Hi guys! Thanks for your responses, I decided to post the part of the
fic that I've worked on so far, and if any one is interested in writing
it jointly with me, that'll be great. It needs a lot of work.

-Belphera

Untitled

 Akane rolls over in her sleep with a blissful smile on her face. The
waves crashing against the Galveston beach causing a smooth and relaxing
rhythm gently lulling the young woman in her sleep. Truly a peacefully
and calm picture. Of course until嚙皺

 嚙踝蕭Akane! What are you doing sleeping in bed?! It嚙踝蕭s only 11 o嚙踝蕭clock!嚙踝蕭
Into the peaceful slumber, Rick, Akane嚙踝蕭s duplex neighbor, bursts in.
Cracking open one eye, Akane looks at the cause of the disturbance.
Groaning, she buries her head into her pillow. Plopping down at the foot
of her bed, Rick playfully pokes at her legs.

* Smack *

Akane嚙踝蕭s leg accidentally lashes out and hits Rick嚙踝蕭s arm. Sitting up,
Akane rubs her eyes and gives Rick an annoyed glare.

嚙踝蕭Why do you insist on bothering me this late at night?! I need to get
some sleep, I promised that I嚙踝蕭d open up the dojo tomorrow for the kids,
so I need all the sleep I can get!嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Aren嚙踝蕭t you going to even ask me why I嚙踝蕭m not with Shampoo?嚙踝蕭 Rick
said with a hurt look.

嚙踝蕭Don嚙踝蕭t tell me嚙皺. You two broke up. Wow, big surprise.嚙踝蕭 Akane said
while rolling her eyes. 嚙踝蕭 Honestly Rick, I don嚙踝蕭t know why you even
bother going out with those.. those.. tramps. They嚙踝蕭re so shallow and
self-centered.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭I guess it嚙踝蕭s just a weakness in me. I嚙踝蕭ve got bad judgement in women
.嚙踝蕭 Rick replied woefully, while lying back down on the bed. Placing a
can of diet soda on his abdomen, he looks up at the ceiling. Wondering
what her co-workers would say to a man of Rick嚙踝蕭s caliber and
attractiveness lying on her bed. Rick was a Japanese handsome man with
eyes that changed colors based on his mood, most of the time they were
blue and twinkled with mirth. He was tanned and well built with just the
right amount of muscles. And to top it off he had jet black hair that
used to be in a ponytail but was now in a pigtail.

嚙踝蕭It was a tie.嚙踝蕭 Rick said solemnly, they he broke out into a deep
laugh that teetered the can that was precariously balanced on his
stomach. 嚙踝蕭 I refused to wear a tie to meet her great-grandmother. After
an argument, her great-grandmother actually challenged me to a fight. I
should嚙踝蕭ve known she was an Amazon. I mean just look at the name.嚙踝蕭 Rick
was always in trouble with the Chinese Amazons ever since he repelled a
group of Amazons that tried to attack a small village near to where he
was camped with his father and sister. Now they wanted to initiate him
and his sister into the Amazon tribe, but he and his sister had already
become the heirs to their family business and martial art.

嚙踝蕭Anyway, Cologne as always tries every trick in the book, but naturally
I beat her at her own game, and sent her packing with the Dragon
Annihilation.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Rick, Rick, I just don嚙踝蕭t understand it, you嚙踝蕭re so good at the art,
why don嚙踝蕭t you let your sister take over the business and you continue
with your training. Ryouga was by today again, he dropped off some
statistics for some company. I put it on your table. You know, you two
are the best martial artists I嚙踝蕭ve ever seen, and you both refuse to
give up your careers and just continue to train. I mean you two have so
much power.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭I told you We嚙踝蕭ve been over this. Ryouga and me are best friends, and
will always stick together. We both wanted to settle down, so we did, is
that so hard to believe? Sis is just not good at the family business, so
that leaves only me. Besides I love the business as much as the art. Me
an Ryouga still train, and we still get better. It works out perfectly
.嚙踝蕭 Rick says in a bored tone.

嚙踝蕭 Well, anyway, now that you嚙踝蕭ve gotten your depression out of your
system, why don嚙踝蕭t you get out so I can get some sleep?嚙踝蕭 Akane says.

嚙踝蕭Nah I like your bed, it嚙踝蕭s nice and comfy.嚙踝蕭 Rick says, stretching
first, then taking the can off his stomach.

嚙踝蕭Well unlike someone I know, I saved up money to by a good bed. And
hey! That嚙踝蕭s six cans of soda you owe me!嚙踝蕭  Akane retorts.

嚙踝蕭 Ah well, I嚙踝蕭ll pick some up at the store tomorrow. And I hate buying
things like a bed. It嚙踝蕭s annoying how those people are always so chipper
and happy and nosing themselves in my business. 嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭This from a man, who makes multi-million dollar deals and takeovers in
a day.嚙踝蕭 Akane says with a smirk. Rick looks at Akane with an upraised
eyebrow. She was currently wearing a Hello Kitty Tee-shirt that went
down to her calves. Grinning he starts to chuckle. Akane begins to eye
Rick suspiciously.

嚙踝蕭 What are you laughing at?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Poor girl嚙踝蕭s ears are bent out of shape. I feel for her. Why do you
insist on wearing that shirt? You嚙踝蕭re really torturing her.嚙踝蕭

Pulling in her legs Akane let嚙踝蕭s them fly at Rick. Laughing Rick jumps
away and hops off the bed.

嚙踝蕭I嚙踝蕭m going to bed, you嚙踝蕭re getting too violent.嚙踝蕭 Before going out,
Rick goes over to Akane嚙踝蕭s side and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
嚙� Good night darling.嚙踝蕭 Quickly he leaves the room. Lying back down on
the bed Akane hears Rick open the door to his room in the house.
Sighing, Akane looks out her window and gets up. Leaning on the banister
of her balcony, she looks out to the sea.

Rick was such a good friend. Ever since the first day when he moved into
this huge house. This house belonged to a good friend of her father, and
he let her live here. It has been six years since she嚙踝蕭s moved into this
big beach house. It had been like the house of her dreams, except it
felt empty. A year later Rick moved into the house as well, and they
divided everything into two, so that they wouldn嚙踝蕭t not get into each
other嚙踝蕭s ways. Right from the start, Rick and Akane became fast friends.
The first day the Rick moved in, he had bought a plant that was in a
ceramic frog and gave it to Akane while announcing that he was her new
neighbor.

But on the outside Rick and Akane were so different. Whereas Rick was
outgoing and very much a playboy, Akane was quiet and conservative. Rick
had lived a hard life of a martial artist as a young boy up until he was
eighteen, when his mother announced that he had to take over the family
business. Quickly he began to run the business and surprisingly well for
someone with no background. At his side was his best friend and training
partner Ryouga Hibiki. The two of them were very close and were very
similar in many ways except in one; Ryouga was married and Rick was not.
However, Rick strings along an endless string of women.

Akane always disapproved of Rick嚙踝蕭s habit, because she was always afraid
that Rick would get hurt. True Rick was probably the strongest person
she knew, physically, but she knew better. Inside he was really very
fragile, and one false move could destroy him. Looking up at the stars,
she saw a shooting star. Closing her eyes she made a wish.

嚙踝蕭May Rick finally settle down with someone and please let me help him
.嚙踝蕭 Akane sent the wish up to the hevens.


Akane came home the next day after helping some of the kids in her kempo
class. Sighing in relief, she put the groceries she had away. On some
days she was glad she was running one of her father嚙踝蕭s dojos and also
teaching at school, but on other days it was a hassle. It took away much
of her time since she opened her dojo on weekends and on a few weekdays
and still taught elementary school five days a week. Rick would ridicule
her many times about her form and her techniques, but it didn嚙踝蕭t bother
her anymore.

Sighing, she finishes her unpacking and makes herself some lemonade.
Changing into a pair of shorts and a bikini top, she gets a book and
goes outside to read. Just as she sits down to read, the phone rings.
Cursing under her breath, she retrieves the phone.

嚙踝蕭Hello?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Akane! Is that you?嚙踝蕭 A voice on the other end of the line asks. It
was her older sister Nabiki.

嚙踝蕭 Of course it is! Who else would it be?嚙踝蕭 Akane asked in an annoyed
tone. Her and Nabiki never really got along too much. Basically, Nabiki
was prettier, did more womanly things in school than she did, and was
Kasumi嚙踝蕭s favorite sister. Kasumi was her other older sister, who lived
back home in Japan with their father.

嚙踝蕭Great! So how嚙踝蕭re things going on down there?嚙踝蕭 Nabiki asked.

嚙踝蕭It嚙踝蕭s been okay, school嚙踝蕭s going to be ending in a couple of days, and
I嚙踝蕭m going to be pretty much free.嚙踝蕭 Akane answered.

嚙踝蕭Oh, do you have any plans for the summer?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Oh I don嚙踝蕭t know, I might just stay here and do some training and
relax. And I might go back home and visit Kasumi and Father for a bit.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Finally!嚙踝蕭 Nabiki exclaimed with enthusiasm. Akane immediately became
suspicious,

嚙踝蕭Alright Nabiki spit it out, what嚙踝蕭s going on?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Okay well Kasumi has been bugging me a lot recently about having kids
and all. She really wants me to settle down. I don嚙踝蕭t know why, but she
keeps saying that she wants to have little nieces and nephews.嚙踝蕭 Nabiki
complained.

嚙踝蕭So? What do you want me to do?嚙踝蕭 Akane asked.

嚙踝蕭Well you could tell Kasumi that you嚙踝蕭ve been going out and stuff.
Maybe she嚙踝蕭ll get off my back and focus on you.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭No way!嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭 Come on, I嚙踝蕭ll even fix you up with someone. Please? I know you haven
嚙踝蕭t been doing well in the men嚙踝蕭s department recently, but that嚙踝蕭s okay,
just as long as Kasumi thinks you嚙踝蕭re going out.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭No!嚙踝蕭 Akane said forcefully.

嚙踝蕭 Please do it for嚙皺Damn! I嚙踝蕭ve got a call on the other line, I hope it
嚙踝蕭s not Kasumi.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Nabiki! Damn!嚙踝蕭 Angrily Akane hangs up and curses her sister. Why did
her sister have to be so right? It was true she didn嚙踝蕭t go on many
dates, but why did she have to rub it in? the last date she was on was
with  the annoying superintendent Kuno Tatewaki. Lying back down
outside, she ponders it for a moment what it would feel like being
married. Pushing it aside, she turned over onto her belly and decided to
get a suntan. Undoing her top, she falls asleep.


Whistling Rick walked into his room and changed into a pair of trunks.
After doing so he started up the grill on the deck behind the house.
Putting a couple of steaks and potatoes on it, he notices Akane. Walking
over to her, he smiles as he sees that she is lying belly down with her
top undone. Spotting the glass with lemonade next to her, he smirks and
takes an ice cube from the pitcher and slides it up and down her back
and then leaves it there. Akane gasps and immediately almost bolts up
but then remembering her top was undone. She glares at Rick.

嚙踝蕭Damn it Rick, you pervert! Get that off of me!嚙踝蕭 Chuckling Rick gently
moves the ice cube up her back and to her shoulder blades before taking
the cube off.

嚙踝蕭I嚙踝蕭m sorry darling, I thought you looked so hot I thought you needed
to be cooled down.嚙踝蕭 Then he proceeded to redo Akane嚙踝蕭s top. As his hand
brushes against Akane嚙踝蕭s back, Akane feels shocks of electricity flow
through her. Reminding herself that Rick is a friend, she lets him
finish. Then she gets up and precedes to punch Rick. Holding his hands
up in submission Rick laughs,

嚙踝蕭Sorry! Sorry! Here as an apology, I嚙踝蕭m making dinner. Okay?嚙踝蕭 Sniffing
at the air, Akane smells food on the grill.

嚙踝蕭Making dinner for me Rick? How nice of you, considering the last five
times I嚙踝蕭ve cooked for you.?嚙踝蕭 Smiling, Rick gives Akane a pat on the
rear and says,

嚙踝蕭 Now go get ready, I嚙踝蕭ll be done in a sec.嚙踝蕭


After the food was ready, the two sat down to eat on the deck. There was
still light outside, so it resulted in a beautiful setting.

嚙踝蕭So how嚙踝蕭s your steak?嚙踝蕭 Rick asked.

嚙踝蕭It嚙踝蕭s fine.嚙踝蕭 Akane replied in a spaced out tone.

嚙踝蕭Well, you don嚙踝蕭t have to be so patronizing.嚙踝蕭 Rick huffed.

嚙踝蕭I嚙踝蕭m sorry, did I sound like that? I was just thinking about what my
sister said on the phone today.嚙踝蕭 Akane apologized.

嚙踝蕭 Oh, Something wrong at home?嚙踝蕭 Rick asked.

嚙踝蕭No, nothing like that, it嚙踝蕭s just that my older sister has been
bugging my other sister about settling down and raising a family.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Oh? How come she hasn嚙踝蕭t asked you.?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭She probably thinks that I嚙踝蕭m a lost cause.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭You should be more like me, always going out with someone.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Oh yes Rick, I wanted to talk to you about that. I think that your
choices in women is very poor. I mean the women that you go out with are
the shallowest bunch that I嚙踝蕭ve ever seen.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Well I guess I嚙踝蕭m just weak for attractive women.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Rick, I嚙踝蕭m serious, I嚙踝蕭m your friend and I want the best for you. I嚙踝蕭m
concerned that if you fall in love with one of these women and they
break up with you, you could be scarred for life.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Well, I don嚙踝蕭t see you racking up the points in this department.嚙踝蕭
Rick said, but then immediately regretted saying it, because of Akane嚙踝蕭s
hurt expression.

嚙踝蕭That嚙踝蕭s not true! I went out with Kuno, six weeks ago.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Kuno?! I could knock hum over with a breath.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭 hardly went out with him because of how strong he was.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭 I don嚙踝蕭t see why you went out with him in the first place.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭 It嚙踝蕭s true I嚙踝蕭m not as good as you in that point, but you don嚙踝蕭t have
to rub it in. All I was saying was that you should have a nice girl and
a relationship with meaning.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭 And what do you call Shampoo and the others?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Sexual statistics.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Well, that嚙踝蕭s true. Besides sex is nice, you should try it sometime.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Rick!

嚙踝蕭Okay, okay. How about this, you set me up with someone, and I嚙踝蕭ll set
you up with someone.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭You嚙踝蕭ll probably set me up with some wolf that will be harassing me
through the entire night.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭And you嚙踝蕭ll probably set me up with someone whose idea of fun is to
sit by candlelight and read Yeats to each other.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Well is Yeats so bad?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Is having fun with a guy so wrong?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Just tell me a week before hand, so that I can work on my weights. He
嚙踝蕭ll never know what hit him.嚙踝蕭

Laughing, Rick goes around to Akane and hugs her.

嚙踝蕭Oh Akane, you嚙踝蕭re a gem, you know that?嚙踝蕭

The two friends finish the rest of their dinner in peace and watch the
sun set go down.


The next week Akane returns home after another hard day at school. The
children have become more and more rowdier, probably due to summer
vacation. But she couldn嚙踝蕭t blame them, after all, she too was looking
forward to summer vacation. Going over to the refrigerator, she begins
to take out a pair of chicken breasts, one for her, and one for Rick.
Suddenly, the phone rings.

嚙踝蕭It嚙踝蕭s probably Ukyou.嚙踝蕭 Akane thinks.

嚙踝蕭Hello.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Akane!嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Oneechan! How are you and daddy doing?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭 Oh we嚙踝蕭re fine, Tofu is going to be going to a seminar in France, and
I thought that maybe you and me could perhaps spend some quality time
together.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Uh sure, um school嚙踝蕭s going to end in a few days. I嚙踝蕭ll come over
then.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭How about I fly to you, you know it嚙踝蕭s been a while since I嚙踝蕭ve
visited America.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Uh, Oneechan? Are you sure everything is alright?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭I should be asking you that question.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭I don嚙踝蕭t understand.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Come now, Nabiki has already let the cat out of the bag.嚙踝蕭

Akane嚙踝蕭s eyes narrow 嚙踝蕭What about?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Why your engagement! Why didn嚙踝蕭t you tell us sooner?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭What? Nabiki said what?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Now Nabiki said, she knew you wanted it to be a surprise." Kasumi
began to break up a little. There were tears in her voice. "And I嚙踝蕭m
just so happy for you. I嚙踝蕭m so proud my little sister is growing up so
fast and into a woman.嚙踝蕭 Those words froze Akane嚙踝蕭s objections.

嚙踝蕭Uh, ah.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭So what嚙踝蕭s he like?嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Smart, tall, I want him to be a surprise, so you嚙踝蕭ll meet him when you
get here.嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Okay. See you in a few day!嚙踝蕭

嚙踝蕭Bye Oneechan.嚙踝蕭 As Akane hangs up the phone, she lets loose a string
of curses. Damn Nabiki for pushing all this on her. It was so typical,
if she was in a jam, just shove it to Akane. Now Kasumi was expecting
her to have a fiancee. Quietly she walks to the front of the doorway and
sits on the steps to wait for Rick to come home. Maybe he could help her
on this, burying her head in her knees, she thinks hard and prays that
Rick has an answer.

______________________________________________________________________________________

As Rick is driving back from Houston, he glances at the two six-packs of
diet root beer next to him. He wondered what Akane would say when she
saw him bringing back the soda that he owed her. Looking outside, he
realizes that today was a nice day outside. Perhaps he would take Akane
out to eat. It has been a week since their bets on trying to find a date
for each other. He had been dropping hints that he had a pretty neighbor
and so far no one in his office has shown any interest. They figured
that if Rick Saotome thought a girl was pretty, he must have gotten to
her already. As he pulled into the driveway, he saw Akane sitting on the
front steps. She sensed Rick's car pulling in and got up and ran to him.
Looking from his car, Rick noted the healthiness of Akane's body, she
wasn't extremely thin, but she was by no means fat. Her breasts were
full and complemented her petite body well. Smiling to himself, he
thinks, oh well, it's their loss.

Akane rushes up to Rick's car as he gets out. Breathlessly she calls to
him,

"Rick! Rick! I need some help!" Looking up Rick begins to undo his tie.

"Slow down Akane, let me first get inside and changed before you rush
off into your problem. Come on, let's go inside."