Another boring shift, so another chapter was created eheheheheh…

Thank you for the reviews. Enjoy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma ½.

Chapter 7 Undecided

"What did you just say?" he retorted after he turned to face Nabiki.

"After being stupid, you are deaf now?" Nabiki sarcastically asked.

"I mean, what do you mean by that she's the maiden?" he impatiently asked the middle Tendo whom one brow was still up and was still looked bored.

"She'll be the Kissing Booth Maiden. You know, she'll get paid for every kiss she'll get or give. They were asked to raise fund and you know how generous and kind my little sister is and how she is always desperate to help others, for sure you knew that already," she partially explained but was still wearing the cold face. "So, she'll get paid for letting those hungry male species of Furinkan High to kiss her and/or kiss them and your class can raise the-"

"I know that! I get! I get it! Just stop rubbing that to my face!" Ranma snapped causing the blackmailer to stop her explanation. He then sighed heavily and let out a growl. "I know what the Kissing Booth Maiden is and I know what her roles, okay?" he said as he tried to calm himself.

"I'm quite surprise that you know that, Saotome. I thought you are just a nagging ball of ego. And just so you know, any one who cuts me while I'm talking pays a price," she explained and looked Ranma coldly. "And that's another in your tab," she finished.

"Whatever, Nabiki," he surrendered then turned her back again to Nabiki to leave.

"What are you gonna do now, Saotome? Let those hungry wolves devour my little sister? Oh! I bet Kuno-baby had bought all the tickets and hmmmm, maybe Ryoga bought quarter of it then-"

"Just cut it off!" he exasperated. "I-I know I screwed up last night, okay? And… and I have been thinking what to do, so please Nabiki, don't pressure me," he pleaded.

Nabiki just stared at the back of his future brother-in-law. She observed how he stiffened and how he clenched his fists because of desperation. She knew for herself that if she going to look at his blue eyes, she'll see determination and how he truly cared for Akane. She also knew that she already pushed the correct button and she's done with him, but, it was still in his tab. "You just save me some money, Saotome. But this still goes to your tab. I don't want to be late, ciao!" she then ran passed him.

"Shit!" he cursed when he realized that he had to get to school as early as he could to talk to Akane, especially now that he knew that she'll be the maiden.

Meanwhile, in Furinkan High School.

"Please, Akane. You are the only one destined for this!" one of her classmates said.

"She's right, Akane-chan. You are the most popular girl in school and any one would want you. I mean, we can raise big funds! Please do the part," her other female classmate said.

"But I-I don't know if I can do that. I mean… We can still raise fund without the maiden, right?" Akane tried to resist.

"Then how can we do that? Do you have any suggestion? The festival will be two days from now."

"Yeah, and we have to finish the decorations of our booth before we go home today. And tomorrow, we have to start building the booth and use these decorations. Unfortunately, the design was made for a maiden and we don't have enough money to buy another set of decors for your suggestion, that is, if you have any," the class president explained.

"Oh geez...! What did I do to deserve this?" Akane mumbled as she massaged her temples. She was still exhausted from crying last night and she's not feeling well, physically and emotionally. "For a meantime, I don't have any suggestion, but can you please wait until after the lunch break. I'll think of another gimmick to raise fund, other than being the maiden. Can you wait for me until that time, guys? Please?" she pleaded.

"That's okay, Akane. We then have to stop cutting these colored papers and clean the mess. The homeroom class is about to start in minutes. Until the lunch break, Akane. Think of another gimmick or you'll be the maiden," the class president looked at Akane with hopeful but determined eyes.

"Hai! I'll come up with a new plan for our booth and for the fund," Akane replied. She exhaustedly rested her head to her desk pillowing her folded arms. She felt like her strength was drained from that conversation with her classmates. "I have to come up with a new idea for the booth to avoid being the maiden. How can I do that if I'm lacking of sleep, my head aches and my heart also aches?" she mumbled, taking to herself. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. Her eyes were snapped open when she remembered what Ranma said to her last night. It did hurt her, his words kept on playing in her ears and mind.

"Good morning, class!" the teacher greeted them.

Akane sat straight as she heard their teacher entered the room. She was thankful that their sensei somehow saved her from reminiscing the incident last night. She then remembered Ranma. She didn't need to look back to feel him. She could tell that he arrived well, not late and his eyes were on hers as she was that familiar with his aura. She wanted to look back and stare at his blue eyes but she fought not to. She bit her lips and closed her eyes again. Her mind was floating as she tried to concentrate with the lesson. While doing so, Akane felt that Ranma's gaze never left her. It felt like he had been observing her actions since he arrived. She knew that he wanted to apologize as he always did when they fought but she felt that this thing was different. He pushed her to her limits and her heart was totally broken by her fiancé.

'Who would've wanted to kiss a klutz, uncute, and sexless tomboy?'

"So what if no one wants to kiss me? So what if I'm a klutz, I'm uncute, I'm sexless, I'm built like a brick? So what if he didn't love me back?" she questioned herself but a pang of pain rushed to her chest and she had to clutch her school uniform for her to breathe properly. She started to see blur. Her eyes were now watery and felt like there was something in her throat. She was now breathing heavily and could feel Ranma's intense gaze. "Am I that obvious?" she mumbled. She looked at her left; Yuka was there, writing something in her notebook with smile plastered in her face which seemed not related to the subject. She then looked at right and saw Hiroshi, who also smiling and looking blankly at the board. "So I'm not the only one not focusing in the lesson," she realized and still mumbling. She massaged the bridge of her nose as she felt her head aches again and then discreetly wiped her tears. "I have to think of something to replace the Kissing Booth Maiden idea. I want to help the class raise the fund. Sensei said that it'll help the orphanage that the school sponsored this year. Wait! What time is it? Is it already lunch break? Why there's no bell? Oh! I have to write it down so I won't forget-"

"Miss Tendo, do I bore you?" the sensei asked the emotionally unstable Akane.

"Wha-" Akane dumbly replied, her mouth was still open.

"You have been mumbling in your seat with goofy eyes and it's like you're not here in the class. Do you want to share what you have been mumbling? I was looking at you the whole time because your attention was not here," the teacher patiently explained.

Every one in the class looked at her direction, even the unfocused Yuka and Hiroshi. Akane felt that it's not only Ranma's gaze stabbing her at the back but all of her other classmates. Her cheeks reddened at the sudden embarrassment. She cupped her cheeks when she felt that those were burning. She started to panic and felt not breathing again. "I-I was just thinking. I'm sorry, sensei. It's just that… I-I," she tried to explain with her head bowed.

"Are you okay, Akane?" Ukyo asked from her right side, few seats from her.

Akane automatically looked at Ukyo's direction. She didn't respond but just stare at the chef's face. Though Ukyo was considered as her rival at Ranma's affection, she knew that they still treated each other as friends, and maybe Shampoo too. Akane saw that Ukyo was somehow worried about her 'little show.' She wanted to look at Ranma to check if he's worried too, more than Ukyo or her other friends. She just forcibly shut her eyes again and wiped the incoming tears. She then heard it again, 'who would've wanted to kiss a klutz, uncute, and sexless tomboy/!' Akane clasped her hands unto her ears as if those words banging in her head. She felt it echoed in her mind and endlessly repeating.

"Akane-chan, are you okay?"

"Hey Akane! Akane?"

"Akane-chan?"

"Miss Tendo? Are you okay?" the teacher inquired as he saw Akane pale face and trembling hands.

"I-I don't think so-" Akane responded as she felt dizzy then her vision became from blurred to dark. She tried to look at Ranma's direction but did not have the chance. And that was the last thing she remembered.

"Move away! Akaneeeeeeeee!"

To be continued…

Yeah! Ranma did a lot screaming in this story. Anyway, he does that in the manga and anime, right? So might as well do it in fanfic har har har!

Thanks for reading!