Disclaimer: I'd like to take this moment to thank Ms. Takahashi for giving me Muu Tsu for the sole purpose of this fic. I'd like to. . . but that'd be lying.

(waves) I'm baa-aack! Sorry about the hiatus, but the air outside was beautiful and spring break was calling, so I had no choice but to go out and answer it. (Haven't you ever felt like the very atmosphere of the day was tugging you outside?)

Now that I'm parked in front of my computer again, this chapter is brought to you in part by "United Ficcers Anonymous", Hammerspace© and affiliate ki attacks, and moral support of reviewers like you! Thank you!

"Girl WHAT?" Xian Pu wasn't sure why this didn't just roll off her skin.

"Mandarin. The language we speak. In fact, I remember clearly that she would nod and say yes when I asked a question." Muu Tsu obviously couldn't see his beloved's hackles rising. "It wasn't until you appeared that I noticed something was wrong."

"What last thing duck-boy say to girl just before you Xian Pu appear?"

"That I loved you."

"What exactly Muu Tsu say to girl?"

"I love you, I always have."

Xian Pu screeched to a halt inwardly. It was fine for him to profess love to a lamppost or a wall. Even then, he always said her name.

"And girl. What girl say back?" Not that any of this should interest her. It really shouldn't interest her. Why was this interesting her?

"She said 'Xian Pu cannot do this.'" The words flew out of his mouth and he felt a tickle of emotion, but it was quickly stifled.

"Then what happen?"

"She tried to run." Muu Tsu felt the placidness being interrupted. "I grabbed her wrist." Emotions rained down on his mind. "We sat." The memories crowded and dominated his mind. "You appeared." The rice's power was finally failing. "She left."

And it only took four hours.

Xian Pu saw the change, and quickly told Muu Tsu to go up to his room.

The last tendril of power left in the rice pushed him towards the stairs.

"Xian Pu?"

"Just go."

Her dream whispered thoughts and ideas for the next day.

She would tell him. She had no choice.

If he had been asked, then it wasn't her fault.

Not really.

How to ask him was another story entirely.

She turned over in her sleep.

She could do it. She just didn't know how.

It's not a hard concept, whispered her dream.

Just go up to him and say. . .

"Ranma, will you go to the dance with me?"

"Sure, Akane."

Akane's lids snapped open. "What are you doing in my room!"

"I, uh, I, um,-"

"Say something, baka!"

"Tomboy!"

'boot' "And stay out!"

The next morning.

"Yuka! Riiiiise 'n shine, kiddo!"

"Urrng. . . " mumbled Yuka, intelligently.

"It's time to get up!

Yuka pulled the covers over her head. Talk about rotten dreams. Being in Nerima can do that to people. It usually lends itself to worst-case scenarios.

She blinked her eyes against the cotton.

"Come on."

'The light sure is bright this morning'

"Breakfast will be ready within the hour, so get your rear in gear." Yuka threw back the covers.

"I'll be down soon!"

Her feet swung to the floor. It was too early in the morning for this. Her eyes wandered to the paper on her desk. 'Yup, way too early.' She braced herself and tried to stand. 'That wasn't so bad.' Her closet suddenly seemed like a mile away. Yuka immediately sat back down. 'Maybe it was.'

With effort, she reached for her stereo. There had to be something good on. Anything to wake her up.

"Gooood morning and welcome to the one and only Z-Z-Zeta One-oh-One (one oh one oh one oh one) in the morning. This is Ming Taukimi with the vibes to get your day started."

Yup, this was exactly what she needed to get going.

"We'd like to send this song out to a certain young woman with red hair in the Nerima district from the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High. His message is, 'I don't know your name, but I know I love you.' Well, whover you are, here's a special song for you."

Yuka started giggling and couldn't stop. Clothes in hand, she sat back down on her bed and tried to compose herself.

'Lucky Akane doesn't listen to music in the morning.'

Once dressed, she practically flew down the stairs. "Morning, Mom!"

"Hey, Yu-yu-cha-"

"Don't you dare." If she had her way, Yuka would have been rid of that nickname when she was ten.

"Hey, kiddo. Have a nice sleep?"

"Yup. What's for breakfast?"

"White rice, various pickles, tofu, eggs, and miso soup."

"No fruit?"

"There's an orange in the fridge."

Yuka found it in the very back. "It's fuzzy!"

"Still want it?"

"No! No way."

"I didn't think so."

Yuka sat at the table and waited for her mother to bring out the soup. Everything else was set out.

They both said a short prayer of thankfulness and started in.

"Yuka, I have an errand for you to run before school."

"But Mom! Principal Kuno threatened everyone with bowl cuts if we were late!" 'and couldn't fight him off.'

"It won't take long, I promise."

"Kay. What is it?"

"I need you to give a pair of glasses to the manager at the Cat Café. I think the delivery boy left them here."

Nabiki's still taking bets. So far we have four solid bets for Muu Tsu, a ½ bet for Hiroshi, and none for Ryouga. Get 'em in before the next chapter!

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