Akane kept staring at Ranma with hope pouring through her brown expressive eyes. Ever Since she had agreed to go on a date with another guy, her guilt filled mind began to eat her alive. She began to regret very badly for agreeing to go on a date with a guy she barely knows ! She took this dumb impulsive decision blinded by her anger. She knows she had done the stupidest thing by agreeing to go with this! But what is done is done! She can't back down now!

When her anger had completely died down and she began thinking clearly, she became completely depressed! So mortified that her sisters had to drag her out of the hotel to clear her mind. Her sisters were so concerned for her, she could see their scepticism by the way they kept cheering her up as they kept giving her suggestions to make this burden bearable for her.

But, the guilt of her previous actions as it kept coming to her mind and accusing her mercilessly, made her deaf as she couldn't even hear what they were trying to imply to her.

She knew that she had hurt Ranma so badly by sending him to date Ukyo, which he didn't wanted to do. But, she never realized the pain it costs him! On top of that, she is the one who forced that on him! And on the time like when it seemed like he was ready to come clear to her! She knows she has messed up big time! Because, if she hadn't acted blind and listened to his requests, this day wouldn't even come to her life..

She knows her Ranma very well! She is sure that he would have started fighting for her as soon as he would have heard anyone suggesting this to him. It's all her fault that Ranma is behaving this way towards her.. This all blames goes to her...

But…. She can't take this anymore! She so desperately wants Ranma to fight for her! She so desperately needed him to take her away from this place. She so desperately wants him to yell at everyone's face that she is his , only his! She so desperately wants him to be by her side!!! She can't go with anyone else! No... she can't...

But, why is he still not saying anything!?

Akane took a shaky breath as her eyes filled up with sad tears. She clasped the edge of her dress tightly to control herself as she kept looking at him, almost as if begging him to understand what she wants . Then when she saw him looking down as he ignored her completely, suddenly, her all hope died down. Defeated, she thought to herself,

'Please Ranma, please look at me! Please understand what I am going through! I don't want to be with anyone else but you, Ranma! Please don't let anyone take me away from you! Please forgive me for my naiveness! I swear, I won't do it again! Please just look at me and see in my eyes, how hurt I am now! Ranma please.. Please just look at me..'

"Miss Akane?"

Suddenly a man's deep tone made her come back to reality as she hastily looked behind her. She was immediately greeted with a bunch of beautiful red roses. She looked at those flowers and then her eyes met Taichi's delighted iris as he gave her a look of appreciation.

"Oh Kami! You are looking so gorgeous, miss Akane! Thank you for accepting my invitation.."

Taichi said with an excited tone as he brightly smiled at her. Akane sighs sadly as she nodded her head, looking down. Then she heard him clearing his voice as he hesitatingly offered his hand to her. She looked at his offered hand with wide surprised eyes as she was not sure how to respond to it. Then she heard as he asked her in a gentlemanly tone,

"If you are ready, miss Akane.. Shall we leave now?!"

Akane kept looking at his offering hand with uncertinity, she then slowly looked up at him and saw him staring back at her with hope in his eyes. She quickly turned her head back to look at Ranma, a hidden hope in her heart that , seeing this happening in front of him, he would definitely react this time.

He did looked at them with heated eyes! But to her utter disappointment, he didn't react as she wanted him to.. He just plainly averted his eyes from them and silently looked down again. Her heart dropped seeing his reaction, it's like her heart has suddenly stopped beating. Her eyes again got wet with her silent tears, but she rapidly blinked her eyes to make her tears go..

"Miss Akane?"

Akane gave a defeated sigh as she closed her eyes. She slowly turned to him, still looking down at the roses, she slowly nodded her head. She slowly laid her hand over his and felt him gently holding her hand.

Suddenly, the image of Ranma holding her hand on the way back home from Ruykenzawa came to her vision, making her heartbeat stop as her breathing became painfully hard. She bits her lower lips harshly as she sees some other guy holding her hand as Ranma was supposed to hold. It's like her tears had also got the hidden message as well, that shredding it would be only wastage and it won't bring any accomplishment to her anymore. That's why, despite how hard her heart was paining, despite how her inner self was crying, her eyes remained dry as suddenly her so expressive brown eyes became fully emotionless.*

Ranma's whole body became numb as he saw his Akane leaving with an unknown person. He saw with broken heart, that the guy held her hand securely as the way he always does! His blood boiled with utter frustration and hatred. It was becoming hard for him to hold himself back and not to react to the situation. He could see how Akane was constantly looking in his direction, as if she was pleading him to help her out from this situation. But it was as if his mind had become fully blind at that moment...

They left…. And he stood there like a miserable person. He hated this feeling! He is hating himself more than anything else right now.. He wanted to yell his frustration out, he wanted to fight a deadly opponent, who would punch him so hard that the pain he was feeling at that moment would slightly fade away. Because this pain in his heart is making him feel so uneasy, for a moment he thought he would pass out by the immense force of it.

"WHAT THE HECK! WHY DID YOU DO THAT, RANMA!"

Harshly brought back to face the harsh truth, Ranma turned to look at Akio, heatedly glaring back at him.

"HOW COULD YOU LET HIM TAKE HER ON A DATE!? HAVE YOU GONE INSANE RANMA?"

"Why you!!!" Ranma growled angrily, frustrated at himself and extremely irritated by his companion who was continuously blanking him for everything. While to him, this all blame goes to Akio from the very beginning ..! He looked at Akio with hatred in his deadly eyes. He began fuming with outrage. He balled his fists tightly as he began to use all his power to keep himself calm enough to not to get all his frustration out on him. He grunted in irritation as he warned Akio with a dangerously low tone,

"I am warning ya, pal! Don't mess around with me right now! Or else I will forget the fact that ya are not a martial artist!"

"Excuse me! What is me asking you the question is to do with being a martial artist, man ! What is wrong with you!"

Ranma released an heavy breath as he said bitterly,

"I am not in the RIGHT mind, Akio! AND I DON'T wanna hit ya!! SO PLEASE! Keep yar distance from me!"

Saying that harshly, he dismissed talking with him furthermore as he began to walk away from him,

"This is what you've learned nowadays huh, Ranma!? To walk away from your problems.."

Ranma stopped walking, but he didn't turn to face him as he said in a harsh tone,

"Don't talk 'bout the things that ya don't know,buddy!"

"I KNOW OKAY! I KNOW how DUMB you guys could act sometimes ! I KNOW how PATHETICALLY you guys come to CONCLUSIONS! I HAVE SEEN IT ALL, DAMN IT! And don't try to warn me or anything Saotome! I am a martial artist too, not as good as you and Akane, but I can defend myself perfectly ! So don't try to scare me!"

Ranma closes his eyes to compose himself, because the Last thing he wants is to fight with Kasumi's soon to be brother in law and mess things up more. Releasing a heavy sigh, he again silently began to walk away from him, which made Akio even more agitated. He scowled at him as he yelled at him irretetedly,

"Dont act like a cowerd, damn it! You can't run away like this, Ranma! And If you are so OKAY with this idea of Akane going out with another guy, then you should have told me , buddy! Then I would have offered her the same thing before anyone else!"

That made Ranma stop as he furiously turned to look at his direction, as he yelled at his face,

"Don't act as if ya haven't done that with her before!!"

"Wha.. what did you just say?" Akio asked, fully taken aback by his sudden outburst.

"STOP ACTING INNOCENT, DAMN IT!!" Ranma takes some deep breaths to control the tone of voice, "Look, just leave me alone…"

"No chance, buddy! And after what you have told me, I am not leavin you alone until you explain what you meant by that! Look, this is a very serious blame you are giving me now! Do not back out!"

"Okay then!" Ranma arrogantly crossed his arms in front of his chest as he asked, "Why are you getting so ticked off for, huh?"

"Because you have blamed me and Akane for no reason!"

"Don't lie Akio! I have seen you guys in the ice cream shop together .."

"So?"

"STOP IT! What ya think of me, huh! I am not a blind, I can see clearly what's going on.."

Akio smirked as he shook his head at him,

"Yes, you are very well proving it to me, must say!"

"Don't ya dare, Akio.." Ranma warned him in a low harsh tone.

"And don't you dare, Ranma ! I just can't believe it! Forget about me, but how could you accuse Akane?! This is utterly ridiculous !"

"THEN WHAT YA GUYS WERE DOING AT THAT SHOP?"

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? THAT WAS THE MOST CIVIL PLACE TO VISIT FOR GOD'S SAKE, RANMA!"

"But.. but Ukyo told me that.."

Akio composed his voice as said to him in a tightly controlled tone,

"Listen to me, Ranma! I don't want to know what your other fiancés had told you, because I damn care! All I care now is you are blaming Akane for something she hadn't even done!"

"Then why did she send me to date Ukyo?" Ranma asked him angrily , equally frustrated.

"Because she is a Baka, that's why!" Akio explained tiredly as he began telling him in a urgent tone,

"Look buddy! Akane sure act dumb sometimes, but please don't question her morality, buddy! That girl never ever went to study at my place, fearing what you might think of it! We always used to meet in public places and what we only used to do is pure STUDIES, that's it! And about sending you on that date, honestly, I can not give all the blames on her Ranma, because I am the only person who saw how Ukyo had treated her that day! It was really bad ,Ranma! That Ukyo had put all the allegations on her! Telling her that she is the one who is taking advantage of you, Ranma! It was your damn duty to fix all this mess up relationship first thing! But you choose to be silent and walk away like you are doing now! Believe me, that will never ever solve your problems,Ranma! It will not only harm you, but your loved ones also! That's what had happened with Akane on that day! Because of your constant ignorance on this matter, Ukyo choosed to vent out all her frustrations on Akane. Ranma, I know you are a good guy, but you have NO RIGHT to play with any woman's emotions! Either it's Akane or Ukyo, you can't just play with their hearts, man!"

Akio took a deep breath as sudden realisation hits him. He looked at Ranma hard as he began saying again,

"And I guess, now I understand why Akane had sent you to date Ukyo! I think she wanted you to settle all your tangled up misunderstandings with Ukyo, so that you and Akane could start your new chapter without any resistance! "

Akio relished a deep breath as he looked at Ranma, who was looking so lost and frightened at that moment. Akio felt pity for him as he went closer to him and said in a genuine tone,

"She was really upset that day, Ranma! She was pretending to be cheerful in front of her sister, but I could tell that she was feeling low. That's why I wanted to cheer her up a bit and asked her to come with me. I just wanted to make her feel better just by treating her with something as simple as ice cream, man! And now you are accusing us of dating each other?! Are you even thinking what you are saying?! What do you think, Akane sent you to date Ukyo so that she could spend some quality time with me?! This is nothing but a joke, Ranma! You know Akane more than I do! And this big accusation you are giving her! Is that why you let her date another guy, so that she could feel your pain?"

Ranma helplessly looked down as he began to breathe unevenly. Akio smirked humorlessly as he shook his head at him, as he asked him in a sad amused tone,

"So tell me Ranma.. Who do you think is getting punished by all this stupidity!? Is that only Akane or…"

He didn't finish his last statement and saw Ranma giving him a devastating stare.

Ranma couldn't take this anymore! He is a fool, a BIG DAMN BAKA!!!

'How could I even doubt Akane?! What am I doing! How could I think of punishing that person who has always been the vital support of my life! How could I behave this severely with her! I saw her pleading to me all the time, but what did I do? I kept ignoring her again and again! HOW COULD I PUSH HER AWAY !.. And now …. She is with another man! No.. No! NO, I can't let this happen! No.. I.. I..This is all my fault! I should have stopped her from leaving.. I should have yelled at everyone's face that Akane is mine, ONLY MINE! AND NO ONE CAN TAKE HER AWAY FROM ME!! NO ONE!!!'

Thinking this bitterly, with a newfound determination, Ranma fled from the hotel in hurry and didn't look back. Akio sighs as he shakes his head with tiredness. He smiles knowingly as he sees Ranma running out from the hotel like a wild horse..

"Good luck my friend.. "*

It's been an hour since Taichi and Akane had arrived at the date spot. It was a grand elegant looking restaurant. It was Akane's first-time visiting this type of sovereignty place, where she was getting pampered as if she is a princess! Taichi has been a real gentleman towards her! Since they have meet at the hotel lobby, he have been treating her so gently, taking care of all her needs and handling things just like a true man. His delicacy in every work and the way he was treating her, made it impossible for her to ignore him fully..

At first, she tried to act tough and not so delightful in front of him... But, Taichi's honest behaviour has forced her to drop off her fake manner and made her act at least soberly with him.

The situation she was forced to face is slowly beginning to make her feel more uneasy. As she began to discover Taichi more closely, it has become more tougher for her to say no to him in the face .. Her mom was right, he is the true definition of a gentleman! But… does she even care?! And the answer is…

" Miss Akane?! Is the dessert not good?" Taichi asked with a concern filled tone as he looked at her.

Akane was slightly taken aback by his sudden question as she answers him in a perplexing tone,

"Uhh.. Yes it is.. why are you asking this?"

Taichi smiles at her as he said,

"The way you are looking at it and poking it with your fork, I thought that something must be wrong with it!"

Akane blushed as she puts down her fork and said in a low voice,

"Umm.. I am sorry, I was.. I was actually thinking about something else!"

"Oh! Would you tell me what it is!"

"No… I don't want to.." Akane stopped as suddenly Kasumi's words came to her mind. Kasumi had suggested her this morning that she should take advantage of this date and come clear to Taichi about her engagement! Then maybe he and his family would stop expecting something happening from their side. Akane looked up at Taichi with a serious expression as she said, ..

"No! I think.. I think I am ready to share!"

"I am so glad that you are ready to share, Miss Akane.." Taichi said with a pleasant tone.

Akane ignored the hidden meaning of his words as she sighed and said with a serious tone,

"Taichi, I genuinely want to thank you for this day! But, I think you should know something related to my personal life.. Taichi, I am engaged with someone! Not only that, I have been engaged with him for more than four years now! And I.."

Akane couldn't continue as she suddenly felt confused by his sudden action. Taichi gently held Akane's hand up as he observed it with a warm smile on her face,

"Engaged for more than four years! With no ring on in your finger?! That's strange! Akane, are you trying to fool me, because you found me uninterested?"

Akane quickly pulled her hand back as she looked at him desperately,

"No! That's not what I meant! Taichi I.."

Taichi laughed as he said with a deep tone,

"So, you find me fascinating then?!"

Akane looked down, her face trailing sweats as she whisper to him in a uncomfortable tone,

"Taichi, please!"

"I am sorry.. I was just kidding with you, miss Akane..! And to be honest, I know almost everything about you.."

Akane looked up at him, surprised, as she asked him in complete disbelief,

"You know I am engaged?! Then why did you invite me for a date?"

"Because, I didn't wanted to miss out any chance to be with you, Miss Akane!"

"Taichi! What are you saying!"

"Please Miss Akane, let me explain!" He asked desperately as he looked at her pleadingly,

" The first time I saw you, I have completely fell for you! I never used to believe in love at first sight, but it did happen to me! I knew you are engaged, but I also know how your relationship is with your fiance.."

That made her defensive as she replied instantly,

"What do you know about our relationship? My relationship with Ranma is just fine!"

"Yes, so far so fine that he would send his precious fiance to date another guy!"

That made Akane silent as she looked down at her interlocked hands as she said with a trembling tone,

"No.. You don't understand.. He is just.. He is.."

"Whatever it is , miss Akane.. There is no excuse for what he had done! Believe me, you are so innocent to believe that there is something in this relationship! If he really loves you and respects this relationship of yours, he would have never sent you here with me! This is not love, miss Akane! And this is definitely not the way you should be treated! You are way too precious, miss Akane! And I heard how much difficulty you had to face in your life!! I don't want you to face any difficulty anymore! I will give you every happiness you deserve! Please understand this! He doesn't want you! He always pushes you away!"

Taichi's every word came as a slap to Akane's face. The fear of the possibility of his words sinking in her heart so badly. Her heart started to hurt as her breath became rigid. Her lips began to tremble as her eyes filled with unshed tears. A tear fell from her eye, but before it could despair, Taichi caught the droplet on his hand as he said in a deep genuine tone,

"This is so valuable, Akane! Don't waste it for someone who doesn't know the value of it! Please give me a chance to prove my eligibility to you! I promise I will do everything to make you happy.. If you will ever cry it will only be happy tears, not this!"

Akane's heart was beating helplessly as her mind started to swirl. She began to feel so uncomfortable and all she wanted to do is to cry her heart out. But she knows this is not the right time or right place to cry! She just can't show her weakness to Taichi anymore. She took a shaky breath as she squeezed her dress tightly. Then gulping down her emotions, she said with a shaky whisper tone,

"Taichi please, I want to leave.."

"But why? Did I say something wrong!?"

Akane shakes her head as she said,

"I need to be alone for sometime. Please understand that…."

"But you will think about me, right?" Taichi sighs as he asks her hopefully.

Akane pushed her lips together as she was spending her every strength to compose herself and not to break down in front of him. She balled her fists tightly as she hurriedly nodded her head at him..

"Oh miss Akane! You look so tired of all this tangled up relationship you have gotten yourself hooked to! I feel so sorry for you! I wish I could do something to ease your pain a little.."

Akane bits her trembling lower lips hard as she said with a broken tone,

"It's okay! I am fine! I have to go, I am sorry!"

Akane hastily stands up to leave, but stopped when he asked her,

"At least let me drop you back to the hotel!"

Akane didn't turn back as she said,

"We are not far from the hotel, Taichi.. I can go back there by my own!" Akane sighs feeling measurable at herself as she slowly turned to face him and slightly bowed down infront of him,

"I am sorry, Taichi. I really had an amazing dinner tonight! Thank you for your time! But.. I need to be alone for some moment, so please.."

Taichi stands up with a sad face as he replied,

"But you will think about what I had told you, right?"

Still looking down, with an emotionless face she plainly nodded at him.

He happily sighed seeing her agreeing with him. Then without any hesitation, he slowly walked towards her and closed their distance.

Upon realising his unexpected closeness, she hastily looked up at him with fearful eyes. Then before she could say anything to him, she felt him nearing her face. Her eyes went wide with surprise, but before she could do anything to stop him, she felt him smirking at her as he crossed her face to whisper something into her ear.

"I had an amazing time with you, Akane.. We will surely meet again.."

He finished saying as he slowly gave a tender kiss on her cheek. He looked at her surprised eyes as she rapidly blinked her eyes at him.

After snapping back to reality, Akane immediately turned around and without saying anything to him anymore, she quickly left the place…*

Akane had been wondering silently after getting out of the restaurant. It was not that far away from their hotel and it took her only ten minutes to walk safely back there. Akane looked at the entrance of the hotel and hesitate to enter the place.. Is she ready to face anyone , right now? Does she wants to? And the answer to this question is, "no", she doesn't want to.. She sighs sadly as she begins to walk away from the hotel.

She soon reached the private beach area of the hotel.. She kept walking with slow pace as the salty wind started to wash through her body.. She could see no one at the area, she was the only one who was standing by the shore as the wind suddenly picked up its speed. She felt cold and lonely.. She shivered slightly as she crossed her hands around her bare shoulders… This darkness of the night and the silent atmosphere was working wander over her swollen mood as it matched her mood fully. She lost herself looking at the waves of the sea.. She hugged herself even more tightly as the wind blew with a drastic rate.. She closed her tired eyes, her features emotionless, her body shivering, she stood silently like a broken shadow..

Then suddenly, she felt a warm sensation enveloping her.. Her closed eyes immediately filled with hot tears as she unknowingly pulled that cozy feeling more closer to her body. It's like, her heart knows who this person is.. But, she was too afraid to open her eyes, fearing the warmth would vanish as soon as she would open her eyes. She sniffed and bits her lips with force as she pulled the clothing more securely around her that had been slanted around her body to make her feel comfortable… Akane realised a shaky breath as tears began to fell from her eyes as she desperately began to whisper,

"No.. No..no please.. No.."

" 'Kane.."

A/N: Oh my God, guys! You guys were so angry with me for the previous chapter, I could actually feel you angry auras :o :p!! It's a very first extreme experience for me, when I saw my readers get so angry at me that, you guys ignored my new fic as well T-T.. Just kidding okay ;p!! No really :o!! Just forget about it ;p :D!!!
Trust me, I was not planning to post today, but I had to push myself harder, because you guys being upset with me is the last thing I want!! So, I hope you guys got the hint for the next chapter! And I am not going to ask you guys, if you are excited or not ;p!! Because now, I am scared of your reactions T-T ;p!! Hopefully, see you guys soon!!!