky tone, she quickly gave a quick kiss on his cheek and didn't wait to see his reaction as she ran off towards Akio again; who also became completely dumbfounded by what she just did.
Ranma's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. His hand reached out and touched the skin where she left a tingling sensation for him. He saw them leaving hand in hand again; in reality, Akane was practically dragging an annoyed-looking Akio alongside her.
For Ranma, it still felt unreal to him. He just couldn't believe that a few minutes ago how lonely he was feeling. And now, after her just a little gentle gesture, her soft touch, her smile has given him the fulfilment he has never felt before. With a broad smile on his face, he kept looking at their retreating form, his hand still over his burning cheek.
beepp* beepp* beepp*
The vibration of his mobile brought him back to reality. He looked at his phone and saw Ryoga calling him. He has been calling him since the time when he went to the cafe to get Akane a hot chocolate. He kept ignoring his call and Ryoga kept calling him nonstop. Now that Akane is not with him, he could easily take his phone, but he decided not to. He rejected the call again and started walking towards his apartment.
Then after some time, his phone rang again. At that moment he decided to answer his call and call him off once and for all, but when he saw who was calling him , he became startled. He quickly answered the call,
"Hey, Ucchan.. Ya 'kay?"
"RANCHAN!! Where are you!!?"
"I am sorry. Don't worry, I am just on my way home."
"No!! I mean, where is Ryoga?"
That irked him as he replied hotly,
"I don't know and I don't care!!"
"Oh Ranchan, you have to care! Why weren't you answering his call!? He is in danger! He called me just now and he sounded so frightened! The pub owner has decided to call the cop on him!"
"I AM HAPPY HE IS CALLING A COP ON HIM! HE DESERVES THAT!!"
"I don't know why you are saying that, Ranchan, but do you really want him to go to jail?"
Ranma couldn't answer her and growled.
"Ranchan, what if next time instead of asking for your help , Ryoga decides to call your parents to help him out of this situation? You have just started living a regular life here; do you want to end it this soon!!"
"Damn it, Ucchan!" Ranma muttered, frustration lacing through his every word. He gave a big irritated sigh and asked her, "Where is he? What does he want from me now ?"
A/N: I hope you enjoyed reading it!! Please review guys and show your support for this fic ... Thank you..
