"This is someone talking"
*This is a thought*
**This is an action/sound effect**
[Panda Sign]
<"Someone talking in Chinese">

  ------------------
Anything between these two lines is a flashback
  ------------------



"Hibiki . . . "  Ranma growled, "Now I remember..."

"Ranma....?"  Akane whispered softly, "I . . .  I lost . . . "

Ranma looked sorrowfully down to the young girl in his arms, as she
lapsed back into unconsciousness.

"Akane......."

                                        [******************************]



                            Based on the works by Rumiko Takahashi.  We
present to you........

                                            Ranma 1/2- Watakshi no
Tomodachi


Chapter 2


[******************************]

Akane woke with a start, then automatically wish she stayed in the
blissful realm of sleep.  She grasped her stomach in pain and flopped
back down onto her pillow, "Ittaiiiiii..."  She moaned.

"Welcome back to the world of the living...."  Ranma said with a smirk
as he rose from his place in a chair by her desk.

Akane winced, "I dunno... you sure I'm not dead?"  She joked, but it
hurt so much to talk.  Then again, it hurt to do anything.  Just laying
there was a task in it's own.
Ranma set his hand over top of her forehead once again.  Akane
shivered.  His hands were ice cold, or maybe it was she was hot, "Akane,
you still have a fever."

Akane nodded.  Yup, it was her, "No wonder my head feels like a
furnace."

Ranma's smile faded slightly and looked more like one of sympathy then
the joking one that lay there only minutes ago.  An awkward silence fell
between the two.  Ranma bit his bottom lip, wracking his brain to think
of something to say to relieve the tension.  Akane beat him to it.

"Heh..... So I lost, huh?  Dammit........"

Suddenly Ranma really wish he knew women better.  How was he supposed to
respond?!  He could give her a big hug and tell her everything was going
to be alright.  He could play it tough and tell her she should train
harder.  He could be stupid and just sit there like an idiot saying
nothing, which he was already accomplishing, quite well in fact.
Alright, this was getting him no where.  A compromise was in order.  He
gently took on of her free hands into both his.  He almost surprised
himself, not to mention her, *Her hands are... so small..*  He thought
wispily to himself.  When he finally looked towards his friend she was
blushing slightly with an embarrassed look on her face.  Ranma
immediately dropped her hand and coughed to clear the lump in his
throat, "Eh-hem... I-it's okay, Akane.  I mean, when you're up to it, I
can help you train more."

Akane smiled slightly, "Thanks, Ranma."

Ranma put a hand behind his head and laughed sheepishly, "Yeah, well,
what are friends for, ne?"

Akane propped herself with much strain so she was leaning against the
headboard of her bed, "You know what this mean though..."  She said
solemnly.

Ranma looked puzzled, "Hn?"

"I have... I have to go out with this guy."  She turned her head away in
what looked like shame.

Ranma's jaw tightened, *Kuso...* "Yeah..... I mean.. you don't have
to.."

Akane shook her head, "I have to.  He beat me quite fairly.  It's a
matter of honor anyway.  What would you think of me if I didn't?"

Ranma sighed, *What would _I_ think of her?  I can't even answer that
now...*  "I suppose your right.  Akane, you be careful with this guy,
okay?  I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about him."

Akane nodded, "Yeah.. but hey.  If I'm in trouble I can just call for my
knight in shining armor right?"  She said while poking Ranma's nose.

Ranma swatted it away gently, "Aw, man!  Why is it _MY_ job?"

"Ranmaaaa..."  Akane growled, threatening to bring her mallet out from
where ever she put it.  Hey.. where does she get that thing anyway?

Ranma put his hands out in front of himself defensively, "Kidding!
Kidding!"

[******************************]

6:45.

Akane sat uncomfortably on the futon in the main family room of the
house.  Ranma hovered over her nervously.    Ryouga would be here any
minute, and Akane was praying every minute that went by that for some
strange reason he wouldn't show.  She lost.  Plain and simple, she lost.

"Ara?  Akane, you look very nice.  Are you and Ranma going out
somewhere?"  Kasumi asked with motherly love, as she entered the room.

"Uh.. something like that.."  She said sorrowfully.  She looked down to
her plain, yellow, MODEST sun dress.  For this guy, she was leaving
EVERYTHING to the imagination.

6:50.

The downcast look Akane was broadcasting made Ranma's stomach ache.  He
didn't know why, but he had a VERY bad feeling about this Ryouga guy.
Ryouga went to Ranma's school when he  was on the road.  True, Ranma had
only stayed at the school for a short time, but the two had become
bitter rivals.  And to think, it was over some stupid bread.  Oh!  And
when he had the nerve to challenge Ranma to a duel, he didn't even
show!!  *Three... Three days I stood there!  Man, I wonder now who was
more stupid. Me, for waiting so long.  Or him, for not even showing up.*

6:55

Five minutes.  It seemed like a lifetime for Akane.  She looked over to
Ranma who was lost in thought.  He looked so..... disappointed.  Was it
because she lost the fight?  Or, was it something else?  Maybe she
didn't want to know, because she pushed the thought deep into a corner
of her mind where it was soon forgotten.  She needed to think of task at
hand.  And, to figure a plan of escape if this guy started getting
troublesome.  She had to go on a date with him, it didn't mean she had
to like it.  I mean, she hadn't had a crush on anyone since
Toufu-sensei, but that was almost 3 months ago.  He really did like
Kasumi didn't he?

**KNOCK KNOCK**

"Oh my, I'll get it!"  Kasumi called from the kitchen.

The knot in Akane's stomach tightened another notch.  Well, this was
it.  Better to get it over with fast.  She stood and took up her purse
when Ranma grabbed onto her arm.

"Akane.... Please, be careful, okay?"  His eyes looked so pleading.
Akane wondered how lost she could be in them.

"Don't worry, Ranma.  I'll be fine.  If I'm not back by 10, send a
search party."  She said jokingly.  Then she smiled sweetly at him.  One
of those ones that twisted his stomach in knots.  Sure she smiled around
him lots, but when it was like this, he could feel his knees get weaker,
*Stop it stop it stop it!*  He thought to himself.  Akane was his best
friend and that's all.  He reluctantly let go of her arm and walked her
to the front door where Ryouga stood, a single red rose in his hand as
he presented it to Akane.  She took it reluctantly and uttered some form
of thanks.  Ranma was in the background, fuming , much to Ryouga's
satisfaction.

"Shall we go?"  Ryouga asked gentlemanly as her extended an arm out for
her to hook up with.

Akane could feel the heat of Ranma's chi eminating from behind her,
"Uh..yeah."  She said quickly while almost pushing Ryouga out of the
door to leave Ranma to cool down.


[******************************]

Nabiki grimaced a new pacing line was being ground into the new wood
floor of the Tendou living room, *There goes another days collection..*
She thought resigningly.   "Really, Ototchan, as much as you are a
welcome guest in our house, SIT DOWN!  Your making me nauseas with all
your pacing!"  Well, he really wasn't her real 'little brother', but
ever sine they were young she had called him that.  A pet-name of sorts
she supposed.

Ranma stopped dead in his tracks, "I just know it!  Something bad
happened to her, and now it'll be all my fault!  Why didn't I follow
them!?"  he cursed.

Nabiki rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Ranma.  You're acting as bad as
To-san."

Almost as if on cue, Soun came floating by, big youkai head and all.

"On second thought...."  Nabiki corrected herself.

Ranma clenched his fists tight, "It's 10:15....That's it!  I'm going
after them!"  Ranma announced and was about to charge off when Nabiki
grabbed onto the collar of his shirt.

"Ranma!  Snap out of it!  She's 15 minutes late and you are driving me
CRAZY!  Now sit down, and shut up!"  Nabiki commanded while pointing to
the couch.

Ranma cowered under her glare and did as he was told.  Just something
about Nabiki made him want to oblige, "Fine."  Ranma huffed and took his
place, crossing his arms roughly over his chest.  He could feel Nabiki's
eyes scanning him over, but played it as if it was nothing.

Nabiki grinned, she loved having power, "You're awfully worried about
dear 'lil Akane-chan, Ototchan.."  She grinned wryly.

Ranma raised an eyebrow, "Of course I am!  I let her go out on a date
with someone how could very well be a psychotic maniac!  I should be
worried!  Wait... what are you getting at Nabiki-chan?"

Nabiki's grin only widened, "Oh, moi?  Nothing at all....  I mean, it's
customary for a friend to be worried about another 'friend', isn't
Ranma-chan?"

"What do you mean by 'friend', Nabiki-chan?"  Ranma asked out of some
annoyance.

Nabiki shrugged, "Hmmm.. I don't know.  I just heard a few of the girls
at school notice you had quite the look on your face while watching
Akane fight yesterday.  And how about how you carried her home after
that fight?  I saw when you came in, and that was quite a red face you
had on."  Heh, the final blow.

Ranma's face contorted, "What do you mean?!  I watch Akane fight cuz
she's pretty good.  And, do you think I should have just left her there
to rot after the fight?  Of course I _had_ to carry her home!  And I
wasn't embarassed!  I was mad!"  Well, it was true he was mad, but the
whole way home with Akane curled up in his arms left him quite a
bit...hmm... what was it?  'Weak in the knees' could be used.

Nabiki supressed a chuckle when she saw Ranma fall into thought and
blushed quite apparently, "Don't worry, Ototchan.  It can be our little
secret."  She winked.

Ranma grimaced, *A Secret.. with Nabiki?  I don't think there is such a
thing...*  "I really don't know what you're talkin 'bout Nabiki.  And
anyw--..?"  Ranma was rudely interupted when he heard the closing of a
door at the front of the house.

"Tadima!"  Akane called from the front hall.

Ranma bolted form his seat on the couch, leaving a duststorm in his
wake.  He stopped right before he ran into Akane and started to check
over her arms and face.

Akane swatted him away, "WHAT are you doing, Ranma?!"

Ranma looked at her with discrepance, "You seem to be okay.  No bruises
at least..."

Akane poked his forehead, "You feeling okay, Ranma?  Ryouga-kun didn't
do anything to me, actually, he was a perfect gentleman."  She said with
a shy smile.

Ranma saw the smile.  She only ever smiled at him like that before...
which means... which means......

"Well, I'm off to bed!  I'm still feeling a little ill from the other
day.  Night, Nabiki onee-chan!"  She yelled into the other room.  Nabiki
waved a hand, but continued reading her manga, "Night, Ranma,"  She said
with a smile and before long had disapeared up the stairs.

Ranma stood dumbfounded, not sure how to react.  Akane was okay, and he
was happy for that, but she said Ryouga was a nice guy.  And her smile,
it made his stomach turn.  He stared off to where Akane had last been,
and resignly sighed as he trotted up to his bedroom.

Nabiki grimaced as she saw Ranma leave, *Poor guy...*  She thought, then
went back to her manga.  Jeeze, the things they print these day.  Who
ever thought of a girl falling into a well and meeting a Half-youkai.
Some of the characters in these things are just ridiculous.

              [******************************]

Preview of Next Chapter:
    Things are explained about Ryouga and Akane's date.  Akane and
Nabiki talk, and a new character pops up!



1. Ranma is acting nice.. WHAT'S UP!?
 Also, the Akane thing.  He and Akane grew up as kids together, so he
has some experience with girls.  His best friend is a girl so he's
gotten used to it by now, therefore being a little more sensitive to
them, (Don't worry I'll keep some of that machoism in there too *^_^*)


2.  WHOA!  Why is Ryouga hitting a GIRL!?
 Okay, so I made Ryouga a little more relentless than the original :P
Sue me :P  Hey!  Don't get me wrong!  Ryouga is actually my fave Ranma
1/2 character :P  Don't worry, I'll still have him be cute 'lil P-chan
*^_^*

3.  The time line of events goes as such:

Akane and Ranma (Best friend since birth) They lived near each other
   \/
Genma takes Ranma away on the training trip when he is 9 (Yes, I know..
it's a little late, but this fits in with my story better :P)
   \/
Ranma RETURNS with Genma, and now are staying at the Tendou Dojou.  They
can't go back to Nadoka because of Ranma's curse.  The bathroom scene
happened, but Akane let Ranma off more easy because of their past.
Remember, Akane and Ranma were best friends when they were young and
just picked up where they left off when Ranma returned.  The Tendou kids
and Ranma know of the engagement promise, but think it'll fall through
like most of the other things :P

4.  Why is Akane such a strong martial artist in this?
 Well, when she and Ranma were young they would always compete to be
better than each other.  Since Ranma left of his training journey with
his father, Akane knew he would become a lot better and felt it
necessary to push her self father with training.  She's not up to
Ranma's level, but she can put up a fight :P

Hope this answers some things!!  Ja ne!

             "You know, you really are cute when you smile."