Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½.

Ranma

Ranma woke as soon as the sun rose. He left a note saying he had gone to look for Akane and he would be back later. He walked out to the koi pond, stretched, and began his roof-hopping expedition.

Akane

"So what do you want to talk about?" Akane said curiously. She had been happy to see him, but he must have been worried about something to 'kidnap' her. Kyle smiled.

"Lemme go get some tea. Believe me, you don't want a snack. As soon as mum gets her hands on you, she'll be force-feeding you for hours." And with that, Kyle disappeared upstairs. Akane turned the normal lights on. Kyle had only turned on an oil lamp. With the room properly illuminated, she could see nothing had changed. The basement had always been their hangout. Pictures, posters, the odd drawing or magazine clip out, the room was positively cluttered.

Just as we left it……

Akane's memories were disrupted when another boy came into the room. She didn't even have to turn around to tell who it was. "Hello, Justin." Her tone was annoyed, but Justin could tell she was just kidding. "Hey dweeb. What's up?" She turned around and took in Justin's 'Look of the Month.' It was currently goth, with his hair dyed black. His once wavy hair was now strait, and he was wearing a plain black tee with ripped up jeans. "Nice clothes." Anybody could have been able to tell she was teasing him.

"Dweeb."

"Dork"

"Freak"

"Brat"

Justin sighed. He was running out of insults. Lucky for him, his brother walked in as he was walking out. Kyle smiled. "I see you were being friendly to the local natives. You should watch out, he's very primitive." Akane smiled back. "Yeah, your basement is just full of dangers." Kyle sat down on the ripped up old couch and gestured for Akane to sit down. She did.
Kyle sighed. "All right, I guess you're wondering what was so important that you couldn't get your beauty sleep that you so desperately need." Akane threw the pillow at him. "Yeah, something like that."

"Well, I was just kinda wonderin'…… I mean, hows things with you and Ranma going?" Akane frowned. "All right, I guess."

"It's just that some of your letters…. Seemed kinda…. Depressed."

"Well, we're still having fights on occasions but-" Akane's sentence was cut short when Ranma came into the room.