"Here's your order sir.."

Genma smirked and took the bottle from the table and starts pouring on his glass,

"Saotome, aren't you drinking too much these days?" Soun asked as he gave him an annoyed look.

Genma again smirked as he gulped down the liquor in one go,

"You are getting old, Tendo.. Look at me, I can still stand straight after having all this in one gulp…"

"Is it the time to discuss all this nonsense?"

"Then what do you wanna discuss with me, my friend?"

Soun eyes him frantically as he says,

"Haven't you heard that Suki is coming back..!"

"Suki! Oh yeah, I remember her, she is your annoying little sister.."

"Yes, she is!" Soun said tiredly, "Aren't you a bit worried about her returning, Saotome?"

Genma turned to stare at Soun like he is kidding with him as he asked him while shrugging his shoulders,

"Should I be?!"

Soun shook his head at him in disbelief as he said bitterly,

"What is wrong with you, Saotome? Few days back, we both continuously tried to tie the knot between Ranma and Akane because we were afraid that Suki may come back and interrupt the bonding! And now, when we are sure that she is coming back, you are showing no interest! I don't understand!"

"No.. Wait a second.. So tell me, Tendo… what should I do then?"

"Shouldn't we just think of a plan to reunite the school, I mean, we should definitely plan a wedding for Ranma and Akane as soon as we can.."

Genma seems bored as he looked at Soun, then shrugging his shoulders he says,

"Look Tendo, let's not make a fuss about this.."

"What do you mean by that, Saotome?" Soun asked as he started to feel little uncomfortable.

Genma grunted and says,

"It's good that Suki is coming back.. And I also heard that she is arranging everything for Kasumi's wedding too! That's great news, isn't it? Now you can sit back and relax, while she spends her money for Kasumi's wedding. And ya can spend yar money in a proper way.."

"That is?!.."

"Well, we could fix the dojo with your money! What else! I know, it's important that we reunite the school, but for that we need a school first, right? So.. Let's not hurry, my friend. Let's just take small steps one at a time.. And after Kasumi's wedding, if you manage to fix that dojo of your's, I promise you that the very next day we will make our kids marry each other.. Okay, Tendo?!"

Saying that, Genma stood up grumpily, then patting Soun's shoulder on his way out, he left the bar while yelling at the waiter,

"My friend will pay all the bills… give him those previous bills as well..!"

And he left.. Soun kept sitting on his chair. His eyes had a blank expression on it as the words of his friend rang through his ear again and again.

"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?!"

Suddenly, his sister's voice came to his mind, mocking him, accusing him. He started sweating hard as he looked at his right and left. He started to feel nervous suddenly, and at that exact moment the waiter came to him with bill in his hand and informs him,

"Here you go sir… This is today's bill and these two were your friend's previous one's.."

"Pick up! Pick up!.. Pick up the damn phone!"

Ukyo was feeling frustrated beyond imagination! Konatsu kept his promise and managed to bring the contact number of Shampoo. That poor guy had to work nonstop for three days to reach that goal. But after she had her hands on Shampoo's number, another problem came in her way. And that is, when she gave them a call, asking for Shampoo or Cologne, no one understood what she was meaning to say to them. They kept yelling at her in frustration and she kept calling them.. It's been three days since she had been trying to reach them. But, for some reason, since morning they are not picking up her call at all! She is sure that they have got annoyed by her, but she knows she doesn't have any other choice left. She needs Shampoo's help so badly. She can see how Ranma and Akane are getting closer each day. She knows that, without Shampoo's help, she can't do anything.

After that fateful night, she ordered Konatsu to keep an eye on them. And to her horror, he had said that he saw Ranma waiting for Akane outside the library after his work and they both walked home together. Not only that, the matter got worse for her when she found out that they are not only walking side by side, Konatsu always sees them holding hands and worse , sometimes he had seen Ranma putting his arm around her shoulder as well and Akane giving in to his touch. Since then, she always sent Konatsu to spy on them and he would always come with the same news. She always hoped to hear from him to say to her that, they are fighting or Akane hitting Ranma hard. But all she heard was they do fight, but it's like a couple teasing each other and making up quickly by holding each other..

Ukyo sniffs as her eyes tears up, she blinks her eyes rapidly to make her tears go,

'This is not fair! I can't let this happen to me.. That is my place that she is taking! She can't take my Ranchan away from me! No, I can't let this go on like this! No, it's not time for crying! I have to be strong! I have got what is rightfully mine!'

She gripped her phone tightly and called again. And to her relief they finally received her call as she started saying in a haste..

"Please don't hang up! Please don't cut the call! Please listen to…"

"Who call?"

Ukyo abruptly stops her pleading as she becomes shocked to hear some words that she can finally understand from the other end…

"You want talk or I go?!"

Hearing the girl's warning voice, her shock instantly broke down as she says in a haste,

"No! No! No! Wait, wait! He- hello there! I want to talk with Shampoo.. Is she there?"

"Shampoo! Who you?"

"I- I I'm Ukyo.."

"Why you want Shampoo? What business?"

"I have a very important message for her about Ranma.. Her.. her airen.."

"Shampoo airen! Hahaha! You joke!"

She was taken aback by the way that girl started laughing, then she hears some other voices coming as someone else took the phone,

"Ukyo! Why call?"

Ukyo released a deep sigh of relief when she hears Shampoo's voice over the phone,

"Shampoo! My God! Girl, where are you! You have been gone for so long! Do you have any idea what happened when you were not here!? That Akane played some dirty tricks on our Ranma and now she is living with him.! They are getting way too close to each other! We have to.."

"Aww you talk too much!"

Ukyo stopped her frantic explanation after hearing her annoyed tone. She was also surprised by the fact that she didn't took her words seriously,

"Shampoo! What is wrong with you! I am talking about Ranma here!"

"I know okay?" Shampoo says angrily, " And I not care anymore.."

"What did you just say!"

"Look, I don't care what Ranma do anymore! I married Mousse.."

Ukyo felt like a sudden thunder just blasted through her whole body, making her body still as she couldn't utter any words to her,

"You there? Ukyo?"

Ukyo snapped out of her stupor as she says,

"Yeah.. Yeah.. But Shampoo… Why did you do this?! What… What about Ranma?" she asked breathlessly.

Shampoo grunted and replies,

"Look, our Amazon elders have decided that they won't allow Ranma in our tribe. He is too too dangerous for us! He had destroyed the lord Saffron! And if I marry Ranma, they no allow me here.. I am an Amazon warrior, I am the future leader of this village. I no sacrifice it for no one..! And, my airen Mousee had finally able to defeat me on a combat! So, we married the very next day! Isn't it great! Now you have Ranma all for you.. Don't give that kitchen wrecker no chance!

Hello? You there? Ukyo!"

Ukyo puts her phone down on her lap, she could hear Shampoo calling her over the phone, but her situation was not allowing her to give her any reply. Her all hopes drowned, plans ruined, all she saw in her eyes was how she had lost against Akane. In her mind she saw Ranma and Akane both mocking her, feeling sorry for her. She gripped her hair tightly as she felt her defeat nearing her. She can't handle this pain! No, she can't! It's too much! But… without Shampoo, it's not possible for her.. She has lost! She has no chance with Ranma anymore.. She can't have Ranma anymore.. She has lost all the chances, every chance! Ukyo burst out crying as she started sobbing on her pillow in her sorrow.

"FINALLY! We are free!"

Akane giggles as she turns to face an excited looking Akio, who was all ready to dance anytime soon.

"You sure look excited, Akio.."

"Why won't I be! Finally, I can think of something else rather than studying for exams!"

"Aw,I see.. So, you are happy that you have finally got rid of me..huh!" She said jokingly..

Akio stopped walking and held Akane's one arm to stop her from walking as well. She turns to him with an elegant smile and swirls her brows at him,

"What?!"

"You are the one that I am gonna miss the most, Akane. You know what, let's think of giving one more entrance exam, what say?" he asked her jokingly.

Akane laughed at that and says between her laughing..

"I better not.. Because if I do, someone may soon have a heart attack.."

Akio joined her laughing as he smirked and crossed his arms over his chest,

"Oh, that someone will surely freak out..! But.. Where is he now?" he looked at his sides and asked her, "Won't Ranma come today to pick you up, Akane?"

She blushed slightly, she is doing this too much lately. Whenever someone mentions his name to her, she instantly starts blushing and her heart starts beating too. She smiles at Akio and says,

"No.. He had to take day off from his workplace for that.. So, I asked him not to come today. You know, Kasumi's wedding is coming and he had to take some days off for that too.."

"Awww! That explains why he is missing! That dude sure doesn't want to share his fiancée's time with anyone else.. Well, I don't blame him though!"

He said cheekily, making her even redder in embarrassment. She was about to say something to him, but suddenly some movement caught her eyes as she looked behind Akio. He also noticed Akane's sudden mood change as he turned to see what caught Akane's attention and become surprised to find,

"Isn't it that Okonomiyaki girl? What's her name..."

"Ukyo.." She whispers as her eyes start to follow her every path.

"What's she doing in the park at this hour? Doesn't she have a shop to run?"

"That's what I was thinking, Akio. And don't she look a little down too? What might have happened to her?" She saw Akio shrugging his shoulder as he turned to her, then she tells him,

"Akio, lets just split here.."

"Don't tell me you are going to talk to her!" He said with his eyes wide in worry.

Akane sighs as she looks at him,

"Akio, I am sure that she was crying. I need to talk to her.."

"Why do you wanna talk to her? What are you, Akane? She is the one who insulted you in front of all those peoples, and now you want to talk to her because you think she is upset?!"

"You won't understand.."

"Damn man, I wish Ranma was here. Well, now I know what he meant by you being clueless.."

Akane pouted at him and said,

"Will you just keep quiet!? Seriously, you guys are all the same! So insensitive!"

"Look, I don't want to argue with you. But please, my love, let's leave this place.."

He tried to make her walk with him by pulling her hand but she was not listening to him as she snatched her hand from his grip.

"Akane!"

"Sorry Akio, but I need to talk to her.."

Saying that to him, she didn't waste anymore time standing there as she ran off to where she saw Ukyo going.

She didn't have to look for her for too long as she saw her sitting under a tree on a corner. She started to go towards her and her suspicions got correct as she saw her weeping silently. Ukyo stopped crying and sensed some presence as she hastily looked up and found Akane staring at her with concerned filled eyes.

"Ukyo.."

"What are you doing here?" Ukyo asked her in a hard broken tone.

"Why are you crying like this!? What happened to you? Are you ok?" Akane asks worriedly.

Ukyo growled in annoyance as she angrily stood up and gave her a hard look. Then she reply back to her,

"DON'T YOU DARE SHOW ME ANY SYMPATHY, TENDO.." She closed her eyes to calm herself. Then opening her orbs she says bitterly, "Nevermind! Mind your own business!"

Saying that, Ukyo started walking away from that place, but Akane stopped her as she ran in front of her and blocked her escape.

"I won't let you go, Ukyo! What's the matter with you? Why are you behaving this way with me! I mean.. Why are you not talking with me? And why are you ignoring me! What is my fault? Please talk to me.. What is bothering you?.." Akane said and looked at her pleadingly . Then when she saw her looking down as she starts crying again, she said with a soft concerned tone,

"Ukyo, we have known each other for way too long! I… I have always seen you as my friend.. I just can't see you broken like this. What's the matter, tell me please..."

Ukyo sobbed as she said, "You won't understand what I am going through, Akane. So, don't even try.."

"Oh Ukyo, of course I will understand.. Just tell me.."

"Shampoo.." Ukyo started with a low voice, "Shampoo and Mousse, they both got married and they won't return to Japan anymore. "

"What! Really!" Akane asked way too excitedly then intended, as she saw Ukyo looking up at her and giving her a look of hatred.

"Haven't I made your day with this news, huh Tendo! I am such an idiot to believe you in the first place!"

"Ukyo, what do you mean? I haven't even said anything!"

"Oww for Kami's sake, STOP PLAYING INNOCENCE! Isn't it great news for you! Now Shampoo is gone forever and now you can easily have Ranma all for yourself!" Ukyo said bitterly.

"Ukyo, no, it's not.."

"Don't say anything, Akane.. As I said, you won't understand my situation, don't even try to.. You are way too lucky to understand what I am going through.. So, stop showing your fake sympathy for me and enjoy what you have."

Saying that with rage filled voice, she started to walk away from her but stopped when she heard Akane,

"I am not showing any sympathy to you, Ukyo. What will make you believe that I really want to help you? What do you want me to do?"

Ukyo gave Akane a serious look and tells her in a harsh whisper,

"If you are really that concerned about me, my friend, then tell me, will you give me my Ranma just for one day? I am not asking for night, just a day, max to max till evening. Just me and him, like a proper date. Tell me Akane, will you be able to arrange a date for both of us!? Without any interruption... What say, Akane?"

A/N: What do you guys think? I will bring Shampoo in here?! Nope :D hehe! For me Shampoo means, battles, fighting, and all that. And all I know about fighting is, pillow fighting and battling with my siblings, that's all ;p! I used to play WWE with my elder sister and when I managed to defeat her, I used to sit over her back and roar that 'I won, I am a lion'.. Then when she used to scream 'MOM'!

I started acting like a stray cat and ran off from the room and hid somewhere :p..

But sure, they won't fight like us, right! Haha! So, I will only write about dramatic fights ,that's all :).. Please do review and let me know how you guys are liking this fic so far. Your reviews always work like magic for me and encourage me to write more and faster… Please don't just leave without any review T-T.. It hurts you know T-T :p… Hope to see you guys soon..