It was impossible for that sweet, tender moment to last forever, but it sure felt like it. The taste in her mouth was overwhelming her other senses, her legs trembled in excitement as her eyes shed tears of happiness. The word "bliss" could not describe this sensation, with every bite the taste grew stronger than the last, till there was nothing left.

She never wanted it to end, but it had to. A bento is meant to be small yet appealing all at once.

Feeling like if she could take over the world all by herself, she jumped down the tree fully rejuvenated. A little more and she could have become a ghoul just like that old lady. For now, her hunger was over.

"It's good to be alive" she had to admit it, Ryoga saved her life.

It all looked okay for her, but only because she was distracted. In truth, everyone in school, that knew of her and her double-gender, were gossiping about the recent events and her behavior change around that particular beast-guy. Moreover, the swimming competition wasn't far from starting, almost everyone was outside, heading to the school's pool to arrange the out-of-nowhere festivity. Those who couldn't pass through the mass, waited within the building, looking outside through the windows.

Because there was still time, Ranma went to look for Ryoga who was just outside the school. Or at least so she recalled from the last time she saw him.

He was nowhere to be found. Part of her felt sad, not all that sure why, she kept looking for him, knowing with his orientation he wouldn't be that far. Before she could part to her quest though, Shampoo showed up. Surprising Ranma as they both exchanged glares with the other.

She looked very upset, or maybe she was just using another of her facades.

"Ranma!" there was no hesitation in her voice, she quickly threw herself at her in a deep sweet hug.

"Shampoo! What are you doing here?" then it hit her, Shampoo was wearing a swimsuit. Although not all that revealing, she filled the right spots quite well. It almost frightened her to ask. "A-Are you coming to the competition?"

She nodded and let go of Ranma, smiling widely to her. "I want you to know, I understand. Ryoga is your best friend, so it's okay to sleep with him, right?"

Ranma had to turn around to control herself of the embarrassment. It didn't occur to her that, today too, Ranma had slept alongside Ryoga just like in the night before. It was a good thing Shampoo didn't know about it, or at least so she hoped.

"That's… not how it goes, Shampoo. That day, he had nowhere to sleep and it was cold so I—but then that day I was a guy when I went to sleep, so it must have been that old man's fault that I was a girl when I woke up! Clearly!" she had to apologize quickly before the misunderstanding spread any further in her grandmother's mind.

Shampoo was pensive, it was odd for her to be so nervous. Or not. Actually, she was usually nervous around her. Maybe… Love?

Without saying anything, Akane dragged her away from Shampoo. Ranma didn't try to resist, considering how busy she was mumbling excuses quietly. Shampoo was about to put on a fight against her for ruining this unusual romantic moment between them, but she hadn't come here to see Ranma, not entirely. There was a competition to take part on. Her grandmother had told her to go, the reasons were still in the dark to her. It looked like it would be fun after all.

Ranma sighed in relief, happy to be out of that awkward conversation. Now, it felt even more awkward with Akane deadly glare at her.

"Did I do something this time?" while not all that affected by the glare, she was still concerned. Maybe she heard about what happened that night too?

"You have to stop it this instant."

"Eh?" dumbfounded, Ranma stopped.

"You know. About Ryoga!"

It felt like someone just stabbed her in the chest.

"I don't know what you're playing at but it's sick. You're a man, and you are looking too happy with him!" Akane grit her teeth, like if she really didn't wanted to talk about this.

"Is… Is it that bad?" Ranma looked at her with slight disappointment in her eyes, as if this was going to be another pointless raging of her.

"Of course it is! Ryoga is a very delicate guy. You'll end up hurting him if you keep that joke." the more she talked, the more she seemed to regret it. Akane had to finally looked the other way, not all that capable of handling two facts. One, Ranma was glaring at Ryoga in ways she never did to her. Two, she still felt guilty for blaming her for what happened to P-Chan, about Ryoga's sudden defense and how she slapped him in return for not supporting her like usual.

In the other hand, Ranma sighed in relief. She hasn't found out about their nights together, maybe Akane's rage was due to what happened earlier in class.

She had to admit, her behavior towards Ryoga has been changing in the last couple of days. It was quite an amazing development. Only thinking about it made her grin, but she had to keep her emotions down for now.

"I'm sorry… For the other day. Hitting you…" Akane was more thoughtful than angry by now. Her eyes showed it. If she didn't say it in that moment, she feared she would lash at Ranma again, and make things worst.

Ranma reached to her face, moving it so they would look at each other. Her eyes threatened to let its tears flow if something wasn't done soon. And as the moment requested it, Ranma acted by instinct and held her tightly. Akane froze in her arms, but hugged her weakly in return moments later. The hug wasn't followed by any word of comfort, because there was no need for them. Knowing Ranma wouldn't let anyone see her cry, even when there was nobody around, Akane couldn't hold it in and cried to her heart's content. With each second, she held tighter to Ranma until both fully embraced each other passionately.

Ranma didn't want to see her cry yet it was inevitable. Ryoga's words must have hit her quite hard, they were both in shock back then. Ranma was going to be there for her, but no longer with the same feeling as they both shared until a few days ago. Ranma knew that much by how, her heartbeat changed its rhythm every time someone called the name Ryoga. In fact, maybe she never truly felt something for Akane. That instinct of taking care of her, it felt like something you would do to a good friend, or to family. A younger sister, perhaps. Considering how many times Ranma had to go on her rescue, practiced with her in martial arts, and how she's been there to eat that awful cooking of her when nobody else dared to, not even her family. Kasumi, maybe.

Almost like if Ranma had been trying to find the right man for Akane. Maybe this was her way of loving her other fiancées too.

She was tired of thinking but it didn't stop when she wanted to. It has has been several minutes since she let go of Akane due to an announcement about the tournament. There was still time for a very needed hot bath.

Water soaked her entire body and sighed again, still thinking about the same damn subject. She had to give herself a rest or her head would explode sooner or later. The best way to distract yourself is by focusing in other things, and something truly needed her attention. For when she started washing her body with the soap, her eyes had to move down and look at her own body.

It was still that of a woman.