Part VIII

Akane awoke groggily from her dream, for a brief moment still seeing the shadow of her lover rising off the bed, his blue eyes sparkling down at her, before he faded into the morning gloam.

Pulling herself into a sitting position, stretching her arms over her head, yawning rather loudly. No fear of waking Ranma, he could sleep through a full-scale invasion. Turning her gaze to the bed besides hers she found her roommate sprawled out, his legs half covered, snoring very lightly. Throwing her covers to the side and dropping her legs over the edge of her bed she padded over to him.

She studied him silently, his face peaceful and lax from sleep. With great care she adjusted the covers so he was completely covered. He mumbled a bit in his sleep turning onto his side and huddling into the newly discovered warmth of his blankets.

Smiling down at him, Akane ran her fingers through his soft hair. It seemed a little silly to think of a manly man, such as Ranma, having soft silky hair, but he did. Soft gentle hair right down to his pigtail. A vision of her dream flashed through her mind and her body was again filled with the desire she held within. She felt flushed all over and pulled her hand away, turning her back to his bed. Raising a hand to her cheek trying to rub away the red that was covering them, she was thankful her dream could be kept to herself. Still she felt for sure her emotions showed true on her face.

Pinching her cheeks in scolding, she huffed silently. ‘It was just a dream, nothing to get all uptight about.’ She said to herself, the voice in her head sounding a bit like her former fiancé. ‘It’s all because of that night…or that morning.’ Akane thought back to the night spent on Ranma’s bed, in his arms. She’d felt a desperate need to stay where she was and he hadn’t objected.

That morning had been sweet, waking up together, the newly risen sun shining through the window giving Ranma’s dark hair an almost orange glow. It reminded her of the red head he’d sometimes become. At some point during their double date the night before the thermostat in their building had been repaired.

It seemed they’d be content to cuddle up to each other idly talking the morning away. Keeping each other warm, arms holding each other tightly, legs in a tangle, bodies pressed together firmly. At that moment, and still to that day, Akane thought a kiss would have been so nice. But instead the two rose laughing like best friends heading to the roof, Ranma’s favorite place to train.

“Does this always happen?” Akane asked, heaving out of breath her short ponytail bouncing behind her. She gestured to the rows of windows across the way, a doe-eyed girl pressed against the glass of each one.

“Yeah, pretty much.” Ranma shrugged. “I must dazzle them with my martial artist abilities.”

‘Either that or the fact that you take your shirt off to workout.’ Akane thought scowling, still staring at the women of the all female dorm adjacent to their own.

“Aren’t you cold at all?” She asked eyeing his sweaty tank top as it rustled against his bare skin in the cool breeze.

“No, not really, not if I keep moving. Why are you?” Ranma suddenly seemed concerned.

“No, no. I’m fine, but I’m dressed more appropriately.” She said gesturing to her straight-legged dark blue jogging pants and long-sleeved gray cotton shirt, plus she had a thick white t-shirt underneath. She wore sturdy white sneakers while Ranma wore his usual black slip on shoes.

“Ah, it isn’t that cold at all.” Ranma waved the conversation off and took his stance. They went round and round again, Ranma still refusing to actually hit her. Taking advantage of this fact Akane faked a punch causing Ranma to dodge to her left. As he did she sent her foot out to trip him. He managed to recover enough not to fall, but fumbled a bit passing her. Seeing the opening, Akane placed a firm slap to Ranma’s backside.

‘That outta get them steamed.’ Akane smirked at the female onlookers over Ranma’s shoulders. Ranma turned to her a half smirk on his face while rubbing his behind.

“So that’s how it is, eh?”

“If you continue in refusing to fight me.” Akane sighed in mock disappointment.

“Ok, then.” Ranma cracked his knuckles, then charged in with a lethal tickle attack.

“Oh no, Ranma, stop!” Akane giggled trying to push his hands away in vain. Even with her chestnut training she could not keep up, especially while being almost completely incapacitated with laughter.

“Please, please, I give! I give!” She laughed as he held her from behind, his arms around her waist his head resting on her shoulder.

“Who’s the greatest martial artist in the world?” He cued in her ear.

“Jackie Chan?” He started tickling her again.

“Ok, OK.” She caught her breath as he paused. “Jean-Claude Van Dame.”

Ranma groaned and attacked again.

“Stop, stop…hehehe…the teenage mutant ninja turtles.”

“Now you’re going to get it!” He pulled her down to the rooftop tickling her all over, knowing her every weak spot, the place behind her knee, the patch off skin under her ear. He even ventured underneath her shirt to the spot under her arms where she was the most ticklish.

“Alright!” She grasped between laughs. “Alright you are the greatest.”

“What was that? I didn’t hear you?’ Ranma gloated as his hands moved a little further down her side just above the fabric of her bra.

“You’re the greatest. Ranma is the greatest!” She shouted continuing to laugh. “Now quit it you pervert.”

“That may have been a bit overboard.” Ranma chuckled.  He stopped tickling and held both her arms down with his hands on her forearms holding her lower body down by straddling her legs.

“Do you think they appreciated it?” Akane craned her neck to see the disgruntle faces of the Ranma fan club.

“It’s the truth, not much we can do about it.” Ranma sighed shaking his head.

“Oh jeez, Mr. Ego is back.” Akane rolled her eyes and Ranma sat back on her legs. She propped herself up on her elbows smiling at him. Another cool breeze moved past them chilling the exposed skin of her abdomen. Both shivered and Akane pulled her shirt back down.

“Welllll, maybe it is a little cold out here.” Ranma grabbed his shirt pulling it on over his head, absently walking over to the edge of the roof. Akane grabbed the back of his collar and dragged him back.

“Come on, use the stairs like a normal person.” She stated exasperated.

“Hey, it’s good training.”

In the opposite direction of the girl’s dormitory, another building overlooked the roof of Okigima Co-ed dorm, in the window stood a masculine figure similarly watching the scene unfold.

“You want to get started?” A girl’s voice interrupted, the man’s thoughts.

“Yeah, sure.” He answered, without moving to face her.

“What’s going on? Oh, the local martial artist at it again.” The girl stood beside him to look out the window. “Never seen the girl before.”

She turned to look at her companion, he didn’t move at all, just continued to watch. Slowly a smile crept up onto her face. “You know, my best friend has room in the building across, has a much better view if you want to really get a good look at her.”

Then he turned to look at her, his face still blank.

“Still, I’m surprised, don’t you have a girlfriend, Tetsu?”

He looked back out the window, then answered her. “Yeah, I do.”

“So what are we doing here?” Ranma asked, stepping through the door to the Hiraki dormitory a step behind Akane.

“I wanted to ask how her weekend went. I’ll be real quick, then we can get going, I promise.” She squeezed his hand and smiled, before releasing it to knock at her friend’s dorm room door. A loud squeal was heard from the other side, stopping her raised fist in mid air.

“Oh yes, Ryoga!” Both young people turned to each other eyes widening in surprise.

“Figures, our timing is impeccable.” Akane deadpanned, placing her hands on her hips, tilting her head to the side.

“What’s with these two?” Ranma groaned exasperated.

“I gotta show Akane!” The girl inside the room exclaimed.

“Jeez, Ukyo talks about you during sex.” Ranma shook his head scowling in surprise, while Akane’s face twisted with disgust.

“And Ranma!” The girl’s male companion exclaimed and the two outside the room straightened to stiff boards.

“And Ryoga talks about you.” Ranma cringed shivering.

“Let’s never speak of it again.” The door to the room suddenly burst open scaring the wits out of both those inside and out.

“Jesus, what the heck are you two doing out here?” Ukyo asked holding her hand to her chest trying to calm the pounding of her heart.

“Ahhh…” Ranma mumbled trying to decide if what they’d been doing, listening, could be considered as an act of perversion if it hadn’t been intentional. Although, they had lingered at the door a rather long time. Akane gasped beside him and he turned to her questioningly. She was staring at Ukyo, eyes wide open.

“Oh, Ucchan.” Akane grasped the hand Ukyo had pressed to her chest staring down at it. It was then that he noticed the gemstone shining up at him, glinting in the hall lighting.

“I’m so happy for you.” Akane’s eyes filled with tears and Ukyo’s bottom lips started to quiver, as the two girls’ held hands.

“Oh Akane, I’m getting married!” Ukyo exclaimed then they embraced each other weeping openly, and loudly. The boys frowned at them and turned back to each other.

“Way to go man, you finally get up the nerve to ask, eh?”

“More nerve then you’ll ever have, Saotome.” The continued wailing from both women stopped any arguing before it happened.

“Ah, Jeez.” Ranma frowned at the feminine display before him. Akane’s hand whipped out and bopped him on the head.

“Shut up, Ranma.” She sniffed still caught up in her friend’s embrace. “This is important.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” He rubbed his head and turned to the sobbing pair, his brow furrowed in worry.

“You gonna be ok?” His voice dropped a little innocently.

Both girls sniffled, finally separating. Ukyo looked adoringly up at Ryoga and slipped an arm around his waist. In return, he smiled down at his fiancée pulling her against him, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

“We’re just on our way out to celebrate.” Ukyo giggled.

“We were going out to the library to a study, after picking up something to eat. We just stopped to see how your weekend went. When we heard you through the door we thought, umm…” Akane trailed off blushing, unable to make eye contact.

“We thought you were doin’ it.” Ranma stated bluntly placing his hands in his pockets.

“Ranma!” Akane turned to him outraged.

“What? We did. You were thinkin’ the same thing I was.” Akane just rolled her eyes and decided to ignore him.

“Anyway, don’t let us stop you, have a nice time.”

Ranma and Akane walked the other couple out the front door of their dorm and waved as they went there separate ways.

“Ranma I have a great idea.” Akane turned to Ranma with a gleam in her eyes, his arm still raised in the air waving goodbye.

That statement got her where she was at the moment. Getting ready for the surprise engagement party they were throwing for Ryoga and Ukyo. Akane kicked the bed, her former fiancé occupied, eliciting a groan from him.

“Come on, Ranma. You have to go pick up the food and decorations.” She kicked the bed again for effect and he slowly rose rubbing the sleep from his eyes and yawning loudly.

“What, already? The party isn’t until this afternoon.”

“I know, but it’s nine already and we have to decorate the hall, meet the DJ and set up all the food.” Akane stood in her thick cotton pajamas, hands resting firm on her hips.

“You’re not helping make the food are you?”

“Don’t start, Ranma.” She shot him a glare of warning.

“Ok, ok just a question.” Ranma raised his hands defensively, then promptly laid back down on his bed with another yawn.

“Oh no you don’t, you have a lot to do Mr. Saotome.” She stared down at him like a mother scowling her child. A cute mother with mussed black hair and oversized yellow pajamas slipping over her hands so only her fingers peeked out.

Akane gave a yelp as she was yanked down onto the bed on top of him, his comforter thrown over them both.

“See isn’t this nice, we could sleep for another five minutes.”

“Not this time, Ranma.” She pushed against his chest, but his arms wrapped around her back.

“Ahhh, we have plenty of time till the party.”

“We have tons of things to do to get ready. Decorations, food, entertainment, not to mention making sure all the parents make it there. You have to keep track of the Hibiki’s.” She counted off her list poking her index finger into his chest.

“Ok, ok. I’m up.” He loosened his grip on her. A gentle knock came from their door and a soft voice beckoned.

“Hello? Ranma?” Li-Li called from the hall. “Can I come in?”

Akane scrambled to get up, bolting to the other side of the room before the door could open. A guilty silence hung between the pair even as Ranma’s girlfriend spoke lightheartedly. Akane couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that this was not how ‘friends’ should feel.

“Not dressed yet?” She smiled at Ranma. Akane had disappeared behind the closet door to change as she usually did. As she finished buttoning the tan sweater over her white cotton shirt she cursed herself silently for not leaving the room when the other girl had arrived.

“I’m just getting up, I’ll be ready to go in five minutes.” He yawned stretching while still laying down. Akane yanked at the bottom of her sweater, where it met the waist of her jeans, uncomfortably. Li-Li approached the bed and the two smiled at each other.

“You look so comfy, can I join you?” Ranma’s smile widened, looking up at her offering his hand.

“But of course.” Li-Li got down on the bed in a similar position to the one Akane just left, Ranma threw the covers over them both.

“Don’t lie around too long you two.” Akane stumbled over her words, trying together what she needed and leave as quickly as possible.

“Don’t worry, Akane, after we pick up the decorations and bring them back to you, we’ll be on top of the Hibiki’s for the rest of the day.”

“You know what time Mr. Kounji’s train arrives?”

“Ten-thirty sharp. I’m all over it!” He smiled Li-Li’s head resting on his shoulder. Akane spared a glance at them from the door.

“Remember make sure they are out of site, we don’t want to give away the surprise.”

“Nothing to worry about, Akane. It’s gonna be perfect.” She nodded and gave a weak wave before leaving the two alone.

Ranma smiled at Li-Li from across the crowded hall. She waved back happily, then continued speaking with the girl across from her.

“Hey man, can I get a juice?” Ranma shouted over the noisy music. The bartender gave him a strange look then turned around to retrieve a glass.

“Having a good time?” Ranma turned his head to find Ryoga smiling beside him.

“Yeah sure.” The bartender returned with Ranma’s juice and turned to Ryoga.

“Juice, please.” The bartender stomped off mumbling to himself, but Ryoga paid him no mind.

“Li-Li here?” Ranma took a sip of his drink nodding his head.

“It was really nice of you to do this and throw it together so quickly. Ukyo and Akane were off crying together when we first arrived.” Ryoga rolled his eyes raising his own glass to take a drink.

“Yeah, well it wasn’t a picnic keeping tabs on your terminally lost parents.” Ryoga growled his hands tensing into fists. “But you are my best friend so I guess it’s no big deal.”

Ryoga deflated quickly, getting a comment such as that from Ranma was quite rare, and left him speechless.

“Can I get a juice?” A masculine voice addressed the bartender and both Ranma and Ryoga looked to the familiar face. The bartender slammed his palms down onto the finished wood of the bar, leaning forward on his hands, glaring at Tetsu frustrated.

“And a beer.” He added sending the bartender on his way in a lighter mood.

“There’s a man who takes his job too seriously.” Tetsu motioned to the retreating bartender, raising his eyebrows.

“Hey Tetsu, enjoying the party.” Ryoga greeted jovially.
“Definitely. Congratulations on your engagement Ryoga.” Tetsu smiled easily.

“Thanks.”

“Ukyo is a great girl, Akane talks about her all the time. Of course, not as much as she talks about Ranma here.” Though he tried to hide it with good humor, there was a hint of disdain in his voice. He lightly jabbed Ranma in the stomach playfully and Ranma had the sudden urge to strike him, but gave him a thin-lipped smile instead.

‘What the hell do you want, you get to be her boyfriend I’m just a friend.” Ranma thought to himself bitterly. Ryoga laughed uncomfortably.

“So the juice for Akane?” Ryoga asked lamely, trying to shift the conversation a bit.

“Oh yeah, the martial artist in training.” He smiled genuinely turning his thoughts to his girlfriend rather than her roommate. “Though I don’t know why she says she’s ‘in training’ she seems skilled enough.”

“There is always something to learn from the art.” Ranma commented.

“And she has to keep her body in shape.” Ranma stated almost daring Tetsu to comment on her physical attributes and cause a fight.

“Of course.” Tetsu replied, a little put out by her friend’s concern for her shape. “I’ll see you guys later, I don’t want to keep the lady waiting.”

He raised the beverages he held, giving them a smile, and walked into the crowd of people filling the small hall.

“So, you two don’t get along too well, eh?” Ryoga asked cautiously.

“We don’t not get along.” Ranma answered enigmatically. “He just grates on me, like he doesn’t like me or something.”

“He didn’t say anything against you or anything when we went out together last week.” Said he was glad Akane found such a good friend, since she’d always seemed so lonely.”

There was that word again, Fuji had said something about Akane being lonely. How could a person who had as many friends as Akane had be lonely. She barely had time to breathe with all the activities she did.

“Hold up, you went out together?” Ranma asked suddenly switching gears.

“Yeah all four of us went to some dance club Ukyo found. Ukyo loves to dance, I feel a little silly, but she always dresses so cute when we go out, so I don’t mind it.”

“So Akane and Tetsu went clubbing with you two.”

“Well, yeah, it was fun. He’s a nice guy, really good to her. I think he’s really serious about her.” All of this information made Ranma uneasy.

“I just didn’t know you all went out together, that’s all.” Ranma brooded.

“It was just that time and out for breakfast last week. It’s not like a regular thing.” Ryoga explained.

“I guess.”

“Jeez, Ranma. You sound like a jealous girlfriend.” Ryoga joked.

“Come on, I didn’t say nothin’ like that.” Ranma furrowed his brow into a crooked scowl.

“Ok, ok.” Ryoga raised his hands in warding. “Next time Ukyo and I will go out with just you and Li-Li, alright?”

Ranma sighed exasperated, Ryoga just didn’t get the point.

“Although,” Ryoga continued, paying Ranma no heed. “I’m not sure Li-Li and Ukyo will get along too well.”

“Huh? Why not?” Ranma asked confused and a little insulted.

“Well nothing against Li-Li, she’s real sweet, maybe too sweet for Ukyo’s taste. In fact, I’m sorta surprised you, the Lord of Chaos, can like such a tame girl.”

“What, you think I want some chick to beat me up or something? I’m not some pervert!” Now Ranma was insulted.

“I’m not saying that. Although that does seem to hold some water.” Ryoga spoke quickly not allowing Ranma time to react. “I just think you’d be bored, in need of some excitement. Someone just a bit more athletic.”

“She’s athletic, she’s a cheerleader.” Ranma defended, Ryoga raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘give me a break.’

“Besides, she is everything a guy looks for in a girlfriend. Pretty, sweet, lady-like, gentle, feminine.” Ranma listed off.

“Now that’s your father talking.”

“Huh?” Ranma blinked, face blank, stunned. ‘Like my old man.’

“Girls are weak, delicate and in need of protection.” Ryoga said in a passable Genma impersonation. “I thought you stopped listening to that old man years ago.”

Ryoga smiled, but Ranma just stood staring at him.

“Ryoga-honey.” Ukyo’s sweet voice drawled out gazing adoringly at her fiancé. “I thought you were coming right back. Ranma what have you been doing to my fiancée?”

Ukyo gasped and clasped her hands together. “My fiancé…I love how that sounds.”

“Will you cut it out already Ukyo, we’ve been engaged a whole week.” Ryoga rolled his eyes, his serious conversation forgotten.

“Only a week, Ryo-chan. It’s just like it happened yesterday.” She smiled up at him brightly.

“It feels like forever.”

“Forever, what do you mean it feels like forever?!” Ukyo asked her ire rising.

“Oh, um, like we’ve been together forever my love and we’ll be together for all of eternity.” Ryoga stumbled over his words breaking into a sweat from the scowl Ukyo was giving him. She paused for a moment thinking about his words, soon her scowl melted into a loving smile.

“Oh, Ryoga-honey, you’re soooo sweet!” She hugged him tightly.

“Nice save, man.” Ranma said under his breath to his friend and Ryoga made a shushing gesture in return.

“Now let’s get back to our parents.” Ukyo said cheerfully. “See you in a bit Ranma.”

Ranma turned back to the bar picking up his drinking to return to Li-Li, when he turned around he was face to face with Nabiki Tendo.

"Saotome there you are, I've been looking for you."

"Oh hey, Nabiki, I mean boss. What's up?" Ranma calmly took a gulp of his juice.

"I have a job for you." She smiled pleasantly, still maintaining a certain gleam in her eye.

After getting the details on his assignment, Ranma spent the rest of the evening in the company of his girlfriend. He didn’t catch a glimpse of Akane since the beginning of the party. He’d had no idea Ukyo and Ryoga had so many friends. Their family’s consisted of Ryoga’s mother and father and Ukyo’s father. How Akane managed to get both Ryoga’s mother and father here from wherever they were lost was beyond him. She had only said that it was part of Nabiki’s engagement present.

He’d briefly met Konatsu, surrounded by male admirers, and discussed a little about business at Ucchan’s and the condition of Nerima itself. Konatsu saw the Tendos frequently and gave him an update on most of the Nerimites.

The party was still in full swing when Li-Li asked him if he’d mind leaving. She had an early class in the morning and tests to study for. He headed toward the cloakroom to get both their coats, when he heard voice from within.

“Someone is going to see us.” The female voice giggled in a hushed tone, hidden amongst the long wool jackets hanging from the freestanding rack.

“No one’s going to see us.” The male voice assured, accompanied by the rustling of the coats, kissing and the girl’s soft giggles.

The pair suddenly stumbled into view, pushing past the coats. The girl pressed up against the wall by the man, both too busy kissing to notice Ranma half inside the small room. The giggles stopped, replaced by moans, as their kissing turned more passionate.

Ranma turned around and left as silently as he came. ‘That was the last thing I wanted to see…’

“Did you just hear something?” Akane pulled away, pushing at Tetsu shoulders.

“I didn’t hear anything, Akane.” He answered continuing to kiss her lips, even as she turned away worried.

“Really, I think someone saw us.” Tetsu sighed, backing away, a pacifying smile on his face.

“Ok, let’s just get going then.” He turned around and grabbed her coat off the hanger.

“How about coffee?” She smiled.

“Coffee’s good.”

“How about your place?” Her smiled turned mischievous and he chuckled.

“My place’s good.” He took her hand after donning his own coat and together they walked out of the cloakroom, and back into the party to say their goodbyes.

“Ranma where are our coats?” Li-Li asked, puzzled seeing Ranma come back from the cloakroom empty handed.

“Uh…couldn’t find them.” Ranma lied.

“Oh, then I’ll help you.”

“Well, um, you see…”Ranma stuttered not wanting to bare witness to the cloakroom activities again, glanced over his shoulder and noticed Akane and Tetsu leaving. “Yeah, sure. That’d be great.”

She smiled at him taking his hand and together they walked into the small dark lit room.

After leaving Li-Li at her door, and giving her a long lingering kiss goodbye, Ranma headed back to his empty dorm room. Tossing his clothes off he sprawled out on his bed, in his boxers and undershirt. Resting his head on his arms he glanced over to the digital clock on Akane’s desk. ‘Midnight already…I wonder when Akane’s coming home.’

Staring back up at the ceiling, Ranma started to think back on what Ryoga said to him earlier that evening. Maybe Li-Li really wasn’t the girl for him. She was nice, sweet, a great girl, but honestly he barely thought about her if she wasn’t already there. He scoffed to himself, it wasn’t like he was going to marry her or anything, they were just dating.

Again he turned to the clock, 12:45.

Although, it wasn’t very fair to her, to have such low expectations for their relationship. But it did feel good to have a girl to call his own, a girl that was happy to be with him. Someone to hold and protect.

Ranma wrestled with his thoughts for hours, gazing at the clock intermittently. At two am, Ranma rose up on his bed, propped up on his elbows. “Where the heck is that girl?”

The night dragged on very slowly for Ranma, thoughts of his girlfriend turned to worry for his ex-fiancée. Finally, at 4:24 am, Ranma noted, Akane, as silent as a mouse, entered their dorm room. Being very careful not to make a noise, Akane crept around the room preparing for bed.

“You were out pretty late.” Ranma whispered. He expected to surprise her, but she stood stock still at her desk the top side drawer open.

“I was at Tetsu’s, we talked for hours. I didn’t even realize how late it was.” She stared down at the small velvet lined box then turned her head to the side, not really looking at Ranma, but trying to make it easier for him to hear her. “Did I wake you?”

“No. Just got in myself, about a half hour ago.” Ranma lied, it just felt better than the truth, though he wasn’t sure why.

She turned back to the drawer and shoved the tiny box to the back buried under papers, to be contemplated later. As she lay down to bed she realized it was a fruitless effort since she’d be up all night thinking about it. On the bed across from her, Ranma was kept awake by his own thoughts and personal demons.

Ok, I gotta thank everybody.  ^_^
Special Thanks to Nonseqtr, Bumblebee-Queen, HPackrat, MWhaleK, KaiPhantom for giving me the inspiration to continue.
And to CD for just bein' the sweetest

Author’s note:
So there it is another chapter that was supposed to have humor, but I just couldn't do it.  This whole part wasn't in my outline either, in fact it was all part of 7, but I thought I should break it up a bit.  Part 9 is only a little more than half done so we'll see how long it takes me.  ^_^