{::shockedness:: ::blinks:: 25 reviews? On my first fic? After one chapter? Wow...I must've made it interesting. Heh. ^_^

Well....I'd reply to every single one of my reviews, but do you realize how much space that takes up....? Bleh. o.o; So...I'll just write a couple quick general notes. ^.^

To anyone who said it was good so far or that I should continue: Thank you, and I will. ^_^

Special thanks for honest and/or kind reviews. :) Especially to Phil, dogbertcarroll, Ghost in the Machine (heh...oops on the currency thing), Nikka, shinji the good sharer, ShadowBakaSama, Lost Darkness (::glomps:: YOU READ MY FIC!!), Hououza, Sareph, and Mikado 1.

About the whole WAFF thing: I don't think it'll be too WAFFy. ^.^ About the Ranma/Akane thing: It's not only about Ranma and Akane, but it -is- R/A, and there will be lots of both of them involved. ^.^

Also: ....please don't threaten me. I don't write well under pressure. XD XD XD

Plus: I'm still sort of experimenting with different ways of writing, so it may take me awhile to really get into the story. So, please be patient. ^^ Thanks.

Yup. There we go. Now read on and enjoy!!}

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Still screaming, Ranma burst into his room, slammed the door behind him and threw his back against it. After a moment, he stopped screaming, and started taking big, deep breaths. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.

Okay. Maybe this was a practical joke. Maybe Shampoo and Akane had just worked out some weird routine to scare him. But...Shampoo and Akane, working together? Well, that didn't seem possible.

He slid down to the ground, puzzled and slightly worried. What other answer was there? If Akane and Shampoo weren't working together, what the heck was going on...? He took a deep breath again. Maybe he was just imagining things. After all, he had been whacked on the head with a table. Maybe it had finally done some actual damage.

came a voice from outside the door. I hope nothing's -too- wrong with him...

Ranma's eyes widened. What is it? he said to Akane through the door, not quite registering Akane's second comment. After all, it was very unlike her (at least to Ranma it was).

Oh, good. At least he replied. Are you okay? It was really weird, you just running out of the room screaming like that, she replied disapprovingly. Oh, and Shampoo left.

Ranma blinked. Those were very different things to say in the same sentence. Then he frowned. Didn't you hear what she said to me...? he asked slowly. Akane wouldn't have just let Shampoo -leave- if she had heard what Shampoo said to him. Whether she believed it or not, he knew she got jealous, just like she knew he did.

Outside the door, Akane raised an eyebrow. I heard her say hello and that she brought a delivery. Why is he acting so weird?

You mean you really don't...? You really didn't hear...?

Jeez...can't he just tell me what's wrong?

No...I don't think I can...

-Now- what's he talking about?

I can't tell you what's wrong!

I never asked you too! Jeez...it's like he's reading my thoughts or something!

Ranma was silent. Thoughts...? That was it! His eyes widened again, and he quickly stood up. He turned, took a step back, and pulled the door open. He stared straight at Akane.

After a minute, Akane started to look uncomfortable. ...what? What is it? Now what's wrong with him? What's with that white-hot gaze?

Ranma stared disbelievingly. Her lips hadn't moved on those last two sentences.

Akane squirmed. Can't he at least say something!?

Ranma looked around. Someone else...he needed to find someone else. Where's everyone else? he asked, looking back at his fiancee.

At the dinner table, she said slowly. What does that matter? He's not going to just leave without an explanation, is he!?

Ranma stared at her for another moment, then walked right past her and off towards the dining table where he would find Kasumi, Nabiki, his father, and Mr. Tendo.

Akane stared after him, opened mouthed. Fine! Be that way! she yelled after him. You jerk! You're just going to leave me here!? Well, fine! See if I care! She turned and stomped off to her room.

Ranma turned and looked at Akane's retreating back, and realization washed over him. Was that why she always got so mad when he didn't explain himself...? He doubted he ever would've guessed that. He felt a little bad, and almost called after, but then...what was he supposed to say? Akane, it's nothing personal, it's just that I can hear your thoughts and I want to see if I can hear everyone else's thoughts, too. Yeah. That would sound great.

So he turned and kept walking. As he tromped down the stairs, he thought about what had occurred in the last twenty minutes (or so). He could hear Akane's thoughts, and a lot of them seemed pretty different from what she actually said out loud. How did that make him feel...? Well, odd, for one thing. He wasn't sure how he really felt about it--not yet, at least.

Ranma strode through the living room and the kitchen, and then paused. He listened.

Hmmm...maybe I could sell some of this. It's pretty good.

Ah. That must be Nabiki. He shook his head...this was too weird. Then he walked into the dining room.

Everyone looked up, mouths stuffed with food. Hey, Ranma, said Nabiki blandly after swallowing. Hm...he looks out-of-it. It's a good time to try and get money off of im.

Ranma glared at her, for a reason quite unknown to Nabiki.

Genma and Soun waved happily to Ranma. For some odd reason or another, he couldn't hear their thoughts. Hm.

Kasumi looked up, and smiled sweetly. Why, hello, Ranma, she said happily. You freeloading little punk, she added.

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{So....that's it. What do you think? I had no idea how to make Kasumi, and my friend sort of came up with the whole thing. XD What do you think of that? I hope you like it. If enough people don't, I might change it. But then, I probably won't, cause -I- like it, and I'm the author, so nya. :)

By the way, I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. My computer's been acting really weird, and for awhile the internet wouldn't work, and blah blah blah. It should all be fixed soon, though. ^.^

So....yeah. Review, please!! ...but, once again, I appreciate constructive criticism, but -not- all out flames. Thanks!!! Have a lovely day!!! ^______^}