Cricket, cricket, cricket.

Night time rolls around. The night wind is howling and the bugs are making noises to their content. Ranma and Shampoo are both making a fire to warm themselves up while Akane is sitting by a nearby pond not too far away from them, but not too close either. Akane looked back at the fire and admired its warm appearance from afar then turned back to the calm, flat water in the pond before her.

Akane has not said a single word to either of her acquaintances she met on this weird journey, especially Ranma. A gust of wind hit Akane's body and she could not help but shiver to the bone. She could go back to the fire with Ranma and Shampoo, but she knew it would be awkward between her and Ranma. Plus, she doubts they would care if she froze to death or not. As long as she was not in their way.

'Stupid Ranma…' Akane thought to herself as she rubbed both of her arms for friction so she can somehow warm herself up. 'Why did he save me back there if he was going to treat me like a nuisance.'

She sighed in frustration. She picked up the nearest object by her foot and threw it into the calm lake. She watched the pond create ripples as the pebble hit the water. She picks up another object near her foot: a stick. She breaks it in half and accidentally cuts herself with the sharp end of it. She winces in pain and holds onto her palm as it slightly bleeds out.

'Great… now I'm cold and have a cut.' Akane thought as she kept holding onto her wounded palm.

She sighed once more and watch the pond's ripples slowly disappear. She couldn't help but think about her mother and how much she misses her warm hugs. Her smile alone can warm up the whole room. Warmth. That is what she needed right now. Then Akane thought about her beloved sister Kasumi and how her smile matches her mother's. They looked so much alike, it was crazy. She is just as kind and lovely as her mother once was.

'Kasumi…' Akane thought with a smile on her face. Her smile faded shortly after she realized something. 'I ruined her Christmas…'

The tears immediately started running down her face.

'Why do I always ruin everything?' More and more tears began to come tumbling down. 'God, why am I such an idiot?'

Akane buried her face into her knees that was up against her chest and sobbed silently.

"Yo."

Akane gasped and quickly looked up. She could not make out who it was at first because her vision was blurry,so she quickly wiped it away to find Ranma standing in front of her. Akane quickly looked away to prevent him from seeing her tears and possibly make fun of her for it.

"H-Hey were you… crying just now?" Ranma asked with his voice full of concern.

"N-No! D-Don't be ridiculous! Why would I be crying for?!" Akane snapped, still looking away.

Ranma sighed heavily and slowly sat down next to her. There was a moment of silence between the two of them until Ranma started, "Look, about earlier… I'm not mad about earlier, okay? I, uh, probably deserved it because I can have a big mouth sometimes and I, uh, am sorry. Now will ya please stop crying?"

"I-I'm not crying—"

"Yes you are! I can hear your loud snifflin' from here!"

"No! I was going to say that I wasn't crying because of that!"

Ranma sighed once again and made himself comfortable because he figured he was gonna be sitting here for a while. "So, uh, then… why are you crying then?"

"Just… other things on my mind." Akane answered as she stared down at her feet.

"Will it make ya feel better if ya talked about it?"

Akane shook her head. "I wouldn't expect you to care…"

"Hey look, I may not be the nicest dude in the whole world and I may not be your so-called 'wooden prince' or whatever," Ranma said, as he slightly scratched his head. "But one thing's for sure, I hate seeing a girl cry so… just talk about it. Talking about it helps… or so I heard."

Akane looked up from her feet and at Ranma. 'Well… he did make an effort to talk to me first. So I guess he sort of cares? But then again… he just said that he doesn't like seeing girls cry, so...'

"So, are ya gonna tell me or not?!" Ranma said, getting weirded out by Akane zoning out and staring blankly at him.

Akane quickly snapped out of it. "O-Oh right, sorry! Um… anyways… I feel like… I might've ruin someone's Christmas because I let the anger from the past get to me… and now I feel like they might just hate me forever."

"Whose Christmas did you ruin?"

To Akane's surprised, Ranma was listening. It isn't the usual "mmhm" and "yeah" kind of responses. For a moment she felt like he actually does care, but he's hiding it behind his "tough guy" facade that he has going on.

She continues on. "My sister's… I, uh, sort of yelled at her about something and she got upset about it."

"It's normal for people to get mad, but why would you ever think your sister would hate you? That's a stup—I-I mean, ridiculous… of you to think like that."

Akane smiled slightly and giggled. She appreciated the fact that Ranma tried so hard not to use the word "stupid" right after he called her that. "It's okay if you use the word stupid… it's your favorite word, isn't it?"

"Hey what is that supposed to mean?!" Ranma asked in aggregation.

"Ooooh, nothing." Akane cooed teasingly.

Ranma scratched the back of head and continued on with the conversation. "Anyway... what were you yelling at her about."

Akane took a deep, heavy sigh before answering that, "I told her that she didn't care about my mother at all… just because she wanted to celebrate something the day of her death."

"Wait… so you're telling me that your mother died the day of Christmas?"

Akane nodded slowly and went back to hugging her knees. "I hate Christmas because of it… and myself."

Ranma was taken aback when Akane said the last part. He was surprised, but also curious as to why. "And why would you hate yourself because of your mother's death?"

"I… was the reason why she died."

Ranma's eyes widen a bit by her bold statement.

Akane could feel her tears start to form in her eyes, but she took another deep breath to calm herself then continued on to tell her story. "It was Christmas eve… when I lost my mother."

Flashback...

"Papa! I want ice cream!" 6-year-old Akane said as she tugged on her father's pants, trying to get his attention.

"Now, now sugar-plum," Mr. Tendo said as he lifted up his daughter. "I think you've had enough candy for today, you can have plenty more tomorrow morning after Santa comes, right?"

Young Akane began to tear up and started kicking midair. "I want ice cream! I want ice cream!"

"If it's alright with you darling," A sweet voice said the other side of the room. "I can take Akane to get some ice cream."

Young Akane looked back and say her sweet mother standing at the entryway of the room. Akane's smile gleamed brightly as soon as she saw her mother.

"Mommy!" Akane shrieked as she was put down to the floor by her father. Once her little feet touched the ground, she made a run towards her mother and hugged her leg.

"Are you sure, honey? It's kinda late and I don't want you catch a cold." Mr. Tendo said, his face full of concern.

"I will be fine, Soun-darling. We will be fine." Mrs. Tendo said as she lifts up little Akane into her arms.

"W-Well… alright. But be sure you two wear a thick jacket before you go!"

"We will, darling. Don't worry about us!" With that said, Mrs. Tendo took Akane's small hand and walked out into the freezing, winter weather.

The ice cream parlor that was a couple of blocks down from their home was opened during Christmas eve. It was not a very long walk, so they managed to make it there in twenty minutes tops. As soon as they walked in, the ice cream man greeted the two with a warm smile and wished them a Merry Christmas. Mrs. Tendo did the same in return. She glanced down to find Akane on her tippy-toes and looking through the window of the case that holds ice cream. Akane was in awe by the various colors and flavors of each ice cream. There was vanilla, chocolate, sherbert, mint n'chips, rocky road, you name it. She scanned each ice cream flavor and laid her eyes on one appealing looking one: cookies and cream.

Akane's eyes gleamed and she started licking her lips. Mrs. Tendo giggled at Akane's practically drooling mouth. That was her queue to get the ice cream.

"One cookie and cream ice cream," Mrs. Tendo asked politely. "Actually, make that two."

"Coming right up, madame!"

Akane watched as the ice cream man scooped up a big spoonful of the ice cream and put each scoop in each cup. Akane jumps up and down in excitement.

"That will be 350 yen please."

Akane's mother pays the man and leaves him an extra tip for his good service. Akane and Mrs. Tendo both sit down at a booth by a window, watching the beautiful scenery before them. The snow was falling gracefully and the snow was whiter than ever. Akane admired every bit of it as she ate her ice cream. She and her mother talked and talked. Laughed and laughed. It was the best time she's ever spent with her mother. Time flew by so fast without them realizing. It was close to 9 o'clock and the ice cream shop was closing.

Mrs. Tendo wiped the ice cream off her daugher's face and walked out of the shop with Akane's hand in hers. It was pitch black outside and their only source of light was the streetlamps to guide them back home. On the walk back home, Akane and her mother were too busy talking to notice someone's been following them for two blocks now. Akane finally realizes that when she hears a loud gasp coming from her mother's own mouth. She looks up and stares in terror as this man forcefully grabbed her mother's arm. Her mother, however, remained calm. Perhaps to not freak out her daughter more than she really is.

"Give me your money lady and no one gets hurt." The man said in a hostile voice.

Mrs. Tendo cautiously slides her hand into her purse to look for cash she could give to the desperate man. She felt nothing. She gave all of her remaining money towards the ice cream shop.

"I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid I do not have what you're looking for" Mrs. Tendo calmly began. "Now… please let me go."

Her gentle, yet stern command pissed the man off. He threw her on the ground roughly.

Akane gasps in terror and yells out, "Mommy!"

"Shut it, you little brat!" The man yells as his gun is still pointed towards Mrs. Tendo. "You're next if you don't shut the hell up!"

Akane felt her knees shake. She was too afraid to move. She knew she had to run and call someone, but she didn't want to leave her mother behind. She started whimpering and crying.

"I warned you, you stupid brat!"

The man then hits Akane's head with the hilt of his gun hard enough to make her pass out. Her vision turns to pitch black. The last thing she heard before her head hit the white snow was her mother calling out her name in terror then a loud gunshot.

Present time…

"... the next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed… and find out that my mother passed away… in the same hospital. 12:48 A.M… on the morning of Christmas day."

Ranma examined her face. He could see through those chocolate-brown eyes and the tears flowing through them that she is in pain. Seeing her like this stings him as well, even though he's just met her. He feels like he should say something in response, but he decided to remain quiet and have her continue on.

Akane swallowed a bit on her words then continued. "I never saw Christmas the same way ever again. I hate Christmas… I dread for it all year long. But most of all, I hate myself. There could have been a million things I could've done to save her… but I was too chicken. Because of that, I started learning martial arts, so I can kick whoever's butt I need to kick, so no one can hurt my loved ones ever again."

"I mean, it's great that you decided to learn some martial arts, but… you were just a kid. There's nothing you could've done." Ranma said, in the most polite way possible.

"I'm not talking about kicking his butt. I'm talking about taking my mom out in the first place. If it weren't for my stupid spoiled ass, my mom still would've been alive! This is all my fault!" Akane then let her hot tears fall rapidly out of her eyes as she bawled.

Ranma looked at her, with a concerned look on his face. He feels like he understands her better now. He understood why she did what she could to rescue both him and Shampoo there. Because she didn't want to see people around her hurt anymore.

Without warning, Akane let out a loud scream, something she's been holding back for such a long while now. She forms her hands into fists and slammed it on the ground, totally forgetting that she has a cut on one of her hands. She yelps out in pain and holds her hand.

"H-Hey, you didn't break your fist didya?!" Ranma said as he quickly grabbed her hand to examine it.

Akane lightly blushed as she felt Ranma's firm grasp holding her hand. This is probably the first time she's ever felt a man touch her hand like this. Ranma looked at her hand closely and realized she has a cut.

"Whoa! You slammed the ground so hard that your palm cut open, nice!" Ranma said in utter astonishment.

Akane then started giggling then her small giggles turned into full on laughter.

"W-What's so funny?!"

Akane was in tears. Not from crying anymore, but from pure laughter and happiness. "No, I just… I cut myself with a tiny stick earlier by accident… stupid."

"H-Hey! Who you callin' stupid, stupid?!" Ranma said in agitation.

Akane let out a laugh once more, which for some reason made Ranma's made annoyance disappear and smile reappear.

"Now there's that smile I've been lookin' for." Ranma said in relief then ripped a piece off his Chinese style clothing and wrapped it around Akane's palm. "There. Now don't take that off until we can find some medicine."

Akane smiled softly then nodded. A blush spread across Ranma's cheeks as he gently rubs the back of neck.

"You know… I'm sure your mother would've been proud to see the woman you are today. So strong and brave." Ranma said as kept rubbing the back of neck, now blushing.

Akane could tell that he's not really used to giving people compliments. She smiled gently then said, "Thank you… Ranma."

There was a bit of silence between the two of them until Ranma finally broke the ice.

"Oh hey, uh," Ranma began. "I never… really got your name. How about you give me your name so I can get out of the habit of calling you stupid."

"Akane… Akane Tendo."

"Akane… I'll remember that."

With that said, he stands back up and holds out his hand for Akane. Once Akane's hand touches Ranma, he helps get back up. She gently brushes off the dirt on her pajamas.

"Alright then, let's head to the fire so you don't catch a cold. How's about it?"

Akane smiled gently. "Alright, let's go."

Then they started making their way towards the glow from the fire, walking in complete and comfortable silence. During the walk back to the fire, she slightly glances at Ranma. She could not help but smile.

'He may not be the stereotypical prince I've been yearning for… but he does have a caring heart. I know that now.' Akane thought to herself. 'He was right… I do feel a lot better after talking about it.'

"Akane…"

Akane immediately stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard someone's voice call out her name. She looked around frantically. It all sounds too familiar. But where was that voice coming from?

Ranma noticed that Akane was not walking beside him anymore and stopped in his tracks too. He looked behind him to see Akane looking around frantically.

"Hey Akane… you okay?"

"Uh… y-yeah. I, uh, I thought I heard something. It was nothing." Akane said, giving the area a last look then made her way towards a waiting Ranma.

As soon as she caught up with Ranma, they continued down the path.

'Who… who was that?'

(A/N: Alright my readers, that is it for this chapter! I hope you guys like it! Please R&R I looooove reading your comments! It encourages me to write more and more! :) )