"I still can't believe that we are standing here today ! This is actually too good to be true for me..! It's like, I am still dreaming about this day, as I always do..! I know it's my fault that this day hadn't come to our life earlier.. But I promise you, from now on, I will stop behaving like a coward towards you and I will never ever stop saying how much I love you..! You mean the world to me..!! And today, I am vowing in front of all the crowd here that I will always take care of you with everything I have , Kasumi…! I will never ever let you go.. And I promise that I will…"

Ranma smiled warmly as he saw the emotional pledge happening in front of him. Tofu and Kasumi, both are looking so much in love as they held onto each other's hands tightly. They were looking into each other with so much love in their eyes. He could clearly see and hear everything that they were saying to each other, because he was standing by Akio's side as the groom's one of the best men. Everything was going so well until, his eyes fell on the sight of his finance, who was standing beside her sisters, smiling and wiping her happy tears silently..

And from that moment on, the sight of her held him completely captive..! He had seen her in many fancy dresses lots of times before, not to mention he had already seen her wearing a wedding dress as well. But today, for a reason, she is looking completely different in his eyes.. Because today, he is seeing a mature woman within her. So understanding and grown up, guard less but still a strong woman.

He didn't pay much attention at the time of shopping, that's why he didn't had any idea of what attire they were supposed to wear for the big day. He was glad when he saw the suit that Kasumi had picked for him. All the guys are wearing the same suits anyways, the only difference is the colour of the shirt that they are wearing underneath the suit. When he got to wear the peach-coloured shirt he became nervous to try that on. He never tried many colours before, rather than the basic colours like red, black, blue or white! So this colour was too much experimental for him. But he tried it anyway and when he looked at himself in the mirror, he was happy to see himself, so unlike him but nevertheless he was not looking half bad! But still, the colour of his shirt was still making him uneasy, but then when he saw what Akane was wearing for the day, all his complaints vanished in a second!

She was wearing the same peach-coloured chiffon dress, her hair was bun and braided beautifully with matching flowers attached on her front braids. She wore simple makeup on her face and wore matching small beads jewellery on her neck and ears.. In one word, to him, she was looking breathtaking...

His innocent stare suddenly becomes intense as he kept looking at her. As he held his eyes locked at her face, the scenario of the last two days that they have spended with each other fogged his fierce mind completely.

That night when they got separated from each other, thinking that they might not get the chance to be intimate with each other for days, they both got very upset and frustrated about this whole situation! But soon both of them realized how wrong they actually were! Because a completely opposite scenario has happened with both of them as they became more intimate with each other then they could have ever imagined.

He had been staying with her for the past four years, yet for him, these last two days were the best day of his life! He always loves challenges. And these two days were like challenges for him. The challenge to be with her without letting anyone know about this, the challenge to touch her and kiss her unnoticed whenever they felt like, the challenge to discover each other without any resistance, the challenge to control his heated hormones that threaten to lose all his sanity. Chances of getting caught by the families were on high alert all the time, but the challenge of using the right moment to savor each other had become too exciting for both of them! It's like every time they touched each other, every time they lost control, the fear of getting caught red-handed was making them even more excited about what they were doing and they became more daring!

It always troubled him whenever she stops him from exploring certain things with her! He knows that they can't go that far yet, but still, it hurts him sometimes to think that she might not be comfortable with him. And that's something so hard to digest for him. He knows that he should control his raging hormones! But it's like, nowadays, whenever he sees her, he wants to get more closer to her. Like a magnet she always pulls him towards her. He is still amazed that, She Is letting him touch her the way he wants to touch her! He thought that, she might oppose and hit him if he tries to break the limits. But all she did was, she welcomed all his insanity and fearlessly trusted all his motives.

He don't know why but, the more he was getting closer to her, the fear of losing her was helplessly blinding his sanity. And whenever she stopped him to get closer to her, his insecurities doubled up and he gets panicked.. She did assumed his insecurities.. And She was bold enough to confront him about it, telling him that he never makes her uncomfortable, she is just waiting for something to happen first and if that happens, she won't ever stop him..

As usual he became clueless as he was still contemplating what his tomboy wanted from him...

'What is she waiting for!? Perhaps she wants her elder sister to get married first! Or she wanted him to take her home first! Or on a training trip!?'

Ranma smirked devilishly as he thought about his possibilities,

'Now this sounds like an awesome plan!! Heh!'

He blinked his eyes and suddenly he saw her looking back at him. Her face instantly became bright red as she quickly averted her eyes from him. He became worried when he saw her doing that as he thought to himself...

'Is she mad at me for what happened between us!'

Ranma thought to himself as he looked at her with worry in his eyes. He noticed how hard she was trying to ignore him as she tried her best to look everywhere but not at him. He sighs sadly as the memories came to his mind, which happened just before coming here*

"Damn man! I am so bored!" Ranma growled in annoyance as he flopped down on a sofa. They have been sitting in Tofu's living room for the last one hour, properly ready for the day. He sighs and said,

"This colour of the shirt is annoying me too much! I mean , I aint complaining but, this is not me, this is not my color! And I don't understand why we had to wake up this early to get ready this early !!!"

Akio smirks and said jokingly,

"Ya man!! And all this haste only because we have to put on the suits! I mean I can understand why girls needs time, but all we have to do is wear the suit and that's all!"

Ranma growled and said,

"Those girls could hurry up as well if they wanted to!"

"They are almost ready, Ya know! I know some of them are just sitting like us and waiting.." Akio said, smiling cheekily.

"Wait a minute, how'd ya know 'bout that!"

"Because I had to go to the girl's room to deliver Kasumi onii-chan, something that my brother forgot to give her. There I saw that everyone is ready for the day, except for your mother, aunt Suki and the bride herself."

Hearing that, Ranma looked at him with enthusiasm as he asked him,

"Did ya see her?"

"Who? Nabiki?" Akio heard Ranma growling again, he laughed knowingly and said in a silly tone,

"Calm down, man! Yes, I saw Akane. She is fully ready for the day and unlike you, she is enjoying herself so much..! And by the way, you are such a lucky man!"

"And why so?"

Akio smiled dreamily and said while sighing,

"She was looking extremely beautiful! I could not avert my eyes from her! I never saw someone looking so ravishing and sexy at the same time..! I wish I had listened to my brother four years back. He always used to tell me to come to Nerima to finish my studies.. But I never listened to him! But now I regret it badly! Because if I would have come here that time then.."

"Then what!??!"

Hearing Ranma's deadly tone, Akio stopped his babbling as he came back to reality from his daydreaming. He gulped as he saw how heatedly he was staring back at him. He began to laugh nervously and said,

"Oh.. Then, then maybe I, I mean we.." Ranma groaned again, as Akio hastily replied to him and tried to break the tension between them,

"Look, let's not waste our time waiting here, I have a plan, wait.."

Ranma was still furious when he saw how Akio was trying to change the subject. He was extremely mad at him for daring to think the things that he shouldn't have dared to think..! It was extremely hard for him to digest the fact that he had already seen Akane before him! And now this! It's like he was rubbing salt over his open wound! Then when he heard who Akio was talking to, he became curious as he began to listen to the conversation over the phone which Akio put on the speaker mode,

"Hello?"

"Hey Nabiki... Do you know where Ranma is?"

"Ranma??! I thought he would be with you guys!"

"He was supposed to be but.."

"Hello, Akio?"

Akio smirked as he heard Akane's worrisome tone over the phone,

"Yes, Akane?"

"Where is Ranma!"

"I don't have any idea! I thought that maybe you knew where he is!"

"No! How could I know that! That baka! Where could he be?"

"I don't know! He was way too fussy about the colour of his shirt! I tried to make him understand but he was so whiny about it and left! And now we have so little time left, damn man! Okay, I am gonna go search for him on the outside! I wish someone could help me search for him in HIS room! But everyone is so busy.."

"I will go, don't worry!"

"Akane, I don't want to bother you!"

"It's okay! We have only an hour left for the ceremony! You go look for him outside and I will look for him in the rooms!"

Akio faked a sigh of relief as he said,

"You saved me big time, Akane! Thanks!"

"Ok, see you.." Akane said as she quickly hung up the call.

Akio smiled victoriously and said to Ranma,.

"Here you go, man!! Problem solved! I am sure you owe me.."

Akio stopped when he saw he was talking to an empty sofa. He smirked and shook his head in disbelief...

Ranma ran back to his room in a haste.. He was feeling thankful to Akio for arranging this for him, he knows he owes him big time for this. He hastily entered his room and left his door half open. He couldn't suppress his excitement anymore. He wanted to see her so badly. They just got separated from each other for only some hours, yet it started to feel like he hadn't seen her for days! This building excitement was killing him..

'Why is she taking so long to come here!'

He knows he has become way too impatient to see her. He has to give her some time to come to him! He has been waiting for her only for ten minutes, he at least has to give her some more time to make it there. But thankfully, he didn't have to wait for too long, as suddenly Akane came running into the room and opened the half-opened door in a haste. Before she could see him though he hastily hid himself at a corner and waited for her to enter.

"Ranma?! Are you in there!? Ranma?!"

Ranma devilishly grinned from his place and used his umensenken technique to hid himself. He quietly went to the door and closed it without making any sound and then as quickly as he could he went to her and hugged her from behind.

Akane shrieked in complete shock as she felt strong arms hugging her tight from behind. She became rigid at first but when she recognised the person behind her , who was smirking and giving butterfly kisses on her back, she gave a sigh of relief as she melted on his arms.

"What are you doing?"

"Who Me?" He asked as he continued to kiss her on shoulder blades..

"Who else! Ranma, just stop it! You know we can't do it now.." Akane said laughing as she broke their hug and turned to face him. When she looked at him she became completely shocked to see him ready for the day.. She pouted at him and asked him,

"It's a trap, isn't it? You guys tricked me!"

Ranma laughed in a low tone and pulled her closer to him as he said in a deep tone,

"I just wanted ya see ya.."

Akane laid her hands over his chest as she said,

"You could have seen me in the wedding hall, you know.."

"Like this!?"

Akane giggled sweetly and replied while she circling her arms around his neck,

"Nop! Can't even imagine that now!"

Ranma sighs and broke their hug. He started to look at her up and down.. The intense way he kept looking at her made her shiver in unknown nervousness. Her face becomes red as she bites her lower lip in worry.. Then she tried to ask him in an uncertain tone,

"Ranma! Am I.. Am I looking bad?"

But In reality, just by looking at her features was making his feet unsteady like a Jello. He silently walked towards his bed and sat over it. He held both her hand tightly as he kept looking at her with a blank expression on his face. That made Akane even more concerned about her look as she said while whining,

"I told Nabiki that it's too much! Why'd I listen to her! This is so embarrassing! I shouldn't have listened to her, oh Kami!"

"Why are you saying this?!" Ranma asked in a husky tone as if coming back to reality from his daydreaming.

Akane looked at him with a stunned expression as she said,

"Because the way you are watching me, I am sure I am looking stupid!! I knew that I am not looking good but.."

"You are looking so beautiful, Kane!" Ranma whispers breathlessly.

Akane blinked her eyes in confusion and asked him,

"Really! But I thought.."

"You thought wrong.. All wrong.." He pulled her on his lap and slowly, he started to inhale her smell from the crook of her neck as he whispered severely, "and ya smell so good too.."

Akane shivers slightly as she lays her hands over his shoulder. She smiled as she felt him kissing her over her bare shoulder, slowly trailing up to her neck.

Akane moaned and whispered,

"What about the colour of your shirt, Ranma? Don't you like it? Would you rather liked it if the colour was blue to match with Nabiki's? Hmm!?"

Ranma didn't answer her, too busy to savour the feeling of her closeness. He silently looked at her and silenced her with a feverish kiss on her lips. Things heated up immediately as they again forgot to compose each other.

Akane moaned in need as his kisses became so feverish. She hugged him tightly and felt him switching their position in haste. He flipped her down over the bed and started devouring her like a starved person In need. She melted on his heated fierce touch as she forgot about everything else… Then suddenly she felt his hand over her thigh as he began to pull her cloth up. And that is the exact moment, when reality hits her hard. She pushed him hard and made him fall by her side on the bed. She sat up quickly and hastily ran to the mirror to look at herself and got panicked.

"Oh no! My hair! Oh Kami!"

"Can I help?!" Ranma asked smirking as he sits up on the bed and gave her an overall look.

"Aww!! It's all your fault, Ranma!! Now I have to redo it again!"

Ranma smirked again and began walking towards her. He went behind her and hugged her as he said while looking at the mirror ,

"Ya look perfectly fine ta me! And by the way, it's your fault in the first place for looking this good!"

Akane blushed hearing that and slapped at his clasped hand over her tummy.

"Now enough of this, I have to run to my sisters again."

Ranma pouted like a kid and hids his face over her shoulder and said while whining,

"Please stay, you can go later! It's an hour late anyway!"

Akane pulled his arms off from her belly and said,

"You've already made a mess on me! I won't let you do anything now!"

"But Kane.." He tried to stop her from leaving, but she skipped and almost ran out from the room while giggling hard. Ranma sighs with a broken hard as he keeps looking at the closed door. Suddenly feeling way too lonely for his liking…~~~~~~

"Excuse me, I didn't recognize you.. How are you related to the bride?"

Soun looked at his side and saw an elderly woman whispering to him. He was so occupied on listening to the pledge of his daughter that when he heard her calling him, he became a little annoyed. He tried to give her a small smile as he answers to her,

"Hello mam, I am Tendo Soun, father of the bride!"

Ema smiled brightly hearing that as she said in a pleasant tone,

"Oh!! That's so wonderful! Finally we met, Mr Tendo.."

"Pardon, but do I know you?"

Ema smiles and said,

"You don't know me, but your sister does! And believe me, I know more about you than you could imagine!"

"But why are you saying this to me?"

"First please let me introduce myself and my family to you.."

Ema introduced herself and her family to him and gave him every information he needed to know. Soun slightly bowed his head to show respect to her and said,

"Mrs Ema, I am so thankful to you for doing so much for my family.. I wish I could repay you somehow.."

"Repay me!" She laughed slightly and said to him, "I don't need anything, Mr Tendo. But I would be honored if you except my proposal .."

Soun looked at her and asked her,

"What kind of proposal?"

She slowly pointed her grandson to Soun, who was sitting on the first row of the sitting area and he was looking at Akane with a sorrow-full eyes.

"That's my grandson Taichi. I am glad to say that, he is head over heels in love with your younger daughter."

"Akane!?"

"Yes! And as you have already engaged her with that Saotome , I can't actually bring this proposal to your daughter, she is way too honest."

Shocked to hear that, Soun kept looking at Taichi and Akane as no sound came out from his mouth.

"Mr Tendo, I know how your daughters had struggled in their past life. And I also know what you have done to your wife. I know you are regretting your past now, but don't ruin their future anymore, son! This hotel, is just a glimpse of my grandson's possession! Your daughter and your future generation won't even have to worry about any uncertainty anymore! Please think about it , son! Only you can help to work this relationship! No one else could.. So, What do you say!?"—-

Akane was trying hard to ignore Ranma. But it was like all her attempts were going downhill.. ! How can she ignore him when he is staring at her this way! She could have never imagined that their relationship would heat up this much in such a short notice ! She knew that Ranma is a pervert, but she never knew how perverted she actually is! She giggled silently as she thought about their growing closeness.

'No! Ranma is not a pervert! He is actually the most wonderful guy I have ever seen in my life. He has such a delicate heart! I could have never imagined how sensitive he actually is if we hadn't been closer to each other like this! But surprisingly, the more we are getting closer to each other, the more his insecurities are doubling up..! Actually,I don't want that to happen to him. I am always used to seeing him as the most egotistical, confident kind of guy! And I want to see him like that always. But, at the same time, in a corner of my selfish heart, I kind of like this Ranma .. So down-to-earth, honest, expressive, so wild yet so compassionate, so doubtful and sensitive! I just can't believe this is actually him! Ranma, my Ranma! Honestly, now, I can't even think of living without him. I love him so much, I want to yell it out to him..! But, only my promise is stopping me. That dummy, why is he still not confessing to me! Why is he taking so much time! It's just these three words! And that is all I want from him! Then maybe.. Maybe I wouldn't ever stop him the way I always do...'

She looked up at him and saw him staring at her with uncertainty in his expressive blue eyes.

'I always feel so miserable when I stop him from going further with me. I can clearly see the trepidation and uncertainties in his eyes. But… But how can I make him understand that, I need to hear him saying he loves me! If he doesn't say those words to me then…Then… But.. But Do I really need to hear it from him? Isn't his actions proving enough to me! I'm feeling so pathetic to make him feel this way! I can't.. I can't anymore.. I will talk to him about this soon.. Then maybe he will understand. Understand that I can never feel uncomfortable around him and I trust him with my closed eyes..'

She smiled at him and saw him looking at her with surprised wide eyes. She giggled softly which made him sigh with relief as he cheekily smiled back at her.

"You may now kiss the bride.."

Suddenly cheer filled the whole hall which made Ranma and Akane come back from their day dreaming.. They brightly smiled at each other and began cheering for the new couple.--

Later that evening—

The wedding was perfect ..!! The venue and the setups were done so gorgeously! And just like the wedding venue, the after-party setups were something to be proud about! Suki has done everything she could to give her daughter a fairytale wedding she deserves.. And the more she is seeing the happy faces of her daughters, the more her work keeps paying off.

Ranma was so fascinated by all the settings. He was so excited and happy that Kasumi and Tofu had beautifully made it together and now they are husband and wife! He looked at the newlywed couple, who were dancing their first dance. It was so perfect! So beautiful, just like a fairytale! As he kept seeing Kasumi's happy face and jolly features, the event of their shattered wedding was coming back to his mind again and again. Kasumi was looking so bright and happy, but at that time of their failed wedding, he could still remember the sad face which

had clouded Akane's face. She was so upset and heartbroken, he knew it very well, yet he decided to argue with her instead of comforting her.. Suddenly, seeing all these happy faces, made him miserable. He looked down and felt a presence approaching him slowly.

"Ranma!? Are you okay?"

Hearing Akane's concerned filled tone, Ranma looked up at her and said in a low tone,

"I .. I uhh.. I am sorry, Kane.."

"But why?" Akane asked in a concern-filled tone. She clasped his hands tightly and tried to encourage him to come clear to her.

Ranma sighs and whisper to her,

" Kane.. I promise you, it won't ever happen again.."

"Happen what, Ranma?"

"I won't let anyone ruin the wedding again.. I promise.."

That made Akane extremely stunned. She looks at him as her eyes filled with happy tears. Yes, she is happy and cheerful since morning, but inside , it was like someone was squeezing her heart alive. Her shattered wedding events was roaming over her brain again and again, which made her miserable since morning. Now that Ranma said those words to her, it meant that he was feeling exactly the same way she was feeling. And for her, this means the whole world. She sniffs with her happy face and decided to give him some hint of what she is waiting for him to say.

"Ranma.. Listen, I .."

"Akane.."

Akane stopped as they both turned to look at the intruder with a foul face.

"Father!"

Soun looked at Ranma first then turned to face Akane with a a pleased face,

"Dear, your aunt is looking for you and she said that it's urgent.."

Akane sighs sadly and faces Ranma with a painful face. She gives him a small smile and whispers to him,

"I will see you soon, okay?"

Ranma nodded silently and asked her in a hesitated tone,

"Kane.."

"Hum?".

"Will ya… ummm will ya .. Will ya dance with me..?"

Akane wasn't expecting that.. She giggled softly and was about to give him her answer, but Soun interrupted again.

"Akane.. I think you should go now.."

Akane sighs and nods at her father. Then blinking at Ranma, she left to see her aunt.

Ranma kept looking at Akane's retreating form, then he suddenly heard Soun calling him.

"Ranma.. "

Ranma faces him and nodded at him,

"Yes Mr Tendo.."

Soun gave Ranma a heated look as he said in a harsh whisper tone,

"Leave my daughter alone…"

A/N: I am sorry sorry sorryyyyy!!! House shifting, I hope I don't have to explain more :p.. Please don't forget to leave a review guys.. I need your motivations very badly.. And if any mistakes happens in this chapter, please see it with a forgiving eyes!! Missed hearing from all of you!! Take care!!