One day after (Sunday)

Kasumi absentmindedly stirred the broth that she was cooking to feed her family. She looked at all the dishes that she had prepared that day. She knew that she had over did herself today, but she couldn't help it. After the incident happened this Friday, her imouto hadn't eaten a single bite of food since then. That's why in hope of feeding her upset baby sister and in hope of lifting her mood; for lunch, she made sure to make all her favourite dishes.

She sighed tiredly as she neatly started plating Akane's food. She hated the atmosphere around her. She never felt this distress like she is feeling now, not even when she had her divorce. The main thing is, her imouto and Akio were always there to cheer her up. They used to come up with so many silly ideas to lift her mood that she never felt depressed. Now, both her young siblings are silent and depressed. And she had no idea how she would fix this messed-up situation.

She carefully took the tray in her hands and started walking upstairs to go to Akane's room. Upon reaching her room; She balanced the tray with her one hand and opened the lock of her door. And as she thought, she found her sister the same way she left her this morning. She was balled up on a corner of her bed; her back resting over the bad rail; her head resting over the wall as she wrapped the blanket over her shoulder and clutched it tightly together.

Friday night was a nightmare for her. She had been dead worried for Akane. Although Akio had told her that everything was alright, she had this feeling in her heart that something was not right. That's why when Akio had asked her to go back to sleep; she didn't listen to him and patiently waited for his arrival.

When he arrived though, she fell asleep in the dining area. But when she heard his urgent footsteps and his frantic plead for help; she immediately woke up and the scene that she witnessed shocked her immensely. They immediately took Akane to her bedroom and started doing everything to wake her up. To their relief, Akane opened her eyes after a few tries; but when she looked at her; she weakly burst out crying in her arms, calling only one name again and again; and that was Ranma.

Seeing Akane cry like this made her act panicked; but Akio's reaction was so surprising to her. He didn't care about Akane's mental breakdown and started shouting at her, accusing her and scolding her. She tried to stop him, but when Akio told her all that happened between Ranma and Akane, after hearing that she became completely silent. Then Akio started accusing her as well. Telling her that, if she hadn't allowed Ranma into this house, this wouldn't have gone this far! She couldn't say anything to him at that moment, because she could tell that he was scared too! The silent tears when he was describing the scene to her were proof of it.

After what happened with his mother, her life and Nabiki's; he hardly believes any guy. He looked after Akane like a shadow, so that she wouldn't have to go through the same heartbreak that they had gone through. And this scenario with Ranma might have triggered his nervousness dangerously. And Akane being drunk and the fact that she lied to them; might have injured his trust for her as well.

She decided to silently observe everything first. She knows that her imouto is not a baby anymore and she wanted to give her a chance to explain everything to her. She somehow managed to calm down Akio and told him to give them some time. She stayed by Akane all night and tried to make her fall asleep. But she kept on crying on her lap, repeatedly she called for Ranma and how sorry she was.. Then after a long wait, she fell asleep in her arms.

Akane woke up the next afternoon. Her hangover affected her badly and she needed help to do her daily routine. After she helped her with the washroom and got her ready for the day, Akane firmly dismissed having any food or any medicine for her headache. At that time Akio also entered Akane's room and then she asked her about the event and why she lied to them. She again started crying and told her everything that had happened from the very beginning.

She started with telling them about Ranma's breakdown after coming back from China and how he had been acting so miserably. Then she told them about the plan that Ryoga, her and Ukyo made, to try an attempt to make Ranma happy again. She told them about the party and what they did there. Kasumi was surprised when Akane told her that she doesn't have any idea how she got drunk; because there were no alchohol allowed in that party and she only drank orange juice there!

She tried to convince them again and again that Ranma was innocent and how he took care of her when she was acting insanely. She even said that she was the one who tried to be close to Ranma all the time; but Ranma acted gentlemanly and didn't cross his limits! He even saved her from other guys who were trying to get closer to her! Then she explained to them how Ranma begged her to go home with him, how he carried her home, how he called Ukyo to go to his apartment, how Ukyo came there to help them and how Ukyo helped her to change into Ranma's Pyjamas. The scene that Akio witnessed was nothing but her doing as well! Akane told her that she was the one who again and again tried to cross the limits , but Ranma didn't take any advantage of the situation. What Akio saw was nothing but a scene that happened because of her drunk state. Ranma had nothing to do with it. He didn't even know that they were planning to go to any party!! He was innocent..!

Akio didn't want to believe Akane and they again got into a ugly verbal fight. Which made Akane more miserable and angry and Akio left the house and didn't return all night.

She reached out to Akane and helped her to calm down. Her poor imouto was crying nonstop. Akane was feeling guilty for what had happened becauseof her stupidity; Akio made Ranma badly injured and she couldn't forget the last scene that she saw before passing out. She told Akane to come with her to see Ranma; or at least to call him; but she didn't want to. Her only demand was, that Akio need to go with her and apologize to Ranma first. Or else she won't be able to forgive herself.

She didn't force her anymore and she stayed by her side to make her feel better. Saturday night passed without any trace of Akio. She didn't know what to do anymore and decided to sattle this matter when Akio would return home.

Kasumi sighed standing at Akane's doorway and cleared her voice to let her baby sister know that she had entered her room. Akane didnt move, she just looked at her sister and sighed. Kasumi set the tray on her study table and sat on her bed and said with a cheerful tone,

"Cheer up, dear. Look, I cooked all your favourite foods today!"

Akane slowly shook her head and said with a weak whispered tone, "I don't want to eat, Oneechan."

Kasumi clutched her hand and said with a worried tone,

"Oh Akane; please eat something! You haven't eaten anything since yesterday! You can't just starve like this..!"

Akane's lips began to tremble again; she shook her head again and whispered weakly,

"When I last saw Ranma, he was bleeding, Oneechan.. And it's all…….. because of me..!" And she satrted sobbing again.

Kasumi quickly pulled Akane towards her and hugged her softly and whispered to her;

"Oh my, my, don't cry my baby! There there…"

"Oneechan.. is Ranma is ever going talk to me? I think he is going to hate me from now on.. I have got a friend like him after so long! I don't want to lose our friendship!" She said as she sobbed on her arms.

Kasumi started creasing her hair and said in a asuuring tone,

"No silly! Ranma is a very nice guy! I am sure he would understand.."

Akane sniffed and said with a weak tone,

"He is hurt because of me, Oneechan! He is innocent! Please, please believe me; he hasn't done anything wrong.."

Kasumi sighed and nodded her head as she said;

"I trust you, dear. Dont worry; everything will be alright! I will talk to Akio when he returns home.."

An hour later

Kasumi came down from Akane's room carrying the tray in her hand. Akane didn't even touch her food and again fell asleep crying in her arms. Kasumi is now feeling angry; she became desperate to fix everything that is happening. She can't just let her imouto suffer like this! Akane would definitely be sick if she didn't eat anything soon! And she also knows how stubborn her imouto could be! She knows she won't eat until Akio apologizes to Ranma. And for that, she needs to find Akio first and talk to him about this. That's why she decided to put the foods on the fridge and then she would go out to search for Akio. But thankfully, she didn't need to go anywhere; as she found him sitting on a chair on the dining table of the kitchen; his shoulder slumped down, as he looked down at his balled hands.

Kasumi slowly entered the room and forcefully laid the tray in front of him. He looked up at her with a surprised look, surprised by her sudden anger. She shook her head at him disappointedly and went to sit on a chair, facing him. She firmly looked at him and said,

"Where were you last night, huh? Or does these rules goes only for the woman who lives here that they are not allowed to stay out at night? What were you doing last night, Akio? Where have you been? With whome you been with?"

Akio gulped hard and shook his head nervously and said,

"I uh... I was checking something. I swear I didn't do any appropriate thing, Oneechan. I am sorry.."

"She hasn't had a bite of food since yesterday! She is starving, Akio! So now tell me, which one of you are now going to surrender to your stubbornness first? Or you can continue acting angry and act stubbornly; let Akane be admit to the hospital.. Who cares!"

Akio sighed sadly, he looked up at her and said with a low tone,

"They spiked the orange juice, oneechan. That's why Akane became drunk that night. I went to that place last night and found out about this incident."

Kasumi nodded her head and said in a more calmer tone,"That answers a lot of questions, doesn't it? I hope now you can believe what she was telling you.."

Akio shook his head violently and asked,

"I still can't get this thing out of my head that she had lied to us, oneechan! She NEVER did this before!!"

Kasumi gave him a serious look and asked him instead, "Tell me, Akio. If Akane had told you that she wanted to go out to a party to cheer up Ranma; would ya have agreed to that?"

Akio had no answer for that; he looked away from her and shook his head as Kasumi began to say again;

"Akio dear, I know why you are so sensitive about this issue. But don't you think you are overdoing it? Akane is not a kid anymore and if you keep behaving this way, she might feel trapped in all this! She is already doing so much at her age. I think it is time you should let her feel free to express her feelings and let her spend time with those people that she trusts!"

Akio growled at her and said angrily; "How could you say so bluntly that Ranma is trustworthy? Because of him she is dragged into this situation!! You have no idea what position I have seen those two that night!! They were.."

Kasumi held her hand up to make him stop talking as she said with a hard tone,

"Akane had already told us that it's all her doing.. She was the one who… anyways, but the point is, Ranma hadn't crossed the line!"

Akio got more agitated and said, "How could you be sure that she is not lying this time as well? She must be hiding it to save Ranma's back!"

Kasumi gave him a stern look and said, "All I know is, if Ranma had a bad intention with Akane he could have taken her to any hotel or any other place where no one could find them!" She blushed saying that, feeling embarrassed and nervous suddenly as she continued saying, "But he didn't take her, did he? In fact, he was responsible enough to call Ukyo and asked her for help! If he had bad intentions with Akane, he wouldn't have called Ukyo and asked her to come to his home.!!"

Akio looked down thinking deeply , as realization finally hit him. He balled his hand with a frustrated growl as he couldn't say any more words to her. Kasumi sighed tiredly and laid her hand over his hand and said,

"I know, what Akane did was very risky! In her state, if any other bad guy would have found her, who knows what would have happened to her! But thanks to Kami, she was in safe hands. Ranma took care of her and protected her from all sort of dangers! In that sense, don't you think we should be thankful to him? We owe Ranma a big time for protecting Akane! Do you understand what I mean to say, Akio?"

Kasumi looked at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. He began to think about what Kasumi just told him. Then he remembered the last scene he witnessed back at Ranma's house. Kasumi was right, it was Akane who was trying to get close to Ranma. When he saw them, he saw Ranma trying to back out when Akane tried to kiss him. Not to mention, Ranma also thought about Akane's well-being first, when he saw her fainting on the floor. He gave a big sigh of defeat and shook his head and said,

"I couldn't stop myself from hitting him. I thought… I was so shocked that.. I.. I.. damn it.."

"It's alright, Akio! I am glad that you have finally understood."

Akio nodded his head and said, "I will apologize to him later, when we will meet in the class maybe.."

"Oh my! That won't be until tomorrow! I can't let it happen! Do you really want Akane to starve today ?"

Akio growled and asked, "Why don't you take that stubborn girl with you to Ranma's house?"

Kasumi smiled at him and said, "I asked her to come with me. But she doesn't want to upset you anymore, dear. Why don't you go and talk to her and bring her downstairs.. I will quickly pack all these foods and we can have it together at Ranma's house! What say?"

Akio sighed and nodded his head, "Alright, Oneechan.."

Akio didn't say any more words to her and started walking towards Akane's room. Upon reaching in front of her door, he knocked on her door twice and slowly entered her room. He saw her sleeping soundly on her bed; he carefully sat on the side of her bed and laid his hand over her head. His warm touch woke her up; she blinked her eyes and got surprised when she saw Akio sitting beside her. He slowly smiled at her and said,

"I am sorry for hurting you, Akane. Can you ever forgive me?"

Akane couldn't hold back her tears; she sat up hurriedly hugged his belly tightly and apologized to him for lying to him which he accepted by hugging his beloved sister back.

"OUCH!! Careful Ucchan!!"

Ranma hissed in discomfort as he laid his hand over Ukyo's hand, to stop her from applying any more medicine over his forehead. Ukyo growled at him and said with an angry tone,

"Stop acting like a kid, Ranchan!! It's either this or I will take you to the doctor right now!"

Ranma stopped whining and looked at her pitifully and said, "Ucchan, you know why I am not going to any doctors! What if my parents find out about this incident?"

"So WHAT if they find out about it, Ranchan! Let them find out!" Ukyo lashed out angrily; and dabbed one more cotton pad with medicine over his head, making him squirm in pain again.

"But Ucchan, what if that Dr knows me somehow? I can't take any chances now!"

Ukyo gave him a heated look and then said, "No one knows who you are!! In which logic you are telling me that they would find out about this is still bizarre to me!"

"Awww my belly hurts!" Suddenly Ryoga entered Ranma's room while rubbing his belly.

Ukyo rolled her eyes hearing his moaning as she said while looking up atvthe ceiling, "God, please save me from these two IDEOTS!"

"Idiot! Who, me?" Ryoga asked in disbelief.

Ukyo just gave him a knowing look and rolled her eyes.

Ryoga shook his head in disbelief and said, "I am not an idiot!! I am the victim here!!"

Ukyo paused her work in the middle; she sat crossed-leg over Ranma's bed beside his half-lying body as she asked him, "How come you are the victim here, Mr Hibiki?!"

Ryoga growled at them and started acting dramatically as he said,

"Breakfast okonomiyaki!! Brunch okonomiyaki!! Lunch okonomiyaki!! Dinner okonomiyaki!! AGAIN in breakfast OKONOMIYAKI!! In LUNCH okonomiyaki!! And what are you planning to make us for dinner you say.."

"Okonomiyaki!!" Ukyo said hard as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Wow! I am not surprised at all!!!" Ryoga said with a expatered tone.

Ukyo growled at him and threw a pillow at his face which he caught immediately as she said,

"Here I am wasting my weekend taking care of you both idiots and you are complaining about it!! How dare you, jackass!"

"THANK YOU FOR THAT!! BUT PLEASE…. " He bowed down in front of her and asked in a pleading tone, "Please please tell me, can you make us something else for dinner tonight??"

Ukyo huffed and looked away and said,

"It's either this or you can cook by yourself!"

Ryoga whined and stood up straight and said, "I am going out then.."

"But are you feeling okay now?" Ranma asked.

Ryoga shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I am okay, buddy. Still feeling dizzy sometimes but I have to go out and grab some takeout or else my gut would kill me! Damn that woman Azusa, I wonder what she put on that drink! I never felt this weak before.."

Ukyo looked at him and said, "Well if you are going out then, please bring me a take-out dinner too, honey! You have to somehow repay me, you know.."

Ryoga smirked and said, "Yap, no worries! After all this craziness you do deserve to be pampered!"

Ukyo chuckled and shook her head, "Don't get into any more trouble, dummy!"

"Ryoga.." Ukyo and Ryoga looked at Ranma when he called him. But before Ranma could ask him anything Ryoga said to him,

"You don't have to say it, buddy! I will bring ya a takeout too.."

Ranma shook his head and said hesitatingly, "Umm not that.. Can ya... can ya please go and check on Akane for me?"

Ryoga gulped and asked, "Do ya want me to die?"

"He won't go there.." Ukyo said, angrily.

"But Ucchan.."

"NO!!" Ukyo heatedly looked at Ranma and said, "I called them yesterday as you asked me to and what Akio did!! He told me not to call them anymore!! HE WAS THE ONE TO BLAME!! BUT HE DARED TO CUT MY CALL AND DISRESPECT ME!!"

"Really! You did call them? Where was I at that time?" Ryoga asked, surprised.

"You were sleeping at that time! And I called them because this idiot had asked me to see how Akane was doing! This Is humiliating!!"

Ranma sighed and said, "Ucchan, I am sorry! But I really needed to know how she is doing.. She just.." he gulped hard as it became hard for him to relive the memory again. The way everything happened that night hunted him every hour. He doesn't even care about his wounds; but he can't forget the way Akane fainted in front of him. And the fact that he still doesn't have any clue how she is doing; if Akio is treating her rightly or still accusing her; thinking about all this, his mind couldn't rest a bit. He took a deep breath and said, "She fainted in front of me, for God's sake! I am feeling restless damn it! I don't even know how she is doing!"

"She is fine! You don't have to think about her!!" Ukyo replied heatedly as she asked him, "She also knows that you are hurt, Ranma! Did she try to call you?"

Ranma shook his head and said, "Maybe Akio is not letting her!"

Ryoga growled angrily and said, "Ahh!! Akio! Akio! Akio!! The next time I see this buddy I am sure gonna show him who I really am!! He will regret hitting Ranma!"

Ukyo rolled her eyes and said, "Yeah yeah I know what you'll do! Now please, would you be kind and bring us some food? I am really craving now.."

Ryoga nodded and said, "Alright then.. I will see ya guys in an hour maybe.."

Saying that Ryoga left in haste. Ranma became disappointed when Ryoga didn't say he would go and check on Akane. He growled angrily and turned his face away from Ukyo when she tried to put more medicine on his face.

"Now what?" Ukyo asked, knowing very well why he was upset.

"If ya guys won't go then;" he tried to get up from his bed and said, "I will go and check on her.."

Ukyo hastily grabbed his arm and made him sit back on his bed as she said,

"When did you become so stubborn, Ranchan?" Ukyo sighed and said, "You should be angry at Akio and take action against him for hitting you! But what are you doing?"

Ranma smirked and said, "Take action against what Akio did?! Just think about it, Ucchan! Akio is Akane's brother. He has all the right to be angry at me!"

"BUT HE HAS NO RIGHT TO HIT YOU!!" Ukyo lashed out angrily.

"Ucchan; calm down; honestly saying, if I would have found ya with some guy the way he saw me and Akane; maybe I would have reacted the same! And don't forget, we did lied to him, didn't we?"

She wanted to argue back, but she couldn't; she sighed tirelessly and said, "But still, he shouldn't have hit you, Ranchan! Anyways, let me finish your bandage first; then maybe I will try and call them again.."

"Ucchan.." Ranma held her hands and said, "I am sorry for asking you this. I know I am bothering you so much. But.."

"I understand, Ranchan. I am not upset that you are asking me this.. It's just; I.." Her voice started trembling, her eyes filled with tears as she said, "I am feeling guilty that because of our dumb plan Akio hit you like this! It's hard for me to see you like this.."

Ranma carefully wiped her tears and said, "What would I do if you were not with me, huh? I can't thank you enough for what you are doing for me, Ucchan! I owe you my life for that.."

"Stop it!" Ukyo sniffed and slapped his chest softly as she said, "You will make me cry more.. Don't Worry; even if Akio misbehaves with me again, I will make sure to ask him about Akane.."

"Oh my, but he won't dare to misbehave with you again, dear!"

Ranma and Ukyo both got shocked, when suddenly a sweet warm voice came from the door side. They became more surprised when they saw Akane's elder sister along with Akio entering Ranma's room.

Ranma was first to react; he tried to get down from his bed; but Kasumi quickly rushed towards him and didn't let him stand. She made him lay back slightly on his bad rail as she said with a motherly tone,

"Oh my my my!" She laid her hands on his cheeks and checked his face carefully, "Oh dear! Ranma, I am sorry for what Akio did to you. I am sure going to punish Akio for this.."

Ranma was taken aback by their sudden appearance. And the way Kasumi was monitoring him made him pause for a moment. Then when he heard Akio's name he instantly looked at Akio and saw him looking down, ashamed. He then looked at Kasumi and said,

"Oneechan.. I am fine! It's alright!"

Kasumi shook her head and said, "Oh no! It's not alright, look at you! And Ukyo is right, you should be angry at Akio for what he did to you! Bad bad Akio!"

Ranma looked at Kasumi and said with a warm smile on his face, "No, Oneechan; please don't blame him. What he did was natural!"

"What? Do you mean to say you are not angry at him?" Kasumi asked, surprised.

Ranma shook his head and said, "I can't blame him oneechan! He did found us in a very ought situation! Sorry.." Ranma finished while blushing madly.

Kasumi warmly stared at him and examined his face for a longer time. She smiled knowingly and whispered to him, "Akane told me everything, Ranma!" She giggled softly and said, "She did give you a hard time, didn't she?"

Her reaction made him more embarrassed and he assumed that she might have noticed the mark on his lips. But then when Ukyo also started giggling next to him, he looked down feeling shy because of all this. Kasumi stopped giggling and said to Ukyo,

"Ukyo, dear; sorry for all the trouble we caused you! I hope you can forgive us.."

Ukyo hastily shook her head and said, "No.. No! Please Kasumi- san, as Ranchan said it was our fault as well! We did lie to him. That's why maybe he became confused and reacted like that. It's nothing but a huge misunderstanding!" She looked up at Akio and said, "Akio, sorry we had to lie to you; but I promise you, we didn't had any bad intentions.."

Hearing Ukyo's trembling tone, Kasumi laid her hand over Ukyo's shoulder as she turned and gave Akio a meaningful look and said, "Look now you made her cry too! Don't you have anything to say to them, Akio?"

Akio nodded, his body language tensed. He walked towards Ranma and Ukyo and bowed down to them and said, "I am sorry, guys! I… I really didn't mean to hurt Ranma like this.I thought Akane was alone with Ranma; if I had seen Ukyo that time, then maybe I wouldn't have reacted this badly.! I .. I am really sorry, Ranma and Ukyo! And Ukyo, I was really disturbed when you called me yesterday. I had a big fight with Akane that's why I reacted to your call that way. I swear I didn't mean any word I said! I am so sorry! I.. I hope you will understand and forgive me.."

Ranma held his hand up in the midair and said, "Its okay, Akio! In fact if ya had not acted the way you acted, that would have made me more surprised, honest buddy! I am not mad at you at all.."

Ukyo also smiled at him and said, "Now I understand, Akio! Its okay.. I am also sorry for lying to you!"

Akio looked at them and smiled a little. He then offered his hand to Ranma as both of them shook their hands in a friendly manner. Then nodding his head, Akio told him in utmost honesty,

"Thank you for taking care of my baka sister for me! I really owe you big time for this, Ranma!"

Ranma was about to reply him back but Kasumi stopped him by laying her hand on his hand again;

"Ranma; thank you for taking care of Akane and giving her back to us safe and sound. It really means a lot to us."

Ranma got confused by what to say to them and how to react. His heart felt so much at ease at that moment. A feeling of pride wrapped his senses. He smiled at them and nodded his head. He then said with a genuine tone, not thinking about his words that much,

"I will always look after her, don't worry Oneechan."

Kasumi took a sharp breath as she heard Ranma's genuine tone. She smiled at him and nodded her head, a feeling of calmness surrounded her heart. Then she noticed Ranma was now and then looking at the doorway; she also noticed his nervous features as if he was trying to ask something to her. She smiled knowingly and turned at Akio and said,

"Akio, can you please bring Akane inside?"

"What! Akane is here?" Ukyo asked, surprised.

" Oh yes she is! Ryoga is with her in the living room area." Kasumi said smiling.

"Umm, I will go and get her.." Akio said as he left the room.

Ranma's heart began to beat faster, as he anticipated to see her. He wanted to see her so badly, before now he didn't realize how desperately he had missed her. But why doesn't she want to come to his room? Is she mad at him for what happened between them? Kasumi said that she told her everything; this means she remembered everything! Does she hate everything that happened? Has she started hating him after what happened? He gulped hard as his heart slowed down in fear of rejection. His train of thoughts got interrupted when Kasumi and Ukyo started talking again. And as if Ukyo had read his mind she asked Kasumi with a confused tone,

"Kasumi-chan, what happened to her? Why is she not coming to his room? Is she mad at him?"

Ranma expectantly looked at Kasumi as she said with a soft smile,

"Oh my! Mad!? No; not at all! She is just shy and maybe… little hesitant to see Ranma. She was scared that maybe Ranma would hate her after what Akio did to him."

"What! Baka!! I can never hate her!!"

Ranma blurted out without thinking much, Kasumi smiled at that and said,

"I know she is a baka and stubborn too! Since Friday, all she did was cry and cry for you. She didn't want to upset us anymore, that's why she didn't come to see you yesterday. But you know what she did, to make Akio realize his mistake, she hasn't eaten anything since then.."

Ranma's eyes went wide with surprise; he was about to get up to meet Akane instead; but at that exact moment Akio came in the room pulling Akane's hand. She was looking down; her messy hair covering her face; her face was a mess. Her eyes were puffed, there were dark circles around her eyes, and she looked so weak and fragile at that moment. Kasumi stood up and made Akane sit beside Ranma; but she still looked down. Ranma shook his head and asked her,

"What have you done to yourself, baka! Look at me.."

He tried to pull her arm and drag her close to him but she pushed him away and looked away from him.

Ukyo tried to help as she said cheerfully, "Akane! Don't be too miserable now! Although Ranchan got hit badly, but our plan sure did work.!!"

Akane started sniffing again as she hide her face with her hand. Ranma got worried for her; he lended closer to her and tried to take her hand from her face as he whispered softly,

"Kane.. look, I am fine! Nothing happened to me. Please stop crying now, please.."

Akane shook her head in dismay, it looked like she became tried of crying as well. Rubbing her one eye she said softly,

"I am not going to listen to Ryoga anymore!"

No one heard what she said, Ranma tried to listen harder as he asked her again,

"Sorry, what did ya say?"

"Awww.." Akane whimpered at first then lashed out angrily,her face blushing as she looked at Ryoga while pouting, "YOU ARE SUCH A BAKA!! I AM NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE!"

Ukyo couldn't hold back her laughter as she started laughing hard when she saw how shocked Ryoga looked at that moment. To make the environment more relaxed she said as she hugged Akane from behind,

"You are absolutely right, Akane! His plans are always stupid! We wouldn't have gotten into this trouble if we hadn't listened to him.."

"But… but… I was just trying to help!!" Ryoga said with a puppy dog eye look.

Everyone started laughing except for Akane; Ranma kept looking at her and noticed the way she held his hand. A giddy smile came to his lips as he heard Kasumi saying,

"Well maybe next time instead of making an excuse, invite me to the party! Its been a while since I went to any!"

"That's a good idea, Kasumi-chan!" Ukyo said with a soft chuckle, then she realized something as she said, "Akane, you wait here sugar. I will quickly go and make a Okonomiyaki for you! I am sure you will feel much better after that!"

"Umm, Ukyo!" Akio started saying, " That won't be necessary. Kasumi Oneechan had bought lots of food from home. We can all have it here!"

Ryoga's pale face instantly brightened up! He hallowed excitedly and started thanking them. Ukyo shook her head and got down from the bed as Kasumi asked her,

"Ukyo dear, can you show me the kitchen so that I can prepare everything.."

"Oh yes! Let's go! I will help you!" Ukyo then turned to Akane and asked her, "Akane would you please be kind and finish the dressing of Ranchan's bandages. Thank you.."

Saying that, she didn't wait for her answer and dragged Kasumi with her. Akio felt hesitant to stay there; he looked at Akane and saw her still looking down, still not reaching out to Ranma. He gave a big sigh and said to Ryoga,

"Ryoga, why don't you show me around your house.."

"Who? Me? But…"

Ryoga couldn't say anything anymore as Akio came by his side and put his hand around his shoulder and almost dragged him out of the room and left the door half open, mostly closed.

A/N: Oh my my! I couldn't wait any longer and posted this chapter:D! I still can't open fanfiction page on my mobile app; but I can use it on laptop and Fanfiction app! How strange! And also after confirming with two of my friends, that they could open my page; I took this step to post today.

I hope this new chapter reaches you without any problem. Please if you read it don't forget to let me know that you have read it or I it will sure make me worried.

Anyways, I want to thank all of those who send me reviews for my last chapter. Thank you Thank you so so sooo much!! I want to thank my new guest reviewer as well, who just told me she is a teacher and she liked my writing! Which I think I should take as a big compliment; because as you guys already know English is not my first language, thats why my struggles becomes even more hard when I have to write it in English..

Hopefully see you guys soon!! Take care :)!!!