The Togetherness Factor
Part 1:  Getting Together
by David Eddy <dje@progress.com>

Last Updated:  Sunday, 3 January 1999

A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's Manga series, Ranma 1/2.
The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the property of Takahashi Rumiko
and her licensees.

This story is set in the summer holidays following the events of
volume 38 of the Ranma 1/2 manga.



     Tendou Soun and Saotome Genma, buddies of a lifetime,
brothers in arms, fellow students of an impossibly-harsh master,
bane of the Nerima criminal element, matchmakers extraordinaire,
and all-around good guys, strolled along a street in Nermia's
shopping district.

     Actually, they did not so much stroll as stagger, leaning
against one another for support, only a lifetime's training in the
martial arts keeping them from the gutter.  It was late, and they
had drunk entirely too much sake tonight... although tomorrow, the
depth of their shared feelings would be of little comfort against
the roaring hangovers they would experience.

     For now, however, they were feeling absolutely no pain...
although other people in the street were.  Soun and Genma were
singing, and those people out and about were crossing the street
to avoid the pair, hurrying quickly on their way to escape the
awful caterwauling.

     They turned a corner and attracted the baleful glare of a
policeman standing post in his police box.  Genma noticed, and
stopped singing.  Soun continued regardless, and Genma pulled on
his friend's shoulder.

     "Shhh!" hissed Genma in a stage whisper.  "Mustn't disturb
people!"

     Soun stopped singing, looked at him owlishly, then at length
nodded slowly, deliberately.  "That would be most impolite," he
rumbled, pronouncing his words with extreme care.  He looked up
the street which disappeared further into the shopping area, then
slowly peered up another way which led into an area where houses
pushed together, lining the street.  "That way," he said after
careful deliberation, pointing down the residential street.

     Genma grinned as though Soun had told an enormous joke.
"Sure, sure," he said.  "Jus' wanna res' for a bit."  And he sat
down untidily against the wall, grinning sloppily.

     Soun squatted against the wall next to Genma, his actions
very deliberate.  For a time it was quiet.  Then Genma giggled.

     "We mus' fin' a way to get them to marry, Soun ol' buddy," he
said.  "Gotta be something we can do."

     The tall, dignified (but very drunk) man squatting next to
him just shook his head, slowly at first, then more quickly,
loosely.  "They will never be married, Saotome-kun!  You've seen
them!  What could be more obvious than their love, yet they refuse
to see it!  Instead they push each other away, growing to hate
each other!!  Waaaa!!"

     Genma looked at Soun, disgusted.  He wondered why his friend
had so little determination, but decided that that was okay; he
would provide determination for them both.  What were friends for,
after all?  "Don' worry, Soun ol' boy, don' worry," he slurred.
"I'm sure we c'n come up with a way of gettin' 'em together."

     A shadow detached itself from a black spot on the wall and
glided gently towards the two.  Genma noticed the figure's
approach only when it was a few yards away, his senses blunted by
the heroic amounts of sake he'd imbibed this evening.  Soun just
stared at the sidewalk, absorbed in visions of the likely fate of
the dojo at the hands of his unmarried daughter.

     The shadow stopped in front of the two.  At last, Soun
noticed, while Genma stared at the figure slack-faced.  "Perhaps I
can be of assistance, gentlemen," she said in an old but firm
voice.

     

     *    *    *

     

     Kasumi winced inwardly at the sounds of argument.  Ranma and
Akane were at it again.  She tried to stop a flush colouring her
cheeks as she passed people on the streets.  Most of the residents
of Nerima were used to these antics, but whatever did they think
of the Tendou family for these constant disruptions?

     And when would those two stop and realise that they loved
each other?  It was quite apparent to someone watching them, even
if they didn't admit it to themselves.  They way they acted, the
way they looked at each other from time to time, the way they got
furiously jealous at each other....  Plus, both being martial
artists and the same age, they were obviously meant for each
other.

     It was their karma to be together.

     But oh! the arguments they had.  Everything would be so much
more peaceful, and everyone would be so much happier if only they
would stop arguing for long enough to realise it themselves.

     Maybe it was time to give them a helping hand.

     Yes.  She would cook cinnamon cookies and make some fresh
lemonade when she got home, and have Ranma give them to Akane.
Maybe, just maybe, they would come to admit to each other their
feelings.

     The prospect of such a thing happening had her skipping
joyfully down the street.

     

     *    *    *

     

     Ranma was sitting on a rock by the koi pond in the hot sun of
mid-afternoon, sulking.  At least it wasn't raining.  The
oppressive humidity of the rainy season was over at last, and the
clear blue sky promised wonderful dryness for days to come.

     Yes, it was a beautiful day.  His father hadn't arisen until
lunchtime, but he hadn't eaten much... which was not surprising
considering his gray pallor and the lingering smell of second-hand
alcohol that had driven Ranma from his bed early this morning.  He
smiled.  His father had been most reluctant to train earlier,
after lunch, but Ranma had quoted his own words back at him and
taken great delight in knocking him into the koi pond.  He had
retreated inside like a surly bear, and Ranma had decided to enjoy
the afternoon sun on this unusually mild day.

     Sitting out here, he liked to take in what was going on
around him.  A little while ago, a delightful aroma had begun
wafting from the house.  A little while afterwards the two fathers
had headed out of the house, headed for the public baths to wash
the poisons from their systems.

     And now footsteps sounded clearly from inside the house.
They had Kasumi's cadence.  He amused himself by visualizing her
walking around inside the house, tracking her in his head as he
watched the koi move about in the murky water of the pond.  In his
head, she stopped at the edge of the verandah overlooking the
pond.

     "Ranma," said Kasumi.  "Would you like some cookies?"

     He looked up and around; Kasumi was standing where he had
thought holding a tray in her hands.  On it was a pitcher of
lemonade and some glasses; he assumed there would also be a plate
of the cookies he had smelt earlier.  "Um?  Your cookies?  You
betcha!"

     She smiled benignly at him.  "I've made some lemonade as
well.  Why don't you take this up to Akane and she can have some
with you.  Maybe it's time you two made up after your fight this
morning."

     "Aw, hell, Kasumi, it's not like it's my fault or anythin'."

     "Don't you think Akane would like some cookies and lemonade?"
She smiled innocently.  "Besides, even if you think it wasn't your
fault, Akane obviously does so why not make up with her?  It's so
much more pleasant when you two get along, and I'm sure you like
it more that way too."

     Ranma looked to the pond again as he turned Kasumi's words
over in his mind.  She was right, he liked it a lot better when he
and Akane got along.  As for making up to her... well, he didn't
really like being out of sorts with Akane and maybe taking her
cookies and lemonade would mean he wouldn't have to talk about
this morning.

     He got up easily, his silk top warm on his back, and skipped
quickly over to stand by Kasumi.  He noticed Nabiki spread out
comfortably on the living room tatami, kicking her legs idly,
reading one of her shoujo manga.  He took the tray from Kasumi,
noting that there were six delicious-smelling cookies arranged
neatly on a plate.  "Okay, I'll do it."

     Kasumi beamed at him.  "Thank you, Ranma."

     

     

     Ranma hesitated a moment before knocking quietly on Akane's
door.  There was no response, so he knocked again a little more
loudly.

     "What do you want, Ranma?" came Akane's voice, sounding a
little peeved.

     He opened the door and stepped into her room.  Akane was on
her bed.  She had been lying face-down and was holding her body up
with her arms, twisted around to look at the door.  "Who said you
could come in?" she said dismissively, not bothering to change her
position.  How dare that baka invade her bedroom after what he
said this morning?!

     She watched as he sat on the floor and smoothly put the tray
he was carrying down in front of himself.  Ice cubes tinkled
gently in the pitcher, and the aroma of freshly-baked cookies
reached her nostrils.  Ranma smiled that crooked little smile at
her that made him look so handsome and said, "Kasumi gave this to
me for us to have together.  She told me I should make up with
you."  He broke eye contact to look down at the tray, shaking his
head.  "Wouldn't you like a cookie?"

     Akane sat up fully and sighed.  She hadn't forgiven him for
insulting her this morning but it really wasn't worth arguing
about any more... and besides, the cookies smelled delicious.  She
got down to sit on the floor opposite him.  "Sure, why not?"

     Ranma poured two glasses of lemonade and handed her one; they
each grabbed a cookie and ate.  He was pleased that Akane hadn't
bitten his head off when he came into her room, and sitting and
just sharing time with her this way... well, he didn't mind that
at all.

     Munching on his second cookie, Ranma wondered to himself at
the slight aftertaste.  The lemonade made the taste go away,
though.  But as he finished his third cookie, he started feeling
quite queasy.  Sipping more lemonade and trying to ignore his
stomach's protests, he watched Akane finish her last cookie.  Like
him, she finished by sipping some lemonade as though to get a bad
taste out of her mouth.

     A frown appeared.  She looked over at him.  "Ranma, do you...
do you feel a little ill?"  Her voice sounded unsteady.  He
watched, fascinated, as her face paled and beads of sweat broke
out.

     "Er, actually--"  Churning nausea forced Ranma to cut his
reply short.  He swallowed to control the upcoming surge, and it
obeyed reluctantly, almost spilling over into his mouth.  The
emergency over for the moment, he gulped the remainder of his
lemonade to wash the burning taste of bile from the back of his
throat.  He felt better almost immediately.  "Man, that was close.
Hey!  I feel better!"

     Watching him, Akane quickly picked up her glass and forced it
down against the protests of her stomach.  Gratefully she felt the
nausea recede, to be replaced with a feeling of well-being.  She
wiped her brow with the back of one hand.

     There was silence for a time.  Ranma watched Akane's colour
return, concern for her uppermost in his mind.  After a time she
glanced at him and their eyes met.  Ranma felt an unusual frisson
before he quickly glanced away in embarrassment.

     Akane felt the eye contact as a quick leap of her heart, and
she felt vaguely disappointed when Ranma glanced away.  The slight
flush decorating his face told of his feelings, however, and she
smiled to herself a little.  Still, she didn't want things to go
too quickly... best to get rid of him before he put his foot in
his mouth again and ruined the feeling.

     "Ranma...?"

     "Yes?"

     She smiled at him.  "Thank you for bringing the cookies.
That was nice of you."

     Ranma felt his heart thumping.  What would she say next?
Could it be...?

     "But I'm feeling tired and would like to take a nap.  Would
you mind taking the tray back to the kitchen as you go?"

     Her voice was gentle and somehow Ranma didn't feel rejected,
although he couldn't avoid a certain disappointment.  With a sigh,
he grabbed the tray and got up.  "Sure.  Have a nice nap," he said
quietly.  He smiled at her as he stepped towards the door.

     He ignored the discomfort that he felt as he stepped up to
the door.  He turned for a last glance at Akane as he pivoted
neatly, the door handle in one hand and the tray steady in the
other, and noted that she looked quite pale.  He smiled
reassuringly against his own growing discomfort and closed the
door.  He turned towards the staircase and started to walk away.

     He was two steps away from her door when suddenly pain
stabbed at him, spiking his joints and locking his diaphragm in
agony.  The tray slipped out of his nerveless hands and clattered
noisily to the floor.  Simultaneously, a tortured cry came from
Akane's room.

     "Aka-Akane!" he cried weakly.  His legs refused to work
properly and he fell to the wooden floor untidily, landing just
outside Akane's door.  Somehow the pain eased a little and he
reached up and flung open the door.

     Inside, Akane was curled up in a foetal ball on the floor.
She was whimpering in agony.  Desperately, Ranma forced his own
limbs to move and he crawled towards her.  As he got closer his
pain lessened a little.  'I must be getting used to the pain,' he
thought to himself as he frantically looked over Akane.  He
reached out to touch her cheek.  "Akane!" he croaked out.  "Are
you all right?"

     As he touched her cheek, the pain magically vanished, leaving
only its memory to torture him.  Akane relaxed, too, then looked
up at him with a worried expression.  "Ranma?"  Sweat still stood
on her skin.  "What's happening to me, Ranma?" she asked.  "One
moment I hurt all over, and then I feel fine!  I don't
understand," she finished plaintively.

     Akane frowned as she looked Ranma over.  He was sweating, and
looked a little pale although his colour was returning.  His
expression was very concerned... 'Concerned for me?' she wondered.
'Ranma?'

     Running footsteps thudded in the hallway outside, then Kasumi
and Nabiki burst in.

     "Akane!" said Kasumi frantically.  "Are you all right?!"

     "What happened, sis?  Did Ranma...?"

     "I'd *never* hurt Akane!" said Ranma indignantly, shocked at
Nabiki's question.  He knelt back from leaning over Akane to face
her.

     Nabiki turned on him.  "You hurt her all the time," she said
icily.

     "Nabiki, some other time, please," said Kasumi.  She knelt
down next to Akane, who was still lying on the floor.  "Akane...
are you all right?"

     Akane sat up and leaned against her bed.  "I'm fine,
oneechan.  But... when we were finishing the cookies, Ranma and I
both felt quite ill, and when Ranma stepped out of my room,
pain...  It hurt so much, I couldn't help but cry out.  And then
Ranma touched me on the cheek and the pain went away, like magic."
She stroked her cheek reflectively.  "I didn't know there was a
pain tsubo there.  I've never seen Toufuu-sensei use it, anyway."

     Ranma cleared his throat.  "Ano... Akane?" he said softly,
"the same thing happened to me."  Kasumi stared at him, puzzled.
"When I stepped outside your room, I went to walk away and it hurt
so much I dropped the tray.  But when I touched your cheek to see
if you were all right, the pain disappeared."

     "Ara, how odd," said Kasumi quietly.  "I wonder if there was
anything wrong with the cookies?"

     "Somebody's drugged us or somethin'," Ranma said resignedly.
He shivered, his mind churning.  He looked up at the ceiling.
'Why me?!' he railed at all the kami.  'Did I do something heinous
in a previous life to deserve this punishment?!'

     Akane placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder but said nothing.

     "Nobody's come to visit us today," said Nabiki.

     "Not even your friends, Ranma-kun," said Kasumi brightly.

     There was a pause.  Then Nabiki said, "So... from what you
two are saying, if you get too far apart you start to hurt."

     Ranma looked down from the ceiling.  "Agony is a pretty fair
description, actually," he said flatly.

     "How far did he get before it started to hurt, Akane?"

     "I don't know."

     "I was just out the door when it really got bad before," said
Ranma, "but I started feeling uncomfortable a bit before then."

     Nabiki eyed the distance from the bed to the doorway.  "And
Akane was on the bed?"

     "I was on the floor, right here," said Akane.  She, too, was
eyeing the distance to the door speculatively.  "It's not very
far, is it?" she said in dismay after a moment.

     Nabiki shook her head.  "It looks like you two are going to
have to live together more closely than any *married* couple until
this wears off," she said.  She snorted.  "*That* ought to be fun.
I guess you guys are going to have a good chance to try to learn
to live together without killing each other."  She turned and
left, shaking her head.

     Kasumi smiled brightly at the pair.  "I'm sure you two will
work it out," she said.  "I think you two love each other, but
have always been too embarrassed and too proud to admit it."  She
gave them each a look that made them feel like small children,
then left.

     For a time there was silence as the embarrassed pair looked
at the floor.  Finally Ranma looked at Akane and their eyes met.
"We need to talk," he said.

     She nodded.  "Would you close the door please, Ranma?"

     "Sure."  He got up and stepped toward the door.  He was
nearly there when Akane spoke.

     "Wait!"

     Ranma stopped immediately and turned to face her.  "What is
it?"

     "It's starting.  Can you feel it?"

     He realised that there was a dull, low-grade ache in his
stomach and joints.  He nodded.  "It's not very far, is it?" he
said in dismay.

     Akane shook her head.

     "I... Akane, I'd like to try and close the door without
making you get up as well.  Do you mind?"

     She shook her head again.  "No.  I... I think we should find
out how far we can go."

     He nodded, and started sidling slowly towards the open door.
Finally he stood in the doorway.  His stomach was churning, and
his joints were hurting enough that he didn't really want to get
any further away from her.  Akane looked a little pale, he
thought.  "A-Akane?  Are you okay?"

     She shook her head.  "I don't think you should go any
further, Ranma."

     "Okay."  He stepped back into the room itself and closed the
door before returning to sit beside Akane on the floor, moving a
little awkwardly against the slowly-decreasing pain.

     Akane looked at him hesitantly, still a bit pale.  "Ranma...
it still hurts."

     He nodded.  "I know.  But it's fading."

     She quickly reached out and lightly touched his cheek, and
suddenly all the pain went away.  She sat back against the bed,
sighing in relief.  "Ah, that's better," she said with a smile.

     "How did you know to do that?"

     "From what you said earlier, idiot."

     Ranma shook his head.  "I'm really sorry 'bout all this,
Akane."

     "It's not your fault, Ranma."

     There was a pregnant pause as Ranma looked around helplessly.
Finally, not knowing anything better to do, he sat down untidily
on the floor and leaned back against the bed.  Akane watched him
curiously, waiting; he seemed to have something on his mind.  The
silence stretched, and finally Ranma spoke.

     "So... So, how are we going to do this?  I guess I'll have to
move my futon and other stuff in here."

     "Oh!  Bathing... and dressing..."  Akane turned bright red
with embarrassment.

     Ranma nodded, also embarrassed, looking away a little.
"Akane... if it'll help, I'll swear not to deliberately peek at
you, and not to... um... take advantage of the sleeping or, um,
bathing arrangements, I guess," he finished with a deep crimson
blush.

     Akane's blush deepened.  She spoke towards his chest.
"Ranma, I... I'd like to say that isn't necessary, but I think
it'd be too soon for us.  So... so I hope you'll understand if I
take you up on your offer.  I'm sorry."

     He shrugged, still blushing.  "I offered."  He took a breath.
"I... I do swear to you, Tendou Akane, not to deliberately peek at
you and not to otherwise take advantage of necessary sleeping and
bathing arrangements."  He smiled.  "There.  All done."

     "Thank you, Ranma.  Would you like some tea?  I'd like to go
and thank Kasumi-oneechan, too."

     "Okay."

     

     *    *    *

     

     At the table in the living room, Kasumi and Nabiki greeted
Ranma and Akane as they came downstairs.  Tea implements were on
the table, and Kasumi was her normal cheerfully calm self.

     Akane watched her elder sister's flowing, precise movements
as she made the tea.  When finally she and Ranma had been served,
and the first sips taken, she put down her cup and addressed her.

     "Thank you for the tea, Kasumi-oneechan.  It is excellent as
usual."

     "I agree," put in Ranma.

     "Oneechan, I wanted to thank you for what you said upstairs,"
added Akane with a quelling glance at Ranma.  "We've had a talk,
and, um..."

     Kasumi smiled at the pair.  "Good," she said.

     "You shouldn't count your chickens before you hatch," said
Nabiki harshly from where she sat reading her manga.  "Let's see
if you two can last a week without killing each other before we
talk about undying love, shall we?"

     "Who said anything about undying love?!" blurted Ranma, his
cheeks flushed red.  "I just promised Akane I wouldn't take
advantage of."  He ran down, embarrassed, as Akane looked at the
floor.  He, too, looked down at his knees while Nabiki and Kasumi
shared a look.

     An uneasy silence settled over the room, the sounds of birds
and rustling trees coming in from outside, unasked questions
filling the air.  A wind chime tinkled occasional counterpoint,
stirred by the gentle, warm breeze.  Beneath that, the sounds of
the city formed a steady aural backdrop.

     Akane sipped her tea again and pondered her next move.  She
was in a dilemma.  She didn't really want to admit a weakness, but
pressure was building on her.  Finishing her tea with a flourish,
she decided to just act as though it was the most natural thing in
the world.

     Which it was, of course.  She put down her tea cup and turned
to her fiancee.  "Ranma... I need to go to the toilet," she said,
a little embarrassed despite her determination not to be.

     She was relieved when Ranma nodded matter-of-factly.  "Sure.
Let's go."  He finished his tea and jumped up, waiting for Akane.

     "Aaara," breathed Kasumi, looking a little shocked.  Even
Nabiki looked surprised as Ranma followed Akane out of the room in
the direction of the bathroom.

     

     *    *    *

     

     A pair of heads poked themselves into the doorway of the
toilet cubicle.  One nodded.  "It looks okay," said Akane.

     "Okay, I'll wait out here," said Ranma seriously.

     "Don't you go away now!"

     Ranma snorted.  "Like I have a choice?"  He smiled,
indicating his words had been an attempt at humour, but Akane had
her back turned and slammed the door in his face.

     "No, you don't!" she said, a little angrily.

     "Stupid uncute," mumbled Ranma under his breath.  "I was
joking."

     "What did you say?" came Akane's voice, still angry.

     "I said, it was a joke."

     There was a significant pause.  Then Akane said, "Oh."

     Flushing noises sounded, followed after a long moment by the
opening of the door.  Ranma was vaguely surprised to see her
smiling tentatively.  "I guess that's okay then," she said.

     He smiled back, then slipped past her to enter the toilet.
"Do you need to go too?" asked Akane as he closed the door.

     Ranma shrugged.  "Not really, but I may as well go now so I
don't have to go later on."  He closed the door, and Akane
automatically stepped briskly towards the sink to wash her hands.

     She didn't make it, however.  About halfway across the floor
of the laundry and change room, the pain came and clubbed her to
the floor, groaning.

     "Aaagh, itetetete!" came Ranma's voice.  The toilet door was
flung open and a pale-looking Ranma staggered out, holding up his
pants with one hand.  "Stupid thoughtless unfeminine uncute
tomboy!"  He stumbled over to where Akane lay on the floor,
groaning.  He knelt next to her and touched her cheek, then
slumped forward in reaction as the pain left.

     "Are you okay?" he said.

     Akane nodded and got to her feet.  Ranma did likewise.

     "What did you think you were doing, tomboy?!  Why couldn't
you wait?!"

     "I was just going to wash my hands, stupid!"

     "Didn't you think about what that would do?!"  Ranma sighed
and took Akane's wrist in his hand so she wouldn't run away.  He
examined his feet as he thought.  They were starting down a well-
worn path that would result in Akane either storming out or
hitting him a long way away... and either could be disastrous.

     They had to work together, he realised, whether they wanted
to or not... and that meant not making Akane angry enough to lose
her reason and do something rash.  He'd better treat her gently
until they got used to working together... who knows how long this
thing would go on?

     No more teasing her.  Oh, well, he was beginning to get tired
of it anyway.

     He looked at her bowed head, and wondered.  Why did she react
like that?... Most of the time he was only teasing her; other
times he reacted automatically if she got too close or if he felt
embarrassed.  He was going to have to learn not to push her away,
even if he thought he was joking, he realised.  Even if it was all
her fault.

     "Ranma..." said Akane, interrupting his musing, "I'm sorry.
I wasn't thinking."

     He shook his head, and smiled at her.  "That's okay, Akane.
We just have to be careful, ne?  I know you didn't do it
deliberately."  He slid his hand down from her wrist to take her
hand.  "Okay?"

     She smiled back hesitantly.  "Okay."

     "Now, can I go to the toilet?"

     

     *    *    *

     

     Nabiki and Kasumi sat at the table, sipping their tea as they
looked out over the engawa at the garden.  The flushing of the
toilet in the background caused Nabiki to turn her head slightly
in that direction, then turn back to regard her elder sister.

     "Do you think that this will do it, oneechan?" she asked.  "I
mean, being forced to live in such close proximity with each other
isn't necessarily going to result in a declaration of love.  I'm
worried it might just as easily turn them to hate."  A scream of
pain echoed from the bathroom area, causing Nabiki to turn away
again and miss Kasumi's blush.

     "All we can do is make the best of it, Nabiki," she said at
length.  "At least the koi will get some peace."

     Nabiki stared at her sister in amazement before making a
sound like gas leaking out of a corked bottle.  Unable to contain
herself any longer, she dissolved into uncontrolled but quiet
laughter while Kasumi looked on, smiling benignly.

     

     *    *    *

     

     Ranma's mother had returned from her shopping trip and had
been given the news by a cheerful Kasumi.  She had accepted the
news without outward reaction, but Ranma had felt her eyes upon
him -- them -- ever since.

     But now, the lowering sun was painting the world in orange-
gold light.  It had been a long, sunny day today and Ranma knew
that the sunset would be beautiful.  His mother and Kasumi had
prepared a wonderful dinner and he was feeling in the mood.  Only
the mysterious absence of the two fathers had acted to put a
damper on the evening.

     "Akane, have you finished dinner?"

     "Yes.  Why, Ranma?"

     "I'd like to go watch the sunset."

     "The sunset?  Why would you want to do that?"

     "It's just something I like to do."

     "Oh.  Now?"

     Ranma nodded and got up, offering Akane a hand to help her
up.  She got up under her own power, ignoring the hand.  He tucked
the hand behind his back and led the way outside, slightly hurt
that she had rejected his offer so casually.  He stopped by the
pond.

     "Why here?" asked Akane.  "Wouldn't we get a better view from
over there?"

     Ranma shook his head and scooped Akane into his arms.  "Hang
on," he said before leaping to the roof of the house.  Landing
lightly, he said, "The view is much better up here."

     He let her go carefully and sat down on the roof facing the
setting sun, resting his arms on his bent knees.  Akane watched
him for a long moment, then settled in to watch nature's display.

     For a long time, very little happened:  The sun gradually
dipped into the horizon, the sky turned a magnificent pink-purple
highlighting thin, high clouds that had not been easily visible
before.  Gradually the world at ground-level dimmed.

     "So why do you do this?" asked Akane at last.  Her mood was
thoughtful and contemplative.

     Ranma said nothing for a long moment.  Finally he stirred and
cleared his throat.  "To get away for a moment, to think, to
relax," he said.  "It's a different world up here.  I come up here
sometimes if something's bothering me, I guess."  He sighed.  "And
it can be very beautiful."

     "It *is* beautiful," said Akane after another moment watching
the final moments of the sun.  "What's bothering you, Ranma?"

     The last segment of the sun was just visible, and things
started happening quickly.  It grew, separated into bands, and
then was gone, leaving only a crimson sky shading to indigo behind
them.

     "Dunno," he said at last.  "I just wanted to get away for a
bit, that's all."

     "From me?"

     Ranma shook his head.  "Nah," he said absently.  "I just
wanted a chance to think without Nabiki butting in or having to
deal with Kasumi's sweetness-and-light routine."

     "Think about what?"

     "How we're going to live together without killing each
other," he said bluntly, looking at her for the first time.
"Akane, all the time either I'm running away from you or you're
running away from me or you hit me towards the horizon.  We can't
afford that any more.  But I was thinkin' earlier about this, and
I wondered why do we do it at all.  I mean, it's not like we hate
each other.  I mean, I don't..."

     He looked towards the horizon again.  Around them, street
lights and the warm yellow of house lights were coming on to greet
the gloaming.  Continuing, he said, "All I've got so far is that I
get embarrassed and if I run away I don't have to be embarrassed
anymore."  He sighed.  "And that you seem to get insulted when I
josh you."

     "*Josh* me?!"

     "Yeah, you know, stir you up, make a joke."

     "How can you call them *jokes*?!"

     "Okay, okay!"  'But they're not really jokes, are they
Ranma?' he asked himself.  Resignedly he covered his head with his
arms, bracing himself and waiting for Akane's strike.

     Akane watched him curl up into a defensive ball, anger
simmering inside her.  'Stop, girl, you can't afford to bash him
over the horizon however richly he deserves it!'  She sawed back
on the urge to bash him for his behaviour, commanding her arms not
to lash out.

     Then she noticed that he wasn't moving.  He was still curled
up, head between his knees and his arms covering the back of his
head... why?  With a lurch of her heart she realised that he was
waiting for her to hit him, and not doing anything to prevent it.
Almost as if... he felt he *deserved* to be hit.

     'Which he does!' one part of her urged.

     Akane shook her head and reached out to touch his arm.  She
felt a slight tingle at the contact but pushed the sensation to
one side as she watched him raise his head, eyes wondering.

     "It's okay, Ranma.  Let's just try not to make each other
angry, shall we?"

     He smiled lopsidedly.  "Okay."

     The gate opened, and the two of them looked over the peak of
the roof to see Soun and Genma entering the yard in high spirits.

     "Well, I guess the sunset's done," he said.  "Wanna go down?"

     "Only if you carry me."

     "Lazy," he said as he gathered her up into his arms and
prepared to jump down.

     "Maybe.  By the way..."

     "Um?" grunted Ranma as he leaped towards a two-point landing
on one of the rocks by the pond.

     "I don't hate you either."

     *SPLASH!*

     

     

     "Waaaaaa!" wailed Soun.  "My daughter has been poisoned!  Oh,
no, how are our families to be joined now?  Waaaaa!"

     Genma clapped Soun on the shoulder, his smile broad but his
fingers white where they gripped Soun's shoulder.  "What are you
talking about, Tendou-kun?  We should thank *whoever* drugged
them!  This potion forces them to be together!  We can't fail,
now!"

     "Wha?"  Soun blinked tears out of his eyes.  "What are *you*
talking about, Saotome-kun?"

     "If they have to be together all the time, how can they
possibly marry anybody else?!  It's simple!"

     "Ah!  You're right!  Waaaaaa!  My daughter's going to be
married!"

     Nodoka watched this display impassively, shaking her head at
the antics of the two fathers.

     But she could not escape the conclusion that this time, they
were probably correct.  And in other ways, this situation was not
at all a bad thing.