For the First Time

by Lolaless92

There's a first for everything. First kiss, first fight, first kid. Each first is unique. [Slice of life]

5. Chapter 5

A/N: I was rereading some chapters and realized I made so many mistakes and typos! So, I'm going to go back through and do some light editing - nothing drastic. I swear I read through these a few times before posting, yet I always miss a few things! All that said, thank you for the support. I have one to two more ideas now for installments, and then I think I'll be done for a while until the next season of the new series drops and rekindles my obsession. When I first started writing these, it was more an outlet than anything and an attempt to remember and try to write again. Seeing you all become more and more receptive to these has made me feel so great, so thank you all. Okay, enough mush.

Altair & Vega Pt. 2

The air was thick with dust from the now unsettled ground, having been kicked up by the shuffling of feet and misplaced fists. "Quit running! What happened to taking your punishment?" Ranma growled as he swung another shot toward the fanged man that was hurriedly dodged.

"I said you could hit me! Not kill me!" Ryoga shouted back as he slid on his foot, disrupting more dirt. He placed his palms together, and Ranma braced himself. "Shishi Hokodan!" A burst of blue ki emerged and hit Ranma in full force. Ranma found it surprisingly easy to break through it - finding the depressive energy so much lighter than before - and landed a punch square in Ryoga's jaw, causing him to fly backward and hit a tree.

"You said I could do what I want," Ranma snipped, "and what I want is to kill you!"

Ryoga pressed the back of his hand against his lip to wipe off the blood that had trickled down his chin. "I get why you're angry," he huffed, "I would want to kill me, too."

Ranma's brows knitted together as he thought of his next attack but found that his anger had quickly evaporated. "Just tell me why, Ryoga," Ranma began as he took another step forward. "Tell me why now. After all this time." He chuckled dryly. "You had five years to come clean, so why the hell was it so important for you to do it now?"

"Akari!" Ryoga yelped as he held his hand out in surrender, "I did it for Akari!" Ranma faltered, and his hands dropped to his side. Ryoga eyed him carefully before he continued, "I want to marry her, but she said she can't trust me." His head dropped. "She found a… keepsake box… in my room."

Ranma took another step forward as his hands clenched back into fists. "What kind of keepsake?"

Ryoga's sighed softly. "It was… of my time with Akane." His eyes closed. "Trinkets, pictures of her and I - both when I was human and when I was P - well, you know. I couldn't… I couldn't bring myself to get rid of-" Ranma hit Ryoga across the jaw once more, and Ryoga, not having expected it, fell to the ground.

Ranma leaped on top of him and straddled his hips as he began his assault. Each fist landed with a sickening thud. "You hold onto pictures of my wife," Ranma snarled between each punch. "That you held onto like a pathetic little creep!" He raised his fist for a final blow, "And decide that because you want your perfect ending-" he swung down, "you get to ruin my life?" The fist landed beside Ryoga's head with a thwack.

Ryoga's face had already begun to puff up from the assault as blood pooled down from his nose, lips, and under his right eye. He peeked up at Ranma through slowly swelling eyes. "Why didn't you hit me?" He groaned. "Finish me off?"

Ranma stared at him from above before he huffed and got off of the other man. "I don't pick on the weak," he spat as he turned on his heel, "but I should make an exception for you." He walked over to his pack and grabbed it, swinging it over his shoulder. "I better never see your stupid piggy face near Nerima or the Tendo home ever again."

"She forgave me," Ryoga stated. Ranma froze and looked behind his shoulder to see Ryoga had sat up with his leg raised and his arm draped across it.

"What did you say?" Ranma whispered.

Ryoga turned his head to the side to spit out the blood that had pooled in his mouth. "When I told her, she forgave me."

Ranma turned on his heels and walked back to Ryoga. The lost man winced as Ranma reached down, grabbed him by the collar, and tugged him upward. "You are going to tell me every. Single. Detail. Do you understand me, P-Chan?"

"Don't call me-" he stopped as he looked into Ranma's glowering gaze. He sighed and asked, "Would you care for some ramen?" Ranma frowned but, all the same, extended his hand. Ryoga looked at it hesitantly before he accepted the gesture, and Ranma pulled him up in one big huff. Ryoga began to shakily walk towards the fire, where Ranma saw that water was boiling and, feeling a bit guilty, grabbed Ryoga's arm and draped it over his shoulder for support. Ryoga leaned his weight into Ranma as the two understood there was a temporary cease-fire.

Ranma gently dropped Ryoga down to the ground and leaned him against the tree stub he had previously been sitting on before Ranma had originally begun his assault. He turned to the fire and saw the container of instant Ramen. "There's another one in my pack," Ryoga wheezed, "and my water is next to it." Ranma nodded and turned to Ryoga's pack as he dropped his own alongside it. He dug into the bag and found the aforementioned ramen. The canteen laid against it, and he picked it up and opened it. Feeling childish, he took a swig of it first before he handed it to Ryoga, who took it graciously and took a big gulp.

Turning his attention back to the fire, Ranma opened both packs, ladled the hot water into the styrofoam bowls, and covered them. The two waited in silence as Ranma racked his brain on what to say once the two were eating. What did Ryoga mean Akane forgave him? Why had she forgiven the pig-boy but not him? How did she forgive him yet remain angry at her husband? It made no sense to Ranma.

Once he figured the instant ramen had separated enough, he grabbed the packs, opened and stirred them, and then turned back and handed one to Ryoga and sat on the log across from him and over the fire. Ranma played with the noodles for a few moments as he realized he wasn't very hungry before he finally looked up at Ryoga who seemed to be doing the same. "So," he started, "tell me how the hell Akane forgave you of all people."

Ryoga sighed and kept his eyes firmly on the cup. "During that trip about a month back, I purposefully didn't come. I stayed in Nerima across the street for about a week. I was afraid if I left my spot, I would get lost, so I waited for you to leave. When I saw the three of you head out, I waited another day, and then I went to the dojo." Ranma's teeth gritted together. "Akane had come home with you for her winter break, but I wanted to make sure you weren't there."

"You don't think I know that?" Ranma grunted.

"After she greeted me, I asked her to sit down with me for some tea. I told her then."

"And she just forgave you?" Ranma asked in disbelief.

Ryoga chuckled as he placed his cup down. He seemed over pretending to have any hunger. He met Ranma's questioning eyes. "You think Akane would ever take something like that lying down?" He snorted. "Of course not. She beat the tar out of me." The corner of Ranma's mouth twisted upward. "But after she calmed down, she asked me why."

This got Ranma's attention and he leaned forward as he asked in a whisper, "What did you say?"

Ryoga leaned back and grabbed the cup again. "I told her that I loved her, and I got in too deep and felt like I couldn't say anything." This time, he seemed to have regained a bit of an appetite, and he took a small bite as the noodles draped down his lips. He winced as some of the broth touched his cuts.

"What, so she just forgave you? Just like that?"

Ryoga swallowed the rest of the noodles from the last bite. "I thought you knew your wife," he said dryly. Ranma's eyes narrowed. "Of course not. She beat me up again."

Ranma chuckled with a mix of anger and pleasure. "She should have done a lot more than that."

"That's what I told her." Ryoga conceded. "I told her about Akari and wanting to come clean about everything. I told her I was a stupid boy and that it was unforgivable but that I thought I could have won her over one day. And that maybe then I could have told her." He bowed his head again but glanced up at Ranma. "You know what she told me?" Ranma shook his head but felt his heart thumping wildly in his chest. "She said that if I had just come clean from the beginning - about my curse and my feelings for her - she would have given me a chance." He laughed and there was a twinge of pain there. "Guess that's what I get."

Ranma almost felt bad for him before he remembered the man before him had ruined his relationship with the one person he had ever been in love with. "So where do I fall into this?"

Ryoga sighed again and touched his swollen cheek. "She asked me if you had known. I said yes. She asked how long. I told her since the beginning." He dropped his hand and looked at Ranma seriously. "I had never seen her cry so much." Ranma swallowed a thick lump. "I tried to tell her it was my fault, but she didn't want to hear it."

Ranma stood and went to grab his pack again and swung it over his shoulder. "Tell me something, Ryoga," he started. He heard Ryoga shuffle as if to hear him better. "If Akane came to you tomorrow and told you she loved you, would you ditch Akari?"

Ryoga was silent for a while and said, "Maybe."

Ranma scoffed, "You're pathetic, you know that?"

"It wouldn't matter," Ryoga answered quietly. "I never stood a chance with her. I see that now. Somehow, you were destined to be together."

Ranma looked back at Ryoga to see he had gone back to stirring his noodles. Ranma sighed as he stated, "You really made a mess of things." Ryoga nodded. "But I guess I had it coming, too." He started to walk away as he muttered, "I hope to see you at the dojo soon - maybe I can even come to the wedding."

He heard Ryoga breathe his name but Ranma carried on until day turned into night.

—

Ranma had returned to the dojo days later. There was still a sour mood in the air. No one had heard much from Akane. Soun had insisted that Ranma go to her since the apartment she was in was their shared space and Ranma should assert his authority, but Kasumi had swiftly pushed that idea aside, stating - shockingly enough - that only an idiot would do that, which seemed to shut Soun up pretty quick.

Their room - like the rest of the rooms in the Tendo Dojo - was still held for them. Nabiki, Kasumi, and Akane's rooms were left untouched when the women were away - not that Kasumi had left much. She had decided to stay until Akane had graduated and returned to the dojo. It felt weird for him to be in Akane's room without her, but it felt even weirder to think about going back to his old one. Ranma sighed as he lay in their bed. He looked at the ceiling, searching for answers.

He had stared at that ceiling so many times before. He remembered the first time he had gazed at it as he tried to go to sleep - when she and he had pretended to be married and Nabiki had insisted they "sleep" together. He had been so nervous the whole time. He remembered he had been annoyed that Akane had found a way to sleep soundly with him next to her on the floor. He thought, at the time, he was going to pass out from the pure thumping of his heart. He chuckled, feeling wistful for the young man he had once been. It had seemed so much more stressful back then, but now as an adult man, he realized the childish antics were but a simple snowflake in an avalanche.

A knock came on the door and Ranma sat up. "Yeah?" He asked.

The door cracked open to show Nabiki. Ranma was surprised she was still here and not at her apartment, but he supposed the whole family was most likely coming back periodically to check to see if their sister and daughter-in-law had finally returned to make peace with them. Akane wasn't one to hold onto anger so it shook them that she could maintain such fury.

Now that Ranma had considered it, he supposed the people she lived with betraying her was a much bigger blow than some guy who drifted in and out and was just a blip in their lives.

"How ya doing, Saotome?" Nabiki asked as she leaned against the door with her arms crossed.

"What do you want?" Ranma asked with a raised brow. Nabiki wasn't one to make pleasant conversation.

"Ouch," she replied in a mocking tone, "and here I thought my dear brother-in-law needed cheering up."

"Oh yeah, that's your natural gift, huh?"

Nabiki rolled her eyes and said, "You want me to help you or not?"

Ranma looked at her curiously and swung his feet to the side of the bed. "You're not going to try and make me pay, are you? Cuz I'm not buying it."

Nabiki chuckled. "Wow, you've really upped your cleverness. Guess my sister taught a thing or two through that thick head of yours."

Ranma stood up, not bothering to answer, and Nabiki removed herself from the door and moved down the stairs. The house was unusually quiet - though he supposed it always was now that the majority of the Tendo and Saotome families no longer lived there. "Where are we going?" He asked. Nabiki didn't answer but turned the hall. He was curious but decided to keep his mouth shut. Usually, if you showed too much interest, the fees Nabiki charged would double. In her defense, she had stopped petty bribes since she moved from the home and began to start her own life. 'There are much bigger fish,' she had explained.

Nabiki opened the shoji and Ranma realized they were in the room that held the Tendo matriarch's shrine. Ranma didn't like coming into this room much. It made him feel guilty that he had a mom and they didn't. He had wondered how things would have been different if she had been around. Perhaps she would have put the kibosh on the whole marriage idea. Nabiki turned to him and pointed at the shrine. "You know what that is, right?"

Ranma rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Of course I know." He crossed his arms and looked at the ceiling as he tried to avoid the awkward feeling that settled into his stomach.

"My mom's shrine. You don't come here, much."

"Should I?" Ranma asked as he turned his gaze to the middle sister.

Nabiki sighed softly and returned her gaze to the shrine. "Daddy comes in here once a week to talk to her. Even after all these years. I told him a while ago that we wouldn't be mad if he tried to find another woman - he's not getting younger - but he wouldn't hear of it. He still loves her after all."

Ranma brought his hand to the back of his neck and scratched it uncomfortably. "Why are you telling me this?"

Nabiki looked back at him and said, "Daddy leaves everything important to him here and tells Mom about it. It's a little weird if you ask me, but Kasumi says it's sweet, Akane says to leave him alone, and I say it's creepy." She tittered.

Ranma smirked back. "I thought you said it was just weird?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Two things can be true at once."

"Remind me again how this is supposed to help me?"

Nabiki turned on her heels and began to walk past him. "I can't tell you all the answers. You really - we really - hurt Akane." He peeked behind his shoulder to see her head was bowed. It unnerved him, Nabiki never got serious or showed any vulnerability. It felt unnatural. "You said to me once, 'If you love your sister - and I think you do…' but right now I'm thinking if you love my sister - and I think you do - you'll figure out what's in here and what Daddy was so happy to show mom."

Ranma wanted to ask more, but the air felt so heavy that he couldn't bring himself to do so. Nabiki walked towards the shoji and quietly closed it behind her. Ranma waited a few moments as he listened to the padding of her feet as she walked away before he turned back to the altar.

It looked untouched, yet spectacularly clean. Candles and incense remained unlit but were visibly used. There were pictures of the oldest Tendo woman, as well as a myriad of family photos, including hers and Soun's wedding photo. Ranma sighed and walked cautiously towards it. With the house so quiet, it almost made him think a ghost would pop out at any moment. He stood in front of it before bowing. "Mrs. Tendo," he murmured, "thank you for looking over us." He felt a bit silly talking to the air, but Akane had instilled in him more thoughtful traditions and their place in the world. He liked that she did that.

Feeling a little more confident at that thought, he stood straight and muttered, "I really screwed things up with your daughter. I don't know how to make it right." He sighed and his throat seemed to be closing up. He didn't understand why he was getting so emotional. "Kasumi said she could tell you anything, Akane said she always felt so safe and warm with you, Nabiki…" he stopped and chuckled, "Well, she didn't say anything - she's a stone wall, that one." He brought his hand back to his neck and rubbed it as he stared at his feet. "I feel like, if you were here, maybe you could tell me. My ma's no help, and my dad's even worse." He shook his head and muttered, "Sorry, this ain't about me."

He glanced back up at the shrine. "Anyways, thanks again." He was about to turn when he caught sight of a photo to the far left of the shrine. He went closer to inspect it to see Akane and himself at the dinner on their wedding day. They were sitting on their knees, faces partially bowed as they tried not to look at each other. Their faces were scarlet in embarrassment. Ranma chuckled and went to reach out to grab it before he clumsily hit the lip of it and it began to teeter before going to crash down. "Shit!" He gasped as he watched the frame about to hit the ground. He dived for it and his body hit the hardwood before catching it in his hands. He sighed in relief and went to stand when the plant to the right of the shrine caught his eye.

As he shuffled to his knees, Ranma leaned in with the frame swathed delicately in his arms. The trunks of the plant had three thick stumps that extended far up into small spindly branches that were littered with delicate leaves. "Bamboo?" He murmured. He looked at it closer and noticed at the hem of the bottom leaves, two paper slips were wrapped around the branch. He gasped, seeing the names.

'Akane'

'Ranma'

"It's been here the whole time?" Ranma wondered aloud. The plant had to be almost 6 years old. They had gotten it right before Jusenkyo. He placed the frame down, reached into the plant, and pulled it closer to him to inspect its leaves. He was too afraid to touch the slips of paper, afraid he'd tear them. They looked a little yellowed, but overall, they were in good condition. He smiled warmly at the plant.

Right before Jusenkyo, they had gone to the Tanabata Festival and had gotten a little baby bamboo. Their fathers had insisted their names be placed together on it for good luck. He remembered the chaos of keeping their names on the plant as different suitors tried to get theirs separated. The two had tried so hard to pretend that neither wanted their names on it. Both were far too prideful. He had wished he had told her then how he felt. Before Jusenkyo, before the next two years of pretending. He wished a lot of things, but looking at the plant before him, he knew he wished he had told her he loved her that day - when he knew without a single doubt.

He remembered he had the chance to tell her right before the fireworks and -

He paused as clear sky eyes cast in surprise. He quickly scooped the plant in his arms and left the picture behind. He slid open the shoji and began to run down the hall past Nabiki, who had been leaning a few doors down, eavesdropping. "You figured it out, Saotome!" She cheered.

"Ah, shut it, Nabiki!" He snapped back without anger. He heard her chortling behind him.

He turned the corner and entered the kitchen to see Kasumi preparing a meal. She looked at him in surprise. "Oh, Ranma - what are you doing with that plant?"

"Where's Mr. Tendo?" Ranma asked.

Kasumi blinked at him curiously before she answered, "In the dojo, I believe." Ranma nodded and repositioned the pot in his arm.

"Thanks!" He turned and headed to the dojo but heard Kasumi shout after him, "Please don't get dirt everywhere! I just cleaned!"

"You got it!" He yelled back. He bustled through the corridor until he was out on the deck. In a flash, he was outside - and then - the dojo to see Soun was meditating.

"Mr. Tendo," he began.

Soun peeked open an eye to sneak a look at him. "I've told you, you can call me Soun or Father." Ranma nodded hastily and when Soun saw the plant, he opened both eyes and turned his body towards Ranma and asked, "Why do you have that? You know you shouldn't take things from a shrine - it's bad luck."

"Why did you leave that at the shrine?" Ranma asked as he ignored Soun's statement.

Soun eyed Ranma up and down and when he met the younger man's eyes, his features softened. "I wanted Ema to look over you two," he said simply. "I saw then that there was no doubt you and Akane cared for each other. When I put it there, I told her I knew our schools would be one and there was nothing left to worry about."

Ranma nodded and the two maintained eye contact in silence. After a few beats, Ranma stated, "I need to take this - just for a while."

Soun nodded and turned his body around again. His eyes gently dropped closed. "It was always yours."

Ranma bowed to him deeply. "Thanks, Soun."

"Bring her home, won't you?" Soun whispered.

Ranma stood straight. "I will," he answered adamantly, "I promise."

—

Ranma stood outside the apartment in his Sunday best. The keys shook in his hand as he balanced the bamboo plant in the other hand. He wanted to unlock it, but there was fear there. It seemed silly—it was his place, too, for goodness sake—but it felt like he would be intruding somehow. He went to place the keys in the door but chickened out and placed them back in his pockets. He reached his hand out and knocked.

He heard shuffling from inside the home and then the turn of the knob. His heart was beating wildly and he felt dizzy. The door slowly creaked open and Akane's hair - which now reached to the middle of her neck - was shown first, then her ear, then her cheek, and her chestnut eyes before the rest of her body was revealed with the door opening. It had only taken a second, but Ranma had watched every fraction of that second like a series of photos.

She looked more stunning than he could ever remember. She wore her house shoes and a black fuzzy sweater, a red pleated skirt, and the black thigh highs that had always made his heart flutter. There was a reason he had claimed her thighs had been too thick - he had never been able to take his eyes off of them. He swallowed rigidly and almost forgot how to speak. She tucked her hair behind her ear while her other hand remained on the door knob. She looked at him irritably. "Can I help you?" She asked tonelessly. He saw from the corner of his eye that her hand that held the doorknob had a slight tremor.

"I know you're mad at me—you deserve to be—but please let me in. I want to talk to you."

"Well did you ever think I don't want to talk to you?" She hissed.

"Akane, please," he begged and watched the smallest blush begin to form under her cheeks. She always seemed to do that when he pleaded with her. Her eyes drifted to the bamboo he held and she gasped.

"What are you doing with that?" she breathed.

"It's a long story," he replied.

Hesitantly, Akane stepped aside and opened the door open for him. He huffed a sigh of relief as he entered their apartment. It looked the same as always: the black couch in the living room with a little kotatsu across from it in the middle of the room. He looked at the framed pictures, art, unusable mirrors, and silly lighting that Akane swore was "important" for the "aesthetic" that Ranma didn't want to admit brought him warmth. He smelled the familiar scent of jasmine from the incense that rested on the counter, and he knew he was home.

Ranma wanted to turn to her, press her to him, and murmur sweet nothings in her ear that always made her shudder. He wanted to kiss the top of her head and smell her flowery hair, then her forehead and cheek, the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth, and the crook of her neck.

But he knew better.

"You can put it there." Akane pointed at the tiny table near the door that had a bowl for their keys, answering machine, and phone on top. Ranma looked for a spot, but the plant was too big, and the table was much too small. Ranma thought of teasing her about it but bit his tongue. He placed it on the ground next to the table for now and kicked off his shoes. "So what's the story? That was by my mom's shrine."

"I know," Ranma answered as he turned to her to see she was now sitting down on the couch. He walked to it, thinking of sitting down, but Akane shot him a look.

"Maybe you should explain first." She firmly suggested.

"Right," he said awkwardly and began to fidget with his hand. He explained to her about his trip to the mountains (avoiding his run-ins with Shinnosuke and Ryoga) and returning to the dojo. How Nabiki had led him to the discovery, and he had asked Soun for an explanation. Akane looked at him with interest and leaned forward.

"So then, you ran all the way over here?" He nodded. "Why?"

"Because I realized something," He answered. He went to her now and kneeled on the couch so his arm rested on the back of it behind her. "I spent the last week talking to your old flames - well, the ones who mattered."

"What are you talking about?" Akane asked, confused, as she leaned towards him with her arms crossed. Ranma sighed—he originally wanted to leave that part out, but he told himself that being dishonest got him into this mess in the first place.

"Ryoga, mainly… but I ran into Shinnosuke."

Akane gasped and her curiosity turned to anger, "Ranma," she hissed, "you had no right -"

"I didn't mean to - I mean, I did with Ryoga," he started as he flicked his thumb under his nose, "but he had it coming."

"No more than you did," she grumbled.

A slight pang shot through his chest but he ignored it and pushed on. "I know I did. It's not an excuse, but I felt guilty because I was the reason Ryoga's curse happened in the first place." It was funny how just a few years of maturity made Ranma more available to talk candidly with her. He momentarily thought back to how difficult this would have been for him as a teenager. Hell, even in the first year of marriage it was like pulling teeth to try and express himself.

She sighed softly and her eyes darted away from him and towards the kotatsu. "I know you felt guilty - Ryoga told me so. I know you felt like you had to - you're always doing something hard-headed like that." Ranma chuckled despite himself. "Do you know how that felt, to find out I had a man sleeping in my bed with me so many nights and everyone knew but me?" He saw her eyes had begun to sparkle with tears and he went to reach for her but quickly withdrew his hand. "Like I'm some kind of idiot."

A single tear fell that she quickly smothered. Ranma, despite his previous conviction, reached out and swept her hair that had fallen into her face and tucked it gently behind her ear. "You're not an idiot, Akane," he whispered, "you're just too trusting." Her face soured a tad and Ranma quickly side-stepped it. "It's a good thing - it's one of the things I like so much about you."

She sniffed but still refused to look at him. The room remained quiet, save for the clock ticking mindlessly away across from them. Finally, she looked over to him and gestured to the couch to allow him to fully sit. Her face was twisted in thought as she tried to process what he said, and asked, "So I get how you got the bamboo, but why did you bring it here?"

Ranma blushed a little and looked away from her searching gaze. He may have learned how to be more straightforward with his explanations, but the mushy stuff still felt unnatural to him. Maybe in four more years, he could finally learn to get over it. "When I saw Shinnosuke, I was looking for Ryoga - the guy got himself lost in that forest again somehow - I ran into him by accident and, well… you know how he is."

"Got himself stuck in one of his traps?" Akane asked. A small smile crept to the corners of her lips. He nodded and chuckled.

"So I brought him back to his place - his grandpa passed, by the way."

Akane gasped, "Oh no - poor Shinnosuke!" She pressed her finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe we should go visit him…"

"It would be crueler if you did," Ranma replied. "You know… he still remembers you." Akane raised a brow in surprise but didn't speak. "Said somethin' about how you were the only girl he ever loved." She blushed at that and fidgeted with her hands.

"I'm surprised he feels that way - well, now, after all this time."

"You already know what Ryoga felt," Ranma continued, and her blush deepened. He reached for her and placed his hand under her chin. He felt his face grow hotter. "You… you have so many people who wanted you, and you c… chose me."

Her eyes sparkled with hesitant warmth. "Oh yeah, like I'm alone on that front."

He shook his head in reply. "Sure, I got some people interested in me, but all those started because they thought they had to, but you? They got to know you and fell for you." He leaned in closer. "Like me."

He went to kiss her as he felt as though she had warmed up enough to be receptive to it, but Akane quickly placed her hand up to block him. "The bamboo." She reminded him.

He huffed in annoyance at prolonging his chance to touch her but leaned back in his seat. "When I saw the bamboo, I remembered when we got it - the Tanabata Festival - do you remember it?"

Akane giggled at the name. "How could I forget?" She asked. "We fought so much, and all the chaos from the bamboo… it's sort of a sweet memory."

He swallowed, ready to say the hard part. "Well, that night, when your name started to fly off on that balloon, I didn't think much of it - I was a little bummed, sure, but then I saw your face." It seemed he was going to faint at any moment from the pure embarrassment and the weight of the words. "You looked so… sad. It broke my heart."

"After everything we saw that night, I figured it meant we wouldn't be together," she whispered.

"I know," he replied, "so I went for it-"

"And got hit by the fireworks and passed out - I remember."

He nodded. "Yeah, but I didn't know that." He had to say it now. The secret he had never told anyone. He had held it to his heart, too afraid of looking like a sniveling little boy. It was so embarrassing. "I had a hallucination or a dream or something where I ended up by a creek. You found me and told me you wanted our names together."

She snorted. "Of course, in your fantasy, I was the one admitting I liked you."

He chuckled, "Well, yeah! I would have noticed I was dreaming if I admitted something like that." She shook her head in mild amusement. He felt relieved to see she was warming up to him again. A small part of him worried the betrayal had been a step too far.

"So what happened?" She urged him on.

He bent over to drape his arms over his legs and stared down at his feet. "We were looking out at the water. It was… pretty. Fireflies and everything. I remember looking at you and thinking… that you were really… beautiful." Oh god, let him turn into goo here and slide into the sofa. "And I told you that I thought we… we were… well…" he groaned. "Do I have'ta say it?"

"Yes!" Akane said quickly.

Ranma grumbled a small complaint about it being too embarrassing to say out loud but knew he had to say it regardless. "I said we were Altair and Vega. You know, the story about… oh c'mon, Akane! You know what it's about!"

"I know," she said slyly, "but I want to hear you say it - it's the least you can do."

He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. He sat up straight and gazed upon her face. She was smiling now, seemingly elated with his words, and he found strength there. "It's about a mortal guy and a goddess that f… fall in love and are torn apart, but they always find each other… one day."

She leaned in closer to him with her hands pressed to the sofa and asked, "And you think that's us? Two people who constantly are torn apart only to cross the Milky Way to meet again?"

Ranma bridged the gap between them and brought his hand to the back of her neck to keep her steady. "I know we are." He moved towards her to kiss her softly on her forehead. He closed his eyes and moved his lips down to her right cheek, then the tip of her nose, before settling on her lips. He felt as she pressed her lips back against his and was thankful. Carefully, he pressed his tongue against her puckered lips and felt them open slightly. He lowered her to the couch and pressed into her, his tongue exploring the insides of her mouth. He felt her shiver as one hand gripped her hip while the other one slid down her side and rubbed her thigh between the hem of her skirt and the tip of her stocking.

Ranma knew he had missed Akane terribly, but until this moment, he didn't realize he had such an ache in his heart. Now that she was beneath him and accepting his kisses, he registered that he would do anything to keep her there with him. He didn't want passionate, teeth barring sex at this moment, he wanted her to understand how much he cared about her.

Ranma had never been particularly good at speaking about his feelings, but he had never had much issue with showing them when the chips were down.

He heard Akane groan as he moved from her lips to her ear and tongued the lobe before gently biting it. He moved the hand that had been gripping her thigh and snaked it under her sweater. He skimmed her soft skin near her naval, feeling her growing heat, and moved his lips from her ear to her chin, outlining her jaw until he was at her neck and kissed the crook of it. Her hands went around him and held him closer to her while his hand glided upward until he was at the underside of her breasts. He was surprised to feel she didn't have a bra on. He smiled as his hand enveloped her and pawed it carefully.

"You don't have to be so gentle," Akane sighed.

"Can I be?" He asked as he peeked up from her neck and into her clouded eyes. She smiled and nodded. He took her nipple in his hand and gingerly rolled it between his fingers. She sharply sucked in her breath, and Ranma returned to sucking and nipping her neck. She lifted her shirt above her head and threw it to the ground, grabbed his free hand, and brought it to join the other, and his fingers traced around the peaks of her breasts. Her hips jolted upward, and she shuddered.

Ranma kissed down her neck to her chest and latched his mouth to it. He felt her legs begin to wrap against his hips and press her mound into his hardened shaft. He groaned and moved his hands under her skirt as he cupped her cheeks and thrust against her. His lips drew back up her neck to meet hers as he kneaded her bottom. Her hands moved to the thick buttons of his black shirt and popped each one off in a hurried manner. He temporarily moved his arms to assist her in removing the garment to join hers which had since crumpled on the ground.

Akane flew to his chest, and her fingers racked up and down his skin and stomach before moving up his neck and through his hair. She tugged at the back of his head and broke from his lips to attack his neck and kiss down to his collarbone. She lightly nibbled at it, and Ranma instinctively thrust against her again as he moaned into the air. One of his hands had since returned to her ass as his other moved down her stomach and reached the bottom of her skirt. He pulled it upward and lifted himself up so he could stare down at her.

Her hair was mussed up, and her face flushed as her chest rose and fell quickly. Her arms moved upward, and her hands wrapped against either bicep in an attempt to pull him back down to her. He resisted and brought one hand back down to her chest and aggressively twisted her nipple, which caused her to snap her eyes shut as she bent her head to the side. The hand that had stayed by her waist moved downward until his finger touched the crest of her slit, still covered by her panties. Her lips parted, and she sighed as one arm moved behind her to rest behind her head, the other moved to his hips, and her fingers went to the tie in his pants.

He felt the dressing fall apart, and her fingers dug into the fabric that she made quick work to pull down. He grabbed her wrists to stop her, and she looked at him questioningly, he leaned back down to her ear and whispered, "Not yet."

She groaned and made to move against him again. "Why not?"

He pecked her cheek, and instead of answering her, he murmured, "You're so beautiful." She shivered, and he pressed against her again. Her wetness was undeniable and he smirked in triumph. He raked down her stomach, observing the lines on her abdomen to her skirt. He made quick work to remove both garments in one fluid motion and moved to momentarily kiss her on the lips before kissing her down her neck and down to her chest. He briefly licked and sucked on the left nub before moving to the other to copy his moves. He continued his descent and moved down her abdomen and supplied little nips and kisses, licking her naval aggressively which caused her to squirm and buck upward in anticipation, and he smiled against her skin as he noticed her legs had widened, beckoning him.

He stretched one hand up and back to her chest and gripped her breast as his lips kissed the inside of her thigh and gave tiny pecks before his mouth laid above her crest. He exhaled hot breath against her and felt her shiver. He moved to the other side and kissed the inside of her other thigh as his free hand idly rubbed the sheer black fabric that clung to her legs. "I always loved this," he muttered into her skin. "Did I ever tell you how much I would stare at you when you would wear these?" He peeked up at her to see her looking down at him, blushing wildly as the back of her hand rested against her mouth to stop her gentle gasps.

"N… never noticed," she responded as her free hand went to the top of his head to try and softly pull him back down to between her thighs. "I didn't realize you were so interested."

"Sometimes I would see you," he started as he nipped at her soft flesh, "and I'd think about it when I was alone, and I'd imagine doing something like this." Finally, he met the soft patch of fur that nestled itself at her sweet spot. He quickly worked his mouth around her nub and licked it roughly, tasting her secretions and wanting more. His mouth wrapped around her clit, and he sucked it lightly. Immediately, she yipped, and she pushed him forcefully into her as she rolled her hips. His fingers dug into her as he pulled her firmly to him, and he felt her undulating movements against his mouth as she hungrily asked for more.

The first time he had eaten her out (that he could remember) had been embarrassing and nerve-racking. He had been afraid of doing it wrong or not liking the smell or taste of it. Now it almost made him euphoric to be able to be so intimate with her and the fluttering of her breathing and the forcefulness of her movements as she asked for more. He needed to feel her thighs crush against his head as she screamed his name or spoke some made-up language.

Akane sharply pushed his head from her and he moved away from her mound. He looked up at her in frustration as he thought that she had been so close to the end. He wanted to hear those cries after not being able to for months, but the irritability quickly turned to question, and saw she was still flushed. She pushed him further from her moved to her knees and pulled again at his pants. This time he didn't resist.

"Can you lay down?" She asked coyly.

"Sh… should we move to the bed?" He suggested nervously. It had been so long since he had seen that devious smirk. It always meant something tantalizingly unabashed that would have his head spinning for days after and provide fodder for his more private moments, but it seemed like his resolve for worshipping her was quickly slipping away.

Akane shook her head now and pushed him to his back, surprising him. She moved to his pants and pulled them down forcefully. Her hand wrapped around his shaft and she pumped it softly. His mouth opened slightly as he attempted to swallow his guttural groan.

And then, suddenly, she was on top of him.

She shimmied, moving awkwardly so that her thighs were on either side of his head, and before he knew what to say, his head snapped back as he felt her mouth engulf the tip of his penis. Her tongue swirled around the underside of his foreskin and she disengaged briefly to lick the slit of his opening, no doubt lapping up precum as her hands continued to stroke him. "Akane," he whispered. She engulfed the head again and seemed to be teasing him. He looked down to see her eyes closed as she worked slowly down his shaft. Each time she rose, she would sink into him a little farther.

Ranma looked up to see her pretty pink pussy above him. His hands reached up and spread her lips to look at her. His thumb idly traced lines along her folds and vibrations from her moans traveled down his shaft, making him tremble in want. A finger went to her opening and pushed in, while the other one drew circles around her clit.

There was an audible pop from her as she dropped him from her mouth. She turned her head to peek back at him and demanded, "Lick me again."

Not needing to be asked twice, Ranma reached upward to wrap his arms around her pelvis and pulled her hips and thighs downward. He quickly feasted upon her and moaned into her mound as he felt the familiar wet warmness of her mouth encapsulate him again.

He continued to pump his finger into her pussy as his tongue and mouth ravaged her. She began to grind against him, and any attempt to keep him in her mouth had subsided. She sat up and, with his free hand, skimmed across her stomach and went to grasp her breast to feel her hand was already there, playing with her nipples. "Ranma," she gasped as she removed her grip, and he quickly latched on, "please don't stop!" Ranma licked and sucked her nub veraciously - cunningly. She ground into him with a new fervor, and he pinched her nipple harshly, knowing it would be the final push she needed to have her meet the end.

A sharp cry rang out from her as her thighs snapped against his head. Her walls convulsed around him, and her body draped across him. He turned his aggressive sucking into gentle licks as she panted, her high slowly dropping and bringing her back to reality. When it seemed she had calmed slightly, he cocked his head and kissed her thigh.

Her mouth was on him again. Her hand wrapped back around the base of his cock, and it felt as though she would devour him if given the chance. He dragged his fingers against the glossy skin of her back. He lifted his hips, and his toes curled. She continued to pump his cock and moved from sucking it to providing teasing licks, which caused his eyes to squeeze shut, and a loud cry rang out from him. He felt like he would burst at any moment from her expert maneuver. "Akane," he breathed, "p… please stop." She didn't for a moment, perhaps mishearing him or enjoying being devious and bringing him close to the edge. "Akane," he muttered again, "I don't want to cum like this." Akane turned slightly to look back at him but continued to stroke him mindlessly, her ministrations teasing. "It's been… so long," he huffed, "I want to fuck you so bad."

She blushed at his words but seemed delighted all the same. She nodded her head and released him. She shimmied off of him and turned to face him with her legs pulled up to her chest and stretched wide. Ranma shuddered as he thought for a moment about placing his face between them again. "You look so fucking hot."

Akane giggled nervously but had a twinkle of pride in her smile. She lifted one hand up and twisted her finger seductively at him, beckoning him to her. Ranma shimmed on his knees between her thighs and positioned himself at her entrance before wrapping his arms around her and slamming into her unannounced. She gave a sharp cry, mimicked his movements, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He thrust into her again and placed a hand on her lower back before rocking her so that she was straddling his lap. His other hand twisted into her hair, and he crushed his lips to hers, his thrusts never ceasing.

He pulled away from her and searched her gaze which was filled with the same lust as his own. "I love you, Akane," he breathed as he felt his dick begin to throb, ready to release his seed inside of her.

"I love -"

He silenced her with his lips and gave a sharp cry as he erupted into her velvety walls. He felt her nails rub soothingly into his back as he bucked his hips for the final time. Thinking of his seed being pushed further into her aroused him further, but he knew he was spent. His breath remained quickened as he pressed his lips to her forehead. He pushed back her messied hair and looked at her flushed face. "I love you," he repeated.

She grazed his cheek as if he would crack at the slightest touch. "I love you, too."

They brushed their lips together for a while. Continuing to give gentle pecks. When he tucked her hair behind her ear again and went to kiss her cheek. She pushed against him and laughed. "Okay, I think that's enough for one night."

He blushed but chuckled all the same.

Sheepishly, they got dressed and Ranma turned on the TV while Akane made tea. One of those silly soap operas was on that he couldn't stand, but knew Akane enjoyed so he left it for idle viewing. Akane brought in the tea, followed by dorayaki to eat with it as a late-night snack. They sat silently as they watched and munched on the sweet. "How's my dad?" Akane asked nonchalantly, but when Ranma glanced over at her, he could tell she was worried.

"He misses you - they all do." Akane nodded but didn't answer. "I told your dad I would bring you home."

Akane tsked and reached for another sweet. "Kind of cowardly to make you do their job for them." She grumbled. "Not like that's different from most days."

Ranma placed his tea on the table before he leaned over to her. "Akane…" he started gently, "you know your old man wouldn't ever do anything to harm you - your sisters, too." She was frowning. "They thought… in their own way… It was harmless."

"Kind of like you," she grumbled, and Ranma feared her anger would be coming back and directed at him at any moment.

"I guess," he answered sincerely, "you know we're all a bunch of idiots." She cracked the tiniest smile and looked down at her tea. "Give 'em the chance to say sorry."

She nodded her head slightly. "Okay, I'll go this weekend." Ranma reached over and kissed her cheek.