Toshi smiled excitedly. Akane smiled back, and then hugged her.
"Tosh, you look so pretty!"
"Thanks!"
"And, Toshi..." Akane said, looking at the floor.
"Yeah?"
"Um, sorry about... um. You know." Akane smiled sheepishly.
"It's all right. He WAS kinda right, though. About the makeup." Toshi added. Akane's eyebrow began to twitch.
"Don't hurt me!" Toshi said in a small voice.
Akane giggled. Then got serious."He was right. But it was mean. I hate it when he does that! He insults me and makes fun of me when all I try to do... Forget it. Your hair is done. You still don't want makeup, right?"
Toshi nodded. "Right."
"Okay, and it's... 8:00, Ryoga should be here any minute."
"All right!" Toshi said and smiled. "I'm ready."
"Yep. Have fun!" Akane called as she ran out the door and downstairs.
"Okay everybody, here she comes!" Akane announced. Toshi then proceeded downstairs. She almost skipped as she walked in. Promptly, Genma burst into tears.
"My little girl!" Genma cried.
"So pretty! Blossoming well, Saotome!" Soun said smiling.
Genma ran up to his teenage daughter and glomped her.
"POP! YOU'RE GONNA SPILL SAKE ON ME! OR MUSS MY DRESS! JUST-" she was about to punch him, Ranma style, then stopped herself. "Please, Daddy, don't." She stuck out her bottom lip as far as possible, and teared up her eyes. Genma looked down with immense pride on his face.
"She called me 'Daddy'! This old man can die happy now!" He said and floated back onto the couch in pure ecstasy.
"Well," Toshi said, "That takes care of Pop."
Ranma walked up to his little sister grinning. "Good job with Pop. You look nice."
"Ranma, well, Akane takes all the credit for this one." Toshi said smiling. Akane, looked over at hearing her name. Toshi looked over to see Akane, then pulled Ranma between them.
"Ranma," she whispered, "say something good."
"What?" He said, a little too loudly.
"Shut up. Just say 'Akane did a good job.' That's all."
"What? No!."
"Say it!"
"NO!" Ranma shouted. Everyone in the room turned to the pair. Toshi laughed nervously.
"We're playing that gaijin game, you know... um... Twenty Questions?" Everyone nodded and turned back to what they were doing. Akane and Nabiki, watching T.V, and every once in a while, glancing out the window for Ryoga; Soun and Genma playing an innocent game of Go.
"Ranma say it. Please?"
"No!"
"I'll pinch you if you don't."
"Pinch me then." Toshi reached out, then thought again.
"Wait, if you don't, I'll tell Akane your darkest secret."
"Wha?" Ranma asked, surprised.
"Don't 'wha' me. Say it."
"Ok, ok, ok." He whispered. He took in a huge breath. "Akane sure did a good job on your hair... and... stuff!" He said loudly.
"Ya hear that, Saotome? The schools are practically combined!"
"My friend, you're right! This calls for a celebration!" The two fathers said, and promptly made their exit, cheering.
Akane meanwhile, blushed. "Ranma did you really mean that?"
"Toshi was going to tell my little secret, if I didn't, so I guess..."
"RANMA!" Akane shouted.
"Sis, no need to get mad over him. He's only just a jerk, as you so simply put it. So why do you get so huffy?" Nabiki asked, her eyes not leaving the television.
"Well... um..." Akane started.
"And Ranma, if Akane's so worthless as a fiancee, as you repeatedly emphasis, why are you constantly protecting her? Then taunting her all the while?" Nabiki continued.
"Well... uh..." Ranma said.
"Nabiki, you're good at this." Toshi said, looking at the two fumbling teens.
"Practice makes perfect."
The four eventually decided to watch some television, since Ryoga hadn't shown yet.
"Pig boy's probably lost."
"Love will lead him here." Toshi said, entranced by her own thoughts.
"Whatever. Either that or he's avoiding on purpose." Nabiki said. "In which case he will pay. Literally."
"Ryoga's a nice guy, he won't leave you hanging on purpose, Tosh ."
"He's lost I tell you! Even if he wanted to be here, he wouldn't."
"Love will show him the way." Toshi sighed dreamily.
"Hey guys, has anyone seen P-Chan in a long time?" Akane asked. "I haven't seen him for days."
"Yep, he's lost." Ranma quipped.
"Hmmm... speaking of lost people, where's Kasumi?" Toshi asked.
"She wasn't feeling too well today. She went to bed early." Nabiki said, and yawned. "I think I might follow in her footsteps."
Nabiki started up the stairs, "Tell me if Ryoga ever shows."
"He will." Toshi said.
"On New Year's or so." Ranma said and yawned. "I'm tired G'night." He said, and followed Nabiki.
"Toshi, I'm sleepy," Akane said and yawned, "Will you be okay until Ryoga comes? In fact, why don't you hit the sack too? It's late now."
"I'll be alright," Toshi said, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"You sure? I don't want to leave you if-"
"Positive. Don't worry." Toshi muttered softly, staring out the window.
"Well..."
"I just need to be alone for a minute." Toshi answered and flicked off the television.
"Okay. 'Night." Akane said and retreated to her quarters.
"I can understand the direction problem, Ryo -chan, but why tonight?" The lone girl said sniffling. The silence of the room was the only answer.