It was the dream again. One that appeared every now and again but still seem to hold its victim even with its familiarity. Maybe even more so because the outcome was known.

Akane tosses in her sleep; her subconscious trying to break free from the terror she knew was only beginning. Water surrounds her, taking in her whole body up to the neck and sending her mind into a panic. She tries to keep her head above the surface but swimming was never a talent she learned. Her martial art skills automatically try to defend her body from the foreign fluid by taking control over her movements. She slashes and hacks at the water, tiring herself quickly as she drinks half an ocean. Even with her endurance level up from constant Ranma bashings, her muscles fail as her head bobs under the surface.

"Help! Please, someone help me!" In the distance a small island appears, shimmering into existence. On its beach stands Ranma, the fluxing water almost touching his feet. His shoulders and back are straight, arms rod stiff to the sides, legs spread in the beginnings of a battle stance. His eyes narrowed in focus off to the horizon, like someone had irritated him by hitting a sore spot on his massive ego.

"Ranma!" calls out Akane, relief flooding her. [Ranma will save me.] "Help, you stupid baka! You know I can't swim!" A passing wave pushes Akane under but only briefly as her panic helps fight the fluid monster trying to engulf her.

Again she spots Ranma on the shore but his back is turned to her and....Akane felt a flicker of battle aura warm the water around her...two cute fiancees. One for each arm. She can hear their cute giggles and see their cute manner as they cling to Ranma. Both Ukyou and Shampoo took sideways glances at the drowning girl while they flirted. Neither made a move to help as they started to walk away with Ranma.

Anger gave strength as the water teased at Akane's legs and arms, slowing their movements, tugging them deeper into its depths. "Ranma, you jerk! Help me! I'm drowning, you idiot!" She managed to scream before another wave grabbed her like a hand and pulled her within the maul of the sea.

Akane tries to struggle to the surface but only manages to shoot legs and arms in all directions, finding no hold. Her lungs start to burn with the lack of fresh air but the surface seems to get farther and farther away...

[NO!] Black spots dance in Akane's eyes before she is able to break free from the water. Her lungs, in their urgency, inhale a good portion of seawater with the salty air. As her body tries to expel the fluid, she looks ashore to see where Ranma is at. Though he hasn't moved to help there was a change. A frightening change.

[God, no....] He was on all fours, pacing along the empty beach looking out to the water but unwilling to enter. Akane could hear him meowing in concern as her body slowly gave up the fight. [I don't want to die....I have so much to do...to say...Ranma.....]

The water continued to pull at its prey.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Normally Ranma has no trouble sleeping through a night, even with Genma's snoring. However his mind was on full pouting mode and decided to focus on this mornings incident where he ended up viewing the inside of Kasumi's mop bucket via Akane's lucky throw.

[Uncute tomboy won't even allow me to sleep. Maybe some night air would help.] Climbing through the window, Ranma jumped to the roof. The night was pleasantly warm and the sky hid none of its glory. Ranma began to relax to the soothing affects of nature, all thoughts were melting away as the warm darkness started to embrace him.

A small cry came from Akane's room, interrupting Ranma's restful state. He scowled at being disturbed.

[Hmph, she probably just was startled when P-chan jumped in bed with her.] Not liking the ideas that followed the thought, Ranma walked towards her window telling himself he was not concerned, just curious.

With the full moon out it was easy to see Akane's sleeping form ripping apart what was once her bed. Fist fulls of stuffing were being thrown from her wildly swinging hands creating a snow like affect. [What's she so angry about?] He heard her whimper in what sounded like...fear?

[Geez, she's having a nightmare.] With a shake of his head in exasperation, Ranma took hold of the side of the roof, preparing to jump into Akane's room.

His second side spoke up in self-defense. [She'll mallet you when she wakes up!]

[Well I can't leave her like this!]

[Why not?]

[Because I...I...I just can't....that's why.]

[Hmph...don't say I didn't warn you.]

Ranma entered Akane's room with a sigh. These personal talks with himself were starting to get annoying.

"Hey, Akane. Wake up! Nabiki is going to kill you if she has to buy another bed for you," whispered Ranma. This was the second time this month Akane had reduced her bed into pillow stuffing. Ranma shook his head again. She was becoming more violent by the day.

Ranma walked over, kneeled down and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Akane, come on! What did the bed ever do to you?" [What have I ever done to you for that matter?]

[Yes, what HAVE you done? Besides live and eat off her family's expenses...]

[They offered!]

[and do nothing in return...]

[I'm going to school.]

[Draw hordes of monsters, princes and other what nots that hurt her and her family...]

[Like that's my fault!]

[call her names...]

[Hey, she does the same....]

[hang off of your other fiancees..]

[They're the ones...]

[ridicule her hard work...]

[But...]

[Never tell her you like her, let alone lo...]

[OK, OK!!! Damn, I hate when I lose an argument to myself.]

Akane's sudden movement and cry brought Ranma back to the problem at hand. She had bolted up right, like receiving an electric shock. Slowly she turned her bowed towards him.

[Oh Kami, now I'm dead.] Hoping that a quick explanation might save his head from a mallet for one time in his life, Ranma said, "Um...Akane, I...uh, I heard you...and, well.."

"Oh, Ranma I knew you wouldn't let me drowned!" Akane was facing Ranma now but her eyes remained closed. Her voice was soft and unsteady, "I knew you wouldn't let me die...."

"Uh, yea...I mean NO!...no I ..."

Akane jumped from her spot and wrapped her arms around Ranma. Placing her cheek against his chest as he flailed his arms in a backpedal retreat. "ACK!"

"I knew you...you cared for me..." Akane then began to cry softly, giving Ranma pause in his automatic fiancee defense mode.

[She's crying? Is she still asleep?] Slowly he began to relax with the realization he wasn't going to receive a face full of mallet. Her tears cooled a small spot over his heart pleading against his pride to let him show some affection when this morning's unjust bashings flashed through his mind.

[Hmph, why should I care if some violent tomboy has a stupid nightmare.] A sob escapes from muted cries against his chest dissolving the self-righteous anger and leaving guilt, pain and...something he'd rather not think about. He felt a need to provide safety and comfort to this person who held on to him like a lifeline.

With a deep breath, he placed a hand on her back as the other stroked her hair. He reached into the little boy within him who still remembered his mother and the loving times before training.

"It's OK. You're safe. I won't let you go," he whispered into her hair. "I won't let anything take you from me." And for a moment he actually heard what he said and felt the weight of their meaning. For some reason, it felt good.

He noticed her trembling as her crying slowly eased. Grabbing the only surviving blanket, Ranma wrapped her within as he picked her up. Seemingly back in a peaceful sleep, Akane snuggled her nose against the crook of his neck, breathing softly against his skin. Ranma could feel his whole body flush at this sign of affection. A part of him cried out, "This is what I've wanted! This is who I'm looking for!". It was probably that small boy within and Ranma tried hard to ignore his chanting, squeezing it back into it's locked room as he silently walked through the house to the living room.

[The couch will have to do.] As Ranma placed Akane on her new bed, he tried to remove himself from her 'Jaws of Death' grip. After several attempts he managed to free himself and ignored the twinge inside that wanted to stay within the circle of her arms. Akane gave a disgruntled murmur that sound very similar to 'Baka' before curling into herself as to hold the heat which was now removed.

Ranma couldn't help but smile as he looked at her small form softly caressed in the moonlight. Giving into impulse, he let his finger tips brush back a piece of hair that fell over her brow.

[If only...] began Ranma's second self before he punted his thoughts and returned to his futon. [Yea, and then you'd be married by tomorrow night with AT LEAST three women and Ryoga trying to kill you.]

[But how is that any different from now....] Ranma frowned at this last thought before rolling over to sleep.