Chapter 1

"Akane, wake up, were gonna be late," came Ranma's voice from downstairs. 'What's up with her lately, she's been sleeping in late and going to her room early. I wish I knew what's wrong. I could try and cheer her up with something. Maybe if I get her a ...no she'll just think they're for someone else.'

"What's wrong Ranma?" questioned Kasumi as he entered the kitchen. 'He sure looks upset about something.'

"It's Akane. Ever since the failed wedding she seems...sad...or depressed." Ranma's voice was so quiet it could pass for a whisper. "I'd like to cheer her up, but I don't know how to go about it without getting driven into the ground." He sighed at the thought. "Actually, now that I think about it she hasn't been as violent as usual either."

"Maybe she's doing a lot of thinking." Kasumi was in the process of cleaning up after breakfast." You could try talking to her. Get her to open up to you."

"Thanks Kasumi. I'm gonna go wait for Akane." 'How am I suppose to get her to open up and tell me what's wrong.'

"What's wrong with me, I should be glad the wedding was a flop. I didn't want to get married yet anyway...so why do I feel so miserable?" Akane slowly rose from her bed and got dressed. "If only I could tell him how I fell, I would probably fell better. GEEZ. Why can't I just say it...I LOVE YOU RANMA!" Tears streamed down Akane's cheek as she contemplated the events over the last few months. Why had Nabiki invited everyone who would ruin her wedding. "I actually want to marry Ranma. I just wish he would be nicer to me... I wish he loved me back." She hurried and finished getting dressed and rounded up her homework. She took one last look at a group photo she had sitting on her desk, "and I wish he would get rid of all his other fiancés as well." With those last words she grabbed her bag and exited her room.

'Did she just say she LOVES ME?' He didn't mean to eavesdrop, he just came up to check on her when he heard her shout "I LOVE YOU RANMA." After he listened to her for a few more minutes he decided to retreat before she came out. He made it down stairs just in time to hear her door open then close. "That was close!"

"Did you say something Ranma?" Akane asked as she came down the stairs and put on her shoes.

"No, just wondering if you were almost ready." Ranma slid his shoes on and grabbed his bag. "We're running late, so I'll buy you something for breakfast on our way to school, ok."

"Huh...That's ok, I'm not really hungry anyway." 'Is he feeling ok?' "Sorry, we're gonna have to run."

They left and started running for school. Every so often Ranma would steal a glance at his running companion and he'd see a sad, hurt look on her face. They were almost to school when they both heard a ching ching sound. "Damn, not right now!"

"Ai ren, you marry Shampoo now, Yes?" Shampoo leaped from her bike, and lunged herself at Ranma. Wrapping her arms around his neck and trying to kiss his face all over.

"NO, Shampoo! I'm not gonna marry you. Not now, not ever. I never want to marry you, SO back off of Akane and me and go find Mousse." Ranma was real mad now and was emitting his battle aura at Shampoo. Everyday it was the same thing. Walking to school with Akane and then mauled by Shampoo, but today was different, today he finally told her off.

Shampoo stumbled back in shock, as did Akane. "Ranma mad at Shampoo?" She took a step closer to him, in hopes that maybe this was a different Ranma.

"Yes, Shampoo, I'm mad at you! First you ruin my wedding, then you go about like nothing had happened. Jumping on me at the first sight of me, which gets me drove into the ground. I'm tired of it. LEAVE ME ALONE!" 'There, he finally said it. One down two to go.' He then looked up at Shampoo again. Tears welling up in her eyes. He glanced at Akane then. Still in shock from what had just transpired. Was she about to hit him again. She than looked up at him with a blank look on her face and continued on towards school.

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