Ryoga and Akane sat across from each other in the Tendo's garden.He looked at the crying Akane. She was shudderring as she sobbed softly. He had seen her cry many, many times as P-Chan, but never had she cried in front of him normally. He reached out awkwardly and touched her shoulder.

"Akane, it's okay." He whispered. She looked up at him, her choclate eyes clouded with tears. " Ranma doesn't know what he has." Ryoga said. Akane looked at him strangely. Words like those had never come out of his mouth. Ryoga glanced hurriedly at the lines Shampoo had written on his arm.

"R-Ryoga, that's really sweet of you..." Akane sniffed a little and smiled weakly. Ryoga nearly melted. He handed her a tissue.

"Ranma... just..." Ryoga stopped at a loss for words.

"Just what?" Akane asked and blew her nose.

"Just can't be forceful. If he really didn't like those other girls, he would have put a stop to them..." Ryoga said, glancing quickly at his arm. He turned to the side, unable to look at Akane. Ryoga knew that if he did, there was no way he would be able to recite his lines.

"..." Akane sat and reflected and what Ryoga just said. "You really think so?"

"Would I lie? It's been almost ten years since you guys were engaged. You think Ranma would stop going to Ucchan's for free food. He keeps stringing people along like toys! That's not right!" Ryoga slammed his fist for effect. All that was actually from his heart. He had become more... outspoken in the past years. He looked off into the distance, as if at some captivating movement.

"Ryoga... thanks." Akane blew her nose. She smiled softly.

"Hey, I'm here!" Ryoga said and grinned shyly.

"You hungry?" Akane asked. Ryoga shook his head swiftly.

"I've gotten better! You know it! Plus, Kasumi is cooking!" Akane said and hit Ryoga playfully. Together they walked inside.

"Hey." Ranma turned around quickly. He was hot after a powerful exercise in the dojo, and had removed his shirt. Shampoo leaned against the dojo wall, watching him smiling.

"How'd you get here?" He asked incredulously.

"Well, first there was the plane ride from America, then the walk." She said.

Whoa! Her Japanese is really good! America! Ranma thought. So that's where she's been."Since when have you been here?"

"Since this morning. Flight came in last night." She smiled sadly. "I'm exhausted."

"And, so?" Ranma asked. Shampoo was taken aback by his lack of enthusiasim.

"Aren't you as happy to see me as I am to see you? You sure look older, but not in a bad way, not bad at all..."

"Shampoo what do you want?" Ranma asked exasperated.

"Really now, what I've always wanted. You. Ranma, dear, why do you think I would come back? There was nothing for me here! Execpt you! Do you even remember why I left?"

"Yeah,Shampoo, I do." Ranma sighed "Look... why'd you come back after so long? We were all getting along great without you!"

"That's what you think! Ranma, you know that without me, the whole universe heaved on itself! You know that without me, you had no challenge. Nothing. It was a hole... that could be filled only by me."

"..." Ranma kept his mouth shut. The air hung heavy and sweet. Ranma sighed deeply. It was true, what she said. Without Shampoo, there seemed to be a hole, yet it was a welcome one, just like when Ryoga didn't show his face for a while. However pleasant, it was still an unfillable hole.

"Ranma, I was married. But I came back! Doesn't that mean anything! I could have stayed in America and had children upon children, and yet I came back... I couldn't forget what I left behind. Besides, what do you have here?"

The question stung Ranma. What do I have? He asked himself.

"What do you have Ranma?"

"I have a job." He thought.

" I had a job, too! And I'm still here."

"I have Akane."

"That's what you told me the day I left. That you loved Akane...Do you, Ranma? The girl who hurts you, calls you names? You don't even know if your love is returned! You say that... but are you sure? You are the one who constantly teases her, and doesn't make her feel good, you constantly eat at Ucchan's, and when I was here you mooched off me for ramen! Do you even know who you love?"

Ranma was positive he loved Akane. He felt it every time she smiled. But... that wasn't the unknown. Did Akane return his love?

"I..."

Shampoo smirked. Ranma frowned. "Can't say it can you? Does she love you back? What's it worth if she doesn't?" Ranma stood silent, looking down at his now clenched fists.

"Ranma, I know it hurts. It hurt me. I asked myself almost the same question when I left. What's it worth if he doesn't? What's it worth, Ranma? Should I have come back or sat in America? When you are here in Japan... at 25, loving someone, showing it in the weirdest ways, and not knowing if Akane feels the same way!" Shampoo stomped her foot, she squeezed her eyes shut to keep the stubborn tears that wouldn't go away from rolling down her cheek.

Ranma didn't answer. He kept silent and bent down to pick up his shirt. He slipped it on, slowly, his eyes averted from Shampoo. He felt indebted to her, yet Ranma couldn't put his finger on how or why.

"Ranma... if you want..." Shampoo began and sniffled. "Ranma... if you really love Akane... and she feels the same. I have... no claim to your heart."

Ranma started walking out of the dojo. This must be some kind of trick, he thought. "What happened to your 'Rules'?" He asked.

"I'm officially expelled. My heritage is void. So says Colonge." She threw Ranma the letter she had stuffed in her pocket.

"Ranma, I... really... I'm sorry." Shampoo said and ran out. Ranma bent slowly and picked up the paper. The contents startled him. He knew that Colonge had died... but this must have broken Shampoo, if that was possible. Ranma walked out of the dojo and outside, into what was now a breezy afternoon.
He heard the unmistakable sound of Akane's laughter. He turned to see Akane and Ryoga running into the house. Ranma dropped the letter and ran inside, jealousy taking over.