Trains of thoughts
by Alessia '79

[ ] indicate author's notes
< > indicate charachter thoughts

[stream of consciousness (see James Joyce)] <...Ranma no 
baka he didn't want to eat my lasagne I have worked all 
the afternoon cooking Kasumi cooks in half an hour lucky 
Dr. Tofu yes yes I don't love him Ranma no baka he is 
always around Shampoo and he grins at Ukyo Kodachi then 
she is crazy sometimes I fear her Ranma no baka...>

"Akane, we have to do a math test today, ne?" Ranma asked, 
breaking Akane's train of thoughts while with a jump he get 
down from the fence beside the canal.

"Uh? No, we haven't a math test."

"You have been a little absent-minded for the last few 
days." <I'm sorry for yesterday.>

"No, I haven't been absent-minded! I was just thinking..." 
<It's OK>

"So, sometimes happens even to you!" <Akane,I...>

"What?"

"To think!" <...care for you!>

"Ranma no baka!" yelled Akane, while she was going to take 
from nowhere a big wooden mallet and run after Ranma.

The boy suddenly stopped, turned to face Akane and said:
"Akane, wait!"

"What?!?" Akane asked.

"Have you heard it, too?"

"Heard what?"

"We have spoken with the mind!"

"So, I haven't been imagining it!" Akane said flushing and 
lowering the glance.

"I don't understand how it is possible! We have to go to 
ask Cologne!" 

Akane stayed motionless and asked:
"One moment, Ranma. Do you really mean that?"

"Of course! We have to make the old ghoul explain us how 
it is possible."

"No,...I mean...what you said with the mind..."

"Oh!" Ranma said flushing and lifting an harm to scratch 
his neck shyly "Well, I..."
<How can I lie if she can read my thoughts? >

<Say the truth, once, please...>

"Y-yes, I m-mean that."

<Thanks, Ranma>

***Later, at the Nekohanten***

Ranma and Akane sat one beside the other at the table 
where Cologne was waiting.

"Cologne, we need your opinion about a question." 
<Ugly old ghoul!>

"What's happened, son-in-law-to-be?"

"Well, I and Akane have been hearing each other's 
thoughts!" <I hope that she would explain us without 
involving Shampoo!>

"I think there are many causes for this situation. Do 
you say that you can read her thoughts and vice versa? 
Wait here. I'll go check some books." and after saying 
that she hopped out of the room on her stick.

<Ranma, do you think she'll find anything?>

<I don't know, but she won't let us know without a 
reward.>

<I think it's not too bad...>

<What?>

<Can read your thoughts.>

<Oh, really?>

<Yeah, because I can speak with a sincere Ranma!>

At that moment Cologne returned.
"I am very surprised! I thought there were many causes 
for this situation, but from my consultation it seems 
that there is only one cause."

"What is?"

"I won't tell you until I'm sure of what I have to say!"

<Bitch! Street-walker! Phone-girl! Go away!>

<Ehi Akane, calm down! She is just an old ghou...oh!> 
Ranma stopped himself when he watched the true target of 
Akane's thoughts enters: Shampoo.

<If only you try to touch Ranma, I...oh!> Akane realized 
that Ranma could understand what she was thinking, and 
flushing furiously ran out from the restaurant.

/////

Akane was strutting, her fists closed, and the face so red 
that it was challenging the flag on the communist palace.

<Akane no baka Akane no baka Akane no baka how have you 
think who knows how has he taken it however there is 
Shampoo to distract him maybe he hasn't heard but he has 
heard haven't you seen how he was looking at you Akane 
no...>

<...baka!> Akane turned facing a grinning Ranma.

"What do you do here?" Akane asked surprised.

"I was looking for you! What a question..." he answered 
coming nearer.

"Leave me alone!" <Can't you see that I am embarassed!>

"And why I have to leave you alone?" <Embarassed? Why?>

"I want to be alone with myself!" <Maybe he didn't 
hear...>

"What you said at the restaurant?"

<Yes.>

"But I did hear what you said."

"And why did you say that I don't have to be embarass..."

*SPLASH!*

A bucket of cold water hit Ranma.

"Ranko, honey! Come to comfort a poor old man in the last 
year of his life?" Happosai yelled rubbing himself on the 
breast of Ranko.

<Old pervert! I have to show you something!> "Go away old 
creep!" yelled Ranko while kicking Happosai and making 
him reach the Earth's orbit. Ranko was looking satisfied 
the little Happosai flying in the sky when she feels 
somebody hugging her from behind, and simultaneously 
hugging Akane.

"Akane! Pig-tailed girl! I, Kuno Tatewaki, declare myself 
greatly blessed to meet the two objects of my love 
together!"

<Oh no! Kuno!>

<Get away from Akane!> This time was Ranma that flushed 
and looked at Akane searching comprehension. So Akane, 
to break that moment, turned to face Kuno and punched him 
making him fall down; then, she turned to Ranko, took her 
hand in hers, and together they ran away.

***After a long run...in a park near the "Ucchan"***

Akane leaned against a tree, then looking at Ranko started 
to laugh.

<Why do you laugh?>

<Didn't you see MPFH...where he fell?>

<Yeah AH AH, right in Nabiki's arms! She would probably 
blackmail him for the rest of his life! AH AH!>

The couple started to laugh again sitting with the back 
against a big tree. After a while the laughter started to 
decrease and Ranko turned to Akane to see if she was 
already laughing, at last realizing that she was a few 
centimeters from the other girl. It was a moment: the 
glances crossed, their faces were so near and (Damn!) how 
much have they dreamt about this moment? Ranko turned 
completely and closing her eyes came nearer to Akane, 
whose heart was pumping at 1000 km/h. Akane considered 
for few moments Ranko's lips before closing her eyes 
expecting a kiss that never come.

<No!> thought Ranko.

"What's happened?"

"I can't!"

"Why?" Akane asked starting to fume.

"I can't kiss you for the first time with my girlish 
aspect!" <Althought I want to kiss you with ALL myself!> 
"Wait here! I'll return immediately!"

<What are you thinking at, Ranma?>

<Hurry up! Hurry up! Hurry up!>

***Five minutes later...***

Ranma returned thriumphantly in the park with his boyish 
aspect, arrived before Akane, took her hands and make 
her stand.

"I went to Ucchan for a bucket of warm water! If she 
knew what I need that for!" he said grinning, and 
finally kissed Akane. It was a sweet kiss, light and 
fresh.

<Oh Ranma, I love you!>

<I love you too, Akane! Ouch!> somebody hit him on the 
head with the baton.

"Damn, what...oh, hi Cologne!"

"Now I have no doubts! I know why you can read each 
other thoughts."

"So?"

"When two persons reach a balance of love and conflict, 
this has been known to happen! Now I have to go, we are 
going to leave Japan for China. There is no reason to 
stay here now!"

"Good bye!" said Ranma hugging Akane and looking at 
Cologne who was hopping away.

"Well, now one of my fiancees know what is my choice! 
And we know what is happening to us!" he said after a 
moment before reaching Akane's lips for a new, 
passionate kiss.

[C&C are welcomed! ales@numerica.it]