(What is taking that dummy so long!) Akane had begun pacing, waiting
almost 10 minutes for him. (He -did- ditch me! That coward!)

"Boo!"

Akane shrieked and jumped straight into the traffic. "AAAA!"

Horns honking. Brakes screeching. Terrifying type auto noises.

Ranma moved like the wind, seizing her by her arm, hauling her back to
him.  He held her tightly against himself, the other hand carrying a
bag. She clutched at his shoulders, still shaking at the sight of
oncoming traffic. Ranma simply held her. 

All others vanish....leaving only them.

Akane silently reveled in his strong, comforting grip. She knew he would
not let go.

Ever.

Ranma savored her form, her very being which he had come to know so
well. Something he knew he could not live without, no matter how much he
try. He held her as hard as much he valued her presence, every waking
moment he spent with her being relived at that very second.

"Are you okay, Akane?" She sniffled a reply in his chest. He realised
how they were positioned, his arm very low on her back. Akane apparently
realised it too.

They slowly drew away, but not too far. "You.....DUMB-ASS!!" She grabbed
him by his collar, shaking him around roughly. "Whats the big idea!? You
trying to kill me?"

"I'm sorry! Hey!" Ranma cradled the bag he was carrying. "Easy! You'll
make me drop it!"

"Drop what, you careless idiot!!"(That dope! Couldn't he see what I
would do!!? Jumping me from behind...., honestly...) Ranma grabbed her
hand and quickly led her away. He did not want to lose any more
daylight. It was almost 3 now.

"C`mon Akane."

"Hey!" (now what!??) Akane almost stumbled, but Ranma's grip somehow
forced his incredible sense of balance on her allowing her to catch
herself several times. He led them quickly out of the town. (I thought
we were going to eat.) He came to a park he had seen before briefly on
the roofs of some houses. It was relatively empty. Actually, Ranma had
noticed the entire day was rather slow with the locals. "What now?"
Ranma led her down the tuffet and up a hill to a large tree. 

"Now...," Ranma began, letting her go and setting down the bag. "This."
He whipped out a large checkered picnic blanket, unfurled it to the air,
and laid it down at Akane's feet. He then pulled out two bentou, handing
one to Akane. "Here."

Akane stared at him blankly, then at the lunch, supper. She watched
Ranma move again and pull out a small, inexpensive tape deck and turned
it on, soft acoustics playing. He pulled out of the bag another Item, a
bowl of fruit. 

"Ranma..."

"Come on and sit," he said calmly, favouring her the best smile he knew
how, hoping she would return the favour. She walked onto the blanket,
took her shoes off and knelt down across from Ranma.

He handed her some chopsticks. "Ranma, I..."

He looked at her hopeful. "Did I do good?" She smiled, embarrassed.
(I'll take that as a yes...) He began to eat his.

She looked down at her lunch box thoughtfully. (He really...) "You know,
I've been wanting to do this for a long time, Ranma."

[Dust in the wind]

"What?"

"Alone. Calm. Together"

[all we are is dust in the wind......]

"Really?" Ranma scooped some rice. "Why?"

Whereupon she turned away in an attempt to hide the redness.

===

Ryouga walked out with a package, ribbon tied around it. He sat down on
the curb, noticing the time. (I should find somewhere to camp.) He
carefully placed the box in the top of his pack. (I'll give this to
Akane.) He began to think of her face, her smile.

Something was different.

Her hair was long...no no, now her eyes are grey-blue...

He realised he was thinking of Akari. 

(Ack!) he shook his head, trying to check his thoughts.
(Akari...Akane..)

His warring emotions, his battleing images....He thought to the battle
in the Tap under Jyusen, when Akane sacrificed herself...
...For Ranma. 

That depressed him even more. His whole world was so in flux, his entire
being was being questioned as to its validity. His only real happiness
was slowly slipping through his fingers. Ranma wouldn't willingly let
him near Akane as P-chan, and barely as himself. Ryoga knew if it came
down to a fight, he would most likely lose. Not to mention she had
almost been married to Ranma with no objection. He abruptly wondered if
the Tendo's was really where he was heading.

He cracked his neck as he stretched. The congestion of wherever he was
was beginning to lessen. The night Autumn breeze began to pick up. He
breathed the cool air in deeply. (Ahhhh...Still, some things are
nice...) What was he going to do now? Where would he go? He thought back
to the picnic he promised Akari he would see her at. (Dammit! Why can't
I find my way!?)

He strapped up his pack. "Akari, Please forgive me..."

"Forgive you for what?"

(Ack!) He turned to look up from where he sat. Akari stood, holding a
bag of groceries. She was dressed in a mildly short brown skirt, black
stockings, and a white sweatshirt. The particular angle almost let Ryoga
accidently look up her skirt..which made him even more nervous. (Ack!)

"Uh, Akari! Hi!" he stammered quickly standing. 

"Hello, Ryoga! How have you been?" She favored him a great smile.

(Wow,)"Uh, I was just looking around, ya know..."

Her face changed expression. "Could we find somewhere to sit, Ryoga? I'm
kind of tired from my errands." 

(I'd carry you if it would help...,) he thought. An idea quickly formed
in his head. "How about a restaurant? My treat?"

She giggled, her smile returning to her face. "Why thank you!"

"Uh, could you pick? I don't know what there is around here." He
scratched the back of his head wondering where here was.

======

"Okay." Shagske stopped pacing before the idol. "Now then. I managed to
get some uniforms without too much trouble. Although to get registered I
had to put up with a very weird principle." He opened the bag before
her. "Long skirt and light jacket accessories. Apparently all the males
wear the same black."

"Well it is slimming." He stopped and looked at her slowly. "Okay, keep
going."

"The day there will begin at 8:30 and end about 3:00. Almost every
student will stay after the required time to show involvement in the
various clubs and hobbies..."

"Oh, good. Maybe I'll join one."

"Sister I'm telling you again..."

"What if to follow them we have to join clubs and organizations? Huh?
Give me more credit, Shagske."  She couldn't help but favour him a
mocking smile.

"Ahem. As I was saying....only those who are considered 'odd' and 'out
of place' take part in no activity. I will join a few myself. We should
return here by 5:00 before the sun sets, so whatever club you join, make
sure you can return." 

"I am going to shower." Shaoko stood and entered the back room.

=====

Ranma finished his meal quickly. Akane was taking her time, enjoying
every moment of the calm. The evening was rolling in, bringing a cold
night breeze with it. 

"Would you like to see a movie?" Ranma thought he was really reaching.

"Well..." Akane said between bites. She looked over to him on the other
side of the blanket. He was keeping a calm distance between.
"Actually...," She finished off what was left and set the box down.
"This is just fine, Ranma."

(Huh?) Ranma laid back. (Oh, well. As long as"Your happy." he finished
outloud.

"Just dandy."  She scooted over towards him slowly. Ranma popped his
neck from where he was laying, startling Akane. Ranma shifted and
propped his back against the tree, reclining. Akane followed. 

"Want some fruit?" Ranma reached for the bowl and offered it to her.

(He's so tense. I wonder...) She shooed the bowl away. "Whatcha
thinking?"

(How deep a hole I'm diggin`) "Uh, nothin."

She crawled to be on his left side. She leaned in close. "Really."

"Well," one thing was bothering him. "Mom wants us to go home."

Akane froze. "She says we've been imposing on you too long....you and
your family."

(Ranma...going?) the thoughts echoed frequently in her head, drowning
out whatever Ranma had said after that. Life without Ranma was something
she simply could not imagine. She would not even try. 

She found her voice after a few minutes. "When?"

"Dunno." She moved close again. "Probably after new years." She calmed
marginally.

(A few months...at least.) She hugged into him. "Ranma."

Ranma straightened like a rod, equally as stiff. Akane had grabbed his
left arm and his body in a hug. (Oh wow, uh, no, um, jeeze.)

Ranma pulled his left arm up to free it and Akane slid under it,
surprising Ranma. (So tense,) she thought. "Don't leave. Not now..." Her
voice cracked. A sharp wind sent a chill through her.

"Uh," Ranma was stupefied. "Now?"

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to go." He said without thinking. She looked at him
quickly, her eyes wide. "That's a lie. I do want to go. I have been
mooching off your family too, long. I...I..." (Jeeze, she almost to
tears. Say it, you wimp) "I don't want to leave you." he stumbled out.

She relaxed against him. "Ranma. Thank you." She rested her head on his
chest. (He really cares. He really does.) A wave of calm sadness had
washed over her, a longing for more time that she somehow believed she
would never have enough. She grew afraid quickly, afraid of the next
minutes.

Another sharp wind blew. Akane shivered and hugged even closer to Ranma.
Ranma wrapped his right arm around her, holding her firmly. 

silence

"I'll....I'll miss you." she said softly, squeezing him a little. 

"Oh, cool it. Lets not worry about that for right now." Ranma's hand
shot up and caught a Frisbee. Akane didn't even see it. She saw a guy
and a small, yippie dog approaching them. 

"Sorry, mate! The wind must have caught it, but not as good as you." He
bowed a couple of times. Ranma tossed the implement towards him and the
dog jumped up to intercept. "Sorry!" he said again as he walked away
with the dog. 

Akane looked up at Ranma's face. She could see the line his training had
worn into him. (He's so calm now.) She was still amazed at some of the
feats he would perform, the level of prowess he held, the amount of
skill he wielded. She shot her hand as fast as she possibly could right
at his jaw.

He stopped her fist before it even got past her face. "What now?" Ranma
was confused to see the bemused smile on her face. She softened and
approached his face again.(What's she..?) She stopped short and close
her eyes. (Oh, no...now what? Well, she's not mad at me...)

(...but she will be if you don't do something!) Ranma's neck craned down
towards Akane. She could feel his breath, warm, a little rice....and
hear his heart thumping. Then she felt water.

More precisely she felt rain. Ranma had too. "Oh no you don't," Ranma
said, reaching quickly into his bag and pulled forth a telescoping
parasol. Standing off from Akane and away from the blanket he rammed the
extended rod into the ground, opening the parasol.

Akane's jaw dropped. (He really thought of everything.) He pulled out a
hot water thermos from the bag as well. (Everything.) Ranma took his
seat under the parasol and Akane returned to his side.

This time, Ranma embraced her from the front. She met his hug and
pressed herself against him, their faces hovering
closer...closer....(yes....,)she thought softly.

(C'mon...,) he urged himself.....

Closer.

The rain became steady, a soft hiss from the drops hitting the makeshift
umbrella.

======

They had found their way, Akari leading of course, to a small pizzeria.
They sat down at a small table, Ryoga setting his pack under the loud
red tablecloth. Akari doing the same with her bag.

Ryoga felt guilty under her smile, he watched her through the green
bottle with a candle stuck in the neck. "Uh, forgive me for not finding
my was to the appointed place in time..."

"Oh is that what you meant?" She seemed to be oblivious to his
discomfort. "That's okay, Ryoga. It shortly began raining after I got
there. Katsunishiki took me home after that."

"Can I make it up to you?" he asked, unable to meet her gaze. He, also,
seemed oblivious to her energy.

"I think you are, Ryoga." He looked up at her, her very pretty pleasant
face smiling back at him, stifling a giggle. 

(I should be so lucky..,) he thought.

"A what a wouldayou lika?" ::bad Japanese Italian accent::

He looked up at the waiter. "Anything but sausage." That made Akari
giggle again. 

"Ah let a me think a....I know!" he snapped his fingers as the epiphany
struck him. "I give a you, such a lovely young couple, the greatest
deepdish-a pizza Alfonz has ever a made!" With that he ran back towards
the kitchen double doors. "Romerio! Mario! Cie vesta al mazascoulia!"

Ryoga lost the rest of his Italian rantings. (That was strange.) Which
brought him back to Akari.

(Small talk, gotta talk.) "So..uh, well, uh," he twiddled his fingers.
"You, um, live near here?"

"Huh? Oh, not really. It's a short train ride to the next station." She
kicked her leg in the direction of the bag, Ryoga becoming even more
nervous at his attraction.

"Then why come here?"

"Grandfather wanted a special root to put in our feed." She nudged the
bag again. "He says it will help the pigs digestion."

Ryouga had run out of subject matter. He began to fiddle.

=====

Akane, with her back to him, was in Ranma's arms, calmly looking out to
the easy showers not a few feet from her. She sighed deeply, half
closing her eyes.

"Whatcha thinkin'?"

Ranma's voice opened her eyes as she grabbed his arms more tightly.
"Nothin`." she said.

She turned in his grip again to face him. Ranma took in her face, her
eyes, her smile, her ribbon....

(Ribbon...now where have I seen....) "Ne, That ribbon looks really
good." Ranma looked away at the rain. Akane frowned. "I've seen that
colour before, but I just can't remember..."

"I've worn it before," she said weakly, looking away from his face. "A
long time ago..."

He looked back to her. "Honto? Itsu(When)?"

She gulped hard. "When you first came to our home..."

"Oh yeah, that was when you still had long hair. Now I remember! You
used to wear that around your hair in the evening....but," Ranma trailed
off, trying to think. "Why was it you only wore it at night?"

Akane began to shudder. She felt her heart getting very heavy, a knot in
her throat.

"I mean...the only thing we ever did at night was
go...see...Doctor..to...fu.....,"
(You blew it now, dope.)

Akane found herself crying. She had truly thought she was over him. She
didn't realise how much it still hurt.

(Stupid, you made her cry.) He sat, cursing himself several times over.
Ranma, now completely embarrassed and mortified, sat there with a stupid
expression on his face, trying not to look at Akane. (Now what do I
do..)

"Um, Akane....I.." Ranma tried to hold her again, casually reaching
around her. She very suddenly seized him in a powerful hug. Ranma
-upled- as the air rushed out of him like a bellows. Her tears were
steady, only broken by an occasional sniffle.


*Akane's flashback*

Her hair had just now got past her shoulders. she walked lightly,
enjoying the feeling of her hair bouncing at her shoulders. She also
walked lightly because she had pulled a hamstring.

It hurt. Stupid boys.

But she was going to see Tofu. She was excited. This year had brought
about many things for her. Her freshman year in Highschool at Furinkan.
Several boys had come onto her, rather vulgarly, and she dealt with
them. However, it helped her ego from its beating a while ago from
Nabiki and Kasumi about acting too much like a boy. 

Especially Tofu. 
(Kasumi:	'I'm sorry Akane is such a bother to you, doctor.'		)
(Tofu:		'Huh? Why, He's no problem at all!! Hah Hah!'		)

That had really made her stop and think. She had been studying martial
arts. What a sexist thing. Only rough, men took martial arts. It made
her mad just to think about it. 

Except for Tofu. He was kind, smart. Strong. He knew the code of martial
arts didn't have sexual boundaries. No, he knew better than all those
other fools. And he was so handsome...

She approached the corner entrance to the Kinesiologist and accupressure
master's office. Tofu was seeing one of his more elderly regulars out
the front door. A sudden wind blew Akane's long hair into her face. She
shook her head, at the same time reaching into her bag for a long band
of red. She tied her hair back into a simple ponytail with a ribbon, and
continued her hobble. Tofu noticed her approach.

"Hello Akane! How are you today?"

"Hello, Tofu Sensei," she said softly.

"Oh, you're limping. Come on inside and lets have a look. I just made
some tea, too."

His face was always so cheerful. "Hai." She gave up trying to look tough
and hobbled her way over to him.

When she got inside, she was led carefully by the very experienced hand
of the physician. She sat lightly  on the mat. "So, Akane. What seems to
be the problem? Something with your leg?"

"I was, uh, using martial arts and I hurt myself." She shied her face
away, trying to hide her expression.

"Another fight with the boys? Come now, Akane." He sat down in a swivel
chair, beckoning her. "Your hair is pretty long now. I like that
ribbon." Akane reached back for her hair. "Now what seems to be
hurting?" 

After about 10 minutes of prodding, and questioning he began to
liberally massage Akane's left leg on the front of the shin, attempting
to calm the inflamed nerves that the pulled hamstring was causing.

"You know, Akane..." He has such a nice voice, she thought. "If you put
all your time into martial arts you won't have any time for a family of
your own."

"I'll find the time," she said cheerily. After a moment he spoke up
again.

"Knowing you, whoever you decide that you would like to be your husband,
he'll have to be even stronger than you are. Where will you find him?"

Akane began to flush. "But...I've already found him....Sensei.."

"Oh? Who is he?" He said rather detached. At that moment, a gentle knock
issued from the door behind him.

"Is anyone here?" Kasumi's voice came as the door opened.

"Kasumi...," Akane sighed as she looked up at her sister.

Tofu came upright like a rod. He spun on his chair to get a full look at
the source of the voice. "Dyaah!"

Akane stared blankly at Ono's back as Kasumi spoke, her throat
tightening. "I brought some red beans and rice, and thought I'd bring
you some."

"Why Hello Kasumi! Amazing running into you here of all places!"

Kasumi set the platter she had in her arms down on his desk. "I hope
Akane isn't too much trouble." Akane sat off from the mat at the mention
of her name. Tofu spun on the chair, his leg catching the foot of his
skeleton and knocking it into a laying position where Akane had been. He
resumed his massage while still looking at Kasumi."oh no trouble! I was
just working out some of the kinks in her muscles."

Akane gulped fiercely as she stood up, fighting a black void that began
to attack her walls she had just built.

*End flashback*

Akane had slowly let the strength drain from her grip. (You stupid! Your
crying over him! In front of Ranma! This is supposed to be your time
with -him-!) She continued to berate herself as she broke her crying
down to short hiccups.

"Uh...are you okay? I'm sorry...I.."

She laughed inside. Ranma thought it was his fault. "No Ranma, I'm
sorry. I'm sorry to dump all over you like that..."

"Its okay...," he said softly. "..at least if your okay."

She swallowed hard again. The more she played that scene in her head,
the more it depressed her. She didn't have the energy to rebuild the
walls she kept so tightly closed. She looked at Ranma, then down at how
he still had her embraced. 

In maybe a shifting of an inch, Ranma had managed to turn the hug from
comforting to suggestive, affectionate. She looked back up at his eyes.

(Walls. Who wants em?) Ranma leaned froward to her face slowly. She
rubbed her eyes. (I want him.) She began to grow self conscious almost
immediately after the realisation. (Great, now my eyes are all puffy. My
makeup is probably ruined.) Still, he came closer. (He can't like me
looking like this.)

Closer.

(Who cares.) She met him the rest of the way. 

=====
end c&C please....ryougaecho@abraxis.com
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