Hello all.  This is a little story I wrote up in approxmiately two
hours.  This is my attempt to write a story themed like 'Tonight's April
Fool's' with a strong mix from 'Akane's Lullaby'.  By the way, did
everyone get 'A Fool's Farewell'?  Please read it.  It isn't that long.  



Just the Two of Us Tonight

<> are thoughts
() are stage directions
Note:	The song in the end is the lyrics from Akaneís Lullaby.  If you
havenít listen to it, you should!  

(Evening, Tendoís House)

	Akane mentally went over her inventory for the night.  Mallet, check. 
Bucket of cold water, check.  Sword, check.  Bows and arrows, check. 
There is no way that pervert Ranma will be able to try anything tonight.
	
	"Akane, arenít you all little bit, umÖ overdoing it?" Ranma look at her
nervously.

	"Iím not taking any chances!  EspeciallyÖ" she paused momentarily as a
faint trace of reddish glint covered her cheeks, "Especially after what
you did last time!"

	"How many times do I have to tell you!  It is Shampooís magical
mushrooms!" explained Ranma, "You saw it with your own eyes.  It is not
my fault!"

	"Still," protested Akane, "Youíre such a pervert!  And now that
everyoneís gone for tonight, who knows what youíll be trying this time!"

	"There is no way Iíll even think about an uncute tomboy like you!"
replied Ranma, and he immediately regretted saying this.  Akane was
quite well-prepared.  This was not one of his most brilliant ideas.

	"Iíll get you for this, Ranma!" Akane obliged, choosing the sword for
her weapon.  Of course, it wasnít a real sword, just the wooden one that
Akane always used to smack him with.  Ranma sighed.  It was all a futile
exercise.  He could never truly run away from her.  Eventually, she
would catch him and give him a good beating.  Might as well get this
over with.

	A lightning bolt cackled through the night sky just as Akane was about
to give chase.  Akane instinctively jumped into Ranmaís arms.  After
all, she was a girl, and she was really quite afraid of these things.

	"Itís okay, itís okay," cajoled Ranma, rather surprised by Akaneís
actions.  Akane always acted so independent and strong in front of him. 
This was simply a side of her that Ranma never saw.

	That didnít last long, of course, and after only a few moments Akane
disengaged herself.  Now it was very clear that Akane was blushing. 
"See, youíre such a pervert!" she immediately looked for something to
hide her embarrassment, "I knew this was going to happen!"

	"It is you who jumped into my arms, Akane!" retorted Ranma.

	"YouÖ IÖ why youÖ" Akane futilely attempted to hide her pure
embarrassment as her cheeks now showed a burning red, "Ranma no baka!"

	Ranma knew that after the ëRanma no bakaí, he would be in big trouble. 
Usually, this meant a slap in the face.  <Akane can be SO unreasonable,>
he thought, <This time it is not even my fault!  And I still get blamed
for this!>

	Another lightning bolt soared through the sky, and took out power lines
with it.

	The sudden stop of electricity surprised Ranma, but he stilled prepared
to embrace the blow.  Surely a small thing like a power shortage
wouldnít stop Akane.

	But the blow never came.

	Ranma puzzled over this as he slowly searched for Akane.  "Akane, are
you over there?" he called.

	"Yes, Iím here," her quivering voice showed that she hadnít moved at
all.

	Ranma eventually found her and asked, "Something wrong, Akane?"

	"Um, nothing!" Akane fought hard to keep her voice calm.  She was
afraid of the dark.  She remembered vividly when she and Ranma went to
the cursed tunnel.  Oh, she could act tomboyish in front of Ranma with
no problem, but she could never hide her true self.  At least in that
tunnel it was easy, because Ranma had been such a jerk so that she could
just punt him away and go with Ryouga!  Now, Ranma was actually somewhat
nice, and she would never be able to assume her visage of that ëtomboy
Akaneí in this horrible darkness!  She was afraid!

	Ranmaís eyes eventually adjusted to the darkness, and with the faint
trace of moonlight he could finally see Akane.  That expression on her
face.  It couldnít beÖ fear?  Then it dawned on him.  "Akane, are you
scared?" he asked.

	Ranma half expected a defiant ënoí and a quite slap in the face, but
again his predictions proved to be wrong.  Akane looked at him for a
long moment, and fell into his arms.  "Yes, I am!" she broke into a
small sob, "Iím afraid of the darkness!  Go ahead!  Make fun of me!"

	Ranma felt a little bit disappointed.  Is this what Akane thinks of
him?  Someone who always laughs at her when she needs help?  Ranma then
realized that he was never really nice to Akane, especially when she
needed help.  Yes, he had been too proud to be gentle to her, always
making fun of her femininity and her tomboyish nature.  He really never
meant all the things he said.  It was justÖ wellÖ he didnít know any
other way to get along with Akane.  It is certainly rare that Akane
shows her feminine side, if ever at all.  Well, tonight would be
different.  He could be gentle, for once.  Besides, no one else would
found out.

	"Akane, it is all right," he answered, "I wonít make fun of you or
anything.  It is just thatÖ never thought you will be afraid of the
dark.  But it is okay.  SoÖ everything will be all right, Akane.  Iím
here."

	Ranma had to admit that this wasnít not the most effective speech he
could have said, but it worked.  Akane stopped sobbing and looked at him
suspiciously.  "Really?" she asked, "You wouldnít make fun?  Youíre
really be here for me?"

	Ranma hesitated a little bit before finally answering.  This was
certainly a hard thing for him to say.  But then he remembered the time
Nabiki and everyone else was making fun of him when they realized he was
afraid of cats.  But not Akane.  She looked after him, telling him that
it was all right to have a weakness, and that she wouldnít like someone
who was not afraid of anything.  "Yes, it is all right Akane.  Didnít
you tell me once that you donít like someone who does not fear
anything?  Well, Iím afraid of cats, just as youíre afraid of the
darkness.  It is all right.  Besides," added Ranma, "Youíre just a
girlÖ"

	"What!" Akaneís face was red again, but not the kind of hazy and timid
red a moment ago.  If there was a kind of red Ranma didnít want to see
on Akaneís face, this would definitely be one of them.

	"I mean," Ranma hurried for an explanation, "Youíre a girl, even though
you can be so tomboyish!  See, IÖ Iíll protect you!  It is okay. 
Really!"

	"Oh," Akaneís angered slowly dissipated away, returning to her face to
the reddish color that Ranma would like to see.  "UmÖ thank you, Ranma,"
she gave him a shy smile, "Iíll be okay.  Thank you."

	Ranma didnít know how much time passed, not that it mattered.  Akane
was gently leaning on him while the darkness persisted.  Finally, Akane
was getting sleepy.  "UmÖ Ranma?" she asked timidly, "Iím going to
sleep, but you knowÖ that IÖ can you?"

	Ranma never thought Akane would be this afraid of dark, not to mention
this feminine.  "Sure," he replied, "Iíll just watch you.  Besides, I
wonít even think aboutÖ"

	Akane put her hand over Ranmaís mouth, preventing him from continuing. 
"Touching a tomboy like me?  Yes, I know that," she smiled, "Itís okay."

	Ranma followed Akane to her room.  "Ranma, can we talk a little bit,
just before I go to sleep?" asked Akane, "Please?"

	Ranma didnít see why not, so he agreed.  "Sure.  I guess those weapons
of your didnít do any good tonight, right?" he began nervously.

	"I guess not!" smiled Akane.  By now, Ranma and Akane were quite
accustomed to the darkness, and aided with the faint moonlight Ranma
could see her radiant smile.  <Akane is so beautiful when she smiles,>
thought Ranma.  If it is darkness and lightning bolts that will make her
like this, Ranma wishes that they can be like this everyday.

	A third lightning bolt struck the backyard.

	Akane again jumped to Ranma for support.  Ranma smiled to himself. 
Those lightning bolts sure had convenient timing, and he finally had to
admit that he felt quite happy for Akane to be like this.

	"It is that lightning again!" protested Akane as she disengaged herself
again, "It looks like I canít get any sleep as long as this lightning is
going on!"

	"Akane, maybe, if I," Ranma proposed shyly, "Maybe if youÖ umÖ sleep on
my lap, maybe you can get some sleep.  That is, if you donít think Iím
pervert for doing that!"

	"Of course not!" she replied, "You really would do this, Ranma?"

	"Yes," nodded Ranma.

	"Oh!  Thank you, Ranma!" she beamed happily, "Youíre so nice!"

	Ranma was once again amazed at the radiant beauty of Akane.  Just how
much, he wondered, did Akane hide beneath that tomboyish exterior?  Is
this what he had been missing all along?  Was Akane really this cute?

	"Good night, Ranma," she smiled yet again, "Thanks for everything. 
Good night."

	Akane comfortably rested on Ranmaís lap, and quickly fell asleep. 
Ranma watched Akane slept with a calm and happy grin on her shining
face.  Yes, there is a lot he doesnít know beneath of Akaneís tomboyish
exterior.  But perhaps, someday, he will be able to see the true Akane.

	Ranma tried to sleep as well, but he knew it was a futile exercise. 
Being in such an awkward position, the best he could do was try to
relax.  Doesnít matter.  He could watch Akane.  He could watch her
forever.

(Few hours later)

	An overwhelming flash of light surged into the room, leaving Ranma
temporarily dazed.  Evidently, Akane left all the lights in her room on,
and the power lines must have been fixed.  Akane felt the light too and
slowly woke up as well.  "Ranma, youíre still here?" she looked at her
room as understanding came, "Thanks for everything.  I guess now
everything will be okay."

	"Yes, looks like the lights are fixed," sighed Ranma, "I guessÖ Iíll be
going back to my room now."

	"Wait!" she called, "Stay here."

	"What?" Ranma gasped.

	"You must be tired now, soÖ Iíll let you sleep in my bed!  It is
probably more comfortable, too!" suggested Akane.

	"Akane, why are you soÖ" Ranma puzzled, "Different tonight?"

	"Because I want to!" she grinned sweetly.  Well, no point trying to
pretend to be the tomboy today.  Might as well go all the way with sweet
girl approach.

	"OhÖ but I canít sleep too well," replied Ranma weakly.

	"Iíll sing for you!" Akane answered cheerfully.  Before Ranma could
even protest, she began to sing:

kimi wa   nee
itsumo   tsuppatteru kara
kitto   nee
tsukarechaun da yo   Mu--

negao wo miteru to   sonna ki ga suru

dakara

gunnai GUNNAI Good night
utatte ageru

Akane no komoriuta

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	
Since you're
always stretching (aren't you?)
surely you're
tired out (aren't you?).  Mu--

When I watch your sleepy face, I get that feeling.

So,

Good night, good night, good night,

I'll sing for you

Akane's lullaby.

	Ranma was simply amazed by this.  Akane, singing for him?  But he had
to admit, she was doing quite a good job with her lullaby.  Maybe it
wasnít so much as to how well she was singing, but rather the gentle
love that flowed with her that made the lullaby effective.  

	And just when Ranma was about to fell asleep, Akane did something Ranma
never expected her to do.

	Akane gave him a good-night kiss.

	It was only a quick peck on his cheeks.  Nevertheless, Ranma was, to
say the least, overwhelmed.  Now it was his turn to blush.  "AkaneÖ
youÖ"

	Akane looked at him with a hurt expression, "What?  Iím your fiancee,
and I canít even give you a good-night kiss?"

	Ranma looked at her, and sighed, "No, I guess not."

	For a while, Ranma and Akane simply gazed at each other, sharing this
delicate moment of peace and happiness and love.  

	"Akane?" Ranma finally found the courage to speak up.

	"Yes?" she replied in a hopelessly cute and happy tone.

	"Can youÖ continue singing?" Ranma asked shyly.

	"Of course, Ranma," Akane agreed happily and continued singing:	

yume ni   nee
moshi mo   watashi ga dete tara
unto   nee
yasashiku-shitai na   Mu--

tabun muri da to   wakatte-iru kedo

ii no

gunnai GUNNAI Good night
utatte ageru

Akane no komoriuta

konya wa

gunnai GUNNAI Good night
utatte-ageru

gunnai GUNNAI Good night
utatte-ageru...

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
If I should appear
in your dreams (you know),
I want very much
to be gentle to you (you know).  Mu--

It's probably unreasonable, I know, but...

It's all right,

Good night, good night, good night,
I'll sing for you

Akane's lullaby.

Tonight,

Good night, good night, good night,
I'll sing for you

Good night, good night, good night,
I'll sing for you...

The End

Notes:	This story is inspired by WebDragonís ëAkane loves P-chan!í. 
Made me wanted to write something like it, but not a shockfic.  Also,
this is my attempt to recreate ëKonya wa April Foolísí from the 1991
song calendar.  I know the story I wrote wasnít bad, but it certainly
didnít have the cozy feelings I wanted to establish when I first wrote
it.  As you can see, this combines with Akaneís Lullaby.  Yes, I know
there is a lot of mention to red.  I like ëRedí by Joseph Palmer, but
even before reading it I always like the fact that Akaneís name meant
scarlet (or one of the red colors)  I like ëTonightís April Foolís
because of the quote:

akane-iro no tokimeki
omae no hoho o someru tasogare

The twilight colors your cheeks
a throbbing scarlet color.

Any C & C will be welcomed.  Send all comments to <dwang@sprynet.com>,
please!

-- 



Don
"Time flows like a river, and History repeats..." Secret of Mana