Hi all!  This is an alternate reality fic.  Not dark, but lots of WAFF.
Ooooh...sugar...



Guardian Angel

by

Mana

@->--

Ranma sniffed as he turned around and looked at his mother for the last
time for Kami knows how long.  All he knew was that he and his father
were going to go on a long, long trip.  

He forced back the tears as he vainly tried to remember her face, tear
streaks and all.  Raising his chubby hand, he waved one more time before
his father urged him to move faster.

Looking down at the street under his tiny feet, he forced himself to run
and keep up with his father's fast pace.  A sound lashing would occur if
he so much as whined about the rate they were traveling.  

His father had given him a stern lecture about being a man earlier.  He
would not tolerate anything that was not manly.  That included
complaining, whining and crying.

However, right at the moment, Ranma didn't think he could handle it.
Tears were gathered in his eyes, longing for home burning hot in his
heart.  It had only been a few minutes, but he missed his mother
already.

"Don't cry," whispered a voice.

Ranma lifted his heavy head up and looked around.  The voice didn't
belong to his father, and he was the only person around.  He sighed and
once again looked to his running feet.  His sides were beginning to
burn, but he dared not say anything.  

"It'll be okay, you'll see."  The voice came again.

"Huh?"  Ranma questioned out loud.  They were at the train station now,
and it didn't seem like anyone was talking to him.  He wondered if he
was imagining things as he and his father boarded the train.

There were no more whisperings as the train traveled.  It was also gone
when the train stopped and Ranma was once again walking at a fast pace.
The five year old found that he was missing the voice, though it only
spoke two simple sentences to him.  Those sentences however, were
comforting and warm.  They made him feel better, and now he longed to
hear it again.

It wasn't until they had finally reached their destination and had
unpacked their heavy bags did the voice come back.  Ranma was exhausted.
His father only sat and watched impassivly as Ranma tried to put up his
own tent.  When he had asked for help, his father only told him to grow
up and learn to do things for himself.

Ranma began to tear up.  He had been at this for hours, foregoing dinner
to set up his tent.  It had gotten dark and was threatening to rain. 

"Boy, if you don't get that tent up, you're going to sleep outside."

Ranma drew in a shaky breath and once again picked up the confusing mess
of rods and fabric.  *Please, someone help me.  I'm so tired and
scared.*  The little boy sent his plea up to the heavens.

Suddenly a warmth passed over him, and Ranma closed his eyes, savoring
the wonderful feelings.  Warmth, caring, happiness, and most of all,
love.

"I'm here, Ranma, I'll help you," the voice whispered again.

"Thank you," he whispered back. 

Together, with his voice, he finally got the tent up.  He moved his
heavy bag inside and laid out his sleeping bag.  After eating the
snacks his mother packed him, he peeked outside and heard his father
snoring in his tent across the dying fire.

A long, jagged bolt of lightning crashed through the sky, followed by
the deafning crash of thunder.  Ranma whimpered and dove for his pack,
pulling out a stuffed bear his mother had given him.  Then he
proceeded to burrow deep into his sleeping bag.  He buried his face into
the soft plush as more thunder and lightning crashed around him.

He felt arms around him and stiffened, sitting up.  He was the only one
in the tent.  He slowly relaxed as the warm feelings flooded through him
once more.  "Who are you?" he whispered out loud.  "How come I can't see
you?"

"Do you want to see me?" the voice asked.  After Ranma nodded, a figure
appeared next to him.  The figure was a small girl about Ranma's age.
She had short bluish black hair and big brown eyes.  She grinned
kawaiily at the boy, who was shocked at her transparancy.  "Hi!  My
name's Akane."

"Wha...what are you?  I can see through you!"

Akane lost her smile.  "I'm your guardian angel, silly!"  She hit him
lightly on the head with a mallet.  "Stop looking at me like that!"  

"What are you suppose to do?" the boy questioned.  He hugged his bear a
little tighter as more noise sounded.

"I'm going to protect you!"  The girl smiled proudly at him.  "I'm gonna
be with you and be your friend."  She paused.  "I'm sorry you were taken
away from your mommy," she said softly to him.

Ranma felt the tears build up again.  "Mommy," he whispered, laying down
and hugging his stuffed animal tightly.  "I miss her so much.  I just
want to go home."

Akane curled her transparent body next to him, trying to give him
warmth.  "It's okay Ranma...I'll be with you now.  I won't leave."

Ranma nodded, as he began to drift off.  Snuggling deeper into the
comforting heat, he whispered a thank you before falling completly
asleep.

@->--

Years passed and Akane was always by his side.  She became a pleasant
constant in his hectic life.  If he needed someone to talk to, she was
there to listen.  

Ranma sighed.  He was now eight years old.  Being on the road all the
time, the boy was more like an adult than a little kid.  The only 
child-like fun he ever had was when he was with Akane.

Well...there was Ucchan, but Akane was with them then too.  For some
reason the other child could see the angel.  He and Akane had left
Ucchan two years ago.  The were all sad that they were parting ways, but
promised to meet again.

Before they left, Ucchan told them a funny story.  Her dad had asked if
she wanted to marry Ranma.  Both Akane and Ranma looked at each other
then at Ukyo.  

"Eeeew...who'd wanna get married?" asked Ranma, making a disgusted face.

"Baka!" yelled Akane, as she whacked him on the head with her mallet.
"People get married because they love each other."  She turned back to
the other girl.  "What did you tell him?"

"I said no, of course."  Ukyo looked at the two of them.  "I thought you
two were gonna marry each other.  I mean, aren't you boyfriend and
girlfriend?"

"WHAT?!" they both yelled.  Then they pointed at each other.  "To
HIM/HER?!"  Then they both stopped and glared.

Ukyou just laughed.  She laughed until tears came to her eyes and her
sides ached.  Akane and Ranma both stopped and looked at the laughing
girl.  Wiping her tears, Ukyou put her arms around the pair.  

"You two are the best friends I've ever had.  Don't ever change!"  She
gave them a small hug and ran to her father, who was calling her.  She
waved and called back to the two.  "See ya!"

Suddenly, Ranma was brought rudely out of his memory when his father hit
him on the head.

"Stop daydreaming boy!  We got a new technique to learn!"

Ranma sighed and looked up.  He was in a foul mood.  Akane had
dissappeared hours ago and no matter how many times he called her in his
mind, she didn't answer.  "Let's get started then."

He stood impatienly as his father wrapped fish sausages around him.
*What's he doing now?*  Unexpectedly, his dad gave him a hard shove that
sent him tumbling down into a deep pit.

He landed roughly and pushed himself to his feet, groaning.  He waited
for his eyes to adjust to the darkness as his father placed a cover over
the opening.  Looking around, he was freaked to see dozens and dozens of
glowing eyes.  They were everywhere.  As his eyes got better adjusted,
he saw that he was surrounded by cats.  They were all watching him and
hissing intently.  He gulped when he saw their sharp teeth and claws.

"Dad!" he screamed.  "Let me out of here!"  The cats started to come
closer.  "Daddy, please!  Let me out!"  Suddenly one pounced, and Ranma
screamed as the others did too, clawing and biting at the fish sausage
tied around him.  He screamed in pain as the tearing continued, his
senses beginning to burn with pain.  He let out one final plea, his
voice full of pain and fear.

"AKANE!!!"

Up in heaven, the angel's head snapped up.  Her friend stepped back in
surprise at the wild look in her eyes.  Suddenly the blue haired angel
vanished.  

*Ranma!* her mind screamed.  She had been visiting her friends in heaven
when a feeling of uneasiness passed over her.  She brushed it off,
however, thinking it was nothing.  Then, as she was talking, feelings of
fear began to claw at her gut.  In one sudden moment, a tidal wave of
pain crashed into her.  She could only feel one person like that.
Ranma.

A few seconds after he called, Akane appeared next to him.  The boy was
curled up into a fetal position, whimpering and crying.  The cats were
still clawing at him, trying to get the last few scraps of meat.

Gasping in fear, the angel knelt down next to him, the cats quickly
backing off, sensing that this wasn't a regular being.  She let out a
small cry when she saw all the blood and cuts on the boy.

"Oh, Kami," she sobbed, throwing herself onto the shaking body.  "I'm
sorry, Ranma.  I'm so sorry!"  She carefully hugged the body under her.

After a few moments, Ranma's body slowed it's shaking and began to
uncurl.  He felt his heart lighten, recognizing the warmth on, and in
him.  He felt her power flow through him, easing his pain and healing
some of the more major injuries.  He felt her beginning to flicker and
weaken, as she continued to heal him.  He waited for her to stop, but
she continued, never relenting on the power she was giving him.

He pushed her off him, yelling "Stop!"

She stayed in her hunched position, sobbing into her small hands.  "I'm
sorry," she whispered, over and over again.

"Akane..." he began, but was cut off.

"Don't.  I failed you.  You...you could have been killed...I..."  It was
all she got out before the sobs came again.

"No."  He hugged his crying friend, a little frightened when he saw that
her body was even more transparent than usual.  He could barely see her
at all.  "You came when I needed you.  You've always been here.  You're
my best friend, Akane."  He hugged her tighter.  It hurt him when she
cried.  "Please, stop crying."

"I won't fail you again," she promised him.  "I won't."

He nodded and stood up as he heard the cover being removed.  Never again
would he allow his father to do this to him.  Or to her.  It was time to
fight, if only for her.

@->--

True to the vow he made, from that day forward, if he didn't want to do
something his father didn't push him on it.  It had taken a few beating
for his father to get it through his thick head that his son was
serious.

To say that the old man was proud was an understatement.  To have his
son be able to beat him at such an early age was amazing.  He didn't
know what suddenly gave his boy the confidence or motivation, but
whatever it was, he made a wish for it to stay with the boy forever.

Many more years passed and the training continued.  Ranma and his father
visited many dojos, Ranma making sure his father stayed polite, always
working for food and shelter when needed.  His father hadn't stolen
anything since he was twelve, when the boy had discovered the habit and
beat it out of his old man.  With the help of Akane, of course.

She was great to have around.  Not only was she fun to be with, but she
was a great training partner.  She taught him how to manipulate his
energy and how to heal.  She showed him pressure points and her hammer
trick.  Man, was that one fun to learn.

And boy, was she ever kawaii.  She had the sunniest smile and the
prettiest brown eyes.  Ranma was, as any other teenage boy, beginning to
notice girls.  There were pretty ones, but in his opinion, no one as
pretty as Akane.

Ranma shook his head and sighed sadly.  She was his best friend. 
FRIEND.  That, and she was also an angel.  It would never work.  She was
gone again, visiting her friends in heaven.  She left for a few hours
once every month or so.

His father continued down the path in front of him.  This was the last
training ground the were visiting before returning to Japan.  They had
been in China for the past two months.  Now at sixteen, he was a handsome
young man with extrodinary skills.

Akane suddenly appeared next to him, a smile on her face.  "Hi!"

Ranma smiled back, a warm feeling spreading in his body, his heart
speeding up a little.  "Have fun?"

She nodded, blushing a little at his smile.  *He's so cute.*  She was
almost sixteen.  Just a little less than a month to go.  Her body was
changing nicely, and so were her thoughts about the boy she knew since
they were five.  "So where are we going now?"

"A place called Jusenkyo.  Something about it being a legendary training
ground, or something like that."

"Hrm..." she frowned in thought.  "That place...it sounds really
familiar..."  She shook her head a little.  "I have a funny feeling
about this place."

"Well...too late to go find out about it now, we're here."  Ranma hopped
up onto the pole after his father, ignoring the stuttering guide.

"Ah sirs!  What you doing!"

Akane watched, a sick feeling growing in her stomach.

"Please, sirs! Very bad if you fall in spring!" 

Akane held her breath as Genma hit the water.  After waiting a few tense
moments, she was startled to see a giant panda leap out of the pool. 

Ranma pointed, obviously upset.  "Wha...wha...wha..."

"That spring of drowned panda!" called out the guide.  "There is tragic
legend, very tragic of panda who drown there two hundred year ago.  Now
whoever fall in that spring take body of panda!"

"Oh no..." said the two teens at once.

Ranma, with his guard still down, suddenly got knocked off the pole he
was on and plummeted down head first.  He screamed as he saw the
approaching water.

"Ranma," Akane called, "Look out!"  With that, she launched herself at
the boy, bodily knocking him away from the spring and towards land.  The
both rolled to a stop, only inches away from falling into another
spring.

Genma watched as his son suddenly flew at a 90 degree angle from the
downward fall.  *What the...*  Then he brushed it off, thinking that it
was coincidence.

"Oh sir, you very lucky, yes!  You almost fall in spring of drown girl. 
Is very tragic legend of girl who drown there 1500 year ago.  Now
whoever fall in spring take body of girl."

Ranma didn't answer.  He simply laid on the ground, on top of Akane. 
They were both breathing heavily from the adrenaline rush.  Their arms
around each other in a hug of relief.

Akane shivered when his hot breath brushed against her cheek and into
her ear as he whispered his thanks.  She gave him a little squeeze
before letting go.

Ranma's body and heart screamed as she loosened her hold, wanting to
tell her not to.  She was so soft and warm.  He shivered when she
squeezed him.  He had to use all of his concentration to keep his body
from reacting.

Getting up, he sighed as he looked at his furry father.  "Is there
anyway to change him back?"

"Yes.  Hot water change back."

"Lets go get some then."

@->--

"Here sir, is amazon village.  Very strong women here."

Ranma and Akane looked around.  "Be careful, Ranma.  I've heard about
amazons.  If you defeat one of them in battle, you have to marry her." 
Ranma nodded.

"Come on.  We'll just sneak through.  Don't touch anything."  He glared
at his father, who was eying the table full of food.  The panda growled
and rubbed his stomach.  "Yeah, I'm hungry too pop.  But it's too much
hassle getting food here.  We'll get food at the next place."

The two men and a panda quietly snuck through the village.  Ranma snuck
a glance at the battle and admired the purple haired girl.  *She's
good...cute too.*  Akane glared at him and whaped him lightly on the
head.

Luckily for them, there was a restaurant near the village.  After
getting some hot water, Ranma and his father both asked for some food,
offering to work for it.

The owner agreed, pointing to a couple of bowls on the counter.  He
didn't remember until too late what was in one of the bowls.

Ranma screamed as his hair started to grow at a quick rate.  It was now
trailing on the floor and was still growing.

Genma blinked hin disbelief.  "Son!  How are you doing that?"  

"I don't know, pop, but make it stop!"  He paused to glare at Akane, who
was laughing.  *Stop it, Akane.  It's not funny!* he yelled at her in
his mind.

"Yes it is," she said, calming her laughter.  She grabbed a piece of
string and touched it to his hair.  "Quick, braid your hair."  He did as
he was told and she tied the string to the end of the braid.  He asked
for a pair of scissors and cut off the rest of the hair that was below
the tie.

"Lucky you found the dragon whisker son.  How did you know?" the shop
owner asked, looking at the boy curiously.

Ranma shrugged.  "Um...I guess I overheard it from someone..."

Akane was chuckling next to him.  "You gotta keep that whisker in your
hair now, or your hair will grow like it was before."

Ranma glared at her, then at his father, who was badgering the shop
owner about the whisker.  "Knock it off pop." He turned to the keeper. 
"What do we gotta do to repay you?"

"No, no" the owner said.  "It's on the house for the trouble I've caused
you."

Ranma nodded and bowed politely.  "Thank you.  We'll be on our way now." 
With that, the trio quickly left the shop, heading towards the beach.

About halfway there, Akane suddenly stopped and cocked her head to the
side, as if she was listening to something.  She noticed that the men
were still moving, and caught up with them, still listening intently. 

*What is it, Akane?*  Ranma would have asked out loud, but his father
was right next to him.  He conveyed his question mentally to the girl.

"I gotta go."

*Go?  Where?*

She looked a little worried.  "To heaven.  I've...I've got to report in
for a bit."

By now, Ranma was looking a bit worried too.  *How long will you be
gone?*

"I'll meet you at the beach."  Unexpectedly, she leaned up and gave the
boy a light kiss on the cheek.  "Bye!"  

Ranma blushed and brought his finger tips up to where her lips brushed
his skin.  The spot tingled in a nice way.  He smiled up at the sky,
hoping that it would happen again.

@->--

Ranma laid back and looked at the stars in the night sky.  He and his
father had reached the beach hours ago.  Night had fallen and there was
still no sign from Akane.  He was really beginning to worry now.  

His father was sound asleep, and snoring, right next to him.  Ranma,
however, couldn't sleep.  He had a feeling he wouldn't be able to sleep
until he heard from Akane.

*Well,* he thought to himself, *we're going home tomorrow.*  It would be
a long swim back to Japan, but he was confident he could do it.  It had
been about a week since the Jusenkyo incident and it would take only
about a day to swim to Japan {AN: ...ano...is that right...?}.  His
father told him that they weren't going to go home right away.  He had a
few friends to visit first.  That was fine with Ranma, as long as they
got to go home sooner or later.

"Akane," he whispered, his thoughts turing back to the angel.  "Where
are you?"

"I'm fine, Ranma," her voice whispered back to him.  "Go to sleep, I'm
still busy here."

He sighed in relief and snuggled deeper into his sleeping bag.  "Okay. 
G'night, Akane."

"Sweet dreams."  He smiled sleepily as he felt an invisible kiss on his
forehead.

Ranma woke up the next morning to the sound of crashing waves.  Looking
to his father's sleeping bag, he found it empty.  A trail of footprints
headed to the village further down and he knew his father went to get
some breakfast for them.

He streched and yawned before getting up and repacking his and his
father's sleeping bags back in their packs.  "Hey Akane!" he called out.  

"Yes?"  The girl appeared in front of him.  She was looking at the sand
below her.

"We'll be leaving in a few hours to swim back to Japan.  You up to it?" 
Ranma asked, not noticing the sadness in his best friend.  He was too
happy at the thought of going home.

Akane started.  "Um...about that..."  She looked up at him and quickly
looked back down.

He instantly sobered up.  "What?  What's wrong?"

"You know how I had to go give my report yesterday?  Just like that?" 
Ranma nodded, not liking the sinking feeling he was getting.  "I gave it
and got an order."

"What's the order?"

"I'm sorry, Ranma," she said softly.  She raised her sad eyes to his. 
"I can't go to Japan with you."

"Whadaya mean ya can't go with me?!"  He was so upset, he couldn't even
speak properly, like he had learned from Akane.  "You ain't confined to
China, coz we started out in Japan."

"Ranma," she chided.  "Your language!"

"Dammit, Akane," he growled, grabbing her arms.  "What'd they say to you
up there?"

"I...I can't be your guardian angel anymore."  She said it so quietly,
Ranma had to strain to hear what she said.  He dropped his hold on her
and took a step back.

"But..but.."  He looked desprately at her, hoping that she was joking. 
She wasn't.  "But why not?!"

"Because you don't need me anymore."  She drew in a shuddering breath. 
"You can take care of yourself now."  A tear rolled down her cheek. 
"I'm sorry, Ranma."

Ranma felt a tearing inside.  Tears began to sting his eyes, his throat
tightened to the point where he could barely breath.  "I do need you,
Akane.  I do."  He put his hands on her shoulders and waited for her to
look up at him.  "Please.  You're joking right?  Or they are?  Please
Akane.  You can't go."

She was crying now, her shoulders moving delicately.  The wind was
tossing her hair about, the strands shining in the sunlight.  Her eyes
were closed and her cheeks flushed.  Her red lips were parted, moist and
perfect.  The only flaw were the tears streaming down her face,
glistening with their own beauty in the sun.  He felt her hands gripping
his arms for support.

She took a shuddering breath and stepped shakily out of his hold.  "But
I must," she sobbed.  "I must.  I'm so sorry."

"Akane," he called out to her.  She was slowly vanishing, becoming
lighter in front of him.  "Akane!  No!"  She was nearly gone.  His
cheeks were now streaked with tears of his own.

"Good bye, Ranma." She whispered, as she completely dissappeared.

"AKANE!"

"I love you."

The boy fell to his knees, never feeling so empty or alone.  "I love you
too.  I love you too, Akane," he whispered back.

@->--

It had been a month since that day on the beach.  Genma had returned to
his son, only to find him on the sand, crying softly.  He was about to
rip into the boy for being so unmanly when something inside him told him
not to.  That, and his survival instinct wanting to stay away from a
beating.

The boy had lost his spark.  Whatever happened that morning had nearly
killed the boy.  Only the thought of returning home to his mother kept
him going.

Ranma didn't speak unless he was spoken to.  Even then, his answers were
short and emotionless, just bordering on polite.  He just didn't have
the energy to.  *Akane...*  His thoughts were always on her.  He
couldn't even feel her presence anymore.

He missed her horribly.  Her smile, her eyes.  The cute way she giggled
when they played a joke on his father.  The sound of her voice and the
way she made him feel like he could do anything.  It was just...all
gone.

"Last one, boy" his father said, breaking him from his thoughts.  "Then
we'll go home."

*Home...*  Ranma looked around.  The place looked very familiar.  There
was a sense of deja vu here.

"Our house is a few blocks from here.  We'll head there after dinner
tonight."  His father entered the gate and proceeded to the front door. 
Knocking, he and Ranma waited patiently as footsteps approached.

"Oh, hello!"  The woman who answered the door had long brown hair and
grey eyes.  She smiled nicely.  The aura around her was very relaxing.

"Ah...hello Kasumi-chan!  How is your father?  Is he home?"

"He's doing fine, uncle.  Follow me, I'll take you to him."

The house was nice, Ranma noticed.  Big and bright.  Following the girl,
they made it to the dining room where a man sat drinking tea.

"Ah!  Tendo!" his father exclaimed.

"Saotome?  Is that really you?" The man stood up and the two men shared
a friendly hug.  "And who is this?" The black haired man asked,
gesturing to Ranma.

"This is my son, Tendo.  Ranma, say hello to Tendo Soun.  I trained with
him when we were young."  

Ranma bowed politely.  "Kobanwa, Tendo-san."

Soun nodded.  "It's nice to meet you, Ranma-kun.  Let me call my
daughters."  Before he could say anything else, two girls came in. 
There was the girl who answered the door.  She was carrying a tray with
tea and snacks.  The second girl had short brown hair and brown eyes. 
"Ranma, these are my two eldest girls.  Kasumi," the long haired girl
nodded to him, "and Nabiki,"  The other girl nodded her hello.  

"Hi.  I'm Saotome Ranma.  Nice to meet you."

"Kasumi, where's your sister?"

"She's out jogging, father.  I'm sure she'll be back soon."

Soun nodded.  "I'm sorry my youngest daughter isn't here.  You can meet
her when she gets back."  Ranma nodded politely, and then proceeded to
stare moodily out at the pond in the backyard.

"Youngest, Tendo?  Did you finally find her?"

Soun nooded happily.  "They found her in an orphanage about a month ago. 
She's been gone for so long."

"It's sad how she was kidnapped as a baby from the hospital that night."

Kasumi and Nabiki looked at each other, then at Ranma.  After trying to
start conversations with him, they gave up.  Ranma was not in the mood
to talk today, even if it was rude.  Today would be exactly one month
since Akane left.

A movement from the walk way next to the pond caught his eye.  The
figure was shadowed and vanished quickly into the building separate from
the house.  Lights then shone in the yard as the small building lit up.

"Are you interested in martial arts, Ranma?" Kasumi asked, trying once
more to draw him out.  He seemed like he was in emotional pain.

He nodded absently, half hearing the question.  "Been doing it since I
could walk."

"Would you like to go look at the dojo?"

He got up and answered affirmitivly.  When the girls began to rise, he
stopped them.  "It's okay, I can get there on my own.  You two don't
seem like martial artists anyway."

"Yeah, you got us there.  Our little sister is the martial artist of the
family."  Nabiki nodded towards the dojo.  "Go on, it's a nice place."

Ranma nodded his thanks and headed out.

"Isn't he the sociable one," Nabiki said once he was gone.

"Now Nabiki, he's just quiet, that's all."  Nabiki snorted.  "Maybe
Akane can get him to open up..."

@->--

Ranma took his time getting to the separate building.  The yard was
nice, the koi pond reflecting the moon and stars magically.  As he
approached the dojo, he heard the rhythmic thumping of feet doing a
kata.  From what he could hear, it sounded like one he knew.

Reaching the closed door, he cleared his throat and knocked once,
letting the person inside know that he was coming in.  The slid the door
open gently, so as to not disturb the person.

Ranma stepped inside, taking a good look around the dojo first, ignoring
the person that had stopped in the center of the dojo.  Finally his eyes
focused on the being and they widened when they saw who it was.  He took
a shaky step inside, completely unaware of anything but the figure in
front of him.

"Akane," he breathed, as if he was afraid she'd vanish if he moved or
spoke too abruptly.

There she was.  His angel.  His love.  She looked exactly as he
remembered her, except she was dressed in a gi and was sweating a bit. 
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity until she
smiled, breaking the spell.

Suddenly, he was holding her, his arms wrapped tightly around her small
body.  His face was buried in the crook of her neck and she wound her
arms around his neck.

"Oh, Ranma," she whispered into his ear.  "How I've missed you."

"It's you!" he cried, smothering her face and neck with butterfly
kisses.  "It's really you!  You came back to me."

Akane laughed, her hold on him tightning.  "I love you so much, Kami-
sama let me come back."  His face stilled, eyes focusing on hers.  Both
their hearts were beating quickly, tears in their eyes.

Ranma raised his hand to her cheek, caressing it softly.  "I thought I
was going to die without you.  It hurt so much."

"I know," she whispered.  "I hurt too."  She brought her lips up to his
and they pressed together lightly before pulling away.

"I love you, Akane," he said, his breath hot on her face.  "I'm never
letting you go."

"I love you too." 

With that, the two once again pressed their lips together.  Lightly at
first, just small pecks that gradually escalated to longer, deeper, more
passionate kisses.

@->--

Author's Notes:  

Wow.  That was way mushy.  I don't think I've ever written that mushy
before.  Blame it on all the mushy mushy (and I mean mushy) Sailor Moon
fics I've been reading lately.  Lemme tell you, there are MUSHY ones out
there.  Mushier than mush even.

My first alt. fic.  Like it?  Hate it?  It dun matter.  E-mail me if ya
want, ya got my addy.  Right?  Oh...no?  Well, let me give it to you.

Vietgyrl81@aol.com

There ya go!  

Hugs and kisses,
  Mana