From: jasonllanglois@unn.unisys.com


        IT IS TIME. 
        Yes, here it is, the section of the story where I tell 
you that this is my first fanfic, and you should be gentle, blah 
blah blah, yackity shmackity.  Well, None of that's true.  This 
isn't my first fanfic.  I have three other unfinished fanfic I 
started before I wrote this one, and now that it's done, I can 
get back to them.  This, however, will be the first _posted_ 
fanfic.  Also, as for be nice, while I won't accept flames 
where the writer says "You suck," or other such nasty comments, 
I am not above constructive criticism.  I am definantly not above 
praise, either, so if you like it, pour it on!!  You can send 
any of the above to jasonllanglois@unn.unisys.com 
        Also, I need to tell you, just in case, that these aren't 
my characters, and except for Akane's friends, Rumiko Takahashi 
created each and everyone of these wonderful persona's who have 
become my puppet's for this and other peices.  They are owned, 
morally, by Takahashi-sensei,  and legally, by a few companies 
both in the Land of the Rising Sun and The Land of the Free in 
order that they might be shown here and abroad.  My benevolent 
and humble thanks go out to you, Takahashi-sama. 
        O.K., enough of the boring stuff.  I humbly present to you
 
******************************************************************** 
 
        I Don't Think I Can Take It 
 
           By Jason L. Langlois 
 
        "Another rainy day in Nerima.  Why am I NOT surprised?!?" 
        Ranma-chan trudged on his way home wearily, the events of 
the day rather than the change in his body weighing him down.  "She  
finally did it... and with... with..."  It was too much for him to 
bear.  HIS fiance had... he didn't even want to think about it. 
The memories wouldn't leave him alone, and left him kicking himself. 
He should have done _something_; screamed at her, thrashed him, 
anything but run away, fighting back tears and weeping like a... 
        Like a girl.  *How ironic,* Ranma thought, smirking down at 
the change that he had grown so used to.  The smirk faded as he 
recalled what he was trying so hard to forget. 
 
*** 
 
        Kasumi was once again throwing a Christmas party, although 
his time it was of her own doing, and not Santa Clause's.  Everyone 
helped cheerfully, setting up the dojo, preparing the guest rooms, 
decorating the tree, and especially keeping Akane out of the kitchen. 
There where only very small instances of violence, mostly due to the 
high ego's of the martial artists, but even these were skillfully 
circumvented by Nabiki.  Ranma was especially happy, he had spent a 
month looking for just the right present for Akane.  In his opinion, 
the little frame he had gotten her last year wasn't the kind of 
present he wanted to give her this year. This year was... he couldn't 
explain it.  He just knew that he wanted something special for her.   
He had almost settled on a hat or a dumbbell when he finally saw it. 
The necklace. 
        Three months ago, Akane and Ranma had been looking for the 
elusive P-Chan.  Actually, Akane had been searching.  Ranma had been  
cursing Ryouga under his breath while walking next to Akane.  They 
had walked a long way, and finally ended up in a market district. 
Akane stopped suddenly in front of a jewelry shop and peered in at 
the window display.  He had almost asked her why she was being so 
stupid and looking at jewelry when her "widdle P-Chan" was still lost 
when she turned back at him with misty eyes, smiling sadly.  All he 
managed to get out then was, "Wh-what is it?" 
        She pointed down at the display, and Ranma's eyes followed. The  
necklace she was pointing to consisted of a jade pendant with a lotus  
inlaid in pearl.  The overall effect was a beautiful piece of jewelry,  
but certainly nothing to cry about.  Ranma had been about to point this  
out when she told him that her mother had owned a similar necklace.  It  
had been her favorite, and she used to wear it playing dress up.  Akane  
had smiled when she told him how her mother had said she could have it  
when she grew up.  Then her eyes grew moist again, and she looked down. 
        "Do you still wear it?" Ranma had asked after a brief silence. 
        "She was buried with it."  Akane began to walk away, causing Ranma  
to have to run to catch up to her.  They walked the rest of the way home
in silence, reflective for Akane, uncomfortable for Ranma. 
        A month later, he had saved up enough to buy it, and couldn't find  
the store.  A week before the party, he had found the shop, and got the  
necklace. 
        That day, Nabiki had come to him with a gleam in her eye.  "So,  
have you got a present for Akane, Ranma?"  He loved the shocked look on  
her face when he said, "Yeah, I got her a little somethin'," leaving  
Nabiki Tendo grumpy for most of the holidays. 
        The party, like just about everything Kasumi planned, seemed to be  
blessed from the beginning to be a good time.  No one appeared to even  
want to fight, and for some reason the usual tension Ranma felt when all
of Akane and his "suitors" where in one place just seemed to be... gone.
Everyone was having the time of their lives when Nabiki began to spread  
the word that the gift exchange would be soon. 
        Ranma had bolted out of the dojo, into the house, and upstairs.  
When he reached his room, his heart nearly stopped.  He had forgotten  
where he left the present.  "Aww, man, where did I put that thing?"  He  
rummaged through the closet, under the futon, and through his and the  
old man's clothes.  Nothin'*.  Then he snapped his fingers and ran to  
get his jacket.  Digging his fingers into the pocket, his hand returned  
with the wrapped gift.  He smiled and made is way to the dojo. 
        He could see her through the window facing the house, laughing  
with three of her friends.  *She really is cute...*  For once in his  
life, he stopped trying to quelch that thought and let in roll around in
his head some.  It was quickly joined by others, as if waiting for just  
such an opportunity.  *She'll be really surprised by the necklace.  I  
hope she likes it...*  He began to blush as he imagined her smile as she
put on the necklace.  *Maybe I might even kis-*  He stopped that thought
right there.  He had no desire to ruin a perfect party, and getting  
kicked through the roof by his fiance would _definantly_ ruin it. 
        He stopped on the path to the door, finding himself too nervous  
all of the sudden.  *C'mon, man, you gotta give it to her!  You've been  
waitin' all day!*  He rounded the corner to see the door blocked by the  
three friends Akane had been talking to.  They were in the process of  
turning back, and blocked Ranma's view to the inside.  When they had  
completed, they stopped, and gasped.  One of them said softly, "Oh,  
Akane..." 
        Ranma's heart went cold.  *Somethin's happenin to Akane!*  He  
pushed his way past the girls, who were too stunned to notice.  His  
heart pounded like it always did when Akane was in trouble. 
        That's why it shocked him so much when that same heart crashed to  
his feet. 
        Ranma gazed stupidly at Akane, his eyes narrowing in a futile  
attempt to soften his view of the situation.  His mind fought with what  
his eyes were relentlessly transmitting.  He tried desperately to turn  
away, trying not to believe as his vision took in Akane's closed eyes,  
smooth cheek, sleek jawline, and soft lips... 
        Which were presently attached... 
        To Kuno's. 
        Ranma's nerveless hand dropped the small box that contained  
Akane's gift, having completely forgotten what was in it.  He stood,  
stock still, frozen for what seemed an eternity.  His body screamed for  
action of some kind, any kind, but his mind kept it locked, seeing only  
the horrible sight before him.  He watched in silent torture as her arms
lifted to wrap around Kuno's neck, and then turned slowly and walked  
toward the door. 
        He turned back to Akane, silently begging her to come up and laugh  
at his gullibility.  *Ain't no way this is real.  It's a joke of some  
kind, a mistake.  I'll turn around, everyone will laugh, and...* the  
thought fled his mind as he saw Akane finally pull away, smile, and  
begin to open her eyes. 
        Raindrops fell like tears as Ranma stumbled out the door. 
        She stood out in the rain, trembling with the anger that had  
finally caught up with her.  She could have sworn she heard Mr. Tendo  
start to blubber.  Images of Akane and Kuno flashed through her mind  
like punches... Them walking arm in arm, them talking quietly under a  
tree, them kissing near the door...  No longer able to stand it, she  
screamed and bolted for the gate, trying to drown her sorrows in  
physical exertion and pain. 
 
*** 
 
        Now, cold, exhausted, and miserable, she found a dry spot in the  
doorway of a shop closed for the holidays and plopped herself down. 
         "Wh- who needs her, anyways?" she mumbled to herself, unable to  
stop the large tears that swelled in her eyes.  "If she don't want me  
around any more, she can have him!" 
        The words rang hollow in her own ears. 
        Ranma put her forehead against her knees and began to sob quietly. 
 
*I waited too long... now I've lost her for good.  To _Kuno_.  I- I  
don't think I can take it...* 
        Ranma sat, still fighting tears and watching the rain drizzle away  
to nothing.  "Akane... Akane no baka..." 
 
***** 
 
        Akane, for her part, was searching frantically, her own roiling  
emotions playing havoc with her eyes, causing her eyes to see flickers  
of red and black in the peripherals.  *Ranma, where are you?* 
        A red haze settled over her vision as she remembered the events of  
just an hour ago.  *Kuno you _jerk_!!* 
        The day had started better than normal.  No fighting, no yelling,  
Happosai was still out.  Kasumi announced that she once again was  
planning to have a Christmas party, citing the "fun" they'd all had at  
the last one.  And truth be told, despite some tension and Ranma's other
three fianc2e's being a nuisance, she _did_ have fun.  Everyone readily
agreed to help, only raising a small question.  Why was she planning  
_this_ party at the last minute?  Kasumi smiled her innocent smile as  
response. 
        Everyone seemed to be in a good mood while decorating.  This time,  
the guests arrived a little later, so the family had to decorate on  
their own.  Akane wondered if Kasumi had planned it that way after the  
troubles last time.  Even _Ranma_ was being nice.  The only complaint  
she had was that no one would let her _near_ the kitchen... 
        She had been having a funny feeling all day, a feeling that  
something... BIG was going to happen.  Ranma had been nice for the  
entire week.  Every once in a while, when their eyes happened to meet,  
she would see... a smile.  Not necessarily on his face, more in his  
eyes, but it was there.  She found herself secretly hoping it was for  
her. 
        Now that it had crossed her mind, the whole _day_ had been  
strange.  Kasumi had a strange smile on her face whenever Akane saw her,
Ranma seemed nervous about something, and, strangest of all, Nabiki was  
grumpy.  When Akane asked her about it, she just stalked off grumbling  
something about losing "half of her holiday revenues".  All in all,  
Akane had smiled more that day than she had in a year. 
        The party had definantly been a huge success.  During a lull in  
the activities people were standing and talking.  Every once in a while  
Akane would look up to catch Ranma looking at her with a silly grin on  
his face.  Every time, Akane would blush.  *Why's he looking at me like  
that?  Baka...* 
        The night was beginning to wind down, with only the gift exchange  
left.  Nabiki passed the word around that everyone should get ready, and
she would be announcing that soon, and she noticed Ranma bolt out to the
house.  Akane stood chatting with three of her school friends about  
nothing in particular.  As is wont to happen whenever four young women  
talk about nothing, the conversation turned to the topic of boys. 
        "Did you hear about..." 
        "No!  He finally asked her..?" 
        "Oooooh, he is _soooo_ cute!" 
        "So, has he kissed you yet?" 
        It took a little while for Akane to realize that the question was  
directed to her, but when she did, she reacted as the other three had  
expected.  Her eyes widened dramatically.   
        "Who??" 
        The other three girls exchanged knowing glances.  They were used  
to Akane denying her feelings, but enough was enough!  "Oh, c'mon,  
Akane," teased Noiko, "like you don't know who we're talking about..." 
        "Yeah," chimed in Yukie, "you know.  The _cute_ martial artist who  
walks you to school everyday..." 
        "But the only one who walks me to school is Ranma!" 
        The three girls face-faulted. 
        "You mean he hasn't kissed you _yet_?!?" cried Sakura. 
        Akane frowned.  "Nope.  Not that I care.  I don't think the baka  
even knows how."  Her face began to deflate from it's stiff anger.   
"Maybe he doesn't like me." 
        "Nonsense, Akane," scoffed Noiko.  "True, he's a little dense, but  
he's always protecting you, glancing at you, that kind of stuff.  And do
you notice how he's never too far away from you?  In fact," she dropped  
into a conspiratoral tone, drawing the audience of three closer, "he let
slip to Daisuke that he had something very special to give you tonight.
Now, what do you think _that_ is?" 
        Akane blushed.  "Oh, I don't think so." 
        Yukie smiled.  "I do.  Especially since you happen to be standing  
under that little sprig." 
        "What's _that_ got to do with anything?!?" 
        Sakura grinned triumphantly  "I _thought_ you were daydreaming in  
class when Sensei spoke about western Christmas traditions!"  The three  
girls proceeded to explain, in rapid fire, the importance of mistletoe  
to the Christmas holiday. 
        "He has to _what_?!?" 
        Yukie rolled her eyes.  "Oh, c'mon, Akane, we all know you want  
him to!" 
        "I do NOT!" 
        "That's not what it looks like to us..." 
        "_WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT_?!?" 
        The four young girls look at each other in silence.  Then Akane  
began to laugh.  *I can't believe myself!  I spend a month dropping  
hints to Ranma that I want him to kiss me, and when I get the perfect  
opportunity, I freeze up!*  The other three joined in, glad the tension  
was over, but not sure what they were laughing about. 
        After the giggling died down a bit, Noiko had an idea.  "We'll go  
get Ranma, you wait here, Akane.  We'll explain _everything_ to him." 
        A large sweat droplet formed on the back of Akane's head.  "N- no,  
you shouldn't... I mean, there's nothing to explain..." 
        "You want him to kiss you, don't you?" 
        "Well, ye- _NO_!!" 
        "Hey, sometimes you have to spell it out to them..." 
        "Yeah, but..." 
        "Yeah, I actually had to draw a _picture_ for Daisuke..." 
        Three girls stared at the fourth.  The fourth eeped. 
        "YOU AND _DAISUKE_?!?" 
        This time, it was Noiko's turn to bigsweat. 
        The four laughed again.  Noiko, eager to get their minds off of  
her and back onto Akane, cried out, "C'mon, girls!  Let's go get him!" 
        Akane stood alone, now acutely aware of the sprig of mistletoe  
above her head.  As her thoughts rolled the idea of Ranma kissing her in
her mind, she could feel his strong arms holding her, his warm breath on
her cheek and lips... Her eyes closed, enjoying the warm feeling  
spreading throughout her from the images that lightly skipped through  
her mind. 
        That's when it happened. 
        In a space of time that it would have taken for her to get her  
eyes open, she felt a hand turn her, two strong arms grip her gently,  
and warm lips press against her own.  She had been too surprised to snap
her eyes open.  When her surprise passed, she found she didn't want to. 
        *Oh, Ranma...* 
        Her mind began to reel as the kiss lingered, rational thought  
clashing head on with pent up emotion.  She felt she had finally been  
lead to a river after too long in a wilderness.  But something didn't  
sit right with her.  Her emotions won out, tossing the thought aside as  
she raised her arms to wrap around Ranma's neck.  *This is our first  
voluntary kiss.  Of course it's going to be awkward.*  In the meantime,  
her martial art trained senses took in every bit of information and sent
it to her mind for processing.  She felt the pressure of his body  
pressed to hers, felt the ropy muscles through his shirt, and definantly
felt the hot, steamy lips moving only slightly against her mouth.  She  
shivered slightly, realizing how many times, unbidden, she had imagined  
just such a scenario.  But her mind still nagged her that something  
wasn't right. 
        She heard many different things, most noticeably a rushing sound  
in her ears that could only be the blood sped on it's way by her  
pounding heart.  She heard mingled gasps, and could have sworn Sakura  
had muttered "Oh, Akane..."  She also heard a small object drop to the  
floor.  Her mind reminded her she probably should be hearing more.   
Ukyou and Shampoo should be screaming, Daddy and Uncle Saotome should be
dancing for joy.  And Kodachi should _not_ be chuckling.  She again  
shrugged and once again lost herself in the kiss.  *People are just  
shocked, that's all.  Especially Ukyou and Shampoo.  I would be if Ranma
kissed one of them...*  She began to berate herself for looking for a  
reason to mess this up.  She felt the last pressures of a dwindling  
kiss, and felt sadness at it's going, knowing too well the things she'd  
have to deal with when it was over.  But she was sincerely happy that  
she at least wouldn't have to deal with it alone.   
        She slowly leaned back and smiled, eyes still closed, at the man  
who's embrace she had longed to be in, even if she didn't admit it to  
herself.  Her ears, trained for years to notice the slightest sound,  
heard shuffling footsteps go out the door as her eyes began to slide  
slowly open, and raindrops fell on the rooftop.  Her first sight with  
her new, love filled eyes was a shock of black hair fluffed up in the  
front (*fluffed?*), then dark eyes (*dark?*) and finally the beaming  
face of her... 
        *_KUNO_?!?* 
        Her _old_ eyes snapped wide open in horrified shock. 
        "Ah, Akane Tendo.  You have truly accepted my gift with more  
fervor than even I, the great Tatewaki Kuno, might have thought  
possible.   Surely you must love me well, to have awaited me, under that
symbol of Christmas hearts afire, to go to even the lengths of sending  
away your entourage..." 
        The scream outside echoed the one in her heart. 
        To everyone involved, the crying Soun, the angry Genma, and her  
two shocked sisters, her next reaction came as almost a relief, an  
indication that what they had seen was a misunderstanding.  To her  
school friends, it was expected. 
        Glowing hot blue, she slammed Kuno with her balled fist.  "KUNO NO  
_BAKA_!!!" 
        But she didn't watch with smug satisfaction as Kuno flew through  
the rapidly parting crowd and dismantled the makeshift stage the hard  
way.  She was too busy kicking herself for not recognizing the owner of  
the scream. 
        She gasped, pained at what Ranma must be feeling.  "RANMA!" 
        She ran out into the pouring rain, looking right and left, and  
then straight to the swinging gate.  *Oh, Ranma... I have to find him!* 
        She ran back into the still silent dojo, looking desperately  
around for an umbrella.  Her eyes stopped on a small box near where she  
was standing.  She picked it up, and her eyes fell on her name on the  
tag.  In handwriting that had never been particularly neat was written:
"To: Akane.  From: Ranma.  Hope you like it, Happy Christmas." 
        She clutched the small box to her chest.  *Oh, no.  Ranma...*  She  
flew toward the door, grabbing the umbrella Nabiki had gotten for her  
own outside excursion, absently threw a few hundred yen to her sister,  
and bolted out into the rainy streets.  *I was only right about one  
thing!  Ukyou and Shampoo were shocked.  I just wish I had time to wipe  
that smug look off of Kodachi's face!* 
        Her eyes filled with tears as she began to search in the direction  
she thought she'd go.  *Oh, Ranma, it was an accident.  P- please, don't
hate me... I... I don't think I can take it...* 
 
***** 
 
        Ranma Saotome had had enough. 
        *I'm gonna go back to that dojo, give Kuno what-for, and... and  
pack for China,* she thought as she stormed into the back entrance of Ma
Maison.  She got her hot water, poured it on himself, and stomped back  
out into the alley. 
        Akane was about to give up when she turned the corner into the  
alleyway.  She was looking to her right and left, this time ignoring the
flash of red in her peripheral.  That's why she bumped directly into  
Ranma. 
        She looked up at him and was shocked by the fierce look in his  
face.  She took an  
involuntary step back, then watched as he struggled with his emotions,  
finally hanging his head and turning his back on her.  He whispered  
something she couldn't hear. 
        "Ranma?" 
        "I said, I hope he makes you happy, Akane.  I mean, I didn't see  
it coming, but if he makes you happy, I won't stand in your way."
        Akane, struck speechless, stared at his back in growing despair.  
Ranma took this as a sign that he should go on. 
        "I'm going to China.  I won't bother you anymore."  Akane could  
tell he was suppressing his emotions, his body trembling and his voice  
shaky.  Her own voice quivered out in a dry rasp.  "Ranma... no..." 
        He turned back to her then, and she could see tears struggling  
their way out of his blinking eyes.  *He's never cried over me before!   
Not even when he thought Shinnosuke and I...*  His eyes blazed with  
anger.  "Whatta ya mean, no?  After what I saw, you expect me to stick  
around?!?  Well, forget it... I..." his voice lowered in volume.  "I  
ain't doin' it..." 
        Akane began to cry.  "But... Ranma... It.. I didn't... It was an  
_accident_!" 
        Ranma peered over his shoulder.  "Yeah, right.  You expect me to  
believe that?" 
        Akane collapsed to the wet pavement of the alleyway, trying to  
explain the situation through her tears.  Ranma turned to go, but he  
never could stand the sight of Akane crying.  And something in the way  
she was crying begged for him to hear her out. 
        He walked over and stood beside her, waiting for her to stop  
crying.  He fought the urge to kneel down and hold her, still mad and  
not completely trusting yet.  But her sobs tore at him. 
        After some time, she was able to speak again.  Her explanation was  
punctuated by sniffles.  "Oh, Ranma... I was standing under something  
called mistletoe... it's a western tradition... something about kissing  
whoever's under it..."  Ranma's expression softened, partially relieved  
that he hadn't lost her, and he did kneel next to her then. 
        "Why didn't you open your eyes?  You coulda saved me a lot of  
worry..." 
        Akane began to sob in earnest again.  "I thought it was _you_!  I  
thought you were trying to surprise me... Oh, R- ranma, I'm so sorry!!!"
She began to weep into her hands, truly believing he hated her. 
        Ranma pulled her close to him, and she buried her face into his  
chest.  "Geez, Akane, what made you think I'd do that without warnin' or
somethin'?" 
        She pulled away then, slightly embarrassed.  "Noiko said you told  
Daisuke you were... you were going to give me something special..." 
        Ranma sat back on his haunches, blushing fiercly, not sure what to  
do next.  "I... I uh, dropped that at the party after I..."  Then he  
noticed the box in Akane's hand.  He pointed to it silently. 
        Just as silently, Akane opened the package.  Inside she found the  
necklace, the one like her mother used to wear.  Her heart pounded in  
her chest as she pulled it out of the box, shocked for what seemed like  
the hundredth time that day.  She slowly pulled it out of the box and  
held it to the light.  "You... you remembered." 
        Ranma was afraid he had messed up again until she looked up at him  
with shining eyes.  He took the necklace from her hands and put it up  
over her head.  Their faces were inches away from each other, and they  
were able to look deep in one another's eyes. 
        The kiss just came naturally. 
        Akane's heart pounded again, and despite the nights events, she  
closed her eyes.  This _was_ Ranma, and he was as awkward as she thought
he would be.  She could feel his heart beating next to hers, just as  
fast, and realized:  It wasn't the little clues that should have tipped  
her off.  It was this.  He should have been just as nervous.  She smiled
and relaxed into the kiss, the warm feeling spreading through her  
without trepidation. 
        Ranma's heart pounded.  He was kissing her, and he realized how  
cute he really thought she was.  Without warning, he lifted them both to
their feet so he could hold her more easily.  His hot blush softened to  
a warm feeling and spread to his chest.  He squeezed her gently, finally
happy that he could show her how he felt without fear of violence.  He  
broke the kiss to look down at his fiancee's eyes. 
        Inevitably, the rain started again. 
        Akane and Ranma blushed simultaneously as Ranma realized she was  
suddenly staring at her breasts. She looked up, hurriedly, and then took
the folded umbrella from Akane's hands and opened it above them.  She  
looked up at Akane's eyes, then tentatively reached for her hand.  Ranma
and Akane walked home, blushing happily all the way. 
        When they reached the dojo, Kuno was waiting for them at the gate. 
 
"Ah, Akane Tendo.  I see now why you have run away so quickly after  
gently pushing me aside.  You have run to gather the pig-tailed goddess,
that she too may receive the bounty that I, Tatewaki Kuno, have bestowed
upon thee.  Very well, unselfish one, I would have you both!" 
        Pilot Ranma and Co-pilot Akane happily launched Kuno Airlines  
toward his house. 
 
*** 
 
        *Ah, the beauteous Akane and the Healthy pig-tailed girl.  How I  
do love them both.  And yet I have probably offended, kissing one whilst
the other did stand by.  I shall have to make amends... I have it!  I  
shall allow them to date with me!* 
        Kuno crashed down in the Kuno family training facility.  As his  
world darkened yet again, he could hear the voice of his servant,  
Sasuke, mutter under his breath as he dragged Kuno to his room.  "Oh,  
Master Kuno, I do hope these loves of yours find another way to express  
themselves to you.  I don't think you can take it." 
 
FIN! 
 
        I know what you're thinking.  *Wait a minute, he talked at the  
beginning, and he's going to bore us again at the _end_?!?*  Well, this  
is just my list of thanks. 
 
        I thank GOD, for giving me life, and ability (at least, I THINK he  
gave me ability...) 
        My girlfriend, San-chan, for both being my pre-reader and my  
inspiration. 
        Rumiko Takahashi, again, who, because she wrote such enchanting  
and humorous stories, gave me a play ground, and a name for the  
restaurant toward the end! 
        Chris Willmore and J. Austin Wilde, both of whom read part of my  
stories, and both of whom encouraged me to keep on writing.  I know this
isn't what you expected, but fear not, both of the one's you read are  
next!  ^_^ 
        Marisa Price and Joseph Palmer, who proved to me that romance  
wasn't out of place in a martial art's fanfic. 
        Finally, you, the reader, for reading. 
 
 
        This story was inspired by a nightmare I had.  It wasn't as in  
depth at this, but it did involve me catching my girlfriend kissing  
someone in front of me I thought she would never kiss.