Akane walked with Ranma by her side. Her whole body was shaking with an unknown fear as they got closer to their destination. She looked around the surroundings. She knows this place very well. She had grown up in this neighbourhood. Earlier, when she used to come here, she couldn't hold back her anticipation for visiting this place. The place, which used to give her a sense of safety and security, now was making her feel a horror she had never felt before. For a moment, her feet became cold as she couldn't make herself walk anymore.

"Kane?" Ranma also paused walking when he noticed her stop. He turned towards her and asked her, "What happened? Why did ya stop!?"

Akane fearfully looked at him and said, "Ranma; I think we should leave this place. I am having a bad feeling about this."

"Bad feelings?" Ranma asked confused. He then started laughing softly and said, "You are worrying foolishly, Akane! There is nothing to be afraid of! They are your own grandparents after all!"

Akane shook her head impatiently and said, "They are my grandparents and I know how they could act! Please Ranma, let's go back! You are absolutely right, I am foolish! I shouldn't have listened to you and brought you here with me! This is really risky! We should head back home.."

Akane was about to turn on her track, but Ranma held her hand tightly and made her turn again. Ranma gave a long sigh and said, "Akane, please. Don't you trust me?"

Akane whined impatiently and said, "It's not about trusting you, Ranma! Whatever we had paln to do is very dangerous! We shouldn't be here in the.."

Ranma laid his finger on her lips to shut her completely. He smiled down at her, his face held a warm expression as he whispered to her,

"I know you are worried about me. But why are you feeling so anxious, you are with me."

Akane held his hand which was on her lips as she said, "Ranma, I am not feeling confidence to do this anymore. Let's leave, please.."

Ranma looked a little bit upset as he asked her, "What about Yuri then? You just can't leave her like this."

Akane moaned and said, "Yuri can take care of herself. I don't want to take any risks right now!"

Akane grabbed his hand and tried to drag him from there. But he stopped her and slowly turned her to face him. He laid his hands on her cheeks and said softly,

"Don't you understand, Kane. I am doing this for me. I can't see ya marry someone else. It will.. I will.."

Aksne's eyes filled with unshed tears as she whispered softly, "Oh, Ranma.. But my grandparents are.."

"Don't say any more words, Akane. Let's go and finish this task. I know if we stick together no one can harm us.."

Akane couldn't say anything else after that. She took a long breath and nodded her head and let Ranma lead her the way. Soon, they reached her grandparent's house and the familiar friendly neighbour came into her view. She noticed a small gathering on the entrance of her grandparents house and she noticed all the neighbours and her grandparents were standing there. They all were looking at them with surprise and disappointment on their faces. She unconsciously wrapped her arms around Ranma's arms and held him tightly. As they reached in front of all the people, her grandfather eyed their closeness with his narrow slits and said with a hard tone,

"So….; you decided to come after all,Akane. But what is this?! Why are you holding this man so protectively?"

Akane gulped and unconsciously tightened her hold on Ranma. "Grandpa, I…"

"Leave his arm, grandchild." Suddenly her grandmother spoke up with a harsh tone. Ranma and Akane turned to look at her grandmother. She gave them a heated stare and repeated, "Can't you see, child; that you are embarrassing our family!"

Her grandfather groaned and said, "Is this how we had raised you, child?"

Akane shook with fear as no words came out from her mouth. Then she felt a soft touch on her hand, she looked up at Ranma as he softly smiled down at her. He then looked up at them and said,

"Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ranma. I am Akane's boyfriend."

As the mention of the name boyfriend, long shocking intake of breaths and surprised whispers began to surround the area. At that exact moment Shinnosuke revealed himself from the crowd as he walked towards them and stood beside her grandparents. He hatefully glared at Ranma and eyed their interlocked hand with pure rage. Akane began to breath heavily as she whispered fearfully,

"Shinnosuke?"

At the mention of his name, he looked at her direction and looked at her with a desperate longing expression. Then he turned his stare towards Ranma and declared hotly,

"Akane is my FIANCE! TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HER!"

Akane hastily removed her hand from Ranma's arm, but Ranma caught her hand midway and held it tightly. Akane fearfully looked at Ranma and said with whisperd tone,

"Ranma, please.."

Ranma just gave a long sigh and glared back at the gathering and declared hotly,

"AKANE IS MINE! No one can take her away from me!"

"But she has a fiance." The grandmother started saying, "You are just her boyfriend! And that doesn't count at all."

"My wife is right. Fiance is more valid than any boyfriend. You don't stand any chance against Shinnosuke."

The crowd began to mutter their agreement as they began to demand Ranma to leave Akane's hand.

"Akane dear will marry whoever her grandparents would choose for her!"

"He is not even from our village!"

"How dare you touch our daughter!!"

"You can't take Akane away from Shinnosuke!!"

"We won't let it happen.."

"Akane rightfully belongs to Shinnosuke !!"

Akane started shaking with anxiety as she tried to explain with her shaky tone,

"Please everyone. Listen to me. Ranma is my boyfriend.. I .. I love .."

"WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!" Shinnosuke roared angrily. He walked towards Ranma and Akane and snatched her hand from Ranma.

"HEY!!" Ranma cried out angrily as he grabbed Akane's hand more tightly.

"Shinnosuke, leave my hand!!" Akane tried to protest; but she was harshly pulled by Shinnosuke. She looked back at Ranma in horror as suddenly the whole neighbourhood grabbed Ranma from every side and started pulling him to break them apart.

"RANMA!! RANMA!! NO!!"

"AKANE!! DON'T WORRY AKANE, I'LL SAVE YA.."

Akane started sobbing wildly as she started protesting more violently.

"LEAVE MY HAND!! LEAVE, LEAVE!! RANMA!! DON'T HURT MY RANMA!!"

The pull between the crowd and Shinnosuke became so hard for the couple to resist anymore. They desperately tried to hold onto each others hands, but eventually, their hold got lost as the crowd managed to separate both of them.

"RANMA!!!"

Akane tried to push Shinnosuke hard, but to her horror her grandparents also grabbed her and started pulling her inside the house. She became panicked and looked at Ranma and saw the crowd was harshly taking him away from the sight; she could hear him struggling, she could hear his painful voice as he kept calling for her. Her eyes filled with desperate tears. Her surroundings began to blurry as she screamed at the top of her laungs,

"RANMA!!!! NOOOO!!!"

Akane jerked up from her sleep. She started panting hard, her heart wildly beating, her body drenched with hot sweat. She gluped hard and tried to regain her breathing,

"It was a dream! It was just a dream! Ranma is fine... It was Nothing but a dream!"

She started saying these words like a mantra. But it was not enough for her to calm herself down. She hastily checked her alarm clock and saw it was 5 in the morning. She quickly grab her water bottle and drank some water from it, then she laid down again to try and sleep again. She tried to calm her beating heart and go back to sleep, but whenever she closed her eyes, Ranma's heart-wrenching yell would make her open her eyes. After a long moment of tossing and turning over the bed, she gave a long fustrated sigh and said to herself,

"I don't think I can sleep anymore, damn.."

She grumbled tiredly and went straight to downstairs to make a call. She knew it was only 6 am in the morning, but still she couldn't stop herself from calling Ranma. This is not the first time she had seen this nightmare. She had been having this sort of nightmare many nights after the day they had decided to go with Ranma's plan. But she can't go with this plan anymore. She has to put an end to this madness. She gave a long sigh and without any hesitation called him. For the first three-four tries he didn't respond to her. But at the fifth attempt a tired voice answered her,

"Umm Kane? 'Yawn' What's up? You 'kay?"

Akane somewhat replied irritably, "Our class starts at 9, I want you to come to the park near to Tofu's house at sharp 7."

"Huh? But why?"

Akane gave a long sigh and said, "We need to talk, Ranma. It's important.."

Ranma reached the park earlier than she had asked him to come. When he heard her voice she sounded so worried. He wanted to find out what was so important that she wanted to discuss it with him. Whatever it was, he was sure that's the only reason why she had been acting so off lately. He checked the time on the phone again, he noted he had to wait fifteen more minutes for her to come. He sighed and looked up and instantly got a glimpse of her as she was entering the park. His face immediately lits up with a big smile as he waved his hand at her.

She smiled at him and greeted him good morning. He replied to her with great pleasure as she sat down beside him. For a moment he silently observed her mood, which was to his surprise keep changing in every passing second. First to happiness to hesitation to doubt then to helplessness then settling into a depressing one. He decided to confront her first, but suddenly she turned to him looking at him with fearful eyes as she said,

"This plan is stupid. I am not taking you to my grandparent's house! No! Never!!"

"Huh??"

"Honestly!! How DUMB I am!! I shouldn't have agreed to your plan in the first place!! This is completely idiotic!!"

Ranma got little nervous that moment as he tried to convince her, "Akane, now listen.."

"NO!! YOU LISTEN TO ME, RANMA!! I am not going to take you to my grandparent's house! I won't! I can't!! And I DEFINITELY won't introduce you as my boyfriend!! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!!"

"But kane.."

"NOT IN A MILLION YEARS!! Don't you even dare to think about it anymore!!"

"Hey wait a second here.."

"I said NO!"

"AND I SAID WAIT…., Oh Kami, please, Akane!" Ranma looked deep into her eyes. She paused as she looked at him as he said with a whispered tone, "Calm down now. You Are practically rumbling, Akane. Now, first tell me, what's the matter with you suddenly? Why do you want to change the plan?"

Akane gulped and said, "You will laugh at me if I tell you.."

Ranma fully turned towards her and held her hands and said, "I won't, now please tell me.."

She looked down considering her options and then decided to tell him about her nightmares. After finishing telling him about her constant nightmare, Akane took a long breath and said,

"That's the reason why I have decided to cancel this plan. I don't want to risk.." She couldn't finish her words as suddenly he started laughing in a low tone as if he was trying hard not to brust out laughing on her face. Akane growled seeing that as she asked him, pouting,

"Hey! Why are you laughing, dummy? You said you won't laugh!"

Ranma stopped laughing and looked at her in a silly way as he said, "You dreamt this dramatically!! Hahaha! What did ya say, what would they do to me?"

Akane huffed and playfully smacked his arm, "Do you think I am joking here?"

Ranma held up his hands in a surrendering manner, still chuckling he said, "I am sorry, sorry! But don't ya think it sounds like a scene from a movie or something like that.."

Akane moaned and said, "Ranma! You don't understand! This is very serious! You don't have any idea about my grandfather and Shinnosuke; they are very strong martial artist."

Something triggered Ranma's mood when he heard about Shinnosuke. He looked up at her and said, "I think you are forgetting something here, I am also a martial artist now. I can fight them back if I want.."

Akane didn't notice his change of mood; still lost in her own anxiety as she said, "You just started learning martial arts, Ranma! And Shannusuke has been training since his childhood! He is already a sensei now and.."

"Why don't you go and marry him then?"

"Excuse me..!" Akane asked in complete disbelief.

Ranma glared at her and said with a hard tone, "Ya seemed so impressed with this Shinnosuke guy, why don't ya marry him then! Problem solved!" Ranma then gave her a suspicious look as if he just recognized something, "Wait, I think you are rethinking about our plan because maybe you have changed your mind about him? So go ahead! Go without me!"

Saying that with a hard hurting tone, he stood up in haste and began to walk away. But Akane held his arm tightly and without any second thought and warning, she used a martial arts technique on him and flipped him over her head. For a moment Ranma became fully blank. He was fully taken by surprise as he laid on the grassy ground. He grunted in pain, looking up at the clean blue sky. Quickly, the clean sky replaced with Akane's angry face who was glaring down at him. She carefully kneeled down next to him, her one leg partially on his belly and the other leg on the ground. She clutched his collars and pulled him close to her face, as she said with a hissing tone,

"Is this how you are going to defend yourself there, Ranma? I told you before also that I don't have any feelings for Shinnosuke, how dare you say that I want to marry him!"

"Then take me with you and prove me wrong.." Ranma said with a daring tone.

Akane loosened her hold on him, she gave him a frightened look and said, "I don't want you getting in trouble because of me, Ranma. They might hurt you if I introduce you as my boyfriend! Honestly, they won't even consider a boyfriend as an excuse to escape the marriage. What if they tie you up and make me marry Shinnosuke until I say 'I do'!"

This time Ranma got a little bit worried. He sat up slightly using his elbow as he asked her, "Are they really going to do that? What are they, villains or something like that?"

Akane moaned and said, "Nouu!.." She hung her head dejectedly and said while sighing. "Maybe you are right! I am overreacting now.."

Ranma smiled at her and shook his head. Then suddenly a new plan formed on his brain as he said,

"So you have problem introducing me as your boyfriend. Then why don't you introduce me as your fiance then?"

She quickly looked up at him with horrified eyes. For a long moment she kept looking at him in complete disbelief as no words came out of her mouth. Then after a long moment, she release the breath that she was unknowingly holding as she asked him in a frantic way,

"What did you just say!!"

Ranma scratched his head and repeated, "You tell them that I am your fiancee.."

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, BAKA!!"

"Why? What's the problem in this?"

Akane growled in embarrassment, 'Owww how could he just bluntly say it like this!' she thought to herself. Her face became red as she quickly let go of him and stood up in haste. When she saw him standing up next to her, she held her hand up to stop him from talking more as she said,

"Ranma! This is ridiculous! What are you even thinking? First boyfriend and now now.."

"Fiancee? I mean why are you getting so panicked about it? It's not like we would really be engaged if we..uh.. I.." he couldn't finish his speech, as at that exact moment he realized what he was saying and why Akane was feeling embarrassed. His face also became like ripped tomatoes as both of them stood there, heads down, unmoving by their embarrassment. After a long moment of uncomfortable silence, Akane tried to say, still looking down,

"Ranma, I think we should not do any of this. Fiance is a very big thing. We should not lie about this." She gave a long sigh and looked up at him and said, "You know what, it will be better if I never go back there. Problem solved.."

Ranma quickly looked up at her and asked, "So, you don't want to see your grandparents anymore, is that it?"

Akane bit her lower lip and said, "If they care about me they would come to see me without any obligation."

"What about your sister then?.."

"It's her life, Ranma. She has to take her own responsibility."

"If she had that capability would she ask you for help? What if she tries to repeat the same mistake she did before.."

Akane shook her head in despair and said, "Ranma, this is very risky. I don't think we should.."

Ranma held her hand and asked with a soft tone, "Do you think I will take advantage of this situation?"

"Huh? What type of advantage?"

Ranma sighed and said, " Umm, it's okay. If ya don't trust me then.."

"It's fiance then.." She said quickly, looking down in embarrassment.

Ranma gave a long sigh of relief and nodded at her. Then he asked her, "Is there anything else changed in the plan?"

Akane shook her head and looked up at him, "So, are you sure you don't want to inform Ukyo about this?"

"No! Don't tell her anything."

"But why, Ranma? Not even Ryoga?"

"No one, Akane." Ranma said with a sad sigh as he started wondering about the sudden change in Ukyo's behaviour. For some reason, she is not that open minded about discussing Akane and his relationship anymore. Instead, She started giving him warnings about his growing relationship with Akane. She even asked him to make distance with Akane before its too late. This is definitely not the option he would like to think about. Thats why, he had stopped discussing about Akane and his relationship with her. And if now he tells her that he is planning to spend his holidays with Akane being her fiance; he know she would definitely stop him. And telling Ryoga is not an option as well. He could definitely tell that Ryoga's intention towards Akane is not innocent anymore. He have to hide this matter from everyone if he really wants to spend some quality time with Akane. Time is flying. His heart has become desperate to know more about her. He wants to know if there is any tiny hope for their relationship. He really wants to know. He really hopes that this time together would give them some moment which might give him some hint about if he could expect anything from their relationship. If he could expect any future with her or not. For him, this vacation would mean a glimpse of his life. And he is more then ready to face the outcomes.

"Ranma? Hey, you okay?" Akane asked with a concern filled tone as she saw him zoning out for some reason.

Ranma shook his head, still feeling dismay as he said, "Yeah, it's just if you tell Ukyo now she might tell Ryoga, and he may want to tag along with us, you know what I mean."

Akane's eyes went wide with realization as she said, "Oh no, not a chance!"

Ranma smiled at the thought of how Akane seemed to easily trust every word he tells her. He sometimes feels guilty about it , but he would never take any bad advantage of this situation. So he doesn't need to be too guilty about it. He gave her a stern look and said,

"Ryoga and Ukyo would know I will be spending my holidays mostly at my home, Mr Hiro will help me with this. Ryoga will leave for a foreign tour with his other friends and Ukyo will go with her parents. Still I don't want to take any chance Akane. We won't leave at the same day, or people might suspect us 'mostly Ucchan'." He thought the last part bitterly as he continued saying, "As we planned before, I will go ahead of you, maybe a day earlier. Then next day we will meet each other at the station that you told me to wait at and nobody would even find out we are going together."

Akane got little bit uneasy and said, "Oh Ranma, I am feeling extremely nervous right now! This is way too secretive and…" She gave a sheepish smile and said, "And thrilling as well!! Oh Kami, I always wanted an adventure like this! Its like I am eloping with someone!" She started giggling sillyly after saying that.

The huge load he was feeling because of all this change of plans instantly felt lighter when he heard her sweet giggles. He gave a dreamy sigh and said,

"Yeah, let's elope from these crazy nosy people,Akane."

Akane grinned at him and nodded her head and said, "Let's do it then.."

—--

The day of their elopement/ Holiday begins

As they had planned, Ranma had left Nerima a day before their actual trip. It was not an easy task for him, because Ryoga constantly bothered him with questions after questions. But a few extra dollars had managed to shut his mouth as he happily went to his tour with his friends. Ukyo practically forced him to accompany them, but he made an excuse to explore the cities alone, and told her he may not get this opportunity again. The most easiest person to manage was his parents, who didn't even bother to ask him why he was not coming home. For some reason, this time though he felt lucky that his parents were feeling unbotherd about him. This felt like one less job for him.

Ranma smirked and shook his head. He sat on the bench of the station as he waited for Akane to arrive at their meeting point. It's only been one day since he didn't see her, but he already started missing her. Although this feeling of missing her presence is somewhat adoring to think about, but he was also scared about this feeling. What if she and him have to separate after few months? What if she wouldn't forgive him for lying to her. What if in this tour she would finally realize her real feelings for Shinnosuke and decides to marry him!

This is actually his worst fear. Akane said that she was having nightmares about her family beating him when they found out he is her boyfriend. He laughed at her that time and called her dramatic, but in reality he couldn't confess to her that he was also having nightmares about Akane and Shinnosuke getting married to each other. That's the reason why when she wanted to cancel the plan, he practically begged her not to cancel it. He always feels so uneasy whenever he hears Shinnosuke's name from Akane's mouth. He couldn't put his finger on it, but it feels like she still has some feelings for him. It could be his false assumption but still he couldn't shrug of this feeling … And at this moment he hadp no one to share this doubts with. So debating with himself is what he had been doing, which only made his situation more worst.

He wanted to debate with his unease self that he also have a fiance, he take it seriously or not; Shampoo is his fiance, so he shouldn't feel uneasy about Akane and Shinnosuke. Because no matter how serious Ranma and Shampoo's engagement is, he would never consider loving her. In reality, he doesn't want to be in her presence at all! But for some reason, he didn't get the same vibe coming from Akane whenever she talked about Shinnosuke. He could literally feel some aura coming out from her which yelled at him telling that she still has some feeling for that guy...

Ranma gave a long frustrated sigh as his bitter thoughts clouded his thoughts. He hates this feeling. It feels as if someone is stomping over his heart and mercilessly jumping over it. Whenever he thinks that Akane and him might not have any chance for any romantic relationship, he feels like the most depressed person on this world. Now he came to such a point that, he can't even imagine his life without her. And now, to put salt in his open wound, Shinossuke came in between them. If he ever sees Akane choosing someone else in front of him and if he ever witnesses her having a romantic relationship with that person, that sure would drive him nuts..

"Ranma?! Hey! Come to earth! Ranma!!"

Ranma jerked slightly when suddenly he saw Akane waving her hand infront of his face. He gave her a surprised look and smiled at her. She rolled her eyes at him and said while smiling back at him,

"What happened to you? You were fully spaced out!I have been calling you for so long, baka!"

Ranma gave a long sigh and stood up, "Sorry, I was just thinking of some stuffs."

Akane slyly smiled at him and asked playfully, "Why? Are you rethinking your decision? Are you scared, Ranma?"

Her giggling sound made him smile slyly at her as he said, "Come here, honey." He said jokingly as he pulled her next to him and circled his arm around her shoulder and started walking with her.

"Hey!" Akane protested while laughing slightly. She playfully wacked his belly with her elbow and said, "Honey?!! Why are you calling me that?"

"Well, duh.. I am practicing to be your fiancé !" He said chuckling.

"Oh, is that so?! Silly Ranma, fiancée's doesn't have to call each other Honey! We would act like fiancée's, not husband and wife!" She giggled and with her other hand she carefully moved his arm from around her shoulder and said, "And don't you even think of being so cosy with me there. You are my fiancé, and too much touching is not allowed there! They are very old fashioned, you understand?"

Ranma honestly grumbled hearing that, he stopped walking as he said in a whiny tone, "Damn, that is boring!"

Akane giggled happily, she grabbed his arm and started pulling him with her and said, "Stop acting like a baby now! It's a long journey, Ranma! We can't miss this train or we would have to reach there very late.."

"Okay, my fiancé.." Ranma said, giving a long sigh as he let her drag him with her.

A/N: Hello guys. I am so sorry for the late post. I wanted to post early but, my day to day life didnt let me. The good news is, after waiting formore then a year I finally got a job. I became very busy with this new shedules.My course work began to pilled up, shedules messy; everything became so hectic for me. Maybe thats why five days ago my body gave up and I ended up with a serious back pain. It was so bad that I thought I had to admit to hospital. But thankfully, I didn't have to. But with Dr's suggestion now I am in complete bed rest T-T..

Anyways, I am better now. Just the medication is making me feel so dizzy all the time. I wanted to make this chapter more long. But then I thought if I try to make it more long, it might take more time to publish.

I know you guys are patiently waiting for every update. I dont want to rush; this might take some time, but I want to make relevant chapters, no rushed chapters.

I wanted to give something back to my readers as an appreciation for sticking up with me throughout this whole journey. That's why I wanted to make one more new original poster for "A Lost Prince" readers. And thankfully, I found the artist "Sakana.dreams", who drew me an art totally free of cost. She is such a kind and talented artist. And then with the help of my friend "Kaysachan", we made this picture as a new poster of "A Lost Prince".

I hope my readers would love this new poster. You can see this new poster in my FB page "Mrs Impatience". I hope you will like it. Please let me know how you liked it. Thank you.