Beyond Forms 2

by Kiwi Noriega

"Such beauty is almost never seen, a face such as yours makes a rose wilt in comparison." The kendoist stopped and struck a pose as lightning silhouetted his figure, "I am the rising thunder of Furinken High," thunder once again cracked, "Tatewaki Kunou, age, 17."

Ranma casually disregarded his introductions. He stood in front of Akane and added, "And?"

The students gasped knowing that Kunou had a temper when his skill was challenged by disregard.

"And who are you, vile creature to shield beauty from thine eyes??! Prepare!!!" Kunou answered, his fist shaking on his bokken as he approached Ranma.

Ranma grinned and jumped in the air and said, "I am Ranma Saotome, from the school of Anything-Goes martial arts," he did a couple of flips in the air that made the students gasp. He landed softly on his toes and assumed a fighting position, "And I accept-urk!!"

"I accept your challenge." Akane continued, throwing her bag at Ranma's direction.

"Hey! Whatcha do that for?! I was going to fight the jerk!" Ranma said, before catching Akane's bag. He stopped and sighed, "Okay, if you want to fight him so badly..." Ranma noticed the slight blush on Akane's cheek. He knew no one else would notice it, only he knew Akane so well, that he would see the faintest redness on her cheeks. He felt himself heating up and immediately hating the kendoist smiling at Akane. He simply stood to the side and calmly watched as Kunou and Akane faced off.

"Ahhh, and what is your name, fair beauty?" Kunou asked.

"Akane Tendo." She answered, her chin up high.

"Are you by any chance, related to a Nabiki Tendo?!!" Kunou asked, eagerness in his eyes.

"Yeah, she's my sister--" Akane started but wasn't able to finish.

"Your sister!!?!?!?" Kunou shouted, disbelief tingeing his voice.

"Let's get on with this fight." Akane answered, not wanting Kunou to talk.

Kunou then smiled, "Ah, that does not matter...Why such haste in this early morn? If you defeat me, I will allow you to date with me!!" he raised his bokken and ran straight towards Akane, not giving her a chance to respond.

Akane easily dodged to the side, not hitting back. Kunou recovered from his strike and slashed his bokken at Akane, never landing a blow.

Akane noticed Kunou pulling his strikes and growled under her breath. She hated it so much whenever _any_ guy pulls his strikes just because she was a girl. She had had enough of dodging and swiftly kicked Kunou lightly on the head, sending him down to the pavement.

The other students gasped, witnessing the defeat of the only one who could really fight in the whole school. They gathered around and stared at Akane, who was flicking her hair back.

"What did he think I was?! Pulling his blows like I'm some porcelain figure!!" Akane fumed and was surprised when a single red rose appeared before her sight. She blinked a couple of times and focused on the person holding it.

"A rose to match your beauty, Akane Tendo..." Kunou said, holding the precious rose in front of her.

Akane was speechless, never before had any guy ever given her a flower, much less a red rose. She found herself staring at the flower, her thoughts wandering. Akane didn't know what to do, she wasn't used to getting stuff like these, and only a chosen few commented on her looks before, considering they never really met a lot of people. Ranma never complimented her like that, the closest comment like that she got from him was 'nice kick, Akane'. She didn't feel the cold drops that fell on her for her focus was on that single flower and her thoughts.

Ranma watched through the whole thing, snorting in disgust when Kunou suddenly brought a rose out of nowhere and presented it to Akane. What nagged at him though was Akane's blushing again and the fact that he was feeling a teensy weensy bit jealous. He looked up and felt the cold drops of rain suddenly falling. With blinding speed, he ran towards the frozen Akane and grabbed her, punching Kunou on the face in the process.

He felt himself change and let out a breath when they made it to the school equipment room. Ranma-chan set a kettle heating and grimaced at Akane-kun.

"Our first day in school and we manage to get ourselves wet again, jeez...hey, Akane, you okay?" Ranma-chan asked, looking at Akane.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm okay...uh, hey, since when did I get wet? And what am I doing in this room?" Akane-kun asked, looking at his wet clothes.

"Oh, it rained when you were fighting that Kunou guy, what happened anyway, you looked like you weren't paying attention to anything..." Ranma asked, though she thought she knew the answer.

Akane twitched, reached for the kettle and poured it over himself, and handed it to Ranma, "Oh, that was nothing, I was just thinking about something..." she squeezed the water out from her hair and smoothed her blue, short sleeved chinese shirt.

Ranma stretched, now feeling good again in his normal form. He didn't ask any further when Akane chose to stay quiet, instead he said, "Oh man, now we're late...c'mon let's go."

Akane just nodded and followed Ranma, her thoughts still wandering.

* * * * * * * * *

(in a classroom...)

"Okay class, we have two new students, Saotome Ranma," he said, gesturing to the boy in the red chinese shirt, then turning to the girl in blue, "and Tendo Akane," they have just arrived from a training trip in China, so please give them a warm welcome." The teacher said, addressing the whole class who were staring at the newcomers. A lot of guys were leering at Akane, but when their gaze turned on Ranma, their smiles melted and they quickly looked elsewhere, "But that will not excuse you being late for class, stand out in the hall."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"So whatcha thinking 'bout?" Ranma asked, trying to break the silence.

"Things..." Akane answered, a sigh escaping her lips.

Ranma shifted the bucket he held as he turned to her and asked, "What kinda things?"

"I'm not sure...I guess one of them is our engagement." Akane answered, making sure her voice was low enough so the other students wouldn't find out.

Ranma leaned on the wall and looked outside the window, "Oh...yeah, I've been thinkin' 'bout that too..." he said, staring at Akane's face. Ranma suddenly blushed, pushing certain thoughts from his mind as he turned away from Akane, making sure she didn't see his pink cheeks.

Akane sighed as she watched a leaf fall down from a tree outside the window. So many things were changing and it was all happening so fast. She glanced at Ranma and noticed his cheeks were a shade of pink and smiled.

"So what's up with that blush when that Kunou guy gave you the flower?" Ranma asked, out of curiosity.

The question cut off Akane's smile and she answered, "I wasn't blushing!"

Ranma looked Akane in the eye and said, "C'mon, Akane, I know how you are..."

Akane tilted her head to the side and slowly smiled at Ranma.

"What??!"

Akane's smile broke into a grin and she said, "You're jealous..."

Ranma just stood there, his jaw dropped. He was speechless and said nothing to either confirm or deny Akane's accusation. He suddenly realized how easily Akane turned the table around and put him on the hot spot.

"You are jealous of that kendoist!" Akane once again said.

"Hey! I was just looking out for you!" Ranma answered though he knew how true Akane's words were. He just wasn't used to guys coming on to Akane, they always used to travel around, rarely even stopping long enough to make new friends. He usually became jealous of even the few acquaintances Akane made with some guys in the past.

Akane secretively smiled and said, "Sure..." she just grinned as Ranma tried to deny everything he said, but to no avail. She had to admit she loved teasing Ranma and taunting him with everything. Akane felt good when she did it, for usually, it was Ranma who made her so mad and teased her.

A leaf once again fell and drifted down as the engaged couple continued arguing...

* * * * * * * * * * *

A figure looked out over a town and dusted his worn clothes, his eyes fixed on the city below, "Soon...I'll finally see you again..."

He turned and walked on, his umbrella tightly in his clenched fist. Then he stopped and looked around, his eyes going wide and he shouted out, "Where on earth am I now????!!!"

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Whoa, that Kunou guy's obsessed!!!" Ranma said as he and Akane walked home from school, Ranma on top of the fence and Akane walking on the road.

"Yeah, how could a guy ask you out more than ten times! He's gonna have to stay in the hospital for a few days. I never thought I would get that many challenges in one day!!" Akane said, her enthusiasm showing.

Ranma just smiled and whistled as he carelessly walked on the fence.

"Ranma?" Akane asked, stopping and looking at her friend.

"Yeah?"

Akane smiled and jumped beside him on the fence with as much ease as Ranma did, "Let me try this..."

Ranma grinned to her and said, "Be careful, you might fall..." he taunted looking mischievously at Akane.

"Hmmm..." she said, then lashed out with speed that was almost invisible to the eye, "Like this!!!" she shouted, pushing Ranma.

Ranma was surprised for a second but recovered just as quickly. He felt himself falling, but quickly caught the top of the fence. He grinned up at Akane and said, "Not quite..." he then hoisted himself up on the face, landing face to face with Akane, their faces only inches closer.

"Um..." Ranma said, his arms around Akane's waist as they stood there frozen, on top of the fence.

Akane blushed, noticing her hands were on Ranma's chest. She glanced up at him and saw that he was even redder than she was, and smiled.

"I was sure you were gonna fall..." Akane whispered softly, a taunting edge in her voice as she looked up at his face, her cheeks a light pink.

Ranma smiled and answered, "Well..." he couldn't find any words, but became suddenly aware at how close Akane was to him. His thoughts roamed and he slapped himself internally, thinking of the same words he always thought of at times like this, *My best friend, Ranma....best friend...best...best...* "Ahhhhh...b-beautiful..." a hoarse whisper escaped his lips.

Akane suddenly looked up and asked, "Wh-what?"

Ranma's eyes bulged out realizing what he said, "N-n-nothing! I-i..."

They both started in surprise when a wall came crashing down opposite them. Through the dust and rubble, a young man emerged, his umbrella pointed threateningly at Ranma.

"Ranma!!! Prepare to diiii---" the young man screamed but stopped as he stared at them.

Akane looked closely at the boy and smiled with delight as she quickly jumped down the fence and caught the man in a tight embrace saying, "Oh Ryo-chan!! It's been so long!!"

Ranma made a face, mouthing the words, 'Oh Ryo-chan!!' in the most cutest of manners. He coughed when Akane elbowed him on the stomach.

"A-a-Akane?" Ryouga stuttered, his jaw hanging at the beauty before him, "You've-you've changed so much..." he added. Ryouga just stared at Akane's face, still seeing the same old Akane he knew since they were children. Yet, somehow, there were some changes in her appearance; her clothes were new, he noted as he looked over the sleeveless blue chinese shirt and black pants. Her hair was longer than it used to and she was definitely shapelier in all the right places. He smacked himself at his thoughts and focused his attention on his old friend, until a voice cut his thoughts.

"Hey how's it been, lost boy? And stop starin' at her! " Ranma said as he stood protectively at Akane's side.

Ryouga stared hatred at Ranma and said nothing, instead, he turned to Akane and smiled, "I've missed you so much, Akane."

Akane smiled back and answered, "Yeah, me too. What happened to you anyway? It's been years!!"

"Um, uh, I, uh, got lost, and um, had a 'small' accident on the way." Ryouga said, his hand scratching the back of his head.

"Well, do you have a place to stay?" Akane asked.

Ryouga blushed and answered, "Um no, I kinda got lost on my way home...and I uh..."

Akane smiled and said, "Then you can stay in the dojo, with me and Ranma!"

"Thanks a lot Akane!!"

Ryouga and Akane just smiled at each other, glad to see another familiar face in a new city.

"We'd better get going, Kasumi and the others might be worried." Ranma said, motioning the others to move. When Akane walked ahead, Ryouga shot Ranma a look that said they had to talk. Ranma nodded, still puzzled at the rage Ryouga had shown earlier.

They walked on as the sun set over the horizon...

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"You got lost!?!?!?!" Ranma exclaimed as he faced Ryouga on top of the dojo roof.

"Yeah, I got lost, but it's all your fault!" Ryouga answered, a pouting look on his face. He knew it really wasn't Ranma's fault, but he needed an excuse to cover for his lack of direction. He closed his eyes and felt the wind gently caress his face as he sighed.

"Lost?!!?" Ranma once again exclaimed.

Ryouga's eyes shot open and he answered, "Yeah, well I did, okay!" then continued, "I know it's not your fault...Anyway, it's not that..." Ryouga sighed and a look of helplessness passed over him.

Ranma saw that look on his face and asked, worry etched on his face, "Why, what happened, Ryouga?"

Ryouga saw the concerned look on his friend's face and said, "You know Jusenkyou?" Ryouga sighed as he remembered what happened,

{ A young Ryouga sighed and went on his way. *Go straight and you won't miss the river!* Ranma had told him that and he was anxious to wash his face already, after being thrown on the ground in a small sparring session. He looked around, he had been walking for quite a while and Ryouga wondered where he was. He suddenly stopped and looked around him slowly, "Ranma!!! How could you get me lost!!!" then something moved in the bushes in front of him, "A ha!! I got you!!" he screamed as he leaped forward to the bushes-

And then through it. Ryouga 'eeped' as he felt nothing but air below him, he looked down and saw small pools and shouted as he went down, "Ranma!! You'll pay for this!!! Aaaaaaaahhh!!!"

*SPLASH*

Then from the water, emerged- }

Ranma threw his arms in disgust and said, "But we were only a few feet away from the lake! How could you have gotten lost!!?? And jumping into to the bushes?!?! Ryouga!!" then he realized what his friend had just shared, "You fell into one of the pools..." Ranma sighed, knowing the horror Ryouga felt.

Ryouga stared into his friend's face and asked, "You mean you too??"

Ranma just nodded and said, "And Akane..."

"Oh no, not Akane...well...what do you turn into?" Ryouga said, remembering how he and Ranma had been best friends when they were young.

"Here let me show you..." Ranma answered, jumping down to the koi pond.

A red-haired girl came out of the pond and stared at Ryouga's surprised face as she flicked her red pig-tail back.

Ryouga just stared for while, then slowly, a smile cracked into his serious face. Tears shone as he tried his best to keep his laughter in, but he couldn't help it and burst out laughing. Then he said, in between laughs, "I-I'm sorry, Ranma, it's just-just funny!! Hahaha!!"

Ranma glared at him and threw Ryouga into the pond in one swift motion, "Let's see what you turn into!" she waited as a figure emerged from the water.

A dripping wet girl stared furiously at Ranma, who looked about ready to laugh her head off. Ryouga squeezed the water from her green hair and lunged at Ranma, her fist extended with a cry, "Ranma!!!"

Ranma grinned before she blocked and winced, realizing Ryouga was still strong in her female form. Ranma shrieked when Ryouga pinned her down on the grass, chuckling as she smiled victoriously at her.

"Ha, I got you!"

Ranma caught her off guard and kicked her, sending Ryouga flying into the wall, "Not yet!"

Ryouga-onna groaned as she stood up and smiled at her friend, "And I was so close! Maybe I could go and ask Akane to spar, let's see how much she's gotten better."

"Hmph, Akane's gotten a lot better y'know, she's faster and stronger too, I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up beating you!" Ranma-onna said, a smirk painting her face.

"RANMA!" Akane's voice rang through the yard.

Both girls raised their arms in defense and waited for Akane's mallet.

Akane looked at them and said, "What's wrong?"

Ranma grinned and answered, "Hmph, it was just a reflex action. Anyway, Akane, Ryouga's--"

Ryouga immediately put her hand over Ranma's mouth and said, "Ryouga's not here right now...uh..."

"He's what?!?!" Ranma exclaimed, staring at Ryouga-onna.

"He's probably lost somewhere..." Akane said with a smile then approached the green haired girl and said as she extended her hand, "Hi, my name's Akane."

Akane smiled at the girl in front of her. Because of her and Ranma travelling a lot, Akane never really had a chance to have girl friends. *Well maybe Ranma could be called a girl friend.* she thought, smiling.

Ryouga looked at Akane and answered, "Hi, I um-my name's um, let's see, oh, my name's..." Ryouga thought for a girl's name. He never met any girls so he was at a loss, then, one name came to mind and she said, "Ukyou! U-huh, Kuonji Ukyou's the name!" Ryouga said, reaching for Akane's hand and immediately stared into her kind and caring eyes, yet, beyond those eyes he could see fire and determination...

- end ch 2

Author's Notes:

Hi! Sorry 'bout the big delay, I've been working on several projects lately and I don't know which to finish first ^_^ But, I promise I'll keep on writing this fic as long as you keep reading ^_^ Thanks!

C&Cs are welcome!!
Thanks again and ja ne!!

~Kiwi~