A/N: Expectations are the main source of heartbreak..!! Which unconsciously led me to sadness and made me almost abandon this fic!! Before I posted this chapter, I told myself, either I have to stop writing or stop expecting!! So today, me, promising myself that, I WILL FINISH this fic! I will give this fiction an ending that It deserves! No expectations from now on, only full-fetched determination…!! Without further ado, let's start! :) :) !!!"

Suki sighs, feeling exhausted as she checks the time again… It's past one am, but still, she is not seeing Ranma getting out of Akane's bedroom. Kasumi and Nabiki eventually got tired of waiting for him and they went to their beds. But she just can't ignore the fact that a guy is still present at her younger daughter's room! She is her mother! She can't just go to sleep and leave it as if it's not a big deal!

She started to pace again, feeling way too much nervous about everything that was happening.. It's not that, only Ranma being here with Akane is making her this tensed.The main thing which was bothering her was the condition of Akane, the way she looked as Ranma carried her in here, the disturbing state she was in, thinking about this matter is making her even more anxious! She never witnessed her daughter acting this way before! It was so new to her and it feels so bothersome for her that she might be the one who had triggered her daughter to feel this way. This time, it's all her fault...

Suki began to feel guilty of her actions.. This is not what she had wanted. She just wants her daughters to be happy.. But the way things went today, she is feeling like she has done the same thing that her elder brother was doing with them, forcing them to do things that they don't want to do.

This thought alone was making her utterly disgusted by herself.. She wants to apologize to Akane so badly.. She shouldn't have gotten herself trapped into her friends hands like this! But this incident has proved to her that, she might not be right all the time! She has to be very careful if she wants good for her loved ones.

She slowly went in front of Akane's bedroom door as she hesitantly laid her hand over the knob of the door. It's not the first time that she tried to get into that room, but every time she tried to open the door, she became overly nervous and let go of the knock, -in fear of what she might see if she opened the door.

For God's sake, her daughter is not a kid anymore! And she knows it very well that she can't force her to stop doing what she likes! And she is also aware of the fact that she can't stop Akane from doing something that she is willing to do.. But.. Still… Her inner mother self is urging her

to at least find out what Ranma's real motive is. She can blindly trust her daughter , but can she do the same with Ranma? Who is none other than Genma's son! She can't trust Ranma's Motives! He could use her daughter's mantle distress to fill his need and then maybe after he is finished with Akane, he could go back to his other finances..!!

Suki's heart started to beat wildly as she began to think of the worst possibilities that could happen to her innocent daughter!! That's why, with newfound courage and determination, she took a deep breath and slowly opened the bedroom door with her trembling hand…

The scene that welcomed her was not something that she was expecting for.. She sighed tiredly, she landed her body on the door and looked at them.

Her daughter was laying over the bed, fully tucked up securely with her blanket. As for Ranma, he sat on the ground, only his head was laid over the bed. He was still on his tank top, his body shivering slightly from the cold, the only thing that was covering his shoulder and giving him warmth was the tight embrace that Akane was giving him.

Suki didn't know what to think or do at that moment.. She began to feel guilty again as she thought how she always assumed her daughters to be innocent and blamed Ranma for being an untrustworthy person. Suddenly She realized that she had no right to judge him like that! That whatever she was thinking about Ranma and assuming his character might be like, is all wrong! And judging him because of his father's actions, could turn out to be a great mistake...

'I think I shouldn't doubt him anymore! Moreover, I think I should start trusting what my daughters were trying to make me believe.. I think.. it's time...'

She thought to herself, she sighed sadly as she bits her lower lips. She then slowly began to walk towards them and silently , she removed her covering from around her body and carefully laid it over Ranma…*

Ranma woke up, feeling well-rested as his body filled with warm sensation.. He blinked his eyes rapidly and looked at the window, noticing it was still dawn outside. He sighs as yesterday's memory came to his mind. He slowly turned to look at Akane, who was still sleeping peacefully.. He laid his jaw over her bed and watched her sleeping form with his warm blue eyes. He smiled when he comprehended their positions.. The possessive way his tomboy was holding his shoulder and neck, was making his heart fill with indescribable tenderness.. At that time as he kept looking at her beautiful sleeping feature, he realized that he could keep looking at her without blinking his eyes and he wouldn't even get tired of her wonderful vision.

Smiling warmly, he absentmindedly pulled his comforter around his body, seeking more comfort from the soft garment..

' That feels nice... Wait a second ! Who laid this over me?'

He panicked at his own thoughts.. He slowly untangled himself from Akane's tight hug and observed everything very carefully. Noticing a not so familiar woman's comforter around his body. Then suddenly it all clicked his brain..

'I am at Akane's room… Oh my God! And I fell asleep here! What about aunt Suki!! Did she allow it to happen?! Isn't she angry at me for all this?! Oh God! How could I act so lame! Why did I fell asleep here! That's so dumb of me! What will aunt Suki think of me now!'

His train of thoughts broke when he suddenly heard Akane whimpering in her sleep as her hand absentmindedly began to search for him. He warmly smiled at her gesture and laid the comforter under her searching palm.. He chuckled when he saw her curling that to her heart tightly as she pouted like a kid. He shook his head and slowly stood up, he slightly bent his head down towards her face and softly kissed her forehead.. He decided to use the window for his escape because he didn't want to face anyone at that moment.. His heart is still so sore and tired from all that emotional turmoil he had to go through for the last few weeks, so this is the only plan which is looking so appealing to him..

Sighing heavily, giving her sleeping form a last longing look, he opened her window and left….*

Akane slowly opens her eyes, feeling extremely well rested as soft warmth enveloped her whole body.. She sighs happily as she again closes her eyes, feeling more comfortable..

'That's strange! Why am I feeling so delighted?! Umm.. I almost forgot the last time I felt this way.. It's like I don't have any care in the world..'

Smiling while her eyes still closed, She thought to herself as suddenly, last night's scenarios came to her mind. She horrifyingly opened her eyelids widely as the possibilities of the last night being nothing else then a dream came to her mind. She gulped nervously and became afraid to even leave the bed now…

'What if I dreamed of it all!? What if everything's the same as before? What if Ranma… is he.. Is he still angry at me?! If he is not then… then why is he not by my side? Where is he? Oh Kami…'

Akane's eyes filled with unshed tears as the possibleility of all this being true filled her mind.. She sniffed and slowly wiped her wet eyes with the sleeve of her clothing..

"Wait a minute!!"

She whispers in disbelief as she realizes something unusual.. She hastily sat up on her bed and touched the familiar red material which was hugging her body.. A small laugh filled with relief came out from her mouth as her eyes filled up with tears again..

"I was not dreaming! It really did happened last night! But where is that baka?"

She whispers to herself as suddenly she noticed the time on her bedside table.. Her eyes went wide with surprise when she noticed the time.. She not only missed her breakfast, but if she don't make it fast she won't even get anything for lunch as well. But more important thing then that is, she wants to meet Ranma so badly..She still have to make sure that everything is alright between them and that his promise is actually genuine this time… She didn't waste any more time on the bed and hurriedly got dressed to withstand the waiting day and to get some answers for her roaming questions…*

"Hey, buddy!"

Ranma called Akio to pull his attention towards him, who was currently resting over a pad, enjoying a stunning sunbath.

Hearing Ranma's voice, a confused-looking Akio turned to face him as he pulled his sunglasses up to see if he was not mistakeing anything..

"You were calling me?"

Ranma smirked at him, he puts his hands inside his knee-length shorts as he replied in a friendly tone,

"Do ya see anyone here whom I would call my buddy here!"

Still doubtful, Akio looked his left and right and when he saw no one standing there, he looked at Ranma with a dumbfounded expression on his face..

Ranma sighs as he said in a genuine tone,

"Look man, I am sorry! It was so dumb of me to doubt ya guys like that!"

"O-k-a-y!" He said still in a confused state as he slowly stood up to face him..

Ranma growled annoyingly as he said,

"I said sorry, ain't I? Now why are ya acting like this!"

"Well.. Because I was not expecting it at all!!" He pretended to be considering this situation as he said playfully,

"Or should I still be mad at you, Ranma Saotome!! You did accused me so badly this time!! Umm, let me think! Oh yeah! In one condition I can forgive you, pal.."

"And that is..?" Ranma asked in confusion.

"That is my friend, you have to go and have some ice cream with me.." Saying that he began to laugh hard when he noticed Ranma's stupefied expression.

Ranma smirked at Akio's sense of humour as he shook his head at him and said playfully,

"If that's what ya want.. Anytime, pal!"

Akio stopped laughing and looked behind Ranma, then putting his glasses on, he said while chuckling,

"Are ya sure? Don't you think someone might feel jealous of us and might assume something is going on between us?!"

That made Ranma even more stunned, but before he could ask Akio what he meant by saying that, he saw him giving him notion to turn his head.. Ranma turned to look behind him and saw as Akane began to make her way towards them. He got silent as he kept looking at her.. It's been just some hours since he last saw her, but it was like as if he hadn't seen her in a long time..

His heart began to pound harder as he looked at her beautifully messy state. He could see her hurrying tracks and an uncertain expression on her face.. He also wants to run towards her, but it was as if he got stucked by her mesmerising appearance and couldn't do anything but to just stare at her.

Akio cleared his throat loudly as he said,

"I think we have to postpone our plans for later, man!! Now go to her and have some fun.."

Saying that, Akio didn't wait for any reply from him as he hurriedly left both of them to be alone.

As Akane was nearing Ranma, her uncertainty began to come back to her again. Possibilities of him still being angry with her were still hunting her heart mercilessly. She gulped as she bits her lips in worry. Her eyes locked with his inexpressible eyes as both of them stood in front of each other, silently..

Ranma inwardly smirked as he noticed how nervous his tomboy seemed to look. He wanted to play a little joke on her, he narrowed his slits at her and pretended to be angry at her.. With a fake annoyed expression in his face, he sighed heavily and began to walk past her.

Akane's heart dropped when she saw Ranma again behaving this way with her. She looked down sadly as her all hopes succumbed down with Ranma's every step..

Then suddenly, she got fully surprised as she looked up again when she saw him returning to his place again. He grunted in irritation as he said to her,

"What's with ya, sleepy head ! How much longer yea were planning to sleep, huh!?"

"Huh!?" Was her brilliant reply as she looked at him with an awestruck expression.

Ranma couldn't hold back anymore as the corner of his lips pulled up in a sly smile.

"Because of ya I missed my breakfast, tomboy.. Now do ya want me ta miss my lunch as well, huh!?"

Akane's face instantly brightened up with an elegant smile as she sighed in relief. Then when she saw him smirking at her, she growled at him and playfully smacked his arm to make him stop.

"Oh honestly, Ranma! How could you laugh at me like this! And here I thought that.."

"That I am still angry with ya.." Ranma asked her in a soft whisper tone as he gave her an intense look.

Akane came closer to him and tiptoed to his nose level as she whisper softly over his face,

"Don't you dare repeat that again, Ranma Saotome..or else.."

Ranma came even more closer to her and replied huskily,

"Or else what, tomboy.."

"Tomboy! Who's a tomboy!"

Hearing an all too familiar unwelcoming voice, Ranma and Akane both turned their head simulatedly to look at the person who had interrupted them so annoyingly.. They both inwardly cursed as Ranma growled in irritation when he saw none other then Taichi standing in front of them.

Taichi had a stunned expression on his face as he asked Ranma in a hard surprised tone,

"Why did you call her that? She doesn't deserve it!"

"Hey..!!" Ranma began to reply angrily but got interrupted by Akane.

"Uhh.. Hi Taichi.. Umm, about that, please don't worry! We both like to tease each other by calling each other names!!"

"But he shouldn't , Akane! You are such a beautiful girl! I have never seen such an elegant-looking girl like you before..! Please don't trust what he is saying!"

Akane's sweat dropped, she laughed in disturbance as she felt the angry aura coming from her side.

"Haha! Yea umm Taichi.. That's so sweet of you... Thank.."

"That's ENOUGH!" Declaring it hotly, he hastily wrapped his hand around Akane's waist and forcefully pulled her by his side.

"We have to go and get our lunch, tomboy! We can't just stand here and waste our time takin.."

Saying that, he didn't wait for any more reply as he began to forcefully pull Akane by his side as he tightly warped his arm around her waist. The way he was pulling her alongside him, she began to feel little pain as she said,

"Ranma, what are you doing?"

"What is it looking like?!" He replied hotly.

"Ouch! Honestly, You are pulling me so hard Ranma! Please stop!"

Ranma gave an angry grunt as he stopped and turned to look at her furiously,

"Ya are SUCH a UNCUTE TOMBOY! Can't ya see what I am tryn' ta do!?"

"What!" Akane asked, still giving him a confused stare.

Ranma pouted at her and said moodily,

"I was trying ta make him jealous, okay! "

"Like this?!"

"How else!?" He sighs sadly, "But I think ya don't want that ta happen.." Saying that with a broken tone, he quickly turned to leave , but stopped when he felt her grabbing his arm to stop him from leaving.

"Dummy, your 'Saotome style, how to make a guy jealous tricks' won't work on him like this! Look, you wanted to make him jealous, but the way you forcefully pulled me alongside you, it will give him one point thinking that, you are forcing yourself on me! It won't make him jealous, Baka!"

"It won't?!" Ranma asked fully stupefied as he said in a soft tone, "But how come! I am sure it always manages to make me burn with jealousy!!"

Ranma's sudden honest declaration made Akane blush bright red, she warmly smiled up at him at whispers to him,

"You really mean it, Ranma?"

As if realizing his mistake for the first time, Ranma gulped in nervousness as he began to blush as well. He wanted to deny to her again as he always used to do. Saying, who would be jealous of a tomboy girl like you. But her hopeful eyes, as they looked up at him with love in them, he couldn't deny the truth anymore. He sighed defeated as he slowly nodded his head.

Akane smiles at him and slowly bits her lower lips. She held his hand softly and asked him in a soft whisper tone,

"Do you really want him to feel jealous , Ranma?"

Ranma gulped hard as he nodded his head. Akane smiled at him and without any word, she again tiptoed towards his face and without any hasitation, she locked her lip with his. Ranma was not prepared for that, he stood still while Akane wrapped her arms around his neck. After some moment of shock, Ranma slowly began to wrap his trembling hands around her waist. He heard her softly giggling on the kiss, which made him feel like a dummy for standing there like a dumb and not responding to her kiss. He growled at her and was getting ready to return her kiss, when suddenly, she ended their kiss. Still locking her arms around his neck, she slyly smiled up at him as he looked down at her with a smirk on his face. She giggled again and asked him in a playful tone,

"So now tell, Mr Saotome..Now look at him! Is he looking ready to burst with jealousy yet, or do we need to give him some more dose of jealousy,huh?!"

Ranma smirked down at her and as she asked him to do, he looked at Taichi's direction and instantly his face losses all the colour.

Akane noticed the sudden change on him, she became little worried as she asked him in soft tone,

"Isn't he jealous yet?! What are you seeing Ranma?"

Ranma gulped hard as he replied in a shaky tone,.

"Ya are right, tomboy.. He is looking as if anytime he would burst with jealousy, but…"

"But what?"

"Uhh.. The another one is looking ready to fly over the moon and the other one is looking ready to faint.."

"What!" Akane asked confused as she untangled herself from him,"What do you mean by that, Ranma.. What.."

Akane stopped asking as she also turned to look at the scenario. She took a sharp breath when she saw not only Taichi had witnessed this scene, her mother and aunt Nodoka was also standing there with their individual expressions on their faces.

"Mom!!" Akane whispers in disbelief as she laid her hand over her lips..Her face becomes like red tomatoes as suddenly her face becomes hot. Then she said in a haste,

"I am out of here!"

Saying that Akane hurriedly ran out from that place, leaving Ranma to deal with the mothers..

"Hey! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE LIKE THIS!! WAIT FOR ME!"

And Ranma also began to ran behind Akane to catch up with her.

Nodoka giggled hard when she saw their reactions. She laid her hand over her heart as she said to Suki,

"Don't they make the perfect couple, Suki?"

Suki sighs heavily as she shook her head in disbelief. She laid her palm over her face as she mumbled to herself,

"And here I thought my daughter is such an innocent!"

Behind her palm, she couldn't help the small smile that suddenly formed. She looked at Nodoka with a warm smile and began to giggle alongside her as she turned to look at their retreating figures….

A/N: See you all hopefully soon!!!