After stowing her suitcase in the compartment above her, Akane had sat down and had finally begun to relax. She looked forward to coming home, almost disbelieving she was on a Nerima-bound train. The past few months of university were stressful and she couldn't wait to just spend time with her friends and family.
Akane closed her eyes and reclined into her cushioned seat. And maybe she'd get to see more of Ranma. Besides a few phone calls and a letter that barely passed for legible, she hadn't heard from him. She'd never admit it, but she had actually missed the moron. A smile tugged at her lips as she thought of him.
She glanced outside the window, aware of the current snowfall. She hoped her dad wouldn't have trouble getting to the station on time, she thought, before drifting off to sleep.
Akane woke up fully rested. After she checked her watch, she felt relieved. She hadn't overslept, and the next stop was hers. She made to get ready by bringing her suitcase down and pulling her heavy coat on. Soon, the train came to a halt and Akane found herself walking onto the platform, looking for her father.
She found him instead. He looked decidedly awkward in his light blue long-sleeve shirt and his neck wrapped in the yellow, poor excuse of a scarf she had made him a few Christmases ago. In one hand, Ranma held up a yellow umbrella. "Oh, Ranma," Akane murmured to herself happily, "you really do look like an idiot." Grinning, she walked up to him.
"Yo," he gave her as a form of greeting when she had come closer. With his free hand, he took her suitcase from her. "I mi—Welcome home," he finished lamely.
The sight of Ranma overwhelmed Akane and she suddenly threw her arms around him, not caring who saw, not minding that the material of the homemade scarf was rough against her face. She noticed Ranma stiffen, but he soon relaxed into the embrace. With her face buried into his chest came her muffled reply: "I missed you too."
They began to walk home, the umbrella above them.
AN: Thanks to N for betaing.