A/N: Words writen on bold ink means past memories and sometimes their thoughts.
One month later~~~
"Akane Tendo?" Mr Katashi turned towards his students , he fixed his glasses and looked around them to find his favourite student. "Miss Tendo? Where is she?"
Akio stood up and said,
"She is not feeling well today, sir, she got a fever."
"Oh, I see.. ! Poor girl, she must be really sick or else she never misses any class and today we have a class test too! Uhh, don't worry, you tell her to take a good rest and I will retake her examination later.."
Akio nodded his head and bowed respectfully,
"Thank you so much, sir. We really appreciate that.."
Ranma was really excited for today's exam. They have been preparing for this day since last month. Although their preparation was filled with frustration, chaos and hectic confusion, Akane with her amazing teaching skills~ had managed to get inside their thick brains and "accounts" finally made sense to them.
She was supposed to teach them three days a week; specifically on weekends. But after one week, she stopped caring about days or times and started teaching them whenever and wherever she could. At their lunchtime, after every class, and before going home; sometimes she even would have to go to their apartment every day to help them understand more easily. All in all, she had taken her duty as a teacher very seriously and he could see how committed she was when it comes to studying.
At first, Ryoga used to whine and complain all the time about the lack of free time he was getting. But Ranma's scolds always kept him in check all the time. Eventually, he also started getting interested in learning from her and every day he looked forward for their study time together. Sometimes, Ukyo also took chances to squeeze into their group to get some help from her. And Akane being Akane,~ gladly helped her to fix her lessons as well. And before they knew it, their sessions became group studies..
Akio used to scold her everyday because she was giving all her time to them; but she always used to argue back with him and tell him off. I seemed like, Akio still couldn't accept the fact that she is tutoring them. He even directly told them that he hates whatever is happening and won't let it continue for too long.
It sometimes frustrated Ranma thinking of how much pressure Akane was taking every day. She was always stressed since she had agreed to tutor Ryoga. She was supposed to tutor Ryoga alone, but she took his responsibility as well. And added to her stress was Ukyo joining them too.
To be honest, Ranma is cherishing every moment they are spending together. He could have never imagined how patience she could be sometimes. And sometimes, she could be so scary too! Well, he can't blame her for losing her cool. Both of them are really giving her a hard time. But the most amazing part was, she was not giving up on them at all.
After a week or so, she got a more satisfactory offer from her previous job place. He thought that she would accept that offer; and to be honest, he wanted her to accept that offer. Because he was feeling guilty about how much trouble he and Ryoga were causing her. But she refused that offer without even taking any time to think about this matter. And when he asked her about it she casually replied to him,
~~"I belong to "Anything Goes MartialArts.", and we never give up, Ranma. And anyway, I know you guys are trying your hardest to impress me. But please don't do that, just try to learn step by step; I am not going to leave you two in the middle of the road. Because I know how much potential you both have..'~~
That day, the way she said those words to them with a beautiful smile on her face, made both of them take her more seriously than before. It made him pleased that Ryoga is trying to change himself as well and Akane has slowly become comfortable with him too! But it frustrates him whenever Ryoga comes and joins them when Akane tried to talk to him privately. It's like he is intentionally burging in to disturb their private moments.
Today was the day he thought he would be able to show Akane how much he had progressed. He was well prepared for the test. But when he heard what Akio said to the professor, his heart immediately dropped and for a moment, he became completely blank. He looked down at the table and slowly looked at his side where she always sits beside him. He started to feel more and more guilty for pressuring her with so much work. He started assuming that it was because of the extra load she became sick suddenly. That, he is the cause why she became sick today..
"Hey.."
Ranma slowly jerked and looked back when he felt a small poke on his back. He looked at Akio, who gave him a stern look and said while passing him a small note,
"Akane asked me to give this note to you.. That dummy had icecream last night, I told her not to have it, but she didn't listen to me.. That's the reason why she got a fever. That idiot!"
Ranma took the small pink note from his hand; he thanked him and hastily opened the note to read it.
~~~~"It's just a cold! Don't worry and please concentrate on writing the answers properly and make your teacher proud, or I will bring my mallet the next time I come to your home. All the best, Ranma.. ' 'Kane.. "~~~
He smirked to himself and shook his head. Although she was not present there, after reading her note he was feeling as if she was sitting right beside him. Scolding him, patting his back, pulling his braid if he started daydreaming again.
He never noticed when he started calling her 'Kane' instead of Akane. She said she also never noticed this. They both realized it when Ryoga occasionally started teasing them by calling her 'Kane'.! She laughed it off, but to his relief, she never stopped him. And instead, one day she told him that she is happy with the nickname that he gave her. And he also made sure Ryoga wouldn't dare to call her by that name. It's their little pleasure, which he won't allow anyone to take away from him.
His train of thought broke when their professor handed them their papers. He looked at his question, took a deep breath and started writing with everything he learned from her.
"Oww! Oww ! Oww! Oww!Mmmmm!"
"Seriously Akane, stop whining like a baby, you are grown up now!"
Akio said, feeling tired as he forcefully made her sit on her bed.
"Lying down all the time will make you more sick, dummy."
"Mmmmm... awwww... I hate this!" Akane moaned and started sobbing like a baby as she said, "I am feeling so weak.. I hate this.."
"Oh my my my, Akane! Why are you crying?"
Kasumi quickly rushed towards her, she puts the soup she bought for her on her study table and sat beside her on the bed.
Akio snorted and said with a bored tone,
"Don't worry, oneechan. You know how fussy she becomes when she is sick."
Ding ding*
"Oh my! Who that might be!"
Kasumi was about to stand up to check the door, but Akane hugged her waist tightly and buried her face on her chest and cried out whining,
"No! You are not leaving me anymore! My body is burning and my muscles paining and.."
"Alright, alright, I will go and check.. God, Akane! Grow up, would you?"
Akio said tiredly as he hastily went downstairs and opened the door and to his surprise, Ranma and Ukyo were standing there with bags full of various fruits in their hands.
"Uhhh... What are you guys doing here?"
"Hi Akio, me and Ranchan came here to see Akane.." 'More like Ranma forced me to come here with him.' Ukyo bitterly thought to herself with a big smile on her face , feeling exhausted;
Akio nodded his head and let them into his house.
"This way.."
Akio said and led them the way towards Akane's bedroom. Ranma was anticipating to see her. He actually missed having her beside him today. It's like, seeing her every single day had become a habit for him. Ukyo didn't want to come with him because she didn't want to bother them. He knew he also shouldn't visit her house without any notice, but how could he reason with his heart which kept beating hard since the time he heard about her sickness.. They reached her bedroom, but he paused dreadfully when he heard Akane moaning loudly,
"NO! I don't wanna eat em.. No.. mmm.."
Akio smirked when he noticed Ranma's change of expression. He cleared his voice and opened her door.
"Akane dear, if you don't eat, how can you be well! Akio, look she is not eating again, do something." She looked up and became surprised to see the visitors, "Oh my..!"
"They came to pay a visit to the annoying patient, Oneechan."
"Oh, that's so sweet of you guys, please come on in." Kasumi said cheerfully. She started rubbing Akane's back and pulling her arms from around her belly. But Akane kept moaning and hugged her belly more tightly. Kasumi put the bowl down on the table and said while caressing her hair softly, "Akane, look Ranma and Ukyo came here to visit you."
Akane moaned and peeked up at them.
"Is her fever that bad?" Ukyo asked, worried as she sat at the corner of her bed.
"Nah!" Akio grumbled and went beside Akane. He helped her to sit properly, leaning her on her bedrail and checked her temperature, "You barely have any temperature, dummy!"
Akane slapped his hand away from her forehead and weakly cried out whining,
"Just shut up, Akio! You don't know how bad I am feeling right now.. Don't poke me."
Kasumi awed and started creasing Akane's hand lovingly as she said,
"Her temperature might be down because of the medicine, but you know very well Akio how sensitive she becomes when she has a fever! Please don't tease my poor baby.."
"Yeah .. Yeah .. Seriously Oneechan, you should stop treating her like a baby! And Akane, please for God's sake act like an adult now and have your meal, this instant!"
Akane sniffed and said in a shaky tone,
"You are so mean! I hate you..."
Akio rubbed the back of his neck and said in an annoyed tone,
"Alright, so what do you want? You want more of those ice creams, huh?"
"STOP being so rude!"
Akane cried out weakly. She dropped her head on Kasumi's shoulder and started sniffing in distress.
"There, there.. Now don't cry.." Kasumi hugged her shoulder and started comforting Akane softly.
"God! Now I am looking like a bad guy here!" Akio sighed, feeling tired.
"Kane, you will get better soon. Please don't cry.." Ranma whispered with a concern-filled tone.
She opened her eyes and looked at him with her half leaded eyes. She sighs as she tried to act strongly infront of him. She slowly rested her head over her bed rail again and whispered while looking at Ranma,
"I am sorry, Ranma. I really appreciate you two coming here.. but.." she took a deep breath and said weakly, "You shouldn't have come today. Tomorrow is your exam, right?"
Ranma was silent all the while. He became completely speechless seeing this weak side of her. She always stood strong in front of him. But today she couldn't even pretend to look strong anymore. But the thing that fascinated him was the way her family stood beside her. Akane was indeed acting like a little kid now. Crying, fussing, and moaning; but Kasumi and Akio wasn't looking a bit annoyed by her. In fact, they are tending to her so gently and the love between them was making him feel so desolate for some reason. Ranma sighed and said with a soft smile,
"I was worried about you.."
Akane tried to smile up at him, which shortly came like a moan as she said with a cracked tone,
"I will be fine. Please don't worry about me. You shouldn't have come here to see me,silly."
Ranma smiled and said,
"Maybe if you finish your food quickly then we can leave early and start preparing for tomorrow's exam.."
Akane moaned again, making a face of disgust and said,
"Awww.. but I don't wanna eat.."
"Then I ain't going anywhere.." Ranma said as a matter of fact as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Akane whined and said,
"But I am upset, Ranma! I was preparing for today's exam for so long but now see what happened to me.."
Ranma loosened up a bit and said, "You shouldn't be worrying about that.. Mr Katashi told us that he will retake your exam."
"Really! He said that?!" Akane asked, suddenly feeling relieved.
"Yeah.. Why; Akio, haven't you told her about that?" Ukyo asked him.
"Uhh, maybe I forgot.." Akio replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"How can you forget to tell me such important news!" Akane wailed and pouted up at him.
"Oh come on, Akane! Stop overreacting!"
Akio said casually, then he turned and saw Ranma, looking at the scene before him with complete amazement. Like he was shocked to find Akane acting this way. He smirked at him and said,
"At least now Ranma saw the real side of his dream girl! See, Ranma, how childish she could be.."
"Akio!" Akane moaned and threw a pillow towards him.
Kasumi giggled hearing that and said,
"Well, I am sure he won't mind it. You are one to talk ,Akio! You also get fussy whenever you get sick. I am sure Ranma and Ukyo also act the same.."
Ukyo giggled and said,
"I don't know about Ranma, but I usually get more fussy when my mom comes to tend to me."
"Really! Haha, What about you, Ranma? How does your mother handle a fussy Ranma?" Kasumi asked, cheerfully.
Everyone looked at Ranma who was looking at Akane with a distant expression on his face. Then after a while he asked them in a soft whispered tone,
"I... I don't know.. I mean, are boys allowed to make a fuss about being sick? Isn't it unmanly to do so?"
That statement silenced them all. Ukyo looked at him with a knowing expression as she bit her lower lip in worry. Akane looked at him with complete shock, she had never seen anyone looking so lost and doubtful. And for some reason, the way Ranma was looking at her made her heart squeeze painfully. It's like he has a depth of despair in his heart and he is trying his best to hide it from the whole world. But what is it that he is hiding?
"Master, welcome home!"
Mr Hiro welcomed Ranma when he entered his house. Ranma smiled at him tiredly and said,
"Mr Hiro, how many times do I have to remind you not to call me a master? Call me Ranma only."
Mr Hiro cleared his voice and said,
"Sorry, I will try next time. Anyway, this package came for you."
Ranma took the package from his hand and noticed it came from his father. He quickly opened it and got rigid when he found two flight tickets in their name. He scrunched his nose and reread the paper in his hand to be sure. He sighed frustratingly and went inside his room to give a call to his mom.
After multiple attempts, his mother's assistant finally answered his call and said,
"Hello Mr Ranma, I'm afraid your parents are busy at the moment.."
"Sendy, do you know anything about why my parents sent these flight tickets for China to me?"
"Our next conference will be held there and I think that's why."
"But what will I do there? I told Mom that I won't be able to move from this town until I finish my course then .."
"Ranma.." Suddenly Nodoka took the phone from her assistant.
"Mom, I.."
"Listen, there must be a reason why I am calling you here. Anyways, it's just a weeklong trip, you shouldn't be having any problem with that.."
Ranma sighs and said,
"Alright Mother.. Anyway, how are.."
"I will talk to you later. Don't forget about the date.. Bye.."
Nodoka hung up the call immediately, but Ranma kept the phone on his ear for a few more minutes. After some time, he whispered sadly,
"I am fine, mom. Thanks.."
He flipped over his bed. He looked up at his white ceiling, his ear buzzing with the stillness of the room as suddenly, Kasumi's words came back to him,
~~~"Well, I am sure he won't mind it. You are one to talk , Akio! You also get fussy whenever you get sick. I am sure Ranma and Ukyo also act the same.."
Ukyo giggled and said,
"I don't know about Ranma, but I usually get more fussy when my mom comes to tend to me."
"Really! Haha! What about you, Ranma? How does your mother handle a fussy Ranma?" Kasumi asked, cheerfully.~~~~
"Mother.. Ummm, mommy. Sendy San, could you please call Mother for me.." A ten-year-old Ranma moaned on his bed, shivering badly with high fever.
She checked his temperature and called his mother immediately.
"Your mother is sending the doctor here, sweety. Try to take some rest.."
"But I need my mommy! I don't need any doctor.." Ranma cried out weakly.
Sendy sighed, but couldn't say anything to him. A few moments later their family doctor came and gave him all the medicines he needed. Ranma became tired of whining and crying for his mother, and eventually fell asleep. Later that night his parents came to check on him. They looked very disappointed at him when Sendy told them about his poor behavior. Ranma wanted his mother to sit beside him and crease his hair lovingly, he wanted some affection from her. But what he got from his mother was a disappointed sigh. She sat beside him and said in a hard tone,
"Ranma! I am so disappointed in you! Is what Sandy is saying is correct?"
Ranma hid his nose under his blanket, his eyes blazing with tears as he whispered back to her weakly,
"I am not feeling well, Mumma."
Nodoka growled and used her soft finger to wipe his tears as she said disapprovingly,
"Whatever it is, you know very well I do not like people if they behave unmanly! Whining and especially shedding tears is one of the main weaknesses a man can show! And I hate tose guys who shed tears! Be a man , Ranma! If you cry you can never be a strong man! Always remember, man never cries.."
Little Ranma rapidly blinked his eyes to get rid of his tears. He loves his mother so much and the last thing he wanted is for her mother to hate him because of his weakness. Since that day, Ranma always tried to watch his behaviour around her. No matter if he had a fever, no matter how bad he had to struggle, he never complained. He always suffered alone, and stayed solitary when he needed affection and tried to make himself accept his fate. He repetedly reminded himself that he was a happy person and how lucky he actually was.. He doesn't need anyone to make him happy in his life. And he definitely does not need to cry for anything at all..*
A single tear escaped from his eye. He slowly inhaled and exhaled as he kept looking at the ceiling. His heart squeezed with pain as he kept remembering the scene that he had witnessed today at the Tendo house. They might have problems surrounding them, they might not be the richest people, but they are happy together, because they have each other; because they are a family.. The family he had always wished for and missed his whole damn delightedly miserable life..
A week later everything became normal again. Akane came back to her classes three days after that incident and as promised, Mr Katashi took her exam separately. Akane was delighted to see how her days were going. Everything seems to be going so perfectly. She was enjoying every study session with Ranma and even with Ryoga too. At first she thought she made a mistake when she signed up for the job. But when she saw the dedication of those guys, especially Ranma, she started enjoying every bit of time she spent with them. It surprised her how energetic he really is! It's like he couldn't wait to take lessons from her! And it really made her feel giddy with happiness.
But for some reason, Ranma was behaving really weirdly this past week. It's like, he was trying his best to act indifferent in front of her, but she could tell there was definitely something bothering him. He was studying with her, talking with her and spending more time with her, but still, it felt as if his heart was elsewhere. Sometimes she could surely tell that he wanted to say something to her. He would call her, look at her, his eyes would blaze with emotions, he would blink rapidly and make an excuse to leave. She had assumed this before, but what happened to the garden area today, where they sometimes study after class, has really made her convinced that he is trying to hide something from her.
Today they got their test results. She didn't get hers but Ranma and others did. They didn't do extremely well, but their results were far better than their previous ones. Ryoga was cheering happily; he was so thrilled about his result that he declared he would give a party to Akane. And that's when Ranma told her some of the secrets that he was hiding from them.
"We can't have any party, Ryoga.. Our parents called; they sent us tickets to visit them. We have to leave this weekend.."
Saying that with a sad tone, he left the place and didn't say anything to them. Since then, she kept looking for him, wanting to ask him some questions which started bothering her as well. She soon found him on the roof, he sat on the floor and distantly looked up at the open sky. She sighs and approached him softly,
"Hey.."
Ranma was surprised,but smiled when he saw her.
"Hey.."
She smiled back at him and sat beside him on the ground. They silently sat there for few moments then both said at the same time,
"Ranma.."
"Kane.."
They stopped and laughed lightly. Akane took the chance first and said,
"What happened to you,Ranma? Is there something bothering you?"
Ranma looked at her surprised and asked,
"Do I look this obvious?"
"I don't know about others,but I could definitely tell that something is off with you." She smiled at him and asked again, "What happened? You know you can tell me anything.."
Ranma hesitated a bit, then he took a deep breath and said,
"I don't know.. I am really confused, Kane! I really don't wanna go this time. It doesn't feel right.. I haven't achieved anything yet! How could I face my parents?"
"Huh! But why do you need to achieve anything to face them?"
Ranma grumbled and said,
"It's complicated!"
Akane thought for a moment, then said,
"Ranma.. Maybe you haven't achieved a lot yet, but you have started making an effort to improve yourself! And that is more important than anything else! And by the way, I am sure if you tell them about your result this time they would be very proud of you!" She said encouragingly.
"Heh! They would be proud of me!? That's a joke!" Ranma said, smirking humorlessly.
Akane wasn't expecting to hear that from him and that really made her shocked,
"Ranma?"
"It's not possible, Kane.." He looked at her with a numb expression, he shook his head and said, "It would never happen. I can never impress them."
"Why are you taking so much pressure, Ranma.. ! Listen to me, either you pass or fail, you don't have to prove anything to your family! Take it easy, please.."
Ranma had a shadow over his face, she couldn't even see what he was thinking anymore; but she could definitely tell that he was not happy with what she just said. He gave a shaky breath and said while looking at her,
"Family?.. I ... I am not ...sure.. Kane.. I.."
Akane again noticed the same expression on his face. His expression suddenly became so expressive, like he wanted to say so many things to her. His eyes gleamed with helplessness, but he blinked them away as fast as he could and ignored looking at her. She wasn't sure what was going on with him. The more she is seeing him,the more she listens to him, it's making her more and more confused. She wanted to help him so badly, but he is not helping her to reach him. She sighed sadly and tried to approach him differently,
"Hey, think about it this way... maybe your mother wants to spend time with you, that's why they called you. It's Mother's day this weekend! I am sure both your and Ryoga's mother had arranged some surprises for you. Otherwise, why would they ask you to come at this particular time, huh?"
Ranma quickly looked at her again, his eyes filled with disbelief and somewhat with hope..
"No! How could... this happen?" He asked in disbelief.
Akane took this chance and said cheerfully,
"Why not, Ranma! Your mother sure is calling you so that you can spend that day together!"
"Are you sure, Kane?"
Akane giggled at him and said heartily,
"Of course silly, I have been planning to surprise my oneechan on mother's Day! I am sure your mother is doing the same. And anyway, it's been so long you guys had see each other,; so meeting your mother on the mother's day is the best thing that could happen, dummy! Cheer up!"
Ranma never thought about it this way. Maybe what Akane was saying might be right! His mother rarely shows any emotions to him , maybe she wants to spend Mother's Day with him and that's why she wanted him there. And that's the reason why she asked him to come at this awkward time! Suddenly, Akane's words made sense to him and it spread a sparkle of hope in his heart. His foul mood immediately lifted up. He looked at her with appreciation and whispered to her happily,
"Thanks Kane.. I am feeling much better now.."
A/N: One year has passed since I have started writing this fic. Thank you for your constant love and support. And thank you for not leaving and keep reading this fic :). It really means a lot! I am more excited because, three more reviews and this fic will reach 100 reviews, finally! This is the hardest 100 reviews for me! And I am thankful for every single word you guys said to me. Thank you.. Please do read and review.. Take care..