Minna,
A few days ago (September 2 in fact) I turned twenty, during that day,
thoughts ran through my head, thoughts that prompted me to write this fic. 
I write this fic to answer the questions that popped in my mind that day. 
By the way, although there are numerous (read: mountainloads) of fanfics
with Ranma characters in them there is no possible way of stopping people
like me from writing then , it's my favorite series, live with it!

Standard disclaimers apply

Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma Nibunnoichi

Growing up

"He barely touched his food Oneechan."  Kasumi looked up from the dishes
she was washing and stared into her little sister's worried face, oh she
may deny it every time she could but the truth was that she did care for
her inaazuke.  "Maybe he's just not in the mood for teriyaki, Akane-Chan,
no need to get worried."  Akane bristled at this and the worry etched on
her visage was wiped clean.  "Who said anything about worrying for that
Bakatare hentai, maybe he was so full from eating a lot of Okonomiyaki and
ramen.  I think I'll go over to him and give him a piece of my mind." she
said, her voice getting louder every syllable.  Kasumi just sighed,
whatever state the relationship of Ranma and her sister is right now, she
knew that they had a long way to go.

"That sukebe, I should have known better than to be concerned with his
eating habits, it figures that he stopped over Ucchans and the Nekohanten
before going home.  He doesn't even realize that he's making other people
worry, that clueless insensitive......BAKA!  I'm going to go over the dojo
and introduce his face to the pavement, that's the least he deserves for
making me worry." Akane thought as she  headed towards the dojo, her battle
aura shining brighter than a new born supernova.  When she did enter the
dojo, the sight within had somewhat dissipated her rage.  
Ranma was in the middle of the dojo doing a slow moving beginner's kata,
his every move spoke of grace and latent strength, his movement flawlessly
shifting from one form  to the next. His eyes closed as if in an inner
meditation.  Without warning, he stopped in mid stance and opened his eyes.
 "What do you want Akane?" he asked without even looking at her direction
as he toweled off.  Akane answered "I was wondering why you didn't eat much
today Ranma, is something bothering you?"  Ranma faced her and sat down,
motioning her to sit directly in front of him. "Akane, do you know what
today is?" he asked. Akane shook her head in reply, he smiled and
continued, "It's my birthday, I'm turning seventeen today." Akane felt
shamed, here she was berating him mentally for being insensitive and
uncaring, when she didn't even know. Ranma saw the by-play of emotions on
his fianc�e's he tried to placate her with an answer, "It's okay, how could
you know when I never told you?" His efforts were rewarded with a smile,
"But that still doesn't justify why you didn't eat much at dinner." she
retorted, looking at Ranma seriously. He gulped at her scrutinous glare and
nervously laughed "Well...  I couldn't focus on my food, I was thinking of
something..." he paused and stared at the dojo exit "I used to think that
when you get older, you get wiser.  Now though, I'm older by a year but I
don't feel different from what I was before. It seems complicated but..."
Ranma was interrupted by a laughing Akane, he frowned and asked what she
thought was funny. Akane replied "You should listen to yourself, I didn't
know your thoughts run that deep, but if it's any consolation, I think you
have matured Ranma, you've improved in your skill, you have gained a high
sense of honor, seeing as who your father is, that comes as a surprise.
You've grown up Ranma, maybe not as grown up as you'd like but grown up all
the same.  Well, I'm turning in now, Good night Ranma, happy birthday."
With that Akane kissed him on the cheek  then stood up and left leaving a
confused Ranma absently rubbing his cheek. 

end of story

Author's Rant: You might think that Ranma thinks too much, I say you never
see him think before, most people think of Ranma as a dumb jock, I on the
other hand think that there never was actually a situation where he is
forced to think.