(See the end of the chapter for notes .)

Chapter Text

The morning sun was warm on his skin, despite the snow sparkling on the lawn and the wintry quality of the air.

Ranma pulled his scarf tighter to his neck and carefully closed the door behind him with a soft click. As he walked he could hear the jingling of coins in his right pocket.

“I wish I had thought to do this weeks ago,” Ranma grumbled to himself, lamenting on the lack of money he had managed to scavenge the night before.

In his desperation to find a suitable gift for Akane, Ranma had turned over almost all of his belongings--traveling gear, long-forgotten chinese souvenirs, all of his school things plus a few pairs of unwashed pants--but the results of which were still pitifully meager. Money was never terribly easy for him to come by.

He passed by a department store window and stared inside hopefully, willing a solution to occur to him.

“I stayed up almost all night trying to figure out what I can give her, but I still got no idea,” He thought, discouraged. “Flowers are too simple, a stuffed animal is too goofy, I wouldn’t even know where to start with clothes...It feels like nothin’ I’d give her would be good enough.”

Ranma turned back to the sidewalk, lost in thought. A bell chimed as a child sped out of a nearby store, almost colliding with him as they whizzed passed. Ranma glanced up at the sign ahead of him.

‘Nerima Book House’ the sign read. Aside from the occasional comic, Ranma himself wasn’t much of a reader but he’d seen Akane with her nose in a book often enough to warrant a visit to the store. He wandered inside, eyeing the shelves inquisitively. There were rows labeled with themes like ‘young adult fiction’ and ‘fantasy romance,’ but he knew next to nothing about the majority of the titles he passed.

Then, his gaze fell upon a book labeled: ‘The Homemaker--A Guide to Traditional Japanese Cooking,’ and the thought of Akane’s unending war with cookery sprang to mind. He picked it up, idly flipping through the glossy pages, spotted with colorful images of various meals and desserts. The instructions seemed quite clear--the book’s fonts were neat and the ingredients and steps were arranged simply. Momentarily, he imagined Akane reading the book and somehow managing to overcome her ineptitude in the kitchen with it.

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” Ranma thought, “Akane would be really happy and I wouldn’t see my life pass before my eyes every time she sets one of her experiments down in front of me.”

He then remembered what Ukyo had said the day before referring to the topic. He imagined Akane opening this as a gift in front of the entire family and a gaggle of nebby party guests.

“She’d probably think I was just making fun of her,” Ranma sighed, placing the book back on the shelf. “And I’m sure there’d be plenty of commentary from the peanut gallery.”

He strode from the store still empty-handed. After a moment Ranma pulled the change from his pocket and stared at it hopelessly.

“It’s not like I’d be able to afford anything nice anyway.”

Without meaning to, he found himself at the neighborhood park. Heedless of the strangers that passed him, bundled in wool, chattering happily, Ranma fell into a swing and brooded.

“I guess I’m just gonna have to go back home empty handed,” He thought with a sting about the reactions of everyone else when he announced that he hadn’t bought Akane a present. He was sure even his mother would have something for her.

Worst of all, he’d have to see Akane looking crestfallen, although he knew she would pretend to be otherwise.

“I’ll have to go back soon before anyone notices I’m gone and starts gettin’ suspicious,” He said in a low voice, swaying lazily by the movements of his foot, watching his shadow teeter on the ground under him.

Nerima was much more peaceful on an early winter’s morning--the gentle sunlight falling comfortably on his back despite the chill. He buried his nose in the scarf Akane had given him and wished it still smelled like her.

Just as he moved to stand up however, a sharp glint of bright light caught his eye from the ground not far from him. His forehead creased as he stared at it.

“What is that?” He thought, nearing the object.

His shadow fell over it and he swooped to scoop it up. It was small, smooth and cold like a pebble.

Ranma turned, facing the sun, to glare down at the item in his palm. It was caked with dirt and wet from the melting snow, but he could see that it was heart-shaped and gold plated. He rubbed at it with the inside bottom of his shirt.

“It’s a locket,” He murmured to himself, opening the clasp. Aside from dirt it was empty inside, although he could see the rims for where two pictures would sit. Delicately, he ran a finger along the curved outer shell of the pendant. A small wire o-ring hung, bent partially opened from the dip in the heart shape. Ranma could see that at one time this locket adorned a chain--likely matching it perfectly--but had since been broken off.

“Probably how this ended up here,” Ranma thought, holding the pendant up to the sky, sudden inspiration filling his mind. “She never has to know where I got it from,” He whispered, turning it slowly, watching as the sunlight made it glow.

*

Akane stirred in her bed, tightly bundled in a collection of quilts and fleece blankets. Her eyes slowly opened, face and stomach pressed flat against her mattress. Disoriented, she stared in puzzlement at a small black tuft tucked against the wall next to her. Immediately she thought of P-chan, her beloved pet piglet, and her heart swelled. As she came to however, she realized with some disappointment that what she had perceived as P-chan was nothing more than the backside of a small panda plush.

“Right, I haven’t seen P-chan in days,” Akane reminded herself, “I hope he’s okay. He always disappears for such a long time...I wonder where he goes when he leaves…”

She lay for a moment longer, staring at the lifeless toy, lost in thought before turning over and sliding out of bed. The draft in her room caused goose bumps to line her arms. Akane rubbed her forearms absently and pulled back her curtain to peer outside.

The sun shone brightly on the lawn--a light dusting of snow glistening in the daylight. The tree near her window was damp, dripping with water as if ice had melted off of it.

Akane thought of the walk home with Ranma the previous evening. “It must have snowed during the night.”

Suddenly, voices carried up the stairs to her room followed by a door closing downstairs. Ranma’s mother was announcing to someone that she had come home. Akane heard Mr. Saotome laugh loudly at something only moments later, but it was difficult to make out their conversation.

Nodoka had arrived at the Tendo residence yesterday, long before Ranma and Akane ever made it home. Akane remembered with a slight smile how Nodoka had wailed and thrown her arms around Ranma upon seeing him. Seeing how happy she was seemed to settle some of Ranma’s misgivings about her staying with them.

“Ranma…” Akane murmured, holding her hands to her chest. She wondered for one risky, hopeful moment if she would find Ranma, sleeping alone in the room down the hall. No one would think it odd if she went to wake him and she might be able to sneak in a kiss or two undetected. Akane’s heart fluttered at the thought.

She stode to her dresser and pulled from it a pink knit sweater, a long yellow circle skirt and white opaque tights. Dressing and pushing her yellow pajamas back into a drawer, Akane quickly ran a brush through her hair and dashed into the hallway. She passed by the bathroom only long enough to brush her teeth and check her reflection.

Akane pushed open the door to the guest room, her chest ripe with anticipation, only to realize the room lay empty.

“Did I over sleep?” Akane asked herself, chewing on her thumbnail as she stared into the room. “Maybe he’s already downstairs.”

She started down the stairs, greeted at once by the smell of powdered sugar, holly and pine. The main room was pleasantly warm-- glowing with an array of Christmas lights, gaudy ornaments and lit candles. Her and Ranma’s fathers were sitting at the heated table in the middle of the room, holding cups of tea and sharing newspaper pages. Nabiki lay on the floor, legs crossed, reading a magazine. Everyone looked up as she approached.

“Good morning Akane!” Her father cheered in a sing-song way. Genma nodded at her, following with a much shorter “Mornin’!” Of his own.

“Kind of overslept didn’t you?” Nabiki said, arching her eyebrow, knowingly.

“If I did, I probably needed it,” Akane retorted. “We had a big test at school yesterday in my worst subject--I haven’t been able to relax in a week.”

That was half true.

Nabiki smirked at Akane, not convinced. “Mmhm.. Sure.”

Akane gave her a warning look before turning towards the kitchen.

Nodoka and Kasumi were unpacking fresh produce from brown paper bags when Akane stepped into the room. Nodoka wore her hair in a braided bun--a blue kimono, embroidered with colorful blossoms and a full-length white apron. Her face was graced with the slightest hint of makeup. Akane noticed faintly how much Ranma, in female body, resembled his mother. She felt slightly embarrassed by the thought. Then, Nodoka noticed Akane’s presence and her eyes lit up.

“Good morning Akane,” She said, beaming at her while pushing a fallen lock of auburn hair behind her ear. “Did you sleep well?”

“Um, yes Ma’am I-I did, thank you,” Akane responded, clumsily.

Nodoka smiled.

Akane stood awkwardly, unsure of herself, before asking, “Where is Ranma?”

Nodoka looked surprised at this. “I assumed he was in your bed, still sleeping. Is he not?” A hint of panic crossed her face.

Akane flushed a deep scarlet, her heart beat jumping into her throat. “N-No we don’t--I mean--I just thought he would be down here…” She stared hard at the floor, blinking rapidly.

Before Nodoka could respond, Kasumi’s voice came, soft and encouraging. “He might be in the dojo having a morning workout,” She offered.

Nodoka gasped. “Oh, of course! That’s so manly of him!” She swooned.

“Uh...hah...yeah, well excuse me then…”

Akane darted from the room and hurried into the hallway, happy to be away from Nodoka. She scolded herself for not being a better liar. Her ears still felt hot.

She found some relief at how far away the dojo was from the rest of the household. Akane threw the door to the dojo open.

“That’s odd…” She said, scanning the empty room in confusion. “He’s not in here either…”

Akane’s eyes traveled across the room--over the garland hung near the ceiling and the white candle wreath decorating her mother’s memorial shrine. She sighed, her shoulders falling as she turned back towards the house.

“Woah! Watch out!” Ranma’s voice came suddenly as Akane turned, almost falling into him. She gasped and Ranma’s hands fell to her shoulders to steady her. She looked up at him in bewilderment.

His delft blue eyes mirrored hers, his thick black hair windswept about his reddened cheeks and nose. He looked as if he’d been running for quite a distance and carried a slight musk, the yellow scarf Akane had given him a year prior, hung loosely around his neck.

“Where have you been?” Akane asked firmly.

“Oh...just... in the bathroom,” Ranma lied poorly.

Akane’s face hardened.

“No you haven’t, you look like you just ran a mile.”

Ranma fidgeted, his eyes flickering here and there. “No really, I was.”

She felt a tinge of annoyance starting in her gut and her fist tightened at her side. She was frustrated that Ranma was refusing to tell her where he’d been. It wasn’t like him to run off super early, especially on a day as important as this one.

“Why won’t he be honest with me?” Akane thought. “Where could he have gone that he needs to hide it?”

Her face must have been spelling out her thoughts because Ranma suddenly looked very nervous and the hand on her shoulder gripped her tighter.

“Look, it’s not what you think Akane...but I can’t tell you...yet.” He paused. “Please just trust me.”

Akane clung to the word ‘yet’ in her mind. She silently vowed to hold him to the promise of getting a proper answer out of him later and forced herself to drop the topic for now.

*

Akane wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. In the kitchen it felt as though it were midsummer, due to the open oven. Akane’s hands were covered in flour; she glared down at the clump of dough on the counter.

“I just need to knead this well for 10 minutes right?” Akane confirmed with herself, pressing her knuckle into the ball of dough. “I’m not going to mess this up--I can’t--it just requires arm strength and of everyone else here, I certainly have that. I can do this!”

For several moments the kitchen was silent aside from the sound of the oven door opening and closing, ingredients being poured into mixing bowls and the bubbling of soup on the stove top. Akane could hear Nodoka, behind her, chopping vegetables for Kasumi to add to the soup.

“So Akane,” Nodoka began, “How have things been going with you and my son? He’s treating you well, I expect?”

Akane’s ears began prickling again. She cleared her throat. “Uhm, yes, he’s been treating me well.” She answered, lamely.

Nodoka paused briefly. “Do you feel like he satisfies you well enough? You can be honest with me, I know how his father is.”

Akane felt her fist make contact with the counter as she missed the dough entirely. “W-what?” She was growing uncomfortably hot, unsure if she understood Nodoka correctly.

“It’s okay dear, I know with his curse and all, things can be quite difficult. I’m so very thankful for you putting up with that. I just want to make sure he’s not being a selfish lover. His father never seemed to understand that concept but of course I did everything I could to please my husband.” Her voice sounded distant.

At that moment, the dough Akane was kneading went sailing off of the counter. Kasumi gasped from behind her and hurried to pick it up. Akane’s heart was racing--she couldn’t believe Nodoka was talking to her so casually about something so private.

“How can she even ask me something like that?” She thought, completely dumbstruck.

A loud knock from the other room jolted Akane fiercely from her flustered turmoil.

“I-I’ll get it!” She called loudly, wiping her hands on her apron as she dashed from the room, thankful for a distraction.

Akane swung open the front door, the cool air refreshing on her heated face. Ukyo stood in the doorway, wearing a deep maroon high collared dress with black tights and short heeled boots, an apron tucked under her arm and a very sheepish looking Ryoga at her side. Ryoga’s face was decorated with color, while Ukyo’s adorned the slightest touch of makeup.

Akane suddenly felt awkwardly underdressed.

“We came a little early,” Ukyo stated. She held up her apron. “To help out with preparations.”

A twinge of annoyance started in Akane’s chest. “You’re five hours early,” She said, hoping Ukyo would hear the vexation in her voice.

“Great, the more time we have to prepare the better.” Ukyo said, feigning cheeriness.

At Ukyo’s side, Akane noticed Ryoga struggling to formulate an apology. She heard Nodoka calling for her from the next room and could feel her resistance plummeting. Akane inwardly groaned and held the door wider allowing Ukyo and Ryoga to step inside.

“Hey P-brain is your sense of time just as bad as your sense of direction?” Ranma jeered as Ryoga and Ukyo followed Akane into the main room.

“Actually Ranma honey, it was my idea,” Ukyo quickly interrupted, simpering at him. “I’m helping like I promised I would.”

Ranma fell silent; Akane struggled not to glower at her.

“Well hello there,” Nodoka’s voice came beside Akane. She strode toward Ukyo, looking mildly surprised. “And who would you be?”

Ukyo smiled politely at her and gave a small bow. “Ukyo Kuonji Ma’am—Ranma’s fiancée. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

“No we haven’t.” A hint of puzzlement passed over Nodoka’s face briefly before she stifled it, returning the polite gesture. “I’m Nodoka Saotome—Ranma’s mother.” She quickly glanced at her son and then her husband, who she narrowed her eyes at ever so slightly before continuing. “But, I think there must be some mistake, you see my son is already engaged to Akane Tendo.”

Ukyo’s cheeks appeared to blister faintly from under her makeup.

“Well—“ she began, her voice wavering, before Ranma interrupted her.

“Well we have pops to thank for that, Ma. Go ahead—tell her old man.”

Genma crossed his arms defiantly. “I told him not to do it but Ranma insisted on taking in Ukyo if only as a sacrifice to keep us from starvation--”

Ranma whacked Genma firmly on the back of the head. “--that aint how it happened and you know it!”

A timer went off in the kitchen, quickly distracting Nodoka. She turned to Akane and Ukyo.

“Ladies, we could use some extra hands decorating the cake.” She suggested, receiving excited responses from both girls before they followed her into the next room.

*

Akane eyed a very lopsided looking strawberry cake vehemently as if daring it to slide from the decorative plate she carried it on. The white frosting was evenly spread, the strawberries all pointing upward in a crescent formation around the outer edge of the cake until about the middle of it.

“So I went a little overboard on the frosting,” Akane thought with a grimace, staring at ‘her half’; where the icing wasn’t absent entirely, it was strawn out in thick, choppy waves--her strawberries loosely following a zig-zag formation and not sparing a few leaves here and there. “But at least it’ll taste good and that’s what really matters.”

She pulled back the door to the dojo and slid inside carefully. Red and gold streamers now adorned the ceiling while mistletoe dangled over a far corner near the sliding doors that led into the lawn. A series of tables were spotted around the room and dressed with white sheets. At one of those tables sat Ryoga--alone--cutting out paper snowflakes.

“Ryoga, where is Ranma?” Akane asked.

Ryoga gazed upon her with his usual bashfulness. “O-oh, hi Akane!” Then he looked as if a thought stole his way. “Ranma left--he said he had to take care of something.”

“Take care of something?” Akane echoed, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. “Did he say what it was or where he went?”

Ryoga shrugged. “No idea--didn’t say.”

Akane’s shoulders dropped. She paused for a moment before choosing a table to position the cake at. She almost turned to leave before Ryoga’s voice caught her by surprise.

“Y-you look really beautiful,” He stammered so quickly Akane nearly misunderstood him.

Her cheeks flushed at once. “W-what do you mean?” She laughed nervously. “I didn’t do anything special--I’m not even wearing makeup.” Akane slipped a lock of hair behind her ear, suddenly finding it hard to look Ryoga in the face.

“W-well--but I mean that’s good--not that you wouldn’t look good with makeup on too of course--” Ryoga started, too excitedly. “--but your hair has gotten longer as well and I think it suits you.”

Akane’s chest felt tight.

“Why do I feel so awkward right now?” She thought incredulously. “It’s not like Ryoga is flirting with me or anything--he’s just a friend and I don’t have feelings for him. He’s just being nice like he always is.”

“Thank you,” Akane answered softly, trying to sound appreciative.

She stood, as if waiting for him to continue, clutching the waistband of her skirt, chewing on her bottom lip. The air felt thick.

Then the door to her left slid open, startling Akane, who dropped her hands to her sides at once.

“Akane, I was beginning to worry that something had happened to you!” Ukyo said, shooting her a questioning glance. She saddled a tray of cookies on her right arm while clutching a water pitcher in her left hand. “You never came back to grab another tray. I know you’re clumsy but I didn’t think you were forgetful too.”

Akane scowled. “I’m not forgetful,” she clarified. “I was talking to Ryoga. The party doesn’t start for two hours, I’m sure between the both of us the food will get here before then, but I appreciate the concern.” She finished sounding anything but appreciative.

Ukyo tossed her hair back and strode passed Akane who stepped into the hall, closing the door a little too forcefully on her way out.

She narrowed her eyes, stomping across the hallway hurriedly.

“How dare she mock me, not once but twice today in my own house!” Akane thought, incensed. “She’s normally pretty nice but lately...I don’t know what’s gotten into her but it’s really getting on my nerves. It feels like she’s trying to compete with me!” Akane huffed, balling her fists. “If she thinks I’m just going to take this, she’s in for a rude awakening!”

*

Ranma glanced out the window at the fading twilight casting long shadows across the lawn.

“Shit, it’s getting late,” He thought begrudgingly. “I better head back downstairs before anyone rips my head off for being gone so long.”

He pushed Akane’s present into a tissue and tucked it into a small white box. “I hope that’s good enough…”

Ranma stared at the present for a moment longer before closing the lid and tucking it into his pants’ pocket.

*

“Please spare us the kitchy Santa and Reindeer costumes this year, okay Daddy?” Ranma heard Nabiki asking. He looked up from his plate at the table to his right.

Nabiki carried an air of maturity--her hair in it’s tidy, glossy angled bob, swaying about her face as she spoke. The chairs to her left and right both sat Nabiki’s friends--one girl with a thick mane of copper waves, while the other donned a boyish rosy brown bob that barely swept along her jawline.

“Oh Nabiki, we have something much better planned for this year!” Soun exclaimed, beaming. Genma followed him closely behind but Ranma couldn’t hear what his father was saying over the chatter at his own table.

“So Akane,” Ukyo started, “have you picked out a dress for the school dance next weekend?”

Akane peered up at Ukyo from across the table and hurriedly swallowed the bite of food she was chewing. “No, I haven’t yet. I have a lot of pretty dresses I never get to wear though so I’m sure I’ll find something.”

Ranma noticed Ryoga lean forward then, as if wanting to say something, but he stayed silent.

Ukyo pursed her lips and tilted her head thoughtfully. “Mm, I know the feeling, although with running the restaurant by myself on top of keeping up with my training, I’m sure I’ve lost weight and I doubt I fit into any of those old dresses. If you want, you can come over and try them on. They might fit you.”

Akane’s eyebrow twitched and she stood, holding her plate. “Thanks but I think I’ll manage.”

Ranma studied Akane with inquiring eyes as she disappeared into the crowd. He felt an instinctive pull in his chest as if willing him to follow her, but before he could do so Kasumi placed a card and a pen in front of him.

Ranma flipped the card over but it was empty front and back. He gave Kasumi a questioning look as she passed cards to both Ukyo and Ryoga.

“Kasumi, what’s this for?”

She smiled. “Father thought it would be fun if we all played a game together.”

“A game? What kind of game?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know yet, he said he would announce the rules once everyone had a card.”

Ranma slumped in his chair. “Hm, I don’t know how I feel about this,” he grumbled under his breath.

“Well Akane’s been gone for a while now, hasn't she?” Ukyo said suddenly, her eyes falling heavily on Ranma.

“Maybe she’s going to the bathroom,” Ryoga suggested. “She’ll be back soon.”

“Kind of a long restroom break…” Ukyo mumbled into her hand as she rested her arm on the table.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Ranma stood, not bothering to grab his plate. “I’ll be right back,” He announced cooly.

As Ranma walked he found himself subconsciously eyeing the throng of party guests as he passed them.

“Now that I think of it,” He mused, passing into the hallway that led towards the house before pausing and sliding outside into the lawn. “Akane has been acting a little weird today, almost like she’s mad about somethin’.”

Ranma slowed by the koi pond, lost in thought. “Is she mad at me? Did I do something?”

While contemplating the circumstances, Ranma only noticed he was being followed moments before two slender arms snaked around his torso.

“Ranma honey,” Ukyo’s voice came--sultry and brimming with elation. “I’m glad I caught up with you. Hard to catch you alone these days, you know that?”

Ranma stiffened and swallowed, his eyes averted to the ground. He could see Ukyo’s reflection rippling on the surface of the pond.

“I’m kind of surprised Shampoo isn’t here,” She mused, dropping her arms. Ranma heard rustling from behind him and turned to face her. Ukyo pulled something green from her purse. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her in months--not that I’m complaining.”

She clutched what Ranma now realized to be a small green gift bag to her chest, red tissue paper sprouting from the top of it. Ukyo gazed up at Ranma, batting her long eyelashes purposefully.

“I was going to give this to you inside but then I realized,” She blushed, “that might be kind of embarrassing, considering what it is and all.”

Suddenly Ranma’s stomach tightened and his skin burned. He licked his lips nervously, his eyes darting in the direction of the training hall.

Ukyo stepped closer to him--her long hair tickling his exposed forearm. He felt her take his damp palm, interlocking their fingers. The arm that held his gift fell lazily on his shoulder. The scent of pomegranate greeted him so boldly that his head spun.

“But as for me, this is all I want,” she cooed.

Ukyo’s head fell onto his chest then and Ranma snapped out of his trance at once--a dart of guilt shooting down his spine so fiercely it was painful. He wretched himself away from Ukyo quickly, almost slipping into the pond as he did so. Her deep green eyes fell on him, full of bewilderment, her cheeks glowing.

“I-I have to find Akane,” Ranma blurted, dashing at full speed for the nearest entrance to the house.

His mouth bitterly dry, his heart throbbing in his ears--Ranma felt nauseated. He convinced himself that sanctity would come to him somehow if he could just disappear through the crowd in the dojo.

Then he saw her--Akane stood by Ryoga near a table in the far corner of the full training hall. Her back faced him. Ryoga stood before her scratching his head, looking mildly perturbed. A swell of incomprehensible emotions came over Ranma as he strode closer to them.

Ryoga’s gaze shifted towards Ranma, Akane following suit. She stared at him wide-eyed.

“R-Ranma,” She breathed.

In that moment, Ranma noticed Akane was holding a petite brown box in her hands, topped with a velvety red bow. Her eyebrows furrowed, gazing past Ranma.

“Ukyo…?” She said louder.

Ranma turned, slowly, and saw Ukyo standing behind him, still red-faced and windswept. Her facial expression was hard--unreadable--the green bag still clutched firmly in her left hand.

“Did something happen?” Akane asked, hesitantly.

Ukyo blinked before shaking her head and smiling dully. “No, nothing at all. I just realized I might have left the grill on at home.” She set the gift on a nearby table and straightened her hand bag on her shoulder. “I’m sorry but I have to go. Apologize to your mother for me Ranma, if you would.”

“Ukyo…” Ranma mouthed, staring after her as she vanished through the crowd.

*

Akane turned over in bed, staring up at the blank ceiling. Hours had passed since the party had ended, maybe considerably more as she lay, unable to sleep. She shivered. Her room felt more empty than usual--P-chan was still missing and Ranma had been absent a second night now.

“I guess this is the way it has to be,” Akane whispered to herself, feeling a sting of loneliness burn in her chest. “Not forever though...only for a few more weeks…”

But a few more weeks felt like an eternity. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and glanced at the crack in her bedroom door.

A moment passed before Akane threw back her covers and slid out of bed, creeping for the bathroom down the hall.

She stood in front of the door for a moment, imagining that Ranma would be behind it when she opened it--sitting in the dark, gazing up at her like he had once before.

She pressed her lips to the door and whispered his name under her breath.

“Akane?”

She jumped hearing her own name, hushed, breaking the silence.

“No...I must have imagined it…” She thought, her chest rising and falling more rapidly.

Then she felt two large hands fall over her hip bones and she nearly screamed out in surprise, flipping around on her heel.

The outline of Ranma’s face appeared through the dark, only inches from her own. His deep eyes nervous but heady.

Akane came back to herself, fumbling for the door handle at her right, still facing him. Without being asked, he followed her into the bathroom.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Ranma’s hands found Akane again--his palms pressed to her cheeks, his breathing labored. His lips found hers hungrily and Akane readily kissed him back, threading her fingers through his thick hair.

A delicious lightheadedness overcame her--his tongue dancing with hers. Akane felt Ranma push against her, closing the gap between them with his hips. She gasped as her body flooded with warmth.

“Ranma--” She managed, sounding very short of breath.

But before Akane could continue, Ranma pulled away from her, forcing himself to stand at a safe distance. They both stayed, panting, gazing wordlessly at each other through the dark.

“God I needed that,” Ranma breathed.

Akane flushed, clutching the fabric below her waistband as if doing so was all that kept her from leaping into his arms again.

“Ranma,” she started, struggling to gather her thoughts, “why are you here?”

“I was just going to the bathroom and then I saw you,” He glanced at the floor. “Sorry about that... I couldn’t help myself.”

Akane could hear the restraint in his voice, the tinge of guilt. She shook her head.

“No, I’m glad you did it,” She admitted, sucking on her bottom lip gingerly.

Brief silence fell between them before Ranma spoke again, his voice barely a whisper.

“I never got the chance to give you your present,” He said, shoving his hand into his night pants’ pocket. “I was going to slip it under your door on my way back to bed, that way you would get it in the morning at least…”

He brought his hand out, revealing a tiny, simple white box.

“Oh Ranma, I was saving your present for Christmas because that’s when we exchanged last year--it’s in my bedroom. You didn’t need to worry about it just for this party.” Akane tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Besides, I think I prefer gifting you privately...it just feels more sincere.”

“I would like to give you yours now, if that’s okay with you.” Ranma murmured, stepping closer.

Ranma’s eyes met Akane’s through the dark. Akane’s breast rose gently as she breathed in the scent of him.

“Close your eyes,” Ranma whispered.

Akane did as she was told, her fingers teasing at the hem of her night shirt--Ranma’s face dangerously close to her own.

She felt his hands slide around her neck, leaving goosebumps where he touched.

“It’s not much, but I hope you like it anyway.”

Something cool and smooth rested on Akane’s chest, just over the dip in her collarbone.Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at the object that lay between her breasts.

A shiny, gold heart shaped pendant gleamed up at her from the faint moonlight that fell over the room. It hung from a red silk ribbon cord, looking danity and ethereal.

Ranma’s hands fell to the pendant, sliding across the thin material of Akane’s night blouse.

“It’s a locket,” He stated, opening it. “I know this is a little corny but you asked what I was doing earlier--where I was. I was making this. There’s not a lot of photos of us together honestly, but the first time you spoke to me you asked me if we could be friends,” he laughed softly, “So I tried to carve that into the inside of it. It was a little difficult but this way you can put whatever you want in the frame.”

On the side pressed closest to her heart, the kanji for ‘friend’ reflected up at Akane from within the dip in the locket. It was clearly Ranma’s handwriting but surprisingly tidy.

“I love it,” Akane whispered, her throat tight from the well of emotions that blossomed in her chest. “Thank you Ranma.”

She clasped a hand over the locket—the metal cool under her warm fingers. She closed her eyes as Ranma leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers. They stood together in peaceful quiet, drifting off into a more private place if only briefly within their minds.