The usual disclaimer: Ranma ½ is a trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and VIZ Communications, and its characters have been borrowed without permission. This story was written for non-commercial purposes only. I do claim the characters of Shizuka, Hideo, Daran, Augustus, Mr. Roth (all of them), and Tomo (if you want to borrow them, you only have to ask – just common courtesy after all).

Welcome to another installment of Bindings. Usually all the stories in Bindings are meant to be stand-alone, but this one follows "Say 'Yes' to the Dress" very closely, so you may want to read that story first – or at least the character points listed in the first chapter. You can always check my profile for more details too. This story starts one week after "Say 'Yes' to the Dress", so it's now mid-June.

One other thing - to simplify the story, we only follow what happens to Ranma and Akane on their First Date. If you want to find out what happened to Kuno and the Fiancee Brigade, as well as the rest of the Ranma cast on this magical night, that's another story. Keep an eye out for it...it too will be published.

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Akane looked at the girl – no, woman – in Nabiki's mirror. The person was of medium height with blue-black hair and large brown eyes. She wore a black evening dress that accentuated every curve of her athletic frame. The dress had a daring slit up one side that displayed a shapely leg. The neckline was cut to show a generous swell of upper breasts while still holding everything well in place. The rest of the dress flowed across a flat stomach and smoothly over the wearer's hips looking all the world like black dragon-scale armor, matching her physique very well and making her look like a warrior princess. The face of the young woman had a light application of make-up accenting her cheek bones and emphasizing the new maturity her face had gained by losing its baby fat over the last year.

"Oh Akane! You are absolutely beautiful!" Kasumi said with a catch in her voice.

Nabiki had to agree. "Not bad little sister; not bad at all. If Kuno saw you now, he'd be too stunned to spout any bad poetry."

Akane snorted. "I don't care about Kuno. It's Ranma I want stunned."

"Ranma? He'll be on his knees cursing himself for postponing the wedding," Sayuri threw out. Yuka laughed naughtily in agreement.

Ms. Hinako was bouncing around the room in her child form. "Actually, he'll be lucky Doctor Ono will be there to treat him after he passes out."

"Which is good," Akane grinned. "I don't want him to have any excuse to skip out on this date."

Kasumi chided her then, "Stop that, Akane, and give the guy a little credit. This was his idea after all."

Akane had to admit that was true enough (something that filled her with glee). She thought back nearly two weeks ago to when Ranma asked her…

Akane lay on her bed with a book in front of her and watched Ranma enter her room with curiousity (and some fondness). He had just knocked and asked to come in. She thought it might to be to work on homework together. They often did that, even before they admitted how they felt about each other. She had to laugh to herself about that – even when they said they hated each other, they were practically joined at the hip. Sometimes Kami-Sama definitely had a sense of humor.

Anyway, he didn't have his books with him, and he looked a little nervous. He had his hands partially clasp and held up in front of chest. He was also tapping two fingers together, and there was a slight blush on his face. Akane decided he looked absolutely adorable. Whatever favor he was about to ask, she already knew she was going to agree to it. She might try and get something in exchange for it though. Maybe get him to take her to the fair next week on his yen. She loved these pseudo-dates – it was the closest she could get to real one without the Fiancée Brigade getting in the way. Honestly! How many cases of hypothermia did they have to catch from Ranma's cold shoulder (a bit more than figuratively) before they got the hint?

"Umm…Akane?" the young man asked.

"Yes, Ranma?" she answered with a very deliberate flutter of the eyelashes. Her victim blushed a little more. Hmmm… maybe she'd draw this out a little; this was fun.

The blue-eyed boy began tapping his foot. "Are you doing anything Saturday? Not this coming Saturday, but the following one?"

The young lady didn't have to fake interest. This was slightly new. He had suggested mutual activities in the past, but in a far more nonchalant manner. She quickly thought about the coming two weeks. There was nothing that allowances could not be made for. "I think I have that day free. What did you have in mind? Is there a tournament you'd like to see?" Oh yes, don't forget to flutter the eyelashes again.

"No, not a tournament. And I wasn't thinking about the whole day. More like just the evening," he answered.

"Oh?" More eyelash work and make the smile slightly bigger. Oh look, he just dragged his right leg behind his left and the right foot was still tapping slightly. She decided to see if she could get him to place a hand behind the neck next. Akane thought the action should be worth 30 points if she could get him to pull it off. She began to stretch languidly as if getting the kinks out of her back, pushing her chest out towards him.

He began stuttering, but didn't move the hand yet. "W-we –ell, I was thinking maybe we could go out for dinner."

"Dinner?" she asked confused. "Anywhere in particular? Surely not Ukyo's or the Cat Café?" she added with a small frown, losing track of the game for a moment.

A look of panic appeared on his face. "No, no!" His hands came apart and he was shaking them at her. "I was thinking somewhere without interference."

"Without interference? And how's that going to work?" she asked.

"Well, I was talking with Tofu and he had a few suggestions for shaking everyone. I thought it might really work."

"Talk to Tofu?" she said out loud. Then a light went on in Akane's brain. The game (or rather Game) came back to the forefront of Akane's mind. It only happened once in a couple's relationship and she wanted the whole pie. Her eyes went very wide as she artfully asked, "I'm sorry, Ranma, but I'm not sure what you're asking..."

"Well…" Ranma started as his hand went behind his neck (30 points!), "I was thinking maybe dinner and…maybe some dancing?" he asked shyly.

Akane's higher functions stopped for a second, then restarted as she said "Dancing?"

"Y-yeah-h" the shape-shifter stuttered again. "We had a little in school, but you and I are fast learners. I'm sure we could figure it out from those around us…"

Actually, Akane knew how to dance very well. She was sure Ranma's cat-like grace would allow him to keep up. She was delighted at Ranma's courage (finally!), but there was one word she wanted him to say: "What type of restaurant, Ranma?"

"Well, I was thinking of maybe an Italian restaurant…I've heard of one with a DJ and a dance floor," he said a little smoother. The hand came off his neck.

She fluttered her eyelashes and faked a shy look at him again. "Oh my, that sounds fancy. Wouldn't we have to get dressed up a bit?"

The smoothness vanished again at her look. The blush was back on his face. "Well, yeah," he answered. "But, we could do that and make a real date of it." His hands were tented in front of his chest, and he was bouncing his finger tips together again.

Bingo! "Date." Akane got her word. It was time to let him off the hook, and maybe a small reward was in order. She got up off her bed with a gentle smile on her lips, so as not to scare off the nervous lad. "Why that sounds wonderful, Ranma! I accept." With that, she went over and kissed him on the cheek. Ranma's eyes widened nicely and his face took on a look of wonder. Akane had to suppress a giggle at that. She had seen the "deer-in-the-headlights" look on other males with girlfriends, but had almost given up on seeing it on Ranma's face. The young man was always too sure of himself for that – until now. She watched him for a minute. He was just too cute with the stunned look on his face. Oh well, dinner was soon. She kissed his cheek a little more firmly which seemed to bring him around slightly. "I need to change, Ranma. Why don't you head downstairs, and I'll be down shortly."

Ranma nodded and turned to leave, but seemed confused by the door. Akane laughed quietly, and then opened the door for him. Her knight in shining armor walked out without another word. She closed the door and listened to him go slowly down the stairs. Then she counted to 100. "Nope. Still excited," she thought. She counted to 100 again. "Ah, the heck with it!" she thought and beat her feet quickly on floor in a victory dance. "Yes!" she exalted. "A date with Ranma. A real date!"

Ranma waited nervously downstairs with his entourage. Daisuke and Hiroshi were watching the mighty Saotome sweat waiting for his date. Soun and Genma were playing Go again, but Soun kept glancing toward the stairs, giving Genma lots of time to cheat. Nodoka was fussing over Ranma to make sure Akane's first sight of him was memorable. Doctor Tofu was trying to distract Nodoka and give Ranma a break. Ranma looked at the clock on the wall. The car would be here in ten minutes to take the couple to the restaurant. Where was Akane? What was that Tomboy up to? "STOP!" he said to himself. "I will not utter that word this entire date." He repeated everything the Doc had said to him: "Always keep in mind the goal is to make Akane happy. Do not let anything distract me from that goal. No challenges, no showboating. Ignore incidental occurrences. There will be allies about, let them take care of it. Concentrate on Akane – I only get one First Date with her. Slips of the tongue will occur. Apologize for yours and be forgiving of hers."

He sighed to himself. Now he knew how Hiroshi felt. Ranma would have to make it up to Hiroshi for all the ribbing Ranma gave him when Hiroshi took Yuka out. Ah, who was he kidding? Hiroshi was going to get even tonight. Ranma knew he was not a suave Casanova. This was not a fight or a battle as it had been with Shampoo; he was definitely out of his element. Still, Ranma was determined to go through with it. He really liked – oh, all right – loved the Tomboy ("Cut it out!"). He would make her happy one way or another.

Ranma's mind continued to wander as his mother fussed at his suit, even though the cut was perfect. The tailor the guys had dragged him to last weekend had been an expert. Tofu had made sure the bill was sent to Genma, something that sent the panda up in flames. However, whenever Genma tried to say something, Nodoka began caressing her katana, which caused him to shut up quickly. Ranma's mother really wanted this date to go off without a hitch. Ranma was sure she was planning something herself, but Tofu had told Ranma not to worry about it – just take care of Akane.

Finally, a door upstairs opened and the ladies trooped down the stairs. Ms. Hinako was first, practically bouncing down the stairs. Kasumi was next and was wearing her ever-present smile. Sayuri and Yuka followed, grinning mischievously at Ranma. Sayuri made a slashing gesture across her throat with her finger when she looked at Ranma while Yuka seemed to be mouthing the words "Night, night." Ranma's will harden at that. There was no way he was going to pass out like Hiroshi done. Nor was he going to burst blood from the nose like Ryoga. He was Ranma Saotome after all. It didn't matter if Akane came down the stairs naked. He would just tell Akane she looked absolute beautiful, and keep his composure.

Nabiki was the last down the stairs with her well known smirk. She waited until the other ladies had made their way into the room, and then addressed everyone: "Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to present Miss Akane Tendo." Akane stepped gracefully down the stairs and Ranma's brain froze solid. She had looked beautiful in her wedding dress, but her appearance now easily rivaled that. The girl he knew was gone, replaced by this perfect woman in dragon-scale armor before him.

"Breathe, dummy!" Ranko's voice sounded in his head. Ranma worked on that.

"C'mon, don't lock the knees," another voice hissed inside his head.

"Let's hear it for multiple personalities," Ranma thought as he brought himself under control. He still couldn't get his mouth to work though. It just hung open uselessly. Behind him, he heard Tofu whistle, which was cut off by an elbow in the ribs from Kasumi. There was a crash as Daisuke hit the ground. He couldn't see Hiroshi staring resolutely at Yuka, determined not to wreck his own date.

The parents in the room were reacting for different reasons. Ranma heard a second crash as the Go board hit the ground and Soun staggered to his feet, watching his dead wife's re-incarnation stand before him. Ranma could see from the corner of his eye that Nodoka had brought her hands to her face and was staring at her daughter-in-law-to-be in surprise and a little awe murmuring: "She looks just like her." Genma was quickly re-evaluating his plans, deciding how he would get around Kimiko re-born.

Ranma could see Akane was not paying attention to anyone else in the room. She was staring at Ranma fearfully. Ranma began to panic. Fear? Why was she afraid? Then it hit him – he hadn't moved. She was afraid of his reaction because he hadn't given any. Looking in her eyes, he could see all her insecurities rising up. "NO!" he silently screamed at himself. "I WILL NOT BLOW THIS!" But, he couldn't speak. He could breathe, but he couldn't move his mouth.

"Then move something else!" his split-companion voices shot back at him.

Ranma Saotome got it then. He moved forward and dropped to one knee gracefully and bowed his head to the elegant woman. Now that he was no longer looking directly at her, his brain started up again and he could see the humor in the situation. Following that thought, he spoke in over-blown tones: "My dear lady, never have I seen anyone as beautiful and stunning as you." He raised his head and focused on her eyes, ignoring the rest of her and letting his feelings for her show in his gaze. Her eyes lost their insecure look as she tried to figure out if he was teasing her. Before she could get angry, he let a small gentle smile show and said quietly to her so only she would hear: "I meant that."

That got her. She began to smile gently in return, so he figured it was safe to rise again. As he got up, she threw herself into his arms. He returned the hug and heard her whisper fondly "Idiot." As he whispered reassurances into her ear, Ranma congratulated himself on surviving the first hurdle.