based on: Edge of Tomorrow

notes: I loved the movie. To fully understand this drabble, you may need to have watched Edge of Tomorrow. Or at least read the summary. Or be familiar with the premise of the movie.

disclaimer: I own nothing.

Day 047

"Find me when you wake up."

"What?"

She throws her metal mallet to the ground. "Come find me when you wake up."

The dropship explodes.

Day 048

Ranma starts. Or restarts - that would be more accurate. He's relived this morning so many times but he never fails to get drawn to the larger than life image of Akane Tendo.

Come find me when you wake up.

He tears his gaze away from the woman who just might bring back order and logic in his life and tries to come up with ideas to get to the most powerful soldier in the world right now.

He goes through the motions, gets killed a couple more times, until finally -

"Yes? Who said you could talk to me?" She looks even better in person, despite her obvious annoyance at him. Ranma can't help but stare. Without her armor and weapon, she is tiny. Beautiful, but tiny all the same.

"Uhh…"

"Is there something on my face?" Her sharp tone brings him back to his senses.

"You did. At the beach. Tomorrow." The anger on Akane's face melts away, slowly being replaced by something akin to recognition. Her eyes express it all. "You know what's happening to me."

Day 063

Akane teaches Ranma the rules of the game, which basically is to live, die, and repeat everything until they kill the Omega. He appreciates the view, at first; he's never had a teacher as hot as Akane Tendo and he admires her fierce determination to bring him to her level of combat.

But after a few broken spines and many shootings in the face, well. This may be the first time Ranma Saotome gives up on something.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait! Stop, wait a second," Ranma waves his arms, out of breath." I've been thinking… I mean, this thing in my blood. So maybe there's some way I can transfer it to you."

"I've tried everything, it doesn't work."

"Have you tried, you know… tried all the options?" He gestures towards the lower half of his body.

"Oh, you mean sex? I tried it."

Ranma cocks his eyebrow at her. "How many times?"

Akane stares, stony-faced at him, and then, "PERVERT!" she yells, simultaneously shooting him on the head.

Ranma restarts. "Uncute tomboy," he mutters under his breath.

Day 097

He starts to memorize her quirks. Her facial expressions, her movements. He knows what's gonna happen next when she stares a little too long at him, biting her lip, right hand twitching (she's gonna reach for her gun and shoot).

She starts asking if she can shoot him to restart. He's surprised the first time she does this - he didn't think she'd feel any remorse over his life. He can't feel anything but his face (broken spine, again) so he croaks a 'yes'.

Those moments are rare now; most of the time he's killed by a mimic on the battlefield. But not before he sees the life bleed out of her. This is what he sees everyday.

Day 132

He starts to see his ability as a curse. The only consolation he has is at least she dies holding his hand.

Day 203

He wraps the bandage around her wrist. "You're quite clumsy as a soldier." He squeezes her hand then lets go.

"How long has it been?" she asks.

A slight movement registers at the corner of his eye. He's getting good at spotting things but knows it won't delay the inevitable. He turns back and looks at her. "I think I'm falling in love with you."

The farmhouse explodes before she can respond.

Day 245

"We can't do this alone."

"I told you, the last time I asked for help I was withdrawn from the battlefield, strapped down, and given sedatives enough for a whole battalion." Akane paces around the lab, biting her lip. A lock of hair is stuck to her cheek and he is tempted to touch her and brush it away.

"I can ask help from my squad."

She snorts. "I thought they were a bunch of misfits with toiletries for names."

Day 306

There are unshed tears on her eyes when she realizes he's lost the ability. There is no going back.

Day 307

They watch Shampoo detonate her last grenade, bringing the last two Mimics down with her. "We need to move," Akane pushes him, and he nods.

They jump down a gaping hole, reaching the basement of the museum. Two more levels. They continue to jump another level down, with Ranma catching Akane as she slips.

"Thanks," she pats his arm. "Still have the ammo?"

"Yeah, come on." They wade across the basement, finding another way to go deeper.

A chill runs down his spine. In just over a hundred meters is a telltale glow coming from another hole in the ground. The Omega. He wants to laugh; they are close to the end. Close to saving humanity.

"Together, alright?" he smiles.

"Ranma." He turns around, and the smile disappears. A Mimic stands quietly across the basement, waiting for their next move.

The girl loads her gun. "When I fire, you need to start running toward the Omega as fast as you can."

"What?"

"This is our last chance and I'm a better soldier than you; I'll be able to delay the Mimic long enough for you to detonate the bombs and kill the Omega. You might actually have a chance to survive."

No. No, no, no. At the very least, she was supposed to have survived this whole ordeal.

"Don't look so devastated. Aren't you used to this?" She gives him a small smile. No, he isn't used to this. He's used to waking up and seeing her. Again and again and again. He wishes that he has his ability again. He wishes he can reset time, just so he can see her face the next day.

"I know it's only been a day for me, but I feel like...I've fallen in love with you." She kisses him. And he kisses her back.

"When I fire, alright?"

"As fast as I can." He looks at her one last time.

The world explodes.

Day 001

"Yes? What do you want?" She looks at him with suspicion, and he can't help but laugh. There is no better day to be alive. "Who said you could talk to me?

Ranma steps closer. "You did. At the beach. Tomorrow."

There are many tomorrows to come.

notes 2: I am obviously rusty and this is obviously not my best effort.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! 3 I know my stories aren't perfect but I'm glad I am able to entertain you even for a little while.