HI!
    Just another fic to pass away some time :P  could
someone help me with a title?  For the life of me I can't
think of what to call it... well. Enjoy!

~Carly aka Akane-chan


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Based on the manga by Rumiko Takahashi

We Present to you....

umm.... sorry no title yet :P
**********************************

Kasumi kissed her small niece on the top of her head, "Sweet
dreams, Yuriko-chan."

Yuriko squirmed, "But it's still so early, Auntie!  All my
friends are still up."

"But, you are not 'all your friends' and your parents know
what's best for you."  Kasumi corrected, with an
authoritative tone.

Yuriko groaned, "I still say it sucks..."

Kasumi shot a hard, but motherly glare to her niece.  Yuriko
smiled apologetically.

"Auntie, could you tell me a story?  You know, the ones
about ..umm.. what were their names again?"

Kasumi smiled from ear to ear, "I'm surprised you could
forget.  Their names are Ranma and Akane dear."

"Right!  Them!  Could you, Auntie?"  Yuriko put on her 'I'm
a little angel and couldn't possibly do anything wrong'
smile she knew her aunt could never resist.

Kasumi wavered, "Alright dear.  Where did we leave off?"

A little black blur sped into the room upon hearing the name
'Ranma and Akane', and got ready to pounce on Yuriko.

Yuriko groaned and batted away the blur.

"Now Yuriko-chan, it's not nice to pick on your little
brother like that...."  Kasumi half-scolded the girl.

"Yeah!  Younger by 5 minutes!"  Naraku said in defense while
rubbing the top of his head.  He sent an angered glare
towards his 'onee-chan'.

Yuriko stuck her tongue out at her brother, "BIIIIIIDA!"

Kasumi quickly intervened to avoid the usual brawl that
broke out between the two, "Now, children.. You know that
Okaa-san and Otou-san don't like you fighting in the
house...."

The two slumped their shoulders, not able to refuse anything
their Aunt said since she asked for so little.

Naraku sat up on his sisters bed, "Aunt Kasumi, did you say
you were going to tell another story?"

"Ara.. yes.  I almost forgot.  Arigatou, Naraku-chan."
Kasumi thanked her youngest nephew.

Naraku beamed at the attention, rewarding him a glare from
Yuriko.

"Now, where were we....."  Kasumi wondered.

"You just finished where Ranma and Akane were gonna to get
married.  But the other girls that liked Ranma and the boys
that liked Akane stopped it."  Yuriko added in.

"Right.  Arigatou, Yuriko-chan."

Yuriko beamed, taking the spotlight away from her brother
who was now pouting.

"Well, as I said last time... Ranma and Akane's wedding was
stopped by all that apposed their relationship.  The dojou
was in pieces, and not to mention two hearts......"

@--^----

Ranma walked silently across the fence, occasionally
glancing down at the girl waling on the ground just below
him.  She looked quite deep in thought and maybe even
downcast.  He could only keep playing the conversation the
two had with their fathers in his head.

*"We're sick of or house and dojou being destroyed.  Until
we can think of something better.... The engagement is
broken........"*

The engagement is broken.  Now there's something Ranma
didn't think he would hear in his whole life.  His life had
been far too comfortable with the safety net he had at the
Tendou's, and he knew something had to give.  But the
engagement?  Now there was a big step.  He had a strange
feeling in the pit of his stomach, he didn't know what it
was, but he didn't like it one bit.

They had arrived at school, and Kunou even had the nerve to
glomp onto Akane, seeing see was in a vulnerable state.
Ranma face faulted when Akane just kept walking, Kunou and
all.  It just wasn't like Akane not to fight back.
Something was wrong, and being the only observant one there
at the moment, it was his job to find out.

@--^----

Yuriko grinned from ear to ear, "It was the wedding wasn't
it?  Akane was mad cuz she didn't get to marry Ranma wasn't
it?"

Kasumi's brow furrowed, "Well, not exactly, Yuriko-chan.
You see... Akane wasn't really mad at not marrying Ranma.
She had other things on her mind at the time.  But, you are
maybe half right.  She was worrying about something to _do_
with Ranma...."

@--^----

Akane stared absently at the blackboard.  She wasn't sure,
but she thought the scribbled kanji was something about
feudal Japan and Nobunga.. but she hadn't been paying
attention all class.  Their parents had broken the
engagement.  So many things were going through her head,
*Good!  Fine!  Why so I need him anyway?  But he's worried
about me.  He saved me in Jusendou.  But he doesn't love
me.  He assured me of that.*  She sighed.  Why did her life
have to be so complicated?

She almost cheered in glee when the day was over.  She held
herself back though when she saw many faces peering towards
her.  She collected herself and walked out the door, only to
lean against the wall just outside of class.  She knew she
wasn't ready to come back to school yet.  Her sisters had
warned her, but she insisted she was fine.  She just wished
she could be home, in her nice, warm bed, where no one would
talk to her... no one would pay attention to her...

"Uh.... Akane?"

Akane shook herself violently out of thought and focused,
"Huh?  Oh, sorry Ranma."  She pushed herself off the wall
and started down the hall, leaving a bewildered Ranma
behind.

@--^----

Yuriko sniffed, "Did Akane really want to be all alone?"

Kasumi thought about it for a moment, "I'm not sure,
Yuriko-chan.  She was just confused and needed some time to
herself."

Naraku was faced away from the two, trying to hide the fact
that he was also a bit teary eyed.

"Kasumi??"  A voice called from the bottom of the stairs.

"Yes?"  Kasumi called back.

"Your husband was just on the phone.  He was wondering when
you would be heading back."

Kasumi smiled and turned back to the children, "Well, it
looks like our time for tonight is up."

The two groaned, "Oh please Auntie!  You hardly even got to
tell any!"

"I'm sorry.  I promise I'll finish it when I come to visit
next time, okay?"  She said smiling sweetly.

The kids nodded, "Hurry back soon then!"

After a quick hug Kasumi left down the stairs, towards home.

Naraku shifted to face his sister, "Hey, Yuriko.  Do you
really think Kasumi is telling the truth when she tells us
the stories?"

Yuriko looked thoughtful for a second then shook her head,
"I don't think so, Ototo-chan."

"Quit calling me!"  Naraku growled, "I'm only younger than
you by five minutes!"

"So what ya gonna do 'bout it?"  Yuriko taunted.

Naraku and his sister faced off, about to turn her room into
ground zero when they heard a dangerous warning from the
living room.

"I _HOPE_ you two aren't fighting in the house..."  Their
father warned.

"Oh, no, Otou-san!"  Yuriko chirped sweetly, "We wouldn't
dream of it!"

Naraku shot his sister a warning glance before heading to
his own room, "Dumb girl..."  He muttered.  What was that
insult he heard his father use once?....oh yeah.. that's it,
"Kawaiikunee..."