Ranma 1/2: Unfortunate Promise

By Arianna (Elly) Vesle

Nabiki Tendo strolled out towards the dojo. She had been waiting for Ranma to come home. She could hear him out there now, training as usual. Also as usual, Nabiki thought to herself, she knew something Ranma didn't. Nabiki smirked. She patted her pocket, feeling her newly-filled wallet. Soon it would be even more stuffed.

Nabiki strolled into the dojo. Ranma glanced distractedly towards her, not turning.

Then he stopped. And turned around to face her.

"What's up?" he demanded after a few moments of uncomfortable - for Ranma - silence. Nabiki's smile widened uncontrollably. She always felt this good when she knew she was about to make money.

"I've come across some very interesting information, Ranma," Nabiki said smartly.

Ranma backed up a step. "I . . . I didn't do anythin', Nabiki. Don't you try to pin something on me."

"This has nothing to do with you. Well, not directly, anyway. It's about Akane, actually."

Ranma's eyes widened slightly. "She . . . she's not in trouble or somethin', is she?"

Nabiki fought to keep her smile from growing any wider. She knew how Ranma felt about her little sister, and it only made the situation more profitable. "She isn't in any physical danger, anyway," Nabiki answered vaguely, shrugging nonchalantly. Ranma's eyes darkened.

"Nabiki."

"Ten thousand yen."

"Ten THOUSAND?!" Ranma slipped and fell on his rear, where he sat staring at the middle Tendo sister in disbelief. "You KNOW I haven't got that kind of money! Besides, how do I know it's even anything worth knowing?" Ranma got to his knees, brushing himself off. "You probably just stole her diary or something. I don't wanna get in trouble."

Nabiki forced her mouth into a straight line. She knew she was going to win. Turning away from Ranma, she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, actually, it concerns your engagement, but, if you don't want to know . . . ." She looked over her shoulder to watch Ranma freeze and slowly turn pale.

"O-our engagement?" Nabiki nodded. Ranma stood up. "Nabiki-"

"Ten thousand yen first," Nabiki told him, wagging her finger.

"Oh, come ON, Nabiki," Ranma said desperately. "You KNOW I can't pay that much!"

Nabiki looked at Ranma's panicked face and thought of the overflowing wallet in her pocket. "Well, how much have you got?"

"I - - I don't know! Maybe, ah . . . two thousand yen. Nabiki, please?"

Nabiki wouldn't have taken so little. But she also didn't want Akane to be more angry than she had to be. "Well, I suppose you can give me more later. I'll take it, I suppose."

Ranma paid her. "Nabiki, tell me!"

She told him.

Ranma turned positively white. The next moment he was gone, leaving a small cloud of dust in his wake. Nabiki smiled. Pulling her wallet out of her pocket, Nabiki stuffed the last few weathered bills into it, then headed up towards her room to tally up just how much money she'd managed to make since that morning. Quite a profitable day, thanks to Akane.

It had started that morning. Well, actually it had started the previous night. Akane Tendo had been awakened in the middle of the night by her and Ranma's fathers. They'd been trying to coax her into saying she wanted to marry Ranma, in her sleep. Akane couldn't believe it. She could believe it even less when Soun accidentally blurted that they'd only come to her because Ranma was such a deep sleeper they couldn't get him to say anything. Akane was mortified. She couldn't believe the two men could have actually attempted something so embarrassing and . . . dumb. Also terribly embarrassing was the fact that Akane had dreamt about Ranma, and it nearly sent her into fits when she thought of what would have happened if she talked in her sleep. Ranma slept right through the whole ordeal, which was just as well, for Shampoo came bounding in promptly at six AM, Saturday or no Saturday, and carried Ranma off to fix him a nice breakfast, ignoring his protests that all he really wanted was four or five more hours of sleep.

Certainly due to both, although which one more heavily couldn't be told, Akane was very cranky at breakfast that day. Ranma wasn't there, which was probably a blessing for both teens. Akane sat, picking at her food, all the while growing more and more angry as Soun and Genma lamented their failure of the previous night. Never ones to dwell on failure, however, the conversation quickly turned to more cheerful matters - wedding plans. Akane listened to them for several minutes before, finally, she could take it no longer. She stood up.

"AAA! Will you cut it out!? I'm SIXTEEN! I'm not READY to be married!"

"Marrying young can be a good thing, Akane."

"What do you mean, marrying young?! Besides, even if I did get married, what makes you think I'd marry RANMA? In fact, maybe I'll never get married at all, did you ever even consider that?!"

Tears streamed down Soun's cheeks. "But Akane, I just want to see you happily married and provided for."

Akane shattered her chopsticks. "Happily married, huh?! Is that what you want?! Fine, you've got it! I'll get married! In fact, I hereby swear on the Tendo family name that I'll marry the next man who asks me! I hope THAT makes you both happy!" Akane turned and ran up to her room, leaving her family speechless behind her.

"Oh . . . my." Kasumi put a hand to her cheek. "Akane looked awfully angry. You don't think she meant what she said just now, do you?"

"She swore on the Tendo name. I think she meant it," Nabiki replied. She fought a smile. 'AND, I think I know a few people who would pay quite a bit of money to hear about Akane's oath.'

Akane sat in her room, fuming. She was angry at her father, angry at Ranma's father, angry at Ranma. Granted, Ranma hadn't actually done anything this time, but his very existence was giving her trouble. So Akane sat and fumed for a while, then she started to feel a little better and decided to go back downstairs. Maybe talking to Kasumi would help.

Kasumi was washing the breakfast dishes, and looked up when Akane came in, smiling pleasantly. "Hello, Akane. Are you feeling cheered a little now?"

"I think so. Sorry about that, Kasumi."

"I'm sure you couldn't help it, Akane," the eldest Tendo sister replied gently. Akane sighed deeply, leaning her elbows against the counter near her sister.

"Where's everybody gone to?" she asked.

Kasumi paused in her dishwashing. "Hmm. Now let me see. Well, Ranma hasn't come back from his breakfast -" Akane scowled unconsciously. "Father and Mr. Saotome went off somewhere and I think Nabiki just left, too."

Akane was still scowling at the image of Ranma and Shampoo in her mind when suddenly she started. "Wait a minute, Kasumi. Nabiki just left? Where did she go?"

"I don't know, she just said she had some errands to run, that's all." When Akane didn't reply, Kasumi turned. "Why, is it important?"

Akane stared at her in horror for a moment, then her face crumpled. "Oh, Kasuuumiii!"

"Akane, what is it? Are you sick?"

"Kasumi! Remember what I said?! To daddy and Mr. Saotome?"

"Let me see . . . you mean when you promised to marry the first boy - -"

"Yes! Nabiki heard that! Kasumi, what if she tells someone?"

Kasumi's usually serene face became slightly troubled. "Oh, dear. That could cause troubles, couldn't it. Oh, but surely Nabiki would have better judgement, Akane. You were angry, you didn't mean it. It was spoken in anger, that's all. Nabiki wouldn't go spreading around something foolish like that, would she?"

The two sisters looked at each other for a long moment.

"Oh, but certainly, Akane, it wouldn't mean anything! Who could ever hold you to something like that? And who would she want to tell, anyway?"

They stared at each other again.

Akane whirled. "I've got to get out of here; I've got to hide."

"Wait, Akane, let me pack you something to eat. And please at least tell father where you're going."

"Daddy can't keep a secret to save his life!" Akane rushed back into the kitchen. "I've got to hide, I can't tell anybody where, I don't even know! Oh, Kasumi, what if she tells Kuno? Or Gosunkugi?! Of course, he'd pass out before he could ask me, but it wouldn't matter because the whole SCHOOL will be there to take his place!" Akane was shrieking now. "Where are my shoes?!"

"Here they are, Akane." Kasumi held them up. "Oh, and take these too."

"What's this?"

Kasumi smiled. "Ear plugs, of course!" Her face became serious. "Please, whatever you do, come home before dark. I'll be worried about you."

"I'll try, Kasumi. But you know how everyone feels about honor and everything. I don't think I can get out of this one; what if they stake out the house?" Akane violently shoved her feet into her shoes. "Bye, Kasumi!"

The next moment, Kasumi was alone in the house, standing with one hand clasped to her chest, as the kitchen curtain billowed softly in the morning breeze. "I do hope she'll be alright. I wish she wasn't running off alone to hide." She paused. "Well, when Ranma comes home, perhaps I can send him to look after her."

Ranma felt sick. Eating before eight in the morning had never done much for him, especially not such large quantities of Shampoo's rich cooking. But Ranma had been too afraid of stirring the Amazon's wrath and more importantly, too sleepy to do much about it. It was only just eleven now. That was the time of day you were supposed to get up on Saturdays. Ranma felt gypped. He was tempted to take a nap, but sleeping on such a full stomach was bound to give him nightmares, so he decided to go train in the dojo instead. At least there he was relatively safe.

Relatively.

He'd only been there for a few minutes, when he heard the door open and someone walked in. He figured it was Akane, but glanced over his shoulder anyway. It was actually Nabiki, and she smiled at him widely. Ranma ignored her, but after a few moments he could feel that smile burning into his back and it made him uncomfortable. Finally he turned and tried to meet Nabiki's sly gaze. He cringed.

"What's up?" he asked finally, unable to bear her serpentlike gaze.

After a little haggling, and for a slight fee, she told him.

Ranma ran. He ran into the house. He didn't dare call her name, he was far too paranoid to do that. He ran up to her bedroom door, knocked, then opened it anyway.

He wasn't really surprised to find it empty, but he was disappointed. He whirled around and went downstairs, to the kitchen where Kasumi was.

"Be careful, Ranma, I just mopped the floor," she said without turning around. Ranma stopped in the doorway.

"Kasumi, where's Akane gone to?" His voice sounded more desperate than he'd meant it to.

Kasumi turned, leaning on her mop, smiling. "Oh, I was hoping you'd ask. Nabiki told you?"

"Told me?! She charged me for it, and I'm sure she's made a lot more money today!" Ranma's voice dripped with contempt. Kasumi frowned now, softly.

"Oh, my. Well, Akane was angry. She didn't really mean it. I'm sure everything will be fine."

"Sure. Fine. Where is she?"

"She's hiding."

'Good girl.' Out loud, Ranma said, "She didn't tell you where?"

"No. I'm not sure she'd decided."

"Great." Ranma turned on his heels.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find Akane, of course! If I can get to her first, I'll . . . well, I'll . . . I'll . . . ."

"You'll . . . ." Kasumi raised her eyebrows.

Ranma's face turned red. "Well, I'll just fight off the crowd of guys Nabiki sold the information to, that's what! See you later, Kasumi!"

"Bye-bye, Ranma."

Kodachi Kuno was wearing her favorite black silk bathrobe. Her brother had one rather like it - in blue. But for some reason, he was nowhere to be found this morning, a fact which came to Kodachi's attention as she was sipping a cup of tea. She called for Sasuke. Loudly enough that, when he appeared, the ninja was rubbing his ears gingerly.

"You called, Mistress Kodachi?"

"Where is my brother this morning? Is he still in bed? Such lackadaisical habits are completely unbecoming."

"Oh, no, Mistress. Master Kuno has already departed. Miss Nabiki Tendo visited earlier this morning and -"

"Nabiki Tendo?" Kodachi wrinkled her nose delicately. "What could the likes of her want with my brother?"

"She seemed to wish to inform him of some interesting news. It seems that miss Akane Tendo has sworn on her honor to marry the first man who should ask for her hand."

"WHAT?" Kodachi grabbed Sasuke and shook him. "Is it true?"

"That's what Miss Tendo said, Mistress," Sasuke managed between shakes. Kodachi dropped him, placing a hand to her forehead. "Oh, what an unfortunate thing this is! I can see it all clearly, of course!"

"Of course, Mistress . . . ."

"This must all be some evil trick! Some vile plot to lure my beloved Ranma darling to his ultimate demise! And by some cruel joke of fate, the vile wench has lured my brother into her web of deceit as well! It must depend upon me, the daring Black Rose, to save them both from the vile sorceress!"

"Or course, Mistress . . . ."

"Very well, then!" Kodachi pulled off her bathrobe, revealing a matching black leotard underneath. "I shall save you my dearest Ranma. The temptress shall not have you! OOH hohohohohohoho!!" Kodachi bounded out of the mansion.

Akane was crying. She'd hidden in a grove of trees in the park. It was comfortable and secluded, and she'd thought she was safe. Then she'd heard -

"AKANE, WILL YOU M-"

Akane had rammed the ear plugs into her ears just in time, and taken off. It had to have been one of those disgusting boys from school. Now she was running, running, too afraid to stop. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She wasn't so worried about most of the boys; most of them wouldn't even want to marry her, not really, not if they actually realized what it meant to get married. But she was scared. What if Kuno asked her? What if Ryoga asked her? Akane had never realized how much she didn't want to have to tell Ryoga she didn't love him. She couldn't. And the less said about Kuno, the better.

Akane wiped her nose and kept running. Maybe Ranma would come. He had to. Ranma would come and save her, somehow, and he'd sweep her up into his arms, like he usually did when he was saving her from something, and then he'd- he'd . . . he'd what? Ranma wouldn't ask Akane to marry him. He didn't want her, never had. Akane's eyes filled with a fresh wave of tears, but with new meaning. A desperate thought swelled within her, one that she couldn't fight, so she let it form.

'Ranma . . . I wish Ranma would come and save me! I wish . . . .' It was too much to ask for.

Maybe she could lose them in the city. If it came to that, maybe she . . . Akane suddenly got an idea, one that she hoped was brilliant. Running into the closest department store, Akane headed for a salesclerk standing nearby. "Excuse me, where are your restrooms?"

The clerk said something that Akane couldn't hear. She remembered the earplugs.

"Could you repeat that louder, please?"

The clerk repeated the directions. Akane thanked her and headed for the restrooms. She found the two doors and went to the right one. Looking up at it, she read the large sign with a slight feeling of hope.

WOMEN.

Perfect. Akane shoved the door open and went inside. If locking herself into a stall in this restroom was the only way to save herself, so be it. Akane got ready for a long, boring wait, and hoped the store didn't close until it was dark.

Ranma was burning up. He could have murdered the crowd of lecherous boys he kept crossing paths with. Ranma stubbornly refused to let himself believe it was jealousy he was feeling. Just because Akane was his fiancee, it was no reason to be jealous, right? Ranma wished he knew where she was. What if she . . . what if . . . what if Ryoga found her first? If he was anywhere within fifty miles, Nabiki would have told him, too. What if Akane . . . no, that couldn't be. Ranma shook his head. He couldn't believe that Akane would actually choose Ryoga over him, would she? On the other hand, what if that's why she'd made that stupid promise in the first place? What if she just wanted to rid herself of him for good? What if -

"Ranma darling!"

Ranma felt his insides shift and groaned in pain as Kodachi clapped her arms around him from behind. "Augh! Leggo, leggo, leggo!"

"Oh, Ranma darling, I know all about it! Don't worry, I won't let that deceiving shrew have you!"

"Deceiving what?"

"I know all about her evil plot to trick you into accepting her. Oh, my poor Ranma, what would you do without me?" Kodachi flung her arms around his neck. Ranma flailed his arms wildly.

"HEY!" He dropped to his haunches, popping his head out of Kodachi's grasp. "Look, Kodachi, I don't really have time to talk right now."

"You're right, Ranma darling. This is no time for idle chatter. I know that my charms are far too overpowering to waste time."

"Huh?" Ranma was starting to sweat.

"Oh, Ranma! Take me into your arms and make me a woman!" Kodachi lunged for him again. Ranma threw himself headlong out of her path.

"N-no! I ain't makin' any women! I gotta go find Akane!" Ranma hit the ground running and took off down the street.

"You can't escape me Ranma snookuuuummss!"

'Oh, Akane, where are you?'

Several hours passed. Ranma ran frantically up and down the streets, not daring to call Akane's name for fear she'd answer and someone else would find her first. So he looked in all the places he thought she might be. She wasn't at any of them. He started searching then systematically, up one street down the next, around the block. Then he searched randomly, hoping that pure luck would lead him to her. He got into fights. Boys would see him, recognize him, and attempt to eliminate what most of them deemed the most dangerous competition. Ranma was losing his patience.

'Shoulda put a leash on that girl!'

Akane looked at her watch. It was after one in the afternoon, and Akane was so bored she thought she'd die. She supposed it was fortunate that not many woman had come into the restroom. Only five or six. After the initial paranoia had passed, Akane had realized that locking herself into a stall wasn't necessary. All she had to do was loiter near the sinks and, if anyone came in, pretend to be fixing her hair until they left. But nonetheless Akane was miserable and the dull ache of fear still pounded in her head. She was also hungry. Very hungry. She wished she'd let Kasumi pack her a lunch. Akane leaned against the wall of her prison and felt in her pocket. There was a little money there. Maybe she could just sneak out long enough to buy something from a street vendor. After all, the chances of anybody looking for her in this part of town weren't very high. They couldn't be. Teenaged boys avoided department stores, didn't they? Of course they did.

Akane pushed the bathroom door open a crack and peeked outside. A few shoppers mulled about, but there wasn't a single young man in sight. Perfect. She walked out into the store and headed for the front doors.

Ranma scowled. He'd gotten himself lost. Somehow he'd managed to end up in the shopping district. No chance in the world Akane would be here. "Nice going, Ranma," he scolded himself. "Let Ryoga rub off on you, why don't ya." Ranma stopped and looked around. He was surrounded by tall, layered department stores, jewelry, clothes, small appliances. He dropped his gaze a few feet. A street vendor selling steamed vegetables over there. A girl who looked just like Akane coming out of that department store.

A girl . . . ?

Ranma started. That was Akane! Ranma couldn't believe his good fortune. Before he could think better of it, he took a step forward, yelling her name. "AKANE!"

Akane left her hideout and walked out into the sunshine. Or, as much sunshine as could filter down to the street, anyway. She sighed, already feeling better. There was a vendor selling food nearby; Akane could get something to eat and be back in her little sanctuary before anyone was the wiser.

"Akane!"

Akane felt her heart contract. They'd found her. She should never have come outside. She had to get back inside; surely no boy would follow her into the girl's bathroom. Akane whirled and ran without a second thought, and without looking back.

Ranma stopped, his heart dropping as Akane turned and ran. She disappeared back into the department store she'd just exited. Ranma was hurt. Why had she run away? Was she afraid he'd ask her to marry him? He was slightly stunned, but being Ranma, he pressed his lips together and set after her. He'd just have to find out why she was rejecting him, that's all.

Ranma burst through the doors, catching a glimpse of Akane's retreating form as she disappeared around a corner. Ranma followed, turning the corner himself just in time to watch Akane disappear into the woman's bathroom. A startled woman, probably in her late fifties, held a hand to her chest and stared at Ranma. Ranma growled.

'Alright. So that's the way you want it, huh, Akane? Alright then, fine.' Ranma darted into the men's bathroom and a few moments later, a short busty girl ran back out, startling the poor woman even more. "Pardon me. My mistake," the girl called over her shoulder as she entered the woman's restroom.

Ranma-chan looked around for a moment, but didn't see anyone. Then she heard a noise coming from behind one of the closed stall doors. She peeked underneath, but every one appeared to be empty. Ranma-chan sighed. She worked her way along until she found where the crying was the loudest and tapped on the door. There was a scared gasp and a hiccup then all was silent.

Ranma-chan waited a moment, then crossed her arms. "Come on out, Akane. I know you're in there."

There was another gasp. A moment later the door opened and Akane was there, her eyes red and cheeks streaked his tears, but she looked relieved. "R-Ranma! It's you."

"Of course it's me," Ranma-chan frowned, feeling irritated. "So why'd you run away like that?"

"I . . . I didn't know it was you. I didn't know who it was, I was scared - -" she broke off. "Um . . . you know about . . . ."

Ranma-chan sighed. "Yeah. I know. I've been looking for you all day, too."

"R-really?"

"Yeah." Ranma-chan started. "B-but not to ask ya to, ya know, uh, or nothin', I just - you know, to protect you and . . . well, I mean, I didn't, ah . . . ." She trailed off helplessly. Akane swiped at her eyes.

"It's ok, Ranma. Thanks." Ranma-chan nodded. After a few moments of silence, Akane looked up. "Um. . . R-Ranma?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm . . . I'm starving. Do you think you could go back outside and get me something to eat? I've got some money . . . ."

"Oh . . . sure, Akane." Ranma-chan smiled slightly. "I'll be right back, K?" Akane nodded. As Ranma-chan headed out on her mission, Akane sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. Being with Ranma made her feel almost safe again.

But when Ranma didn't come back after ten minutes, Akane started to worry. What if something had happened? What if - -

"Oh, crap!" The door burst open and Ranma came in, male again. Akane gasped.

"Ranma, what are you doing?! Why are you a boy again?!"

"Long story, but Kuno and Kodachi are after me. We've gotta get outta here." Ranma handed Akane a paper bag and grabbed her free hand. "There's your lunch, by the way. C'mon." Ranma led Akane out of the bathroom only to freeze in his tracks. "Rats! They followed me in here!"

Akane cowered behind him. "W-what are we gonna do, Ranma?"

After a moment, Ranma turned to his left. "We're gonna hide in the one place they won't look for us."

"AAA! The MEN'S bathroom?!"

"Got any other ideas?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Fine, then!" Ranma crashed against the door with his shoulder and hurried Akane into the handicap stall near the door. He slammed the bar shut and they stood, panting. Ranma turned to Akane. "Betcha never thought our first lunch date would be like this," he chirped. Akane flushed and was about to reply, when the bathroom door opened. Ranma turned slightly pale. "Girl feet!" he hissed. Akane didn't understand until suddenly Ranma grabbed her and sat down on the back of the toilet with her in his lap. Akane raised a hand to slap him, but Ranma pinched her leg. "Girl feet," he repeated in a whisper. Then Akane understood. If anyone caught a glimpse of her black shoes and socks it would be all over.

"Brother dear, I see no reason why they would hide in such a vile place." Kodachi! Akane stiffened.

"Such a vile scoundrel as Saotome would truly stop at nothing to steal the hand of my fair Akane Tendo!" Akane now slapped her hands over her ears. Ranma gulped.

"They're probably attempting to slip out of this building unnoticed. Let's hurry or we shan't catch them!"

"They will not escape, sister!"

Akane let out a deep sigh of relief as the Kunos departed, which brought her much closer to Ranma than she'd intended. He let her down to the floor, blushing. "C-c'mon. We'd better go."

Akane ate her lunch after they'd managed to sneak out of the store, and shared with Ranma, feeling, secretly, very grateful for his having saved her. After that, they spent several hours crouched on the roof of a Laundromat, watching Ryoga run around in circles on the street below. Apparently, Nabiki had managed to locate him after all. Akane still clasped the earplugs in her hand, just in case someone started shouting again.

In spite of everything, Akane couldn't help feeling strangely contented. She sat on the concrete ceiling with Ranma at her side and he teased her about various imaginary and horrifying marriage prospects. Akane would shudder, laugh, wrinkle her nose and elbow him in the ribs where appropriate.

Suddenly, Ranma's face became serious. "Hey, Akane, how long d'ya think these guys are gonna chase you for?"

"I don't know. Either until they forget or somebody asks me." They both fell silent again.

"Geez, Akane, they can't possibly hold you to it. Who could possibly take it that seriously?" Akane didn't say anything, but she and Ranma exchanged an uncomfortable glance. They both knew that nearly everyone would. It was no secret to anyone how much trouble it caused Ranma to have multiple intendeds, and Akane had no desire to be stuck in the same trap, especially not after all the nagging she'd given Ranma about it.

Ranma cleared his throat, but didn't say anything. 'I s'pose I could just . . . I mean, it'd all be over if I . . . ."

Akane looked at him and both of them got the awkward feeling that they were both thinking the same thing. Ranma flushed, squirming, and looked away. 'Aw, it's no good.'

Akane looked down into her lap. 'He's just too shy.'

"Hey, A-Akane?"

Akane lifted her head, then, trying not to look eager, cleared her throat before replying. "Yes?"

"I . . . um, well, I . . . ah . . . ."

"A-Akane!"

"Akane Tendo I adore!"

A shriek of panic issued from Akane's lips. They'd let their guard down too much. Kuno had just emerged from the fire escape. Ryoga Hibiki had somehow made his way onto the roof from the opposite direction and there were more boys down below. Akane screamed again and shoved the ear plugs into her ears. If she couldn't hear them, she didn't have to accept them.

Ranma grabbed Akane around the waist and dove off the building. He hit the street and staggered a few steps before taking off running, with Akane in his arms. "Damn it, how do you even KNOW so many guys, they're everywhere!! I'll never lose this many!" Ranma set Akane down and gave her a little shove. She turned and looked at him tearfully.

"Ranma-!"

"RUN!" he roared. Akane ran. Ranma turned and barreled back into the crowd of would-be suitors.

"Ranma, you cad! What have you done?!"

"Has he already taken her?"

"No, are you kidding? No way Ranma'd ask Akane to marry him!"

Ranma tripped Ryoga. "Butt out!"

Ryoga scrambled to his feet. "Ranma, you'll pay for this!" Ranma stood blinking as Ryoga raced past him and disappeared down a side street.

"Guess that takes care of him," he muttered, before heading after the crowd of boys again.

"RANMAAA!" Ranma's blood ran cold.

"Akane!"

Akane wished dearly that Ranma hadn't left her. Soon after he had, Kuno had appeared suddenly, blocking her path. Akane had screamed so she couldn't hear him and kicked him out of her path as she ran. But they were gaining on her, and Akane knew that she could never outrun them all. A member of the track team suddenly darted out from an alleyway in front of her and ran towards her. Akane wheeled to her left down another street, crying. Why why why had she said that stupid, stupid, stupid idiotic thing? What if she really had to marry someone . . . someone other than . . . .

Akane was forced to turn again. She'd get lost and make a wrong turn eventually. Then it would all be over. Akane was scared. She set her sights on a nearby city park. 'Please, please, come and save me, Ranma!' "RANMAAA!"

Ranma followed the sound of Akane's voice, jumping over rooftops and hopping fences in an attempt to minimize transit time. Adrenaline pumped through him, giving him even more speed than usual. No way he was going to lose Akane to some random jerk. No way.

By the time he caught sight of her, she was running for a grove of trees in a small park. A group of schoolboys was running after her, all shouting. Kuno was behind them, with a familiar footprint implanted in his face. Ranma felt a rush of fear for a moment, but then he realized that if Akane had been caught, she wouldn't still be running. Ranma was having kind of a hard time believing any of this was happening. Suddenly Akane stumbled. She caught herself, but valuable time was lost. There was no way she'd never escape. Ranma clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white.

"I am NOT going to give her up that easy," he snarled.

There was no more time. Only one option was left, and Ranma took it. He didn't even try and think about it, what it would mean. Maybe it wouldn't mean anything. Ranma ran to the edge of the nearest roof to her and jumped.

Akane wasn't crying anymore now. She couldn't really feel anything. Maybe Ranma had abandoned her on purpose. Maybe he thought she'd caused this whole mess on purpose, to get rid of him. It was absurd, but that thought hurt Akane most. More than her current peril, she worried that Ranma wouldn't like her anymore because of this mess.

Akane looked over her shoulder. It wouldn't be long before someone caught up to her. She'd lost the ear plugs somewhere along the way, but they hadn't worked all that well, anyway. Maybe she could just pretend she couldn't hear, maybe she could prove that it wasn't a binding promise somehow. But still, the thought of even possibly being promised to someone . . . else . . . was just . . . unthinkable.

"Akane, my beloved!" Kuno. He was so loud! And his presence meant the others were very close, too. Akane turned around, not stopping, merely slowing enough to kick Kuno into the air.

"Get AWAY from me! I WON'T marry you! I REFUSE to be engaged to you! Any of you! Leave me ALONE!"

Still turned around, ready to fight off the whole lot while screaming at the top of her lungs if necessary, Akane crashed into an unnoticed boy and was caught. She froze, helpless. 'No. Please . . . Ranma . . . .'

"Marry me, Akane."

Akane gasped, and looked up into Ranma's blue eyes. He looked back at her, his face determined. Even Akane's pursuers could tell something had happened, although most of them didn't stop. Akane grabbed onto Ranma's arms to steady herself. She felt weak after so much running. That, and maybe something else.

But Ranma had asked her to marry him. She was safe. Ranma was still looking at her, his face uncertain, and his eyes darted across her face, coming back to meet hers again. "P-please . . . ?" he said hesitantly.

Akane was confused. Why had Ranma said that? It wasn't as if he . . . was actually . . . waiting for an answer? Akane felt her face turn red. "Ranma . . . ." he blushed. Akane smiled shyly, unsure. " I . . . Ok." She hugged him then. Ranma's arms were already around her waist, but it took a few moments before he actually returned her hug. Even the dimmest of boys could now tell that they were too late. The crowd sulkily dispersed.

By the time Akane pulled away, the two were alone again. Ranma's face turned red the instant Akane looked at him. "I, ah . . . y-you know, we were already engaged before and everything, so, I don't suppose . . . I mean, this doesn't really change anything."

Akane's eyes lost a bit of their sparkle. "It doesn't?" The question was out before she could stop it.

Ranma turned even redder than before and looked away. "Well . . . not unless you . . . want it to," he almost whispered. He shrugged awkwardly, then, glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes he hurriedly added, "I . . . I don't mind."

Akane kissed him. One minute she'd been standing there and the next minute she'd put her lips to his cheek and given him a healthy smooch. Ranma was stunned, and very embarrassed, but there were tears in Akane's eyes as she pulled away, and she looked so happy that Ranma figured everything was alright. Besides . . . she was really pretty cute.

Ranma cleared his throat. "Well, ah . . . let's go home. I'm starving. 'Sides, Kasumi'll be worried if we don't show up." Akane nodded.

"I'm glad that's over."

"Me too. Akane," Ranma looked at her, tilting his head. "Just promise me you won't go making any crazy pledges again, ok? You've put me through a lotta grief today."

"I know, I put myself through a lot of grief today. I won't ever swear anything so stupid ever again."

"'Specially since . . . well . . . ."

Akane smiled, grasping his arm. "Yes?"

"Well, you know . . . you an' . . . an' me, we . . . ah . . . well, we . . . you know . . . ."

Akane hugged his arm. "I know."

Ranma reached up and took her hand, smiling. "Yeah."

The End

Author's Notes: Well, that was relatively painless. The whole concept of this story came from one of the myriad of short stories by L. M. Montgomery (Of Anne of Green Gables fame). I can't remember exactly which one, but it involves a young lady rashly swearing to marry the first suitor who asks her, and the two boys who are racing each other out to her farm to do so (the good guy wins, in case you were concerned). The rest of this fic, I am now realizing, looks suspiciously like 'The Bachelor', which was kind of an accident. This fic kind of wrote itself. Not only was it completed in two days, which is difficult when one can only write for a couple hours at a time (due to chores and such) , but it was also rather undeveloped, so what happened, happened. Anyway, thanks for reading. Direct any comments to me, here. arianna_vesle@hotmail.com

Back to Fanfiction