**characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi, I do not own them**

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My foot steps clicked along the stone path. I could hear thunder in the distance, but didn't have the will to run faster. Plip. The first drop of rain. Plip, plip. Clouds began to form. The world began to grow bigger. I stared at what I was hoping to be my tall, 16 বছর old self in a puddle. But a small black pig stared back. Tears shed down my cheeks but were masked দ্বারা the thick rain. I began to sprint, leaving my backpack and umbrella behind, since I could no longer carry them.

Before me, another umbrella thudded against the pavement. I flinched, and looked up at Akane who immediately embraced me.
"P-chan, where have আপনি been?"

--

With my back against the brick building, I slipped farther into the shadows as she passed on her way home. Oh, Akane...

--

"RANMA, YOU-- JERK!!" from the grass, I watched as she punched Ranma so far into the air, I questioned if it was physically possible. "Lets go, P-chan." I followed, trotting, back into her room. It was neatly organized. The lamps had been turned off, giving the entire area a gloomy, dark sense. I expected Akane to sit at her ডেস্ক and grumpily explain to herself why she even bothers to live with such a bastard like him. Instead, she was leaned against the door with her face hidden দ্বারা her midnight blue bangs. Then she dropped to the floor and began to press the palms of her delicate hands to her tear filled eyes. She fell to the bed, sobbing loudly. I poked her thigh, squee'ing. When Akane remembered I was there, she picked me up and held me against her eyes. I felt their wetness.

--

We sat together on the park bench. Just me and Akane. She seemed so calm, like hanging out with me was nothing. Which it was, to her. I was trying hard not to squirm in place, but felt myself blushing madly. We chatted for a bit, then ব্যক্ত goodbye. As my hand lifted to an enthusiastic wave, I caught a glimpse of another person beside her. Ranma, who didn't notice me. He was smiling smugly. My hand dropped slightly.

--

White clouds dotted the sky.
"Akane... I...!"
A green frog statue in a পরাকাষ্ঠা dress smiled back, lifeless.
"Akane... I... lo...! I love...!" I stood up, grabbing my sweat-matted black hair and pulled it, vigorously. "I CAN'T SAY IT!"
"Say what, Ryoga?"
I froze. "A... kan... e?"
Behind me, her sweet smile gleamed. "Good morning."
I felt my cheeks deepen to red again, and noticed a little boy zoom দ্বারা on a small motorcycle, splashing a puddle inches from my leg. I screamed, almost falling over. Then froze again, wondering what Akane had thought of that ridiculous display. She questioned me without anything less then a grin.

--

Inside the tent, my lantern began to dim as cold, mountain air swirled through the slit door that led into the still summer-autumn night. Trees made the only sound; rustling. I lay thinking about why I was such a loser. When I closed my eyes, a vision of Akane's previously long hair being sliced দ্বারা one of my many bandanas, and the deer-in-the-headlights look on her pale face. My eyes shot open, and I sat up in the morning glare of the warm sun. The সেকেন্ড I stepped out of the tent, two feet planted themselves on my head. Without landing on the ground, Ranma pounced from my hair into the air and taunted me playfully. Enraged, I reeled my fist back.
"Hey, isn't that Akane over there?" he asked lightly, pointing to the left.
"Huh?"
Leaving over 100 openings, Ranma defeated me again.

--

Walking side দ্বারা side, Akane's soft voice recalled to me her দিন at school. I took a few quiet, raspy breaths. She didn't notice. She kept walking, but I stopped dead in my tracks. After a few seconds, she stopped, too and turned around to look blankly at me. The breeze blew her short hair and her eyes darted to where my two hands held her one.
"Akane..."
Good moning, Ryoga.
"Ak... Akan... e, I..."
P-chan! Where have আপনি been?
"Lo... ve..." my teeth clenched. Bolting in the other direction, Akane shouted at me.
"Ryoga, wait! Where are you...?"
After running at least a mile, I skidded onto the ঘাস and watered the ground with my tears. The sky was as blue and clear as ever.

--

"Ryoga!" Ranma laughed, giving me a shove. "Why didn't আপনি tell us আপনি had a girlfriend?"
"G... girlfriend?"
In the distance, a green-haired girl carrying a picnic basket waved to me. Over the stillness, the ঘাস swayed.

--

"My name is Akari Unryu... and... I প্রণয় you."