The week came to an end.  Akane decided to have a sleepover: she was unsure 
whether it was a final clinging-on to the normality she had recently 
enjoyed, or a mask for the gnawing anxiety that haunted her in anticipation 
of Ranma�s return, but the idea was received with enthusiasm.  The party 
went well -- mostly. 

Is this part new, or changed?  It fits better than the last version, I
think.  I thought then that both sides, so to speak, weren't being given
equal time.  That is, it seemed like Akane's ultimate choice was
obvious... she wanted to live a normal life.  Here, we're given a
glimpse that she's not so sure.  I think only maybe one or two lines
were added or changed here, but it works better, IMO.

Well, you're keeping the suspense up, which is good.  I suspect that we
won't know what Ranma will do until he actually makes his decision.  It
seems doubtful that he will be returning to Furinkan.  It's clear that a
solitary life is not for him... but that doesn't necessarily mean he
should stay in Nerima.  Frankly, he has a lot of baggage there, and he
might be well served in getting a fresh start somewhere else.

Akane, he told himself.  A moment later he realized that wasn�t true.  
There were issues yet unresolved between him and her, yet the thought of 
confronting her held little fear for him now.  Somewhere, amidst the 
confusion and hurt of recent events, that wall of hesitancy that had always 
hindered and made any attempt to speak honestly with her had simply 
disappeared.  At a cost, of course. . . what else had been lost?

That cost.  That they can't play the game they've been playing all this
time anymore?  That one way or the other, something has to give?  That
they may come to decide that they CAN'T live with each other?

You give the idea that deep thought doesn't come easily to Ranma very
well.  He doesn't seem stupid in this story, but he's not accustomed to
introspection.

What else can I say but that I'm really looking forward to seeing how
this turns out?  Very, very well done.