I do not own Ranma or its characters.

This is also my first time posting on this site, and I'm excited.

…

"Come on, Ranma! Hit me!" Akane yelled as her wide kick missed his abdomen entirely.

He leaped back, and she chased after him. Strong, yet swift, steps closing in on him. She threw a right punch, punctuating it with a cry of frustration. He gasped and his eyes widened as it closed in on his face. His battle-hardened instincts barely saved him. The air of her punch wooshed past his ear and cooled his cheek as he turned his head. "Ranma!" She shouted. He stuck his tongue out, tauntingly.

He spun around her body, but she quickly followed. Facing face-to-face once again. His brain was going haywire with analyzing every tick of her body, but he couldn't help but stop to admire her. Hair stuck to her face from where the sweat glistened and her mouth parted open to heave air into her lungs. Her face was rosy red and flushed from the exertion. And her Gi perfectly highlighted her fighting figure. She looked beautiful so worked up like this, so angry and fiery. The moment shattered as she took his quick lapse in attention to drop down and sweep his legs.

'Shit!' As he dropped to the floor he caught her self-assured smirk. He extended his arm behind him to rebound from the fall. But she had accounted for this and hurried to set herself atop him as soon as he made contact with the floor. Their match quickly changed to one of wrestling as she grappled to seat herself firmly on his body and he wiggled to evade her grasp. "Yes, fight back!" She laughed happily. His heart jumped and the blood quickly rushing to his head made him dizzy. He grunted in protest, "C'mon!"

The weight of her body was frying his brain and the contact lit his nerves. It got harder to breathe, but he managed to roll them over, finally free from her pressure. Quickly, she wrapped her legs around his waist and fought his hands that pinned hers to the floor. She pushed and pulled on his grasp, but it didn't budge. She grunted in exhaustion as a vain attempt at wiggling to flip them over again failed. His body was firmly set in a knee-wide stance and his weight held her down.

Their faces were mere inches from each other now, breathes mixing and the heat brushed their lips. Their eyes locked on to one another. Her wiggling stopped and his grip readjusted. Slowly the hands that pinned her wrists loosened their hold. And he tried his best to sit up in the lock she still had on him. "S-sorry 'Kane." She seemed momentarily dazed. "I-I didn't mean to do that, or hurt you!" He frantically explained, his face seemed to redden the more he rambled. She cut him off. "Ranma! Stop." Her blushing face turned to look away from where they were still connected.

Wordlessly her legs let go and rested by his knees. She scooted herself backward, face bright red and eyes evading. "It's... fine, we were just sparring." He sighed in relief at the opening she gave.

"Right! Only a fool would even think of trying something with a macho chick like you!" He laughed loudly, boisterous. His shield was up, ready to intercept her barrage of name calls. She glares at him, hurt. But this was the game they played, another sparring match, this time verbal. "As if I implied anything, pervert!" She rebutted.

His face burnt, 'crap, deflect quickly!'.

"Yes, you did! You were thinking something weird!" Her glare turned wide-eyed before settling again. "No, I wasn't! Quit your wishful thinking Ranma!"

He pushed himself closer to get right in her face. "Nuh-uh! You always think I'd attack you!"

"Well excuse me for being cautious!"

He backed off slightly. A little hurt by her comment. Her face softened, empathetic. "I'm sorry Ranma... I didn't mean that." She softly added.

"I know." He mumbled.

A few beats of silence passed them. After a few more Akane made a motion to get up from the floor and he quickly reached out to stop her. His hand rested on her thigh as he looked at her, guiltily. "I'd ask." He blurts out.

Her eyebrows shoot up and her eyes widen. Ears and face burn its familiar red once again. Ranma realizes his mistake and stammers, mouth closing and opening like a fish out of water. His brain worked overtime to get out of the situation he put himself in.

She lays a hand on his. Snapping his attention to their contact. "I-I know that Ranma." She stutters. "Thank you, I'm sorry for saying that."

His parted mouth snaps shut and he nods. Finally, he stands up and she follows after him. Awkwardly they walk across the room to reach for their towels and dry off. The sounds of them cleaning up and the faraway chatter of the household being the only ambiance. Ranma clears his throat catching Akane's attention.

"Yes, Ranma?" She questioned. Her eyes were full of questions that her lips wouldn't utter.

His words were caught in his throat and he struggled to dislodge them. He wanted to ask her. Ask for her permission to kiss her, but he couldn't. His fingers opened and closed by his side and his mouth pathetically did the same. Her patience tested as he tried for naught to voice his request. Despite the effort, all that came out was garbled sounds. "I- you... uhm... can I.."

Akane's brows scrunched as she tried to decipher his sentence (if you could even call it that). He gave up and resorted to just grabbing her shoulders, scaring her slightly. She was tense under him and then guilt immediately hit him, but he pushed on. "Akane." He muttered. Her brain seemed preoccupied but something seemed to slide into place and her eyes widened.

"You're an idiot." She said, but her words didn't sting. They had none of their usual bite. Still, Ranma's overthinking brain wanted full clarity. "Can I?" And he trailed off, too much of a coward to be wrong. Scared of what would happen if she said no.

She smiled at him, a kind smile, one she seemed to only show him. His heart nearly leaps out of his throat, that's how much it affects him. And time slows. Slows as she leans in close to his lips. She had to go on her tippytoes to reach him, 'cute'. Her eyes flutter shut and he follows after. Their breaths came close and melded into one. His hands slide down from their place on her shoulder to her collarbone, and she shivers at the contact.

Finally, their lips meet, and it's perfect. For a moment, he tenses, scared that she might suddenly change her mind and push him away, but she doesn't. Then, he allows himself to enjoy the strange, warm fog the kiss creates around him.

Their kisses were short pecks, lightly leaving contact, clearly anxious. But as it continued on they held on for longer. Her hand traveled up his abdomen to his chest, and it rested there. She was allowing him a chance to leave, and he mentally thanked her for it. The dizziness in his head threatened him to topple on her. But the light touch and the longer kisses emboldened him. His hands went up to cup her soft cheeks and he pressed a much longer kiss to her lips.

She whined softly against him, one he'd never heard before and he found himself enjoying it. When he separates she chases after him, chasing the emotional and physical high she was receiving. Her arms reached up and around his neck, and she pressed herself adamantly against his body. He groans at the response. Her enthusiasm spurring him further.

His hands tentatively slid down to the small of her back and she moaned. He took his chance to explore her mouth and she greedily let him. Their tongues pushed against one another. Whines and moans escaped the both of them. The heat of the room suddenly felt ten degrees too high and his brain blanked. He felt too dizzy to continue. Too many factors were at play and it confused his foolish heart. He pulled back much too fast for his liking and his vision blanked. Their kiss ending with a sound that made them both blush at the explicitness.

" 'kane.." He mumbled as he pressed a few more dazed kisses to her lips. "Dizzy..." Was all he could manage to say before his knees buckled and he dropped.

"Ranma!" She yelped and tried to catch him. And to her credit, managed to grab his right arm.

"Sorry.." He groaned, his eyes closed as his blood pressure tried to desperately return to normal. She laughed nervously as he lay sprawled on the floor.

"Do you need me to get you a wet cloth?"

"Mm.. no. I dunno."

"Don't tell me the kiss made you lightheaded?" She laughed much louder now.

If he wasn't on cloud nine he'd defend his pride but he was much too focused on her hand lightly stroking the hair on his forehead to think of anything. He squinted at her. "Shut up."

She grinned cheekily. And he found he didn't mind it that badly. Well, maybe a little, but he liked her smile. Especially, since those lips had just kissed him previously. He subconsciously licked his lips and was surprised to find they tasted like strawberries. "You wear lipgloss?" He asked, unable to stop himself. "Oh!" She exclaimed, shocked he noticed. "Just a bit." She hesitated, holding something back, "I just like the tint."

He hummed, not wanting to ask, "I.. like it." Oh, he'd done it now. He's getting punted to the moon now. But instead, she blushed and played with his hair. "You can taste it more later."

He swore his whole body turned crimson. He'd die of high blood sugar. Although, that wouldn't be a half-bad way to go. He lightly shook his head. "I needa train more before I ask for more."

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Let's stick to normal kisses for now. Almost died there 'kane." He grumbled. And she let out the happiest, sunniest laugh that has ever existed. Surely, someone was praying for his good fortune if he got to experience moments like these.

"Sure thing, Ranma. Baby steps." She chuckles as she leans and places a soft, chaste kiss on his lips.