Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2

Chapter 1)

"Aiyaa! Ranma!"

Shampoo's bicycle tyre suddenly crashed into the back of Ranma's head, yet only for a moment this time, unlike many times before.

Everything was in slow-motion as he spun, falling to the ground.

The bike clattered down, Shampoo hopping off just in time, watching as Ranma pulled Akane along with him.

Ranma's head collided with the pavement, momenterily rising to thud back down a second time, his face graced with pain.

Then Akane toppled over on top of him, a reddening blush covering her facial features as soon as she noticed what had happened in those few moments which seemed to last much longer than they truely were.

Shampoo noticed their interwined fingers. "Why you hold hands?"

Snatching their hands back, Akane looked nervously at the ground.

" I just, er, grabbed onto her for... For balance! Yeah, balance!" Ranma explained rashly, tripping over his words, desperately hoping she believed him.

With a suspicious glance, on the verge of glaring, Shampoo laced her arms around Ranma's neck, her eyes softening. "Wo ai ni." She said, just above a whisper.

She shot a challenging look towads Akane, smirking.

Before Ranma knew it, Akane's voice filled the air; "come on, Ranma! We're going to be late!" She growled, triumphantly.

"A-" Ranma was pulled by the collar of his shirt, onwards, in the direction of the huge school building not too far ahead.

"Akane, why'd you... How...?"

"She asked for it." Akane told him.

"Who asked for what?" A new voice entered the conversation. It was Nabiki, leant up against the open gates.

"Akane slammed Shampoo's bike into the back of her head." Ranma told her, still unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"Ooh, jealous, were we, Akane?"

"She was seducing him." Akane said, folding her arms.

"She was not!"

"Was too."

"And how was she asking to be beaten up by you?"

"It's a figure of speech, Ranma."

"Why can't things ever change with you?"

"Because things never change with you." She swivled around on her heel, now facing him.

Just then, the school bell rang, the gates automatically begining to close.

"Damn that principle." Ranma cursed under his breath, yanking Akane in through the gap, rapidly minimising.