"Ranma, I am sorry but.. but I can't take all this from you.."

Her last words kept ringing through his ears over and over again as he stared at her direction with a shocked expression over his face . He was not expecting this from her at all, so the only thing he felt after hearing her say that was pure rejection. And he could express his rejected self only in one way, and that's by his anger. He narrowed his eyes and asked her in a low tone,

"What do ya mean by ya can't take all this from me?"

Akane sighs as she looks at him with a small smile on her face. She was expecting this type of reaction from him. She knew that he wouldn't take this news easily. But she also knows that she has to make him understand why she is not taking all these things from him. He has already done so much for her and her family, she just can't be a total burden on him. Still holding onto his hand over the table, she began saying with a small voice,

"Ranma, please don't take it otherwise. What I mean to say is.."

"What do ya mean?" Ranma interfered in the middle, huffing angrily.

"Ranma!" She squeezed his hand and said impatiently, "Let me finish first, will you!"

"Yes, but ya shouldn't have said that ta me!" He said with an irritated hurt tone.

"Ranma I.."

"No!"

"Let me explain..!" She almost whined impatiently.

"No! Ya are wrong!"

"What! Me! Wrong! I haven't even explained anything to you yet!"

"Still, how could ya even say that!"

"But Ranma.."

"No!"

"Ranmaaa!" Akane's patience broke down as she not so gently tightened her hold on him and said with her greeted teeth, "Would you stop interfering in the middle of my talking? There is a reason why I am not taking these things from you.."

"Oh no! No way! There is no reason for you not to take all those things from me! What the heck, tomboy! Ya were ready to go and thank the others ! And now when you know it's from me, you wanna return it! What's wrong with ya?" He yelled at her face as he tried to take his hand off from her grip.

Which made her held onto his hand even more tightly as she said with equal force in her voice,

"Honestly Ranma! I knew it was from you from the very beginning! I was not planning to go to anyone to say thanks at all..!"

"But ya said you want to!" He yelled back..

"I was just teasing you, ok?" She exclaimed back as their faces went inches closer to each other. They both were breathing heavily, not blinking, staring at each other as if they were in a staring contest. Then taking some deep breaths , Akane tried to compose herself as she said with a soft tone, "And, I am really very thankful to you for all these things that you bought me, Ranma.."

Hearing her tone of voice, he also calmed down a bit and said with a serious tone,

"Look, I don't want ya ta be thankful to me for anything, just.. just don't return all these things to me.."

Akane sighs and says, "Ranma, you have already done a lot for me… and now this!"

"So, now are ya going to count what I did and what ya did? Oh c'mon tomboy! It's not a big deal at all!" He said feeling tired..

"Of course it's a big deal for me!" She snapped at him and then said calmly, "Look Ranma, it's too much!. I can't take these things from you and not from anyone else either. You know very well that I don't like to take gifts from others if I can't return it to them.. And you very well know that I can't give you anything in return right now.."

"Did I say I want anything in return?" He asked her in annoyance.

"No! And why would you ever ask me for anything?" Akane sighs defeated and says gently, "Look, I appreciate you doing it for me Ranma, but.."

"No buts.. Don't ya dare to show me any reasons here tomboy.. And it's not like you are not returning me nothing at all.."

"What!" She became confused hearing that as she asked him, "I don't understand! What are you talking about? What am I giving you?"

He surged his shoulder and said nonchalantly,

"Well, for one thing, ya are helping me study now. So that's equal.."

"Huh! That doesn't even count, baka!" She said, sighing loudly.

"And why not?" He asked her while raising his eyebrow at her.

"Ranma! I am just helping you solve the problems here so that you can at least pass the exam. And it's all friends' duty to help each other.. It's not a big deal at all..!"

"Oh, so it's all friends duty now then, huh tomboy!" He asked as he smirked a little.

Akane understood that she was getting trapped in her own words. When she saw him arrogantly smirking at her direction, she growled and removed her hand from him. Then turning her head towards the window, she said with a defeated tone,

"Ranma! You don't understand at all, do you? It's not as simple as you are saying. Just think about it this way, what would other people think if they found out about you giving me all these? What I mean to say is.."

"Look Akane.." The tone of his hard voice made her stop as she turned to look at him, "I have told ya before and now I am telling you again, I don't care what other people would think about it.. And anyway, if ya won't tell them how would they ever find out about it? And if they ever find out, who cares! It's my money and I am spending it for whoever I want to, who is ever gonna question it, huh?"

"What if Ukyo or Shampoo questions about it? You know that they would want to have the same things from you when they discover about it, Ranma. It will be too much pressure on you. Please, don't give me anything right now, at least not when we are already staying at your place. I am ok with whatever I have now Ranma, I promise I can manage." She said gently, assuring him with her warm smile.

Ranma growled at her angrily and averted his eyes from her. Ignoring her completely, he started flipping on his book pages and again choses the wrong page. And this time though, he did it on purpose as he started doing it the wrong way. Akane noticed all this and hastily tried to take the book from him.

"Ranma what are you doing?"

"Why do you care?" He said with greeted teeth as he moved his book from her touch.

"Ranma! This one is not in our exam as well, dummy!" She tried to get a hold of that book again , but he snatched the book angrily from her as he looked up at her angrily.

"Look, I don't need ya to help me here. You wanna return those things ta me, then do so.. "

"Ranma.. Please..'

"No Kane… I am sorry. I shouldn't have bought those things for ya, I should have known my limits. It's my fault, so just leave me to study alone. And I also don't want people to find out about ya helping me with my studies. You have to lose your precious sleep for that and have to spend your time with me. Think about it this way Kane, what Akio would think about all this? And Ryoga! He sure would be furious when he finds out about you spending the night here with me.. So, it's better you go and let me handle this alone.. And you really shouldn't care about my marks either. It's not a big deal anyways.."

He said nochently, not looking at her, his eyes locked at his book only. Akane kept looking at him with an unbelievable manner. She was not expecting to hear all this from him. She understood that he is trying to make a point here, but after hearing him say all this she started to feel uncomfortable. The way he suddenly turned the table on her made her realize his feelings and she started to feel guilty for her actions. She gave a shuddering breath as she looked down and whispers to him,

"Hey.. I am sorry, Ranma.."

Ranma stopped and slightly peeked at her direction as he asked,

"For what?"

"For being….. an uncute tomboy.." She said, her voice trembling as she tried to control her tears.

Ranma sighs as he sat straight up , now facing her fully. He carefully, with his trembling finger wiped her tears clean as he said in a gentle tone,

"It's 'kay.. Don't think too much about it. We shouldn't be caring about all that, right tomboy?"

Akane sniffed a little and nodded her head. Then giving him a concerned look, she asked,

"But Ranma.. How did you manage to buy all these?"

Ranma sighed and said, "I almost felt lucky that you are not asking me about that.."

"Ranma!"

"Okay! Okay! I just went to work after school! That's all, nothing to be worry about!"

"You were working after school!? So that's the reason why you always return home late and have been so tired lately!?" She asked with a whispered sad tone as she kept looking at him with concern filled eyes.

"Oh, not that much tired, I am immune to this type of hard work… Hey wait a second.. Were you watching over by back ..?! But why? Were you missing me, huh tomboy?" He asked her jokingly while smirking as he twirled his eyebrows at her. But when he saw her looking down as her lips trembled, he panicked as he asked her in a soft tone, "Hey.. I was just kidding ok? Please don't start crying now.."

"So that's why you always look so exhausted and that's why you were skipping studying as well?" She whispers in a low voice as her eyes tear up. Then she looked up at him and bits her lower lip, then with much difficulties she managed to whisper to him,

"I have really become a burden to you, haven't I? I am really very sorry, Ranma.."

Ranma was shocked to hear her say that, he couldn't believe that she could ever think something like that. He wanted to say lots of things to her, to assure her, but it was as if his voice had lost all its ability to speak. Then he began to think to himself..

'And here I thought she would scold me and hit me for hiding this from her. Damn, I never thought she would be so emotional.. It would have been better if she acted violently and got angry at me... Oh Kami, what would make her feel better now? Oh yeah! I can say, hey kane, all my hard work will pay off if ya use whatever I bought ya.. Nah! That sounds too cheesy! Then, um… uhhh I think, yeah! Nah.. I should say... uhh! Damn! What should I say to make her feel better?!'

His features became sad as he lost all ability to reply to her. He slowly shook his head and without any hesitation, he gently puts his palm over her cheek to wipe the tears clean, then he asked her in a low tone,

" 'Kane, was I… was I a burden to you when I used to stay at yar place?"

Akane sniffed as she hastily shook her head, he smiled at that and said,

"Then why are ya thinking like that?"

"It's just.." she gulped as her voice broke a bit, then clearing her voice she said, "Ranma, I don't know what to think or what to say anymore. I.. I am feeling really guilty that because of me you have to work now and you didn't even get the chance to prepare for the exam.."

"Don't worry about nothing tomboy, I am not going to work from tomorrow till the exam is done. So, I have plenty of time to prepare for the exam.. You know very well that I am a genius! I can pass the exam in the blink of an eye.." He said cheekily, making her smile a little as she asked him mockingly.

"Pass?! By doing wrong math like this?!"

"Well, you are here to help me, ain't ya.." He asked as a matter of fact.

She smiled genuinely and laid her hand over his hand which was still on her cheek, then she said,

"Yes, I am always here.. Don't worry my genius baka, I know you can make it.." They both smiled at each other, but then she suddenly blinked in confusion as she said in a serious tone "But Ranma.."

That tone of her made him alarmed as he again sat up straight. He pulled both their hands on the table as he looked at her with his anxious eyes. Then when he saw her staring back at him with a blank expression, he asked her,

"What's the matter, Kane?"

"Ranma.." She started in an urgent tone as he nodded his head at her in attention, "What I want to say is.. I.."

"Tell me.."

"I am not returning your pyjamas to you.. I still need them.." She said pouting, innocently batting her eyelashes at him.

"Uhh!" His mouth opened slightly in complete disbelief as he looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. His dazed stance broke when he heard her giggling softly. His face immediately lit up with a warm smile when he saw her smiling so brightly, he started chuckling himself as he shook his head at her. Then he said in between his chuckles,

"Well, tomboy, I haven't given ya any new pyjamas.. So, mine is all yours.."

That's been said, their laughter died down as they both stared at each other. Their faces flushed as both felt the sudden tingle in their heart. Still gently holding each other's hand, Aknae averted looking at him as she looked down. She tucked her hair in the side of her ear as she smiled warmly. Ranma cleared his throat and tried to change the subject for now,

"So.. Uh.. Shall we start?"

Akane looked up at him, a beautiful smile plastered over her blushing face as she nodded her head at him. They soon became busy studying together. They sat stiffly at first but within minutes, they sat cozily side by side as they enjoyed their study together.

An Hour later..

"Oh jeez! That is so freaking easy!" Ranma yelled excitedly as he got more excited as the time passed.

"See! I told you! It's not as complicated as you thought!" She said giggling, happy to see him excited about studying with her.

"You are an amazing teacher, tomboy… And at this rate, I bet I will get the scholarship before you and Akio.. Hahaha!"

"Oh, is that so?! I bet you can't even continue studying with me for more than an hour.." She said, chuckling as she challenged him, knowing very well how well this challenge works on him.

Ranma pouted and playfully narrowed his eyes at her and said,

"Hah hah! You are just jealous that I am more capable than you are, tomboy. Bring it on! I will show ya, how big of an expert I really am!"

Half an hour later

Akane yawned and said, "That's how it's done, Ranma.. You understand now?" She pointed over the note and when she didn't get any response from him, she slowly turned to him and got stunned to see him in deep sleep. His face rested over the tabletop, his face facing her as soft snors came out from him. His brows were wrinkled in a disturbed manner as he tried to be more comfortable in his position. Akane sighs as she shakes her head at him.

"Oh honestly Ranma, what about showing me how genius you are, huh baka?"

She whispers softly as she keeps looking at him. She sighs again and closes the books and sets them aside. She also puts her head over the table, facing him with a warm smile over her face. Then suddenly, she saw him grimacing in his sleep. Without any hesitation, she slowly put her hand over his forehead and gently started tracing his wrinkled brows.

"You must be so tired, Ranma.."

She whispered with a soft tone as she gently started to caress his forehead and hair. He moaned in his deep sleep, his frown gone, replaced with a pleasent smile. Akane smiled at that and started to stroke his forehead for his satisfaction. After some time, she slowly sat up and tried to take her hands off from his face. But when Ranma felt that warm feeling leaving him, he frowned again and hurriedly captured her hand in his and laid it over his cheek as he hugged her hand possessively.

Akane was not prepared for this. Her heart started beating rapidly when she saw him acting like this in his sleep. With a shaky hand, she tried to untangle her hand from him so that she could leave, but to her surprise, he only held her tightly to him and always growled in irritation when he felt her moving. She sighed defeated, she didn't want to wake him up, so she gave up and again laid her head over the table. She faced him and saw his frowning vanishing again, she smiled fondly as her eyelids got heavy as she tried her best to not to fall asleep.

"Just a little bit longer.." She whispers as she keeps staring at him with a warm smile.

"You don't have to worry about anything, aunt Suki.." Kasumi said assuringly over the phone as she heard her aunt sighing,

"Oh dear, you will never understand my worry.. Anyway, please take care of her for a few more days for me…"

"Oh yes, aunt Su. Please don't worry, she is in safe hands.."

"I hope so. Anyways, it's already late over there, so you should go to sleep now. Good night, honey."

"Yes, take care.. "

Kasumi hung up the phone and sighed loudly. In her dazed mind, she started going up to her shared room. She opened the shoji door and was shocked to find Nodoka sitting there alone.

"Obasama.. Where is Akane?"

She turned to her with a smile on her face and said, "Well dear, last time I saw her going to Ranma's room. I think they are studying together.. Isn't it great?!" She said excitedly.

Kasumi tightly smiled at that and said, "Oh my! That's good! But, it's already late, I think I should go and check on them.."

But before Nodoka could say anything, Kasumi hurriedly went out of their room and started towards Ranma's room. She knows that their father is not at the house and Akane has been gone to his room for so long now. She hoped that her baka imouto won't get herself tangled in any impulsive action. She just promised her aunt Su that she will take care of Akane and help her get out of this insane situation their father has got them into. But, if Akane and Ranma had done something then..

She started to panic and in her haste she didn't even knock on his door and opened it. She took a sharp breath when she saw the scene in front of her. She saw them sleeping together, their heads rested over the table as they faced each other. But the scene that made her amazed at the way Ranma was holding her sister's hand, almost possessively, as if afraid to lose her. She gulped as she savoured the scene and almost felt guilty for entering without their concern. She sighs and contemplates whether to wake her sister up or let them be. She slowly made her way towards them and got closer to Akane. She gently puts her hand over Akane's shoulder but before she could shake her to wake her up, she saw Ranma growling and pulling Akane's hand tightly to him. She was stunned at first to see him do that, but then she smiled at him as she slowly stood up. She then saw some blankets over the futons and decided to bring it for them as she began to thought to herself,

'I can understand why our aunt Suki is panicking like the way she is. We all are scared for the same reason.. But for the last four years, we have tried to separate you both for lots of time though..' She took two blankets in her hands as she turned towards them and began thinking again,

'Are we late? Is it too late now?'

She started walking towards them and when she reached them, she stood there, silently observing them as she got lost in her own thoughts.

'Oh Akane…. You look so peaceful with him by your side. Is it what you really want? Isn't it too fast to make a decision? You know we can not trust the Saotome's, but… it's Ranma.. '

She looked at Ranma and realised a heavy sigh. She shook her head feeling tired against her own thoughts. She had taken two separate blankets for them, but in the end, decided to put one blanket aside as she covered both of them in the same blanket. She smiled warmly looking at them when she saw them getting more comfortable under the blanket. She slowly started to make her way out of the room and leave them. When she reached the door , she turned to them for the last time and thought,

``We might be right or may be wrong, only time will decide it.. But imouto, your One-chan trusts you and whatever decision you make in the end, I will always be with you. And I know, if Aunty Suki sees the real you two, she will also have a hard time separating you… But for now, let's just wait for her to come and see what we all see in both of you…. Love, as innocent as yours, shouldn't be judged just by past experiences… No.. Not at all.. It won't be fair on both of you..'

Smiling with satisfaction, staring at the couple's peacefully sleeping form, she gently closed the shoji door shut and left them to be…

A/N: Hurray! Half-century :p! Haha! Thank you all so so much for your kind reviews and support. "Bayby face, Niomei, Akanelove, Benani0125, oyobass, kaysachan, D-Infinity, yuna, James birdsong, Cuteclau, lselaglezcam, PurseMonger, sussie123, guest, yuncole97, Mechelle… Thanks for giving me your kind reviews and trust me, it's what kept me motivated all the time :)..

One more thing, I had to post today no matter what! Because, tommorow, 7th dec, is my Birthday! Yay! Hehe! And I soooo love my birthday so much :p… It's like I always become a little kid in this particular day and make sure to annoy my love one's :p… When I was a kid and my mom used to arrange a party for me, I remember I used to call all my invited relatives and I used to tell them, " Hey, today is my birthday, what are you bringing for me!" Haha! Trust me guys I am still the same :p. But, the difference is, now I bother only my parents and husband and my cousins of course :p… It's actually not for the gifts, I love to relive my childhood and be a child for a change once in a year.. :).. I hope to have a good day today. Take care dears.. Hopefully, see you guys soon on 17 December with a new chapter on 'Akane's Saotomes'. 17 December is the day when I will complete a year as an author :). Its a another special day for me and I want to celebrate that day as well :).. See you guys soon…!