Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2... as much as I wish I did. *Sigh*

Italics - Character's thoughts

It was over. The Phoenix God was defeated, wedding nuptials ruined and everyone was ok, things were back to normal.

Akane stared down at her hands, they felt so hot, her whole body felt hot. Was she going to burst into fla…

"Akane! You're going to be late for school!" Kasumi called.

School. It felt so different being back at school. She felt like there was no one that she could relate to. No one, who would understand how it felt to come back from the dead, that darkness. No one, who could understand how hot and thirsty she was all of the time. Akane squeezed her burning eyelids shut, took a steadying breath and walked slowly down the stairs.

"Coming, Onee-chan!"

She was down the 3rd step when she felt him. Looking up she inhaled quickly as she spotted Ranma, leaning against the wall at the bottom of the stairs with his hands behind his head. Relaxed, as if he didn't have a care in the world.

She studied him for a moment, taking in how tall he had become. He stood almost a foot above her petite 5'2 frame. His muscles were so defined, not too large but powerfully built nonetheless. Just the sight of him made her heart skip, not that he'd want an uncute tomboy like herself of course.

Wait a minute what was she thinking? Not that SHE'D want a hentai like HIM to begin with… Akane sighed, who was she kidding, just herself maybe.

"Ranma? What are you doing?" Akane asked as she descended the steps.

"Waiting for your slow ass to get down here so we can leave. Before we end up having to hold buckets in the hallway. AGAIN." Ranma scowled at her but somehow that scowl didn't reach his eyes.

He looked… Anxious? Akane couldn't say for sure but she didn't have it in her to fight this morning so she just gave him a small frown and continued past him.

Grabbing her book bag, she walked over to the door and slipped on her shoes. She could still feel the weight of Ranma's stare.

"Ready, baka? Now you're the one who's going to make us late!" Akane said. Ranma didn't say anything for a moment, just stared at her, making Akane shift from one foot to the other. 'Ranma!' She shouted.

"Yea, yea I'm coming. It's just that… are you sure you're ok to be going to school already? Not that I'm worried or nothin' but it's too soon, Akane…" Ranma said that last part as a whisper, giving her that look with his deep blue eyes that she swore could see into her soul.

"I'm fine Ranma." Akane said, waving his comments off and then turned around and ran out of the door leaving Ranma to watch her go with a deep frown on his face.

Ranma hadn't been running on the fence since they got back from Jusendo, always staying a step or 2 behind Akane, which was seriously getting on her nerves. For what seemed like the millionth time they played this game, she forced her muscles to their limit, pumping her legs faster just to get some breathing room from him. Of course her fastest was near Ranma's slowest so he just gave her an odd look and stayed that same god forsaken step behind her.

I swear if this eternal heat wave my body is stuck in doesn't kill me, this run to school will! Akane thought to herself as they arrived at the school's gate. Not even pausing she disbanded her fan club, ending her roundhouse in Kuno's face, leaving him twitching on the ground with his hand outstretched towards the beauteous Akane Tendo. Ranma just smirked as he stepped on top of him, not pausing in his stride to make it inside before the bell tolled.

They burst through the classroom door with seconds to spare. Akane put her trembling hand against the door frame for just a moment so she could steady her legs that were about to give away how much that much physical exertion had taken from her. It didn't go unnoticed by the boy behind her who went to reach for her but she pushed off from the door frame and made her way over to her desk and pulled out her books, ready to start the day.

Ranma rested his chin on his palm as he pretended to pay attention to the teacher, his eyes half closed. He looked over at Akane and saw that she was studying her hands again. He could see the ever slight tremble. She had been doing that so often since Mt. Phoenix but he couldn't figure out why. She looked so small and had lost some weight from the whole ordeal.

She looked… fragile, Ranma thought.

Before Mt. Phoenix, Akane always looked healthy and energetic, magnetic even, drawing people towards her with that smile of hers that men would kill to see just once, but now? Now she looked scared and fragile. She no longer hung out with her friends at lunch or after school. Ranma was at a loss, he tried to make her angry now just to see the healthy flush on her face but most of the time what he got was an automatic reaction. He was worried, really worried.

The day dragged on until the dismissal finally rang. Akane got up and walked toward the door where Ranma was waiting for her. Giving him a small smile, they both walked out of the school gate without uttering a single word to each other.

"Ranma Saotome! Prepare to die!"

And with that Kuno leapt into the air, bokken at the ready to smite the cur! Today would be his day of victory that the great Kuno should rid the world of the wretched Saotome and claim Akane Tendo as his bride! Today was the day for victory at laaa…

Those thoughts were cut off was a foot lashed out and slammed into Kuno's face with a little more force than usual, sending him on a spiral-like path through the sky.

"The battle is lost but the war is not over! I will smite the foul sorcerer with my last dying breath!" Kuno rejoiced as he orbited around the earth.

Ranma scowled at the disappearing upperclassman, when was that guy going to get a clue? Shaking his head he ran to catch up with Akane who didn't even seem to notice the commotion.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Ranma jogged up next to Akane and slowed his gait to match hers. Putting his hands behind his head, he glanced at her sideways only to find her lost in thought. That was becoming a habit, she barely responded to his insults anymore. He wasn't sure what bothered him more, not having flown Akane Airlines since they got back from China or being ignored outright by her.

Akane stopped in her tracks all of the sudden and grabbed Ranma's arm, looking up at him with a fearful expression on her face.

"Ranma, am I dying?"

Ranma's face went from one of surprise to anger and he turned to grip her arms tight in his shaking hands, "OF COURSE NOT, DUMMY, AS IF I WOULD LET THAT HAPPEN?!" He shouted.

"Ranma, you're hurting me…"

He released her slightly bruised arms and took a shaky breath. Looking at her downturned face he closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them a moment later, Akane had a sheepish smile on her face, "I'm sorry, I was just being silly, forget I said anything! Anyways, I'm going to hurry home and get started on our homework! "

Her smile faltered for a second as she took in his tense features. His blue eyes betraying the storm simmering in his body right now. She quickly turned around and jogged the rest of the block to the house. Leaving the all powerful martial artist feeling, well he didn't know how he felt now. Angry Akane he could handle. This? This he felt so powerless against and feeling powerless made Ranma very angry and an angry Ranma wanted to punch something.

So he did.

Author's Note:

So this is my first fanfic. I suck at grammar so pleeeeeease go easy on that. I'm working on the format. I guess I'm more curious as to if this story is worth continuing? Should I let it die a peaceful death and move on to something else? Feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking time to check it out :D