Heavenly feelings - Mazena (ranma-kun@sunpoint.net or mazena@sunpoint.net) -----Disclaimers----- Ranma 1/2 and its characters are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Shonen Sunday, Shogagukan, and Kitty TV (Japan), and Viz Communications (USA). ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Heavenly Feelings //////////////////////////////////////////////// Gabriel stood in middle of nothing. Everything was white. She wore a while robe, sandals and had a long blond hair. She was quite nervous and very curious. He hadn't called for her in a long time and every time He did, she got a job, that no one else would do. Last time she had got almost an impossible task to get a couple fall in love with each other. It had took weeks to get the two stubborn humans to fall in love. She was relieved that nothing He might ask couldn't be any worse than the last time. She still had a bad feeling about something... "Gabriel" said a voice that would have made anyone shed tears of joy. Gabriel turned around and kneeled before the glowing figure. "Why is it that you have called me, my Lord?" "I have job for you..." Gabriel winced a bit, but tried not to show it. "Don't worry. This shouldnt be too hard for you." "What do you wish me to do, my Lord?" "There is a young couple, who need your help." "They have known each other for one year, seven months and three days." "They both love each other..." "but..." "there are many obstacles and misfortunes in their lives and both of them are very stubborn and afraid of making the next step..." "It seemes that everyone surrounding them are having problems of their own... They need help too. Without helping them, your efforts with the couple are useless. Trust me. They have a few grudges against each other. I want you to get that couple together and make the people surrounding them happy too." "But my Lord, this task is... Well, huge." Gabriel exclaimed. "I give you the permission to use any means necessary and even turn to others for help." "May I ask, what makes this couple so special?" asked Gabriel. "They don't deserve what is going around them. Everybody are just pushing them around and accusing them... Or mostly the other one from their problems. You need to get the other people happy too to assure the peace for the couple." Gabriel stood up and nodded. There was definetly something that God didn't tell her. Usually God never interfered with the lives of the mortals, of course there were a few times when they had to. "Very well..." She spead her white wings. "I shall do as you wish, my Lord." God smiled and touched Gabriels forehead. Many images ranm trough her head. A boy called Ranma. She saw as he fell in the Nyanniichuan and changed into a girl, as well as all the times his father abused his son. [A/N. NOT IN THAT WAY!!! A/N] Another person flashed in her head. A girl called Akane. She saw Akane falling love with Dr. Tofu, go to school and being chased around by all the boys. Gabriel saw Ranma-chan and Akane meeting each other for the first time and becoming friends. She saw Akane bumping into the shower and seeing Ranma-kun, Ranma saying that his female form is better to boot and Akane smashing a table on his head. Then it all stopped. The whole process took only ten seconds. She jumped in the air, now her wings fully spread. She made a loop, before diving trough the white realm. *** Gabriel landed on a rock next to the koi pond. She closed her wings and started to look around. She looked at the Tendo house. She flew to a window and hovered next to it with her wings spread wide. She looked inside. A loudly snoring panda was rolling in his bed and a pigtailed boy was on his feet, next to the panda, ready to wake his father up. Ranma slapped his father, "Wake up, old man!" Genma showed him a sign, [A few more minutes...] and started to snore again. Ranma tried to wake his father up a few times, but gave up. He started dressing, but stopped. He stared out of the window, trough Gabriel. Gabriels eyes widened. "Weird..." muttered Ranma. He continued dressing. He left the room while his mind kept nagging about the feeling. He wandered into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. Gabriel had been following Ranma. She saw the expression on his face. She closed her wings. She sighed. The strange feeling was gone. Ranma shrugged and put his toothbrush away. He yawned as he step back to the corridor. He walked down the stairs listening for any familiar sounds. He slid the living-rooms door open and breathed in the fresh morning air. The sun wasnt up yet. It had been a long time ago since he had watched the sunrise. Ranma jumped on the roof and lied down. It would take a while, but he was in no hurry. Gabriel hurried towards Akane's room. She had to wake her up and get her on the roof also. She ran trough Akane's door and tried to figure a way to wake her up. A moment later she re-adjusted her alarm clock, which started to ring loudly. "Uhmm?" Akane raised her head from the pillow and tried to open her eyes. "What the..." She slowly got up and turned the alarm off. She stretched her arms out and let out a yawn. Once dressed Akane was on her way downstairs. Suddenly, she heard a loud thump on the roof. The first thing that came into her mind was She grabbed her mallet and hurries out, leaving Gabriel standing in the corridor. It took quite an effort for her to get on the roof, while holding the mallet. She glanced at the 'molester'. "R-Ranma?" Ranma looked at Akane. "Yo, Akane." He saw the mallet in her hand. "Err... Um, what's wrong?" "What are you doing here this early?" Ranma lied his head on the roof again. "Pops woke me up and I didn't have anything better to do, so I came to watch the sunrise." "Why did you have to do it on the roof of my bedroom?" Akane tightened her grip on the mallet. "Eh? No reason." Ranma started to look confused. "I knew you were a pervert!" "What?!" "Don't deny it. You were trying to peep in my room while I was sleeping!" Ranma put his foot in his mouth, "Why would I want to peep on an uncute tomboy!" "What? Why you..." Akane swung the mallet, but Ranma dodged it. Akane kept chasing Ranma and they both threw insults at each other. Gabriel watched this for a moment and started wondering. What had gone wrong? A loving couple and a sunrise... It was perfect. Gabriel heard a splash as Ranma flew into the pond. "Serves you right" said Akane and marched inside the house. "Kawaiikune..." grunted Ranma-can. Kasumi had gotten up and came to see what was going on. She watched Akane walking away and Ranma-chan climbing out of the pond. "Oh my..." She shook her head. "Will they never get enough of fighting?" Ranma-chan walked inside. "Kasumi, I'm going to take a bath..." Kasumi smiled at Ranma-chan and went to kitchen. Slowly the house woke up. Soun read his newspaper next to the table, Nabiki was calculating her income and Genma-panda stomped down the stairs. Genma slid the bathroom door open and stepped in. "Hey! Whatta-" *sploosh* Soon pissed off Ranma came out of the bathroom. He sat by the table, next to Akane who payed no attention on him. "Something bothering you, son?" asked Soun, not lifting his eyes from the paper. Ranma muttered something about a bad day for an answer. *** Gabriel watched Ranma meditated in the dojo after his training session. Akane stepped into the dojo wearing her gi. Ranma ignored her presence and continued his meditation. Akane frowned a bit. "Would you like to spar with me?" "Uh, sure." Ranma replied and stood up. Soon both applied their stances and waited for the other to make a move. Akane started. She made a round-kick towards Ranma, who dodged it with ease. Akane started throwing punches, her fists only hitting the air. She was getting frustrated. Her punches became faster and stronger, but Ranma kept dodging. "Why don't you fight back?" Asked Akane while trying to trip Ranma with a kick. "I don't fight girls." Ranma replied and made a flip over Akane. Akane's punches became more faster (if possible), "Do you think that GIRLS aren't as good fighters as MEN?!" Ranma didn't like the direction the conversation was heading. "No... I just... I don't want to hit a girl. That's all." "Feh..." Akane sneered. "You're a half-girl yourself and YOU don't want to hit girls?" "Im a BOY!" Akane saw that Ranma was getting mad. "Yeah right... You seem to spend a lot of time in your girl form nowdays. I wonder if all your macho stuff is just some act to cover your feminity." Ranma drew his fist back, tensing his muscles. Akane got ready to block the punch. Ranma stopped the punch and looked away. "What?" Akane yelled. "Why didn't you hit me?" "I told you why..." Akane couldn't believe that Ranma was such a coward when it came to women. "You... You... Baka!" Akane charged at Ranma, who caught her arm, before it hit his face. *** Ryouga was walking along a road, his gaze fixed on the ground. He felt miserable as always. He stepped over a big puddle in the last moment. If he hadn't noticed it, he would have turned into a pig and felt even more depressed. Ryouga lifted his head and to his surprise he was in front of the Tendo dojo. "I should've known..." he muttered. "You... You... Baka!" "Akane-san?!" Ryouga yelled and jumped over the wall. Ryouga hurried into the dojo. "Akane-san, you allright?" He stopped at the entrance as he saw Ranma grabbing Akane. It was obvious to him (but to nobody else) that Ranma was abusing Akane. "RANMAAAA!" Something snapped. "PREPARE TO DIE RANMA!" Ranma let go of Akane and made a backflip. "Yo, Ryouga." He landed and immediately dodged Ryougas kick. "What's up?" "Ranma, you..." Ryouga threw a couple of bandages at Ranma, who rolled out of the way. "How dare you to abuse Akane-san?" "Ryouga, it's not like that!" yelled Akane at him, but he didn't hear her or didn't believe her. "SHISHI" "Oh no..." Ranma started running towards the exit. "HOKO" "DAN" Ryouga blasted a huge ball of ki towards Ranma. Ranma leaped off the way, but the blast still caught his arm. "RANMA!" Akane yelled and hurried towards him. "Ite..." Ranma knew that now his chance of winning wasnt that good. He could have tried moko takabisha, but he didn't want to risk Akane getting hurt. "SHISHI" Ryouga started again. "Ryouga, please. Stop." shouted Akane, but Ryouga couldn't get the picture of Ranma abusing his dear Akane out of his mind. "HOKO" "D..." Ryouga fell on the floor. "Ry... Ryouga?" Ranma leaned over him. "He. Fell asleep." "Eh?" While Ranma and Akane were wondering about Ryouga Gabriel was busy talking to somebody. "Thanks for the help Balthial. That was really close. Without your help, he might be..." Gabriel shook her head. "Heh..." chuckled Balthial, an angel just like Gabriel. "I'm not the Angel of peace of mind for nothing." He grinned. "So... What's your business with them?" "Well, I'm supposed to get those two together" Gabriel pointed at Ranma and Akane. "but that's the easiest part of the job." "What's the hard part then?" "I need to make dozens of people happy along them too..." Balthial snickered. "Seemes like you've got your hands full." Not it was Gabriels turn to grin. "I'm not the only one." Balthial looked confused. "God gave me his word that if I needed help, any of you would have to help me." She giggled as Balthial face faulted. "What?! You can't be so serious! What's so special in that couple anyway?" "Umm... God told me something about not deserving this, but I think that he never told me the real reason and I'm not so sure he will." Balthias looked at Ranma and Akane for a few moments. "So... How're things going with them?" "I'm not perfectly sure. They fight a lot and insult each other, but I think they might actually like each other." "Love?" "Wish I knew..." "What? You're the angel of love and you don't know?!" "Hey! I haven't worked in a few hundred years and besides, you should stick around and see for yourself. This really isn't the easiest matchup I've made. I think I'll have to observe them longer." "How long?" "Untill I know how many people we need to help and what to do..." Balthial sighed, but grinned a bit, "Should I tell the others?" Gabriel smiled. "Yeah... Heh, it's been long since the others have worked either. Remember to tell me if their faces are worth seeing." "I bet they are." Balthial laughed and spread his wings. "I'll be back in one or two days. Summon me, if there is another emergency like this." Gabriel nodded and watched as her friend flew higher and higher, finally disappearing into the clouds. She looked back at the humans. "I think he's waking up..." said Akane. "Ryouga, you hear me?" asked Ranma. Ryouga opened his eyes slowly. "Wha- What happened?" "We thought you could tell us." said Ranma, standing up. Ranma 'abusing' Akane flashed in Ryougas mind again. "Ranma!" "What? You still nagging about that?" Ryouga got up and took his fighting stance. "Shut up!" "Why would I like to abuse her?" Gabriel had a déja vu. She knew how it was going to end and sighed. Ranma pointed at Akane. "Why would I want to do anything with a sexless tomboy like her." He stopped as he realized he had his foot in his mouth again. "Ranma no..." "Akane! Sorry, I didn't mean it..." "BAKA!" The mallet hit Ranma and he flew (again) into the pond. "Kawaikunee!" shouted Ranma-chan from the pond. "Just let me finish for once before malleting me away!" "Why should I listen to a pervert like you?" Akane turned around. "Ryouga, please come inside." "Oh. Sure" Ryouga followed Akane into the house. *** Ranma-chan was still wet as she tried to hear what Akane and Ryouga were talking in her room. Ranma-chan stood up. "Sweeto!" Happosai jumped on Ranma's chest. "Wha?" When Ranma-chan realized what happened, Happosai was slammed on the floor. Akane's door swung open. "Ranma!" "Eep..." Ranma-chan looked at furious Akane, who was holding her mallet again. "It's not what you think!" "Trying to eavesdrop, huh?" Akane raised the mallet. "A-ka-ne-chan!" Happosai jumped towards Akane, just that Ranma-chan could grab his back in midair. Akane's mallet hit Ranma-chan and they both flew down the stairs. Ranma-chan threw Happosai away and stood up. Shee touched lightly the spot where the mallet had hit her. "Ite!" Ranma-chan thought about going to talk to Akane, but threw the thought out of his mind. "Ranma..." Happosai was back up. "I noticed Ryouga was in her room." "So?" Ranma-chan asked and started to walk towards the bathroom. She wanted to be male again. "Aren't you worried that something might happen between them. Being alone in that room of hers..." Happosai started to bounce allover Ranma-chan. "Aren't you even a bit worried? What if Akane gets tempted or if Ryouga can't control himself. OR if they are already making out?" Ranma-chan smashed bouncing Happosai on the floor. "I couldn't care less what they're doing." "Oh well..." Happosai muttered to himself as he watched Ranma disappearing in the bathroom. *** Akane listened Ryouga as he told her about his last journeys trough Japan. She smiled at Ryouga, who became slightly nervous. 'Do you really want him to be like Ryouga?' asked a small voice in her head. As Ryouga kept on telling his stories, Akane heard something crawling behind her. She looked back. "P-Chan!" Ryouga froze. Then he saw the black piglet on the floor. "Oh, Akane-san" shouted Happosai wearing a pig-suit. He glomped on Akane, who started screaming. *** Ranma-chan tried the water with his hand. It was warm enough. She stepped into the tub and felt the change. She became a male once again. Ranma let out a relieved sigh. He hated being a female, except when he really had to. He lied his head on the edge of the tub and closed his eyes. Ranma pictured Akane and Ryouga in his mind. They were having fun and they were making fun of him. Ranma clentched his fists. Akane was all over Ryouga and kept telling him how much better he was than Ranma. Ranma shook his head. Suddenly Ranma heard Akane screaming. He jumped out of the tub and grabbed a towel and ran towards the voice. He slammed Akane's door open. "Akane!" Akane was malleting Happosai in a pig-suit on the floor. "Idiot... Since when have pigs been able to speak? She stopped and looked at Ranma, who was wearing nothing except the tower wrapped aroung his waist. She blushed a little. "Ranma..!" Ranma took a step back. "Eh?" "You pervert!" Akane slammed the door in front of Ranma, who stood in the corridor staring at the wooden duck hanging on the door. Finally, when Akane started to talk to Ryouga again, Ranma sighed and walked back to the bathroom for his clothes. He got dressed quietly and he went outside, on the roof. It was getting late and the sun was setting. Ranma sat on the roof and watched the horizon. He started thinking, interrupted a few times by Akane's and Ryouga's laughs. He lied on the roof and looked at the multicolored sky. Why couldn't things between him and Akane just work out? Why did they always had to fight? Why couldn't he just keep his foot away from his mouth? A few stars began to appear on the darkening sky. Ranma closed his eyes. He pictured a smiling Akane in his mind. "Damn!" Ranma shouted. He sighed. Ranma stood up. "I can't let that happen." he whispered to no one in particular. "I never want her to be in danger." he clentched his fists. He didn't pay any attention to the little voice in his head that told otherwise. Ranma went to his room and packed his things. Genma would be staying a few nights at his moms place, so no one would notice him missing before morning. He picked up his backpack and hopped out of the window. At the gate he looked back at Akane's window. "Goodbye Akane." He whispered. He turned and started walking. After a while Ranma stopped. Where would he go? He didn't know where to go, so he just started walking and kept going. he would surely get somewhere sooner or later. *** Akane woke up. She glances at the clock. It was 9:23 AM. She sat on the edge of her bed. She looked at the figure sleeping on the floor next to his bed. Akane had let Ryouga stay overnight and sleep in her room. She didn't have to worry about Ryouga, since he wasnt a pervert like Ranma and it was the perfect way to get even with Ranma. Still, she didn't want to get dressed there and went to bathroom to do that. When Akane got downstairs, she saw Kasumi setting the table. "Oh, Ohayo Akane." said Kasumi. "Ohayo sis." "The breakfest is almost ready. Could you wake Ranma and Ryouga up?" Kasumi asked smiling her usual sweet smile. "Um, sure." Akane first woke Ryouga up and led him downstairs. Then Akane went to bathroom and filled a bucket with cold water. She giggled as she picture Ranma-chans annoyed face, when she would wake up. She sneaked to Ranma's door and listened. It was quiet. She slowly slid the door open and was ready to throw the water on Ranma, but he wasnt there. Akane reasoned that Ranma had to be on the roof. He wasnt there. Then she got it, Ranma must have been doing a morning workout in the dojo. Still holding the bucket Akane entered the dojo. Empty. Akane returned into the house for breakfest. "He's not here?" Asked Kasumi looking a bit worried. "Ranma's not having breakfest?" asked Soun. Akane shook her head. "He propably found something more interesting to do." "Ah.. Yes, that must be it." said Soun. "Well, Ryouga, how was your night?" Ryouga blushed at the quiestion. He had been awake almost the whole night because he was too nervous. He was in heaven. He was sleeping in the same room with Akane. "It was fine. Thank you for letting me to stay in your house." "Oh, our pleasure Ryouga-kun" Soun smiled. "Buy the way, where did you sleep? With Ranma I guess, huh?" Ryouga blushed more. "Good that you two are actually getting along..." "No, daddy." Akane interrupted. "He slept in my room." "WHAT?!" yelled Soun. "How can you do this to me, Akane? How can you do this to Ranma?" "Relax, father. Ryouga is just a friend." Ryouga started looking gloomy. "But he slept with you!" insisted Soun. "He slept on the floor." "Oh... Well, ok" Soun continued his breakfest rather disturbed. "Nihao Ranma!" Shampoo landed on the yard with her bike. "Shampoo bring you ranmen." She looked around for a few moments. "Where you hide Ranma?" she asked from Akane. "I didn't hide him anywhere!" Akane frowned. "He hasnt been home all morning." "Ayaa... What did you violent girl do to my husband?" "Since when he was your husband?" Akane asked. "Ranma beat me. Unless Akane want Ranma after all?" Shampoo asked knowing the reaction. "What? Why would I want him. Keep him if you like, for all I care." "Good. Shampoo better find husband, before anyone else do!" with that said, Shampoo cycled away. Akane shook her head and returned to her breakfest. She started wondering where Ranma was. It really wasnt like him to miss the breakfest. Her chopsticks broke when she clenched her fist. She got up and out of the door before anyone really understood what happened. *** Anael - another angel of love and romance (and soulmates) - followed Akane. Gabriel had summoned her, because she had to follow Ranma, but wanted to know what else was happening too. She sighed. This job wasnt going to be easy. Not at all. Even as angels, they didn't have much power in the realm of mortals. There wasnt much they could do. Mostly guide the mortals into the right direction or give them small physical alterations. She wondered if it would be enough this time. -end of part 1 ------------- Part 2 *** Ranma opened his eyes. "Whatta?" He didn't recognise the surroundings. He got up to sitting and noticed his camping equipments. He stood up and packed his stuff again. He had been sleeping with his clothes on. Last night Ranma had wandered into the park in Nerima and had decided to camp there, since it was so late. He had set his camp into the maze. Memories of his and Akane's first date flashed trough his head. Ryouga. Suddenly Ranma got an urge to release his anger and pressure. He started doing some katas in the maze. After a while Ranma heard a familiar voice, "Ranmaa!" it was Shampoo. "Airen?" Ranma looked towards the voice from the maze entrance. Shampoo was cycling trough the park. Ranma grabbed his backpack and waited for Shampoo to leave. He wasnt goign to go back. At least not to Nekohanten or Ucchan. A thought about Kodachi finding him first set cold thrills down his spine. He had to move. When Shampoos voices became more and more distant, Ranma took the chance. He ran to the opposite direction that Shampoo had went to. "Where to? Where to? Where to?" He quickly thought about the options. He knew only one place in Nerima that he could be alone. Under the bridge. It was the only place he wouldnt be found and get enough time to think. He had to decide where to go. He jumped over the park fence and ran along the street. *** Akane had been surprised that Ranma wasnt at the Ucchans. She had been so sure that Ranma would have fled to his cute fiancée. Thanks to her, now Ukyo was looking for Ranma also. Akane wanted to be the first one to find him. Akane recalled the events last night. She had malleted Ranma three times yesterday. 'Did he?' asked a voice in her head. She was having an argument with herself. 'Do you ever listen to him when he is trying to apologize?' Akane frowned. "Why should I? He's just an idiot pervert!" 'Then, why are you trying to find him?' Akane fell silent. Akane looked around. She was at the shopping plaza. She should have guessed that Ranma wouldnt be there, he hated shopping. The park. Ranma had to be there. That's where he always went when he wanted to be alone. There was nobody in the park. Akane checked the maze, it was empty. Akane punched the maze wall and her fist went trough it easily. It made no sense, but Akane reasoned that Ranma had to be there, but the school was as empty as the maze. 'Aren't you forgetting something?' The voice didn't answer. Akane left the school ground in a hurry. Anael sensed that they were getting closer to Gabriel. If they were going to meet Gabriel, Ranma would be there also. Anael focused as hard as she could and gave a little extra boost for Akane. *** Ranma threw a small rock to the river and watched the small waves flowing on the surface, slowly disappearing. He had been thinking. He was going to wander somewhere far and get a job, maybe even teach the art to somebody and get enough money to get to China. He would be cured, but he was unsure. "What's the point?" Ranma sighed. All this time Ranma wanted to find the cure, so he would be a full man... For Akane. Now he didn't have Akane and no reason. Ranma saw some raindrops hitting the surface of the river. He looked at the dark clouds upon him. "Feh..." He kicked a rock into the water. He grinned to himself. He picked up his backpack. "Sayonara Nerima." "Ranma?" Ranma turned around. His eyes widened. A soaking wet Akane was standing in front of him. "A- Akane..." Akane started to look angry. "And where do you think you're leaving?" She stepped a little closer. "Going for another fiancée again?" Ranma sighed. "I should've known..." He turned around. "No matter what I do, I always make you angry..." Ranma started walking away. "Sorry, Akane." "Eh?" "Ranma!" Ranma stopped. And started walking again. Akane ran for him, grabbed his shoulders and turned him around. She couldn't think of anything else, if she thought it at all. Akane kissed Ranma, whose eyes widened. Soon Ranma closed his eyes and returned the kiss. A small wind guided the rain so that some drops hit Ranma. It was enough to trigger the change. Akane opened her eyes. She felt Ranma growing smaller and her breasts pushing against her. Ranma-chan didn't either notice or didn't care about it. Akane's reflexes took over, she pushed Ranma-chan away. "Pervert!" Ranma-chan staggered backwards. She looked down on her body. Akane could see Ranma-chans eyes filling with self-loath. Ranma-chan ran away in the rain. "Ranma!" Akane tried to run after her, but even Anaels boost or Gabriels efforts trying to slow Ranma-chan werent enough. She saw Ranma-chan running further and further. *** Ranma-chan ran long after she had lost Akane. She remembered Akane telling him that she liked him no matter what form she was, as she had rescued Akane from Toma. She knew she would still do the same thing. She would still destroy the spring if she had to choose between a cure or Akane's curse. But Akane had said it didn't matter! Ranma-chan slowed her running into walking and finally stopped. She felt her eyes getting wet. She couldn't hold the tears back. Ranma-chan striked a concrete wall. "You said it didn't matter!". There was a huge crater left, where her fist had landed. She was ready to make a shishi-houko-dan and she didn't like the feeling. She started walking towards the Tendo house. Maybe it was time for him to live free from the obligations of honor and all the engagements. His face lightened up a little at the thought. Ranma could live normally, with the exception that he was almost the strongest person on earth. He wouldnt have to worry about the fiancées. Maybe Ucchan would even be his best friend again. He would never have to listen to his fathers stupid remarks about his duty and honor. He could move to his mothers place, start all over. He smiled at himself. He would never make Akane cry anymore. He never wanted to do that. He loved Akane. He lifted his face. "Maybe she could become happy..." *** Akane had kissed Ranma. It was all going so well. And she blew it. Akane stepped trough the gate to her home. She was surprised to see Ranma's shoes inside. When she got to the living-room, she saw her father and Gennma sitting by the table. "Akane..." said Soun, who wasnt looking too happy and neither did Genma. Akane sat by the table next to her father. "Ranma has..." Soun was now weeping. "Ranma has..." "What?" asked Akane getting frustrated. Her father was always exaggerating. "Broken the engagement." It felt like a lighting going trough her, shocking her whole body. "What?" She felt her eyes growing hotter, but she hide it. "WHY?" "We wished that you could tell us... He was very upset about something when he got home." Akane nodded. "Where is he?" Soun pointed at the bathroom. Akane walked in the bathroom. "Wha?" Ranma sank deeper in the tub. "Akane, what do you think you're doing?" "I'm coming to take a bath!" Ranma turned away fast as he saw that Akane started to get undressed. "Now?" He swallowed. "But... I'm finished soon, can't you wait?" Ranma was answered as he heard Akane stepping into the tub. He backed to the other corner, his face flushed. He looked at Akane, who had her eyes fixed on him. Now he tried to look everywhere, but Akane. Somehow he felt Akane's precense in the water and he smelled her sweet scent. "Aka..." "Ran..." They both stopped and waited for the other to continue. Finally Ranma started, "Akane, I... I understand if you're mad." Akane stared at Ranma for a while. He looked sorry about something. "About what?" "I'm sorry that I... That I kissed you as a girl." Ranma said looking in the water. "But..." Ranma interrupted her. "I'm sorry that you had to waste nearly two years engaged with me." "Wha..." "I'm sorry about all the times I have insulted you. I'm sorry about calling you uncute. I was still telling the truth though..." "NANI?!" Ranma didn't lift his head or react in any way to Akane's anger. "You're not cute, you're beautiful." Akane stopped. She was about to slap Ranma as hard as she could. She looked at the pigtailed boy. "And I'm sorry for making you cry all those times." After that, silence fell in the room. Ranma was about to get up. "Ranma?" asked Akane. He stopped. "Uhuh?" "Please, stay." Ranma sat back looking confused. Now it was Akane's turn to blush and stare at the water. Ranma tried to relax, but found it hard. "Akane?" Akane looked up at Ranma. "Ranma... I'm sorry." Ranma looked blinked. "I'm sorry about the earlier. It was... It was just a reflex... I didn't mean to." Ranma nodded and stepped off the tub. Akane frowned. She grabbed the shower, pointed it at Ranma and turned on the cold water. Before Ranma-chan had turned to ask what the hell she was doing, Akane jumped at her from the tub and kissed her. Akane felt Ranma-chan's muscles tensening. Soon her muscles unwinded and she returned the kiss. After a while they broke their lips apart. "Uh... Um..." Ranma-chan had noticed that they were both naked and was blushing heavily. Akane giggled at her and went back to the tub, followed by Ranma-chan. Akane watched as Ranma-chan changed back to her male form. Ranma managed to smile at her. "Ranma. I want you to know, that I don't care about your curse." Akane whispered. Ranma nodded. They sat in the tub until the water was only lukewarm. Ranma left first, leaving Akane in the tub. Her head was buzzing. Nevertheless, she felt better than she had in a long time. She closed her eyes and recalled the kiss. She had kissed Ranma twice that day. Ranma had been a female once though, but she was still Ranma. The man she loved. She wasnt sure if he could admit that to Ranma yet though, if it was even necessary. Finally Akane left the bathroom too. Gabriel and Anael watched as Akane stepped out of the bathroom. "Well, it turned out well afterall, ne?" asked Anael. "Yeah. No thanks to us though." Gabriel laughed. "I think God has gone soft" Anael smirked. "This job is way too easy, ne?" Gabriel didn't answer. She had watched over humans long enough to see the most irrational things happening between them and these werent like the ordinary mortals. Neither had been the crazy amazon or the okonomiyaki cook. She had a feeling that they hadn't even scratched the surface of the problem. *** Genma and Soun were dancing of joy as Ranma and Akane went to bed, because they had school tomorrow. "I knew they would come to their senses Saotome-kun." said Soun pouring sake for both of them. "My thoughts excactly Tendo-kun!" They both drank their glasses empy. "Well, Tendo-kun. Should they be married next week?" Soun shook his head. "Why not tomorrow Saotome-kun?" Their faces brightened and they kept on drinking more sake. Nabiki sighed. Nabiki had long ago learned that pushing Akane and Ranma only made the things worse. She wanted her sister to be happy, but if they would marry, then her income would decrease quite a bit. Ranma was a good source of money and she couldn't rip her own family off. At least not too many times. *** Ranma lied in his futon, thinking. The day had started so badly and in the evening he had been ready to do shishi-houko-dan. Now, it felt like a bad dream. He had made up with Akane and kissed her for the first time. It was his first kiss. He was pretty sure it was hers too. He thought back. It hadn't been long since he had arrived at the Tendos. Ranma knew who was Akane's first kiss and to who. Akane perhaps wouldnt realize it herself though. Ranma clentched his fists. He knew it wasnt really nobodys fault or it really wasnt a kiss that counted, but nevertheless it was a kiss. He hit his palm. He searched his feelings for a while. Ranma had been chasing Ryouga and Akane had pounded hin for teasing the little defensless pig. Ranma was about to tell her then, but Akane had kissed 'P-chan'. He had stormed out. Now the memory came back to haunt him. Back then Ranma hadn't really known that he had loved ger all along. Well, maybe not from the beginning when, but Akane had been the only friendly face in the house that day he (she) had arrived at the Tendo house and that had meant a lot to him. Another angel named Ambriel was reading Ranma's feelings. She shook her head. She looked at the boy, who started to calm down a bit. She waited untill Ranma was asleep and placed her hand on his forehead, starting to search his memories. The day Ranma had met Ryouga, he wanted to be friends, but Ryouga was angry because of a single bread and his anger grew day by day. Finally Ryouga had challenged Ranma. Ranma had waited for three days and after that his father dragged him to china. Ryouga grew angrier as Ranma had 'fled' from a man-to-man fight and followed him to China. Ryouga found Ranma, in her girl-form, who accidentally pushed Ryouga off a cliff to the cursed springs and he turned into a black pig, of course blaming Ranma. Ryouga followed Ranma back to Nerima and even then Ranma tried to fix their relationships, not in a very good way, but still made an effort. Ryouga kept attacking him. One night Ryouga tried to attack Ranma while he was sleeping, but he (now she as it was raining outside) woke up and they fought. Ryouga lost his umbrella and ran away. When Ranma came back to the house with a dog Akane had found a black pig, who seemed to hold a grudge against Ranma. Soon Ranma found out that the dog wasnt Ryouga. Akane insisted that Ranma would take the pig with him to the bath. There, Ranma saw Ryouga change and Ryouga told him everything. Ryouga attacked once again, but Ranma countered with cold water and now it was Ryouga's turn to run. Ranma chased Ryouga off the bathroom and Ryouga hid behind Akane's back. When Ranma tried to get Ryouga, Akane grabbed his (her) breast and stopped him. Ranma started explaining, but Akane kissed Ryouga and Ranma was struck with anger and jealosy. He stormed away. Of course Ranma had been kissed before. Mikado Sanzenin had kissed him while in his girl-form and Shampoo had kissed him after he had knocked her unconscious. They had kissed him, he had never even wanted to kiss neither one of them (especialy Mikado). You couldn't really count them as kisses... Ranma sighed. They had both kissed before. he lied to himself. Ambriel took her hand off Ranma's forehead. This was one thing that needed to be fixed. If Ryouga truly loved Akane, that wasnt the way he was supposed to act. He would get in Ranma's and Akane's way and try to separate them. There was another woman, who loved Ryouga despite his curse. Akari. Ryouga had to be convinced (or forced to realize) that Akari was the one for him. Ambriel had to talk to her friend, Akriel, the angel of wisdom, memory and higher intellectuel. *** Akane was sitting on her bed, Akriel standing in front of her. thought Akriel. Akriel kept on giving Akane flashbacks about P-chan, Ryouga and all the small hints Ranma had dropped her. Akriel shook her head slowly. She kept on bringing the memories back, but she would need more. She laid her hand on Akane's head and started to whisper a spell, which would increase Akane's intelligence temporarely. Akane was stunned by the memories that were coming back to her. She tried to think of something else, without success. Suddenly something felt wrong about the memories. There was something wrong about P-chan and Ryouga. Akriel watched as Akane was trying to figure the thing out. She focused all her power to give Akane as much intelligence as possible. Akane felt a bit dizzy. The images in her head started to make some sense. Akane saw some things that she hadn't noticed before. Akriel stared at Akane. Akriel spread her wings and felt her power rising again. Then the realization struck Akane. "P... P-chan is R-Ryouga..." She stood up, uncertain what to do. She wandered into the corridor and to Ranma's door. She opened the door a little, Ranma wasnt sleeping yet. "Ranma..." Ranma turned to the door and saw Akane standing there. "Akane?" "Why didn't you tell me?" asked Akane and stepped closer to Ranma. "Eh... What?" "About P-chan!" Akane grabbed Ranma's tanktop. "What? I didn't do nuthing to him, I swear." Akane shook Ranma. "I didn't mean that! Why didn't you tell me that Ryouga was P-chan?" Ranma looked at Akane. "I promised." Akane looked at Ranma dumbfounded. "I wouldnt have promised him if I knew that he was going to sleep with you..." Akane knew how much honor ment to Ranma. She let go of the tanktop and glomped on Ranma. "How... How could he?" Akane started to cry on Ranma's chest while he made soothing noises. "I thought he was my friend! I hate him! I hate him! Ihatehim IhatehimIhatehimIhatehim. Ranma... I'm sorry." Ranma didn't know what to say, so he just holded Akane. After a while, when Akane had calmed down somewhat, she didn't want to sleep alone, so Ranma let her sleep with him. Ranma looked at the sleeping Akane, who had her right arm around him. He fell asleep. -End of part 2 [A/N] Well... I'm afraid that this is going to be a looong fic. =P There are lots of people in Nerima, who need the help. Ah well, I hope yall had enjoyed this fic this far and will enjoy the parts that will follow. Comments and ideas can be send to ranma-kun@sunpoint.net . It would be nice to know that somebody actually READS what I write. :) To the next time!