A/N: N/A

5

She had lost count how many times she had run with all her might while silently calling his name. She hoped that this wasn't going to be the last one. He was often times irritating, but never once did she feel like letting go of him.

It had been one long journey, or so it seemed. She had rushed her way back to Nerima, resting only when necessary. Borborygmi haunted her stomach because she hadn't had any decent meals in a few days and ate only as necessary. She really couldn't afford to waste any time; she had to see Ranma as soon as possible and clear up the misunderstanding.

She had grown terribly weak and weary, but as her neighborhood came to her sight, she forced herself to muster the last of her strength. And the first thing she did at home was not to rest. Slamming the door open excitedly, she right away ran around the house searching for her fiancé.

"Ranma!" She looked around the dojo to make sure it was as empty as it seemed before she moved on. "Ranma!"

She went through the kitchen, the living room, and even the bathroom, but she couldn't find him anywhere. Frustrated she staggered to the backyard and sat weakly on the porch. Her eyes were vacant as they looked over the pond. In her head on her way home, she had pictured meeting Ranma right away. A week had passed since she last saw him, and she had patiently bore every second of it. Now she was hungry and tired and had to wait some more. It was all too much, and so she burst into tears.

She was still weeping uncontrollably when someone tapped her shoulder lightly. Her face brightened when she saw Genma—in his panda form—holding a sign that said: "You're back!"

"Uncle, you're here." She scrambled to her feet, immensely relieved. She had taken into the possibilities that Ranma had left the house because of the misunderstanding, but if Uncle was still here, then Ranma must still be here, too. "Uncle, do you know where Ranma is?"

A bead of sweat trickled down the panda's head. He quickly changed the subject and started to write a comment about the weather.

It was then when Kasumi passed by, her hands holding a laundry basket with some clothes neatly folded in it. As soon as she saw Akane, the laundry basket fell off her hand. By then, Akane did not look good. She was thinner, she was dirty, and her hair was unkempt. Dark circles were forming under her eyes.

"Kasumi-neechan," mumbled Akane, ignoring her reaction. "Do you know where Ranma is?"

"He went looking for you." Kasumi started to gather the clothes she'd dropped before she added, "Oh, but you're here."

Both Nabiki and her father chose that moment to mysteriously materialize out of nowhere.

"What's going on he—Akane, you're back!" Soun wasted no time and Akane was soon in her embrace as he sobbed out of joy. She was too weak to protest or to return his hug. After the tearful reunion, Soun put on his sincerely happy face. "I knew you could do it, Ranma." But he looked around confusedly as he couldn't find the person he was addressing.

He didn't have the chance to dwell on the whereabouts of Ranma, though, because Akane had fallen asleep in his arms and it was his job to carry her to her bed.

-tbc-