Ranma lay in Akane's arms for the few minutes they sat wordlessly, given she often went back on her word, for admittedly less important decisions, it was hard to remind herself that she had, like Akane and her mother, signed that contract willingly the other night. She had no real memory, but she dedicated her honor, Promised Akane herself as a possession, they'd confessed their love, and apparently with some trepidation and some strange new relationship, Ranma finally had Akane's love and affection.
The problem was it still hasn't hit her, She still felt really weird being in Akane's arms and not being called a pervert and getting bashed into next week, it felt weird that she had finally been claimed, won as well. She had put little connection to her fear of being torn apart by fiancées and the concept of slavery, but she did know that there where lots of girls and even a few guys competing for her and most of them wouldn't take no for an answer. So this was it, the contest was over, at least she got to choose the winner, she thought a bit ruefully. She shook her head. As much as she wanted a stronger grasp on her feelings for Akane she needed to continue to look at this as training, when Akane was involved, the emotionally invested girl and her fiancée would too easily descend into some bickering probably over some stupid misunderstanding. Ranma shrugged a bit non commit ally, almost forgetting she was in Akane's arms for a moment, but she also concluded that as for what Akane said, their problems where now Akane's problems, as much as the boy turned girl wanted to protect Akane, As much as her pride rejected the idea of just giving into being property, she couldn't resist letting the little girl suffer through a day or two in her shoes.
All in all Ranma felt she had to honor the new contract, it was hurting her pride to be knocked down a huge peg like this, but Ranma, as strange as it was, didn't see anything wrong or exceptional about the paperwork itself. Besides being on the road for most of her life, she had also signed that contract with the gambling king as a kid and years later, still basically considered it a legal document even though legally she couldn't have consented. Ranma's shrug jarred the girl out of her waffy feelings of holding her new slave close to her. "Ranma... Wow I still can't belief you said yes." she pulled the girl away to arms length, looking at Ranma with a cute smile which caused more than a little embarrassing to the shorter girl. "Yeah... I'm a little surprised too?" Ranma mentioned with a thin edge in her voice. "To be honest Akane, I'm a little more worried about you. I mean you seem to think this slave stuff is alright, but now you're even hugging me without bashing me in the head or kicking me out the window." Sure Akane could have hugged her all day according to the contract, but why would she want to? I mean yeah her girl side was adorable and certainly sexier than the tomboys but as far as she could tell Akane hated perverted stuff. The girl wouldn't even let her see her naked when her life was on the line and that was pretty compelling considering they didn't make zero progress in growing closer together over the years despite their status quo.
Akane for her part was actually quite the healthy girl. violent, passionate, prone to worship and adore soft hearted manly figures in her life like tofu, play the mother or older sister to acquaintances, unselfconscious about her figure and hobbies (when anyone except Ranma had insulted them of course). No Akane had far different reasons for fearing the perverted boy she saw Ranma as. Besides the school beating into her the perversion of most of her classmates, Ranma had snuck into her room, snuck into lockers, used her female form to flirt around, with guys no less, used it to flirt and tease Ryouga of all people, and constantly bragged to Akane about how sexy she was and how she preferred to look at her own body in some kind of creepy narcissism. Akane might have been incredulous to the last bit, but considering the actions before it there where time in the fearful night where Akane thought the only thing keeping Ranma from a return visit was he really was too 'busy' toying around with his girl side.
Akane looked down as she regarded Ranma's questions and her own rehearsal on the matter, really, at this point Akane was almost over her absolute fear of perverted boys to take that collar she had sitting in the box and use it on her. Ranma to her was almost like Tofu, he could be kind sweet and compassionate when we wasn't busy being a jerk, but she couldn't help but be afraid, like with Kasumi, the slightest bit of skin would set Ranma off and she'd get night visits.
While most of this filtered through Akane's mind though, a more incredulous approach got the better of her. "W-what? I. C'mon Ranma it's a hug! Yeah maybe you surprised me by waking up in my 'bed' but I like to think we've had to have made THAT much progress!" Akane liked to think a lot of things but near a half a year together was a long time as fiancées to not even be comfortable hugging each other. "Honestly Ranma, with this thing we're practically married, no, more than married." She added with gusto. "Pff, I'm just a slave, you rejected my marriage proposal." Ranma responded with some animosity, the knee jerk reaction to affection was rearing its head.
"... You're right Ranma." Akane had a half blank look half glum, it took Ranma-chan a back as she continued "I know this must all be hard on you, Maybe for now you can just act as a slave on the week ends." she finished lamely, She didn't exactly want to but Akane wasn't guilt free, Ranma pressing that button had affected Akane greatly, She didn't know why she rejected the proposal but she did, If Ranma needed some space she was fine with giving her more slack on her leash so to speak. After the shock of Akane agreeing with her some gears clicked into place in Ranma's head "... You don't think I can handle it!" She accused with some outrage, raising a fist, although she would never dare hit Akane, the gesture oozed a fighting spirit. Akane smiled a bit noncommittally. "No Ranma I don't, You're acting combative and spiteful, maybe you have a good reason or two but you're still not acting like you can handle it full time." She finished with a half-honest smile. Maybe Ranma could see some sense in it, or maybe Akane could make this work in her favor. "I don't back away from any challenge Akane!" Akane crossed her arms trying to look non-plused in truth she was crooning inside. "Don't gimmie that look! Name your terms! I ain't afraid of nothing!"
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(Posted Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:31)
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