Ranma ½ is property of Rumiko Takahashi, and a bunch of other companies. And is used in this story without permission.

Author’s note- The story that you are about to read is called True Loves Kiss, and I must say that it’s darker then my Place to Call Home series. At the moment this is only a one shot deal, but I am thinking about turning it in to an on-going series (I haven’t quite made my mind up yet) that is if the readers want me to. So if you like the story and want me to make it in to a series e-mail me and let me know. Already my pre-readers think that I should continue it but I think I still need some more encouragement so let me know what you think. This story is about Ranma coming to terms with his feelings for Akane, I decided to have him do that by incorporating a touch of fairy tale life. Anywho on to the story!!

True Loves Kiss- by Kunobaby

Ranma sat in the darkened room alone and scared. From the next room he could hear the sobs of Kasumi and even of Nabiki, he thought it was strange that a person who could be so void of emotion one minute could be so full of it in the next. Nabiki had a reason to show the emotion that she was now showing, that, reason being that her youngest sister Akane had fallen into a mysterious and deadly coma.

Ranma thought about the events that had happened in the last twelve hours, twelve hours that could change his life forever. For some reason that day Akane had been angrier then Ranma ever remembered her being, in fact the anger that Akane had shown was not the usual display. Instead of beating him to a pulp, she had yelled until she was almost horse, and once that happened she proceeded to ignore Ranma’s feeble apologizing, as a matter of fact she had ignored her whole family including Kasumi. Even as he thought about the events of the day the memories came painfully flooding back

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Now two hours later things with Akane were unchanged, she was still in a coma and unresponsive to her sisters. To make matters worse, when Kasumi tried to call Dr. Tofu he wasn’t in his clinic and they had no idea where to find him. Suddenly Ranma heard a familiar female voice in the house.

"Hello? Anybody home? Hello?"

It was Ukyo, Ranma knew that eventually she would find her way upstairs and discover the grim scene in the next room so he didn’t make an attempt to get up and greet her, and he just didn’t have the energy at the moment.

Ukyo made her way up the stairs, she could sense that something was wrong in the Tendo home, and she didn’t like it. Where was Kasumi? She had to be here somewhere she wouldn’t leave the door unlocked if she weren’t here. As she approached the top of the stairs she could hear sobbing coming from Akane’s room and the first thought that came to mind was that Ranma blew it, she then realized that the sobbing was to loud to becoming from one person. Without even realizing Ukyo raced down the hall until she reached the spot where Akanes door once was. It was then that she saw the girl that she always considered a rival before her, surrounded by the sobbing forms of her two older sisters.

"Akane? Kasumi what’s wrong with Akane? And where’s Ranma?"

"Ranma’s in the next room Ukyo." She didn’t bother to answer the first question for one simple reason, that reason being she didn’t know what was wrong with Akane.

Ukyo left Akanes room and went in search of Ranma, when she found him she could tell that he was in bad shape. Ukyo studied Ranma before she approached him. He was sitting in the corner of the room holding his knees against his chest with his head down. As she approached she could hear quiet sobbing coming from him.

"Ranma? Are you okay? What happened to Akane? Ranma answer me."

Ranma opened his mouth to answer but nothing came out.

"Please, Ranma tell me."

When Ranma finally did answer her what came out was barely understandable.

"Hap… Hap Happosai, Akane, Akane…."

"Did Happosai do that to Akane?"

Ranma nodded.

"Hang on Ranma, I’m going to get Dr. Tofu, or someone else who might be able to help her."

Ukyo left the room to phone Dr. Tofu, she was lucky he had just gotten in, when he answered the phone Ukyo explained that the Tendo’s needed his help immediately. When she hung the phone up she realized that if Happosai did this Dr. Tofu might not be able to help Akane. But she did know someone who could help her, Cologne. But would Cologne help? She might see this as a blessing in disguise and refuse to help Akane. Ukyo knew the answer though Cologne would help if only to spite Happosai.

Ukyo returned to find Ranma now in the room with Kasumi and Nabiki.

"UM, Dr. Tofu is on his way, and I also phoned Cologne and Shampoo. I figured that if the old pervert did this Tofu might not be able to help."

"No one can help."

"Ranma what do you mean?"

"Happosai said that you can’t cure her, she’ll be dead by this time tomorrow, we better call everyone else. At least they’ll be able to say goodbye to her before, well before she dies. Excuse me I, I want to be alone"

"Ranma wait."

"Ukyo, leave him alone. Come on lets go and do what he said, I’ll go and help you." Ukyo looked at Nabiki in shock; this was the first time she’s heard her say anything since she arrived.

Half an hour later the Tendo home was filled with concerned friends and enemies all shocked in to silence by the story that Ukyo had told them, all that is except for one Tatewaki Kuno.

"What has the evil fiend Saotome done to dear sweet Akane. The beast for putting her in such a state I will make him pay dearly for this…" Kuno was interrupted by the sound of Dr. Tofu entering the room. When he entered all eyes turned to him waiting for an answer.

Ryoga who since arriving had not said a word was the first to speak. "Dr. how is she? Will she live? Tell us something, anything only say that what Ranma says is wrong, please."

"I would like to say that Ranma is wrong about Akane, but I’m sorry I can’t. I don’t know what Happosai used on her but what ever it was it’s incurable. I’m sorry all of you."

At the very moment that Tofu was breaking the news to people gathered, Cologne who had also been examining the unconscious Akane walked into the room.

"Oh, but Dr. you’re wrong, there is one and only one way to save the girl."

"Great Grandmother what you talking about?"

"It’s simple my child, the spell that Happi used on Akane is on ancient Amazon curse used to determine ones true love. I’m guessing that he stole the potion from me not knowing it’s true purpose."

Soun, who had been in tears since finding out the condition of his youngest daughter, suddenly became overjoyed at the prospect of being able to revive her. "You mean, my baby doesn’t have to die?"

"You didn’t let me finish, like I said the curse is an ancient amazon curse to find the cursed ones true love. The curse when giving to a person puts that person in a coma and if that persons true love doesn’t come forth to revive them within twenty-four hours they die, with no chance of reawakening."

Ryoga who would do anything to save Akane was the first to realize that the old ghoul wasn’t telling them something, and he voiced his thought. "Wait! Why do I have a feeling that you’re not telling us something."

"You’re very observant, In order for Akane to be awoken she has to be kissed. But she can’t be kissed by just anyone, it has to be someone that loves her with all their heart, and who she loves in return. If that does not happen the curse will not lift."

"If that is all that it takes then I, Tatewaki Kuno, will be the one to bestow the kiss on Akanes fair lips and awaken her. Let us be off to her." Kuno didn’t stop to listen to the protests of the others in the room but instead bound up the stairs, to attempt to awaken the sleeping Akane.

Just as he was about to kiss her, Ranma who had chosen to stay by Akanes side instead of partake in the conversation downstairs hit Kuno with such force that it sent him flying into the wall knocking him unconscious. The others entered the room just as Ranma was peeling him off the wall to hit him again. "You PERVERT, even when Akane’s near death you try to put the moves on her. Well I’m not going to stand for it you hear, I won’t."

"Ranma, wait Kunobaby was only trying to help."

"What do you mean, help?"

"She right Ranma, great grandmother know of way to save Akane, stupid sword boy only wanting to help her."

"Is that true Cologne? You know how to help Akane?"

"Yes son-in-law I do, in order to save Akane she has to be kissed by a man who loves her…"

"That’s all? Someone just has to kiss her and she’ll wake up? Well what are you waiting for Ryoga? You love her, why don’t you kiss her and wake her up?"

"I can’t Ranma." As much as it hurt Ryoga to say it, he knew that it had to be said.

"What do you mean you can’t? Everyone here knows that you love her, so just kiss her and she’ll be okay." Ranma was trying so hard to fight back the tears, that he didn’t notice the look of pity on the others faces.

"Ranma, you didn’t let Cologne finish. In order for Akane to wake up she has to be kissed by someone who loves her and who, she loves back. That’s why I can’t wake her up Ranma, I know that no matter how much I love Akane, she doesn’t love me back. I’m sorry Ranma."

This news was just too much for Ranma, and much to his dismay he couldn’t take it any longer, and as hard as he fought he couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. Ranma ran from the room hoping that no one saw the tears streaming down his face as he did. Ukyo who since the time of her arrival had tried to be strong for her friend just couldn’t bare to see him like that and she to broke in to tears as she followed him from the room. She was followed by Kasumi, who knew that Ranma would need someone other then Ukyo too talk to.

Kasumi found Ranma and Ukyo sitting by the pond talking, she stopped and listened to their conversation.

"Ranma, are you okay?"

"Am I okay, do I look okay. Ukyo how can you ask that? Of course I’m not okay. Akane’s dying and their isn’t anyone who can save her."

"Ranma, Ryoga might not be able to help her but there is someone who can."

"Who?"

"You can Ranma, you can save her. Look I know you love her, so don’t deny it. If you didn’t love her why would you have bought her the ring? And don’t say because you were honor bound to do it, if that was the case you would have bought Shampoo and I and ring to."

"Ukyo?"

"Ranma, I realized something today when we were out looking for that ring. I realized that no matter how much you care for me you’d never love me as much as you do Akane. It might have taken me a while to realize it but I did, and I, well I accept it, it might be hard but I accept it. Now please Ranma don’t let her die."

Ranma wiped his face with his sleeve; it was hard for him to believe that his long time friend and Akane’s enemy would actually say something like that to him.

"Ukyo, I’d like to save Akane more then life itself, but well you heard what Cologne said. Akane has to love the person back, and you know as well as I do she doesn’t love me, in fact I think that at times she despises me. So you see no matter how much I want to save her, I can’t."

Kasumi couldn’t listen to this anymore, she had to let them know she was there, she had to let Ranma know how much her sister cared for him, and she had to do it soon.

"Ranma, don’t say that."

"Kasumi? How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to know that you love my sister and that you think that she doesn’t feel the same. Ranma, please don’t say that about Akane, please."

"Why? You know it’s true!"

"No Ranma that’s not true. I know for a fact that Akane feels as much love for you as you do for her. Its just that like you, she can’t bring her self to say how she really feels, or show it for that matter."

"She’s right you know Ranma. I’ve seen the way Akane looks at you when she thinks no one is looking, and there’s nothing but love in her eyes."

"Ranma, please save my sister, if not for you, for Nabiki, Father and I, please!"

Ranma looked in to Kasumi’s eyes and saw the tears starting to well up, at that moment he knew what he had to do with out a shadow of doubt. "Kasumi, I won’t save Akane for you. I’ll save her for you, your family, and me."

Back in Akanes room, people sat like stone statutes, neither moving or talking, everybody including Kuno, had accepted the fact that there was nothing that they could do for Akane now, except be there for her. They all knew that the one person, who could help her, had turned his back on her, therefore, turning his back on them. Suddenly Ranma burst into the room followed closely by Kasumi, and Ukyo.

"All right old Ghoul, what do I have to do to help Akane."

"Oh, Ranma my boy you’ve come back to save my dear Akane, I’m so happy I could just cry."

"It’s simple son-in-law, all you have to do is kiss her, and she’ll awaken. But there is something that I forgot to mention earlier, once she has awoken you will lose all memory of her and the love that you feel for her, and all events that have happened to you in the past couple of years. Do you still want to go through with it?"

"Will I lose my memory right away or will I have time to tell her how I feel? And once I lose my memory will I ever get it back?"

"Those are questions I don’t know the answers to Ranma. Now do you still want to go through with it?"

"Yes, I don’t care what I lose as long as Akane lives that’s all that matters to me."

"Then lets begin."

Ranma surveyed the room and the occupants within it. He saw his pop and Mr. Tendo in the corner, both shedding tears of pure joy. Ranma looked to the other side of the room and saw Kuno, Kodachi, Mouse, and Shampoo, all of them looking rather pissed off with what he was about to, all but Mousse that is. The survey continued, to the next corner, which held teary-eyed Kasumi, Nabiki, and Ukyo. Finally his gaze fell on the bed that held the comatose Akane. As Ranma looked at her he couldn’t help but think that this was a dream, that it wasn’t happening, all he would have to do was close his eyes and when he opened them again Akane would be wide awake ready to pound the living daylights out of him. He knew of course that it was happening and that he was the only one to save her, the only one who could bring life to Akane, to his sleeping beauty.

"Ranma, are you okay?" Ranma thoughts ended abruptly by the voice, and he looked around the room looking for the source.

"Ranma, I said are you okay?" It was Dr. Tofu

"Yeah, doc I’m fine, I was just thinking."

"Don’t you think you should kiss her?"

"I was getting to that."

Ranma walked toward the bed and the still form of Akane, as he did so he felt all eyes in the room turn toward him. He knew what they were waiting for and why, but it still felt strange to him to have his family and friends in the room watching the first and probably the last kiss he would ever give to Akane.

Before Ranma knew what was happening he was kneeling on the floor beside Akane’s bed, for the first time in his life Ranma felt absolutely sure of what he had to do and why. He had to save to girl he had unknowingly given his heart and soul to; all he had to do was kiss her. But he also knew that once he kissed her and once she had awoken, he would lose all memory of her and the people who had been apart of his life for the last couple of years, and he would miss them. He knew that they would still be in his life but he wouldn’t know them and that was what he would miss.

"Um… Listen before I do this I just want to let all of you know that I consider you all friends, some of you I even consider as family, and I’ll miss not remembering you. Now I have a favor to ask of one of you. Ukyo, if I lose my memory as soon as the kiss is done, could you please give Akane the package that I got to day and tell her how I really feel?"

"Sure, Ranma I’ll do that for you."

"Thanks, well I guess I should get this over with shouldn’t I?"

With that Ranma put all thoughts out of his head except for the one willing Akane to awaken. He slowly lowered his head down to Akanes, when their heads met Ranma lightly touched his lips to hers hoping that, that was enough to awaken the sleeping girl.

Everyone in the room was still and silent waiting to see if the kiss worked, after five minutes with no movement from Akane they knew it didn’t work.

"Old Ghoul, what’s wrong? You said Akane would wake up if I kissed her, now why isn’t she awake?"

"Son-in-law you called that a kiss your lips barely even touched hers. In order for the curse to be broken you have to kiss her until she wakes without breaking the kiss. Did I forget to tell you this?"

"Yeah!"

"Ranma, why don’t you try it again?"

"Okay, Kasumi I will."

Ranma repeated his previous motions only this time he put more force into the kiss and held it, until he felt Akane returning the embrace.

Akane awoke to find Ranma leaning over her kissing her, at first Akane returned Ranma’s embrace until she realized that she wasn’t dreaming about this, it was actually happening. Akane sat up at an alarming rate forcing Ranma to break the kiss, as she sat up and Ranma was forced backwards she brought her hand up to his face and slapped it with all the power that she could muster.

"RANMA, JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?"

"Akane, wait it’s not what it seems to be."

"Oh! So I take it that you weren’t kissing me while I was sleeping?"

"Okay, that was what it seemed, but I have a good reason."

"A good reason, what kind of good reason can you have for kissing me while I was sleeping?"

Ranma was interrupted by Kasumi before he got a chance to answer Akane’s question.

"Akane, wait! What Ranma says is true he does have a good reason for kissing you."

"Oh, and what’s that Kasumi? Hey wait a minute what are all of you doing in my room?"

"It’s a long story, but as for Ranma he was trying to save your life."

"What do you mean save my life?"

"I think we should let son-in-law explain that to you Akane. Besides I think there’s some other things that you two need to talk about before time runs out. Now everybody out of the room let’s give them some time alone, you’ll all have time to talk to Akane later."

With that everybody left the room leaving Ranma alone to try to explain things to a very confused Akane.

"Ranma what’s going on? Why was everyone…"

Ranma held his finger up to Akanes lip to silence her. "Akane, please don’t talk right now, I have something that I have to tell you and I don’t know who long I have. I’ll try to explain everything but please don’t say another word."

Akane just nodded her head and gave Ranma a quizzical look.

"First of all let me tell you why I was kissing you. It was to save your life, the old pervert but some kind of spell or curse on you, and the only way to get you out of it was for someone who loved you to kiss you. I guess you can tell I was the one to do the job. That’s what I have to tell you, I’m not the best with word’s so I’m going to just come out and say it. Akane I love you, I guess I’ve always loved you I just didn’t realize it till until a little while ago, seems kind of strange doesn’t it? I’ve know you for almost a year, and I just recently realized that I loved you."

"Ranma…I "

"I’m not done yet. There’s something else that I have to tell you, it’s about today, and why I stood you up to go out with Ukyo. You see Ukyo was helping me with something, something that you couldn’t help me with."

Akane just looked at Ranma with teary eyes, listening to what he was saying, and silently rejoicing at the news that Ranma had just shared with her. Ranma loved her; the one man in the world that she truly loved shared the same feelings for her. Akane was suddenly brought back out of her thoughts by the mention of Ukyo. As soon as she heard the mention of that dreaded girls’ name, all the emotions that she was feeling were once again hidden.

"You see, Ukyo was helping me pick something out for you, she was helping me pick out your engagement ring. Akane will you marry me?"

Akane looked down in to Ranma’s hands and saw that he was now holding a small box that was open to reveal a small ring that contained a pearl and a piece of jade. Akane knew what her answer was going to be even before she saw the ring; it was going to be yes. She didn’t care about his curse or about all the trouble that seemed to follow him around like a lost little puppy, all she wanted was to spend the rest of her life with him, the man that she loved.

"Ranma, yes. Yes I‘ll marry you."

Before Ranma had a chance to udder another word Akane threw herself in to his arms, and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. As the kiss continued Ranma could feel that he was losing a part of himself, and he knew that his time was up. In a few minutes he would lose all memory of the past two years, all memory of the Tendos of his many fiancées, his enemies, his friends, his curse and most importantly his Akane. As Ranma felt the last of his memories drain away, he knew that he was losing a part of himself that he may never get back. Ranma felt the memory of Akanes kiss slowly fading away from him, but he didn’t try to break the embrace. He wanted this to be the last thing he remembered he wanted his last memory to be of a time when he was truly happy with the girl of his dreams. {Good bye Akane I will always love you.} That was the last conscious thought that Ranma had, and the last one to be erased.

THE END????????

Well there you go that was True Loves Kiss, like I said if you liked the story and want me to make it in to an ongoing series e-mail and let me know, you can also e-mail me with any C&C and Q’s that you have. I would like to thank my pre-readers, Brandon and Steph for reading this for me and pointing out my mistakes.

You can e-mail me at crikit@oocities.com or kunobaby@hotmail.com

TTFN

Kunobaby

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