Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Being True To Your Heart ❯ Two ( Chapter 2 )

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"The Cry Of My Body

For Completeness, That

Is A Cry To You." Mary Carolyn Davies

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The Ball That Night

The stars glowed brightly that night over the lantern lit dojo. Sounds of laughing, talking, and dance music echoed from its walls. Ryoga Hibiki looked up at the dojo then down to the invitation in his hand. I finally made it, oh Akane, fate itself must have led me to you. . .

Inside, a full-blown party had erupted. Nabiki mingled through the crowd looking for possible cash flows while Kasumi giggled softly at Dr. Tofu's nervous antics. Ranma and Akane were at opposite sides of the room speaking with their friends and at the same time avoiding Kunos tramping around as fairies looking for various 'pigtailed ones' and 'Akane my love' or any suiters/fiancees who were in the mood to glomp. Genma and Soun stood huddled in the corner while they contemplated their latest scheme to bring their two children together.

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"Hey Akane, why aren't you out there dancing with Ranma?"

"Are you kidding Yuka? I wouldn't dance with him if he were the last guy on earth," It's not like the jerk would ask me anyway, "besides, you know I hate today's fast music, it's so cheesy."

"But Akane, you guys would look so-Oh! The Macarena!! I love this song! Come on!" Yuka then dragged off the rest of the girls leaving Akane standing alone. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

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"Hey Saotome, I know why your not out there dancing," one of Ranma's friends leered at him.

"Oh really," Ranma rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Yeah, your just waiting for one of those slow songs so you can hang all over that beyond beautiful fiancé of yours, heh heh."

"Yeah right! Why would I even want to go near an uncute tomboy like that!"

"Well if you won't. . . then I will," the brave boy soon lost his courage as Ranma narrowed his eyes and came out of his relaxed position.

"Don't even think about it man."

"Jealous?"

"NO! I just. . "

"Yeah whatever Saotome, I don't know about anyone else, but I'm going to hit that dance floor, the girls are there and I love what they're doing!" He flashed a perverted grin and headed out, the others herded behind him leaving Ranma standing solitary against the wall. Man, they look so stupid dancing to that dumb song. . . the macaheba or somethin'. His thoughts cut off short as he spied his uncute fiancée all alone across the room. He glanced around then slowly made his way over to her.

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Akane sighed and sagged further against the wall not even bothering to hide the growing pout on her face. Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed a certain pigtailed boy heading slowly but surely in her direction. Ranma? What's he-Before she could blink, he was next to her.

"Yo Akane. . . how's it going?" He absently scratched his head and joined her in sagging against the wall.

"Umm. . okay. . hey, how come you're not dancing?"

"To this music? You've got to be kidding me." He felt his heart suddenly begin pounding hard in his chest at her smile. "Yeah. . how 'bout you?"

"I can't stand the Macarena." Ranma let out a small laugh. So that's what it's called. . . Neither of them spoke for a time, the music to loud, their thoughts too jumbled. Ranma glanced out one of the windows to see the moon shining back at him.

"Hey Akane?" His cheeks became tinged with pink as he realized what he was about to do.

"Yes Ranma?" She turned favoring him once again with a bright smile.

"Do you want to go outside. . and uh. . . maybe take a. . . a wal-"

"Airen! You want dance with Shampoo?"

"Ranma sweetums, come to me!"

"Ranma honey, how 'bout it? Let's hit that dance floor!" Oh no. . . why now? Ranma looked nervously at the oncoming trio of girls. He then looked down at Akane, watched as she looked towards the girls then back at the floor sadly. She pushed away from the wall.

"Well Ranma, I hope you enjoy your-" Akane gasped as Ranma grabbed her wrist and made a mad dash through the crowd, dragging her along until they reached the middle of the floor. "Ranma! What are you doing?" He glanced around wildly in response, and finally after seeing no one busting through the many people after him, looked back down at Akane and sighed.

"They're gone. . . so Akane. . um. . do ya. . um. . wanna dance?"

"It's a little late to ask you know." Ranma's normal retort was cut short as the fast song was suddenly replaced by a soft ballad. Nabiki walked away from the stereo, a sinister grin spread across her face. This should get interesting. . . better make sure that I have enough film. . Many couples formed on the dance floor, clinging to each other as they swayed to the soft music. Ranma saw this and looked down shyly, Akane, on the other hand, was getting a little impatient.

"Well Ranma? Are we going to dance or what?"

"Really?" The seriousness she found in his eyes made her own cheeks tinge with pink as well.

"Well. . . umm, you did ask me and. . I. . " Without another word he reached out to grasp her gently around the waist. Akane in turn reached up to clasp her hands behind his neck. The soft beat of the music echoed within their hearts, drawing them closer and closer to each other until they were left drowning in each others gaze, the world disappearing around them.

This is. . . kinda nice. .

His eyes. . I've never seen them so clearly before. . beautiful. .

She's not pulling away

He's still here

Does that mean. .

Does he really. .

She's so. . cute

I wish this would last. .

Forever. .

Neither of them noticed the couples around them disappear, neither of them noticed the whispers. The crowd formed a large circle surrounding the two, most noted for their fighting, lost in each other. Kasumi smiled softly and stepped away from Tofu's unconscious form momentarily to the stereo and raised the volume to hide the outraged whispers coming from the crowd.

"Ranma honey how could you?"

"Saotome you cad!"

"Way ta go Saotome!"

"Didn't think he had it in him."

"Finally our two families will be joined, oh happy day."

"Violent girl no get away with this!"

"Ranma Saotome, prepare to die. . "

"Now Shampoo will be all mine. . "

Ranma looked deep into her brown eyes. . I was wrong, way beyond cute. . . His gaze continued to trace over her face, the delicate arch of her eyebrows, the gentle flush in her skin, and finally to the fullness of her lips.

"R-ranma. . ?" Akane's soft whisper brought his eyes back to hers.

"Akane. . I. . " All words failed him as he helplessly drowned in her warm gaze. Taking a deep breath, he leaned close. Is he going to? Akane slowly began her own descent towards him. They came nearer, their eyes drifting shut as their breaths mingled, their mouths inched closer when,

"That's it boy!! GO FOR IT!!" Genma Saotome apparently could not hold it in any longer, the shout echoed across the room and the music was suddenly cut short. Ranma blinked and began to push away from Akane. No. . not again. . not when we were so close. . She refused to let him go.

"Ranma. . please. . " Her whispers halted as she caught site of the panic in his eyes, as he propelled himself out of her embrace. Now feeling completely cornered, he now turned to the weapon he was most accustomed to activating, insults.

"What are you talking about pop?!? Like I would ever do something even close to that with a tomboy like her. I mean just look at her, " Akane felt herself begin to tremble, "She's so uncute, built like a brick, twice as dumb, she can't cook, can't dance, can't even-" Ranma chose that moment to spare a glance at his 'uncute' fiancée. His tirade stopped when he saw the tears swimming in her eyes. Anger he could take. . a mallet, sure. . but not crying, he couldn't bare to see her cry. "A-akane. . look I-" SLAP! CRASH!

"RANMA YOU JERK!!!!"

On to Chapter Three