Chapter 3 - Coffee at 4 -

Akane woke up early the next morning, wakened by a dream of Ranma. Even though it was 4 in the morning, she couldn't get back to sleep.
So, she did what most sensible people do; she made some coffee.
As the hot, bittersweet liquid touched her lips, a curious sound reached her ears. Swift swoops and quiet yells, coming from the training hall. Gathering her robe around her a little tighter, she grasped her mug tightly and made her way down the hall.
There was Sora, kicking and punching the air in an elegant grace, nearly noiseless in his movements.
"Sora-kun..." yawned Akane, and immediately, he stopped.
"M-mrs. Saotome!" he said, putting his hand behind his head sheepishly. "Why are you up so early"
"That's what I was going to ask you!" Akane said with a smile.
"Well...I get up early to train, then I reward myself by getting to see the sun rise. It's truly a beautiful thing in the country"
"Interesting..." said Akane.
"Yeah, then I start making breakfast, and I wake up Yui and Dad," he continued, cracking his knuckles. "If I didn't wake 'em up, they'd sleep till noon"
"My goodness!" Akane laughed, taking another sip of coffee. "Well, how about you take a little break; nobody else is going to be up for a while"
"Okay, I guess," said Sora with a smile. "Thanks, Mrs. Saotome"
"You're very welcome, Sora-kun," said Akane, making her way into the kitchen. "Care for some coffee"
"Naw, it's nasty stuff. I never drink it," Sora said, making a face. "I'm fine"
"Suit yourself," said Akane, sitting down. "I'm rather amazed with you, Sora. You're such a responsible boy"
Sora blushed as he took a seat.
"No, it's the truth! Looking out for your sister and father like that? I definately couldn't do it!" she continued.
"Well, thank you very much," said Sora. "I grew up rather independant; my father told me that I should grow up strong, just like my mother"
"Your mother?" said Akane, who paused, before taking another sip of coffee. "That's right; you didn't mention her at all yesterday. What's she like"
Sora shrugged.
"I never met her"
Akane paused, mid-sip.
"Dad barely talks about her, so I have nothing to go on; what she looks like, her personality, memories; nothing"
"You poor thing..." said Akane.
"It's okay, though," said Sora with a smile. "Dad's the greatest person I've ever known; I wouldn't have anyone else in the world raise me"
Akane smiled.
"I'm glad you feel that way"
"But really," said Sora. "I wish that I could meet my mother sometime; I want to know the woman who was so strong, my father told me to be like her"
He yawned.
"She must have been a really great person, for Dad to love her that much"
"I'm sure she was," said Akane, patting him on the head. "Honey, you shouldn't get up this early; it's not healthy when you don't get enough sleep. Don't worry, I'll get breakfast up for everyone in the morning"
Sora smiled sleepily and rubbed his eyes.
"Thanks...I really...wanted to go back to sleep...but"
He promptly fell asleep at the table.
"Oh, poor thing," said Akane, and set down her coffee, hoisting him on her shoulder.
'He's so light...' she thought, bringing him upstairs and tucking him into the futon.
"Sleep tight, Sora-kun," she said, kissing him gently on the forehead. "I'll see you in the morning,"