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Certainly Not
"What do you mean she's 'missing'?" Ranma demanded. Nabiki shrugged.
"Just what I said. I haven't seen her all day. Not since breakfast."
Kasumi dried her hands on a dishtowel. "And it's nearly time for dinner. Oh, my, I hope she's not in trouble."
Ranma gave a startled yell as a firm hand grasped his shoulder. Genma whirled his son around.
"Ranma, this is the perfect opportunity for you to prove your devotion to Akane to the Tendos."
"Aw, pop, don't be stupid," Ranma replied, annoyed. Genma scowled.
"Listen to me, boy, you need to show a little manly pride."
Ranma face-faulted. Nabiki gave a rude little laugh and sashayed upstairs. "What are ya talking about?"
"Ranma, what your father is trying to say is that its important to show how much you care for my little girl," Soun stated, even as tears streamed down his face. Ranma made a face.
"What are you talking about? Why should I care where Akane runs off to? An uncute, tomboy girl like her is perfectly safe."
"RANMA!" Ranma cowered at his father and Soun's demon head attack.
"Alright, alright, I'll go look for her. Geez, why do I always havta go after her..." Ranma headed off into the evening, muttering to himself.
"I'm starving!" Ranma plopped himself down at the table and began to eat ravenously. Kasumi smiled.
"Goodness, Ranma, you'll make yourself sick."
"Well? Well?" Soun's tear-soaked face appeared around the corner. "Did you find her?"
"No," Ranma answered calmly. Splash! "Aw, pop!" Ranma-chan shouted. "What didja do THAT for?!"
"Ranma, I'm very disappointed in you. What did I ever do to deserve such ungrateful offspring?"
"Aw, lay off, old man." Ranma-chan slurped up the rest of her dinner and leaned back. "I'm sure Akane'll show up before it's time for bed. Don't worry about it."
"Ranma, I want her found!" Soun grabbed Ranma's shoulders and shook her. "I won't have a single moment's peace until my baby is safe at home!"
"Yeesh, relax Mr. Tendo!" Ranma-chan pulled away and crossed her arms behind her head nonchalantly. "It's not like Akane is totally helpless or somethin'. Besides, she's just a girl. She's probably afraid of the dark. I'm sure she'll be home soon." Ranma grabbed up a piece of fruit from the counter and headed upstairs.
"Ranma? Are you still up?"
Ranma looked over at the door, mid push-up. "Somethin' wrong, Kasumi?"
"No..." Kasumi's soft slippers made a soft swishing noise against the floor as she shifted. "It's just that...well, it's really late and Akane hasn't come home yet."
"Oh, is that all?" Ranma switched to sit-ups. "Don't worry about it, Kasumi. I'm sure she's fine. She's probably out fighting Shampoo or...hanging out with....Ryoga or...somethin..." Kasumi wrapped her bathrobe a little tighter.
"You really think so? I suppose you could be right. Ryoga is a nice boy, I suppose. I just hope she's not in trouble."
"Don't be SILLY!" Ranma mumbled, chuckling half-heartedly. Kasumi's slippers swished against the floor as she left. Ranma paused, mid-push up, then continued.
"Ranma? Hey, Ranma! Wake up!" Ranma moaned.
"Wha? Huh? Whassamatta..." He opened his eyes slowly. "Nabiki...? Why are you in my room in the middle of the night?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't get any ideas, Ranma. It's four in the morning and Akane's still missing. Daddy wants you to find her."
"Aww..." Ranma slapped a hand over his face. "Why me? It's not like I'm the one who lost her!"
"Don't be silly, Ranma. You're her fiancee. Get moving." Nabiki turned on her heel and left the room.
"Yeah, yeah..." Ranma pulled his clothes on groggily. He stumbled downstairs and out the door.
"And don't come back until you've found her!" Soun ordered after him.
In spite of his nonchalant attitude, Ranma was worried. Seriously worried. It just wasn't like Akane to vanish like this. He'd already checked all the places she might go; now he was wandering aimlessly about, calling her name. Hundreds of scenarios played themselves out in his mind; he and Akane had no shortage of adversaries. What if she was hurt? What if she...
'Akane....oh, Akane, where could you have gone to?!'
Kasumi placed breakfast in front of her family. "Where do you suppose they could be?" she wondered aloud. Soun looked down into his dish.
"This is a tragedy. A true-"
"Morning, dad!" Akane Tendo walked cheerfully into the kitchen and sat down. She was instantly surrounded.
"Akane! Where have you been?!"
Akane blinked. "What are you talking about? I was sleeping over at a friend's."
"Why didn't you tell your poor father?" Soun queried.
"What?! I TOLD Nabiki!"
All eyes turned to Nabiki, who held up her hands. "Hey, I seriously had nothing to do with this. I honestly did not hear her, ok?"
Kasumi giggled. "Oh, my, how funny! Here we were all thinking Akane had vanished and she was safe and sound all the time!" She stopped laughing and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "And just think; Ranma's been out on the streets looking for you all night long."
Akane's eyes widened. "What?"
Nabiki picked up her bowl and her chopsticks. "Daddy kicked him out of the house until he found you," she said through a mouthful of rice. "So, since he obviously didn't, he's still at it. Or he's fallen asleep somewhere."
"That's true. After all, you woke him up at four am."
Akane paled. "You guys! I've gotta find him!" Akane stood and darted for the door.
"Wait, Akane!" Kasumi called. "Do you want to take some breakfast?" No response except the slamming of the front door. Kasumi shrugged. "Oh, well."
Ranma was exhausted. He didn't know what was keeping him from keeling over; probably sheer adrenaline. He hadn't seen hide nor hair of Akane all night. True, Mr. Tendo had kicked him out, but at this point, Ranma didn't really care. He just wanted to know where his fiancee was.
"Ranma!" Ranma turned his head and stared in sheer disbelief.
"Akane?"
"Ranma!" Breathless, Akane screeched to a halt in front of him. "I've been looking all over for you! See, this was all kinda a big mistake! I told Nabiki yesterday that I was sleeping over at a friend's, but I guess she forgot, so nobody knew where I was. I shoulda checked in, but I didn't wanna bother. Then when I got home, they told me you were out looking, so I came to find you." Ranma just stared at her for a moment as the information sunk in.
"Akane...."
"Yeah?"
Ranma looked down at his feet, taking in a deep breath. "Akane....you....IDIOT!!" The sheer force of Ranma's voice made Akane take a step back. She blinked as he reared his head up to glare at her. "What did you think you were DOING?!" he ejaculated. "YOU STUPID IDIOT! You're not supposed to just disappear like that without checkin' in! I've been out looking for you all night! Understand? You had everybody scared half ta' death thinkin' you were hurt or somethin', and you don't even bother to let us know you're fine!" Ranma's voice increased in volume as he continued his tirade. "You stupid, boneheaded tomboy! I've been worried sick about you all night! I've been out here for hours, screamin' your name all over the place, scared ta' death that somethin' happened to you, because you couldn't just tell me where you were! You moron! Don't you EVER to that to me EVER again!!" Akane drew in her breath sharply as Ranma finished his tongue-lashing. Ranma stood, panting, with daggers in his eyes. Akane took a few shaky breaths and fought back the tears that pricked the corners of her eyes.
"I...I...I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I'm sorry, Ranma, I really am. I didn't think..." Akane swallowed hard, Ranma's sharp words still ringing in her eyes, causing a dull ache in her chest. She blinked again and a few tears escaped. "I'm really sorry," she murmured again. "I didn't mean to...t-to.." Akane gave a sobbing cough against the lump rising in her throat. That nearly cost her any self-control she had left, but she refused to cry.
As Akane spoke, Ranma's eyes slowly softened. He frowned guiltily as she started to cry. "Aw...I'm sorry, Akane," he apologized, stepping towards her. "I didn't mean ta make you cry..." Akane gave a choked sob in response. Ranma swallowed nervously. "Aw, please don't cry, Akane. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that." Ranma pulled Akane into his arms. She gave an odd, choked little hiccup.
"No...you were right...you're right to be mad at me..I should have told you all where I was....you have a right to be mad."
"I'm not mad, Akane." Akane looked up into her fiancee's face, confusion in her eyes. He smiled sheepishly. "See...the only reason I kinda snapped at you is...well...I was worried about'cha."
Akane blinked. "R-really?"
"Yeah." Ranma gave an awkward little shrug. "I mean, it's not like we're in love or nothin', but..."
"But?" Akane wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Ranma's arms were still around her. He dropped his gaze, blushing.
"Well, I...I'd never forgive myself if...if somethin where to...h-happen to ya..." Akane stared at her fiancee, who's face had turned a cute shade of pink.
"Oh, Ranma..."
"Now don't go all girly on me," Ranma frowned. "I didn't mean nothin', I just don't want anybody touchin' you but me." He suddenly turned pale. "Eep! Akane, that...that's not what I-!"
"DIE, you PERVERT!" Akane fumed.
"No, WAIT! I only meant I didn't want you gettin' into trouble! I can't stand the thought of you gettin' into trouble when I'm not there to protect you! Otto!" Ranma covered his mouth. Akane gaped at him.
"Ranma...that's the sweetest thing I've ever heard you say." Ranma just mumbled something through his hand. Impulsively, Akane gave him a hug. "I promise I won't ever disappear like that again," she whispered. "Ok?" Ranma gulped, but put his arms around her again, carefully.
"K...NOW can we go home? I'm...kinda tired."
"Oh! Sorry." Akane turned, leaving one arm around Ranma's waist. "Yeah, let's go home." Ranma rested his arm around her shoulders as they headed home. Not for closeness, of course. Just because he was tired. Akane knew he was tired, so she needn't think that he liked her or nothin'. I mean, sure, the way she had herself pressed up against his side was kinda nice...ok...really nice...but it didn't mean anything. Ok, so he happened to lean his head against hers. He was tired. He'd been awake all night. She knew that. So...why was her head against his shoulder like that? Well...nobody gets much sleep at slumber parties, of course. But not for closeness or anything. Certainly not.
The End