Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Nekoken is Out of the Bag ❯ No More Secrets ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lord Archive 
The truth of a few big secrets are no longer hidden.
Anime/Manga: Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Martial Arts / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.27.2012 | Updated On: 11.28.2012 | Pages: 6 | Words: 5.7K | Visits: 837 | Status: Completed
The truth of a few big secrets are no longer hidden.
Anime/Manga: Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Martial Arts / Hentai / Drama / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.27.2012 | Updated On: 11.28.2012 | Pages: 6 | Words: 5.7K | Visits: 837 | Status: Completed
Nekoken Is Out Of The Bag!
by Lord Archive
Characters are own Rumiko Takahashi and Shogakukan and are used without permission. All rights reserved.
This story takes place after manga volume 38. While at times darker than canon, this series has its share of Takahashi styled humor.
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Chapter 6 - No More Secrets
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Akane entered the kitchen, shortly followed by Nabiki. Ryoga lay on the floor, with Kasumi tending to his injuries he received in his short battle with Ranma. The look of concern on Akane's face made Ryoga's heart flutter.
"Did Ranma hurt you?" Akane asked.
Ryoga laughed nervously. "Not at all. Like he could ever hurt me."
Nabiki mentally cursed martial artist pride.
Kasumi cast a worried look at her youngest sister. "Akane, did you have to distract Ranma that way?"
Akane shifted uneasily. "I told you before, I have to try and train his cat side."
"We're you able to use protection?" Kasumi asked, her concern for her little sister apparently blinded her to Ryoga's presence.
Akane took a step back. "Now is not the time to talk about that."
"Akane, I'm worried that you'll become pregnant," Kasumi pressed.
"WHAT?!" Ryoga screeched.
Nabiki shook her head, believing her elder sister blew it big time.
Akane glared at Kasumi, and then looked at Ryoga with concern and fright. "Um... ah..." she uttered trying to think of something to say.
Ryoga was now standing. "What is she talking about?"
"I-it's n-nothing that concerns you," Akane replied.
Ryoga tried to get the facts clear. "She said she's worried about you becoming pregnant?"
Akane was at a loss of how to explain this to him, Nabiki wasn't. "Ranma's and Akane's feelings for each other have advanced to the point to being lovers."
Ryoga's mouth hit the floor.
Nabiki wagged her finger at the boy. "But, the problem with that is, if Ranma goes into Nekoken, he'll want to mate with her. To prevent him from trying that in public, she has started to train him, sex only in her room."
"L-l-l-l-lovers..." Ryoga eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fainted.
"He took that better than I thought." Nabiki smirked.
Akane looked at him. She figured she owed him an explanation, and then wondered if she should wake him up. Her thoughts suddenly stopped cold, as she moved mechanically to the sink and got a glass of water.
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Ryoga awoke, as he had many times in the past, to a sudden down pouring of rain. Such was life with his curse. Something didn't seem right to him, though. He thought it might be about something that happened before he fell asleep. Before he could try to remember it, his senses became alert with the sound of glass breaking. A deep dread filled him as he realized one of his worse nightmares just happened... Akane saw him turn into P-Chan.
Kasumi's eyes went wide. "Oh my!"
"No," Akane whispered.
Then a voice of reason struck. "Run," Nabiki commanded. Which he did, biting his pants and running to where he hoped was the bathing room.
Akane stood there not wanting to believe. She couldn't accept what she had just seen. She just couldn't believe Ryoga was P-chan. A myriad of events she blamed Ranma for flashed through her mind with the realization that her lover had been innocent while Ryoga was the one to blame. Guilt raked her for the times she accused her fiance for being a pervert when he was trying to protect her from this pig. All those fights the two had were over her, not Ranma picking on someone weaker. And Ryoga supposedly did this all because he loved her. All the betrayal, being used against her fiance all because he 'loved' her?!
A dark blue aura flared around Akane, licking the ceiling in its intensity. She then followed Ryoga in the direction he had run off to, fists clenched in anger. "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU STUPID PIG!?!"
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Waking up to the sounds of fighting was not unusual to the Tendo household, unless, of course, you're the one that was usually the participant in those fights.
When Ranma awoke, he was shocked for three reasons: One, he heard the sound of battle occurring downstairs. Two, he was in Akane's bed. Three, he wasn't wearing any pants.
Ranma's thoughts ran, trying to think about what happened before. When he remembered he had been fighting Ryoga, he jumped out of bed and quickly put on his pants. He noticed the ring box had fallen out of it and hoped Akane hadn't seen it. He opened the door and rushed down the stairs.
He saw something he had wanted to see for a long time. Akane held Ryoga's shirt at the collar with her fist, pressing him against the wall next to the front door.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?!" Akane screamed.
"Ah, A-Akane, l-let me explain," Ryoga stuttered.
"EXPLAIN! You slept in my bed! Seen me undressed! Heard my deepest secrets! And, you tell me you can explain this to me! RRRRRRYYYYYYOOOOOOGGGGGAAAAAA YYYYYYOOOOOUUUUU JJJJJJJJJEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!" The irate girl pulled back her arm and landed an upper-cut against him.
Ranma winced as Ryoga meet a full powered Akaneken. Hibiki flew through the wall, and out over Nerima.
Akane collapsed to her knees and started to cry. Her friend, one of her closest friends, had been moonlighting as her pet. She couldn't understand it.
Akane's thoughts of her betrayal ended when she felt Ranma's hand touch her shoulder. She looked up at him. "Oh Ranma, I'm sorry. I've been blaming you for so many things that weren't your fault." Her gaze harden as she gazed at the hole in the wall. "It's the fault of that PIG!"
"I'm sorry. I should've told ya sooner." Ranma gazed at Akane for a while. She was crying in his arms. "How about we go out tonight? Just the two of us."
"I-I'd like that," Akane said, choking back a tear.
"Why don't you go get ready?" Ranma suggested. "I'm going out for a moment, I'll be right back."
Akane nodded, stood up, and left for her room.
Ranma watched Akane leave and was startled as he felt Nabiki's hand on his forehead.
"No fever... All right, what did you do with Ranma?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma pulled away from the girl. "What?"
"Ever since last week you've been acting strange. The Ranma I knew would've tried to get Akane to stop crying by fighting with her. And what was this about you telling her of Ryoga's curse? Didn't you promise not to tell anyone?" Nabiki questioned.
"I just don't want to hurt her anymore." Ranma huffed. "And after last Wednesday, she shouldn't have ta suffer from my stupid promises."
Nabiki smiled as Ranma jumped through the hole in the wall. He was finally growing up, but she wished he could've done that without raping her sister.
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Ranma was a couple blocks away from the Tendo house when he stopped. He glanced back toward the Tendo home, wondering how Nabiki knew of his promise and P-chan's curse. He then shook his head, suspecting she might have known the entire time. But he had to wonder why the girl never said anything. There was no way Ryoga could've paid her to keep quiet. Ranma turned away, now was not the time to think about that.
Saotome ran outside of Nerima ward's boundaries when he found where Ryoga landed. He lay in a crater three meters wide. Ranma was relieved to find Ryoga was still alive. He picked him up and ran to Dr. Tofu's clinic.
When Ranma arrived he slid open the door with his foot and called, "Hey, Doc. Incoming."
Dr. Tofu entered the waiting room to see Ranma carrying Ryoga over his shoulder. "What happened?"
"Akane found out that her pet P-Chan and Ryoga, here, are one and the same person," Ranma answered as he entered the doctor's office and placed Ryoga on the examination bed.
Dr. Tofu blinked, and then shrugged, this was Ranma he was dealing with. He began to examine Ryoga's chest. "This doesn't look like damage Akane normally causes."
Ranma shook his head. "It's not. She recently learned a chi based attack based off anger. He got hit dead center by a chi punch that turns boulders into powder."
"Fortunately it doesn't apply to bones. He'll only end up with a very nasty bruise on most of his upper body, but otherwise he's fine," Dr. Tofu informed with a concerned frown. "She'll have to be careful, though, his body is remarkably resistant to injury, a normal person wouldn't be alive when they hit the floor."
Ranma nodded. "Doc, I got to be going now. Tell him when he wakes up that I'll try to help Akane forgive him, so that they can be friends again."
Dr. Tofu smirked. "I will."
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Akane's expression was mixed. She was happy that she was going on a date with Ranma, and that box she saw earlier... Was it? Will he? She was also upset at Ryoga, he was her friend and he abused that friendship in a way no one has ever done to anyone before. She was worried she could get pregnant, she had sex again today and without a condom.
Akane looked through her closet for something to wear for the date. She hoped Ranma had enough sense to not go to Nekohanten. Part of her hoped he would, just so she could rub it in the fact Ranma was hers. Akane frowned, she still had to make Shampoo pay for last week. It was odd that she hadn't seen that stupid cat since last Wednesday.
Akane decided on a long blue dress with a white floral hem. When she went to get some clean panties, she screamed, "HAPPOSAI!!"
"Oh, Akane," Happosai elated as he jumped towards her, only to find her hand around his neck.
"Where are my panties?" Akane angrily asked.
"Ack, Kasumi must have them in the wash," Happosai answered nervously.
Akane snarled. "She washed them yesterday."
"Ranma took them?" Happousai replied lamely.
"He doesn't need to. I want my panties, and I want them now!" Akane snarled in anger.
"But I don't have them!" Happousai insisted.
"Fine be that way. I'll go find them." Akane switched Happosai into her left hand, and opened the window.
"What are you doing?" Happosai asked.
"Getting rid of you. If you know what's good for you, you'll never come back," Akane warned.
"Don't want me to join in while you have sex with Ranma?" Happousai taunted.
"Exactly. AKANENEN!" Akane sent Happosai flying far off into the distance. She idly wondered if he would land in the Pacific Ocean.
Happosai's body was racked with pain, but his mind was lost on thoughts of Ranma and Akane in compromising positions when Akane said 'exactly.'
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Ranma returned home and quickly got ready, putting on his Communist worker uniform. It was the most formal looking clothes he owned, not counting the white suit and a dress.
After Ranma finishing getting ready, Nabiki informed him that she got him reservations for Chez Rei's, a semi-fancy French restaurant. Ranma wasn't pleased that most of his remaining money would be spent on dinner, but decided to go along with it. Akane would like it better than going out to where they normally ate. He also hated the lecture Nabiki gave him about proper manners he should use on the date.
Ranma stood at the base of the stairs waiting for Akane to finish getting ready. Nabiki and Kasumi had decided to help her, probably causing Akane to take even more time to finish. He nervously fingered the ring box in his pant pocket. He knew, with near absolute certainty, Akane would say yes, but it still scared him more than any cat ever did.
Ranma nervously started to twiddle his fingers as he heard Akane's bedroom door open. Nabiki and Kasumi were first to appear at the top of the steps.
"Ranma, I present to you, your date for tonight: my sister, Akane," Nabiki declared with the flair of showman.
Ranma's jaw dropped at the sight of Akane clad in a blue dress. She also had make-up to accentuate her features and had a white rose in her hair. He thought his fiancee looked as much like a beautiful goddess that Kuno professed her to be.
"Ranma, how do I look?" Akane asked nervously.
"Beyond cute," he answered without thinking.
"Really?" Akane smiled.
"Yeah," Ranma replied, not wanting to take back his words. "Is that a new dress?"
"No," Akane said with a slight bitterness. The feeling quickly went away as she noticed Ranma couldn't take his eyes off her.
Ranma blushed sheepishly and tried to come up with something to say. Failing to think of something that wouldn't likely get Akane upset, he said, "Um, I guess we should, ah, go now."
Akane nodded and appeared to glide down the stairs. "Where are we going?"
Ranma swallowed nervously. "Chez Rei's."
Akane was amazed that Ranma would take her out there. It was fairly expensive restaurant. She hoped he wouldn't embarrass her.
When Akane reached the bottom of the stairs, Ranma took her by the hand and led her towards the door.
"Be back at a reasonable time, it is a school night," Kasumi said.
"After you finish school tomorrow sounds reasonable," Nabiki added, smirking.
"Nabiki," Kasumi said a little upset.
"Don't worry, Kasumi. I'll bring her back sometime tonight," Ranma said.
"That narrows it down." Akane smirked. "See you later, bye."
Ranma and Akane left arm in arm.
"Do you think they'll get home before ten?" Kasumi asked.
"Probably," Nabiki replied. "Call Auntie Saotome, tell her something important will happen tonight."
"What's going to happen?" Kasumi wondered.
Nabiki grinned. "Ranma is going to propose to Akane."
Kasumi smiled. "That's great."
"Don't tell Auntie though, in case something happens," Nabiki advised.
Kasumi nodded. Nabiki made her way downstairs and prepared to leave.
"Where are you going?" Kasumi asked.
"I'm going to make sure nothing interrupts them. And, I'm going to video tape the proposal." Nabiki pulled out a camera as proof.
Kasumi sighed. "Just make sure you're not the one that interrupts them."
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Ranma and Akane walked to the restaurant in an uncomfortable silence. Neither sure of what to say.
Akane spoke first. "Where did you go after you asked me out?"
Ranma got a little more nervous. "I went after Ryoga and got him to Dr. Tofu. I wanted to make sure he was all right."
"Why?" Akane growled, her eyes narrowing.
Ranma looked away from her "Because he is our friend. He may not seem like it at times, but he is. I know he hurt you. I also know you'd never forgive yourself if you severely hurt him. I'm not saying you should forgive him, but you should still accept him as a friend. He has too few as it is."
"You still consider him a friend despite the fact he's tried to kill you, tried to take me away from you, and caused numerous misunderstandings between us?" Akane questioned incredulously.
"He also has saved both our lives and some of his bitterness towards me is well founded. I did curse him. He also helped me realize that we felt more between us than just being friends." Ranma sighed. "I just wished my pride and fear didn't prevent me from saying it earlier."
"Why couldn't you say it earlier?" Akane asked, much her anger gone.
"Well, my pride kept me from allowing me to say Pop actually did something right. Then everything got messed up when Shampoo and Ucchan showed up, each with a claim that they had to marry me. If it was just one girl to marry, I'd have ta marry that one. But there was three. Didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings either. Especially yours if we got married too soon."
Akane didn't say anything for a while. "I always thought it was simple. Just chose one and get it over with. I thought you were afraid of commitment. I see I was wrong."
"Well, not entirely wrong. I am afraid of that, but what guy isn't?" Ranma laughed sheepishly.
Akane giggled, hoping he would face that fear soon.
Ranma and Akane were now at Chez Rei's, and entered. A couple seconds later, a fight between Kuno and Mousse swept past the front of the restaurant. Kuno trying to stop Akane's date, and Mousse trying to save it. When Nabiki arrived she hoped Mousse would finish the fight soon in case someone else showed up.
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Using reservations for Tendo, Ranma and Akane were quickly seated. Akane would've like to have gotten a window seat, but the table in the corner they got was nice and private. Ranma liked the table they got, less chance someone would see them and try to stop the date.
Akane looked at the menu, slightly confused. She didn't know what half the dishes were. She ordered the cheapest thing she knew she'd like. Ranma didn't even have a clue what was on the menu, so he just ordered the cheapest thing on it. When the food was served Akane found her meal to be rather good. Ranma looked at his meal quizzically and treated it like Akane's cooking. He ate it, but vowed never to have that meal again. Akane liked that he seemed to hate his meal as much as her cooking.
Ranma and Akane talked about how they'd deal with their classmates and school friends. They decided to avoid saying anything until certain people were dealt with. Ranma was upset to find out that Ukyou knew about what would happen if he went into Nekoken. He would have to talk to her soon. They also talked about Shampoo, to which Akane insisted there would be a fight.
After a while they moved their discussion to safer topics, such as school subjects and who their school friends current love interests were. They debated the pros and cons of pairing up Daisuke with Sayuri.
Ranma looked at the bill with a frown, after paying it he only had three thousand left. He shook his head. He spent more money today than he had in his entire life, not counting what Nabiki swindled from him. Looking at Akane, he knew he'd do it again in a heart beat.
They left with Ranma's arm around Akane's waist. He saw Mousse wave to them from the corner of his eye. Next to Chinese martial artist was two mounds of chains, one had a bokken sticking out and the other had a gymnastics ribbon. Ranma smiled and nodded his thanks. He then moved so that Akane would not see them.
They slowly walked on towards home. Akane thought for sure the box she saw held an engagement ring, and was growing in disappointment as it seemed he wasn't going to propose. Her disappointment turned to hope as Ranma stopped at a bridge. They stared down the river for some time.
"Akane, you know this is one of the places I like to sit down and think," Ranma began.
"Actually you tend to sit under the bridge," Akane corrected.
"Yeah, well, I don't want people being able to know I'm here unless they look." Ranma sighed. "It was under this bridge I first admitted to myself that I was in love with you, and thought you might feel the same."
"When was that?" Akane wondered. Her body began to tingle with expectation.
Ranma gazed down at the water. "Shortly after Ryugenzawa. You were given a choice between me and Shinnosuke, and you came back with me. If we didn't walk home hand-in-hand, I might of just thought you came home just for your family."
Akane closed her eyes. "If you asked me then I would've said it was just for my family and that I really didn't feel that much for him, but looking back now... I can see I was still quite unsure about my feelings. It wasn't until China when I realized exactly how I felt for you and you for me."
Ranma turned towards her, asking, "Akane, can you really love me? With the insanity that is my life, with all my faults and failings, and with my curse... can you love me?"
"I can, and I do love you, Ranma," Akane answered immediately and firmly.
Ranma gathered his courage, praying he could say what he wanted to. He got down on one knee and produced the ring box. Opening it, he asked, "A-Akane, w-will you m-marry me?" He placed the ring on her finger as he asked.
Akane couldn't believe it. She hoped and prayed for this moment. And now she shouted, "YES! Yes, I'll marry you!" She embraced him tightly, and kissed him passionately. Lost in the kiss, they failed to hear someone scream. After a very long moment they pulled away from each other and walked home, holding each other closely.
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Ryoga wandered into the night after waking up an examination table. Dr. Tofu told him to refrain from fighting until his wound healed and that Ranma would help him be friends with Akane again.
It was Ranma's fault. Saotome must have told Akane he was P-Chan. His rival had promised not to tell anyone, but Ryoga was sure that he had. Now the lost boy had no hope for being with Akane.
Ryoga shook his head. He wanted to put Akane behind him. After what he saw happen in Jusendo, he realized that it was over. Ranma and Akane would be together, and yet he couldn't help but want to return to Akane. Even if he could only be her little P-Chan.
Ranma was the cause of all Ryoga's problems. His curse, only being home twice in the past year, that Akane doesn't love him, and all of Ryoga's other problems were Ranma's fault. Saotome would pay for all he had done.
Akane wasn't truly Ranma's yet. Ryoga could still talk to Akane and explain everything. Hopefully she would realize how much he loved her and give him a fighting chance. That's it. All he had to do was...
Ryoga stopped cold. He looked up at a bridge and saw Ranma on one knee in front of Akane, who looked lovelier than he ever remembered. Ryoga couldn't hear what Ranma said, but clearly heard Akane shout, "YES! Yes, I'll marry you!" Hibiki's world collapsed as Akane kissed Ranma passionately. Ryoga had nothing, nothing except Akari. Now he had to find her before Ranma took her away too. He screamed as he ran off into the night.
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Ranma and Akane returned home and were shocked to see the Tendo family and Nodoka waiting for them as they walked through the front door.
"How was your date?" Soun asked, on the verge of tears of joy.
An idea crossed Akane's mind. "Does this tell you anything?" She grabbed Ranma by the shirt and looked ready to knock him out of Nerima.
Ranma's eyes flashed betrayal and fear, wondering why Akane would still want to hide this.
Nabiki looked confused, she had video taped the proposal.
Kasumi shook her head.
Nodoka frowned, she was told something important was suppose to happen tonight.
Soun was upset. When would those two ever admit their true feelings?
Akane grinned as she pulled Ranma closer into a deep, passionate kiss.
Ranma relaxed and wrapped his arms around Akane, returning the kiss.
Kasumi and Nabiki smiled. It had only been a joke.
Nodoka and Soun also smiled, but didn't say anything. They didn't know what to say.
Then Akane raised her hand showing the engagement ring to everyone. She didn't stop kissing Ranma.
Nodoka beamed with pride. Her son had finally chosen who to marry on his own.
Soun's eyes became fixed on the ring. He moved closer, not believing what he was seeing. When he found his voice, he asked, "I-is this what I think it is?"
Akane and Ranma broke of the kiss. The youngest Tendo elated her answer to him, "Yes! Ranma proposed, and I said yes!"
Soun hugged both of them tightly. "Finally! Our families will be joined!" He cried tears of joy, threatening to flood the house.
"Yes," Akane said. "Um, could you... let go... I can't... breath."
"Please," Ranma coughed.
Soun sheepishly let go of them, but his smile never left his face. "Oh, what a joyous day!"
Akane held a strange smile. "Yes, and I like to top it off with a little celebration."
"Of course! We must celebrate!" Soun elated.
"You can celebrate with them. I want to celebrate with him." Akane hugged Ranma tightly.
Ranma blushed and started sweating.
Soun's legs gave out from under him, not expecting Akane to say that.
Kasumi tried to smile genuinely, since it no longer truly mattered if they were married or not.
Nabiki grinned, debating trying to get pictures or not.
"Congratulations! Welcome to the family." Nodoka winked at her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. "Enjoy your celebration."
"Oh, I will. We'll talk about wedding plans later," Akane promised, dragging Ranma towards the stairs. Looking at Nabiki, she added, "Unless you want an all-out sparring session, don't you dare even tell anyone about the engagement, or about our sex life, and don't you dare do anything I might hate." She noticed how reluctant Ranma was being. "Come on Ranma, let's go to bed."
Ranma nervously looked at the others, who nodded to his unasked question. He followed Akane upstairs, but stopped at her door.
"What's wrong?" Akane asked.
"It's just, ah, well..." Ranma stammered.
"It's not like we haven't done it before," Akane reminded.
"I know, but this time... they know." Ranma cast a worried look towards the downstairs.
"So, Nabiki and Kasumi already know we've done it. And our parents know it would happen at some point. So, what's the problem?" Akane pressed.
Ranma shifted nervously. "I-I guess I'm just nervous. They might... you know... spy on us."
Akane folded her arms. "They better not. Besides, they don't need to as they know what we're going to do. Now get in here."
Ranma gulped and then nodded. He entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him. "Um, do I have ta use a condom?"
Akane stood there, thinking. She had sex with him a couple times now without a condom, another time might not increase the chances that much. He also hated them.
"I will, if you want me to... it just I'd..." Ranma began.
"...rather not use them," Akane finished. "I know. It's just another time might be what it takes to get me pregnant. I'm rather concerned as it is that I can't use a condom when you're in Nekoken."
Ranma raised an eyebrow. "You can't?"
"You destroyed the one I tried to use." Akane sighed. "I-I'll leave it up to you to decide. Just remember I'm still fertile and I might get pregnant."
Ranma took a moment to think. "The thing is you might already be pregnant, or that, if I go into Nekoken again sometime soon, you might get pregnant then. There might be a good chance you'll be pregnant soon, but not using one now adds little to the chance... IF you do become pregnant, it's as you said. We'd have a lot of changes, but we've got our families to help us."
"I take it you decided not to use one." Akane's voice was uncertain.
Ranma pouted. "Akane, if you want me to..."
"Ranma, it's okay. You don't have to. I'm going to worry about being pregnant whether or not we use protection." Akane sighed. "You shouldn't be too concerned though, my fears are based more on... the physical changes I'd go through... and such."
"Are you sure?" Ranma wanted to make certain, yet with a hint of hope in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure. It's okay." Akane embraced Ranma and started to kiss him. If they kept talking, their discussion would've been for nothing.
After what seemed to be an eternity, Akane broke off the kiss. "I just need to do one thing before we get too far." She walked over to her desk.
"What do you have to do?" Ranma wondered.
"To take off my make-up. Don't want to get it all over my pillow." Akane giggled sheepishly.
"Oh." Ranma uttered, as he took off his shirt.
"Daddy! What are you doing?" Nabiki's shout could be heard through the door.
"Ah, well, I..." Soun stammered.
"Do you want a sparring session with Akane?" Nabiki asked. "Then don't try to spy on them!"
The young couple heard Soun walk away from the door. Akane shook her head. "Just ignore them."
Ranma laughed nervously. "I'm trying."
"Then let me help keep them off your mind." Akane then pressed her lips against Ranma's, running her hands over his chest.
True to her word, Akane soon aroused Ranma to the point he no longer cared that the others might spy on them.
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In the hall Soun cried. His daughter was all grown up now, and his family line was now, for all intents and purposes, joined.
Nabiki shook her head when she found him spying on them again. "Daddy, I told you not to do that."
"They did it. They really did it! Our families are joined!" Soun cried out in joy.
"Yes, they did and it is. Now leave them be, you've interfered enough in their relationship as it is," Nabiki advised sternly.
by Lord Archive
Characters are own Rumiko Takahashi and Shogakukan and are used without permission. All rights reserved.
This story takes place after manga volume 38. While at times darker than canon, this series has its share of Takahashi styled humor.
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Chapter 6 - No More Secrets
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Akane entered the kitchen, shortly followed by Nabiki. Ryoga lay on the floor, with Kasumi tending to his injuries he received in his short battle with Ranma. The look of concern on Akane's face made Ryoga's heart flutter.
"Did Ranma hurt you?" Akane asked.
Ryoga laughed nervously. "Not at all. Like he could ever hurt me."
Nabiki mentally cursed martial artist pride.
Kasumi cast a worried look at her youngest sister. "Akane, did you have to distract Ranma that way?"
Akane shifted uneasily. "I told you before, I have to try and train his cat side."
"We're you able to use protection?" Kasumi asked, her concern for her little sister apparently blinded her to Ryoga's presence.
Akane took a step back. "Now is not the time to talk about that."
"Akane, I'm worried that you'll become pregnant," Kasumi pressed.
"WHAT?!" Ryoga screeched.
Nabiki shook her head, believing her elder sister blew it big time.
Akane glared at Kasumi, and then looked at Ryoga with concern and fright. "Um... ah..." she uttered trying to think of something to say.
Ryoga was now standing. "What is she talking about?"
"I-it's n-nothing that concerns you," Akane replied.
Ryoga tried to get the facts clear. "She said she's worried about you becoming pregnant?"
Akane was at a loss of how to explain this to him, Nabiki wasn't. "Ranma's and Akane's feelings for each other have advanced to the point to being lovers."
Ryoga's mouth hit the floor.
Nabiki wagged her finger at the boy. "But, the problem with that is, if Ranma goes into Nekoken, he'll want to mate with her. To prevent him from trying that in public, she has started to train him, sex only in her room."
"L-l-l-l-lovers..." Ryoga eyes rolled into the back of his head as he fainted.
"He took that better than I thought." Nabiki smirked.
Akane looked at him. She figured she owed him an explanation, and then wondered if she should wake him up. Her thoughts suddenly stopped cold, as she moved mechanically to the sink and got a glass of water.
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Ryoga awoke, as he had many times in the past, to a sudden down pouring of rain. Such was life with his curse. Something didn't seem right to him, though. He thought it might be about something that happened before he fell asleep. Before he could try to remember it, his senses became alert with the sound of glass breaking. A deep dread filled him as he realized one of his worse nightmares just happened... Akane saw him turn into P-Chan.
Kasumi's eyes went wide. "Oh my!"
"No," Akane whispered.
Then a voice of reason struck. "Run," Nabiki commanded. Which he did, biting his pants and running to where he hoped was the bathing room.
Akane stood there not wanting to believe. She couldn't accept what she had just seen. She just couldn't believe Ryoga was P-chan. A myriad of events she blamed Ranma for flashed through her mind with the realization that her lover had been innocent while Ryoga was the one to blame. Guilt raked her for the times she accused her fiance for being a pervert when he was trying to protect her from this pig. All those fights the two had were over her, not Ranma picking on someone weaker. And Ryoga supposedly did this all because he loved her. All the betrayal, being used against her fiance all because he 'loved' her?!
A dark blue aura flared around Akane, licking the ceiling in its intensity. She then followed Ryoga in the direction he had run off to, fists clenched in anger. "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU STUPID PIG!?!"
--------------------------------
Waking up to the sounds of fighting was not unusual to the Tendo household, unless, of course, you're the one that was usually the participant in those fights.
When Ranma awoke, he was shocked for three reasons: One, he heard the sound of battle occurring downstairs. Two, he was in Akane's bed. Three, he wasn't wearing any pants.
Ranma's thoughts ran, trying to think about what happened before. When he remembered he had been fighting Ryoga, he jumped out of bed and quickly put on his pants. He noticed the ring box had fallen out of it and hoped Akane hadn't seen it. He opened the door and rushed down the stairs.
He saw something he had wanted to see for a long time. Akane held Ryoga's shirt at the collar with her fist, pressing him against the wall next to the front door.
"HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO ME?!" Akane screamed.
"Ah, A-Akane, l-let me explain," Ryoga stuttered.
"EXPLAIN! You slept in my bed! Seen me undressed! Heard my deepest secrets! And, you tell me you can explain this to me! RRRRRRYYYYYYOOOOOOGGGGGAAAAAA YYYYYYOOOOOUUUUU JJJJJJJJJEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!" The irate girl pulled back her arm and landed an upper-cut against him.
Ranma winced as Ryoga meet a full powered Akaneken. Hibiki flew through the wall, and out over Nerima.
Akane collapsed to her knees and started to cry. Her friend, one of her closest friends, had been moonlighting as her pet. She couldn't understand it.
Akane's thoughts of her betrayal ended when she felt Ranma's hand touch her shoulder. She looked up at him. "Oh Ranma, I'm sorry. I've been blaming you for so many things that weren't your fault." Her gaze harden as she gazed at the hole in the wall. "It's the fault of that PIG!"
"I'm sorry. I should've told ya sooner." Ranma gazed at Akane for a while. She was crying in his arms. "How about we go out tonight? Just the two of us."
"I-I'd like that," Akane said, choking back a tear.
"Why don't you go get ready?" Ranma suggested. "I'm going out for a moment, I'll be right back."
Akane nodded, stood up, and left for her room.
Ranma watched Akane leave and was startled as he felt Nabiki's hand on his forehead.
"No fever... All right, what did you do with Ranma?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma pulled away from the girl. "What?"
"Ever since last week you've been acting strange. The Ranma I knew would've tried to get Akane to stop crying by fighting with her. And what was this about you telling her of Ryoga's curse? Didn't you promise not to tell anyone?" Nabiki questioned.
"I just don't want to hurt her anymore." Ranma huffed. "And after last Wednesday, she shouldn't have ta suffer from my stupid promises."
Nabiki smiled as Ranma jumped through the hole in the wall. He was finally growing up, but she wished he could've done that without raping her sister.
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Ranma was a couple blocks away from the Tendo house when he stopped. He glanced back toward the Tendo home, wondering how Nabiki knew of his promise and P-chan's curse. He then shook his head, suspecting she might have known the entire time. But he had to wonder why the girl never said anything. There was no way Ryoga could've paid her to keep quiet. Ranma turned away, now was not the time to think about that.
Saotome ran outside of Nerima ward's boundaries when he found where Ryoga landed. He lay in a crater three meters wide. Ranma was relieved to find Ryoga was still alive. He picked him up and ran to Dr. Tofu's clinic.
When Ranma arrived he slid open the door with his foot and called, "Hey, Doc. Incoming."
Dr. Tofu entered the waiting room to see Ranma carrying Ryoga over his shoulder. "What happened?"
"Akane found out that her pet P-Chan and Ryoga, here, are one and the same person," Ranma answered as he entered the doctor's office and placed Ryoga on the examination bed.
Dr. Tofu blinked, and then shrugged, this was Ranma he was dealing with. He began to examine Ryoga's chest. "This doesn't look like damage Akane normally causes."
Ranma shook his head. "It's not. She recently learned a chi based attack based off anger. He got hit dead center by a chi punch that turns boulders into powder."
"Fortunately it doesn't apply to bones. He'll only end up with a very nasty bruise on most of his upper body, but otherwise he's fine," Dr. Tofu informed with a concerned frown. "She'll have to be careful, though, his body is remarkably resistant to injury, a normal person wouldn't be alive when they hit the floor."
Ranma nodded. "Doc, I got to be going now. Tell him when he wakes up that I'll try to help Akane forgive him, so that they can be friends again."
Dr. Tofu smirked. "I will."
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Akane's expression was mixed. She was happy that she was going on a date with Ranma, and that box she saw earlier... Was it? Will he? She was also upset at Ryoga, he was her friend and he abused that friendship in a way no one has ever done to anyone before. She was worried she could get pregnant, she had sex again today and without a condom.
Akane looked through her closet for something to wear for the date. She hoped Ranma had enough sense to not go to Nekohanten. Part of her hoped he would, just so she could rub it in the fact Ranma was hers. Akane frowned, she still had to make Shampoo pay for last week. It was odd that she hadn't seen that stupid cat since last Wednesday.
Akane decided on a long blue dress with a white floral hem. When she went to get some clean panties, she screamed, "HAPPOSAI!!"
"Oh, Akane," Happosai elated as he jumped towards her, only to find her hand around his neck.
"Where are my panties?" Akane angrily asked.
"Ack, Kasumi must have them in the wash," Happosai answered nervously.
Akane snarled. "She washed them yesterday."
"Ranma took them?" Happousai replied lamely.
"He doesn't need to. I want my panties, and I want them now!" Akane snarled in anger.
"But I don't have them!" Happousai insisted.
"Fine be that way. I'll go find them." Akane switched Happosai into her left hand, and opened the window.
"What are you doing?" Happosai asked.
"Getting rid of you. If you know what's good for you, you'll never come back," Akane warned.
"Don't want me to join in while you have sex with Ranma?" Happousai taunted.
"Exactly. AKANENEN!" Akane sent Happosai flying far off into the distance. She idly wondered if he would land in the Pacific Ocean.
Happosai's body was racked with pain, but his mind was lost on thoughts of Ranma and Akane in compromising positions when Akane said 'exactly.'
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Ranma returned home and quickly got ready, putting on his Communist worker uniform. It was the most formal looking clothes he owned, not counting the white suit and a dress.
After Ranma finishing getting ready, Nabiki informed him that she got him reservations for Chez Rei's, a semi-fancy French restaurant. Ranma wasn't pleased that most of his remaining money would be spent on dinner, but decided to go along with it. Akane would like it better than going out to where they normally ate. He also hated the lecture Nabiki gave him about proper manners he should use on the date.
Ranma stood at the base of the stairs waiting for Akane to finish getting ready. Nabiki and Kasumi had decided to help her, probably causing Akane to take even more time to finish. He nervously fingered the ring box in his pant pocket. He knew, with near absolute certainty, Akane would say yes, but it still scared him more than any cat ever did.
Ranma nervously started to twiddle his fingers as he heard Akane's bedroom door open. Nabiki and Kasumi were first to appear at the top of the steps.
"Ranma, I present to you, your date for tonight: my sister, Akane," Nabiki declared with the flair of showman.
Ranma's jaw dropped at the sight of Akane clad in a blue dress. She also had make-up to accentuate her features and had a white rose in her hair. He thought his fiancee looked as much like a beautiful goddess that Kuno professed her to be.
"Ranma, how do I look?" Akane asked nervously.
"Beyond cute," he answered without thinking.
"Really?" Akane smiled.
"Yeah," Ranma replied, not wanting to take back his words. "Is that a new dress?"
"No," Akane said with a slight bitterness. The feeling quickly went away as she noticed Ranma couldn't take his eyes off her.
Ranma blushed sheepishly and tried to come up with something to say. Failing to think of something that wouldn't likely get Akane upset, he said, "Um, I guess we should, ah, go now."
Akane nodded and appeared to glide down the stairs. "Where are we going?"
Ranma swallowed nervously. "Chez Rei's."
Akane was amazed that Ranma would take her out there. It was fairly expensive restaurant. She hoped he wouldn't embarrass her.
When Akane reached the bottom of the stairs, Ranma took her by the hand and led her towards the door.
"Be back at a reasonable time, it is a school night," Kasumi said.
"After you finish school tomorrow sounds reasonable," Nabiki added, smirking.
"Nabiki," Kasumi said a little upset.
"Don't worry, Kasumi. I'll bring her back sometime tonight," Ranma said.
"That narrows it down." Akane smirked. "See you later, bye."
Ranma and Akane left arm in arm.
"Do you think they'll get home before ten?" Kasumi asked.
"Probably," Nabiki replied. "Call Auntie Saotome, tell her something important will happen tonight."
"What's going to happen?" Kasumi wondered.
Nabiki grinned. "Ranma is going to propose to Akane."
Kasumi smiled. "That's great."
"Don't tell Auntie though, in case something happens," Nabiki advised.
Kasumi nodded. Nabiki made her way downstairs and prepared to leave.
"Where are you going?" Kasumi asked.
"I'm going to make sure nothing interrupts them. And, I'm going to video tape the proposal." Nabiki pulled out a camera as proof.
Kasumi sighed. "Just make sure you're not the one that interrupts them."
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Ranma and Akane walked to the restaurant in an uncomfortable silence. Neither sure of what to say.
Akane spoke first. "Where did you go after you asked me out?"
Ranma got a little more nervous. "I went after Ryoga and got him to Dr. Tofu. I wanted to make sure he was all right."
"Why?" Akane growled, her eyes narrowing.
Ranma looked away from her "Because he is our friend. He may not seem like it at times, but he is. I know he hurt you. I also know you'd never forgive yourself if you severely hurt him. I'm not saying you should forgive him, but you should still accept him as a friend. He has too few as it is."
"You still consider him a friend despite the fact he's tried to kill you, tried to take me away from you, and caused numerous misunderstandings between us?" Akane questioned incredulously.
"He also has saved both our lives and some of his bitterness towards me is well founded. I did curse him. He also helped me realize that we felt more between us than just being friends." Ranma sighed. "I just wished my pride and fear didn't prevent me from saying it earlier."
"Why couldn't you say it earlier?" Akane asked, much her anger gone.
"Well, my pride kept me from allowing me to say Pop actually did something right. Then everything got messed up when Shampoo and Ucchan showed up, each with a claim that they had to marry me. If it was just one girl to marry, I'd have ta marry that one. But there was three. Didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings either. Especially yours if we got married too soon."
Akane didn't say anything for a while. "I always thought it was simple. Just chose one and get it over with. I thought you were afraid of commitment. I see I was wrong."
"Well, not entirely wrong. I am afraid of that, but what guy isn't?" Ranma laughed sheepishly.
Akane giggled, hoping he would face that fear soon.
Ranma and Akane were now at Chez Rei's, and entered. A couple seconds later, a fight between Kuno and Mousse swept past the front of the restaurant. Kuno trying to stop Akane's date, and Mousse trying to save it. When Nabiki arrived she hoped Mousse would finish the fight soon in case someone else showed up.
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Using reservations for Tendo, Ranma and Akane were quickly seated. Akane would've like to have gotten a window seat, but the table in the corner they got was nice and private. Ranma liked the table they got, less chance someone would see them and try to stop the date.
Akane looked at the menu, slightly confused. She didn't know what half the dishes were. She ordered the cheapest thing she knew she'd like. Ranma didn't even have a clue what was on the menu, so he just ordered the cheapest thing on it. When the food was served Akane found her meal to be rather good. Ranma looked at his meal quizzically and treated it like Akane's cooking. He ate it, but vowed never to have that meal again. Akane liked that he seemed to hate his meal as much as her cooking.
Ranma and Akane talked about how they'd deal with their classmates and school friends. They decided to avoid saying anything until certain people were dealt with. Ranma was upset to find out that Ukyou knew about what would happen if he went into Nekoken. He would have to talk to her soon. They also talked about Shampoo, to which Akane insisted there would be a fight.
After a while they moved their discussion to safer topics, such as school subjects and who their school friends current love interests were. They debated the pros and cons of pairing up Daisuke with Sayuri.
Ranma looked at the bill with a frown, after paying it he only had three thousand left. He shook his head. He spent more money today than he had in his entire life, not counting what Nabiki swindled from him. Looking at Akane, he knew he'd do it again in a heart beat.
They left with Ranma's arm around Akane's waist. He saw Mousse wave to them from the corner of his eye. Next to Chinese martial artist was two mounds of chains, one had a bokken sticking out and the other had a gymnastics ribbon. Ranma smiled and nodded his thanks. He then moved so that Akane would not see them.
They slowly walked on towards home. Akane thought for sure the box she saw held an engagement ring, and was growing in disappointment as it seemed he wasn't going to propose. Her disappointment turned to hope as Ranma stopped at a bridge. They stared down the river for some time.
"Akane, you know this is one of the places I like to sit down and think," Ranma began.
"Actually you tend to sit under the bridge," Akane corrected.
"Yeah, well, I don't want people being able to know I'm here unless they look." Ranma sighed. "It was under this bridge I first admitted to myself that I was in love with you, and thought you might feel the same."
"When was that?" Akane wondered. Her body began to tingle with expectation.
Ranma gazed down at the water. "Shortly after Ryugenzawa. You were given a choice between me and Shinnosuke, and you came back with me. If we didn't walk home hand-in-hand, I might of just thought you came home just for your family."
Akane closed her eyes. "If you asked me then I would've said it was just for my family and that I really didn't feel that much for him, but looking back now... I can see I was still quite unsure about my feelings. It wasn't until China when I realized exactly how I felt for you and you for me."
Ranma turned towards her, asking, "Akane, can you really love me? With the insanity that is my life, with all my faults and failings, and with my curse... can you love me?"
"I can, and I do love you, Ranma," Akane answered immediately and firmly.
Ranma gathered his courage, praying he could say what he wanted to. He got down on one knee and produced the ring box. Opening it, he asked, "A-Akane, w-will you m-marry me?" He placed the ring on her finger as he asked.
Akane couldn't believe it. She hoped and prayed for this moment. And now she shouted, "YES! Yes, I'll marry you!" She embraced him tightly, and kissed him passionately. Lost in the kiss, they failed to hear someone scream. After a very long moment they pulled away from each other and walked home, holding each other closely.
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Ryoga wandered into the night after waking up an examination table. Dr. Tofu told him to refrain from fighting until his wound healed and that Ranma would help him be friends with Akane again.
It was Ranma's fault. Saotome must have told Akane he was P-Chan. His rival had promised not to tell anyone, but Ryoga was sure that he had. Now the lost boy had no hope for being with Akane.
Ryoga shook his head. He wanted to put Akane behind him. After what he saw happen in Jusendo, he realized that it was over. Ranma and Akane would be together, and yet he couldn't help but want to return to Akane. Even if he could only be her little P-Chan.
Ranma was the cause of all Ryoga's problems. His curse, only being home twice in the past year, that Akane doesn't love him, and all of Ryoga's other problems were Ranma's fault. Saotome would pay for all he had done.
Akane wasn't truly Ranma's yet. Ryoga could still talk to Akane and explain everything. Hopefully she would realize how much he loved her and give him a fighting chance. That's it. All he had to do was...
Ryoga stopped cold. He looked up at a bridge and saw Ranma on one knee in front of Akane, who looked lovelier than he ever remembered. Ryoga couldn't hear what Ranma said, but clearly heard Akane shout, "YES! Yes, I'll marry you!" Hibiki's world collapsed as Akane kissed Ranma passionately. Ryoga had nothing, nothing except Akari. Now he had to find her before Ranma took her away too. He screamed as he ran off into the night.
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Ranma and Akane returned home and were shocked to see the Tendo family and Nodoka waiting for them as they walked through the front door.
"How was your date?" Soun asked, on the verge of tears of joy.
An idea crossed Akane's mind. "Does this tell you anything?" She grabbed Ranma by the shirt and looked ready to knock him out of Nerima.
Ranma's eyes flashed betrayal and fear, wondering why Akane would still want to hide this.
Nabiki looked confused, she had video taped the proposal.
Kasumi shook her head.
Nodoka frowned, she was told something important was suppose to happen tonight.
Soun was upset. When would those two ever admit their true feelings?
Akane grinned as she pulled Ranma closer into a deep, passionate kiss.
Ranma relaxed and wrapped his arms around Akane, returning the kiss.
Kasumi and Nabiki smiled. It had only been a joke.
Nodoka and Soun also smiled, but didn't say anything. They didn't know what to say.
Then Akane raised her hand showing the engagement ring to everyone. She didn't stop kissing Ranma.
Nodoka beamed with pride. Her son had finally chosen who to marry on his own.
Soun's eyes became fixed on the ring. He moved closer, not believing what he was seeing. When he found his voice, he asked, "I-is this what I think it is?"
Akane and Ranma broke of the kiss. The youngest Tendo elated her answer to him, "Yes! Ranma proposed, and I said yes!"
Soun hugged both of them tightly. "Finally! Our families will be joined!" He cried tears of joy, threatening to flood the house.
"Yes," Akane said. "Um, could you... let go... I can't... breath."
"Please," Ranma coughed.
Soun sheepishly let go of them, but his smile never left his face. "Oh, what a joyous day!"
Akane held a strange smile. "Yes, and I like to top it off with a little celebration."
"Of course! We must celebrate!" Soun elated.
"You can celebrate with them. I want to celebrate with him." Akane hugged Ranma tightly.
Ranma blushed and started sweating.
Soun's legs gave out from under him, not expecting Akane to say that.
Kasumi tried to smile genuinely, since it no longer truly mattered if they were married or not.
Nabiki grinned, debating trying to get pictures or not.
"Congratulations! Welcome to the family." Nodoka winked at her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. "Enjoy your celebration."
"Oh, I will. We'll talk about wedding plans later," Akane promised, dragging Ranma towards the stairs. Looking at Nabiki, she added, "Unless you want an all-out sparring session, don't you dare even tell anyone about the engagement, or about our sex life, and don't you dare do anything I might hate." She noticed how reluctant Ranma was being. "Come on Ranma, let's go to bed."
Ranma nervously looked at the others, who nodded to his unasked question. He followed Akane upstairs, but stopped at her door.
"What's wrong?" Akane asked.
"It's just, ah, well..." Ranma stammered.
"It's not like we haven't done it before," Akane reminded.
"I know, but this time... they know." Ranma cast a worried look towards the downstairs.
"So, Nabiki and Kasumi already know we've done it. And our parents know it would happen at some point. So, what's the problem?" Akane pressed.
Ranma shifted nervously. "I-I guess I'm just nervous. They might... you know... spy on us."
Akane folded her arms. "They better not. Besides, they don't need to as they know what we're going to do. Now get in here."
Ranma gulped and then nodded. He entered the room, closing and locking the door behind him. "Um, do I have ta use a condom?"
Akane stood there, thinking. She had sex with him a couple times now without a condom, another time might not increase the chances that much. He also hated them.
"I will, if you want me to... it just I'd..." Ranma began.
"...rather not use them," Akane finished. "I know. It's just another time might be what it takes to get me pregnant. I'm rather concerned as it is that I can't use a condom when you're in Nekoken."
Ranma raised an eyebrow. "You can't?"
"You destroyed the one I tried to use." Akane sighed. "I-I'll leave it up to you to decide. Just remember I'm still fertile and I might get pregnant."
Ranma took a moment to think. "The thing is you might already be pregnant, or that, if I go into Nekoken again sometime soon, you might get pregnant then. There might be a good chance you'll be pregnant soon, but not using one now adds little to the chance... IF you do become pregnant, it's as you said. We'd have a lot of changes, but we've got our families to help us."
"I take it you decided not to use one." Akane's voice was uncertain.
Ranma pouted. "Akane, if you want me to..."
"Ranma, it's okay. You don't have to. I'm going to worry about being pregnant whether or not we use protection." Akane sighed. "You shouldn't be too concerned though, my fears are based more on... the physical changes I'd go through... and such."
"Are you sure?" Ranma wanted to make certain, yet with a hint of hope in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm sure. It's okay." Akane embraced Ranma and started to kiss him. If they kept talking, their discussion would've been for nothing.
After what seemed to be an eternity, Akane broke off the kiss. "I just need to do one thing before we get too far." She walked over to her desk.
"What do you have to do?" Ranma wondered.
"To take off my make-up. Don't want to get it all over my pillow." Akane giggled sheepishly.
"Oh." Ranma uttered, as he took off his shirt.
"Daddy! What are you doing?" Nabiki's shout could be heard through the door.
"Ah, well, I..." Soun stammered.
"Do you want a sparring session with Akane?" Nabiki asked. "Then don't try to spy on them!"
The young couple heard Soun walk away from the door. Akane shook her head. "Just ignore them."
Ranma laughed nervously. "I'm trying."
"Then let me help keep them off your mind." Akane then pressed her lips against Ranma's, running her hands over his chest.
True to her word, Akane soon aroused Ranma to the point he no longer cared that the others might spy on them.
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In the hall Soun cried. His daughter was all grown up now, and his family line was now, for all intents and purposes, joined.
Nabiki shook her head when she found him spying on them again. "Daddy, I told you not to do that."
"They did it. They really did it! Our families are joined!" Soun cried out in joy.
"Yes, they did and it is. Now leave them be, you've interfered enough in their relationship as it is," Nabiki advised sternly.