Disclaimer: The characters used in this story belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

Author's Notes: I just wanted to inform you all...some of you suggested I go deeper into the story...and after some deep- VERY deep- thinking, I've finally decided that I agree that I should rewrite this chapter. It's not going to be dramatically different.
And I'd like to apologise for my poor performance. I was very moody and depressed at that time (probably because school was starting and I'd have to face my dreaded English teacher again) and- well, I should not be using excuses to excuse my poor writing at that time. If you are further unsatisfied with this chapter, you may tell me. Now, on with the story...
After a few months staying in the countryside, Akane felt that her heart missed her home dearly. One night, as she was scooping some fragrant sweet rice which had recently been harvested from the neighbouring fields, she felt a sharp pang sweep through her heart. Glancing worriedly at the bowl, she wondered how her father was doing... how Kasumi was... wondering if Nabiki was fine... and Ranma... Ranma...

It was time to go home.

It was nice to breathe in the crisp spring air which surrounded her. Akane smiled as she danced through the streets to her own home. She set down her bags of personal clothing as she stood before the door to her house.

"Home sweet home," she murmured under her breath. She walked in to the place and saw that everything was the same. After weeks of staying in the country, she'd finally returned. Her troubles were gone and everything was still for once. Her life wasn't hectic. No more crazy scrubbing of the floors, no more teaching martial arts to her dear, dear students, no more dealing with the cute Ranma (she thought she felt heavyhearted at this silly notion), or the insanely jealous Shampoo.

"No more troubles in my life," she declared and welcomed her home with open arms. "I'm free from my demons."

"No," a voice disagreed, "you ran away from your troubles like a coward."

The voice startled Akane and elicited a small squeak from her lips. She whirled around to the source of the voice. It was just as she'd suspected, and without a doubt, it was Ranma.

"W-what are you doing here?" she stammered.
"None of your business."
She stuttered out angrily. "This is my home, and it is my business as well!"

Ranma jumped off and towards her. He took her hands and demanded softly. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I-I beg your pardon."

"You-"
"Surely I don't have to tell you that I'm...a thief."
Ranma rolled his eyes and said, "I knew that already. But you shouldn't have just left like a fainthearted bimbo-"

The mention of the word 'bimbo' reminded Akane of Shampoo. She snapped, "Do not call me a bimbo."

Ranma ignored her and went right on. He shook her shoulders lightly. "What matters is that you left. I could have helped you!"

Akane's eyes flitted to the ground. "You could?" her voice was emotionless and there was a sign of lethargy in her words.
Ranma ground out, "Yes, I could!"

"I don't believe that," she retorted bitterly. Akane walked away from Ranma to her house. What she wanted to do at the moment was to get away from it all. She wanted to escape again.

"Don't run away again! Face your demons, or you'll be just like a coward, Akane," he shouted from behind her. Akane paused in mid step and felt the words which Ranma had let hung in the air. She never did like being called a coward or chicken or a tomboy but now Ranma had called her a coward.

She didn't know how she should have reacted. Should she jump up with anger and punch him or should she regain her composure and walk in?

Apparently, instinct reigned for she turned back and walked toward him. She pulled back her fist and threw a punch at him. Ranma ducked it effortlessly, which only served to anger her even more. She tried to kick him but he avoided it. Finally, she reached out to slap him; after all, it was best to punish a man using a feminine technique. Ranma rose out his hand and caught her hand before she could let it slap him. He drew her close to his body and he leant close to her face. Akane shivered at the intimacy of it all. Although neither were doing indecent things, Akane still felt risqué. She blushed and her anger simmered until it was gone.

"Akane..." Ranma whispered into her ear. He sounded hoarse, as if he'd been hurt badly. He sounded as if he would never miss that moment for anything in the world.

Akane closed her eyes and softly replied, "Yes?"

"You must come with me," he suddenly pulled her hand and dragged her out of the place. Akane hastily tried to remove her arm from his elbow but he resisted. Besides, where was he taking her?

"Where are we going?" she asked. They were nearing a huge house and it looked dreadfully similar to...

"Oh, no."

---)(---

"Every single day he leaves the house to go somewhere. Shampoo don't know where. Every night he returns, a face with no emotion. Shampoo don't know why. Shampoo simply frustrated!" Shampoo grumbled as she sewed on a red rose to her airen's shirt.

Cologne chortled with laughter. "He has no choice but to marry you. That is what makes him so sad."

---)(---

Nodoka was sipping some lukewarm tea, made by two of her maids, Yuka and Sayuri.

"I must comment, you two make wonderful tea," she praised, and the two maids blushed. Nodoka sat down the cup and reached out for the book which she'd placed on the table. She had not even begun to read when the doors burst open and in ran her son, Saotome Ranma.

Ranma was Nodoka's pride and joy. And he was a very good child.

Something caught Nodoka's sharp eye. Her son was pulling somebody along with him but the person looked reluctant. It was a girl...and...wasn't she Tendou Akane? The teacher who had run away due to unknown reasons. What was Nodoka's precious Ranma doing with her?

Nodoka's back stiffened. She had to raise her guards around that girl, she thought.

"Mother, Mother, this is the person I talked about. You know, the thief."
"Then why are we waiting?" Nodoka raised an eyebrow. "Are you not going to turn her over to the police? And have her arrested?"

Ranma let go of Akane's hand. He did not dare to explain to his mother but he had to. "I...this is the woman I want to marry. Will you give us your blessings?" Ranma knelt down in front of his mother, and took her hand in his. He prayed that his mother would say yes. Yuka and Sayuri gasped and clapped their hands together with glee. They could not believe that they were witnesses to such an event.
Akane bit her lip.

"But, Son, what will the others say?"
"We can shelter her, Mother, prevent her from contacting others."
"Well..." Nodoka thought. "She could stay with us if she changed...if she turned over a new leaf..."

"She has long changed," Ranma said.
"I haven't," Akane muttered in contradiction; didn't Ranma know anything anymore?

"All right," Nodoka said in conclusion. "She may stay with us...as for marriage...you'll have to break your engagement with the lady Shampoo if you want to marry somebody else."

Ranma lowered his face to the ground and solemnly thanked his mother. Then he walked out of the room.

Akane followed him, filled with curiosity.
Why the sudden change? She thought. And... he wanted to marry her. Her heart leapt for a moment before she thought about all the dangers. Akane abruptly shook her head, ridding her mind of such thoughts and looked up at Ranma, whosegaze was still concentrated on the ground. Hegave no reaction to her frown.

"Ranma?"
Ranma looked up at her. His face broke into a grin.
"Akane, will you marry me?" he asked on one knee.
Akane's eyes were wide open; her mouth was so round, it could have been declared a perfect circle. She stared at Ranma.
M-marry?
He didn't give her any time to answer.
His lips swooped down on hers in a suffocating yet heated kiss.