The Togetherness Factor Part 1: Getting Together by David Eddy Last Updated: Saturday, 7 June 1997 A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's Manga series, Ranma 1/2. The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the property of Takahashi Rumiko and her licensees. This story is set in the summer holidays following the events of volume 38 of the Ranma 1/2 manga. Tendou Soun and Saotome Genma, buddies of a lifetime, brothers in arms, fellow students of an impossibly-harsh master, bane of the Nerima criminal element, matchmakers extraordinaire, and all-around good guys, strolled along a street in Nermia's shopping district. Actually, they did not so much stroll as stagger, leaning against one another for support, only a lifetime's training in the martial arts keeping them from the gutter. It was late, and they had drunk entirely too much sake tonight... tomorrow, their depth of their shared feelings would be of little comfort against the roaring hangovers they would experience however. For now, however, they were feeling absolutely no pain... although other people in the street were. Soun and Genma were singing, and those people out and about were crossing the street to avoid the pair, hurrying quickly on their way to escape the awful caterwauling. They turned a corner and attracted the baleful glare of a policeman standing post in his police box. Genma noticed, and stopped singing. Soun continued regardless, and Genma pulled on his friend's shoulder. "Shhh!" hissed Genma in a stage whisper. "Mustn't disturb people!" Soun stopped singing to looked at him owlishly, then at length nodded slowly, deliberately. "That would be most impolite," he rumbled, pronouncing his words with extreme care. He looked up the street which disappeared further into the shopping area, then slowly peered up another way which led into an area where houses pushed together, lining the street. "That way," he said after careful deliberation, pointing down the residential street. Genma grinned as though Soun had told an enormous joke. "Sure, sure," he said. "Jus' wanna res' for a bit." And he sat down untidily against the wall, grinning sloppily. Soun squatted against the wall next to Genma, his actions very deliberate. For a time it was quiet. Then Genma giggled. "We mus' fin' a way to get them to marry, Soun ol' buddy," he said. "Gotta be something we can do." The tall, dignified (but very drunk) man squatting next to him just shook his head, slowly at first, then more quickly, loosely. "They will never be married, Saotome-kun! You've seen them! What could be more obvious than their love, yet they refuse to see it! Instead they push each other away, growing to hate each other!! Waaaa!!" Genma looked at Soun, disgusted. He wondered why his friend had so little determination, but decided that that was okay; he would provide determination for them both. What were friends for, after all? "Don' worry, Soun ol' boy, don' worry," he slurred. "I'm sure we c'n come up with a way of gettin' 'em together." A shadow detached itself from a black spot on the wall and glided gently towards the two. Genma noticed the figure's approach only when it was a few yards away, his senses blunted by the heroic amounts of sake he'd imbibed this evening. Soun just stared at the sidewalk, absorbed in visions of the likely fate of the dojo at the hands of his unmarried daughter. The shadow stopped in front of the two. At last, Soun noticed, while Genma stared at the figure slack-faced. "Perhaps I can be of assistance, gentlemen," she said in an old but firm voice. * * * Kasumi winced inwardly at the sounds of argument. Ranma and Akane were at it again. She tried to stop a flush colouring her cheeks as she passed people on the streets. Most of the residents of Nerima were used to these antics, but whatever did they think of the Tendou family for these constant disruptions? And when would those two stop and realise that they loved each other? It was quite apparent to someone watching them, even if they didn't admit it to themselves. They way they acted, the way they looked at each other from time to time, the way they got furiously jealous at each other.... Plus, both being martial artists and the same age, they were obviously meant for each other. It was their karma to be together. But oh! the arguments they had. Everything would be so much more peaceful, and everyone would be so much happier if only they would stop arguing for long enough to realise it themselves. Maybe it was time to give them a helping hand. Yes. She would cook cinnamon cookies and make some fresh lemonade when she got home, and have Ranma give them to Akane. Maybe, just maybe, they would come to admit to each other their feelings. The prospect of such a thing happening had her skipping joyfully down the street. * * * Ranma was sitting on a rock by the koi pond in the hot sun of mid-afternoon, sulking. At least it wasn't raining. The oppressive humidity of the rainy season was over at last, and the clear blue sky promised wonderful dryness for days to come. Yes, it was a beautiful day. His father hadn't arisen until lunchtime, but he hadn't eaten much... which was not surprising considering his gray pallor and the lingering smell of second-hand alcohol that had driven Ranma from his bed early this morning. He smiled. His father had been most reluctant to train earlier, after lunch, but Ranma had quoted his own words back at him and taken great delight and knocking him into the koi pond. He had retreated inside like a surly bear, and Ranma had decided to enjoy the afternoon sun on this unusually mild day. Sitting out here, he liked to take in what was going on around him. A little while ago, a delightful aroma had begun wafting from the house. A little while afterwards the two fathers had headed out of the house, headed for the public baths to wash the poisons from their systems. And now footsteps sounded clearly from inside the house. They had Kasumi's cadence. He amused himself by visualizing her walking around inside the house, tracking her in his head as he watched the koi move about in the murky water of the pond. In his head, she stopped at the edge of the verandah overlooking the pond. "Ranma," said Kasumi. "Would you like some cookies?" He looked up and around; Kasumi was standing where he had thought holding a tray in her hands. On it was a pitcher of lemonade and some glasses; he assumed there would also be a plate of the cookies he had smelt earlier. "Um? Your cookies? You betcha!" She smiled benignly at him. "I've made some lemonade as well. Why don't you take this up to Akane and she can have some with you. Maybe it's time you two made up after your fight this morning." "Aw, hell, Kasumi, it's not like it's my fault or anythin'." "Don't you think Akane would like some cookies and lemonade?" She smiled innocently. "Besides, even if you think it wasn't your fault, Akane obviously does so why not make up with her? It's so much more pleasant when you two get along, and I'm sure you like it more that way too." Ranma looked to the pond again as he turned Kasumi's words over in his mind. She was right, he liked it a lot better when he and Akane got along. As for making up to her... well, he didn't really like being out of sorts with Akane and maybe taking her cookies and lemonade would mean he wouldn't have to talk about this morning. He got up easily, his silk top warm on his back, and skipped quickly over to stand by Kasumi. He noticed Nabiki spread out comfortably on the living room tatami, kicking her legs idly, reading one of her shoujo manga. He took the tray from Kasumi, noting that there were six delicious-smelling cookies arranged neatly on a plate. "Okay, I'll do it." Kasumi beamed at him. "Thank you, Ranma." Ranma hesitated a moment before knocking quietly on Akane's door. There was no response, so he knocked again a little more loudly. "What do you want, Ranma?" came Akane's voice, sounding a little peeved. He opened the door and stepped into her room. Akane was on her bed. She had been lying face-down and was holding her body up with her arms, twisted around to look at the door. "Who said you could come in?" she said dismissively, not bothering to change her position. How dare that baka invade her bedroom after what he said this morning?! She watched as he sat on the floor and smoothly put the tray he was carrying down in front of him. Ice cubes tinkled gently in the pitcher, and the aroma of freshly-baked cookies reached her nostrils. Ranma smiled that crooked little smile at her that made him look so handsome and said, "Kasumi gave this to me for us to have together. She told me I should make up with you." He broke eye contact to look down at the tray, shaking his head. "Wouldn't you like a cookie?" Akane sat up fully and sighed. She hadn't forgiven him for insulting her this morning but it really wasn't worth arguing about anymore... and besides, the cookies smelled delicious. She got down to sit on the floor opposite him. "Sure, why not?" Ranma poured two glasses of lemonade and handed her one; they each grabbed a cookie and ate. He was pleased that Akane hadn't bitten his head off when he came into her room, and sitting and just sharing time with her this way... well, he didn't mind that at all. Munching on his second cookie, Ranma wondered to himself at the slight aftertaste. The lemonade made the taste go away, though. But as he finished his third cookie, he started feeling quite queasy. Sipping more lemonade and trying to ignore his stomach's protests, he watched Akane finish her last cookie. Like him, she finished by sipping some lemonade as though to get a bad taste out of her mouth. A frown appeared. She looked over at him. "Ranma, do you... do you feel a little ill?" Her voice sounded unsteady. He watched, fascinated, as her face paled and beads of sweat broke out. "Er, actually--" Churning nausea forced Ranma to cut his reply short. He swallowed to control the upcoming surge, and it obeyed reluctantly, almost spilling over into his mouth. The emergency over for the moment, he gulped the remainder of his lemonade to wash the burning taste of bile from the back of his throat. He felt better almost immediately. "Man, that was close. Hey! I feel better!" Watching him, Akane quickly picked up her glass and forced it down against the protests of her stomach. Gratefully she felt the nausea recede, to be replaced with a feeling of well-being. She wiped her brow with the back of one hand. There was silence for a time. Ranma watched Akane's colour return, concern for her uppermost in his mind. After a time she glanced at him and their eyes met. Ranma felt an unusual frisson before he quickly glanced away in embarrassment. Akane felt the eye contact as a quick leap of her heart, and she felt vaguely disappointed when Ranma glanced away. The slight flush decorating his face told of his feelings, however, and she smiled to herself a little. Still, she didn't want things to go too quickly... best to get rid of him before he put his foot in his mouth again and ruined the feeling. "Ranma...?" "Yes?" She smiled at him. "Thank you for bringing the cookies. That was nice of you." Ranma felt his heart thumping. What would she say next? Could it be...? "But I'm feeling tired and would like to take a nap. Would you mind taking the tray back to the kitchen as you go?" Her voice was gentle and somehow Ranma didn't feel rejected, although he couldn't avoid a certain disappointment. With a sigh, he grabbed the tray and got up. "Sure. Have a nice nap," he said quietly. He smiled at her as he stepped towards the door. He ignored the discomfort that he felt as he stepped up to the door. He turned for a last glance at Akane as he pivoted neatly, the door handle in one hand and the tray steady in the other, and noted that she looked quite pale. He smiled reassuringly against his own growing discomfort and closed the door. He turned towards the staircase and started to walk away. He was two steps away from her door when suddenly pain stabbed at him, spiking his joints and locking his diaphragm in agony. The tray slipped out of his nerveless hands and clattered noisily to the floor. Simultaneously, a tortured cry came from Akane's room. "Aka-Akane!" he cried weakly. His legs refused to work properly and he fell to the wooden floor untidily, landing just outside Akane's door. Somehow the pain eased a little and he reached up and flung open the door. Inside, Akane was curled up in a foetal ball on the floor. She was whimpering in agony. Desperately, Ranma forced his own limbs to move and he crawled towards her. As he got closer his pain lessened a little. 'I must be getting used to the pain,' he thought to himself as he frantically looked over Akane. He reached out to touch her cheek. "Akane!" he croaked out. "Are you all right?" As he touched her cheek, the pain magically vanished, leaving only its memory to torture him. Akane relaxed, too, then looked up at him with a worried expression. "Ranma?" Sweat still stood on her skin. "What's happening to me, Ranma?" she asked. "One moment I hurt all over, and then I feel fine! I don't understand," she finished plaintively. Akane frowned as she looked Ranma over. He was sweating, and looked a little pale although his colour was returning. His expression was very concerned... 'Concerned for me?' she wondered. 'Ranma?' Running footsteps thudded in the hallway outside, then Kasumi and Nabiki burst in. "Akane!" said Kasumi frantically. "Are you all right?!" "What happened, sis? Did Ranma...?" "I'd *never* hurt Akane!" said Ranma indignantly, shocked at Nabiki's question. He knelt back from leaning over Akane to face her. Nabiki turned on him. "You hurt her all the time," she said icily. "Nabiki, some other time, please," said Kasumi. She knelt down next to Akane, who was still lying on the floor. "Akane... are you all right?" Akane sat up and leaned against her bed. "I'm fine, oneechan. But... when we were finishing the cookies, Ranma and I both felt quite ill, and when Ranma stepped out of my room, pain... It hurt so much, I couldn't help but cry out. And then Ranma touched me on the cheek and the pain went away, like magic." She stroked her cheek reflectively. "I didn't know there was a pain tsubo there. I've never seen Tofuu-sensei use it, anyway." Ranma cleared his throat. "Ano... Akane?" he said softly, "the same thing happened to me." Kasumi stared at him, puzzled. "When I stepped outside your room, I went to walk away and it hurt so much I dropped the tray. But when I touched your cheek to see if you were all right, the pain disappeared." "Ara, how odd," said Kasumi quietly. "I wonder if there was anything wrong with the cookies?" "Somebody's drugged us again," Ranma said resignedly. He shivered, his mind churning. He looked up at the ceiling. 'Why me?!' he railed at all the kami. 'Did I do something heinous in a previous life to deserve this punishment?!' Akane placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder but said nothing. "Nobody's come to visit us today," said Nabiki. "Not even your friends, Ranma-kun," said Kasumi brightly. There was a pause. Then Nabiki said, "So... it seems that when they get too far apart, they hurt." Ranma looked down from the ceiling. "Agony is a pretty fair description, actually," he said flatly. "How far can you get from Akane, Ranma?" "I don't know." "I was just out the door when it really got bad before," said Ranma, "but I started feeling uncomfortable a bit before then." Nabiki eyed the distance from the bed to the doorway. "And Akane was on the bed?" "I was on the floor, right here," said Akane. She, too, was eyeing the distance to the door speculatively. "It's not very far, is it?" she said in dismay after a moment. Nabiki shook her head. "It looks like you two are going to have to live together more closely than any married couple until this wears off," she said. She snorted. "*That* ought to be fun. I guess you guys are going to have a good chance to try to learn to live together without killing each other. Just as well it's summer holidays." She turned and left, shaking her head. Kasumi smiled brightly at the pair. "I'm sure you two will work it out," she said. "I think you two love each other, but have always been too embarrassed and too proud to admit it." She gave them each a look that made them feel like small children, then left. For a time there was silence as the embarrassed pair looked at the floor. Finally Ranma looked at Akane and their eyes met. "We need to talk," he said. She nodded. "Would you close the door please, Ranma?" "Sure." He got up and stepped toward the door. He was nearly there when Akane spoke. "Wait!" Ranma stopped immediately and turned to face her. "What is it?" "It's starting. Can you feel it?" He realised that there was a dull, low-grade ache in his stomach and joints. He nodded. "It's not very far, is it?" he said in dismay. Akane shook her head. "I... Akane, I'd like to try and close the door without making you get up as well. Do you mind?" She shook her head again. "No. I... I think we should find out how far we can go." He nodded, and started sidling slowly towards the open door. Finally he stood in the doorway. His stomach was churning, and his joints were hurt enough that he didn't really want to get any further away from her. Akane looked a little pale, he thought. "A- Akane? Are you okay?" She shook her head. "I don't think you should go any further, Ranma." "Okay." He stepped back into the room itself and closed the door before returning to sit beside Akane on the floor, moving a little awkwardly against the slowly-decreasing pain. Akane looked at him hesitantly, still a bit pale. "Ranma... it still hurts." He nodded. "I know. But it's fading." She quickly reached out and lightly touched his cheek, and suddenly all the pain went away. She sat back against the bed, sighing in relief. "Ah, that's better," she said with a smile. "I'm really sorry 'bout all this, Akane." "It's not your fault, Ranma." "No, but..." There was a pregnant pause, the two teenagers carefully not looking at each other. Then Akane spoke. "Ranma, about what Kasumi said..." "Yeah?" "She... I..." She took a deep breath. "I just want you to know that... from my point of view, she's right. I... I c-care for you, Ranma. It's just that you always seem to insult me, or somebody comes along and upsets things like mmbrl--" Ranma stopped her with a hand to her mouth. Her was smiling at her again, and her heart beat faster in response as it always did. "I was going to tell you the same thing, Akane. It's just that I was trying to work up the courage to say it and not being able to... as usual." Akane frowned down at his hand still covering her mouth, and he took it away even as he laughed at how she looked. "What are you laughing at, baka?" "Your expression was funny." She punched him lightly on the shoulder, then took a breath. The mood became more serious again. "Ranma, you said, 'as usual.' Does that mean you've tried to tell me before?" He looked at the floor, his mouth twisting in self-contempt. "Yeah, and running away just like my father when I couldn't make myself say it." He shook his head. "He's trained me well, don't you think?" His voice was savage. "I couldn't even make myself do it at the wedding, when it really mattered!" "Y... you *wanted* to say yes?" He nodded. "Y-yes," he said through a tight throat. "You know, you're right about me, Akane; you've always been right. Ranma no baka!" He spat the last word. To find that all of a sudden he couldn't take a breath. Akane had her head on his shoulder, a look of bliss on her face, and her arms were wrapped around his ribs with all the power of a python. His arm naturally fell about her shoulders, but all he could say was, "Ek.. urk... Akane, I can't breathe!" The pressure around his ribs eased. "Oh! I'm sorry." Ranma leaned back against the bed. "That's okay," he said as he snugged his arm more firmly about her shoulders. "So, how are we going to do this? I guess I'll have to move my futon and other stuff in here." "Oh! Bathing... and dressing..." She turned bright red with embarrassment. Ranma nodded, also embarrassed, looking away a little. "Akane... if it'll help, I'll swear not to deliberately peek at you, and not to... um... take advantage of the sleeping or, um, bathing arrangements, I guess," he finished with a deep crimson blush. Akane's blush deepened. She spoke towards his chest. "Ranma, I... I'd like to say that isn't necessary, but I think it'd be too soon for us. So... so I hope you'll understand if I take you up on your offer. I'm sorry." He shrugged, still blushing. "I offered." He took a breath. "I... I do swear to you, Tendou Akane, not to deliberately peek at you and not to otherwise take advantage of necessary sleeping and bathing arrangements." He smiled. "There. All done." "Thank you, Ranma. Would you like some tea? I'd like to go and thank Kasumi-oneechan, too." "Okay." * * * At the table in the living room, Kasumi and Nabiki greeted Ranma and Akane as they came downstairs. Tea implements were on the table, and Kasumi was her normal cheerfully calm self. Akane watched her elder sister's flowing, precise movements as she made the tea. When finally she and Ranma had been served, and the first sips taken, she put down her cup and addressed her. "Thank you for the tea, Kasumi-oneechan. It is excellent as usual." "Hai," put in Ranma. "Oneechan, I wanted to thank you for what you said upstairs," added Akane with a quelling glance at Ranma. "We've had a talk, and, um..." Kasumi smiled at the pair. "Good," she said. "You shouldn't count your chickens before you hatch," said Nabiki harshly from where she sat reading her manga. "Let's see if you two can last a week without killing each other before we talk about undying love, shall we?" An uneasy silence settled over the room, the sounds of birds and rustling trees coming in from outside. A wind chime tinkled occasional counterpoint, stirred by the gentle, warm breeze. Beneath that, the sounds of the city formed a steady aural backdrop. Akane sipped her tea and pondered her next move. She was in a dilemma. She didn't really want to admit a weakness, but pressure was building on her. Finishing her tea with a flourish, she decided to just act as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Which it was, of course. She put down her tea cup and turned to her fiancee. "Ranma... I need to go to the toilet," she said, a little embarrassed despite her determination not to be. She was relieved when Ranma nodded matter-of-factly. "Sure. Let's go." He finished his tea and jumped up, waiting for Akane. "Aaara," breathed Kasumi, looking a little shocked. Even Nabiki looked surprised as Ranma followed Akane out of the room in the direction of the bathroom. * * * A pair of heads poked themselves into the doorway of the toilet cubicle. One nodded. "It looks okay," said Akane. "Okay, I'll wait out here," said Ranma seriously. "Don't you go away now!" Ranma snorted. "Like I have a choice?" He smiled, indicating his words had been an attempt at humour, but Akane had her back turned and slammed the door in his face. "No, you don't!" she said, a little angrily. "Stupid uncute," mumbled Ranma under his breath. "I was joking." "What did you say?" came Akane's voice, still angry. "I said, it was a joke." There was a significant pause. Then Akane said, "Oh." Flushing noises sounded, followed after a long moment by the opening of the door. Ranma was vaguely surprised to see her smiling tentatively. "I guess that's okay then," she said. He smiled back, then slipped past her to enter the toilet. "Do you need to go too?" asked Akane as he closed the door. Ranma shrugged. "Not really, but I may as well go now so I don't have to go later on." He closed the door, and Akane automatically stepped briskly towards the sink to wash her hands. She didn't make it, however. About halfway across the floor of the laundry cum change room, the pain came and clubbed her to the floor, groaning. "Aaagh, itetetete!" came Ranma's voice. The toilet door was flung open and pale-looking Ranma staggered out, holding up his pants with one hand. "Stupid thoughtless unfeminine uncute tomboy!" He stumbled over to where Akane lay on the floor, groaning. He knelt next to her and touched her cheek, then slumped forward in reaction as the pain left. "Are you okay?" he said. Akane nodded and got to her feet. Ranma did likewise. "What did you think you were doing, tomboy?! Why couldn't you wait?!" "I was just going to wash my hands, stupid!" "Didn't you think about what that would do?!" Ranma sighed and took Akane's wrist in his hand so she wouldn't run away. He examined his feet as he thought. They were starting down a well- worn path that would result in Akane either storming out or hitting him a long way away... and either could be disastrous. They had to work together, he realised, whether they wanted to or not... and that meant not making Akane angry enough to lose her reason and do something rash. He'd better treat her gently until they got used to working together... who knows how long this thing would go on? No more teasing her. Oh, well, he was beginning to get tired of it anyway. He looked at her bowed head, and wondered where the good feeling that had accompanied their declarations to each other had gone. Why did she react like that?... Most of the time he was only teasing her; other times he reacted automatically if she got too close or if he felt embarrassed. He was going to have to learn not to push her away, he realised. "Ranma..." said Akane, interrupting his musing, "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." He shook his head, and smiled at her. "That's okay, Akane. We just have to be careful, ne? I know you didn't do it deliberately." He slid his hand down from her wrist to take her hand. "Okay?" She smiled back hesitantly. "Okay." "Now, can I go to the toilet?" * * * Ranma's mother had returned from her shopping trip and had been given the news by a cheerful Kasumi. She had accepted the news without outward reaction, but Ranma had felt her eyes upon him -- them -- ever since. But now, the lowering sun was painting the world in orange- gold light. It had been a long, sunny day today and Ranma knew that the sunset would be beautiful. His mother and Kasumi had prepared a wonderful dinner and he was feeling in the mood. Only the mysterious absence of the two fathers had acted to put a damper on the evening. "Akane, have you finished dinner?" "Yes. Why, Ranma?" "I'd like to go watch the sunset." "The sunset? Why would you want to do that?" "It's just something I like to do." "Oh. Now?" Ranma nodded and got up, offering Akane a hand to help her up. She got up under her own power, ignoring the hand. He tucked the hand behind his back and led the way outside, slightly miffed that she had rejected his offer so casually. He stopped by the pond. "Why here?" asked Akane. "Wouldn't we get a better view from over there?" Ranma shook his head and scooped Akane into his arms. "Hang on," he said before leaping to the roof of the house. Landing lightly, he said, "The view is much better up here." He let her go carefully and sat down on the roof facing the setting sun, resting his arms on his bent knees. Akane watched him for a long moment, then settled in to watch nature's display. For a long time, very little happened: The sun gradually dipped into the horizon, the sky turned a magnificent pink-purple highlighting thin, high clouds that had not been easily visible before. Gradually the world at ground-level dimmed. "So why do you do this?" asked Akane at last. Her mood was thoughtful and contemplative. Ranma said nothing for a long moment. Finally he stirred and cleared his throat. "To get away for a moment, to think, to relax," he said. "It's a different world up here. I come up here sometimes if something's bothering me, I guess." He sighed. "And it can be very beautiful." "It *is* beautiful," said Akane after another moment watching the final moments of the sun. "What's bothering you, Ranma?" The last segment of the sun was just visible, and things started happening quickly. It grew, separated into bands, and then was gone, leaving only a crimson sky shading to indigo behind them. "Dunno," he said at last. "I just wanted to get away for a bit, that's all." "From me?" Ranma shook his head. "Nah," he said absently. "I just wanted a chance to think without Nabiki butting in or having to deal with Kasumi's sweetness-and-light routine." "Think about what?" "How we're going to live together without killing each other," he said bluntly, looking at her for the first time. "Akane, all the time either I'm running away from you or you're running away from me or you hit me towards the horizon. We can't afford that any more. We know we like each other, so why do we do it?" He looked towards the horizon again. Around them, street lights and the warm yellow of house lights were coming on to greet the gloaming. Continuing, he said, "All I've got so far is that I get embarrassed and if I run away I don't have to be embarrassed anymore." He sighed. "And that you seem to get insulted when I josh you." "*Josh* me?!" "Yeah, you know, stir you up, make a joke." "How can you call them *jokes*?!" "Okay, okay!" 'But they're not really jokes, are they Ranma?' he asked himself. Resignedly he covered his head with his arms, bracing himself and waiting for Akane's strike. Akane watched him curl up into a defensive ball, anger simmering inside her. 'Stop, girl, you can't afford to bash him over the horizon however richly he deserves it!' She sawed back on the urge to bash him for his behaviour, commanding her arms not to lash out. Then she noticed that he wasn't moving. He was still curled up, head between his knees and his arms covering the back of his head... why? With a lurch of her heart she realised that he was waiting for her to hit him, and not doing anything to prevent it. Almost as if... he felt he *deserved* to be hit. 'Which he does!' one part of her urged. Akane shook her head and reached out to touch his arm. She felt a slight tingle at the contact but pushed the sensation to one side as she watched him raise his head, eyes wondering. "It's okay, Ranma. Let's just try not to make each other angry, shall we?" He smiled lopsidedly. "Okay." The gate opened, and the two of them looked over the peak of the roof to see Soun and Genma entering the yard in high spirits. "Well, I guess the sunset's done," he said. "Wanna go down?" "Only if you carry me." "Lazy," he said as he gathered her up into his arms and jumped down. "Waaaaaa!" wailed Soun. "My daughter has been poisoned! Oh, no, how are our families to be joined now? Waaaaa!" Genma clapped Soun on the shoulder, his smile broad but his fingers white where they gripped Soun's shoulder. "What are you talking about, Tendou-kun? We should thank *whoever* drugged them! This potion forces them to be together! We can't fail, now!" "Wha?" Soun blinked tears out of his eyes. "What are *you* talking about, Saotome-kun?" "If they have to be together all the time, how can they possibly marry anybody else?! It's simple!" "Ah! You're right! Waaaaaa! My daughter's going to be married!" Nodoka watched this display impassively, shaking her head at the antics of the two fathers. But she could not escape the conclusion that this time, they were probably correct. And in other ways, this situation was not at all a bad thing. Part 2: Learning Together Ranma dumped his futon and pack onto the floor of Akane's room. That was it; the sum total of his worldly possessions were in the pack, and the futon of course had been supplied by the Tendos. Akane put his bookbag and pillow on her bed, and sat down. A breeze stirred the curtains of her room. "Is that it?" she asked. He nodded. "That's everything." "I... I had no idea..." "That I had so little?" He snorted. "When we were on the road, we had to take everything with us, and here, well..." Here, most of his money went to Nabiki one way or another. Kasumi stuck her head in. "The bath is ready, you two; otousan has just finished. Why don't you bathe now?" "Ano... oneechan?" "Yes, Akane?" "Do you have something we can use for blindfolds, oneechan?" Kasumi frowned. "That's not very safe, Akane. You could slip and fall, or trip over something, or even wander too far away from Ranma. Besides, you've both seen each other before; why make a fuss over it?" "But, oneechan..." Kasumi replied after it became clear that her sister was not going to continue her objection. "But what, Akane?" Akane scowled at the floor. "Nothing!" Ranma said nothing as they gathered their bathing things and headed down to the bathroom. He carefully avoided looking at Akane as they went down the steps and walked to the bathroom. In the laundry, which was where one disrobed and put one's clothes into the hamper, Akane put out the "occupied" sign and looked at Ranma, who already had his top off. His head was turned away from her, and that annoyed her although she couldn't quite figure out why. "Ranma." "What is it?" he asked without turning. He did however stop undressing. "I don't want you to look at me! Do you hear me?" Ranma's fists balled. "Like I'd want to look at *you*!" he shot back instinctively. Akane stared at him, stunned. What had happened to the good feeling of only an hour ago, of their declarations of earlier that afternoon? "Err... what's wrong, Ranma?" she asked in a puzzled voice. He said nothing, just stood there, his fists clenched and the muscles of his shoulders and back tight. Akane's anger rose. How dare he ignore her?! "Ranma! Answer me!" She stepped over to him and put her hand on his shoulder, pulling to spin him around. But at the touch of her hand on his skin, she felt a tingling and felt her anger at him drain away. She wanted nothing so much as to take him in her arms, for he was obviously hurting. She watched his hands unclench and his shoulders slump a little as she stood there with her hand on him. "Isn't my sworn oath enough for you?" he asked quietly. "You ought to know I'm very good at keeping them. I swore one to Ryouga, you know, and-- Ah, never mind." He scooped up two long, black cloths from the hamper next to him and held them out to Akane. "Here." "Where did you get those?" He turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. She saw that his expression was a little surprised. "They were lying in the hamper." He smiled at her, then tied his around his head with quick movements. Akane watched him as he stood there, obviously waiting for her also to don her blindfold. His expression was neutral, with perhaps just a hint of a upturn in his lips as he stood, strangely alert. She wondered what was going through his mind even as she wondered if Kasumi had been playing some mind game with them. Kasumi? With a sigh, Akane tied the black silk around her head, thoroughly obscuring her vision. "Okay," she said when she was done, relieved to see that her vision was quite obscured. Ranma was relieved to hear her voice, and finished disrobing quickly. He listened to the rustle of cloth, trying to identify her actions by the various sounds. Finally there came two steps, and a slight clunk as she took up her bath bowl, and he knew she was done. "Are you ready, Ranma?" He grunted. "Sure." Walking carefully and slowly, with deliberately-heavy footsteps, he stepped towards the doorway. "Hang on, Ranma." He stopped immediately and heard Akane step towards the doorway. There was a rattle as something -- her hand, he assumed -- collided with the sliding door, but then there was the sound of the door being slid open. He heard her step inside, and felt the slightly-warmer air of the bathroom wash over his skin, bringing the smell of the hot furo to his nostrils. Then the pain started. "Wait, Akane!" He moved as quickly as he dared in her direction. His shoulder brushed the door as he passed into the bathroom, and he took a moment to slide the door firmly closed. "Where are you?" "Over here, Ranma. I'm in the middle of the room." "This is dangerous, Akane. We could easily get separated too far. It nearly happened a moment ago." There was a moment's silence, then Akane sighed. "I know. What are we going to do?" "Turn your back to me. I'm coming over, and I'll try and touch your shoulders." "Then why should I turn around?" "In case I miss." Ranma was a little surprised to hear a giggle come from Akane's direction, but he smiled himself in reaction and followed the noise, his arm outstretched but held softly so he couldn't hurt her. Carefully he walked towards where he last heard her. Then he felt the briefest sensation of warmth in his fingertips, and then there was the slightest of tingles as he made contact with her warm skin. He stopped immediately. "What am I touching?" he asked nervously. "It's all right, Ranma," she replied with a smile in her voice. "You're touching my right shoulderblade." "I'll grab your shoulder, then let's find the taps, shall we?" "Okay. They're right over there." He felt her shoulder move as she pointed, and he shook his head silently as he stepped closer to her and simultaneously ran his hand up her soft skin until it rested on top of her shoulder. "Lead the way," he said. Akane led him the few steps to the shower, and he felt her dip as she knelt down. He followed suit, moving beside her. "I'm sorry, I can't find the stool," she said. "Be careful." He nodded unconsciously. "Sure," he said as he carefully laid out his bath items. Water ran briefly as Akane filled her bucket. "Pass me your bucket," she said. "Here you are," he replied as he carefully held out the small plastic bucket. There was a thump against it as Akane's hand ran into it, then it was pulled from his grasp. Water ran again, and it was thrust back into his hand. Cold water sloshed across his wrist. "That's cold water, Akane," he complained as he took the bucket. The sound of a washcloth being dunked and wrung came. "So? I've got cold water too." "But... nevermind." He doused himself with the cold water, feeling the change wash through his body, and suddenly he was a she. With a sigh, he began to soap his very female body. They soaped and scrubbed in companionable silence, the sound of water echoing through the room. Ranma leaned forward to fill his bucket again to rinse himself off, but instead of a cold wall he was expecting his reaching hand encountered warm, soapy, soft flesh. He snatched his hand back as though from a fire. "Gyaaaaa!" yelled Akane. Her bucket hit him square on the head, and clattered away to finish in a corner somewhere. "Keep your hands to yourself, pervert!" "But Akane, I was just trying to--" "Trying to cop a free feel! I know! Why you--!" Her protests stopped suddenly as she bumped into him. Ranma could feel her skin warm against the coolness of the soapy film clinging to his skin and waited for her to move away and bash him, but instead she remained stock still. Then she leaned into him, her... shoulder?... pushing more firmly into his chest. "I'm sorry, Ranma. I was leaning forward to fill my bucket and I guess you just reached at the wrong time." Hesitantly he dropped his own bucket and wrapped his arms around what he hoped were her shoulders. Encountering her opposite arm and shoulder reassured him, and he hugged her to him, forgetting for the moment his female body. "I should have asked you to fill it for me, Akane, but I didn't want to bother you in case it was inconvenient." He felt the reaction in her body as she nodded and she turned towards him a little. "I guess we're going to have to get used to depending on each other, Ranma." Then her shoulder slipped, lubricated by the soap, and he winced at the slight pain as it brushed firmly over his breast, and then Akane was in his arms, her hands going around his ribs. The sensation of her breasts against his was strange, but comforting and somehow right. Feeling rose in him, feeling for the girl he held in his arms, but the knowledge of his body at the moment held him back even as Akane's head collided gently with his. "Ranma..." she whispered. For a short time he just held her, but then he squeezed and pulled his head back, even as she started to move for a-- "Akane, please wait," he said. "Can we wash off and then do this in the furo? I'd like to be a guy when I kiss you... for real." He felt her start a little, then her body began to shake gently as she began to chuckle. Then she reached for something, and then shockingly-cold water drenched him as she turned the shower head on him full blast. She slipped out of his arms, but the sound of her laughter led him to her. They wrestled briefly for the hose before cooperating and washing off the suds. Then Akane turned off the water, dropped the shower head to the floor with a clunk, and stepped away from him. The sound of rippling water came as she got into the bath, followed by a long sigh. "Well, come on," she said then. "What are you waiting for?" As quickly as he dared, Ranma stepped over to the furo. Bracing himself with his hands, he stepped in and lowered himself into the steamingly-hot water. Quickly he dunked his head, forcing the change, then slid into the water with a sigh of pleasure. A sigh which was cut off suddenly as his feet encountered Akane's legs. "Oops. Sorry." Water rustled anew as Akane moved. He felt pressure waves as she did something in the bath, and was surprised to feel her touch his leg with her hand. "Kneel up," she said. "You're forgetting something." He got onto his knees, and found himself kneeling ribs-deep in hot water... about a foot away from Akane he discovered as he reached out to find her. Fortunately, it was her arm that he encountered. For a short moment, nothing happened. Then Akane spoke again. "Well? I'm waiting." "For what?" "Moouu... you said you wanted to be a guy!" Suddenly Ranma understood. He was somehow surprised at how easy it was to make himself shuffle forward a little and take her into his arms. Now somewhat taller than her, he was expecting the bump when he encountered her forehead with his nose. Her arms around his waist felt wonderful, and he felt oddly confident as he kissed her nose before repositioning himself for the final attack. Carefully he judged the proper angle and height, took a deep breath and began to move forward... And then Akane pushed her face into his, and they were kissing. Long and sweet, they kissed, and when he felt the pressure on his chest from her breasts pressing against him, Ranma just held her to himself all the more tightly. When they finally broke the kiss, Akane rested her head against his shoulder and kept up the pressure of her arms. Ranma felt wonderfully happy, at peace with the world and wondering why he had not seen this side of this wonderful girl before.... *click* Akane gasped in shock, and Ranma's blindfolded eyes focussed unerringly on the source of the noise. "Oneechan! How dare you!" Akane yelled, almost in Ranma's ear. He let her go, falling backwards with one hand over his ear even as he heard a slight snicker before the bathroom door slid shut emphatically. "You forgot to put out the sign!" called Nabiki through the door, taunting.