Friends?

Part2

by Belphera

As Akane opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was that she was
no longer on the beach. Instead she was lying in her bed. What had
happened? One moment they were walking on the beach, and the next
moment, Ranma had given her the most intense kiss of her life. She had
only been kissed a few times by men. The first few times were when she
was in high school and college. But up until recently the only person
who had kissed her was Kuno her superintendent. However his kisses were
mostly chaste kisses, never like the kiss Ranma had given her.

Getting up she walked out of her room and to the kitchen. She was glad
that tomorrow was Friday, this way she could have the weekend to prepare
for her sister. Kasumi was always worried that she wasn't taking care of
herself when she had moved to America. This weekend she would have to
make the house look more homier.

"I have to ask Ranma to take me shopping this weekend." Akane said
making a note to herself.

Meanwhile, Ranma was in his room looking over some numbers that Ryouga
had given him today dealing with one of the larger companies which he
wanted to buy. Ranma like to live a rather simple life even though he
was quite wealthy. His mother always tried to encourage him to go to
those stuffy parties where everyone was trying to compare who was
richer. To please he mother, he complied and went to a few. But it just
wasn't him. when he moved from Japan to America, it was to get away from
all that stuff. He wanted to live. He had been a wanderer for most of
his young life, and it just wasn't natural for him to be confined.

Akane, she was probably the reason he stayed in this one place. She
seemed to be full of life and the fire in her eyes captivated him. She
had been there for him through the tough times and the good times. The
time when his grandmother had died was a terrible ordeal for him. For
weeks he was depressed, but Akane talked with him and helped him get
over his depression. She offered an ear to listen to and a shoulder to
cry on.

However there was one thing he simply couldn't understand. Akane was a
beautiful girl, but for some reason she put herself down and tried to
push men away. For many nights he had had the image of Akane sitting at
the home of that ass Kuno, being a chaste wife. Instead of wanton sex on
the kitchen floor and candle light dinners, she was bringing slippers to
that samurai wannabe. He called her stuffy and boring many times, but
inside he could see that she had an active side to her. If only she
would allow someone to open that side of her. And the last person who
could bring it out was Kuno. Shuddering at that thought he tried to
think about something else. Getting up he went down towards the kitchen,
he needed some caffeine in his system.

"The root beer!"


Sitting down at the table of the large kitchen, Akane quietly mulled
over her best friend Ranma. After this engagement she would have to find
a good woman for Ranma. He was her dearest friend and she knew all his
likes and dislikes. But one thing she couldn't stand was the fact that
his choice in women was horrendous. The only thing cared about the women
when he picked them up was how they looked, not if they had a brain or
not. Maybe she could introduce him to Ukyou.

Looking up, she saw Ranma walk down the spiral stairs. He was so
beautiful, every muscle in his body seemed to have been handcrafted by
god himself. As he walked, he didn't make a single sound as he swept
into the kitchen.

"Hey Akane, finally awake huh?"

"Yeah."

"So I was thinking, maybe we should tell everyone about our engagement."

"What?! Why?"

"Well because we have to make this look s real as possible. I mean if
you really got engaged wouldn't you tell your friends and co-workers? I
know I would."

"I suppose I would too."

"So your sister would think it's very strange that none of your friends
are calling to congratulate you or helping you out with the wedding."

"I'll tell everyone tomorrow, I just hope this doesn't snowball into
something we can't handle. Oh by the way what are we going to do about a
ring?"

"Ring?"

"Yeah, Kasumi's going to ask to see the ring when she first gets here."

"Well, I'll pick one up from downtown tomorrow, what do you like silver?
Gold? Diamonds? Sapphire?"

"Surprise me, but don't spend too much, two hundred at the most okay? I
want to reimburse you for the ring."

"Uh... sure." Realizing something Ranma went to the kitchen cabinet and
pulled out two wine glasses and set it down in front of Akane. Taking a
can of root beer from the counter, he poured some into each glass.

"Hey are you stealing more of my root beer?" Akane said in an annoyed
tone.

"I'm hurt, as your new fianc� I just restocked your fridge, and now
you're accusing me of stealing your root beer. There is just no trust in
this relationship." Ranma pouted outrageously.

"No way! You mean you finally restocked my root beer supply after I
reminded you for the past few weeks? I'm touched."

"Yeah well I said I would didn't I?"

"What's this for?" Akane asked pointing at the glasses

"Well people usually toast to their engagement."

"People don't toast lies."

"Oh come'on Akane humor me."

"Oh alright." Picking up her glass, Akane lifted it up to Ranma's glass.

"To our engagement." Ranma said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"To our engagement." Akane said smiling.


It was raining in downtown Houston as Ranma sprinted across the street
to the jewelry store. Upon entering the store, Ranma shook off some of
the water off of his jacket. Looking around, he asked himself what he
was doing here.

"You're here to buy Akane a ring, a real one. It's the least she
deserves." Ranma quietly growled to himself. Walking over to one of the
displays he looked at some of the rings. A saleswoman in the store
quietly walked over to Ranma with a sultry smile on her lips.

"May I help you?" she asked in a husky voice. Looking up Ranma looked at
this woman. She was probably mid twenties, single, and had a body that
could kill. If his mind were not set on buying Akane an engagement ring,
he might have already tried to bed her down. But Akane was more
important than this woman. Looking into this woman's eyes he blatantly
said

"Yes I'm here to buy an engagement ring." The woman's eyes quickly
shifted from seductive to professional.

"Well sir we have a wide variety of rings you could choose from. Did you
have anything specific in mind?'

"No perhaps you could suggest something?"

"Did you have a price range to choose from?"

"No, I have no price range."

"I see, then perhaps I can suggest this piece?" The woman said bringing
out a ring that had an extremely large diamond set in an a nice golden
band.

"No it's too flashy."

"Well, maybe if you tell me what your fianc�e is like I can provide a
better opinion."

"She's about 5'5 , quiet yet passionate, she's a school teacher."

"Sounds like a solitaire woman to me."

"Yeah I guess she is." Looking across to another case he spies a ring, a
silver band intricately designed. In the center was a large deep blue
sapphire, small diamonds are set around the great stone in the center.
"How about that ring over there?" Ranma said pointing to the ring in the
other case. Surprised, the woman takes the ring out of the case.

"Very good choice sir, however this is perhaps one of the most expensive
rings this side of the hemisphere."

"Good, please prepare it for me by 3 o'clock this afternoon, a colleague
of mine will be down to pick it up."

"Uh.... Yes sir." The woman was a bit overwhelmed that a man would spend
so much money. With that she asked for Ranma's name and office number.
As Ranma left, the woman was still staring at the paper in her hand.

"Ranma Saotome?!"

Word had spread quickly about Ranma's engagement. By noon time numerous
people were offering their congratulations. Multitudes of women were
heartbroken and asked him if it was true. Smiling in his office, Ranma
just leaned back and enjoyed what was going on around him. What he said
was true. He was enjoying this immensely. He liked to have this feeling
of belonging. Suddenly his intercom rang.

"Ranma? Mr. Hibiki is here to see you."

"Good send him right in." Getting up he went over and poured himself a
cup of tea. He never really liked coffee because it gave people bad
breath. As the door opened and shut with a bang, Ranma grinned to
himself.

"Ranma there had better be a good reason for this."

"Ryouga buddy! Sit down!"

"Ranma, just yesterday you were not even close to even being in love,
and now you're planning on marrying some girl? What's this all about?"

"Ryouga I was just following some advice you gave me. You said I should
settle down, and I am."

"Who is she?"

"Akane."

"Akane?! But you two are just friends right?"

"Ryouga it's really not what it seems to be." Leaning in he whispered to
Ryouga. "We're just pretending so you've got nothing to worry about."

"What do you mean pretending? Marriage is pretty serious." Ryouga
whispered back to Ranma.

"Well it's like this Akane's older sister told Akane's eldest sister
that Akane was engaged. So now Akane's eldest sister is coming down here
to meet Akane's fianc�. So that's where I come in."

"Why didn't Akane just tell her sister the truth?"

"Ryouga, there's something about Akane that you don't know about. She
values her eldest sister very highly. She's been like a second mother to
Akane, and Akane just couldn't bring herself to burst her sister's
bubble."

"How long is this going to be for?"

"Probably a month or two. Don't worry about it after the charade is over
we'll just break it off and say that we didn't feel we could be anymore
than friends. End of story."

"I don't know about this. I've got a bad feeling about this. I just hope
you know what you're doing.'

"I do don't worry about it!" Then realizing something Ranma said
urgently. "And don't tell sis about this!"

"Too late for that, Ranko already knows."

"How?!"

"Well she heard the rumors, and she asked me if they were true. And
unlike you, I don't keep secrets from her."

"Awww man! Every time. It never fails to happen. She asks you for
something and you turn into putty!"

"I do not!"

"You are such a wimp, falling into pieces."

"Take that back!"

"What's wrong Ryo-chan? Can't admit the truth?"

"Argh That's it! Prepare to die Ranma!" With that the battle ensued.

At Ranma's secretary's desk, Kaori sat and was reading book. Ignoring
the sound of things breaking in the office behind. Amidst the chaos the
phone rings.

"Hello Mr. Saotome's office. He is busy at the moment may I please have
your name and number please?"

"Kaori? Put Ranma on the line."

"Oh Ranko, him and Ryouga are busy at the moment."

"Are they fighting again? Patch me through"

"Okay."

Inside the office Ranma was winding up for a flying side kick when the
phone then rings. Walking over to the phone, he wonders who Kaori would
have patch through.

"Hello?"

"Ranma! Stop picking on my husband this instant!"

"But sis- "

"Don't but sis me! Now what is this all about an engagement?!" Sitting
down, Ranma prays that Ranko wasn't going to give him a hard time.

"Well, what about it?"

"What do you mean what about it? Mom already knows, we're going to be
coming down next Monday. So who is she? What's she like?"

"Uh... she's um, you know nice."

"Ranma! Is there something you're not telling me?"

"no of course not! Um, does Pop know?"

"Nah he went on some training trip with an old buddy of his, they won't
be back for a while."

"Good."

"So are you going to tell me, about her?"

"You'll find out when you get here."

"She isn't one of those stupid bimbos who usually hang around you
right?"

"No!"

"Well me and mom got a lot of stuff to do before we leave. Seeya"

"Bye." Hanging up the phone, Ranma sat back and let out a breath of
dread. Looking over to Ryouga he remembered something.

:"Ryouga did you get the package?"

"Yeah is it a ring?"

"Yeah."

"She must be pretty damn special if you spent this much money for her
ring."

"It's Akane, I owe her a lot, she's practically my best friend. She
deserves it."

"I hope so."

 Walking up the driveway to the house, Akane was very tired. She had
announce that she was engaged to her friends and today had been an
entire day of hassling. She was going to make some curry tonight. She
knew Ranma liked her curry, and she wanted thank him. Opening the door
and going into the kitchen, she started to gather the necessary
ingredients for the curry. How was she going to pretend to be in love
with Ranma. It just felt too weird, Ranma was her best friend, she could
pretend to be in love with him could she?

She had seen Kuno today, the face he had made when she said she was
engaged was a look of horror. He then spouted off some poetry about the
injustice of society. Ukyou had asked if she could help with the
wedding, and a number of parents congratulated her. The worst part of
this will be the time when she came back in the fall unmarried and
another disappointment. But to see Kasumi proud of her for something, it
was worth it. And she was lucky to have a friend, who was willing to
play the part. Yes she was lucky to have Ranma.

Driving home from Houston, Ranma looked over at the package next to him.
He had been extravagant, he had been insane. He had bought a ring that
was immensely expensive, it wasn't that he didn't have much money to pay
for it,. Far from it, he made more than the price in a day. But the fact
that he spent that much money on a ring and with a price that sent even
him staggering a bit. But it was for Akane, it was for all the times she
took care of him, fed him, sat down and had a heart to heart talk with
him. The ring wasn't for this fake engagement, it was for her, it was
nothing compared to her invaluable friendship. Satisfied with his
justification, he drove home with more spirit. After dinner, he would
give it to her after dinner.


Placing the last dish of curry on the table, Akane went to her room to
change into a sundress. She wanted to look nice tonight for Ranma. This
was probably the closest she would ever come to having dinner with a
fianc�, even if he was her best friend. While changing, Akane heard
Ranma come through the door.

After living with Ranma for nearly five years she had begun to sense
when he was nearing the house. On those sleepless nights when she would
sometimes wait for Ranma to come home from his dates, she would rejoice
to hear those footsteps coming up the stairs.

"I'm Home!" sniffing in the air Ranma poked his head into the dinning
room. "Do I smell your famous curry?"

"You do! Hurry up!" Akane hollered from her room. Ranma went to his room
and changed into a button down shirt and a pair of khakis pants. While
changing he heard the sound of boiling water from the teapot.

"Akane! Don't bother making any tea, I brought some wine home!"

"Wine?"

"Yeah I thought we'd get drunk and get our names tattooed on each
other." Ranma said walking into the kitchen.

"I'm sure you've already picked out where to get them."

"Yeah you wanna hear where yours is going to be?"

"Ranma Saotome don't you say another word."

"Heh Heh. Got a cork screw?"

"Yeah, it's right here." When Akane turned back around Ranma was
dangerously close to her, she could feel his breath against her face as
she looked into his gray eyes. Leaning down, Ranma sniffed her neck.

"Mmmmm.... You smell nice tonight. Is that the same perfume you wore for
that Kuno?" All romantic thoughts rushed out of her head as she was once
reminded that this was Ranma, her best friend.

"For your information, I met Kuno in the halls today."

"Oh? And did you tell him you were engaged?"

"Yes, and he had a hurt look on him."

"Ah well."

"Ranma! He's my boss! And he's a nice guy!"

"Yeah whatever."

"Oooooo.....you can be so insensitive sometimes!" Akane said frustrated
raising her fist.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! You know you look really nice tonight." Taking
the corkscrew from her hands he opened the bottle and waked into the
dining room. Akane placed her hand to her face and found them flushed.

Walking into the dining room, Akane noticed the lights were off and
Ranma had place two candle sticks on the table. The sky was already dusk
and with the added effect of the candles, it was a romantic mood.

"Why the candles?"

"Ahhh..... I figured it wasn't light enough to turn on the lights, but
dark enough that we need light."

"Oh, okay I guess." Moving to her seat, she found Ranma already behind
her and pulling out the chair for her.

"My lady please be seated."

"Thank you kind sir." Smiling Ranma took his seat. Looking across at
Akane, he smile, he figured he couldn't really give her wanton sex on
the kitchen floor, but he would give her a candle light dinner.

"Ranma?"

"Huh?" Akane's voice shook him from his thoughts.

"You haven't touched your food yet."

"Oh, sorry." As they began to eat the conversed about miscellaneous
subjects. Ranging from his deal with the new computer company to the
kids Akane taught.

"Oh did you tell everyone at school about our engagement today?" Ranma
asked with a curious look in his eyes.

"Yeah , they'll all be shocked to see me unengaged next fall."

"Heh, I've already had one of my senior executives ask me to name our
first son after him. "

"Really? What's his name?"

"Wilfred." Akane smiled and burst out laughing. Covering her mouth with
her hand, she giggled a bit.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh just the idea of us with a son, isn't that idea laughable?" Ranma
took note that she had stopped laughing.

"I don't know I think I would be honor to know I could sire a son."

"I suppose I would too. But anyway, tomorrow is the last day of school,
do you think you could stop by? I need some help bring some of my stuff
home."

"Sure, you could show me off to all your friends right?"

"Yeah and all my friends would be so jealous of me, but what they really
don't know is that I didn't really catch a man like you."

"There you go again, cheer up!"

"I guess, I just hope no one gets hurt from this charade."

"Yeah, oh by the way. My mother found out about this."

"Your mother? How? Ryouga told Ranko and Ranko told mom, they'll be down
next Wednsday."

"Great. Do you think we can pull it off around your mother?"

"No problem, all we have to do is give each other loving looks and we'll
get through this."

"I hope your right." Brightening up Akane began to stand up. "So you
want desert?"

"Desert? You're spoiling me Akane."

"Too late for that." Akane said as she picked up her plate and moved to
the kitchen.

"That's right I have a present for you."

"A present?"

"Yeah let me just go get it." Racing up the stairs Ranma got the box.
Opening it up a little nervously, he looked at the ring inside. Calming
his shaking hands, he walked back into the dining room. The sun was now
setting in the background and dyed the room in a violet red color. The
room was enhanced by Akane in a white sun dress and the sticks of
candle.

Upon entering the room Akane spied the box in Ranma's hands. She had
totally forgotten that he was going to pick up the ring today. Looking
at him, either it was the candles flickering or he was shaking a bit.

"Ranma you didn't have to get a special box for it."

"Ah.... Well it came with the ring." Damn he was nervous. Opening it up
he held it up to her for her to see. Akane's eyes widened and stared at
the ring."

"Oh my god, if I didn't know better I would have believe this was real."

"You like it?" Ranma asked nervously.

"Of course I do, It's very lovely." Taking the ring out of the box, she
looked at it. It was beautiful, but that was only because Ranma had
given it to her.

"Here let me put it on for you." Ranma took the ring from Akane's hands
and slid it up Akane's ring finger.

"You know Ranma, what would all your girlfriends say if they saw you
now?"

"Honestly, I don't see myself doing this to any woman but you." Looking
at Ranma sharply, Akane wondered if he had just said what she thought he
said. Catching his slip of a tongue, Ranma stuttered.

"I mean, you know, I'm probably not going to be doing something like
this and I just was so you know. I meant..." Akane looked closely at
Ranma. If the room wasn't so dark, she could have sworn he was blushing.

"Right." Sitting down at the table Ranma ate a bit of his cheesecake.
Looking across at Akane constantly, he saw the way colors of the flames
of the candles danced around her face. Her blue-black hair cut at her
shoulders, framing her round face well. Her beautiful chocolate eyes
held her fire within, though she did not burn outwardly. Abruptly she
looked up and saw Ranma staring at her.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" Chuckling Ranma noticed a bit of
cheesecake at the corner of her mouth.

"Yeah right here." Ranma said as he brushed the smudge away. But then he
looked into her eyes, leaning in closer he cupped her face and brought
her face to him. Moving in he kissed her deeply savoring her taste. She
had a wonderful aroma to her.

Akane felt the world spinning as Ranma leaned in with a strange look on
his face and kissed her. Suddenly she screeched to a halt, kissing
Ranma. This was not right. Ranma was like a double fudge brownie to a
dieter; he was a no-no. Pulling back abruptly, Ranma nearly fell face
first into his cheesecake.

"What did you do that for?" Akane asked curiously.

"I- well -er, I mean Akane , you just looked so pretty in the lighting.
I mean uh." Ranma tried to explain to Akane. But he didn't even know why
he did it himself.

"Ranma you know I'm not used to kissing you!"

"Right but when your sister gets here, she'll probably expect to see us
like this. Besides we're both adults, come'on we can share a simple kiss
can't we?" Ranma immediately kicked himself when he saw Akane's hurt
expression from his comment.

"I guess you're right." Picking up her plate, Akane headed towards the
kitchen. Getting up Ranma followed her.

At the sink, Ranma and Akane each went through their normal ritual, she
would wash and he would dry. Noticing Akane's thoughtful expression,
Ranma cleared his throat.

"Uh, Akane about that kiss-"

"- was just practice for when I get a real fianc�. Don't worry about it
Ranma. We'll probably be doing more of it when Kasumi gets here."

"Uh..."

"Come on let's go watch the sun set, we can sit on the patio."

"Sure."

"I'm going to put some tea on, you want?" Akane asked as she moved
towards the stove.

"No that's okay," Grabbing the wine bottle. "I think I'll just have some
more wine." Heading towards the patio he muttered "Like the rest of the
bottle."