Ukyou wiped her grill down then oiled it, getting ready for her early morning business. Her mind kept drifting back to the day before and the kiss she and Ranma had shared. Even if it had been just to get rid of Shampoo, he had kissed her back. *I’ll bet he hasn’t even kissed Akane yet.*
          "Hey Ucchan!" The object of her thoughts poked his head in the door. "I’m early for school. I thought I’d pop in for a bit."
         "What’s wrong?"
         "What’cha mean?"
         "You’re never early for school. At least not unless something has happened."
         "Okay, okay. Kasumi is off to a neighborhood meeting, so…"
         "Akane’s cooking?"
         "Yeah. And it’s too early in the day to die."
         "One okonomiyaki coming up." She smiled her best cute fiancée smile before getting to work. She decorated it carefully then expertly tossed it to his plate. "There you go Ranma honey."
          He mumbled a quick thanks, opening his mouth for the first bite when Akane walked in. "Hello Ukyou."
          Ranma swallowed hard. This did not look good for him.
         "Hello Akane. What brings you here?"
         "Well, I had to run some errands this morning and Kasumi’s out, so I thought I’d get some breakfast." She sat down next to Ranma at the counter. "Didn’t even check to see if I was cooking, did you?"
         "Better safe than dead."
          Still with a calm smile on her face, Akane punched him, causing him to fall off his stool. "Smells great Ukyou. Say, have you finished that history project?"
          She watched Ranma get up, amazed at Akane’s calm. *Why does he bother with her? She’s so nice to everyone but him.* "Yeah, did you?" She slid the plate of food in front of her rival. Apparently as long as Nerima’s most dangerous couple were eating here, there weren’t going to be any customers.
         "Sure did." She ate in silence after that, ignoring Ranma beside her.
         "Have either of you seen Ryouga?"
          Akane started coughing, prompting Ranma to slap her hard on the back. His face was also a little red. "No." Her voice squeaked.
         "We fought yesterday, but I haven’t seen him since. Why?"
         "He left one of his backpacks here at the shop. He’s probably looking for the place now."
          Akane placed her money on the counter. "Thanks Ukyou. It was great as always. I’m going to head for school."
         "I’m done here. We’ll walk with you." Ukyou swiped the grill she’d cleaned and pulled Ranma to his feet. "Let’s go Ranchan."
          Ranma walked on the fence above the two girls who were talking about their history projects. He was about to ask if he had one due as well when they reached the school gate and a mob of guys.
         "Hey Saotome! We heard that you proposed to Ukyou yesterday. Does that mean you’ve given up Akane?"
         "No no no! It was a joke! We were playing a joke on Shampoo!" He looked at Ukyou’s disappointed face and Akane’s angry one. Damn. How did everyone find out?
         "Actually, yes it does." Akane stepped forward, taking the arm of one of the horde. "Would you escort me to class?"
         "Akane…" his next words were cut off by the bicycle balanced precariously on his spine.
         "Nihao! Shampoo know husband no leave for spatula girl."
         "Shampoo! No! I am the one who loves you!"           Nabiki looked at Mousse for a second before dropping his glasses onto his nose. "Hello Mousse."
         "Nabiki Tendo, what have you done with my fair Shampoo?"
          She spun him around to face the violet haired girl. "Go get her tiger."
         "I’m a duck."
          She shook her head, listening to the hubbub. Had Ranma really proposed the Ukyou? How on earth had she missed that? That would explain Akane yesterday afternoon, but not last night. Unless…Nabiki smiled a smile, much like the grinch when he got a wonderful, awful idea. Apparently Ranma and Akane had made up somehow. And that meant…
         "A fair morn to you Nabiki Tendo." Kunou bowed deeply. "May I escort you to class?"
         "You hear Ranma proposed to Ukyou? That means Akane is free again."
          He twinged slightly, "Your sister must be quite upset."
          Her eyes widened. "Are you okay?" She got up close to him and stared into his eyes. He didn’t appear ill. She shrugged and took his arm. Heading for the school building, she got her thought back on track. How had Saotome gotten her little sister to forgive him? She stopped abruptly when a male body - the guy Akane had gone into the school with - landed at her feet.
         "You….you pervert!" Akane’s scream echoed through the hallways. Everyone looked up to see her sad, angry face framed in the window.
         "Can…I…carry….your…books?" The body in front of Nabiki whispered. It twitched several times then lay still.           Nabiki reevaluated. However Ranma made up to her, it wasn’t’ what I was thinking.

          Akane sat alone at lunch, trying not to notice how everyone was looking at her and whispering. Since Ranma had come into her life, she had grown used to it. Today, it hurt. Today wasn’t "Poor Akane. I can’t believe she puts up with that pervert Ranma. Three other fiancées and he changes into a girl." No. today it was "Poor Akane. Ranma dumped her."
          She chewed slowly, staring straight ahead. Even knowing that it wasn’t true…wasn’t supposed to be true, everyone was treating Ranma and Ukyou like a couple.
          A single tear slid silently down her cheek and into her rice. *Damn it Ranma, why do you keep hurting me?* She thought back to the previous night and smiled a little. *You finally admit you love me and everyone thinks you’re with Ukyou now. Especially Ukyou.*
          She looked over to see her holding tightly to Ranma’s arm. He couldn’t seem to hold still. He was like a caged animal. He looked up from the ground and caught her eye.
          The apology was in his gaze, causing her to smile. She winked and mouthed "pervert" at him.
         "Tomboy," he replied silently.
         "Stupid."
         "Sexy."
         "…" she didn’t have a reply other than her deep red blush. She closed her lunch tin and stood up. She walked over to the couple talking to several friends. A hush fell over the group as she approached. "So. Ranma, Ukyou, when’s the wedding?"
         "It’s a misunderstanding." Ranma looked pleadingly at his old friend. "It was all a joke we played on Shampoo."
          Ukyou caught his look and sighed. She decided to put him out of his misery. "That’s true. We just decided to see who would believe it. You guys are so gullible. I can’t believe you’d think Ranma-honey would actually make a choice."
          Ranma gave her a grateful smile. "Jeez guys." He laughed for the first time that day until the look on Akane’s face stopped him.
         "You tricked me?" A mallet appeared from nowhere. "You JERK!"
          He took off for the trees near the school, Akane hot on his heels. Everyone sighed. Everything was back to normal at Furinkan High.

          Everything was decidedly not normal at Furinkan High. Kunou hadn’t paid any attention to either Ranma or Akane this morning. And he was staring at her like some love-sick puppy. Something was seriously wrong.
         "Kunou?" He was standing near her, frowning at anyone who came near. "You’re bad for business Kunou-baby."
         "I beg forgiveness. That such effrontery in thine eyes I should perpetrate. My soul cries out for your sufferance. With a kind word my world spins into view, a balance of joy and harmony. A cruel word cuts like ice, diamond hard, and as cold as the ashes of my broken heart."
         "Just si down okay?" She openned her lunch and ledger in a smooth, well practiced motion. A freshman trainee walked up.
         "It was a joke. Ukyou confirmed in front of witnesses. So far Akane hasn’t caught Ranma yet. There’s some talk of Akane having to run the gauntlet on Monday."
          She nodded briskly. "Excellent. Keep your ears open about Monday. And spread the word that people can start paying when Akane catches him."
          The girl walked away and Nabiki looked at Kunou out of the corner of her eye. He seemed calmer sitting down, but he looked like he anticipated some attack. He looked…worried.
         "What’s wrong?"
         "Oh! That I have troubled thee!"
         "You haven’t. You just seem a little pre-occupied." She looked down at her ledger. "You’re all paid up."
         "Sasuke was to supply a small repast, yet I see him not."
         "You’re hungry?" She pushed her lunch tin between them. "Help yourself. Kasumi always packs too much."
         "Oh! To share a meal with you…."
         "5000 yen."

         "Ran….ma…slow….do…wn." Akane gasped for air and stopped running. She leaned against the concrete fence and waited for her blood to stop pounding.
         "I’d think a tomboy like you could keep up better." He jumped down off the fence, nimbly landing in the path of a tossed scoopful of water. "Oh damn."
         "I have to get back to school." She looked around to get her bearings. "At least you ran in a circle. We’re not too far away." She walked a short ways before realizing she was alone.
          Ranma stood still, her head bowed. "I’m sorry Akane."
         "Sorry?"
         "That you got hurt twice. It truly was to try and get rid of Shampoo."
         "I believe you Ranma. I know that you’d never hurt me intentionally. We both had a role to play today and we did it. Sure, it’s hard sometimes, but I think it’s worth it in the long run."
         "Nothing is worth seeing you cry." Ranma walked up and took her hand. "I’ll make it up to you somehow Akane."
         "I’m counting on it."
         "Wh…what?"
         "Only six more days until our duel. I’m hoping by then that you’ll have a lot to make up for."
         "Pervert."
         "Complaining?" She reached out to take her hand. "C’mon, my fiancé. We’ve got to find you some hot water."
         "Gah! I was sayin’ all that as a girl? Man, I’ve got the worst luck."
         "You’ve still got me."
          She smiled. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

          Shampoo heard the soft flap of wings behind her and sighed. She hopped off her bicycle and headed for the restaurant, deliberately letting the door swing shut on Mousse’s beak. "Stupid Mousse," she muttered as she made her way into the kitchen. "Great-grandmother, I home."
         "How did it go with son-in-law?"
         "He lie about Spatula girl. Pervert girl all upset."
         "He is narrowing the field for you Shampoo. We must strike soon."
         "Shampoo go see husband tonight?" She looked hopefully at the old woman. "Maybe use magic spice?"
         "No. Tonight we must prepare. I have something quite special in mind for son-in-law this time." She turned away from Shampoo to grab a book off the shelf.
         "Great-grandmother…"
         "Shampoo!" Mousse burst into the room, slightly soggy. "I love you, my Shampoo."
         "We have no time for distractions." Cologne’s hands seemed invisible as she quickly gathered ingredients around her. "Take him outside and keep him from interrupting us."
         "Okay. Come with Shampoo, Mousse." She took his hand and led him outside behind the restaurant.
         "Oh Shampoo! I knew someday you would consent to be my bride."
         "Mousse, Shampoo challenge you." She picked up her bonbori, charging at him. She steeled herself not to meet his blue eyes as her first blow struck.
         "Shampoo…oh." He started to reach into his voluminous sleeves for some of his arsenal, but realized he could not attack her. "I love you Shampoo."

          Shampoo walked into the restaurant kitchen, grabbing the ever-present kettle off the stove. Stepping back outside, she poured it over Mu-Mu chan then refused to look at Mousse’s badly beaten body. He hadn’t even tried to defend himself.
          "Will he stay out of our way Granddaughter?"
          "Yes, great-grandmother."
          "Then come. I’ll need your help. This is quite a spell."
          Mousse slowly, painfully pulled himself to his knees and attempted to crawl around the restaurant. He heard voices and tried to cry out, but collapsed and found himself coughing up blood.
          "Is someone there?’ Akane peered around the corner. "Shampoo?"
          "Akane?" His voice was barely above a whisper thick with blood.
          "Mousse?" She moved around so that she could see him. "Oh my!" she gasped when she did. "I’ve got to get you to a doctor." Without a second thought, she picked him up gently and made her way quickly to Dr. Tofu’s.

          "Oh, hello Akane. What’s wrong with Ranma now?"
          "No, Doctor. It’s not Ranma. It’s Mousse. Can you help him?" She lay him carefully on the examining table and backed out of the doctor’s way.
          He quickly began work, stopping the bleeding and restoring some of his chi. "Who did this Akane?"
          "I don’t know. I told Kasumi I’d stop by and pick up some ramen at Shampoo’s. But before I went in, I heard and found him. Will he be okay?"
          "With rest he should be fine. Do you think perhaps he could stay with your family?"
          "Oh yes, I’m sure he could."
          "Fine. I’ll walk you home and carry him."
With the utmost care, he picked up the injured boy and followed Akane out of his clinic.

          "Kasumi?" Akane opened the door and rushed to find her sister before the doctor saw her. "Nabiki?"
          Nabiki came out of the kitchen munching on a cookie. "What’s up Akane?"
          "Find Kasumi. Keep her out of the main room for a bit, please?" She turned back to Tofu. "This way, I think."
          Dr. Tofu settled Mousse on the low sofa and made him comfortable. He was standing up as the entire household walked in.
          "Oh, hello Dr. Tofu." Kasumi smiled and bowed.
          "Um…er…hello."
          Nabiki took a good look at her sister, concern in her eyes. "Akane? Are you bleeding?" She pointed to the front of Akane’s school uniform.
          Ranma rushed over. "Are you okay? What happened? Who did this?" He ran his hands quickly over her body to check for wounds.
          "Stop that. Now."
          He looked at her then at his hands resting lightly on her breast. "Er…sorry."
          "Move it."
          *gulp* "Sorry."
          "It’s not me. It’s Mousse. I found him in an alley, severely beaten. Dr. Tofu fixed him up, but he needs a place to stay. Can he stay here?"
          Everyone clustered around the Chinese boy except for the doctor who was shaking hands with a door.
          "W…where?" Mousse slowly opened his eyes and found himself staring at Akane. "Akane?"
          "Ssh. Rest Mousse. You’ve been beaten pretty badly. You need to rest. We’d like you to stay with us." Akane smiled. "Unless you’d like to go back with Shampoo?"
          Memories of her brutal attack flitted through his mind. "No. Here would be fine, if I’m no imposition."
          "None at all." Akane took his hand in her own. "Get some rest and we’ll fix up a room for you."

          "Ranma, I want you to sleep with Akane."
          "What?"
          "Huh?"
          "Excellent idea Tendo!"
          "I’ll get my camera."
          "Oh father!"
          Soun held up a silencing hand. "We are out of extra rooms. As this is their home, I don’t believe my daughters should be put out and have to move, so therefore, since you and Akane are engaged, I expect you to share a room."
          "I am not going to sleep in the same room with that pervert!"
          "Who’d want to sleep with a unsexy tomboy like you? You probably snore."
          "Why you…"
          "Father, are you sure this is appropriate?" Kasumi’s brow was slightly wrinkled. "I’d hate for anyone to gossip about the family."
          Nabiki laughed. "Kasumi, I think you’re a little late to be worrying about that. Besides, with all their other admirers, I doubt Ranma and Akane will be spreading the news."
          "I could just move in with Kasumi or Nabiki. Really Daddy."
          "No. It is decided. Move your things son."
          "Exactly." Genma nodded sagely, earning him a one way trip into the pond.
          "I’m not marrying nobody, so I can’t sleep in Akane’s room."
          "Then Mousse will stay with her, we’ll get them engaged, then you may have either Kasumi or Nabiki."
          Ranma turned and marched off to his room. Akane headed for hers to straighten up. Well, at least he hadn’t chosen one of her sisters. Kasumi, with a slight frown, headed for the kitchen.

          Akane sat on the edge of her bed, trying desperately to stay still. Ranma knocked then pushed the door open. He stood in the doorway, backpack in hand, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot.
          "Come on in."
          He stepped inside and lay the pack on the floor. "Where should I put my things?"
          "I made some room. I’ll let you get settled." She fingered the jumper of her uniform. "I’ve got to change so Kasumi can wash this. I’ll be a while." She took a step toward the door, but stopped at the touch of his hand.
          "I was scared you were hurt." He refused to look her in the eyes, instead staring at her hand. "I…"
          She squeezed his hand in hers. "I know. I know."