It's been a month since their exam has finished and only recently they have got to know the results for their long term struggles. As everyone had expected, Akane has successfully achieved her goal score, as well as Akio. But to everyone's surprise, Ranma also managed to pass every subject in one go and the score was not bad at all. This achievement alone made him so proud of himself that, for days, he kept rambling continuously to Akane's ears about how good and genius he really is to score such an amazing result just by studying for two days!

To say Akane felt proud of him for this was beyond any words. But she decided to swallow her 'I am proud of you' speech for now, fearing praising him at his current state will pump up his ego even more and it may burst on its weight…

Ranma had become a full-time worker after that. He is enjoying his new life vastly. Working as an assistant trainer at another Dojo, not only gave him the advantage to earn money, but it is also helping him with his regular practice as well. The old Sansei of that Dojo almost gave all the responsibilities to Ranma to teach the students, while he just sits back and watches them. Ranma never complained about that, he actually enjoys doing it, but at the end of the day he becomes so exhausted. And in the evening, when he returns home from his work, he feels bored and irritated.

He felt that way not because of his exhaustion, it's because whenever he comes back home, he never sees Akane there, waiting for him, getting bored without him.. After finishing their exams, she never took a break from studying at all! And then when their result came and he thought she would take some break now, but to his surprise, the complete opposite thing happened as she became even more busier than before. So, after spending a hectic day at his workplace, after coming back home, he is the one who misses someone's company very badly. And Akane spends a large amount of time with Akio every day. Not romantically obviously, only for studying purposes, but that doesn't mean that he should like what is happening and he shouldn't be insecure about this!

Yes, he feels insecure and kind of jealous about all this, but Akane personally requested him to be a little patience about this and to trust her. Trust her! Of course he trusts her with his eyes closed! But how can he trust Akio? He just can't think of sharing her with anyone else. His thinking has somewhat is turning wild day by day. He just wants all of her time for himself, all her attention as well. And this annoying feeling of his is growing everyday, making his insecurity evolve him even more vividly. Now all he wants her to finish with her damn entrance exam and then he will take her away from all of them.. But that is, if she agrees to accompany him. But he will try his best to convince her, for that if he had to swallow his pride, he would proudly do so...

His good old Sansei has asked him to take some break from work and to enjoy some day off. But, he didn't take any breaks. He told his Sansei that, when the right time will come, he will personally come to him and will ask him to give him some days off and the Sansei agreed. So, for now, till Akane is done with her exams, Ranma is working with all his heart and determination.

Akane feels so weary and anxious everyday. It feels to her as if she has lots to do but doesn't have enough time to reach her dream… But she was thankful to Kami for sending Akio into her life at this crucial moment of her life. He had become a raft for her on an open ocean, her only lifesaver to hold on to, to help her cross all the wild waves and take her to a safe shore. He just came to her life at the perfect moment, when she needed the help the most. She knows she is annoying him with her queries, just like he is annoying her. He says she is the one who is helping him, but to her, it was the opposite…

In the morning when she wakes up, she never sees Ranma in the house. He always leaves the house before she wakes up. And she had to join Akio and her other friends in the library in the afternoon and then sometimes to Tofu's clinic for group studying with Akio. Akane couldn't bring Akio for group study in her house, because of the annoying fathers. So after studying, when she returns home late at evening with Kasumi, all the residents will be present at the home, making it too crowded and noisy for her to go to Ranma and to talk to him or spend time with him alone.

She misses him so much.. So much that all she wants is to finish her exams as soon as possible ,so that she could ask Ranma out for a day out with her. She knows that, if she asks him it will boost his ego higher, but she doesn't care. He has been so caring and so understanding towards her. She could feel him getting iricked and uncomfortable by all this that is happening, but when she asked him to trust her and made him understand how important this is to her, he immediately believed her and didn't question her ever since. So, for this, she would definitely swallow her pride this time and ask him herself.

But still, she can feel his discomfort, his insecurity, just by looking into his eyes, when he secretly stares at her in the dining area. She could always feel him staring at her, but when she looked up to meet his gaze, he immediately averted his eyes from her. It's like, they have a lot to talk about and ask, but the circumstances around them are not letting them come clear to each other. They are not getting any time alone with each other, to talk about everything ,anything. It is starting to frustrate her and by looking at his iricked attitude, she could guess that he is feeling the same. How she wished to get him alone, so that they could talk privately, so that all the insecurities in both their hearts would stop reacting…

Akane sighs as she tiredly closes the book she was reading as she starts massaging her neck for comfort.

"You okay, Akane?" Akio asked her with a concerned voice.

Akane looked at him and nodded tiredly as she said,

"Yes.. I am fine, just a little tired that's all.."

Akio immediately closed his book and announced to her happily,

"Okay then! Let's take a break.."

"But, Akio.. We haven't finished it yet.." Akane said, wrinkling her eyebrows worriedly.

"We still have lots of time, Akane. Besides, it is already lunchtime and I am way too hungry right now to continue reading… Let's have lunch first then we will head to my house. There we can continue where we paused here.."

Akane looked up at him and said while hesitating,

"But Kasumi and Dr Tofu have a date today.."

"So?!" Akio asked, not understanding what she meant.

"I mean…. Kasumi won't be at Tofu's house today, so I think… I think I shouldn't go there too..!?" She said hesitating a bit.

Akio blinked his eyes in confusion and asked,

"Why? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do!" Akane sighs and looks down and says in a low voice, " Akio.. What I mean to say Is…"

"Hey.. It's okay.." He clasped her hand with his, which was placed over her book, then he said gently,

"Don't worry then.. We will come back to the library and continue studying, if that makes you comfortable.."

Akane sighs as she smiled back at him and says,

"Thanks Akio… Please don't take it otherwise.."

"I am not.. But if you don't hurry up now, I might faint with hunger.. " He said faking unconsciousness, as he put his head over the table.

Akane giggled and stood up, she started pulling his slumped body to get up as she said playfully,

"Enough of that acting, my God! You are so childish..!"

Akio stood up, jumping a bit and joined her laughing as they both headed out of the library. For the past ten minutes, they kept wondering on the streets, contemplating where to eat.. Then Akio noticed a place and he got excited..

"Hey! Akane, look, it's okonomiyaki! I love them.. Let's go in there.." Akio exclaimed happily.

Akane didn't move as she stood straight, looking at the store in front of her with doubtful eyes… Akio didn't notice her hesitation as he started to pull her towards the Ucchan's Okonomiyaki.

They entered to find a busy restaurant, full of people. It was too late for Akane to back off, so she sighs defeated and let's Akio pull her towards the counter.

"Konatsu! Go and fix the seventh table, right now!"

Ukyo yelled as she was busy making some okonomiyaki for her customers.

"Hey there.." Akio said, smiling as he approached Ukyo's side.

Ukyo slightly looked up and was surprised to find Akio and Akane standing there. She narrowed her eyes at Akane and bits her lips in anger. Then she said with a tight voice,

"Hey yourself.. What do ya want?"

Akio looked to his right and left to make sure she was talking with him. When he found no one, only them, he got confused at her attitude towards them. He then replied politely,

"Well it's an okonomiyaki shop, right? Obviously we want okonomiyakis, what else?"

A clinging voice came from the grill as Ukyo heatedly looked up at him as she said scarcely,

"Well honey! In that case, we are out of batter now… So, I can't help right now. Better luck next time.."

"Out of batter! In the middle of the afternoon!" He asked not believing a word she was telling them.

"Yes! You have any problem with that!" Ukyo spats in his face.

Akio wrinkles his eyebrows at her and said,

"You are lying, aren't you?"

"So what if I am! " Ukyo snapped angrily as she said, "I don't wanna make any okonomiyaki for you.. Happy to hear that? Now will you please get out of here? You are ruining my business.." Saying that, Ukyo dismissed them as she busied herself attending her waiting customers.

"Hey! You are such a.." Akio tried to speak angrily but stopped when he felt Akane pulling him out from the restaurant. Akio looked at her and when he saw how depressed she looked, he swallowed his cursing words and let her pull him out from the place. Once outside, Akane realised him and started walking ahead of him. Akio ran behind her and started walking slowly beside her.

"Akane, hey I am sorry.. Now your mood is all spoiled because of me.."

Akane stopped walking and looked at him. He also stopped walking as he saw her sighing sadly as she said,

"Look, it's not your fault. It's mine.."

"How come it's your fault?" He asked in confusion.

"It's complicated, Akio! She is.. She is Ranma's other fiance, so.."

"Owww! Now I see!" Akio said, smiling.

"I wanted to stop you but you pulled me so quick! I am so sorry you had to hear all that for me.. Next time go without me and I am sure she will serve you.. Her okonomiyaki is the best.."

"Are you kidding me! I am not returning to that place ever, if it is the last restaurant left in the universe I don't care…. I mean, that woman is way too rude, God! And now that I know that she did it purposely, I am kind of feeling so angry at her.." Akio said in an annoying tone.

Akane smiled at him and said,

"Oh please.. Let's forget about what happened… We need to finish that chapter as well, right? Let's go find some another place to have lunch.. We don't have much time to waste.. Please…"

Akio looked at Akane's pleading face as he sighs and nodded his head at her. Then turning to another corner they head for another place to have their lunches.

Back at Ucchan's..

Ukyo saw them leaving as Akane pulled Akio with her. She growled in frustration as she tried hard to concentrate on her work. She greeted her teeth in anger as she thought bitterly,

'This Tendo's.. Taking advantage of my Ranchan like this! What she think of herself! I just can't take this anymore! I need to do something, it's really getting out of hand. But.. but.. What should I do? I am alone right now! Shampoo went to her village for an occasion and why is she not coming back? That's strange! She should have come back by now! If she was here, we both might have shown that Tendo girl her real place! That damn…'

"Hey Ucchan! Ya there?!"

Ukyo blinked her eyes in confusion as she contemplated what just happened. Her vision cleared as she got surprised at Ranma looking at her expectantly..

"Ranchan!" She asked, not believing..

"Yo! What's up! I was calling ya for a long time.." Ranma said cheekily as he shook his head.

"You were! Oh honey! I am so sorry.. I was just spaced out.." She said cheerfully, widely grinning at his direction.

"Well.. I can see that.." Ranma said while sitting on the counter stool.

"What a pleasant surprise, sugar! You barely come by anymore!"

"Yes.. That's because I am a busy man now.." He said while puffing his chest proudly.

She giggled sweetly and said cheerfully,

"Oh Ranchan, I am so proud of you.. So, you want me to make you the seafood special?" She asked him excitedly.

"Only if ya take money from me.." He said gently.

"No way sugar.. It's all free for my Ranchan.."

"Then I am leaving.." He declared as he lazily started to leave but he stopped when he heard Ukyo.

"No.. No.. No.. Okay.. Pay me if you want. Just don't leave.." She said hurriedly to make him stop.

He smiled at that and nodded his head at her. Ukyo blushed at his stare and hastily started to prepare the better when suddenly someone spoke up behind Ranma..

"Hey! What's the deal here! You just said to Akane moments ago that you are out of batter!" Hiroshi said with a hard tone.

Ranma turned and saw Hiroshi and Sayuri standing there with frowns on their faces as he asked them..

"Hey! What's up buddy? What do ya mean by that? Where is Akane?" He asked them, now frantically looking for her.

Sayuri took charge and said,

"She was here moments before with Akio. But, Ukyo told them to leave the store because she is out of batter and she won't make any okonomiyaki for them.."

"Yeah, and she was way too rude with them too…" Hiroshi added.

"So what!" Ukyo growled and snapped at them, " It's my restaurant and it's me who will decide who to serve or not! No one can force me! And if you are done eating, why don't you guys just leave.." She declared bitterly.

"Oh gosh! You are so rude! I am not coming back here!" Sayuri said as she turned to leave.

"Yeah me neither.." Hiroshi said grumbling as he followed Sayuri.

"Those good for nothing jackass…" Ukyo murmured heatedly but got surprised when she heard the sound of the stool. She saw Ranma standing up as well and about to leave . She called behind him and asked him to stop,

"Ranchan! Where are you going? Don't you want to eat?"

Ranma stopped walking, but didn't turn back as he said,

"I am not hungry anymore.. Sorry ta bother ya.. I am getting late as well.. So.. See ya.."

Saying that with a defeated tone he slowly left the restaurant. Ukyo was heartbroken to see him leaving her like this. Hiroshi and Sayuri saw Ranma getting out of the Ucchan's as he turned to the other corner of the street. Sayuri smiled knowingly as she giggled and asked Hiroshi,

"Say Hiroshi, you have your cell phone with you now, right?"

Hiroshi blinked his eyes in confusion as he answers,

"Uh, yeah.. Here it is.."

Sayuri quickly took the offering phone and started dialing the expectant number,

"Hello?"

"Is that Akio?"

"Yeah.. Who.."

"May I talk to Akane for a second?"

"Akane? Oh sure.." Akio handed the phone to Akane, "Akane it's a call for you.."

"For me! But who?" She asked him surprised.. "Hello? It's Akane.."

"Oh Akane! Sayuri here!"

"Sayuri! Oh my, how are you? I haven't seen you in a long time.."

"Well, we would have met each other today if Ukyo hadn't misbehaved with you guys.."

"You were there!?"

"Not only me.. Hiroshi was with me too.. Anyways, I want to tell you something.."

"Tell me what, Sayuri.."

"First tell me where are you now?"

"I just came back to the library with Akio.."

"Oh! Then listen.. There is something you should know before you face Ranma today.."

"What are you talking about?"

"A truth that you should know…"

Hours after that conversations

"I think we should stop for now.." Akio said, smiling.

Akane looked up at him with surprise as she asked him,

"But why?"

"Because I can tell.. Your mind is elsewhere, that's why.." Akio said as he closed his book.

Akane sighed defeated as she said in a low voice,.

"I guess you are right.. I can't concentrate anymore.."

"Is it because of what Ranma did to Ukyo?" He saw her nodding her head as he said smirking,

"You better thank him properly today… He deserves it.."

Akane groaned and said while pouting, "Awww… I wish I could.."

"What does that mean?" Akio asked , surprised.

Akane huffed and said in a hushed loud tone, "We can barely talk now, Akio! When I am in the house he is not and when he comes back home, the house becomes crowded with people. I mean.. I am not complaining, but yes I am complaining as well.. Because we could barely talk… I want to talk to him and he wants to too.. but… but… the damn roof is also so cranky for us to go up and spend any time there! It's too frustrating , Akio.. What I mean to say is.. It's not making sense at all! Oh Kami.."

Akio's eyes got wide in the middle of her speech. Then when he heard her finishing her explanation, he gave a heavy sigh as he said,

"So you guys practically stay together, but you are still not together.."

Akane's face faulted hearing that as she nodded slowly, Akio snickered at that and said,

"Oh God! So overly complicated! And you guys have been engaged for the last three years.."

"No.. Four, actually..." She said shyly while playing with her finger.

"That's great! But for now, we should think about how you would thank Ranma privately… Ummm.. Hey! I have an idea.."

Akane couldn't utter a word as she was too stunned by his actions. She saw him taking his mobile out as he started dialing a number. He looked at her all the while as he answers the call,

"Hello, Saotome residence.."

"Oh Ranma! Is that you?"

"Uh yeah! Who are ya?"

"I am Akio.."

"Akio! What do ya want? Where is Akane?."

"Well it was actually about her… Uhhh can you please come to the library to help her go home.."

The other side was silent at first, then suddenly Akio heard Ranma's frantic tone,

"Why what happened to her!"

"She kind of hurt her leg?! Umm.. Will you be able to.."

"I'm coming right way..!"

Akio heard the call hanging up as he smirked and laid his phone on the table. Then when he turned to Akane, her surprise strance broke as she stood up, yelling frantically,

"Why did you do that!"

"Shhh!" Akio indicates her as they heard some other people doing the same. Akane sits back down on her chair as she asked him in a hushed heated tone,

"You shouldn't have done that, Akio!"

"But it worked though! He is on his way.."

"But.."

Akio stopped her as he laid his hand over her as he said,

"Make sure to thank him properly and sort all things out. You both need this…"

A/N: To be honest, I am surprised that i have managed to post it today! But good thing that I have managed :D ... I hope you like this.. please read and review and let me know :).. Your reviews really motivate me to write more and fast ...Take care guys :)