Chapter 30

It had been a very tense week at the Tendo compound. Everyone noticed it and everyone knew where it was coming from. Akane was just being incredibly rude, even to Kasumi. No one knew why she was this way and they tried to ignore it. Kasumi was very worried about her sister and wondered what was wrong this time. She waited for the right time to approach her sister. She did it after dinner as Akane was using the dojo to practice. Kasumi entered the dojo and waited. Akane noticed her but ignore her.

"Akane, can we talk for a second?" Kasumi asked after some time of being ignored.

"I'm kind of busy Kasumi. Can we talk later?" Akane said with a tone.

"I don't think that I will be able to, seeing that you have been ignoring me for a week. I'm just concerned about how you are doing." Kasumi explained.

"Oh, you care now. Since Ranma came, you haven't real cared. You're always defending him and so impressed with his maturity." Akane spat.

"Akane, I have always cared about you. I care about Nabiki and I care about father. Ranma has become a part of this family and I care for him as well. Are you saying that I shouldn't just because you feel inferior to him?" Kasumi asked.

"There you go again! The problem isn't him, it's me!" Akane said hotly.

"I didn't come here to cast stones Akane but I'm not going to lie. Since his arrival, you have been nothing but rude to him. Yes, in the beginning, he was a rude brat but we didn't get to know him. Nabiki got to know him and they are friends. I got to know him and we are friends as well. Perhaps if you would just swallow your pride and get to know Ranma, there would be less hostility between the two of you." Kasumi suggested.

"Well you want to know what? I don't want to know him and I don't want him to be my friend! Also, just stop acting like you don't like Ranma more than a friend. The way that you tart yourself up on that date, you just want to be another girlfriend of his." Akane said rudely. Kasumi reeled back like she had been slapped. However, Akane was not done. "You know, I should have seen it. You like to play the innocent, homely girl that everyone loves but under all that you are just like that nut case Kodachi or that floozy Shampoo. If you want to be Ranma's girl, then go ahead but I have lost all respect for you because you're nothing but a lie." Kasumi couldn't believe what Akane had just said to her. She began to tear up and quickly stood and left the dojo.

Akane felt a little better after saying that to her. That was until she caught sight of Ranma. She gulped at the glare that he was giving her.

"And they wanted me to marry you? I hope that you happy because you have just pushed away the only person who cared about you. When you can't get any more pathetic, you prove me wrong." Ranma said. He turned around and walked away. Akane was a little angry at that but she was starting to feel guilty. She quickly squashed that and returned to her training. However, she could not focus on it due to the sounds of tears coming from the house.

XXX

Akane sat alone today and unwrapped the lunch that Kasumi made. She looked at the bento and could see that Kasumi did not really put her heart into her lunch. It had been that way for the past three days. The two were not talking right now and Kasumi just seem to lose her smile when they passed each other. Akane wanted to go to her and talk but her pride wouldn't allow her. She did, however, regret her words to Kasumi three days ago. She was speaking out of hurt for some reason. She would never admit the real reason was because of Ranma.

Speaking of the pig-tailed martial artist, he also ignored her. He didn't talk to her, he didn't acknowledge her and he certainly did not respect her. She figured out that he found out that she was the reason that Ranma was fired from his job by Dr. Tofu. She didn't think that it was that much of a lost because he found a better job working as an assistant to a college professor. Ranma seemed real happy about that since the guy was a Physical Education professor and showed him how to run a dojo. However, the relationship between the doctor and Ranma kind of soured that Ranma had to find a new doctor. He knew that he blamed her for that.

The worst was Nabiki. The next day after she said those things to Kasumi, Nabiki slapped her in front of the school. Nabiki shouted at her, berating her for what she did to Kasumi. She couldn't believe that she would say those things about Kasumi who has been a mother to the both of them. She ended it by telling Akane that their mother would be so disappointed in her for her actions. Akane was in tears and ran off. Nabiki's shouting of her had caused her reputation to drop a little. Even her friends, Yuka and Sayuri, gave her a wide berth due to them knowing Kasumi. The two sisters were not speaking to each other and Nabiki made it clear to Akane that they would not be talk until Akane apologized, plus changed her ways.

Akane just sighed and ate her food. As she ate, she saw Ukyo sitting alone as well. She was in some girl clothing this time. It looked really good on her. She had gained a reputation as well as a ball buster. She was hit on a lot but Ukyo just wasn't interested and when they did not get the point, she would knock them into the sky with her spatula. Akane saw that she was looking at something and followed her sight. She wished that she didn't because Ranma was with Shampoo. She looked back at Ukyo and could see that she was disturbed by this. With a decision made, Akane stood and made her way over to her table.

Ukyo was surprised when Akane sat down next to her. She was on edge and wondered what she wanted. She was even more surprise when Akane held out her hand.

"My name is Akane Tendo. It's nice to meet you." Akane greeted. After a few seconds, Ukyo took the hand and shook it.

"Ukyo Kuonji, nice to meet you. Why are you talking to me? Aren't you Kasumi's younger sister or something?" Ukyo asked.

"Well, things haven't been going well with my sister at the moment. Besides, it was that idiot, Ranma's fault to begin with right? You didn't actually mean to hurt my sister right?" Akane asked.

"Nah, I just wanted to scare her a bit. I was after Ranma. I'm glad to see that someone else things he's an idiot." Ukyo said, lying a little bit. Truth was, Ukyo really did not like Kasumi and if Ranma was just a little later, she would have slapped her for her words. Akane smiled and that two began to converse. Watching them, Ranma and Shampoo couldn't help but wonder what sort of trouble would be coming their way.

XXX

Cologne was sitting alone with a cup of tea. She let out a sigh as she held the cup away from her mouth after taking a sip. The lunch rush was over and there would be a break before school let out. That's when Shampoo and her crew would take over for the breakfast and lunch crew. She was happy that she could afford to hire two crews. Anyway, the elder was in deep thought. She just kept thinking about what that thief said to her on the beach. It was very eye opening.

***Flashback***

Cologne was closing down her beach store when she felt a familiar feeling. It was a feeling that she was displeased with. She turned to attack but a voice stopped her.

"Whoa, Whoa Cologne-chan, I only came to talk." Happosai called out. Cologne looked ready to attack but she decided to hold off on killing him. She calmed herself but was ready to attack if he did anything. Seeing that it was the best that he was going to get, Happosai put his hands down. "Thanks for that. So, I noticed that you taught my heir one of your Amazon techniques? That was a shock."

"The boy has natural talent and I didn't wish to let it go to waste." Cologne answered.

"Yeah right, the only reason you did it was to keep that pretty little great granddaughter close to him. I wouldn't worry too much about that. She seems to be doing well by herself. I pray to whatever god that he keeps her and that gymnast." Happosai said with a smirk. Cologne looked ready to attack him again but he quick to change his tune. "All I wanted to say is aren't you worried about your village's techniques getting out into the world?"

"Are you actually concerned?" Cologne asked in surprise.

"You're damn right! Ranma is my final chance to see my art reach the world. His father only focused on molding him into his puppet and Soun built a dojo with no students. They took what I taught them and wasted it. The boy wants to see the Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū (Anything Goes Martial Arts) grow into something more. Soun's dojo is actually a dojo and he is becoming a better teacher due to all the teachers that he's learning from. He can do what those boneheads failed to do." Happosai said. Cologne was really surprised to hear that from this pervert. She quickly schooled her appearance.

"I don't mind if he teaches the Kachū Tenshin Amaguriken (Imperial Roasting Chestnuts in the Fire). If the boy is as responsible as I believe, he would only teach these techniques to black belts." Cologne said.

"Thanks for telling me that Cologne-chan. Hope to see you in the future." Happosai said and bound off. Cologne just looked at the spot with awe and surprise.

***Present***

This Happosai was much different from the man that she met all those years ago. She just smiled and made her way back to prepare for the school rush.

XXX

Ranma wondered if there was someone in the heavens who wanted him to live in constant fear of his life when it came to women. A week ago, Ranma got a ticket from someone. It was to a carnival that was coming to Nermia. Ranma thought that it would be a good date with one of the girls. It was Kodachi's turn so he called her and asked her to the carnival. She was excited and they planned to meet. So they met up and started to walk around. That's when Shampoo appeared. She also received a ticket to come to the carnival. Her guest was a surprise because it was Nabiki.

Nabiki and Shampoo were pretty good friends due to the fact that Nabiki was able to get her restaurant their workers. As a thank you, Cologne made her a small partner. Shampoo was their go between and they have been friends ever since. The four enjoyed the sights and played some games. That's when they ran into Akane and Ukyo. Ranma saw that the two were glaring at him and his girlfriends. Shampoo and Kodachi did not make it any better by hugging his arms into their chests.

Nabiki asked why they were here and Akane showed a ticket. It was the same ticket that he and Shampoo received. Akane was also here because someone from the circus stole a stuff pig that she won and called it by her name. Ranma was trying not to laugh but the girls did not. Ukyo and Akane glared at the four of them and marched off to the big tent. The group of four recovered and followed the two into the tent. When they entered the tent, they were confronted by a familiar person. Despite the mask, Shampoo and Ranma knew who it was.

"We meet again Saotome and I am glad to see you my darling Shampoo." Mousse said. He then let out intent toward Ranma who just brushed it off. "Until I win back Shampoo, I will be holding your Akane hostage." Giving 'Akane' a squeeze, Nabiki, Shampoo and Kodachi hit the floor. Two battle cries were heard and Mousse ended up on the ground. After a terrible beating, Akane hoisted Mousse up and grabbed her pig.

"What does this look like to you moron?!" Akane shouted. Mousse, in fear, put on his glasses. Seeing what he was holding, Mousse gulped and faced the enraged Tendo. Shampoo just shook her head at her former friend. Ranma faced Mousse and didn't look intimidated.

"Still the same jerk as always, huh Mousse? Well, I hate to tell you this but I don't think you'll be winning anything back. Shampoo and I have been seeing each other. I like her and she likes me. So, you can go back home to wherever you came from because you're out of luck." Ranma said. Shampoo had a small blush on her face. Mousse looked enraged but he quickly smirked at him evilly.

"We'll see about that Saotome." Mousse said and left the group alone. Everyone could only wonder what the jealous teen had in store for them.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: Sorry that this is late but I've been working, helping this lady with her garden project. It takes a lot of my time so my updates are slow. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the chapter. I might get some hate responses about how Akane is treating Kasumi but this is my version of Ranma. Akane is going to be a character that you guys will not like. So if this is a problem for people, I would suggest that you don't continue reading this. Akane is going to be OOC in this story.