"Hey, are you ready?" Ranma asked as he came in through her window, plopping down on the other side of the wall, and next to her desk. Akane looked up, not surprised to see him enter that way, but still…

"Ranma, I still have a few more questions to go over," she answered coolly as she brushed the eraser remains off the top of her desk, "Let me finish those and then I'll be ready."

He put his hand over her lab manual and she looked up, pretending to be irritated, but she couldn't feign it for long for his cocky smile got to her.

"You can do it later, come on," he leaned down, and inches away from her lips, he whispered, "I want to show you something." That was when he closed the space and captured her lips in a soft kiss, and as he pulled away he was rewarded with his girlfriend cutely blushing up at him.

"R-Ranma," she whispered softly as he smiled at her.

"Let's go, 'kane," he said as he drew her hand in his and pulled her from the desk, he was making his way to the window when Akane started to tug on his hand.

"I can't go out the window!" she said in disbelief.

"Don't worry," he said as he got her through and held her in his arms and jumped down, as she threw her arms around his neck, he continued, "I got you, it'll be okay. I'd never let anything hurt you, you know that."

When he landed, he slowly let her down and Akane let go of her hold around his neck and she kissed him quickly. He smiled goofily as he asked her what that was for, and she responded, "For being you."

He took of her hand then, and began to lead her out of her yard and onto the street. They walked for a bit until Akane finally asked him, "Where are we going?"

"A place you might like," he answered her.

"It's getting dark," Akane commented, "Will we still be able to see it?"

"Yeah, it's even more stunning at night."

A little bit longer, they came to a bridge they always crossed on their way to school. He brought her underneath the structure and the stream of water underneath it. A bit confused, Akane followed, but said nothing.

"Here," Ranma finally said as they stopped where the water disappeared into the horizon, and fireflies began to glow.

Thousands of yellow blipping bugs started to disappear and reappear before her eyes. Like small lanterns floating in the air, the fireflies danced around her, and a smile appeared on her lips, she held out her free hand and a few of them flitted past her.

"Do you like it?" he asked as he watched the glow reflect off her face, illuminating her natural beauty in the night.

"I love it," she replied happily as she watched them flit around some more, "It's so beautiful!"

"T-there's something else," Ranma said as he let go of her hand. Akane watched him, a bit confused as he stepped forward, turning his back to her.

"What is it?" she asked, a bit worried at his attitude, something was up and it was worrisome.

For a brief moment, it was silent and the only thing that was heard was the sounds of cicadas in the backdrop. But, he turned around and he seemed nervous. Akane was about to ask if anything was wrong when he stepped forward and took both her hands in his.

"I-I know we've been dating for two years now, and that it's our final year in high school, and we'll be off to a university soon…but you know how much I care about you, how I'd do anything to protect you, make sure that you're happy, right?" he said as he stared into her eyes.

Nodding, he continued, "We've been friends, literally, forever, best friends…for as long as I can remember. We grew up together, fought…and we're together now, but…my question for you is – are you willing to spend your life with me as your…h-husband?"

A gasp escaped Akane's lips as he knelt down and let go of her hands, he reached behind him and took out a small case from his pocket, he opened it up to reveal a simple silver band beaded with diamonds nestled in the box, the lights from the overhead fireflies illuminated it in a special way that seemed ethereal.

"Akane Tendo, will you marry me?"

#

"Oh my god," Nabiki kept uttering as she paced back in forth, she was much more pumped about Ranma proposing that Akane would have pegged her for.

"Oh my god!" she repeated as she shook Kasumi in a manner that was in disbelief, "Oh my god, that little punk had the guts to propose to our little sister, and our little punk had the guts to say yes! Oh my god!"

Akane sat there, her hands folded neatly in her lap with a light blush painted on her cheeks. Kasumi was laughing while Nabiki freaked out some more. "Calm down, Nabiki! It's not like we didn't see this coming!"

"What?" Akane chirped, "You mean to tell me you knew he would!"

"Of course! Everyone knew he's in love with you, sweetie! And the world knows you love him!" Kasumi replied happily as she tried to contain her middle sister's antics, "Didn't you?"

Blushing madly, Akane shook her head and whispered, "I-I just thought…he liked me a lot, I didn't know he'd have feelings for me, like I do for him."

"This wedding is going to be big!" Nabiki exclaimed, "Nothing short of perfection for you and Ranma!"

Soun finally entered, his head a bit dizzy as he was drinking in celebration for his youngest daughter's engagement to his friends' son. "Nabiki, honey, could you keep it down? Your father has a bit of a headache…."

Kasumi giggled, "Oh, daddy, you and Mr. Saotome drinking like that won't be good, how will you be able to stand at the wedding?"

"Not the same way Akane will after her wedding night!" Nabiki joked happily as she nudged her sister in the ribs, "Am I right?"

"Nabiki!" Akane said in an exasperated manner, blushing madly now, "Shut up!" But, Akane could not contain her smile as she sat there with her family exclaiming their happiness. Looking down at her hand, she watched as the ring glint in the light and another beaming smile replaced the one that was on her face just moments ago.

#

The wedding was gorgeous, much like a fairy tale ending, the two stood in front of their friends and family as they confessed their love and exchanged vows. Akane, now Akane Saotome, stood at the altar with happy tears streaming down her face as the guests applauded their matrimony. Nodoka stood there, clapping loudly as she smiled at her daughter-in-law, she mouthed her congratulations.

Ranma squeezed her hand once more, and she turned to face him with tears clouding her eyes, he mouthed an 'I love you' and she smiled, "I love you, so much."

That night, Ranma made sure that Akane was his, in more ways that one.

#

Years have passed now, and Akane and Ranma had graduated from their university together, they sat in the living room of the Tendo dojo, now the Saotome dojo, tired from their earlier activities of teaching lessons for students and adults in martial arts.

Akane sat comfortably on the couch as her father sat on the other side, watching the television as Ranma sat on the floor, cross-legged with one of their triplets in his lap, watching the program. Beside him, were the other two kids sleeping soundly.

Ranma stared up at his pregnant wife and smiled, "I love you."

"I love you too," she said sweetly as she reached forward and put her small hand on his shoulder, "And I'm really glad you're my best friend, honey."

END

Author's Note
Well, this is the end of Best Friends, like I said in the first chapter, this was not intended to be a long story, and only 3 installments. I wanted to wrap it up, something sweet and endearing. Maybe one day I'll write a one-shot version of this chapter, and elaborate on what happened. But, for now, this is enough. Thanks for the hits and reviews!