The Thin Line Between Love and Friendship 2

by Kiwi Noriega

ALL RIGHTS ARE OF RUMIKO TAKAHASHI AND VIZ VIDEO

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CHAPTER 2

Love and Need

Akane's eyes slowly opened as the sun's rays greeted her with a warm smile. She stood up and gazed out the window, seeing Ranma and Mr. Saotome practicing at the koi pond. Akane stared at Ranma, watching on as he delivered each blow with precise movements and confidence. *Two years...* she sighed, *Ranma, 'what do we mean to each other? Are we friends or are we lovers?' *

Akane slowly closed the curtain and took a bath, getting ready for her training session with Ryouga in the park. A considerable time later, Akane tied her belt and went downstairs to eat breakfast. When she got down, Ranma was already there, eating the same way he always did.

"So, uh, where are you goin'?" Ranma asked, noticing that she had a bag with her.

Akane looked at him and answered, "Ryouga's gonna be training me..."

Ranma started to fume, trying hard not to show Akane how he felt, "Oh, ok..." Since yesterday; Ranma started to be nice to her. When he saw her at the playground with Ryouga, a feeling of dread came upon him. A feeling he never experienced before, a feeling that he might actually lose Akane...He shook his head, *No, it's impossible, Akane always came to me...always...*

When Akane was done, she silently stood up and left the Tendo dojo. A smile touched her face the moment she saw Ryouga's campsite in the playground. She approached his tent and looked inside, saying, "Ryouga?"

"..."

Akane smiled and went into the tent, seeing that Ryouga was still asleep, "I guess I was a little early..." She sat beside him, just staring at his face as his mouth moved, revealing his fangs. A few minutes passed and Akane found herself just staring at his face, a faint feeling tugging at her heart. She sighed, not wanting to wake him up from what looked like a peaceful sleep. Akane smiled, then stopped when Ryouga spoke,

"No..." Ryouga whispered, his hand extended, as if he was reaching out for something, or someone...

Akane didn't know what to do and gently took his hand, bringing it down to his chest. *He's dreaming...* she thought.

Ryouga murmured again and Akane slowly put her hand on his cheek, whispering, "It's okay, Ryouga, it's okay...I'm here...shh..."

Ryouga's hand suddenly covered Akane's and his eyes slowly opened, "A-akane?"

Their eyes met and silence came upon them as they stared into each other's eyes...

Akane blushed as she pulled back her hand, feeling embarrassed at her actions, "I'd better wait outside..." and with that, she hurriedly went out, leaving Ryouga still blushing in the tent.

As soon as Akane heard Ryouga call her name, she immediately turned around and said, "I'm sorry Ryouga...I shouldn't have gone in your tent and all that, I--"

Ryouga grinned and said, "Thanks..."

Akane stopped, her mouth still open, then she asked, "Huh?"

Ryouga once again smiled, revealing his fangs, "Thank you...I-I was having a really bad dream..."

"Oh..." Akane said, "What was your dream about?"

Sadness flashed in his eyes, but it was gone in an instant, "Oh, it was nothing..."

Akane just smiled and let it pass, asking, "So, are you hungry?"

Ryouga nodded, not sure what Akane was up to.

Akane suddenly beamed and said, "Great! I'll cook something for you!" then she stopped and continued, "That is, if you want me to. I mean I'll understand, I-I don't want to poison you or anything..." Akane waited for Ryouga's answer, then she gaped in surprise when he suddenly smiled. It wasn't his normal smile where there was always a small hint of depression in his eyes. It was the first time Akane saw him really, truly smile without having a tiny bit of sadness in his eyes. She couldn't help but smile herself...

***

Ranma looked out into the afternoon sun and sighed, *She's been gone all day...* He closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to sort out his feelings, *What am I gonna do? * After a few minutes of contemplation, Ranma came up with one solution,

*I have to tell her...*

***

Both Ryouga and Akane stared at the 'thing' on the plate and sighed. After the failed attempt at breakfast, they agreed that they would try and cook something better for dinner...and so they tried...

Akane turned to Ryouga and said; "Hmm...it didn't turn out the way it's supposed to, maybe we should taste it?" the last came out more of a question.

Ryouga looked at the 'food' on the plate and then looked into Akane's hope-filled eyes and answered, "I guess so..." Ryouga took a pair of chopsticks from his pack and handed another pair to Akane.

"Um, you go first," Akane said, still staring at the 'beef teriyaki' on the plate.

Ryouga nodded and time slowed as he reached out and took a piece, slowly putting the piece in his mouth and chewing.

Akane waited for his opinion and smiled when he grinned at her and pointed his thumb up. Feeling quite confident, Akane also took a piece and chewed, ignoring Ryouga's protests. After she swallowed the whole thing, Akane's head slowly turned to Ryouga, seeing him cringe in anticipation of a blow.

Ryouga waited, but when nothing hit him, he looked at Akane and was surprised when a smile bloomed on her face,

"It-it tastes awful," Akane finally concluded, giggling as she said it.

Ryouga laughed with her and nodded vigorously, getting a glass of water and washing the taste away.

Akane never thought that she would laugh at her own cooking, but she realized she just did.

The laughter and mirth slowly died and they settled down underneath the tree in the playground. After thinking it over, Ryouga finally had the courage to ask Akane a question that's been bothering him for the past night,

"So, how are you and Ranma?" Ryouga asked, remembering the scene near the koi pond.

Akane shrugged and answered, "Oh, we're fine, I mean he's been really nice to me and all..."

Ryouga nodded, feeling a knife through his heart, "That's great, I mean, it's about time you two stopped fighting..." he tried hard not to let Akane know that he was sad and tried to sound enthusiastic.

"Oh..." Akane answered, sighing as she stood up. She didn't understand why Ryouga's answer somehow felt like a small needle pricked her heart, "Well, I should be going now, it's gonna be dark soon..."

Ryouga stood up and offered, "I'll walk you home if you want..."

Akane smiled and answered, "No, it's okay Ryouga, you might not find your way back here, I don't want to lose my teacher," she added with a grin. "I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, Akane started walking towards the Tendo dojo.

Ryouga sighed; feeling a little disappointed as he watched her prepare to leave. He just stood there as Akane slowly faded away...

***

Ranma looked around him, troubled at the recent events, "What am I gonna do?" he asked, not expecting an answer.

"Tell her what you feel..." a voice answered.

Ranma turned to see Kasumi smiling at him from the sundeck, "I-I can't..."

"Why?"

Ranma closed his eyes and answered, "Because I'm afraid that she'll push me away and everything that I've known and loved will change..."

"You have to tell her..." Kasumi whispered, trying to comfort him with her words.

"But if I tell her that I l-love her and she doesn't, y'know, love me then--"

"Then you'll still be friends...and if you truly love her then being loved as a friend is enough..."

Kasumi's words somehow soothed him, but only a little. Ranma sighed as he looked up at the night sky...

***

Akane sighed as she made her way home, not knowing why Ryouga's words bothered her. *Why did I feel hurt when he said that it was about time me and Ranma stopped fighting? * She kicked a little rock and watched as it tumbled down the road, sighing as she pondered her thoughts, *What's wrong with me? *

Finally, she came upon the huge doors of the Tendo dojo and she quietly entered, noticing no one was there. Akane approached the koi pond and sat on a rock, closing her eyes as she slowly rubbed her temple. She heard a faint rustle of clothing and she opened her eyes, seeing Ranma standing a few feet from her, a determined yet fearful look in his face.

Ranma took a step forward and said, "A-akane, I...I...have to tell you something..."

Akane glanced up into his eyes as she stood up and said, "What is it, Ranma?"

Ranma took a deep breath and he opened his arms to her, saying, "Akane...I...I love you..."

***

Ryouga sighed, he was supposed to be on his way to the Tendo dojo, but he didn't know where he was going so he just wandered around, hoping that he would eventually reach his destination. *I'd better find Akane's headband...oh yeah, I dropped it near the doors...Kasumi probably picked it up already, but it's better if I check, * he thought, then added, *And it's a good excuse to see Akane...*

He walked on, feeling that he was getting closer by the minute...

***

Akane stood there, staring at him, just staring, her eyes taking on a blank look...

Ranma looked on as Akane continued looking at him, those big brown eyes staring deep into his. Then she walked slowly to him, her head bowed so he couldn't see her face. When she was only inches away, instead of the hug Ranma expected, or at least he hoped, Akane gently and slowly lowered his open arms to his side, gazing into his eyes and whispered,

"Years I've been waiting for those three words...but..." the moonlight softly shone on her tear-filled eyes, "...why when I hear it now, it lost its meaning?" The question wasn't for Ranma but it was for herself...

Ranma's determined demeanor broke and he asked in a near anguished voice, "Wh-what are you saying, Akane?" when she did not answer, he continued, "I love you...I said it...I love you, Akane...w-why...?" a single teardrop fell from his face as he tried hard not to cry.

Akane closed her eyes for one brief moment, opening them to see Ranma fighting to keep the tears away. Though she felt weak and didn't want to hurt him anymore, she had to know...she had to ask him a question. Akane took a deep breath and quietly asked, "Why, Ranma? I have to know why..."

***

Ryouga rounded a corner and immediately recognized the Tendo dojo's doors. *Here at last, * he thought, "I wonder what Akane's doing..."

***

Ranma gently took her by the shoulders and said, "I love you, Akane...I love you because I need you..." his voice pleaded for her to say that she loved him too...But she bowed her head and said,

"Please leave me, Ranma...I- I need to be alone..."

Ranma let her go and said, "But Akane--"

"Please..." Akane whispered...

***

Ryouga smiled as he entered the dojo and found Akane's headband lying on the ground, a little dirty and tattered. He slowly kneeled down and picked it up, *Hmmm...I guess they didn't see it...I should go and buy Akane a new--* he thought as he slowly stood up then stopped frozen, still half standing as he looked at the person near the koi pond.

Ryouga's eyes met Akane's and he saw the tears that streamed down her face. He quickly walked to her and asked, "What's wrong, Akane?"

Akane faintly smiled and asked, "Ryouga...have you ever loved someone because you need that person?"

"No..." he simply answered, then continued, "I mean, loving a person because you need them isn't truly love. It's needing a person because you love them that is love."

A questioning look came upon Akane, and she said, "I-Isn't that the same?"

Ryouga smiled and said, "I've spent years just thinking whenever I get lost, about life, love and all the things that surround me...you'll understand Akane, trust me..." he walked away from a confused Akane and just when he was near the door, he turned back and said,

"Akane?"

Akane looked at him, still thinking of what he meant...

His heart raced and his pulse quickened as he slowly said, "I just want you to know that I...I need you..."

- end ch 2

Author's notes:

Oookay, I'm really sorry for all the delays in my other series and for the lack of new waff fics!! I've been busy with school and sports, so I barely have time to even touch my computer. I'm really sorry, but I hope everyone liked this one. As you might expect, the next chapter will probably late too because I have to finish Beyond Forms 3 and WPWP 8. Again, hope everyone liked it!

At the start of the story, I put quotes on 'What do we mean...' because I took it from one of my fave songs. ^_^

C&Cs are welcome at [email protected]

Thanks and ja!!

~Kiwi~