Ranma walked along the sidewalk, staring up at the fence she was so used to running on. Akane stared at the opposite side of the road, not entirely over her anger over Ranma's comment that morning.

Ranma felt like she could cut the tension with a knife, and her own nervousness about being stuck a girl for the moment was quietly eroding that fierce bravado he usually held tightly to these situations. Finally, Ranma spoke up.

"Hey, I'm sorry Akane. It's jus' that when you get nice and all I have this urge to say something... and my mouth usually thinks before my brain," Ranma looked up at the sky, not wanting to see if Akane was listening or not, and more than a little afraid of a mallet appearing.

Akane, on the other hand, was more frustrated than angry. Ranma's cooking _had_ been good that morning, and she would have loved to eat it. Ranma, however, had to say something _completely_ inappropriate and get her worked up. She hadn't been able to finish all of breakfast, as she and Ranma were already a bit late in getting out of the house. Akane knew Ranma had trouble controlling his words, but no matter how much she reminded herself, she _still_ got angry when he made comments about her looks or her cooking.

"I mean, I've been trying to watch my mouth lately, but I guess it hasn't been working. Maybe I should just shutup from now on so that I don't make more trouble," Ranma looked down at the ground, and Akane looked over at Ranma, a small smirk on her face.

Akane was about to say something snide, but she saw the look of utter embarrassment on Ranma's face as she picked at her blue dress. Akane felt the twinge of jealousy when she saw how beautiful Ranma was again. *Geez, a little make-up, a dress and Ranma looks even better than Shampoo...* Akane patted Ranma on the back, forgetting her anger for a moment.

"Sorry, Ranma. I think this whole 'female' thing is silly for your Mom to do. It's just nonsense," Ranma grabbed Akane's hand and took a step away, stopping for a moment.

A stern look was on her face as she glared at Akane for a moment. "Stop it. Not you, Akane, don't you start treatin' me like I'm a girl. I don't need cheering up, I can handle this. 'S not a problem. Besides, I promised Mom this morning I'd do this... I don't like it, but I'll do it Akane... just don't start treating me like a girl... I'm a... I'm a..." Ranma's face contorted in frustration, and she dropped Akane's hand.

Akane defied Ranma and put her hand on the girl's back. "Why can't you say it, Ranma? What's wrong?" Akane was now genuinely worried.

"Nothin' Akane... just... it's nothing... I can't tell. Not you, not ever you," Ranma looked at Akane with anguish in her eyes. Then it disappeared as the self-assured glimmer returned to Ranma's eyes.

Akane flinched inwardly, both from Ranma's words and that the girl had actually showed her some emotion other than pride, arrogance, and the usual care-free Ranma she was used to. Could there be much more to Ranma than she ever realized?

Ranma and Akane walked on in silence, the first day since Ranma came that the walk hadn't ended in an argument.

Ranma and Akane froze when they saw the familiar Kendoist standing at the front doors.

"Ahh, if it is not Tendo Akane and the ever-beauteous Saotome Ranma," Kuno held his bokken in a salute to the two girls.

"Kuno, what're you doing here? Don't you remember, I'm a-" Ranma was quickly cut off by Kuno.

"Yes, and after much thought I have deduced the _true_ meaning of both thine words, and fair Akane's. Do not worry, my love, I will purge you from the sorcerous soul that plagues your body. The evil male-side will not endure the wrath of the Blue Thunder!" Lightning crashed behind Kuno, illuminating his face.

"What?! No, that's not what I said at all! I told you Kuno, Ranma _is_ a-" Akane was similarly interrupted by Kuno.

"Yes, Ranma is a victim of foul sorcery, begotten by dark gods themselves so that she would be plagued to change into one of their demon minions of the Black Arts! And it is this that keeps her honor bound to shunt the advances of men, for she could not bear to cause men such grievance with a curse such as hers," Kuno swung his bokken to the side and banged his fist on his chest.

"It is I, Kuno Tatewake that will fight this demon to free fair Ranma of this dismal curse!!! When I succeed, the dark gods will _know_ that to defy Kuno is to defy the very rights of heaven, and in so bring the Kami's wrath upon their heads!" Kuno laughed at the sky.

Ranma beat her head on the walls of Furenkin, and Akane's eyes twitched from her indecision to either beat Kuno repeatedly, or let Ranma mangle the man into a corpse.

"Well, seeing as how the demon has retreated to the recesses of Ranma's body in fear of the Great Kuno, I will instead accompany you both to class as I have made you both dreadfully late with my honored oath," Kuno bowed slightly, and stepped into the school.

Ranma began following, murderous intentions in her eyes.

"I'm gonna kill him, there won't be enough left for Nabiki to pawn as souvenirs..." Akane stopped Ranma with a hand. Ranma looked in confusion and outrage at Akane, before she saw the familiar glint of fire in her ex fiancee's eyes.

"I get first dibs," Akane said with a sadistic grin plastered carelessy across her face.

The echo's of Kuno's pained screams were heard throughout Furenkin as both girls worked together to put Kuno _back_ in that body-cast.