ALL CHARACTERS AND PLACES BELONG TO THE GODDESS RUMIKO TAKAHASHI. ANYONE VYING FOR CREDIT FOR THESE THINGS BESIDES HER WILL BE ATTACKED BY HORDES OF RABID WEASELS, IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE MYSELF FROM SUCH A HORRID FATE, I IMPLORE YOU NOT TO SEND ME ANY MONEYS OR OTHER PAYMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS STORY OR ANY OTHER I MAY WRITE. AND DO NOT WRITE STORIES INVOLVING CHARACTERS THAT YOU DID NOT CREATE AND THEN TAKE CREDIT FOR THEM, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A GOOD EXCUSE TO HAVE A HORDE OF RABID WEASELS AROUND…

This is my first attempt at a WAFF fic, (Warm And Fuzzy Feeling) so please go easy on the C&C…I'm kind of a sensitive sort of guy.

This is an apology to all my readers out there for Everything Goes Martial Arts. I realized that it went pretty far out there, and most people probably don't like the way I picked on Akane or Ukyou, or somebody. You can't please everybody, but I at least want to show that I'm open to viable alternatives and that I can see more than one possible bride for Ranma. So, without further ado:

Apology

By frictionx42

I'm sorry, Akane. It would be so easy to say, and yet it was one of the hardest things he had ever considered saying. Just three little words to say and he was terrified. At least, he mused, It's not those three little words. I'm not ready to say those words to you… yet.

Ranma was pacing his room impatiently at 2:48 in the morning as he tried to determine what to do. His mixed feelings for Akane were causing problems in his concentration, however, and as time passed, he became more and more bewildered. The inky blackness of the sky outside his window grew more and more eerie as he contemplated what to do.

After pacing his room for what seemed to be the thousandth time, finally his mind screamed at him. Ranma, just go over there and apologize for everything that happened at the wedding! You know she's blaming it all on you, so you may as well go over there and tell her you're sorry. Let everything else work its way from there.

Ranma sighed, knowing that it was right, he didn't have much choice and he had better just go over to her room and-he was already there. He had walked to her room without realizing it. Well, I guess since I'm here anyhow… * KNOCK KNOCK. * Oh god, please don't be mad, Akane, please don't hit me, I'm just trying to-

"Yes?" Her voice sounded like she had been crying, and he could hear it catch in her throat as she spoke. "Who is it?" Ranma couldn't help but appreciate the rich tone her voice had to it, even though it sounded a little hoarse from hours of weeping.

Wow, she even sounds cute when she's been cryin'. "It's Ranma. Can I come in for a moment?" He was so nervous he could barely get the words out.

The surprise in her voice was unmistakable, even hidden behind the anger that was beginning to boil up in her voice. "Ranma, do you realize that it is almost three in the morning? I was- I was sleeping. What do you want?" For a moment, it appeared that she was about to break out of her fragile facade, but then she went back to her usual violent demeanor. She opened the door to her room slowly, and in a way that only Akane can manage, menacingly.

"Why are you waking me up so early? Are you trying to make me angry?"

He flinched momentarily, knowing what raising her anger would mean, and he did not want to risk that. Not noticing his reaction, Akane continued. "Look, I might be willing to overlook this and pretend it never happened. Let's just go back to sleep."

Well, if I don't do it now, I'll probably never get another chance. Jeez, how'd it get so late? I couldn't have been up this whole time. Whoops, she's getting angry again, I'd better do what I came here to do. The words came much easier than he had expected them to, without any stuttering: "Akane, I'm sorry." He bowed deeply as he said it to show her that he truly meant it, and her eyes grew wide with amazement. Wow, that was easier than I thought… Ranma straightened up, still wondering when Akane would react, say something, or do something. Whatever her reaction, Ranma hoped it wouldn't be violent.

"Ranma, are you sleepwalking again? Are you feeling all right? I could have sworn I just heard you apologize."

Akane seemed to be in her usual belligerent state, and Ranma couldn't resist, the unthinking response began making its way out of his mouth when he clamped down on it.

"Of course I came up here to apologize, stupid! What do you think – Wait, Akane, I wanted to apologize to you for everything that happened today - uh, yesterday. I wanted to say I'm sorry for ruining your wedding."

Akane stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what she was witnessing. She seemed in shock, barely able to comprehend the words that he spoke, but she regained control quickly.

"I- I uh, quit standing out there, Ranma. Come in here so we can talk." The amazement was obvious in her voice as she invited him in.

Oh, my god, I'm going into her room! What'll I do? What'll I say? Ranma couldn't come up with a single thing to say, much less do. Akane and Ranma stood in her bedroom, eying each other. Ranma wracked his mind for something to say to her that she wouldn't hit him. "Akane, listen. The two of us have been engaged for quite some time now, and I know we've been fighting it, but lately I've been thinking that maybe the two of us should- should… kinda, you know, try to make up and see what we can do if we don't fight. I'm sorry I haven't come up here to say this to you before."

"Ranma, what's going on with you tonight? You seem really different." Akane could not mask the amazement in her face as she spoke to him.

"I've had a lot of time to think about things, and I realized that I really have been a jerk in the past, and that the time for things like that has long since past and it's time to try something different. If I had lost you at Jusendou…" Ranma's voice cracked. "then I would, I mean, I'd have nobody around to, who would I-"

Suddenly, Ranma broke down. Having already opened up slightly, the rest of the many things Ranma had been holding back flooded out to Akane, his feelings, his sorrows, and lots and lots of apologies.

She seemed surprised at first at this sudden outburst, but Akane quickly realized that he was really letting go and opening up to her.

"…I'm sorry I always make fun of your skills." He was almost to the point of babbling incoherently. "And I'm sorry I make fun of your cooking, and your looks and the way you act and I don't really mean half of what I say, it just comes out every time we get in a fight and-"

Akane cut him off by suddenly clutching at his chest, saying "Ranma, stop. It's not just you who needs to apologize. I'm sorry for all of those things too. I never let you say anything," She looked up at him and her eyes locked onto his as she continued, "I always hit you… Ranma, I'm-"

She felt his lips suddenly pressing against hers, and he was kissing her. It was a passionate, strong, deep kiss that made up for Ranma's inexperience with the feeling he put into it. Akane struggled for a second before she realized what was happening, and then as she felt Ranma's strong arms surround her she returned his embrace, holding him tightly to her as though she would never let go. The two stayed like that for what seemed like hours, time meaningless as the sheer fervor of their suppressed love for each other was finally let loose.

The two broke after a time, and stared into each other's eyes for a moment before Ranma finally spoke.

"Wow. If I'd have known you were gonna be like that, I woulda apologized a lot sooner!"

Akane giggled softly, then looked worried for a moment. "Ranma, I can't believe what this means. I guess now it's a lot more than just some stupid decision our parents made… what are we going to tell people?"

She looked up at Ranma, who returned her gaze with a worried expression. "Oh yeah. What are we going to do? If Shampoo or Ukyou finds out, they'll probably try to kill you or something… hey, I know. Let's just not say anything! That way, we can do this on our own time, in our own way."

Akane smiled at him. "Wow, that's the second smart idea you've had today."

"What was the first?" Ranma asked, confused.

She looked up at him, her eyes glimmering sweetly in the moonlight streaming through her window. "Kissing me, you pervert. Now do it again."

"Uncute Tomboy." He replied automatically, but even as Ranma approached her he couldn't help but notice that she really was cute. I'm sorry I never saw it before; he apologized again, this time to no one at all.

Next up: The Morning After