I was reading the first chapter of "Magic" when I got this idea.  I wrote
it up tonight in the space of a couple of hours.  This is not a part of
any of my other Ranma series; it's a short, standalone story that takes
place sometime during the manga.

Comments of any kind, as always, appreciated.  I'm especially interested
in better titles.  :)

-Richard
sterman@sprynet.com

                 ~~~*~~~
All of my fanfics can be found on my fanfic web page.
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/sterman/fanfic.htm
                 ~~~*~~~



The Thought That Counts

by Richard Lawson


Akane looked around the table at table, wondering if anyone knew.  Life
had gotten hectic during the past few months, she wouldn't be surprised if
they'd forgotten.

Father was serenely reading a paper.  Nabiki was simply staring off into
space as she ate, as if the world in general bored her and was not worth
paying any attention to.  Genma and Ranma were fighting over the last of
the food on the table.  Kasumi began clearing a few dishes.  No one was
paying any attention to hear.

She began to grip her teacup tightly.  Idiots, all of them.  She downed
the rest of her tea in one gulp, trying to suppress the urge to shout it
out loud.  The hot tea burned her throat, improving her humor not at all.

Kasumi paused as she was about to step out into the hallway.  "Akane-chan,
what would you like for dinner tonight?"

Relief percolated through Akane.  Of course Kasumi wouldn't forget.

Ranma, one hand on his father's gi and the other holding something between
his chopsticks, paused and looked up.  "Hey!  How come she gets to choose?
I never get to!"

Akane growled quietly.  Typical.  Ranma was forgetting that he was only a
houseguest and acting like his needs were more important than anyone
else's.  He had to be the rudest guy she knew.

Kasumi smiled sweetly at him.  "It is our tradition, Ranma-kun, that the
birthday girl gets to choose what we eat for dinner."

Ranma blinked.  "Birthday?"  While he was staring blankly at Akane, Genma
grabbed his chopsticks and swallowed the food whole.

"Yes," Akane said softly.  She looked over at him.  "I get to choose.  Is
there anything in particular you'd like to eat?"

Ranma was looking over at Genma, an annoyed look on his face.  He spoke in
a distracted tone of voice.  "I don't care, as long as you don't cook it
yourself."

The cup shattered in Akane's hand.  She swore profusely and sucked on her
fingertip.

Kasumi hastily put down the dishes she was holding.  "Are you all right?
Let me take a look at that."

"I'm fine."  Akane jumped to her feet and walked quickly out of the room.
Damn, the cut on her finger really hurt.  It had her on the verge of
tears.  She needed to be stronger than that.

Grabbing her bookbag, she ran out of the house.

---

Ranma stared at the shattered pieces of the teacup.  "What was that all
about?"

"You don't know?"  Nabiki had her elbows on the table, her chin cupped in
her hands.  She was looking at him with a kind of detached interest.  "You
really can't figure it out?"

Ranma frowned at her.  For some strange reason, he felt guilty.  Why, he
didn't know.  And he didn't want to know.  "Uh, I should get her a present
I guess."

"That would be nice."  Kasumi was picking up the pieces of the teacup.
"She is your fianc�e after all."

"Yeah."  Although not by choice.  No one had ever asked him if he wanted
it.  She got angry all the time, and acted so unfeminine, and couldn't
cook worth a damn.  Certainly not the kind of girlfriend he'd ever
imagined ever having, let alone wife.  She was so uncute, too.  Most of
the time.  Sometimes.

His frowned deepened as he remembered his current financial situation.
Enough for a couple of after-school snacks, something he liked to do on
occasion with Daisuke and Hiroshi.  Certainly not enough for any kind of
decent present.  Not that Akane really deserved anything decent after the
way she'd stormed out on him just now.  But... well, maybe something nice
would make her be not so mad at him.

Getting more money from Genma was out of the question; he'd have a better
chance of retrieving today's breakfast.  That left only one option.  He
glanced over at Nabiki, suddenly nervous.  "Say, uh, do y'think I could
borrow a little money from you?  So I could, er, buy Akane something?"

Nabiki continued to stare at him, her eyes half closed.  Finally, she
spoke languidly.  "Tell you what.  I'll take care of Akane's present.
It'll be from both of us."

"Really?"  Ranma relaxed.  "That's great.  Thanks, Nabiki."

She smiled.  "You're welcome."

He suddenly narrowed his own eyes.  "Uh, what's it gonna cost me?"

Her smile widened.  "Not one yen.  I'll cover it."

"Really?"

"Would I lie to you?"

Ranma snorted.  "Without skipping a beat."

Nabiki chuckled.  "Smart boy.  Well, I'm not lying about this.  It's my
sister's birthday present we're talking about, after all."

"Okay."  He stood up.  "Better try and catch up."

He ran out of the dining room, stealing a look at Nabiki and not at all
reassured by the way she was grinning.

---

Ranma put down his chopsticks and sighed in contentment.  Akane's favorite
dinner had turned out to be curry, which was one of his favorites, too.
Kasumi, of course, had turned out a perfect meal.

Akane herself, while smiling at Kasumi and thanking her profusely, didn't
seem to be enjoying it at all.  She was even now poking at her rice.
Ranma tsked silently; she'd been like this all day at school, irritable
and downright morose.  Ranma had tried a couple of times to shake her out
of it by pointing out who stupid she was being.  It hadn't worked this
time.  Come to think, it hadn't ever worked before, either.  One day it
would, though.  He was certain of that.  Somewhat certain.  He had trouble
thinking of a better way.  Other than doing something really icky, like
talking all mushy.

Kasumi spoke brightly.  "Would you like to open your presents now?"

Akane shrugged and dropped her chopstick onto her plate.  "Sure."

Kasumi smiled and went out to get them.

Nabiki stood slowly.  "Halfta get mine.  Ranma-kun, can you help?"

"Sure."  He probably needed to sign a card or something.  He followed
Nabiki out of the room, something twisting his stomach slightly as he
passed Akane.  Dammit, why should he feel all bad because she was being
all moody?  It certainly wasn't his fault.

Almost certainly.

He ground his teeth as he walked up the stairs behind Nabiki.

The hallway was dark.  Nabiki flipped the light switch and tsked when
nothing happened.  She shrugged and continued on down to her room.  Ranma
frowned at the darkness; hadn't he helped Soun replace it just last week?
Stupid light bulb.

Nabiki opened the door to her room and walked in.  Ranma peered around as
he entered, trying to see what the present was in the dim room.  Nabiki
closed the door and flipped on the light.

Ranma tried to scream in a mouth gone dry.

---

Akane stared into the box.  A blouse, how nice.  That was three of them
she had gotten now, along with a set of new lace underwear from an
anonymous giver.  She was fairly certain she'd have them long enough to
wear once before Mr. Anonymous decided to reclaim them.

She looked around at everyone and forced a smile.  "Thanks everyone.
They're all lovely."

The all smiled back at her.  Genma looked at Kasumi.  "Is there cake?"

"Of course."  Kasumi tilted her head.  "Would you like it now, Akane?"

Akane couldn't stop the grimace.  "Not just now, thanks."

More crashing sounds came from upstairs.  Soun frowned at the ceiling.
"What are they doing?"

"I'm certain something really stupid and thoughtless."  She shot to her
feet before someone - Kasumi, probably - could point out how unfair that
accusation was.  "Excuse me."

She walked out onto the porch and sat on the edge.  She should just get
over this bad mood, she knew.  It was her birthday; it should be a happy
day.  Everyone was being nice and giving her presents and trying to make
her happy.

Everyone but one person.

"Idiot."  Ranma was an idiot.  "Idiot."  And rude.  "Idiot."  And a jerk.
"Idiot."  And she was an even bigger idiot for getting this worked up over
him.  Better that she just stop caring about what he said or did.  It'd
certainly cause her less pain.

She sighed unhappily.  It was her birthday.  Why couldn't she get what she
wanted?

Multiple footsteps came up behind her.  Nabiki and Ranma, she was certain.
Time to smile vacantly over their present.  She looked over her shoulder.
"Put it on the table, I'll be right-"

She broke off.  Ranma was on his haunches, batting at a pinwheel Nabiki
was waving.  Akane turned halfway around, still sitting on the porch.
Nabiki was smiling somewhat wickedly as Ranma stared at the pinwheel in
fascination.

Akane finally found her voice.  "What... why... how?"  Almost all her
voice.

Nabiki chuckled once.  "No questions.  Just call him."

Akane blinked.  "What?"

"No questions, I said."  Nabiki spoke slowly and firmly.  "Call him."

Akane looked uncertainly at the hunched-over figure.  "Ran- Ranma?"

"Not like that, stupid."  Nabiki tossed the pinwheel next to Akane.  Ranma
leapt after it, batting it with his hand.

Akane swallowed.  "Here, kitty kitty kitty."

Ranma looked up at her.  He smiled, meowed, and jumped onto her lap.  He
rubbed his nose against her cheek before settling down on his haunches,
still smiling.

Akane bit her lip, then reached out and began to stroke his hair.  Ranma
snuggled and purred.

Akane let out a long, slow breath and rested her head on top of his,
reaching around scratch Ranma under his chin.  Ranma interrupted his
purring briefly to give her hand a quick kiss.  Akane felt her chest
tighten in response.

Nabiki called out from the porch doorway.  "Happy Birthday, Akane.  From
me and Ranma both."

Akane's voice was only a little shaky.  "Thank you."

"Gotta go get rid of some pests in my room.  Come in whenever you want
some cake."  Nabiki slid the door closed.

Akane turned her head slightly so that she was speaking into Ranma's hair.
"Thank you, Ranma.  I know you didn't do this voluntarily, but I know
that... that when you're like this you're... I mean, emotions and stuff...
you don't hide what- what you..."  She closed her eyes.  "Anyway, thank
you."

Ranma meowed once in a contented sort of way before purring some more.

~*~

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I don't know if this fic has been done before.  It sure *seems* like an
idea someone should have thought of already, but I haven't seen it.  Let
me know if this is something that somebody else has already written.