couldn't really believe that thought. When was Ranma seriously worried about her?

"Yeah ... just don't stress yourself. So how do we start looking? After all, we have no idea what it looks like, how big it is, how to find it or whatever.Any suggestions? "
Her fiancé didn't seem to have any particularly good ideas right away, either, until his stomach spoke up.
How about if we eat something first, I'm pretty hungry ... "

(Note from the author: Now you have to imagine these gigantic drops on your head as well, before it tips over and you just wiggle your legs around.
Seconds later, the two of them are in the kitchen eating what's left of dinner.)

After they had strengthened themselves, they walked around the house together looking for unusual items ... to no avail.
"Ranma, do you really think it'll be that easy to find? It could be a piece of wood in the floor or a lint under the carpet. We'll never find it!"
"Well, maybe it will help if we call him? Maybe he'll give us tips, that would be fair after all ...""Of course ... He will make himself noticeable and say: 'Here I am! I prefer to hide in wardrobes. You can guess where I am twice.'
Oh man, Ranma ... I'll tell you, we'll never find him ... "
Her tone had become almost imperceptible but desperate. Ranma wanted to avoid any kind of tears and tried to calm her down:
"Oh come on Akane. You have to make an effort, or do you never want to see Kasumi and the others again?"
Wrong statement. Akane's eyes began to shine, her nose started to run and Ranma gradually became more and more panicked.
When she also said ... "You mean we'll never see her again?" ... with a trembling voice and the first traces of tears on his face, he didn't know what to do.
What does a basically insensitive boy do when he sees a girl crying? Exactly. He 'comforts' her the way you save a buddy from total embarrassment:
Grab your shoulders, shake, talk all the time and hope that it will help.In whatever way ...
In Akane's case, that didn't have the desired effect. She had become quiet, but there was no success. She looked at him with wide eyes before she asked the fateful question + associated emotions, which led to complete despair on the part of Ranma: "Why are you so desperate, Ranma?"
Tears ran down her cheeks again, her shoulders shrugged irregularly and a sob was heard before she slowly sat down on the floor.
Last option - not advisable if you're engaged and threatened with marriage as soon as fathers see you - is to hug her. To be enjoyed with caution, you could get yourself a slap in the face.
But in emergency situations there is generally a state of emergency ...

* Ok, if I survive this, I'll go to a shrine more often and thank the gods. *

Slowly he knelt in front of her, leaned forward a little and took her in his arms.When she didn't rub him straight away, he took that as a good sign and pulled her closer, bedded her head on his shoulder and began to talk to her soothingly.
How long they sat like that, nobody knew, but a sudden rumble in the stick above them made them jump.
Akane hugged Ranma one last time before straightening up and then they started together quietly to go up the stairs.
They had reached the top and Ranma carefully stood protectively in front of Akane, who was only slightly frightened but curiously peeked out from behind him and asked him in a whisper:

"What the heck is that again?"

~ ~ ~ ~

Well, when it's at its best, you should stop as you know. I also have to think about a transition first. I have the story by and large in my head ... now I just have to write down the details.But I will try to finish the individual parts sooner.
Sry, if it took a while so far ^^;
Thanks for reading so far, I am always happy to receive comments.

See you next part, Vivi16