Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma or any of the characters, they belong to the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi.

oOo

The alarm clock went off disturbingly. Berobbed from her dreamless sleep Akane opened her eyes, needing some time to adjust her sight and her thoughts to where she is and what day it is. Tuesday, Jul 12th, 7:00 am, time for her morning run. It was summer break, no school, yet like every day, she had set the alarm to start of early for her morning workout. She stretched her arm to turn of the squeaking sound. The pain from her soared muscles went through her body.

"Aiiii…. I think I might just stay in bed today" she groused.

In fact, it was just about time to take a day of to give the body some rest. This summer she had used efficiently to increase her fitness. Especially during the last exams of the expired school term, she had focussed so eagerly on her studies, that there was no time for physical practise whatsoever. "If you don't watch it, you'll get even more unfit and brick-like as you already are" was Ranma's steady comment those day. Surprisingly, he had even asked her to spar with her, which was uncommon. If he was really concerned about Akane's figure or if he simple missed spending time with her, she was not able to figure that out. The recent events and the all-so-familiar emotional ups and downs when it came to her fiancé had let to the suffering of her grades so that she had to get her stuff together for the finals. Fortunately, she succeeded, and when the day came that she would finally take the time to spend some leisure time with Ranma, she caught him in his room, packing his backpack.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" he prompted without raising his eyes. Hers narrowed.

"Well, probably you'll be off to some training trip with your dad for the weekend again."

"Training trip yes, weekend no. And dad: Hell no." He pushed some towels into the backpack and leaned back looking at her sternly. "I'll be off to the mountains for a couple weeks. Probably for the whole summer. I need to get some training done and harden up."

"Harden up? You keep practising with your father every day, and you train by yourself, I mean isn't four hours a day enough workout?" Her tone was scolding, because she was shocked that he would just leave her alone for the whole summer, but he would not know that and just picked up on her harsh tone.

"That old man becomes weaker the day, he is not a worthy opponent anymore. Even Ryoga or Mouse are not even worth sparring any more, it's like everyone is just sagging through their lives." He paused as if that was meant for her especially. "I can't get better if I don't get a challenge here and there." He kept stuffing clothes into his backpack. Akane stood at the door staring at him perplexed, then she just shouted: "Well, then go have fun challenging yourself, jerk!" and shut the door close behind her.

He really left just a couple hours later without telling Akane Good-bye. Well actually, it was her who did not go to have lunch with the family for a proper farewell, she had stayed in her room the whole day, brooding over the fact that Ranma didn't even consider to ask her to come with her or just stay in Nerima with her. How can he be so inconsiderate and just take off? She had felt like the entire effort she had put into school was all for nothing facing the upcoming summer all by herself. Yet instead despairing she had come to a decision: If he can use the summer for hardening, she can as well. Instead of fighting crazy suitors (be it his or her own) or getting involved into crazy adventures, she could use the time to train for herself. There was no family vacation planed either: Nabiki, who had just graduated, was preparing for college and Kasumi was rather absorbed into her blooming romance with Dr. Tofu Ono, or Tofu, how everyone called him now as he was basically part of the family after engaging to her oldest sister. Akane also finished all her classes without having any additional projects or essays due so she could use the time intensely for improving her martial art skills. "You'll see, Ranma."

Consequently, she had indeed used the summer efficiently. Besides running, she had incorporated intensive stretching and balance training into her morning routine. "You have the elegance of a frog and the flexibility of a boar" he would always say, she thought of these words as the would push herself deeper into the split. Also, she reduced the weightlifting to the privilege of speed training. The ever so common phrases "You look like a brick" and "Every 100-year-old is faster than you are" encouraged her to do so. Actually, he was sort of right: She WAS incredibly strong, yet she would never be able to reach Ranma's level of strenth without growing her arms more muscular, and that was something she surely didn't intent. However, it was worth a try to challenge his speed (when he was male), and she had potential, she knew that. Additionally, she practised boxing and kicking in the evening hours before dinner, so that she came to a total of five to six hours training a day. Her dad was in awe for her commitment and Mr. Saotome was impressed by here ferocity, claiming how she was the perfect match for Ranma and how great of a couple they were to inherit the everything-goes school of martial arts. She would always deny that by saying that she was just doing what she felt like this summer and that (at least) she would use her gained skills to kick Ranma's butt. But in truth, it was mostly his acknowledgement she longed for, although she would not confess it to herself.

Four weeks have passed, and when there was finally a postcard from Morioka, announcing the pig-tailed boy would be returning next week on the 12th, Akane was both, gratified but also alarmed, how fast time has passed and how little (considering to her sense) she has improved in the arts. "So, he could not endure staying away for the whole summer" Nabiki has commented glancing nonchalantly at Akane. "Why would that be…"

"It has been four weeks" the youngest sister snouted while taking a zip from her tea.

"Oh my, we have to throw a welcome party for Ranma" Kasumi stated while pouring new tea into the empty cups. Soun choked, declaring:

"Another party? My dear Kasumi, your upcoming wedding is enough of a celebration, don't you think?"

"Let's just leave it at that, Kasumi. He will be happy having some warm meal again, that will be enough of a party for the boy" Genma encouraged Soun's opinion. But Nabiki already calculated the upcoming expenses as she knew her older sister was wearing the pants in the household and no one would deny her wish for a dinner party.

Since that evening, Akane has put even more effort in her workout. Six hours became eight hours "Only six days to go, I gotta kick his aaaassssss" Finally, every willpower was forfeited this morning of the 12th. It wouldn't make much of a difference anyway, she thought when rolling over to the other side to get a couple hours more sleep. Like that, she would have a bigger chance of being a proper opponent if Ranma challenged her that same day. Smiling, she dosed off into a dreamfull sleep of Ferris wheels and festival lights.

oOo

The clouds passed by as Ranma stared out of the window. He hated traveling by train, yet his feeling for schedules was so off, that he absolutely mismanaged to head back south in time to arrive on Tuesday. In the world he would not want to miss what Kasumi might prepare for dinner after weeks of Ramen and berries and vegetable from the woods. Even more, he was full of anticipation to see his fiancé again. Not the crazy amazon one, not the okonomiyaki chef (though he could also kill for some of her special breakfast okonomiyaki right now…). It was the brick-build, thick-thighed macho-chick, that has neglected him for the past weeks prior to his journey, which was the reason for his rather spontaneous trip in the first place. The events of the past year were striking: what happened in Jusenkyo followed by the failed attempt of their wedding were reason enough to believe tings between him and Akane would change. Gladly, they didn't, first. They were still two teenagers who were forced into an engagement they did not agreed to, but they got along in an odd way, having feelings (of some kind) for another without discussing them. However, although 'discussing feelings' was the most uncomfortable thing in the world for Ranma, the urge to talk things out became apparent. His guts told him to take a step forward, to open up more to Akane. Despite him being the one, admitting his feelings to her in Jusendo, she agreed to the wedding which was sort of an additament to itself. Nevertheless, after the catastrophe at the weeding, it was like nothing of the past events has happened, not even their almost-kiss at the weaver's festival. After that, it became even worse: Akane huddled up over her schoolbooks acting as if Ranma was not even present anymore. It was then when he recognized, how much he was actually used to spending time with her: Going to a café after school, doing homework together, or even having her seated in the dojo, watching him practising and scolding him for not sparing with her. In the past years she had become such an integrated part of his life, that it was unbearable not to have her around as much anymore. It drove him crazy.

At the same time, he wondered what might have been the cause of her sudden disinterest. It was one evening, not different from any other night, that his father, sitting with Soun on the veranda enjoying their second or third bottle of sake, shouted:

"My son is getting lazier the day; how can he manage to inherit our school if he keeps wasting his time watching TV."

"Saotome-kun, just leave him be. You know how we have been in our young days. We did not have the comforts of today's technology, but we did waste time in chasing women, remember? Njahaha"

"Right, Tendo-kun, those were the days. I wish my son were as indulged into his fiancé as we were into these chicks back then, harharhar!"

"It would certainly not harm those two love birds, Saotome-kun, njahahah"

Akane looked up from her history book she had brought down to read after dinner. "I would certainly be intrigued to have my peace from both, your comments, and Ranma's indulgence." With these words she snapped the book close and left the living room. Ranma glanced back at the TV.

"See, Tendo-kun, it is hopeless. The anything-goes school of martial arts will have seen its brightest days, as my spouse cannot uphold the strength or graciousness his father once upheld" Genma burst out in tears when Soun comforted him with another cup of sake.

Although the accusations were not new, the situation felt new to Ranma. There he was, escaped from death, his heart on his tongue before Akane, yet still accused of failing at everything he was doing. Even the only thing, he was sure of being capable of, slipped through his hands as he was not able to challenge himself in improving in the arts. During his combats in China his skills have improved so much, that it was indeed hard back home to find a suitable opponent, even for training. Hell, he was even considering teaching Akane to achieve a level that could be of use to him (although the more important reason for his asking was the simple longing to spend time with her). Nothing would work so he decided it would be best to use the summer break to travel Japan. Eventually, Ryoga, after returning from an involuntary disoriented journey, had always gained somewhat skill, so why not try himself. In Addition, taking total absence from Akane would mean, that after his return we would at least have the feeling of a surplus of her presence, which would be nice for a change. He was not good at math or anything, but at that time it made sense.

Now, sitting on the train, he wasn't sure if his solo trip was a good idea at all. He already though so for some time, deciding to shorten his trip by a couple weeks. Eventually, (although it took him way too long) he concluded, that during the summer, Akane, would not spend as much time for her studies, so what else would she do? Was she up to something? Was she actually planning to spend time with m…no, that's not like her. Would she start training again? Would she meet her friends, boys, would she meet Ryoga? Would that stupid pig find it's way back into her bed? In spite of his enduring training and the warm-hearted people he met on his journey, the thought of what-if-he-stayed-in-Nerima did not left his mind, so after only half the time he planned to stay away he messaged a postcard to the Tendo-dojo to inform about his return. Not that he awaited a great welcome; indeed, he would have preferred to only sneak in in the middle of the night, yet the sheer thought of Akane realizing that he will be back soon to thwart whatever plans she had going on during her summer alone in Nerima was thrilling enough for him.

Now sitting on the train, the wasn't sure, if neither his solo trip, nor his announcement was a good idea. He sighed. At least he had a plan if things went awkward…

oOo

AN/ The epiloque to this is my story A closer look. Dont worry, content is enfolding.