Ranma's whole body became stiff as he became surprised to see Akane behaving this way. He stood straight , his heart beating wildly as he suddenly felt the warmth that he was missing so badly engulfing his whole awareness. He could feel Akane's small warm hands gripping the back of his shirt tightly as she buried her face deeply in his chest. The way she hugged him, he could also feel his shirt getting damped with her tears. He got agitated by her sudden reaction. His first instinct was to hold her tightly and take her away from all those people who were daring to hurt her like this. But for some reason he had to stop himself from doing so. And then when he heard her talking to him as she smiled while hugging him, his nervousness died down and it was replaced with complete confusion.

He didn't respond to her hug as he wanted to do so badly. He slowly looked up at their surroundings, noticing so many unexpected expressions on all of their faces. Only His mom stood with a warm smile on her face as for the others, they all stood with worry and anxiousness written over their expressions. He saw Nabiki smirking in his direction and their aunt Suki looked so exhausted and unhappy. Kasumi was also looking in his direction, but the usual bright smile was not present on her face, instead, she was also giving him a grim sympathetic smile.

Worried, he gently laid his hand over Akane's shoulder and made her realise him from her hug.

She looked up at him with a dejected expression. She then took a sharp breath in surprise, noticing his state for the first time since he arrived.. She noticed that he had lost some weight, his eyes had bags on them and he looked so tired as well..! She realised a deep breath as she asked him in a concern filled tone,

"Ranma! Are you alright? You look so exhausted! What happened to you?"

Ranma looked at her for a brief moment, then again turned to look at Kasumi's direction as he answered moodily,

"I am fine.. But what's happening in here? I mean, why ya guys are looking so tense?"

Akane could tell that Ranma is still ignoring her and he was trying his best to avoid meeting her gaze. Akane bits her lower lips in worry as she thought to herself,

'Dummy, are you still mad at me!? You are not here to make up with me, isn't it Ranma?!'

Kasumi came forward to answer Ranma's question as she said with a small smile on her face,

"Oh Ranma, I am so glad that you came back.. I was just telling Akane that you will definitely come back before my wedding!"

Ranma nodded once and asked her again,

"But.. are ya guys okay? What happened to aunt Suki?"

Suki tried to smile back at him , but failed to do so as her headache came back to her , making her flinch in pain as she again pinched the bridge of her nose.. Then she said in a low tone,

"I am fine, Ranma. Thanks for asking.. It's just.. Umm.. I am sorry but I don't know how to explain this to you actually.."

"What's the matter? " Please tell me why Akane was crying?'.. Ranma wanted to add, but he thought the last part to himself as he asked them again , now eyeing Nabiki for his answers.

"Is there some way I can help?"

Nabiki sighs as she said with a plain tone,

"Nothing new, Ranma..! This Taichi guy wants to go on a date with Akane! Instead of asking Akane directly , he cleverly asked our aunt Suki to convince Akane..! Now, our aunt is stuck because she can't say no to him and our Akane here is refusing to go to any dates..!"

A sudden deja vu hits Ranma's heart. He furiously balled his hands tightly as rage filled his vision. He couldn't believe his ears, he just went just for some days and they are already setting Akane up with another guy! How could they even think about that?! Akane is his fiance! She CAN'T go on any dates with anyone else! He turned his furious glare towards Akane and saw her giving him a helpless look as she bits her lower lips in distress. Then he heard her whispering to him as she said in a low urgent tone, for only him to hear..

"Please Ranma….. please tell Aunt Suki that you won't allow it.. Tell her that this date is not possible at all!"

Ranma started sweating hard as he looked at her distressed feature. He was ready to tell her aunt exactly the same thing as Akane had asked him to tell her, but suddenly... he stopped. Because, all of a sudden, his mind began to remember about the day, when he was the one who had asked Akane the same thing. He remembered the helplessness he felt at that time when he repeatedly asked her to withdraw her decision to send him to date Ukyo. But… had she listened to him..? Had she seen the helplessness on his face at that time? Had she understood his state of mind at that time? No! She didn't! She didn't even try to listen to him! She even pushed him away from her when he desperately wanted to confess his love to her. She didn't even let him touch her! That feeling of dejection is still so raw in his heart that whenever he thinks about that day, it makes him blind with rage. That day, for the very first time he had ignored his pride and listened to his heart. But, on that day, her constant stubbornness not only harmed his pride, but she also broke his heart so badly...

His train of thought broke suddenly as he heard his mothers concern filled tone,

"Oh dear! Isn't he Josh's son? Oh Kami, that must be such a difficult situation for you to say no to them, Suki..!"

Suki sighed dejectedly, as she looked at Nodoka with a sad small smile,

"Don't worry dear.. I will think of a way to tell them.."

"Oh Suki, Suki, Suki…!" Nodoka sighed sadly as she shook her head..

"Why are ya guys making a big production out of it?!" Suddenly Ranma declared in a hard tone.

Everyone looked at him with surprise as Kasumi said,

"Oh my! Ranma, I think you don't understand. It's a little difficult for our aunt Suki because they mean a lot to her..!"

"Well, then in this case, if that's so important then Aunt Suki shouldn't feel troubled at all! Akane should listen to her!"

Everyone eyed Ranma as if he had grown some horns over his head.. Akane was completely on the verge of incredulity as she asked him In a low whisper tone,

"What did you just say!?"

Ranma casually looked at her direction as he smirked and said nonchalantly,

"Duh Akane! Ya are such a drama Queen! I mean, why are ya getting so worked up with such as silly matter as this!"

"What! Does it seems like a silly matter to you,Ranma?" Akane asked , still not believing what she was hearing.

"Jeez Kane, stop acting like a whining kid! It's just a date!"

Akane got angry after hearing that as she said,

"You think this is a JOKE!! Do YOU even know what you are saying, BAKA!"

Ranma sighs as he shook his head at her,

"It's just a simple date! Just go and have some food and come back! If you are overreacting like this, then ya are nothing but a fool Kane..!" He turned towards Suki who was looking at him with shock in her face as he said,

"Aunt Suki, you are getting tense for nothing! I mean, Akane also send me to date Ukyo the day you had arrived! I mean, when she sent me with Ukyo she also told me that it's just a date! A day out! So, this shouldn't bother her to go on a date with another guy, right? And I don't want to take advantage of being a guy as well. I mean, being a guy, if I was allowed to go on a date with another woman for a full damn day, then why can't she go and attend a date herself! And it's just a dinner date for God's sake! I had to spend almost a whole day with another lady..!!"

Suki relished a big breath as she asked him in a stunned tone,

"Ranma, so you are saying that you won't mind if Akane goes out with another guy?"

"Did Akane mind?" Ranma asked as he looked at everyone present in the room, "If she can accept this, then why can't I?"

"YOU HAVE GONE COMPLETELY MAD,RANMA!!" Akane screamed in desperation as she went to him and yanks his shoulder to force him to look at her,

"You baka, Baka, BAKA! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT! HOW COULD YOU SEND ME TO DATE ANOTHER GUY!"

Ranma angrily looked at her and said with a harsh whisper tone,

"Don't forget Kane, ya have done the same thing at me! Why are you acting so dumb when it's yar turn to do it? It's 'JUST A DATE' remember?"

"Don't you understand, Ranma!? Is it the right time to play these silly games? Please Ranma, please don't do this to me..! Not now, please.." Akane pleaded to him with a broken whisper tone.

Ramma acted fully indifferent as he humorlessly smirked at her and whispered with his greeted teeth,

"See... if... I... care!"

Akane started breathing hard as tears of anger filled her eyes,

"So, you are saying it won't bother you,is that it,Ranma!"

Ranma grabbed her hands which were holding his arms tightly as he not so gently pushed her hand away from him. Then he said with an angry hissing tone,

"I just came back here because Kasumi had asked me to.. Otherwise I wouldn't even come back here to see yar fake tears! I don't care what you do anymore,Kane! Ya go on a date with whoever ya want to, I—- damn— care!!!"

Akane's eyes went wide with what she just heard Ranma saying to her.

'This is not my Ranma! No, this can't be! My Ranma would never allow this to happen! This is not her usual Ranma! No! No.. This isn't..'

Akane thought to herself as her body shook with unknown fear. Her heart was beating painfully as she bits her trembling lower lips hard. She wanted to cry so bad , but her pride was not letting her shear a single tear in front of him. She gulped down her weakness as she tries to compose herself. She released a deep breath from her mouth as she she said with a shaky tone,

"Alright Ranma, if you really think this way then… I will go! I will.."

Her voice broke as she said that. She again bit down her trembling lips as she looked at Ranma with tears in her eyes as she said while looking at his eyes..

"Mom… Tell Taichi.. I am ready.."

"Akane, honey, it's okay dear, you don't have to go! I will make an excuse! Don't worry I …"

"NO!" She screamed in desperation as she began to breathe hard. Still glaring at Ranma's direction she said in a shaky determined tone, "I WILL GO! If Ranma thinks this way then.. I should be careless as well! I want to go, mom! I will.."

Akane slowly came in fort of his face as she whispers to him,

"If you really wanna play this way, then be it, Ranma.. I want to see, how far your ego and pride could take you..."

Ranma averted looking at her as he looked down. Akane gave an angry sigh and without any word, she left the place in a haste…..*

Ranma and his mother was returning to their separate rooms. Ranma was walking his mother to her room and when they reached there, Nodoka turned towards him and said in a sad tone,

"Ranma, my son, I know you have a big heart, but.. don't you think you made a big mistake today?"

Ranma just looked at her with a lost expression on his face as he couldn't utter any answer to her. Then sighing defeated , he averted his eyes from her as he said in a low broken tone,

"I don't know, mother.. I have no idea what is right or wrong anymore.."

Nodoka smiled sadly as she laid her hand over his shoulder as she suggested him,

"Dear, sometimes it's better to ignore your pride and understand what the situation wants from you.. Anyway honey, I know you must be feeling tired from your long journey, please go to your room and take some rest! You can think much clearer if you are not tired.. Good night!"

Ranma sadly nodded his head at her and saw his mother silently entering her room and closing the door. Ranma just kept standing there as he contemplated his next action. He turned to look at the direction of Akane's room and almost gave into his urge to go back to her and yell at her that she is his fiancé! She can't even dare to think about going out with anyone else but him! But after the way he had behaved with her, can he face her now?

No… he can't.. He know he had messed up the whole situation... Ironically he had foolishly punished himself, not her..! He sighs defeated as he turns to go towards his own room…*

Ranma woke up with a start! He was breathing heavily as he looked at his surroundings. He gulped hard as he blinked his eyes in confusion. He looked around his room and closed his eyes to control his dizzying head. He looked at his bedside table and was shocked to see the time. It was almost afternoon, he hastily left his bed and became confused about what he should do first.

Today is the day he has to face the outcome of his own stupidity. He rubbed his hair in desperation as his heart started beating harder. He started to feel nauseous, he took some deep breaths to calm himself.

'What should I do now? Should I look for Kane? What should I tell her then? How can I face her? How am I gonna stop her?'

He thought helplessly as he began to get ready to try and fix the mess he had gotten himself into.

He went outside his room and started looking for Akane. But to his dismay, he couldn't find her anywhere. At almost five in the evening Ranma had finally found her as she returned from shopping with her sisters.

They both came face to face, but he couldn't utter any words to her. He wanted to say lots of things to her, but it was as if he had lost all the ability to speak to her. He could see that she was waiting for him to say something, anything. He was surprised to find that, despite his last night's rough behaviour towards her, she was still giving him time to fix the problem.. But, he backed out at the last moment. The look she gave him when she realized that he won't stop her or say anything to her, was so heart breaking to witness. Disappointed and with a defeated mood, she slowly left to go back to her room. He began to feel angry and frustrated at himself because he didn't have the guts to stop her or to say anything to her…

After she left, Ranma stayed back at the lobby. He sat there face down, his mind blank as nothing made sense to him anymore. He stayed there for two long hours… Not knowing what to do anymore, he kept sitting there with his troubled mind. Then suddenly, he snapped back to reality when he heard a familiar male voice calling his name,

"Ranma!" Akio said in an excited tone as he came to his side, "Oh God man! I thought you wouldn't make it here on time! Am I glad or what that you are back!" He extended his hand for a handshake but to his dismay Ranma ignored him completely.

"Ranma? Hey! Buddy, you okay?"

Ranma looked down at his feet as he greeted his teeth in anger. He was the least person he wanted to encounter now. But, when has Kami ever given him any break! Hearing him calling him again he balled his fists tightly and heatedly looked up at him. Then before he could utter any word to him, they heard some whispering noises as they both turned to look at the commotion.

Ranma slowly stood up from his sitting position as his eyes got locked at none other than his dream, his Akane. His breath got caught on his throat as he stared at her elegant appearance.

He don't remember when was the last time he saw her looking this beautiful. Her peach coloured floral frock was clenching to her body like her second skin. Her rosy lips, her blushed cheeks , her beautifully bunned hair was making her look like a royalty.

She looked at his direction, her eyes blank and he also couldn't see any emotions on her face. She just kept staring at him with her sorrow-filled eyes.

Ranma was feeling as if some unknown force was clinging his throat tightly, which was making breathing difficult for him. He also kept looking at her with despair, as guilt of his thoughtless action began to eat him alive..

"Oh man! So that's why you were sitting here alone! You guys are going on an official date?! Well dude, it's about time!" Akio said as he gave Ranma a friendly smack on his back.

Ranma humorlessly smirked at him, still eyeing Akane with his guilt-filled eyes, he harshly whispered to him,

"She is not going out with me.."

Akio was taken aback by his declaration as he asked him, surprised,

"But.. Then why is she all dressed up like this, Ranma?"

Ranma's didn't dare to blink his eyes as he kept looking at her direction, then replied with a broken tone,

"Because… She is going on a date with another guy.."

Akio hastily turned his head to look at Ranma as he asked him in a stunned tone,

"You are kidding with me, right?"

Ranma gulped hard as he said,

"I wish…."

A/N: Now I am like, calm down, calm down, one more chapter till they will stop fighting!! calm down T-T...!!
Sigh! only I know how I managed to post today. I promise, I am so exhausted right now! So, please don't forget to leave a comment on this chapter and share your thoughts with me..
To answer my dear reader ,"Ranma420"... Thank you for asking me this questions, because I know may be lots of you guys have the same query.. So, the first thing is, Genma and Ranma, they all still have their curses. And in this fic, I am not bringing any situation that will cause them to change. It's not like I don't like Ranko. Of course, I like her..! But, still, I am concentrating only on the romance side in this fic :).. And about Ukyo, I also love her part in the 'Love you again'.. But, in this fic, sadly she won't play the same. Because, in real Ranma manga, anime or ova, lots of different shade we have seen of her. I am using her stubbornness and forceful character in here :).. I hope it answers your questions.. Take care guys!!! See you soon!! :) :)