What Did You Say?

A usual fight between Ranma and Akane leads to an unexpected change.

Disclaimer:  Though this story is written by me.  All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.  I do not claim them as my own.  I am just borrowing them for the time being.

    Inside the Tendo home the traditional yelling and fighting after school has started.  Nabiki walks into the kitchen towards the refrigerator.  "They're at it again?!"  "Oh my, aren't they energetic Nabiki."  "Sure sis, whatever you say."  Replies Nabiki as she grabs a can of pop and leaves.

     "You pervert!"  Akane yelled as she swung her 5-LB mallet at Ranma.  "What did I (jumps over mallet) do now?!"  "You flirtatious egotistic baka.  You know what you did!"  "Come on Akane if this is about Shampoo hugging me, then you should know by now that it's her not me."  "Grr?then why don't you push her away?"  Slams her mallet down, but misses Ranma.  "Akane!  Where am I supposed to put my hands?  I can't exactly put them on her chest now."  "Well then tell her to stop."  "You've seen how many times I've done that.  Does it ever work?  NO!"

     "Hmm?so Saotome how long do you think this one will last?"  Panda - Saotome writes, "Who knows.  But it'd be best if we stay away."  As Soun reads the message Mr. Saotome's paw moves a couple of the pieces on the shogi board before him.  "Yes, Saotome.  Best wait until they've both cooled down."  While Soun's mouth is busy moving so are his hands switching pieces here and adding some there.

      Back in the dojo Akane keeps swinging her mallet and Ranma keeps dodging.  "If you don't like this engagement why don't you just leave."  "Is that what you want!  Fine then, don't know why I was engaged to such an uncute macho chick like you any ways."  Ranma prepared to get mauled by the mallet opens his eyes to Akane's back.  "A-Akane?"  "Ranma, just for once couldn't you stop lying to me and yourself and just tell the truth."  Dumbstruck Ranma replied "Like what?  There ain't a thing I'm hiding from you."  "Damn it Ranma!  ?I-I wish?I wish you'd just shut up with the lies and tell me what's in your heart.  Is that too much to ask?"  "What?  That we'd stop fighting so I could just damn say 'I Love You'!  Ranma froze upon hearing what had come out of his very own mouth, as time seemed to stand still.

     "Eh, are they done already?  It's only been 15 minutes, since they started."  "Maybe they've come to reason with their feelings." was written on a board that panda-Saotome held.  "Is it possible???" replied Soun wide eyed.  "I'll bet you 100 yen that Ranma and Akane will start fighting again in no time dad."  Soun looked from his daughter to his friend who was feverishly shaking his head no.  But the possibilities of 'what if' clung to Soun's mind as he lay down his bet.

    *Blink blink*  "Um A-Akane?"  'I can't believe it, he actually said it.  H-he said he loves me!'  "Akane, you all right?"  'Oh shit! What'd I do that for?  What's with Akane?  Does she really?"  "Ranma?do you?do you honestly mean?it?"  "Ah?um?" Ranma not know how to answer her looks down at his twiddling thumbs.  Akane looking hard at him sighs and says, "I see then."  Turning her back Akane started to walk away out of the dojo.  'Damnit!  Why can't I just say it, why can't I just say 'I love you Akane'.  "Akane?I?love?you."  "How am I suppose to believe you Ranma?  You just want to keep stringing me along."  "AKANE?I?love you.  I'm not playing around."  "Ranma?"

*The Next Day*

     Akane came down the stairs the next day feeling extremely happy.  As she plopped down next to Ranma she noticed that nothing had seemed to change between them.  Ranma sat quietly vacuuming up his rice and miso soup, until Mr. Saotome started to eat Ranma's food.  Thus erupted the traditional morning fight.  Furious Akane finishing her breakfast left for school.  Seeing Akane leave, Ranma quickly fought off his baka of a father and ran after her.  "Akane what's wrong?"  Ranma asked walking speedily next to her.  Stopping Akane asked, "What happened in the dojo yesterday, was it just my imagination?"  "Akane, I told you the truth.  I do (at this point Ranma looked around to see if anyone was coming.) love you."  "Then why?" Ranma interrupted "I want to keep this hidden Akane.  If we even let on the slightest, we'll be married before the end of this week."  "Is that bad?"  "WHAT?!"  "You don't want to marry me, do you?"  "That's not it!  I?I?d..do.  It's just that it'd be better to get married after we finish school."  "?"  "Akane?is that alright with you?"  Looking around again, and seeing nobody around Ranma wrapped his arms around Akane.  "Please see it my way Akane."  Looking in to his eyes Akane could not refuse.  "Okay then, but you have to promise that you deal with Ukyou, Shampoo and Kodachi soon.  And that you won't let Shampoo grope you anymore.  And?" "Alright I promise!  I'll do something, but for right now lets just get to school."  Holding hands the two walked down the road.

Author's note:  Okay, so this probably isn't the best fanfic out there.  I know that quite well.  But please don't hate me.  This is just my second try at a fic.  And I'm learning.  Hopefully sometime in the future I'll become a better writer.  Thanks for reading this story though.  It means alot.