Sorry, again, for the long time between chapters. My hope is that the next gap will be much shorter.

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"Oh, still in bed?" said Nabiki, poking her head into Akane's room and grinning mischievously. "You're gonna be laaaaaate~!"

A quick glance at the clock confirmed this was no prank. Sleepiness giving way to panic, Akane flung herself out of bed and began getting ready for school at lightning speed.

Barely ten minutes later, she came running down the stairs, her eyes immediately locking onto Ranma, who sat at the table eating breakfast.

"We're late!" she shouted, glaring, rushing up to him and gripping his arm tight. He glared at her, mouth still full of food, but she paid it no mind, tugging him along with her and dashing out the door.

Complaints shot out of his mouth the moment he swallowed his food. Despite her lack of response, he droned on and on the entire time she ran. "Akane. ...Akane, com'on, I can run by myself. ...Akane, let me go! ….A-akane, that old lady's got water! ...Damn it! ...Akane, I can't go to school like this, stop!"

All of the complaining washed over Akane as background noise - her focus remaining squarely on the act of sprinting as fast as she could toward school. Nothing else mattered. A few paces away from the school entrance, however, Ranma's increasingly panicked words finally broke through. She stopped so quickly that it almost sent them both tumbling to the ground from momentum.

Whirling around, she saw that, sure enough, Ranma's hair was red, his clothes baggy. "When did-?"

"Like five minutes ago, you jerk!" Ranma shouted, his higher voice squeaking in rage, his hands balled into fists. Wrenching his arm out of her grasp, he continued shouting. "You passed the damn clinic, too! Now I can't go to school!"

Mind racing, Akane peered around the edge of the wall, getting a quick glimpse at the school's clocktower. They still had five minutes. A moment could be spent attempting to address the problem. Only a moment, though...

"Can't you just-"

Stamping his foot, Ranma said, "No! We've talked about this! How the heck am I s'posed to explain this to people!?" He gestured at himself with short, staccato movements.

Frowning, Akane cast about within her brain for a plan. Given how often Ranma was hit with cold water, this was clearly never going to stop being an issue. There had to be a way to get around it so that Ranma didn't end up missing school all the time.

Her eyes brightened as as idea popped into her head. It was a long shot, but… "Why don't you say that you're Ranma's sister, recently transferred?'

Ranma stared at her like she was an idiot. "What the hell're you talkin' about? For one, who'd fall for that, and two, wouldn't the teachers know it's bs?" He gesticulated unclearly for a few moments, presumably trying to formulate words. "Don't'cha need, like... papers, or somethin', for a school transfer?""

"I can help with that!" said a loud voice that nearly made both Ranma and Akane jump out of their skin. A few paces away stood none other than Kodachi Kuno, positively beaming.

"...How much did you-?" Akane started.

"Enough!" Kodachi proclaimed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "It sounds like my dear pigtailed goddess wishes to attend our great Furinkan High, and she needs assistance in order to do so quickly!"

Mouth flapping silently a few times, Ranma stuttered, "I-I… I don't-"

Kodachi slapped both her hands down onto Ranma's shoulders. "Worry not, my beautiful goddess!" Akane couldn't help but smirk - Ranma's face was bright red, his eyes like a deer in headlights. "My mother is the principal! I shall have no trouble arranging this for you!"

Ducking out of Kuno's grasp, Ranma stepped a pace or two away, shaking slightly. "I-I can just - We don't have -" He swallowed, taking a big, calming breath. "I can just go home, there's no need-"

"Nonsense!" Kodachi cried, taking a step forward. "I insist that you allow me to lend my aid!"

"I - but -"

Taking Ranma's hand into her own, Kodachi stared longingly. There was a small pang of emotions within Akane's chest that she preferred not to identify. "I ask only one thing of you, as recompense. Please - might I know my goddess' name?"

Far more quickly than Akane expected, and, judging by his wide eyes, quicker than even he expected, Ranma blurted out, "Ranko!"

Ecstatic didn't even begin to describe the emotion on Kodachi's face.

A bell rang out, sending Akane's heart into overdrive again. She grabbed hold of Ranma's arm and pulled. "We've gotta go. Now!"

"B-but!"

"Fine!" she said, letting him go. "You stay, but I'm going," Turning away, she barreled toward the school doors without a backward glance.

"Worry not, my dear Akane!" Kuno shouted after her. "I shall take care of everything!"

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Sure enough, about fifteen minutes into the start of class, the principal poked her head into the room, pulling the teacher outside for a moment. Then, a minute later, the teacher returned, followed by a nervous-looking, still red-haired Ranma.

"Class, I'd like you all to meet our new transfer student!" said the teacher, gesturing unnecessarily at Ranma. "She's actually the sister of our other recent transfer, Ranma Saotome! He, unfortunately, seems to be feeling a bit under the weather today. Isn't that right, dear?"

Ranma nodded.

"Well, hopefully he'll be feeling better soon. Now go ahead and introduce yourself!"

There was a significant amount of red in Ranma's cheeks as he turned toward the class, his eyes darting about until they latched onto Akane's, where they stayed throughout his introduction. "My name is Ranko... Ranko Saotome. Pleased to meet you all."

"Yo, Akane," whispered Yuka, sitting to her left like usual. "You never mentioned Ranma had a cute sister."

Crap. Akane realized with horror that she hadn't anticipated this, even though she really, really should have. The wheels in her brain whirred into overdrive. "Oh, um, yeah, well… she asked me not to. She, uh, wasn't going to go to Furinkan at first, and she's, you know, a pretty private person, so…"

An incredibly irritating smirk spread across Yuka's face. "Uh-huh…"

Ranma passed between the two of them, taking a seat at an empty desk a few rows behind Yuka, right by the window. It was the same spot he usually sat in.

"That'll work for today, since your brother isn't here," the teacher said, smiling pleasantly. "I'll try to scrounge up another desk before tomorrow."

"Hey, quick question…" Yuka said, still grinning. "How protective of her do you think Ranma is? Like, if someone were to hit on her, for instance, you think he'd-"

"Yuka!" said Sayuri in an angry whisper, from the seat behind Akane.

With a sigh and a dramatic roll of the eyes, Yuka said, "Right, right. Forget I said anything."

Far too many thoughts zipped around in Akane's head; trying to keep track of them was giving her a migraine. Were other people going to talk to her about Ranma? She needed to talk to him before that, make sure they had their stories straight... What was Yuka going on about, though? Why would she care if some guy hit on him? ...Oh geeze, he'd hate that, if it happened, huh? Wait, but why'd Sayuri shush Yuka? She was just being weird like usual. Hm… what did Kuno say to make this all work out, anyway? It's not like "Ranko" was actually transferring from somewhere that could supply paperwork… Now that she thought about it, Yuka made jokes like that a lot. Was she…? No, surely not.

Shooting a glance back at Ranma, she was mildly surprised to see him immediately shoot one back. He shrugged, giving her a wisp of a smile.

Turning back to face the front, her mind returned to Kuno. She deserved thanks for making this go so smoothly. Akane needed to talk to her as soon as possible.

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When lunchtime rolled around, 'Ranko' was immediately swarmed by most of the class, which he - should Akane try to think of Ranko as a 'she'? She'd need to ask Ranma about that later. Anyway, Ranko seemed extremely uncomfortable with the attention. Part of Akane wanted to try to help him out, but... Yuka was one of the first to beeline toward Ranko's desk, which made Akane feel emotions she didn't want to deal with. It was no business of hers who Yuka talked to, and yet she couldn't help her feelings, whatever they were. Complicated, at any rate. She wanted no part of them.

It was time to search for Kuno. Fortunately, it wouldn't be too difficult. There'd been several times over the past few years that Akane had looked out the window during lunchtime to see Kuno sitting alone outside, usually under a tree, calmly eating her lunch. Today, she was at her most frequented tree.

"Ah, my dearest Akane!" she said with a start, sitting up straighter as Akane drew near. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

Giving a small shrug, Akane said, "I, uh, well… I wanted to thank you, for helping Ranm- Ranko out. That was… it was really good of you."

Cheeks lightly flushing, Kuno waved the praise away. "Think nothing of it! Truly, it was in my own best interest to help her attend the same school as I, given she is an object of my affection." She gave a small sort of bow, hampered by the fact that she was still sitting. "And, even more truly, it is a pleasure to help two gorgeous, wonderful women such as Ranko and yourself, no matter the task."

An urge formed within Akane, one that swelled so quickly that she could do nothing to stifle it. Words tumbled from her mouth like water let loose from a dam. "Do you want to meet up, after school? At a café or something? Just the two of us?"

What was she doing? Why would she ask that? Kuno would think it was a date, which… wasn't it, kind of? Oh jeez, why had she asked to go on a date...?

Kuno seemed to be frozen in place, her eyes perfect circles. It didn't seem like she was breathing. Then, suddenly, she was on her feet, grasping Akane's hand like a lifeline.

"I would-" Her breath hitched for a moment. Was she crying? "I would love to."

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"This is a lovely little shop you have brought us to!" Kuno said, sipping her drink and gesturing about at the café Akane had brought them to. It was a fairly small building, with a decently-sized seating area. The service was always a bit slow, but Akane didn't mind. She never came here when she was in a rush, anyway.

Setting her own drink down, Akane said, "Yeah, it's the closest place like it to my house. I've been coming here for years." Glaring at her straw and giving it a small flick, she added, "It hasn't been doing too well lately, though. They might have to close up shop."

"Ah," Kuno said, her expression unsure. "Truly, that is a tragedy."

"Yeah," Akane said noncommittally, not making eye contact. "Doing better than that okonomiyaki place a few streets over, at least. I think they've already gone under."

Kuno continued to look unsure of how to react. After a few moments, her expression relaxed back into the soft smile she'd been wearing ever since Akane met up with her after school. Silence reigned for the next few minutes, the only sound at the table a soft 'clink' as Akane's straw knocked ice into the glass with irregular flicks.

"Can I ask you something?" she said, finally looking Kuno in the eye.

Still smiling, Kuno nodded emphatically. "Of course!"

"How…" She paused, struggling for the words. "You like me, right?"

"I adore you!" Kuno said, a little too quickly.

A light smile crossed Akane's lips involuntarily, even as her eyes drifted away. "Of course. But... you like Ranko too, right?"

Again Kuno was quick to answer. "I most certainly do!"

Flicking her straw again, her eyes focusing on the swirling ice, she said, "You want… you'd like to date us, right? Not just one of us, but... both of us?"

Kuno's eyes lit up; her smile seeming to encompass her entire face. "Nothing would make me happier."

It was difficult, but Akane forced her eyes to lock with Kuno's again. "But… how? How can you want to openly date two people? How can you… how could that even work?"

Expression turning pensive, Kuno took a moment to ponder the question. "Well, truly, I cannot say from experience how such a thing would work. This is the first I've ever been on a date," Akane looked away for a moment, but didn't argue, " let alone been in a relationship. What I know is that, right now, my heart longs for two. I could not possibly pick just one of you, when I feel such intense, near overwhelming love for you both. It is my most ardent desire to have the both of you in my life, and to commit myself wholly to your happiness."

It was too much; Akane couldn't maintain eye contact any longer. Her face felt hot, her hands shaky. How could someone be so… so open about that sort of thing? It was mortifying.

But there was one more question she needed to get off her chest before she allowed the conversation to move elsewhere. "Don't you… don't you worry that, focusing on two people, you won't be able to give either of them enough love and attention? That you'll stretch yourself too thin? It seems like most people struggle to maintain a relationship with just one person."

Kuno's expression shifted, becoming more serious than Akane had ever seen it before. Firmly, with no hesitation, she said, "Of course I worry! Surely everyone must worry about their relationship staying the course! But I feel confident that there is more than enough love in my heart to share with the both of you, and I truly believe that, with effort and communication, such a relationship could be legendary."

Silence overtook them again. Using long, slow breaths, Akane attempted to still her heart, which at some point during the conversation had taken to hammering within her chest at double its usual rate. This was all… it was a lot to take in.

"Akane?" Kuno said softly, after a minute or two. "Might we-"

"No," Akane said, eyes flashing back to Kuno's. "I-I'm sorry, but… no." Taking another deep breath, she pushed onwards, before Kuno's face could droop too much in disappointment. "I'm not - I'm still figuring myself out, I guess. I'm not ready for a relationship - any kind of romantic relationship. Not right now, at least."

Kuno nodded sagely, momentary disappointment disappearing instantaneously. "Of course! I understand. If that is how you feel, I will cease in my pursuit of your affection." Despite herself, a part of Akane ached to hear those words. She hoped her face didn't show it. "But, my dear, precious Akane," Kuno continued, reaching out to take her hand. "Know that my heart will always be open to you, should your feelings change."

Smiling, Akane blinked back a tear. "I'll keep it in mind."

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The gayness ramped up! Next time, we'll see how Ranma's been doing.