Chapter 2: The First Signs

"Alone at last," sighed Akane as she wandered through the mall," Ranma will never find me here!"

At that very moment Akane felt eyes watching her. Her battle aura immediately flared up. She spun around, ready for anything.

"Geez Akane, it's only me."

Akane calmed down.

"Oh, ok, I thought you were…RANMA!!"

Her aura blazing again, she faced Ranma and attacked.

. . .

After the mall cops restrained Akane and Ranma (Ranma let them lead him away but Akane was fighting them the whole time), the two were kicked out of the mall. Akane was really steamed at Ranma and wanted to continue the fight but Ranma had other plans. (Evil Music)

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"Where Ranma been? Why he leave Shampoo?" Shampoo demanded as Ranma walked up to the dojo. "Wait minute, why violent girl with arien?"

"Why you…" growled Akane as Ranma restrained her. "Who are you calling violent?"

"Akane, you're only proving her point. Please for me, just this once, don't fight her."

"R-Ranma…" Akane whispered as she turned to face him, "Why?"

"Well," he sputtered, "Umm, I don't want you to get hurt, that's all."

The loving look that had been in Akane's eyes immediately disappeared as she heard Ranma speak.

So that's it, he doesn't think I can win. I'll show him.

"RANMA NO BAKA!!" she yelled, as Ranma suddenly understood what he had done.

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Ranma felt stupid, once again he had stuck both feet into his mouth in an attempt to show Akane that he cared for her. Resulting once again in her anger, the one thing he couldn't stand.

Ranma hated it when he got Akane mad or hurt her feelings. He didn't mean to but sometimes he just said things that set her off, then he'd feel terrible.

"Akane, calm down! I was just…"

"Yeah, you were just showing once again that you prefer Shampoo. Fine, go with her. See if I care!"

With a final glance at Ranma, Akane ran into the house and slammed the door.

"Well, now Shampoo get Ranma all to self," Shampoo happily commented. She threw her arms around his neck before he could say anything. "Aiah!(Shampoo's happy noise)"

"Shampoo get off me," growled Ranma. "You don't get me all to yourself, you don't get me at all."

"What Ranma say?" she sputtered as she slowly withdrew her deathly grasp. "Ranma no love Shampoo?"

"Ranma no love cats," was his reply.

"Then Shampoo never be cat again. Shampoo never get wet, never be cat!"

"Shampoo that's gross. Now let me go. I have, uh, something I need to do."

"Shampoo come too!"

"NO!" he yelled as he glared at the purple haired Amazon. He turned and ran down the street.

"Shampoo no follow," she whispered in a small voice.

She was afraid of what Ranma might do if she followed. Besides, he was already so mad and had spoken with such force that she was frozen to her spot on the porch. She stood staring down the road where her beloved Ranma had disappeared.

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Akane sat on her bed feeling angry with Ranma. She didn't understand why he couldn't be nice to her. He always seemed to be teasing her or dissing her fighting abilities.

It's not like he's perfect, she angrily thought.

But when she tried to think of his faults her mind drew a blank. Sure he turned into a girl when he got hit with cold water and he got a mind of a cat when he got really scared but those weren't his fault. He didn't fall in the cursed spring on purpose and he didn't purposely learn the "Cat Fist". In fact both of those, in a way, had been his dad's fault.

Akane's anger began to seep away.

"Why can I never stay mad at you Ranma?" she whispered drying the tears that had trickled down her face.

Tap, Tap

"Who's there?" asked Akane.

No one answered so she opened the door. She looked up and down the hallway but still didn't see anyone. Then she looked down and saw a bouquet of flowers. She spotted a note and picked it up. It had only one word;

Sorry

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Later that night Ranma was lounging on the roof of the Tendo's house. He was thinking about what had happened that day.

I hope she liked the flowers, he thought.

"Why do I keep doing this to myself? I love Akane so much and I …wait, did I just say that? I, no, I didn't. I did, oh I…" Ranma sputtered, annoyed with himself and scared to death that he had just admitted out loud what he forever had been afraid to say.

"I love Akane…" he once again wondered out loud. "I really do. Not like I can ever tell her. She'd think I was lying and never speak to me again…"

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Akane lay on her bed, the partially open window letting in the soft summer breeze, and listened to the sweetest words she had ever heard.

IloveAkaneIloveAkaneIloveAkane, the words kept repeating themselves in her head.

He loves me. He loves me and he thinks he can never tell me because he's afraid of what I would do. Why? What have I done to make him think that way? I know! Tomorrow I'll cook him something for lunch! I'll make sure we're the only ones in the home so Kasumi won't be here to cook, then I'll cook him a great meal. I'll make sure he knows I'm sorry…

Akane gave a little laugh and a sigh of pleasure as she drifted off to sleep, dreaming about what she could do to make Ranma happy.

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Ranma jumped at the noise. It was a laugh. An Akane laugh. Akane was laughing. At him. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the window was partly open. He knew in an instant that it was Akane's window. She had heard every word he had said and she was laughing at him.

Oh man, now I really blew it. I'll have to be even more my usual self than usual. That didn't sound right. Oh well, I'll have to make sure that it's even more obvious that I don't like that macho chick even though I do. Whatever the cost I can't let anyone know…

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The next morning Akane continued with her plan. She paid her sister Nabiki to buzz off (Nabiki was quite willing to leave when she heard Akane was cooking, but she never could refuse making some extra money). As for Kasumi, Akane told her to take the day off. This, unfortunately, meant that Akane had to do the housework but it would be worth it. She locked the doors to ensure that none of Ranma's other… admirers would disturb them.

Akane sighed.

That doesn't mean some of them won't break the door down if they think he's here. I'd better hurry and get lunch made while Ranma's still upstairs. I swear, how can he sleep so long? Akane giggled happily and rushed into the kitchen. (Be afraid, be very afraid)

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When Ranma awoke he nearly gagged. Something was burning and it smelled horrible!

"Oh no!" he whispered, "Please Kami (god) don't let it be happening, not again!"

He left his room and headed downstairs to the kitchen. The smell was getting worse. He opened the door and saw that had once again, his plea had been ignored.

Akane had cooked lunch!

Ranma regained his composure as he stepped into the room.

"Umm, Akane, what are you doing?" he asked politely as possible without choking.

"What does it look like baka, I'm making lunch for you! It's curry!"

"Great. Curry. Thanks Akane."

She looks so happy. I have to eat it. I can't hurt her. If only Ukyo was here to make some okonomiyaki for me…

"Ranma? What's wrong? You look like your going to be sick."

"Nothing Akane. I'm, uh, fine."

"That's good, now eat up! I made it especially for you!"

"That's what I'm afraid of," Ranma muttered as he sat down at the table and watched Akane set the curry in front of him. She walked to the other side of the table and sat down.

"Well," she said," hurry up and eat. I have to give P-chan a bath."

Ranma eyed her and then the food.

"Are you sure this is safe?"

"RANMA!!!" Akane got up and stormed out of the room.

Ranma didn't know what to do. So, braving his own safety and health, he took a big bite of curry. He chewed unable to say anything. As he swallowed he thought,

You know for Akane's cooking this is pretty good.

"AKANE! COME BACK! I LIKE IT!" Ranma yelled as he chased after his fiancée.

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" That baka! I try to do something nice and he acts like a jerk," she fumed.

She had gone up to her room and locked the door. There she sat on her bed in a rage at Ranma, her battle aura was brightly shining.

"Why am I here sulking? I'm gonna go downstairs and kick his butt for what he said," she decided.

She went downstairs to the kitchen. She couldn't find Ranma in the kitchen. She went to the table and saw his plate sitting there.

"Why can't he clean up after himself," she growled.

When she went to pick up the bowl she saw that it was empty. Next to the bowl was a piece of paper folded up. She opened it up and smiled when she saw what Ranma wrote;

Thanks Akane

Once again Ranma, you have managed to melt my heart, she sighed.

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