Merry Christmas, Akane fans! ^_^
Ranma ½ is owned by Rumiko Takahashi
Unlucky at Cards, Lucky in Love
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Ranma sat at the dining table, his face drawn and tired. He was wearing a
wrinkled white shirt, black dress slacks, and a loosened bow tie hung
around his neck. His eyes darted around the room, noticing the signs of
the nights’ festivities. Overflowing trash bags lined the walls, and
several champagne bottles were stacked neatly in one corner of the room.
He sighed as he looked across the table at Akane, who looked as tired and
weary as he felt. She was very a pale cream colored dress that had an
off-white floral design sewn into it.
"So, Akane, what do you wanna do?" Ranma asked tiredly.
"What do you mean? Don’t you get any crazy ideas you pervert!" Akane said
suspiciously, her face suddenly alert.
"Aw, give it a rest, already, will ya? I just meant that since we have the
whole house to ourselves for the rest of the night; for the next two
-weeks-, that maybe we should do somethin’. It’s too early to go to bed,"
Ranma replied.
Akane blushed and hesitantly nodded. "Today was just. . . a little
strange," she said.
"Your tellin’ me! I didn’t expect them to give another try at a wedding,
did you?" Ranma asked.
"Not so soon after the first one, no. But what really surprised me was
Kasumi! I can’t believe that she invited -everyone-!" Akane exclaimed.
"Yeah, it was kinda like Christmas last year, remember?" Ranma asked.
"I remember," Akane said with a smile, "It was a nice party; and a nice
night."
"Well, I guess Kasumi wanted to mix the party together with our wedding,
this time. I can’t -believe- they forced us into this again!" Ranma said,
slamming his hand on the table.
"Why did you go along with it then? If you didn’t want to? I mean, there
was no magical water for you this time," Akane asked, her voice small.
"Why did you?" Ranma countered.
"I asked you first!" Akane challenged.
"I- My- my mom really seemed excited about it, ya know? Besides, it was
gonna happen sooner or later. I kinda figured there was no point in
fighting it," Ranma replied.
"I see," Akane said, looking down at the table, the disappointment evident
on her face. She looked up at Ranma and slowly smiled as an idea formed in
her mind. "I know! Let’s play cards!"
"Cards? Oh geez Akane, you know I hate that!" Ranma protested.
Akane stood up and walked over to a small coffee table in the living room,
and picked up the deck of cards that was sitting next to a lamp. "Now,
what should we beat on?" She asked, completely ignoring Ranma’s pained look.
"Bet? You wanna bet too?" Ranma asked.
"Of course! If we don’t have a bet, what good is it? Let’s see. . . Okay.
The loser has to do whatever the winner wants him to do," Akane stated.
"What?! I don’t want you to -do- anything for me! There are a lot of
things I -don’t- want you to do, though. I don’t want you to cook for me,
I don’t-"
"Why do you -always- have to turn everything into an insult! Why can’t you
stop being suck a jerk!" Akane yelled at him, her face red.
Ranma was ready with a scathing reply, but hesitated, and just stared at
Akane. He thought about everything they had gone through over the past few
years; all the arguements, fiancees, fighting, near-death experiences and
general craziness that was ingrained as a part of their lives. As he
looked at his wife, he became slightly ashamed, and bowed his head. "I’m
sorry Akane," he said quietly.
"You- you’re what?" She asked in a daze, her anger leaving.
"I’m sorry. Look, we’re probably gonna fight for the rest of lives, it’s
just a part of who we are. But that doesn’t mean I- I hate ya. I mean,
after the last wedding attempt, we came to an understanding, didn’t we?
Sure, we didn’t say nothing about it, but. . ."
"Yes, Ranma. I think we did," Akane replied.
"So, at least for tonight, I- I promise not insult you, okay?" he asked
shyly.
"Okay, Ranma, and thank you," Akane replied.
"Just remember, all bets are off though if you start cooking breakfast
tomorrow," Ranma said with a smile.
"Stupid baka," Akane replied as she shook her head, giggling. She slowly
wiped her eyes and smiled at her husband. (Maybe- maybe this will work out
after all,) she thought. She thought back on the wedding ceremony,
remember the nervous, brief, but sweet kiss they shared as the priest
declared that they were man and wife. She had been too nervous and angry
to enjoy it at the time. She decided that she would have to make up for
that soon. "Let’s get started," Akane continued as she dealt out the
cards.
"What are we playing?" Ranma asked with a resigned sigh.
"Poker. Best of seven hands," Akane said smartly.
"Sure," Ranma replied with a shrug. (Maybe I’ll get lucky this time,) he
thought hopefully; just before he proceeded to lose the first four hands.
"God Ranma, that was a lot quicker than I thought! Even for you!" Akane
said, laughing uncontrollably. Ranma silently fumed as he glared the cards
he had been dealt. "Time to settle up!" Akane announced, rubbing her
hands in anticipation.
"What do you want?" Ranma asked sullenly.
"Just one second," Akane said, standing up and running into the kitchen.
She looked around and found one last half-empty bottle of champagne. Her
hands trembling, she took two gulps of the now flat alcohol, straight from
the bottle. "Dear God, -please- let this work!" She prayed quietly. She
put bottle back on the counter and walked back into the dining area. She
tentatively sat down next to Ranma and started into his eyes.
"What?" Ranma asked, as Akane looked at him. Her stare was starting to
unnerve him, but he couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked.
"I’ve decided what I wanted," she stated with a deep breath.
"Oh? What is it?" Ranma asked guardedly. (She’s so beautiful. It hurts
too look at her!) He thought as his heart started beating faster.
"I- I want a kiss. From my husband," she replied intensely.
"A kiss?" Ranma asked, leaning back away from Akane. Shock registered on
his face as her request sunk in.
"You gave me one during the ceremony, and. . . and I want another one,"
Akane finished up in a rush.
Ranma leaned forward, trying to meet Akane’s intense gaze. He stared at
her face and lost himself in her eyes, her flushed ckeeks, and in her
pouting red lips. Her beautiful, wet, inviting red lips. . . Ranma
shuddered as he heard his heart beating loudly in his ears. He was never
so close to losing complete control; he was never so close to actually
-wanting- to lose it.
"Ranma?" Akane asked, looking at him with concern.
In response, he silently leaned forward and touched his lips to hers. He
opened his mouth hungrily on contact, licking her lips. Akane gasped in
return, opened her mouth and met Ranma’s tongue with her own. After a few
moments, they seperated, both gasping for air, their eyes locked on each
other.
As if by instinct, they leaned towards each other once again; this time
coupling the kiss with a fierce embrace. Ranma’s mouth left Akane’s as he
trailed her face with a smattering of wet kisses. As he moved on from her
face, cheek, jaw, and neck, Akane laughed. "Oh Ranma, you’re so -bad- at
cards."
Ranma stopped his kisses and looked at his wife. "That’s okay, I’m good at
-lots- of other things," he said steamily as he leaned down for another kiss.
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The End
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Now, I’m a known Akane-hater, but that was not always the case. Formerly,
I was -always- a supporter of Ranma-Akane together, living happily ever
after. Somewhere along the way, I lost that sense, I guess. Oh well,
hope you enjoyed this short fic, and I wish all of you a safe and happy
Holiday!
-Anand
_______________________________
| C S | |
| O Y | "If you can't fight, |
| L M | |
| L P | and you can't flee, |
| I H | |
| D O | flow." |
| I N | |
| N I | ----Robert Elliot |
| G E |______________________|
| S | Anand Rao |
|______|______________________|