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~~~~~~ Moment Six: Abiding Darkness Akane laid half on top of him, an arm across his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. He looked down at her admiring the way her eyelashes lay against her cheek, the way her nose turned up, the way her nostrils flared as she exhaled. He enjoyed the way her naked flesh was warm against his, the way he was aware of the slight rise and fall of her chest, the way she would shift just so toward him as she dreamed. The emotions were strong and heady. These emotions were why he had let Cologne rid him of the Soul of Ice. He was so very addicted to the pleasure of making love to his wife. Ranma tightened his grip on Akane and rolled slightly onto his side for more body contact. She sighed and adjusted her grip on him, nestling her head under his chin. Ranma closed his eyes and let her heart beat lull him to sleep. ~~~~~~ Ranma walked beside Akane, his arm around her waist, holding her as close as was comfortable while still being able to be walk. Akane smiled up at him every so often, making him blush. When they arrived at school, they were surprised to see a crowd of students waiting at the gates. Akane frowned, noting that Kuno was at the front of the crowd standing as if prepared for a battle. She groaned under her breath. “Will that idiot never leave us alone?” Ranma grumbled. “I doubt it; he’s obsessed. Has been for almost three years.” Akane shuddered. She never admitted it, but Kuno’s behavior deeply disturbed her. Since he had never tried anything other than a challenge, Akane had kept her mouth shut. Ranma glanced down at his wife. The look on her face bothered him. “What’s wrong, Akane?” She looked up at him, forcing her eyes to go blank. “What do you mean?” “I know you better than that, Akane, love. You’re bothered more than you let on.” Akane blushed at Ranma’s term of affection. He had started calling her that a few days before the wedding. It had startled her the first time she had noticed it. When she’d asked, Ranma had given her a funny look but said nothing. She found that she loved hearing him call her ‘love.’ She also realized that she enjoyed him saying he knew her so well that she couldn’t hide anything from him. It sent a warmth through her that was similar to what she felt after they’d made love, only less so. Akane looked away from Ranma and back at Kuno, a frown furrowing her brow. “It’s just that...he’s always worried me. Like I thought he’d do something dangerous. He never really did anything to confirm that, but it’s always been there. I guess I’m worried that there’s something that will just set him off and then we’ll find someone murdered or something.” Ranma looked down at Akane, startled. “Murdered? He bothers you that much?” Akane shifted uneasily toward Ranma, a habit that she had developed some time after she’d gotten out of the hospital. “I guess. I’ve never really thought about it. I think it got worse after the first time he attacked you. Do you remember how he bruised your neck? I just-I just don’t feel safe around him.” Ranma frowned and reevaluated his opinion of Kuno. If Akane was this disturbed, he might just have to start worrying about Kuno a little more seriously. Since the hospital, Ranma had found himself taking Akane’s thoughts and feelings much more seriously than he had before. Or maybe it was that he was just more mature. His own feelings had become much more seriously observed and explored. Ranma’s eyes narrowed as Kuno stepped out to ‘greet’ them. “Halt. Foul sorcerer, I demand you release the fair Tendo Akane and the robust Pig-tailed Girl.” “I don’t own them, Kuno.” “Release them, vile Saotome!” “Kuno, Ranma doesn’t own me or the Pig-tailed Girl. As a matter of fact, I own the Pig-tailed Girl.” Kuno blinked. “What?” The student body surrounding them snickered at Kuno’s shock. During their honeymoon, Nabiki had been more than busy selling the details of their wedding (but not the honeymoon) to those who had not been present. “Hey, Kuno!” someone shouted. He turned and someone else splashed Ranma with cold water. He spun around to glare at the offending party. “What’d ya do that for!” he demanded. Kuno spun around again. “Pig-tailed Girl! Oh, my beloved, fiery sprite! I am here to free you from the enchantment the evil sorcerer has placed over you.” Ranma scowled at Kuno. “Akane already told you. I don’t belong to Ranma, I belong to Akane.” Kuno blinked again. “What sort of spell is this? He has set upon you a delusion.” Akane rolled her eyes and moved to slide her arms around Ranma’s waist. Ranma leaned back into her, her eyes closing halfway. Akane and Kuno continued to exchange barbs, but Ranma found her mind wandering. She’d noticed before that when Ranma changed gender, she and Akane changed gender roles. When Ranma was male, he was the male and Akane the female, but when he became a she, Ranma found herself taking on a more feminine role and Akane the more masculine role. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but one that was almost...instinctive. She wondered if she should be disturbed by it and if Akane had noticed it. Ranma jolted to awareness when Akane’s arms suddenly tightened around her waist. She looked up to see Akane’s face tighten, her lips pinched and thin, her eyes narrowed and hard. Ranma looked over at Kuno and blinked. The older student’s face was twisted into an ugly sneer. “What do you care what I do with my *husband, * Kuno?” Akane’s tone was cold and hard. She put extra emphasis on the word ‘husband.’ Kuno’s face went white. Then, it flushed bright red. “What atrocity is this that you would refer to your captor as your husband?” “My marriage is no atrocity, you fucking psycho, and I will not tolerate you calling it that!” Ranma put her hand over Akane’s and squeezed. “Akane, calm down.” Akane glared down at Ranma. “What? Don’t you care that he’s calling our wedding an atrocity? I went through hell to be with you and I’m not going to let some-” Ranma reached up and covered Akane’s mouth panicked. One thing she’d learned about Akane, to her extreme shock, was that Akane could have the mouth of a sailor when she wanted. Akane’s eyes darkened further. Ranma understood the wordless warning. “Kuno,” Ranma began as she turned to face him, “Akane and I are married. Married willingly at that.” Kuno’s face twisted in confusion. “You and Akane. I though she said-” An idea came to Ranma. “She did. Ranma is not our enslaver; he is the enslaved. Akane and I wish to be together, but cannot do so since it is considered inappropriate. Ranma is the means to our end.” Kuno took a step back. “What sickness is this?” he sputtered. Ranma grinned lazily and settled back even more comfortably into Akane, who tightened her grip around the redhead’s waist. Akane lowered her head to whisper into Ranma’s ear. “What sickness is this, he says. Idiot.” Ranma did not hear her words, but instead focused on how Akane’s warm breath flowed over her ear. She shivered and tried to nestle further into Akane. “Do that again,” she murmured. “What? This?” “Yeah....” “You know that if you don’t stop trying to become one with me, we’re going to have to go home.” “Is that a bad thing?” “No....no, I think that maybe it’s a very, very good idea....yes...good idea....” Distracted, Ranma and Akane began to head back to the dojo. Nabiki held onto her newest lackey, doubled over with laughter at the look on Kuno’s face. ~~~~~~ Kuno stared at the portraits before him. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Ranma their slave. His mind twisted and turned. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Ranma their slave. It explained why the Pig- tailed Girl was always around Akane. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Ranma their slave. He might have dismissed it as Saotome’s spell, but their behavior had been more than familiar. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Ranma their slave. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Ranma their slave. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Ranma their slave. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl. Lovers. Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl.... ~~~~~~ Ranma lay curled in Akane’s arms. She was comfortable and happy. The thoughts from earlier surfaced and Ranma shifted to look up at Akane. She was slightly startled to find Akane watching her through half-closed eyes. A warm blush spread across her cheeks. Akane smiled and pulled Ranma up for a sweet kiss. They broke apart and Ranma smiled. For some reason, she suddenly felt very shy. Embarrassed, Ranma hid her face in Akane’s neck. “Is something wrong, Ranma?” “No.” Akane stroked Ranma’s back, something Ranma did to Akane when she was he. “I know you better than that.” Ranma peered up at Akane. She pushed herself upright and began to fiddle with her fingers. Akane watched. “Ranma, you haven’t been this uneasy around me since the hospital. What’s wrong?” “Well, nothing exactly. It’s more like...have you noticed how when I’m in this form, I tend to play the more feminine role and you the more masculine role?” Akane raised and eyebrow. “Does it bother you?” “No. Not really. I just-it seems odd.” Akane reached out and pulled Ranma down on top of her. “No, it doesn’t. For you and I, there is no odd.” ~~~~~~ “So, Akane, did you really do it with Ranma in his girl form?” Akane’s eyes widened and she coughed on the rice in her throat. “What!” “The other day, when you were messing with Kuno, did you do it with Ranma in his girl form?” “That’s none of your business.” “That’s a yes.” Akane gawked at her friends. “Just why do you care what I do with Ranma?” They shrugged. “Are you attracted to girls?” someone asked. Akane smiled in a way that made her friends blush. “Ranma is the only girl that I have ever been attracted to, and I can tell you his male form is much more attractive to me than his female form.” Her friends tittered uneasily. Akane’s smile became indulgent and she picked up her bowl of rice. A sudden shadow obscured the sunlight she had been basking in. Akane looked up to find herself gazing into glazed and unfocused eyes. A deep sense of unease filtered through her. “Kuno.” “Tendo Akane, I wish-“ “It’s Saotome Akane now.” Kuno did not answer and did not correct himself. “I wish to discuss something with you.” Akane glanced at her friends and then nodded. She left her bento with them. A few feet from her friends, Kuno’s hand clamped around her arm. The chill from it seemed to permeate her insides, turning her blood to ice. She looked around for Ranma but could not find him. Kuno led her behind the tool shed. Akane realized that she was trembling. Abruptly, Akane found herself pushed up against the shed wall. “Kuno, what are you-“ Kuno’s hand closed over her mouth. Her eyes widened as he leaned in close to her. His breath smelled of rotten spinach. “I am here to free you from you enslavement.” His hand began to fondle her breast. Akane struggled against his touch, but he pushed her back with his body. Akane could feel his erection pressing against her and tears formed in her eyes. ‘No. No. Please. Ranma, help me.’ She closed her eyes as she continued to struggle against him. Suddenly Kuno was gone and a familiar and welcome warmth enveloped her. Akane opened her eyes to look up at Ranma. He gazed down at her, his eyes dark with worry and absolute hate for Kuno. “Did he hurt you?” Akane shook her head, not daring to speak yet. Ranma nodded and kissed her forehead. He reached out and picked Kuno up from the ground. “You dirty bastard. How dare you touch my wife?” He shook Kuno hard and was pulling his arm back to hit him again when Akane grabbed it. “Don’t Ranma. Take him to the cops.” ~~~~~~ “We won’t press charges if you have him and his sister evaluated and hospitalized.” “You seem certain that they’ll be hospitalized.” “Have you talked to him yet?” “No.” “Then talk to him and tell me he won’t be. The idiot thinks I’ve cast a spell over Akane.” “Akane. Your wife?” “Yes.” “All right. We’ll do what we can.” “You’ll let us know?” “Of course.” ~~~~~~ A young redhead answered the door. The detective looked down at her and smiled. She was cute. “Can I help you?” The girl’s tone was slightly impatient. “I’m here to see Mr. and Mrs. Saotome about Kuno Tatewaki.” “Oh. Okay. Come on in. I’ll get Akane.” The detective nodded. He followed the redhead to the living room. He watched the redhead disappear into the kitchen. Moments later Akane came out, apron spotted with food. She sat down across from him and smiled. “My husband will be here in moment. He needs to change.” The detective nodded and studied the young woman before him. She seemed too young to be married. “Excuse me, but how old are you?” Akane smiled. “I’m seventeen.” “Isn’t that a bit young to be married?” Akane’s smile faded. She sighed. “We’re older than we look.” She unbuckled Ranma’s vembrace and showed her scar to the detective. He blanched. It ran from her wrist to her elbow. “I have another one on my other arm. I have scars on the insides of my thighs and one on my abdomen. I was drugged and suicidal. I spent three weeks in the hospital. I also tried to hang myself with my sheets. I horded the tranquilizers they were giving me and tried to overdose on them. Ranma was by my side the whole time.” The detective swallowed hard. “I see.” “We’ve earned the right to be happy, and he makes me happy.” “And you make me happy.” Ranma sat down beside her toweling off his hair. Akane smiled at him and leaned into his side. Ranma slid an arm around her waist, returning her smile, and then turned to the detective. “What news do you have?” “Well, Kuno Tatewaki and Kodachi have been evaluated. Both of them are to be committed. They are expected to be there for life.” Ranma nodded. “Good. Very good.” “It’s about time,” Akane added. The detective frowned at them. “They’ve been causing you problems?” “Yes, although this is the first time either of them attacked in such a…brutal way.” Akane smiled up at her husband once more. “Perhaps now we will have some peace.” Ranma smiled back at her. “Perhaps.” Back |