Inverse Property Chapter 5: Backstabbing is a spectator sport, a ranma fanfic

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Chapter Five

"Back-stabbing is a spectator sport."

"Ouch. . ."

"Why is it that the center of attention always wakes up last?"

Ranma fluttered her eyes, a generous amount of light filtering down from the trees above, causing her to clamp her lids tight and raise a hand to the sun as rays darted in all directions, both pinpoints and blobs on the forest floor and on her face. She blinked a few time, peeking through her fingers to see some unusually parallel branches line the canopy. "What's goin' on?" She reeled back slightly when Ryouga appeared, peering down at her from his seat at her head. She tipped back, seeing him frown at her as he spoke.

"Took you long enough."

She sneered, sitting up. "Do you hover over me all the time or just when I'm sleepin'? Where are we?"

Ryouga reached back and tapped a tree. Wait, that wasn't a tree-- "Amazons."

The redhead fished something out of her ear before she asked in a rather deadpan tone, "What?"

Ryouga stood, cracking his neck to the side as he surveyed the other captures in the cage. "Some Amazons got us." Ranma swore bitterly, not wanting to hear him the first time. Ryouga ignored her as he passed over the others for the fifth time since he had woken up. Ukyou was sitting on her own, looking rather distressed, as Akane and Shampoo were giving each other particularly evil glances. As best and Hibiki could figure, Akane was still pretty steamed about that whole near-death thing. Ryouga looked back to Ranma and thanked her again, her not knowing what the hell he was talking about. The directionally-screwed boy recalled that Shampoo did make the attempt to apologize, but unfortunately, no one heard her tiny whisper.

Ranma followed his gaze, tempted to either go resolve things or end up making them worse. Her back was still killing her and the instant she remembered why it hurt, she'd bring hell down upon the culprit. Her brief memory lapse was interrupted, however, when she came to a certain realization. "Where's pop?"

"No clue. Do you think that a panda is easy to capture?"

"Alright, smartass, what about that other old, ugly and nasty thing d'came wid'us?"

Ryouga shrugged. "She's probably been released based on being an Amazon, you twit."

Ranma growled, turning away. "Watch it. Oi, Shampoo!" Akane and her opponent looked up, one delighted and one slightly irritated. Akane was winning that staring match.

"Ranma forgive Shampoo?" she cried quite readily, those being the first words she'd spoken to her since she'd yelled her and Ukyou silly. Akane narrowed her eyes, turning away from the both of them.

"Um, sure. Why are you still in here with the rest of us?"

Shampoo sighed, a mix of relief and upset. "Aiya. . . this not Shampoo's village. If Amazon try visit other village, is still outsider!"

The redhead snorted, looking through the bars. "Great." She leaned against the wood, intently gazing out into the camp as a few spectators passed by. She met eyes with each of them, eventually practicing a bit of stare-down. She managed to creep out about two of the nine muscle-chicks that passed. This was one hell of a scary village. Was it just she or were these girls a little bigger than those from Shampoo's tribe? She shuddered slightly, moving her eyes from the people to the surrounding buildings. It was indeed a bit daunting, sharp construction and large doors putting a bit of a nervous streak through Ranma's confidence about getting out of there with less than a flesh wound. Escape would require something a little less direct than a bust. "Dang. . ."

Akane watched from her place in the other corner, her memory of last night fading slightly as the sun above arched to midday. What she and Ranma had done last night was of little consequence now -- they were all trapped, Shampoo was a jerkass and. . . well, that's all that was running through her mind. She glanced back to her momentary bane and snarled at the smile on her face. Why should she be so happy? And why the hell should Ranma have forgiven her so easily? Some honor she has. "I mean, he."

Surprisingly, Akane wasn't nearly as mad at Ukyou. The tongue-lashing Ranma had given her almost made the Tendo girl feel sorry for her. Especially since they had been friends and the voyage seemed to putting a serious strain on that word. After all, the recent string of actions and double-cross seemed to betray that idea. Akane swallowed uneasily; somehow, she got the feeling that there was a reason that Ukyou and Shampoo had upped the ante. The struggle for Ranma was coming to a close and Akane knew it.

Too bad Ranma didn't.

The girls in question were also on non-speaking terms. Shampoo's bungling led to Ukyou getting in trouble and frankly, she didn't like it. Although, Ukyou never recalled a giant boulder as being part of the plan. . . She shook her head, giving Shampoo a suspicious glance. "I wonder--"

She was suddenly interrupted when Ranma squeaked, causing Ryouga to leap away and cling to the bars. "I've got it!" she cried. Ryouga was about to question before Ranma skipped back, walking with a good pace in the direction of Akane. She looked up, perplexed, but also smiling as she welcomed the sudden advance. Take that Shampoo. She stood as Ranma stopped before her and prepared to say 'yes' to whatever she was about to say.

"Shampoo, come with me."

"Yes! Shampoo come right now!" She hopped up with a squeal and walked off with her as she approached the bars again. Akane twitched, void of a reaction. Ryouga took a step closer but a lightning bolt seared the ground before his feet.

"Don't," she murmured, holding up the tear in her sleeve.

"Oi! Amazon babes!"

Shampoo's pupils disappeared and soon found that she could only stumble over her words. "Wh. . . what Ranma doing?" she asked, a quaver in her voice. Ran-chan grinned slightly, sticking her tongue out at a few of the bigger women as they hulked by.

"Big Bertha! Yeah, you, the bulldozer! What's it take to get a good fight around here?"

Shampoo tried to back up but Ranma shot her hand out and clamped down on her arm. "AIYA!! Shampoo say she was sorry for hurting Akane! Shampoo not want to die!! These big Amazons, Ranma! They hurt bad!" Ranma shoved her into the bars of the cage and pinned her steady by the shoulder with a grunt. The girl under her desisted in her resistance, sighing in defeat. From behind, Ryouga and Akane watched with curiosity as Ukyou viewed with a passing fancy. "Ouch! Ranma, you too rough. . . "

Already, Akane hated this plan.

Ranma pointed through the bars at the battle post, not a single movement made in the hot breeze as it sat like a stone. Or better yet, a giant tree. "What'chu say we get a battle royale going on?"

An usually feminine girl shoved through the growing crowd, stomping up to the cage with an annoyance in her step. From afar she was rather petite but it soon became clear that she towered at least a foot over Ran-chan's head. Gulping silently, Ranma took her eyes from the girl's bulging chest and up to her white-paint smeared face. Her dark blue hair hanged about her tanned shoulders, pulled back with a tattered black bow near her left arm. The rest of her clothes, how little there was of them, were in unusually good condition; slightly marred white harem pants and two strips of cloth crossing over her front to somehow cover her chest. She mumbled something in Chinese to which Shampoo nodded carefully.

"Um, girl say is rude to barge around like boar."

Ranma snorted. "She so didn't say that. Tell her I wanna talk to the head hancho -- the battle-babe around here."

"Speak-ing," the Amazon muttered brokenly.

Pausing for just a moment, Ranma let out a high-pitched laugh, rubbing the back of her head. "You don't say? Uh, Shampoo, let her know that we're willing to spar for our freedom. Include some coaxin' insults for me?"

"Airen, you crazy! Shampoo no tell—"

Ranma pressed against her back, whispering harshly. "You want me to forgive you or not?" Shampoo nodded ardently as Ryouga ran up and grabbed Ranma by the neck, yanking her back from the bars while the captured Amazon stubbornly translated. "Eii! Let me go, Ryouga!!"

"Are you mad, woman?! We won't have to go to Jusenkyou if you die!"

Ranma grinned, bearing a fang as his arm slackened from about her neck. "I didn't know you cared."

Ryouga threw her back against the bars with a frown, snuffing her as he turned to stand with Akane. "Don't bank on it. The moment she murders you, I'm headed home. I got nothin' to do with you from here on out." The redhead sneered.

"Good luck finding your way back! I hope you walk to Canada!" She stuck her tongue out and turned around to face her new friend.

The Tendo girl leaned over, tapping Ryouga on the shoulder. "That was a little harsh."

Ryouga shrugged. "Whatever."

"So," Ranma said, turning to Shampoo, "is it a date?"

Akane grunted, cracking her knuckles as she walked forward. "I take it back."

A little pale, the Chinese girl nodded, swallowing a bit. "Yes, is deal. . ." Saotome punched her fist, grinning like a cat when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Perfect."

She fell back down from the top of the cage, Akane's belting not able to send her through the tightly lashed bars. Ranma bounced off the ground, groaning slightly. Akane turned and sat back down as Ran-chan got to her feet, rubbing her cheek. "I owed you from a few minutes ago," Akane mumbled.

". . . Perfect."

In a nearby and particularly well-adorned hut, Cologne set down a cup of tea. "I'm glad you understand our situation."

The Priestess across the table chuckled, taking a sip from her own mug. "Of course. You'll all be released and escorted to the Springs. It is a rather unusual scenario but I've no reason to not trust you."

Cologne nodded, about to thank her before a ruckus snapped both their attentions to the window.

"Those are battle cries!" The Priestess hopped up, running for the door as Cologne sighed, tapping after on her staff. They hastily made way to the outside, seeing a crowd expeditiously round about the cage and battle post. A few women danced as the beat of drums filled the air, the cries of the audience the melody for the tune. Was that her son-in-law up there?

". . . Damnit."

Ranma stood upon the slippery wood, sudden recollections of her bout with Shampoo coming to mind as she touched her reddened cheek one more time. She had been an easy win since Ranma had been able to watch her fight but she felt a pang of fear strike her heart when it dawned on her that she was fighting blind. What? Not that big a deal? It's an Amazon, you remember. Glancing back to make sure that her partner hadn't turned yellow, she saw Shampoo reluctantly ready her bori-bori. "Good girl."

"Ranma owe Shampoo big time if we not die. . ."

"Yeah, don't count on it."

"We going to die?!"

"No, dummy! Just do as I do!"

"Enough!" the tall Amazon across from them cried as she pounded the flat of her staff off the log. "This is now time for fight!" Ranma stepped back slightly, placing her hand on one of the ropes suspending the log in the air. She swallowed as she gripped it tightly, looking back to give Shampoo a wink when a voice rumbled like thunder. "I COME!!"

The blue tresses shot forward in a flash, her staff ripping around from the left like a helicopter blade. Ranma jumped onto the rope as Shampoo hopped back, startled. The rod bounced off the taut line but the Amazon gave it no thought, swinging the shaft behind her back and then down over her head. Ranma took no time in waiting once the staff had rebounded and she jumped forward off the rope, grabbing the stick in mid air as it passed under her feet. She suddenly cried out, however, letting it go as she tumbled down to the log. Ran-chan began to slide but grappled for a crack in the wood, hanging by a sliver of luck before she crawled back onto the tree. The Amazon grinned back over her shoulder as Ranma blew on her hands, wiping a bit of blood onto her jacket.

"That was coral in the end," she mumbled, the sting in her palms subsiding just a bit. Shampoo snapped out of her shock and looked as Ranma got to her feet, the blue-haired Amazon pausing only out of a lack of humility. "Ranma is okay?!"

"Yeah, don't worry about me!"

Shampoo nodded as the Amazon turned to her, smirking and prodding with her staff. "You not hurt my Ranma. . ." She darkened for a moment as the blue-haired girl silently raised her staff for a blow, startled from her attack when Shampoo suddenly roared, launching her bori-bori up to knock the rod from its path. "NO!" Shampoo cried again, sending her other weapon for the girl's midsection. The Amazon quickly spun her staff before her, the gleam of rod in the light making it appear as a solid wall. The Amazon leered as she rotated the shield against which the bori-bori smacked, freeing it from Shampoo's hand and to the tree off which it rolled, falling to the ground like a stone. Shampoo looked at her single weapon, snarling slightly. She glanced through the Amazon's legs as the spinning slowed to see what Ranma was up to, catching sight of her as she was seemingly standing still, facing the ropes. "What Ranma doing?!"

Ranma looked back and grunted, winking at her again. Shampoo watched as a blur formed at her hands, Ran-chan moving at speeds unmatched by even the incredible rate at which the Amazon's shaft buzzed. "What you do?" she whispered slightly before she knocked wood to her opponent's weapon.

The Amazon grinned, the two struggling back and forth before Shampoo put on a burst of speed, shoving her back to the center. "Why don't you give up on your friend? She doesn't care about you." She mumbled in their native tongue, Shampoo shaking her head violently.

"Ranma never abandon Shampoo!" In a fit of rage she swung her bori-bori up as the staff started its descent to clash with her face. Shampoo, prepared for the collision, braced back and put her arm up to ready herself for the blow but it never came. As Shampoo's bori-bori wisped by her opponent's face, the Amazon watched in confusion as her weapon did not come down. Instead, Ranma's face took place, hair hanging down like an upside-down flame.

She grinned. "Hi." Her hands gripped near where the Amazon held the staff, the wood carved smooth and untouched by the coral. Ranma swung around the axle, pulling her weight down along with the pole as the Amazon struggled to comprehend. Not even mere seconds having yet passed, Ranma swept the coral rod through the ropes, weakened by her previous, blindingly-fast battery. They were thinned and thus snapped like twine, sending the Amazon tumbling back and Shampoo falling toward the ground. Ranma jumped forward off the staff to the Amazon's shoulders and from there to the log, grabbing Shampoo by the waist, running up the tree as the other end picked up from the ropes. She reached the top and jumped off into the air, and amidst the howls and cries of the crowd, the two disappeared into the trees.

Ryouga and Akane stared in shock as the Amazon never left the log, standing on the slanted wood to howl out in rage. Hibiki jumped when the black-haired girl with the torn sweater made it clear that she was boiling over like a pot of water over an oven fire. "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Ducking to the side, Ryouga sighed. He knew she had been up to something. As Akane twitched and shivered, he looked to the Amazons surrounding the cage.

"Hey, can I have some water?"

From somewhere behind the crowd, the Priestess snarled. Cologne nodded knowingly. "Feel free to change your mind."

"Done."

Panting, Ranma settled down in the dripping trees, letting Shampoo touch feet on the branch next to her. "Whew, she was nuts. . ."

Shampoo struggled to breath, pulling her collar loose as she fanned her neck. "Ranma have no honor!!"

"Are you kidding me? I looked back -- she was still on the freaking log. She was not going down." She chuckled, almost. "Did you think we could beat her? She was massive!"

Shampoo stared at her, gaping. "You gamble with our life! You know Amazons hunt! Worse than being beat by outside is being disgraced by outsider! We get Kiss of Death for sure!" Shampoo cringed. "Shampoo no want write will. . ."

"Duh, how can we get the Kiss of Death if we aren't there?"

"Ranma. . . we not going back for others?" Shampoo suddenly looked hopeful. "Ranma pick Shampoo?!"

"No, calm down!! We're going back. It's just easier to work on things from the outside." Shampoo nodded, scratching her head as a few droplets of water shook from the trees. Ranma looked up into the leaves, the light above sending smears of green over her face like war paint. She glanced back to Shampoo, nodding. "We've got two brains workin' here, we can bust 'em out."

"Shampoo vote leave Akane, okay?"

". . .Alright, fine, I'll do this on my own. We are not leaving anyone, got it? Not Akane, Ukyou. . . or Akane or Ukyou."

"Bwe."

"That'-- did you just say 'bwe?'" Shampoo shrugged, shaking her head.

"Shampoo not say anything!" Ranma looked around, gripping the trunk with a bit of alarm. There was a slight rustling in the trees around them, the wind blowing too soft to cause that kind of a shake.

"Then what. . . "

"REEEE!"

"AUGH!!" Ran-chan cried as a black, round mass shot out of the leaves above, clamping around her face in a steel grip. "WAUGH! GET IT OFF! IT'S A GIANT LEECH! IT'S KILLING ME!"

"Aiya, is Ryouga!" Ranma clawed at her face as she tossed herself back on bough, writhing as she dug her fingers into porkfat. She ripped P-Chan from her head, holding him up in the air as she wiped at her scratched face, gasping.

"Ryouga! What the hell are you doing here?" The little piglet squirmed, shaking out her grasp as she sat up. He fell into her lap and bit at her leg, causing Ranma to fall from her perch. "OUCH! You little turd!" She grappled for a branch, dangling above the ground below. P-Chan held on by the thigh of her pants, squealing like a mad-pig.

"Ranma and Ryouga want help?"

"YES!"

Shampoo nodded, hopping down and to the forest floor ten feet below. "Ranma can drop now! Will catch!" The redhead glanced down and sighed stupidly, reaching for her leg to grab the pig before she dropped to the ground.

"Ryouga, how the hell did you get out?"

The little pig gave her a dull squeal as a response, almost motioning to his current state.

"Oh, right." She looked around before a warm drop of water tapped her on the head. Nearby, she saw a puddle ripple in the mud and almost grinned as she hefted the pig into the air. "You'll thank me later." She reached over and let him fall shrieking into the shallow pond, turning her head away once the naked boy sprang from the muddy water.

"I will kill you, Ranma."

She glanced to Shampoo, seeing her watch without reserve and sighed. "Nice to see you, too. Ryouga, I did you a favor. Here's another." Before the steam come finish shooting from Hibiki's nose, Ranma tugged her pants down and tossed them onto his lap. "Glad my femmy undies are all dirty."

Ryouga quickly pulled the bottoms on but did not desist in stalking up to her as she yanked her jacket down over her boys' underwear, a bit of modesty showing on her face. "You little coward. What kind of a backstabber leaves his pals behind?" He grabbed Ran-chan by her red jacket and gave her a rough shake, growling like a dog.

"Chill out! Wha'd'ja do that for?! We were gonna come back, ass!"

"Well why didn't you use me then? You know that you and I could'a beat the crap outta her!"

Shampoo snorted, nodding away. "Ass. . ."

Ranma shoved him back into a tree, sneering at him. "Yeah, you're right. So we beat her, I get the Kiss of Death, and you gotta marry her! Tell me I didn't do you a favor! I figured that Shampoo and I could'a 'scaped if we had to, but you're too proud! Tell me you aren't thankful, you twit." She crossed her arms, glaring at him as he watched with a startled gaze.

"Wh. . . Ranma. . . you did all that for me?"

"Don't let it go to your head," she said quietly. "I was just helpin' a friend." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Dang, this sucks! How're we gonna save Akane and Ukyou? Akane's probably too mad and Ucchan's probably sulkin' like crazy."

"As I recall, she deserved it."

"Maybe we were a little hard on her." Rubbing her back, she snorted. Oh, yeah, that's right – that stupid vine thing. Shampoo scoffed, whining as she spoke.

"Too hard on spatula girl but yell plenty at Shampoo."

Ranma groaned, hushing her. "Eh. . . don't give me grief, alright? Idn't it enough that I forgave you? Shut up about it." Blinking, Shampoo sank back against as tree as Ryouga and Ranma got back to talking.

"Ranma tell Shampoo to shut up. . .?" She shook her head slightly as if to clear her ears. When she looked back to the pair, they were both nowhere to be found. "Aiya, where Pig-boy and airen go?" She looked to the side where a large panda took a seat and smiled. "Nihao! Panda, you know where is Ranma?"

"Bauh buh bah, buh bow."

Back in the village, Akane leaned against the bars, reaching out to those who passed like a lost child. "It's not my fault! I don't know those people! Really! Let us go!" Cologne hopped up and gave her a bat. "Ouch!"

"That's enough, girl. There's no arguing with these people. We must wait for the others to return."

"Hah!" Akane cried. "They'll. . . they'll have eaten us before then!"

Cologne gave her another whack. "We aren't cannibals." Akane moaned, running over to Ukyou, tugging at her arm.

"C'mon, let's go! Help me out here!" Ukyou yanked her arm back, sighing raggedly. "What is it? You wanna die?" Kuonji looked to the side, grunting slightly. "God. . ." Tendo ran back to the bars, rattling them slightly. It was getting darker and frankly, that only made the girls look bigger, meaner and scary. "We're screwed. . ." As she stared out to the now disinterested inhabitants, her heart sank a bit. How could Ranma do this? How was she capable of leaving them behind? She had to bite her tongue to think it, but was it possible that she was running away with Shampoo? No! How could she not come back? She bit her tongue again, flinching slightly. Hell, if not for her, what about Ukyou?

She stuck out her tongue. She didn't want Ranma anyway.

Akane blinked. "Say. . ." Akane turned around, leaning back against the bars. "You think she really wanted to just run off with Shampoo?" Ukyou snuffed her, looking at the ground.

"Lay off, already."

"No, really! I mean, it wasn't her idea to hurt Ryouga and me, so it seems to make sense." Ukyou 'gurked', scrunching up slightly. "I can understand, almost. . . kinda sad that she won't be back. . ."

"Stop it!" Ukyou leapt to her feet, standing over the Tendo girl with a bit of a glare. "I said I was sorry, alright? I wasn't out to kill you." She sucked her teeth, crossing her arms.

"Just maim us, huh?"

"Well the way you talk, I wonder why you're still here! Sugar, this whole time you've been going on about how you hate Ran-chan 'n' stuff and that's fine with me until you get mad about bein' kept from him!"

"I was mad 'cause you almost killed me!"

"I didn't set the trap!" The two stood as a leaf drifted by, smacking Akane in the face. Ukyou was broken from her stare as she sighed. "I know that wasn't right." She snorted. "Look, I just wanted you out of the way! Lost! Trapped! Not hurt! You. . . " She shrugged, turning away. "You're my friend too, really. . ." Akane blinked in response, removing the leaf from her cheek.

"S-seriously?"

"Hey!" she shouted, turning around. "Don't make me look like a bad guy, here. If I hated you, don't you think you'd be dead by now? Do you think I'd stand by and watch as Ranma got even more confused about who he wants?" She grinned despite herself, wiping at the dirt that smeared her face. She took a deep breath, a bit of her old fire rekindling within. "Love is the only battle I'm fighting, hon. We'll see who gets Ranma."

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Akane shouted, waving her hands. "Wh-who said I wa--"

Ukyou shoved her up against the cage bars and shouted, "Stop!" Akane just watched her as she went on. "Don't mess with me. You know and I know how you feel about him and girl, you are not going to play dumb with me. Don't you dare say you don't love him and then get mad when he acts like he doesn't love you too." She bit her lip, looking down to the ground. "Ran-chan. . . he. . . " She let Akane go, stepping back. She smiled slightly as Akane blushed, looking around. "We'll see."

"Y-yeah. . ." She looked up when Ukyou suddenly stuck her hand out, Akane grabbing it carefully and shaking it.

"Now, how are we gonna get outta here?" Akane put her fist to her chin, trying to think. Ukyou followed suit, tapping on the bars. They thought about breaking them from the start but it quickly dawned on them that these cages were meant to hold people like them -- to hold super strong Amazons. If an Amazon like Shampoo couldn't do it, what hope did anyone else have? Well, that is, the two who could were nowhere to be found. Kuonji sighed a bit when she thought about one of them, a small pit in her stomach growing.

"Hey," Ukyou suddenly asked.

Akane looked up, still tapping her chin. She gave her a wary glance, replying, "What's up?"

"Why are you always so reluctant to admit it?"

Her eyes bugged as she looked to the sky. "U-ucchan, is now the time? Shouldn't we talk about getting out of here--?"

"It's just you and me, isn't it?"

Akane turned red, stumbling back against the bars. How could it be that obvious when she declared her contempt so vehemently? Dumbly, Akane darkened. That was probably what made it obvious. "Because," she murmured.

Ukyou growled, clenching her fist. "I swear, if you ever yell at him for calling you uncute, you should really look in the mirror. . ."

"Shut up!" Akane shouted, stomping her foot. "Look, I just don't know, okay?!" Her eye twitched as she took a deep breath. "You got me, you know I like him! Just leave me alone! Why should you care, anyway?! He probably doesn't care at all about me!!" Blinking, Ukyou's hard gaze cracked as Akane's blatant lying puzzled the hell out of her.

"Ar. . . are you nuts?"

"He's not here, is he?! Wh-why should he like me if all I do is turn him away?!" She covered her mouth, looking away with a moan. She'd said waaay too much. "I mean, she. No, wait, he!"

"A. . . Akane. . . I. . . jeez, I shouldn't say anything but why do you think he got mad when you got hurt? I don't like to admit it, but. . . he has to care about you." She winced, the pit in her stomach not being helped by her aiding her enemy. "Damnit. . ." Her rival was silent, staring out into the camp. Ukyou lifted a brow, tipping her head to the side. "Yo?"

". . . "

"What did you say?" Akane pointed and said it again.

"Is that P-Chan?"

Off in the distance, a squeal rang in the air as feet trampled after the tiny black swine. Ryouga ran like mad as a group of Amazons followed, food cries sound far too much like war cries. As he raced even faster, tears squeezed from his eyes as nearly the entire population of hunters fell into step behind him.

Akane leapt to the bars, reaching out. "Peee-chaaaan! How the hell did he get here? Oh, they're going to kill him! Ukyou, help me here!"

"What can we do? We're in a cage."

They jolted, startled by a tap to the bars. Cologne looked rather lazily, cracking her neck. "You're not in there for long!" Akane couldn't help but smile, clutching her hands to her chest. Ukyou grinned as well, waving like a maniac.

"Ranma!!"

The girl hopped off the panda, Shampoo following, and the two landed atop the cage. Ranma gave them a smile and winked. "In the flesh."

Akane stopped beaming and hopped up, bapping her on the head. "Took you."

"Jeez!" Ranma cried, looking back to Shampoo. "Maybe we should leave them."

"Don't even joke like that," Ukyou warned, tapping her foot. Ranma took a deep breath, inspecting the bars.

"Yeah yeah, I know. . . " she mumbled, tapping on a few of the poles. "Damn, these are tough." She snapped her fingers. "Why didn't Ryouga do his bakusai tenketsu? That can break stone."

Akane nodded. "I asked but he said that there were too many people around!"

Ranma swore, sitting on the corner of the cage. "Well that's what we need."

Akane snorted. "Some help you are! Where'd Ryouga go? I turned around and he was gone! Is he with you?" Ranma shrugged and suddenly perked up to a yell. She stood and looked down a path when a black bullet instantly shot by the cage. Ranma's stomach sank as a dust storm followed, Shampoo tugging at her arm.

"Aiya, Amazons say they see us!"

Before Ranma could respond, a spear sped by her face, a few hairs dropping to the ground below. "You don't say. . .?"

Ranma had known better than to run, figuring that she'd be playing with the lives of those still in the bars. Ryouga had also returned to the cage quite abruptly, confusing the life out of Akane. However, the circumstances presented to them made it clear that Ryouga wouldn't stay locked up for long. The Priestess of the camp made an unusual decree once they had recaptured their prisoners and decided to still grant them their freedom and escape from the murmurs of the Kiss of Death on a particular stipulation. She pulled Ranma from the group and labeled her as the main instigator and had Ryouga follow. Now, Cologne, Ukyou, Akane, Shampoo and a visiting panda watched in interest as the Priestess spoke to the gaijin.

"You have invaded our camp and have disrespected us as a people. However, I know all about your situation and understand Saotome Ranma's problem quite well." She swept back a lock of white hair. "It occurs to me that the only way to allow your release is to test just how much Ranma wants to fix. . . his problem. Ranma, pick a female from your group."

Ranma quirked her brow. "Wha?"

"DO IT!" she roared, shaking her arm.

"Ah! Uh, um, Shampoo!" She held a hand to her chest, trying to calm her breath.

"Shampoo," the Priestess demanded, "step forward." The Amazon did so quickly, silently standing nearby. "Ranma, you and Shampoo will fight for your freedom."

"What?!" Ranma shouted, turning white.

"Ryouga," the Priestess turned, not honoring Ranma's shock. "You, I know, are Ranma's friend. Your fight will also determine your freedom. If Ranma should win, you all go free. If Ranma should fail, you all stay. However, regardless of Ranma's fight, if you should win, Ryouga, you will exempt your group from further harm. If you should fail, then you'll have no safe passage."

Ryouga swallowed. "But if I win, that means. . . that means that I have to marry her!"

The Priestess grinned. "Yes. Will Ryouga's opponent step forward!"

Akane yelped slightly as a huge girl stepped by her, giving Ukyou a shove towards the leader, causing her to tumble into the dirt. Ranma and Ryouga shouted in alarm, staring at the Priestess.

"But she's not an Amazon!" Ranma cried.

"But she's on Amazonian land. For you people, I will make exceptions to our laws."

Ryouga scoffed, helping Ukyou up from the ground. "How do you expect to enforce it? We'll leave, eventually!"

The Priestess chuckled, a few of the Amazons knocking spears. "We have our chapel ready." Ryouga paled, not prepared to match wits with the whole tribe. He and Ukyou exchanged a glance, her stuttered to make sense of what just happened.

Akane looked between all of her friends, seeing sunken features all around. Ukyou look perfectly sick and Ryouga was white as a ghost. The four shriveled slightly as the people around snickered and chuckled. Ranma gazed upon Ukyou as she balled and unballed her fist, her sense of compassion flaring up to unusual highs. "STOP!" Akane shouted, running forward. "I'll fight Ryouga!!"

Ranma choked as she shot forward, grabbing her by the arm. "NO! If you lose, you'll have to get married!" She curled her fingers into her arm, trying not to jump up and down.

Akane looked at her, swallowing slightly. "It. . . It's not fair to Ukyou. It's not like it's her fault."

"It's not your fault, either!" Ranma cried.

"Too bad!" Akane returned, nodding to Ukyou. "I'll fight Ryouga!"

The Priestess held up her hand as a mumble wrapped around the crowd of Amazons. "It is decided! Ranma will first battle Shampoo and Ryouga will battle. . . this one."

Ranma sank back next to Shampoo, staring after Akane with lost eyes as she and Ryouga were marched off. Akane looked back, their gazes meeting for a scant second before they both turned to watch Ukyou being pushed into the cage. "Why. . . ?"

Ranma stood on the log, a brick in her chest weighing down on her heart. She turned to the left, where the sun finagled its way through some of the trees, what little of the exposed sky burning pink with the sunset. Somehow or another, Ranma realized that this would be more than a sparring match and beyond that that Shampoo would not let her win. She sneezed. Then she coughed. The--

"That's enough stalling!" The Priestess cried as the Amazons gathered around, Ryouga and Akane standing at opposite side of the log, Shampoo and Ran-chan unable to look each other in the eye from their perches on the wood. The dim light cast gray shadows on the two, only small patches of their faces lit by brighter bursts of the dying sun. "I said begin. A win is determined by the opponent falling to the ground! We are experts, too, so it will not be a thrown fight."

Drat.

Ranma shut her eyes, dropping into a wait, her hands brought up and ready for Shampoo's advance. When her eyes opened, they were suddenly glimmering with a fierce blazing fire. "No hard feelings," she mumbled, "but I'm getting to that spring." Shampoo just ran forward, jumping into the air.

"Kyyaaaa!!" She swung her bori-bori down, sending it flying for Ranma's head. She smacked it back up to Shampoo when she batted it with her elbow, running forward and under her as the Amazon caught her weapon. Ran-chan yelled curtly twice as she swung two kicks around behind her, Shampoo ducking under the first and jumping over the second, bringing her bori-bori down upon her foot. Shampoo hopped up and followed Ranma's leg around as it slowed to a stop, arching her back forward and down to step on her knee.

"Get off!" Ranma cried as she suddenly dropped her leg, Shampoo pulling her weapon down, smacking her in the head. Ranma yelped, tumbling back as she grabbed her throbbing skull. She hissed as Shampoo advanced again, shoving her weapon forward. Ran-chan caught it, wrenching it out of her grasp with a roar and returning to her a punch. It sailed over Shampoo as she ducked back, grabbing her arm with her thighs when she rolled on her spine like a ball and pulled her legs up. Ran-chan yipped but fell down, tugging Shampoo with her and causing the Amazon to drop to her buttocks.

"Aie!" Shampoo yelled, releasing Ranma's arm as the redhead stood.

"What are you doing, Shampoo? Can't you just lose?"

Shampoo flipped up onto her hands, looking up from the log. "No. Is matter of honor now. Shampoo love Ranma very much but will not lose for him!"

Ranma gulped as Shampoo pushed off her hands, launching her feet toward her face. "I knew you'd say that." She brought her hands up, crossing her arms to stop the kick. For moments, Shampoo was suspended in the air, pressed against Ranma's quaking arms.

"Shampoo lose against him, though." She smiled a bit as Ran-chan suddenly nodded, grabbing her ankles and twirling her around. Ranma let her go, sending her flying off the log. However, Shampoo's hand shot out and grabbed the retied rope with a smirk, undoing one of the knots that supported the log. As the wood tumbled with a crash, Ranma cried out and slid, grabbing onto the tree before her foot touched the ground. Shampoo hanged helpless from the pole to which the log was attached, grinning at her. Narrowing her eyes, Ranma hopped up and sped down the log, jumping up onto the other rope, bouncing off to reach the Amazon as she was about to skip down to the battle post. Ranma turned in the air, kicking off the pole and after Shampoo.

Shampoo swiveled and brought her leg up, aiming a kick for Ranma's shoulder but in a flash, Ranma had turned in the air once more. Their feet met and Ranma kicked hers to the side, her other foot shooting out and knocking against Shampoo's chest. She flew from the log with a cry, skidding into the dirt below. She tumbled through the crowd as Ranma set down, panting for breath.

The Priestess stood. "Ranma wins!"

Shampoo looked up to the trees as she spread out on the ground, coughing slightly. "Ranma. . ." Saotome looked up, hearing her called through the crowd of hisses and boos. Jumping down, she pushed through the swarm around the Amazon and knelt nearby. "Ranma?"

"I. . . you. . . "

"No be sorry," she smiled, "win fair and square. Besides, Shampoo already give you Kiss of Death before. Now you owe me two!" Ranma groaned, sitting back in the dirt.

"Great."

After retying the log, the crowd was once again gathered around the log. Ranma watched from Ryouga's side, giving him icy glares. "You better not win."

He sighed, looking back to her. "What choice do I have? We wanna get to the springs safely, right?"

"Nice try! I'll kill you if you beat her."

". . . Sorry Ranma. All's fair."

"Fucker!" Ran-chan shouted, exploding with rage as she tried to clamber up onto the log to take him out, but was dragged down by the combined strength of three Amazons. Ryouga gulped, looking back up to face his opponent. Akane nodded to him, tosses her torn sweatshirt down to the dirt. Her white undershirt was riddled with sweat, sticking to her chest and stomach. Ryouga choked back another mouthful of saliva and brought his hands up. Akane did the same, stepping forward.

"Begin!"

"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!!"

Ran-chan screamed, straining against the girls who held her. " NO!"

The wind froze as the slow beat of a heart boomed over the countryside. Ryouga took two fingers and held them into the air, launching them down to the center of the log. Akane took in a shallow breath, diving back to grab the ropes and hang for dear life. A bolt of energy shot down and cracked the log, rattling the land and sending the two halves booming as splinters rained over the spectators. Akane was tossed around like a paper doll but held tough, the ropes pulled to their extreme tensions. Ryouga stood still as stone until the tribe went quiet, a small, greasy sound filling the air.

In moments, Ryouga stood from the ground, sighing in defeat. His blast has loosened the knot holding his half of the log up and he went down, stumbling. Akane was whimpering, legs and arms wrapped around the rope when the Priestess approached. "Wh. . ."

"The winner."

In a few hours, the troupe had escaped the tribe and was deep into the jungle. The sun had long since disappeared from above, abandoning twilight in the name of perfect darkness. A fire was quick to be built. Genma later rejoined them, Ranma tired of both his antics and just about everyone around. She had nearly suffered a heart attack when Ryouga shattered the log and nearly fainted when he lost. Ranma made sure to both scream at him and thank him with her life and once that was out of the way, decided that she need a splash of water to chill her nerves. Ryouga leaned against his tent with a sigh, watching as Ranma stumbled off to find a stream.

"Why does it take me being an ass for her to be nice?" He glanced around, two other tents set up in a triangle around the flames. Ukyou and Shampoo were practically ordered to share while Akane slept with Genma and Cologne. She called it a personal preference. Today's events not withstanding, Ryouga was not very happy about sharing with Ran-chan. Her period not having been a problem since Nanking, she was more apt to put the hurt on him when she felt like it. He managed a chuckle, however, thinking that his supposed generosity would win him a quiet rest.

"Ryouga?" He reddened. That was so Akane's voice. He whipped his head to the side, startled to see the Tendo girl smiling down at him. She had a small bandage around her arm, exposed by her torn-off sleeve but looked positively angelic in every other respect. He immediately stood and bowed.

"A. . .Akane-san. . . I never meant to hurt you it was all an accident I was only being selfish and I--"

She laughed, punching him in the shoulder. He stumbled back, giving her a small noise as a question of her actions. "Gosh, calm down! It's just a rope burn. . . I never really liked this tee-shirt." She made a cute face, smiling. "Too tight."

He nodded slowly, seeing exactly what she meant. She was being awfully friendly. "Ak--"

She cleared her throat, looking to the side, slightly. "Ryouga. . . if anyone else had thrown the fight for me, I'd beat the snot out of them. But what you did was. . . it was sweet."

He blinked, falling to the dirt. "What?"

She knelt after him, nodding enthusiastically. "Yeah! If Ranma lost to me on purpose, that'd be an insult! But. . . you were really thinking of my feelings weren't you?" Ryouga stared back at her, confused beyond his ability to. . .well. . . blink. She stumbled slightly, looking to the fire. "Well. . . You knew the rope was weak and you knew your attack would loosen it up. . . Ryouga," she choked, "I'm so glad you did that! I wasn't sure that I could beat you!"

Ryouga just nodded, giving her an "Uh huh. . ."

She bit her lip slightly, looking to the side. "Ryouga, can. . . would you mind taking a walk with me?" He launched to his feet, looking around to make sure that someone saw this momentous occasion. Everyone presumably in his or her tents, he let out a sigh but smiled.

"Of course."

Ran-chan sighed, stuffing her hands into her pockets. It was victory after victory today and yet triumph was stabbing at her like an icepick. Beating Shampoo was nothing but 'shoddy frauda,' or whatever it was called. She got a brief joy out of beating the snot out of the girl but the circumstances surrounding the battle made her sure that she'd have rather not have been there in the first place. She couldn't help but feel that she needed to apologize. Again, that is.

Ran-chan grinned, slightly. "What's up with me?" She yawned a bit, folding her fingers together in front of her. As she stretched, she brought her arms up and held them over her head, going up on her toes and cracking her back forward. She dropped her hands, her ears suddenly perking to a snap. "What do you want?"

Ukyou shuffled from the shadows as Ranma turned to her, giving her a small wave. "Hey."

Ranma cocked her brow, crossing her arms. "Followin' me? I gotta piss," she lied.

Ukyou rubbed her nose, stepping up to her. "Look, I just want to apologize. I've been weird this whole time."

"Ucchan. . . " Ranma stepped back, leaning against a tree as Kuonji continued her advance. "Um, look, don't worry about it. We're pals, right?" She giggled uneasily, scratching her head. "We girls are kinda--"

Ukyou sighed, slapping her hand over Ranma's mouth. "Shh. I'm droppin' outta the pact." Ranma's eyes widened but she was unable to voice a question. "Listen up, would you Ran-chan? I. . . I know I've been really weird on this trip. But it's like this. . . I'm not used to seeing you all the time, for days at a time. I liked that a lot, y'know.

"But I also saw more than I wanted of your other girls. I thought I was the only serious one but. . ." She wiped at her forehead, laughing casually. "But damn. . . Ranma, honey. . . I think I know your intentions, too. I kinda realized that I never saw you acting the way you do all the time, s-so. . ."

"Ucchan. . . ?"

She didn't bother to wipe at her tears this time, simply letting her hands rest on Ranma's shoulders as her eyes watered the ground. "God, I'm such a wuss. . ." She smiled at her, vaguely, blinking her vision back to a certain clarity. Ranma opened her mouth to speak again but Ukyou shook her head. "It's okay, honey, I know, even if you won't admit it." She suddenly leaned down, tipping Ranma's face up with her palms and sealed her lips to hers, a small touch finishing what would take hours for her to word. She pulled back a few moments later, Ranma completely dead in shock.

"I'll see you back at camp, kiddo." She gave her a blurry wink and let her go, Ran-chan's face still warm after Ukyou disappeared into the shadows of the night.

"Wh. . . what the hell was that. . . ?"

Ryouga nodded faintly as he and Akane returned from the forest, both falling silent. "I. . . I follow. Akane. . . thanks for telling me."

She smiled at him, stopping before his tent as Ukyou walked slowly into the clearing. "Thank you, Ryouga." He glanced up to see Ukyou's face in the firelight, startled by two wet streaks marking her cheeks. She returned the gaze, smiling softly.

"Ranma's off that way." Akane mumbled the name but Ryouga beat her to the punch, running off into the woods. "What's with him?" Kuonji asked as she pressed her sleeves to her face.

"I think he wants to play the messenger," Akane mumbled, blushing slightly.

"I knew it."

Akane looked away. "Is that why you were crying?" Ukyou snorted.

"Don't be a bitch." They were quiet, the night sounds of crickets exploding in volume before the fire cracked. "And thanks for what you did. You. . . you sacrificed Ranma for me."

Akane shrugged, unzipping Ryouga's tent. "I think I owed you. . . to thank you for understanding." Ukyou grinned grimly, turning to walk back to her quarters.

"Whatever."

Ran-chan slumped against her tree, her head smacking against the bark. "What. . . the. . . hell. . . was . . . that. . ." She blew out a rush of air, bringing her head back once more to perhaps put her out of her confused misery when it instead touched a fleshy pad of hand. She yelped as she was suddenly yanked up by her pigtail, her knees buckling before she could stand. "OUCH!!"

"C'mon, Ranma, that's disturbing behavior." She froze, whipping her head around.

"Ryouga! What the hell are you doing here?!" He grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. She flinched, feeling unusually familiar to this. "Uh, don't do that."

"What did you do to Ukyou?"

Ranma stepped back, a sudden splash of moonlight spilling over her face. "Wha?"

"She was crying when she got back to camp."

"Hey!" she hissed, shoving him off her. "Ukyou was crying because'a nothing I did. She. . . " Ranma stopped short, puffing up her cheeks. She let the breath rush through her nose and went quiet. "Never mind. What do you want? You know how much stress I been through already?"

"You're not alone," Ryouga growled, looking to the ground. "Ranma. . . Akane wants to talk to you, you know. You gonna jerk around much longer or should I go tell her you aren't available?" She hopped forward, racing into the trees and would have vanished had Ryouga not grabbed her by the collar. "Slow down!"

"Yikes, that hurt. . ."

He tossed her back into the moonlight, hiding his expression in the darkness. "Ranma. . . would you do me a favor?" Ranma was quick to nod, trying to move closer.

"Well, yeah, of course man. Why's everyone bein' so goofy? I thought I was the screwy one, today." Ryouga managed to chuckle, pushing Ranma a tad once more. He stepped into the moonbeam, a stubborn grin on his face. "What do you want me to do?"

Ryouga grabbed her by the back of the head, to which she gave a tiny eep, before he pulled her forward, pressing her mouth to his. His eyes shut, he murmured into the kiss, tipping his head to the side. It was rough, but Ranma could scarcely deliver her opinion on it. Ryouga let her go, wiping at his lips as she fell back with a splash and a high-pitched squeak. The sounds of a creek had been obvious but the closeness of it was ignored until Ranma was sitting in its cold stream. Ryouga grinned, looking down at him. "Mind giving that to Akane for me?"

Wait a second, him?

"R. . .Ranma-kun?" Ranma's particularly male voice filled the air afterward, his body hopping up to its feet. He looked at Ryouga dumbly, sputtering. "Y. . . you're a boy."

"I'm a boy?"

There was a pause before the two exploded in celebration, dancing up and down and through the trees. "YATTA! I'M FINALLY A BOY AGAIN!!" Ranma nearly giggled with delight as Ryouga ran after him, calling his name. Did Ranma-kun just giggle?

"Ranma, slow down! Stop! How the hell are you a boy?! I swear to God, if you were a boy when I kissed you--"

"No no! I was a girl, I know. But then, before I know it, I'm sittin' in that ice-cold stream! And suddenly, look at me!" He gave Ryouga a little clap, smiling with glee. What the hell was that clap? "Who cares how it happened? I'm a boy again!" Ryouga furrowed his brow and was about to pose another round of questions before Ranma threw his arms around him, mewling happily.

"Okay! That's way too freaky! Get off'a me!" Ryouga shoved him back as Ranma fell into a stance that scared ten years off his life. "R-ranma-kun, put your hand down."

"What?"

Ryouga pointed, freaking out. "Your hand, your hand! You- you're acting like a girl!"

"Huh?"

Ryouga ran forward and slapped him across the face, watching his head whip to the side. "Sorry, but it had to be done." Ranma sucked his teeth, snorting at him.

"Well fuck you too." He shoved Ryouga to the side, walking back towards camp. "Now if I'm not mistaken, that tom-- Akane wanted to talk to me." Ryouga only had to glance once to see the twitch in Ranma's butt before he knew something had gone seriously wrong.

"WAIT FOR ME!"

Ryouga eventually chased Ranma down, terrified to see him run like he did. His hand clamped over Ranma's mouth, Ryouga hissed at him. "Don't move, you hear me? Stay right here in this bush."

"If you screw around with Akane--"

"I'm doing the both of you a favor," he growled. He shoved Ranma back down below the leaves and stepped further into the camp, rubbing his forehead with irritation. If he was going to lose Akane, it was not going to be to some femmy-ass boy Ranma. Ryouga dragged his palm down over her face, squeezing his chin. That's right, he lost.

"Man. . . why did I have to stumble over this goddamn trip? I could be blissfully getting lost on some island. . . no Ranmas. . . no heartache. . ." He grinned. "No Amazons." Pulling out a pot of water, he placed it over the fire and sat nearby as it approached a boil. "Figures. You take one life changing journey into China and the girl you love is bound to tell you that she has eyes for some cross dresser." Ryouga blinked as the shadows danced across his face. "Ukyou knew it to. . . why else would shave have been crying?"

Rubbing his head, he looked back to where Ranma had obediently stayed. "Man. . . that smarts. . ." As he hunched over with a sigh, a small zipping sound tugged at his ear. "I guess I'm a liar, Ranma. . ."

"Ryouga?"

He looked back over his shoulder, startled. "A-Akane-san!"

". . . Did you ever find Ranma?"

"Here I--"

"Nope!" Ryouga shouted, whipping the steaming teapot into the brush. It clanged off what Akane assumed was a rock -- a rock with an unusually high-pitched voice. Ryouga glanced to Akane as she peeked sheepishly from his tent and thumbed to the bushes. "She, uh, just got here."

"What the hell. . . " Ranma mumbled as she climbed out of the brush, soaking wet.

Akane gave her a queer look but asked for her by name. "Ranma, can I talk to you?"

The redhead instantly forgot about the bruise on her head and nodded, stumbling over and around the fire. "Yeah, sure." She ducked into the tent without another word, Akane giving Ryouga a thankful nod. The tent flap closed and Hibiki had to wonder if he had gone stir crazy. He sat back down by the fire when a voice suddenly picked up behind him.

"Shampoo sorry, Ryouga. . ." His arm shot out and grabbed her bori-bori, his leg swinging out to trip her to the ground as she tried to walk towards Akane's new tent. He grinned.

"Don't even think about it."

Akane finished zipping the flap, tapping on the material once she was done. "Not exactly soundproof but I can't imagine that no one doesn't know what I'm gonna say," she mumbled, gazing back to see Ran-chan picking water from her ear and undoing her jacket with the other hand. "'Cept you. . ."

"What was that?"

"Nothin'. . . " She scooted over, sitting across from Ranma as the redhead finished shaking out her clothes. She sat, her jacket open and her boxers showing, looking like hell. "Man, Ranma, this trip hasn't been good on your constitution."

"Tell me that's not all you wanted to say."

"Do yourself a favor and just be quiet," Akane said with an icy tone. "I guess I'm not surprised. You're juggling a week long tour of China with. . . some girls tearing for your heart." Ranma gave her a glance but shook it off. Akane suddenly smiled at her, looking to the ground. "Ranma. . . why did you get so worried when I wanted to fight Ryouga?"

"Are you kidding me?" Ran-chan cried, leaning forward a bit. "How am I supposed to react?! Am I supposed to let him. . . gurk. . . no!" She sat back, crossing her arms. "Y-you're my fiancée."

"So it's about me being a slab of meat, or something?"

"That's not what I said," Ranma mumbled. "But you're right. I feel like hell." They fell into silence, Ran-chan looking at her hands, idling with her fingers. Akane watched her curiously, the pre-battle spectacle she had put on coming back to her mind. She smiled again, Ranma's unusually quiet reserve almost charming.

"You won't lose me to Ryouga, Ranma. . ."

Ranma blinked, looking up. She opened her mouth to speak but Akane held up a hand.

"N-no, he knows. I. . . I told him a little while ago. It's like I've told everyone but you and I guess that's not very fair. . . " Her smile faded for a moment, her cheeks suddenly tightening. "R-ranma," she mumbled, looking away. "I can't keep stalling--"

"NO!" Ranma shouted, scooting forward. Akane was jolted out of her tears, looking at her with wild eyes when she suddenly placed a gentle touch to her lips, her finger dancing under her chin. Akane fell back onto her elbows, feeling like a feather floating to the ground. She wanted to freeze and enter dramatics but was lost in how soft the kiss was, eagerly returning the soft embrace. Ranma leaned back, shakily putting a hand to Akane's cheek as every near miss was blown to bits by the reality of what had just happened.

"I. . .I. . ." she stuttered quietly as her heart raced like a hummingbird, "I didn't wanna wait anymore. . ."

Akane swallowed, watching her carefully. "R-ranma--"

"I love you," she whispered, shutting her eyes tightly. For a moment she was sure she messed up, Akane unmoving and unspeaking as she sat below her. Afraid to open her eyes, Ranma began a slow retreat before a hand tugged her down via the back of her neck. Akane sighed against her ear, causing the redhead to shiver like it was thirty below.

"I love you, too. . ." Allowing Ran-chan to pull back slightly, Akane beckoned her down again, pressing her lips to those for which she'd longed so much.

Ryouga and Shampoo let their hands fall to their sides, unable to hear anything past the confessions that had erupted from the tent. They exchanged a glance, a trace of a smile on Ryouga's face, a blur threatening his eyes. "Ryouga not surprised, either?"

"It's a bitch, ain't it?"

Shampoo touched her middle finger to her eye, wiping at a rogue tear. She laughed a bit, though, nodding. "Aiya, she is." Ryouga looked away, chuckling like a mad man.