Having reached a relative emotional peace on the way home, Akane felt ready to talk to her sister once she arrived. There was, after all, a lot they needed to discuss, and though the thought of talking to her sister about… well, queerness… was kind of terrifying, it was also a little exhilarating. Fortunately, the search for Nabiki didn't last long — she was in her room, lying on her bed, reading.

"Guess you weren't just heading home, huh?" Nabiki said, putting her book down and cocking an eyebrow.

"Yeah…" Akane closed the door behind her, then scooted over to Nabiki's empty desk chair, plopping down in it. "Had to clear my head after… well, all of that."

Nodding slowly, Nabiki maintained a neutral expression, her eyes flitting over Akane's form. "You didn't mention before… Shampoo didn't hurt you, it looks like?"

"I got hit once, but I hit back twice," Akane said, a smile on her face as pride welled within her. "I'm doing fine."

Most people wouldn't notice the tiny shifts in Nabiki's posture and expression that signaled relief, but Akane registered them loud and clear. It was fortunate she was already hiding, so she didn't have to mask how that made her feel. Her sister could be… difficult. But they loved each other, even if Nabiki tried not to show it.

"Good, good. So, you wanted…?

Excitement lit up Akane's face. "Like I said earlier, we've got to talk! You said you… well you didn't exactly say, but… you and Shampoo kissed? And you… liked that?"

Nabiki shrugged and nodded. After a beat of silence, she seemed to realize that Akane's eager eyes wanted a little more than that. "Yeah, I mean… I'm bi. I usually go for guys, but… well, once I was taking her where she wanted to go, Shampoo got really flirty. Like you saw her do with Kodachi?"

A shiver went up Akane's spine. "That felt scary, though. Like there was an undercurrent of a threat."

Shrugging again, Nabiki said, "Yeah, well, she'd already done plenty of threatening. And I was already doing what she wanted, so there was no 'undercurrent' when she flirted with me. And like, being carried in this strong, beautiful woman's arms... I dunno, it actually sort of felt… safe?" Her gaze looked far away for a moment. Then her eyes snapped back to their usual intensity. "So anyway, I didn't see any reason not to flirt right back. We—"

Akane let out a sharp gasp. Nabiki cocked an eyebrow again.

"Sorry," Akane said, looking a little embarrassed. "I actually… I guess it's only surprising because Shampoo's a girl. I could pretty easily see you doing that if it were a guy."

Nabiki slow blinked. "I don't know whether or not that's a compliment."

Waving her hand dismissively, Akane said, "Don't worry about it. Please, continue?"

"…There's not a lot else to say," Nabiki said, rolling her eyes. "We kept flirting, she ended up standing still for a minute or two as we made out, then we continued on our way."

Silence reigned again for a few minutes. Akane realized, after a bit, that there was no way Nabiki could figure out the questions buzzing around in her head; she'd have to voice them if she wanted them answered.

"How… " she swallowed, tapping her foot lightly against the ground. "How did you figure it out? That you're bi, I mean."

A small grin appeared on Nabiki's face. It wasn't one of her more predatory smirks, fortunately. "I mean, I've just always considered both boys and girls hot. And… maybe other genders too?" She paused, thinking, then waved a hand, as though discarding the thought. "I dunno, I'm not real well-versed on all that. All I know is there's a lot of attractive people in the world, whatever their gender is."

Akane couldn't help frowning. "You've always known? It was really that easy for you?"

Nabiki shrugged yet again. "I mean, yeah, pretty much. I didn't have a word for it, when I was younger. And I didn't, like… tell people I was into more than just guys. I don't give people ammunition if I can help it… at least not without a price. You're only the second person I've talked to about it, after Kasumi."

"Kasumi?" Though without even waiting for Nabiki to respond, Akane realized that it shouldn't be that surprising. She'd always thought her two older sisters talked more among themselves than they did with her.

She sighed. Practically mumbling, she said, "I just… I've been struggling, trying to figure myself out lately… I think I've realized-"

"That you're a huge lesbian?"

Akane's frown deepened. "I wasn't gonna say…" She narrowed her eyes at Nabiki. "Why would you think that?"

Unsurprisingly, Nabiki's grin turned predatory. "200 yen, sis."

Sighing, Akane fished out two 100 yen coins and foisted them over. It was always wise to keep a few yen around when dealing with Nabiki.

"Okay, well, where do we even start?" her sister said, sitting up some, a smug look on her face. "How about in 2nd grade, when…"

Over the next ten minutes, Akane was subjected to a laundry list of moments from her own past that Nabiki apparently considered 'evidence' of Akane's overwhelming and obvious gayness. Crushes she'd seemingly had, multiple instances of her pushing back against the very idea of liking boys, how butch she used to be, how the whole 'Tofu' thing seemed like a dramatic attempt to make herself seem 'normal'… Akane got the point pretty clearly about two minutes in, but Nabiki insisted she 'get what she paid for.'

"And lastly, I mean… that whole thing with Kodachi? How are you two not dating already?"

It took Akane a few seconds to realize that Nabiki had finished, and that she had asked a question. Ignoring the heat rising in her cheeks, she said, "I… look, we've talked, and I didn't want to start something while I was still figuring myself out, you know?"

"I don't. And I think I've laid out a pretty convincing argument, so hopefully you're done with that now and can just finally let yourself date a girl already."

Akane rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help a smile from appearing on her face. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. It was a very convincing argument."

Getting to her feet, Akane took a few steps toward the door. Hand outstretched for the handle, she turned her head back to Nabiki. "Hey, sis? …Thanks. Really. It… means a lot."

For some reason, Nabiki seemed to suddenly be having a very hard time maintaining eye contact. "…Sure. I mean, gotta give the customer what they paid for, huh? …It's not a big deal."

Smiling wide, Akane said, "Of course. Love you, sis."

As she stepped out into the hallway, Akane could swear she heard a very quiet, "Love you too," from behind, right before the door was pulled completely shut.

-b-

That evening, a while before dinner, Akane was watching the tv when a loud shriek startled her. It had definitely come from the furo. …Hadn't Chie gone to wash up just a little bit ago?

Scrambling out of the room and down the hallway, Akane heard more shouting the closer she got. By the time she entered the changing room she could distinctly make out the phrase, "Wait, stop, I'm already engaged!" being shouted.

Tossing aside the door to the furo, Akane found a simultaneously titillating and enraging sight. A very naked and wet Chie was flailing around on the ground, seemingly trying to escape the embrace of an also very naked and wet Shampoo. When Chie noticed Akane, color left her face and fear took over her eyes.

"Ah! 'Kane! It's ain't what it looks like!"

Crossing her arms, Akane raised a single eyebrow. "It looks like you're flopping around like a fish out of water while one of your fiancées tries to force herself on you."

Blinking rapidly, Chie said, "I, um… Well, yeah, pretty much! She was hidin' in the water and surprised me when I sat down ta wash!"

"She clearly doesn't want it, Shampoo," Akane said, looking at the other naked woman. "Let her go, and put some damn clothes on."

The joyous expression that had been on Shampoo's face when Akane entered melted away, replaced with cold hatred. She let go of Chie, who immediately scrambled away and pressed against a wall. Shampoo stood up to her full height, hands on her hips. She did not seem interested in putting clothes on.

"Why stupid violent girl care about airen?" She paused, and a moment later her eyes lit up in realization. "Violent girl is person airen also engaged to?"

"Yes, I am!" Akane declared, too irritated to be embarrassed. "So keep your hands off her, huh?"

Chie's face was arguably more red than her hair right now. Shampoo, however, suddenly seemed delighted.

"Ah! Airen! Is simple, then! Chie pick which wèihūnqī Chie want! Then violent girl leave Shampoo and airen alone once airen pick Shampoo!"

"Psh, sure, if that's all it'll take," Akane said, rolling her eyes and looking to Chie. "Tell her which fiancée you want, then."

The red-head's face still burned bright and her eyes went wide. She glanced back and forth between Akane and Shampoo, as though each of them were wild animals that were about to eat her once she gave her answer. As the seconds turned to minutes, Akane could feel anger rising up within her. A quick glance at Shampoo confirmed the other girl felt similarly. Akane had not anticipated the possibility that Chie would choose anyone but her. It had seemed so obvious a choice. How in the world was this a difficult decision? Shampoo wanted to kill Chie. Shampoo might not know that yet, but Chie sure did. Was choosing Akane really so difficult that Chie would actually consider someone that wanted her dead?

"Airen, why you no say Shampoo name? You want this girl?" Shampoo said, gesturing wildly at Akane. "What you see in her? She like Shampoo, but weak!"

"I—I, well, she just hasn't gotten as much training…" Chie said, not looking directly at Akane.

Shampoo stomped a foot into the floor tiles, fortunately not hard enough to break them. "Violent girl have same hair Shampoo have, but worse color and style!"

Chie's eyes glanced back and forth between each girl's hair. "I mean, you've both got nice long hair, I don't…"

Throwing her hands in the air, Shampoo shouted, "Shampoo better than violent girl every way! Why you have hard time choose!?"

"I—I mean… I don't think I'd say you're better…"

That was it, Akane was done. She didn't intend to stand here a single moment longer, listening to a violent stranger insult her while her fiancée barely and pathetically came to her defense.

"You know what, Shampoo? You can have her."

Without another word, Akane spun around and marched away, slamming the changing room door behind her. Stomping all the way down the hall, up the stairs and to her room, she collapsed into a chair, then turned to stare at herself in the mirror.

Just as she'd feared, there were tears in her eyes. Why did she keep falling for these idiots who never seemed to care about her the same way that she cared about them?

'Same hair but worse.' Shampoo's condescending voice echoed in Akane's head, a phantom she couldn't rid herself of. Softly, she ran her fingers through her hair, her other hand wiping away a few tears. It had taken her years to grow her hair out this long. But… she'd never really liked it. Oh, she'd tried to convince herself otherwise, but she never really felt like it suited her. …But, well… that had been the point, hadn't it? It didn't suit her, it suited someone like Kasumi. Someone that Akane had desperately been trying to be like. And all for a woman who had never seen Akane as anything but a child.

Dr. Tofu… Akane sighed. How had she denied being a lesbian for so long when for years she'd tried so hard to get that woman to like her? …And it was never going to happen, either. Akane had known that for a long time now. She sighed again, running a hand through her long, long hair. And now she was losing Chie to another person that could perform typical femininity better than her. Shampoo's taunting voice echoed again around her brain.

Tears welled in her eyes again. Dammit. Why couldn't she control her feelings better? Why did she have to keep letting people hurt her like this? She was starting to understand why Nabiki closed her heart off most of the time… but no matter what she did, Akane couldn't do that — she wasn't Nabiki. Through teary eyes, she gave her hair another good, long look. …She wasn't Kasumi, either. And she didn't want to be her sisters. Not anymore. She'd been trying to do that for too long, and it wasn't working. It was time to be herself.

Tossing open a dresser drawer, Akane seized a pair of scissors. Clutching a fistful of her hair, she held it out to the side, and moved the scissors close. She locked eyes with herself in the mirror; this was her last chance to turn back. Her last chance to take the safe path. Her last chance to keep pretending. Her gaze steeled. Never again.

She cut.

She let the now loose hair fall to the ground. Then she grabbed some more, and she cut again. And again. And again. Chunks of blue hair scattered across the floor of Akane's room as her scissors cut and cut and cut. Once she was done, she slammed the scissors down and gave herself a good look.

—Well, she was no hairdresser. But still… it didn't look that terrible. And she felt a lot lighter. Both physically, since her head was no longer weighed down so much, but also mentally. She saw a smile creep onto her face, but a moment later it disappeared. She had no idea what she was doing, and she looked a mess. —She needed to get Kasumi's help.

-b-

Kasumi had been a little surprised about Akane's hair at first. She'd dropped some eggs that she'd been planning to use for dinner to the ground the moment she caught sight of it. After explaining that she'd done this to herself on purpose, Akane helped clean the mess while Kasumi put dinner preparations on hold. By the time they were done, Kasumi seemed to have calmed herself down, though Akane still saw worry and confusion in her sister's eyes when she sat down for a haircut.

"So… why did you want this sudden change?" Kasumi said, partway through styling Akane's hair into a cute pixie cut. The two of them had decided there weren't a lot of other style options left after all the hair that Akane had removed, and Akane felt sure she could pull the look off anyway.

"Well, I mean… it's long overdue, I think." She paused, considering if she really wanted to continue or not. But she'd made a promise to herself to stay true to who she was, even if it was scary. Taking a big breath, she said, "I've, um, been figuring out a lot of things about myself, actually… Like that the haircut I'd had wasn't really true to myself, and, um…" No turning back. "…I think I'm queer? A, uh… a lesbian, maybe?"

"Oh good, finally."

Utter shock made Akane's mouth fall open. "Kasumi!"

A light, sing-song laugh was Kasumi's initial reply. "Sorry, but I have been waiting quite a while for you to come to that realization."

Pouting, Akane said, "Huh. Well… Could've clued me in…"

Attending to Akane's bangs now, Kasumi said, "I wanted to, but you were so deep in denial for a while, there… Nabiki didn't think you'd listen if we said anything."

Though Akane wasn't keen on admitting it, Nabiki was probably right.

"Has the whole family known this whole time?"

Laughing again, Kasumi said, "Oh, no! I'm sure daddy has no idea. He's quite oblivious to these sorts of things, afterall."

Neither spoke for a minute or two, though not for lack of things to say, on Akane's part. Finally, she managed to ask the main question on her mind. "Sis, um… Nabiki said she's queer too. Are, um… are you?"

Kasumi didn't reply at first, seemingly focusing on finishing up Akane's haircut first. When she pulled away, setting the scissors she'd been using on the counter, she looked down at Akane with a serious expression and said, "Hm… I'm not sure, to tell you the truth. Possibly? It's not something I've explored very much."

"What about Dr. Tofu?" Akane said, almost too quickly. "She's head-over-heels for you."

A mischievous glint appeared in Kasumi's eyes, invisible to anyone who didn't know her well. "Oh? You think so? I hadn't noticed." Akane was sure from her sister's tone that this was untrue, but there was no way she was going to press the issue.

Brushing hair off of her shoulders, Akane stood and gave her sister a hug. "Thanks, Kasumi. You're the best."

"You're very welcome!" Kasumi said, hugging back, though not squeezing quite as hard. Her eldest sister's hugs were the best, filled to the brim with love.

Once they pulled apart, Akane began to turn away. "Oh, going so soon?" Kasumi said. "I was going to make you some tea. I thought it might help relax you."

"Oh!" Akane said, smiling wide. "That's so sweet of you, thanks!"

With that serene smile she often wore, Kasumi turned away to start making the tea. "Also, someone needs to clean your hair off the floor, and since I'm busy with the tea, not to mention getting dinner ready…"

Chuckling, Akane grabbed a broom. Her sisters certainly had a way about them, but she wouldn't trade them for the world. She was, in fact, very lucky to have them, and after today, she'd make sure to never forget it.

-b-

Dinner was awkward, especially since her father had taken a while to come to terms with "his little girl cutting off all her hair." But Akane refused to let it bring her down. She'd reaffirmed the love her sisters had for her already, and now there was one more thing she had to do before the day was done. But she couldn't do it until after dinner - she needed her father's undivided attention, and right now…

"So… so this young lady is…"

"The one your friend Mr. Saotome threw me at earlier, yeah," Nabiki said, as nonchalantly as possible.

Chie's irresponsible father hadn't shown back up since running off; she'd suggested he was probably in hiding, and might continue to be for at least a week. The fact that the man had not only thrown a girl with no martial arts skills into harm's way but had also abandoned his child, who he knew was also targeted by Shampoo… it made Akane's blood boil. But then, so did the fact that Shampoo was literally sitting across the table from her right now, so she wasn't feeling too sympathetic towards Chie at the moment.

Her dad seemed unsure if he should feel angry, scared, or at peace with the situation.

"So… she is…?"

"She's fine, dad, her and I made up," Nabiki said, clearly more interested in her food than this conversation.

"…I see."

Shampoo perked up, extending a hand in greeting to Akane's father. "Nihao, Bàba Tendo!" Akane's father shook the girl's hand, though the whole thing was very awkward given how much the two parties had to stretch to accomplish their task. Once she'd sat back down, Shampoo said, "Nabiki help Shampoo, so Shampoo friendly, no worry! Also, Nabiki good ki- ow!"

"Oops, sorry!" Nabiki said, having just jabbed Shampoo with her chopsticks. "My hand slipped. Also, excuse me, need to grab some more chopsticks."

Still looking quite confused as Nabiki headed toward the kitchen, Soun turned to Chie. "She seems… very friendly with you."

Chie, who had been trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, bristled at being addressed. "She, um… well after she showed up with Nabiki… and, you see, on the rooftop…"

"They're very good friends now, Daddy," Akane said, not giving Chie a glance. "Shampoo's just a very friendly person."

"…I see." He eyed Chie and Shampoo warily for a moment or two longer, before turning back to to his food.

Chie was desperately trying to catch Akane's eye now, despite making every effort to avoid doing so before. But Akane wasn't interested. That girl had a lot of apologizing to do before Akane'd be interested in accepting her thanks.

The rest of dinner passed fairly quietly, though only marginally less awkwardly. Afterward, as her dad made to leave the room, she asked him if the two of them could speak in private. Obviously surprised, he nevertheless agreed.

Once they were alone in the adjacent room, Akane saw no point in beating around the bush.

"You've got to start training me again, Daddy," she said, arms crossed, face determined.

"Train you!?" he said, looking just as horrified as when he'd first seen her haircut. "B-but, Akane! I can't! You know why I stopped!"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but that's stupid."

Tears poured down Soun's cheeks. It was almost impressive how quickly her father was able to start the waterworks. "Dear, I just can't stand to hit my baby girl anymore! You cried when I knocked you to the grou—"

"I was ten! And I was fine!" She was so tired of this argument. It felt as though, being the youngest, Akane was forever a baby in her father's eyes. And she was sick of it. "It hurt, but I got over it way quicker than you did!"

Shaking his head vigorously, tears flying everywhere, Soun said, "I just can't! My old heart can't take it!"
Old heart this, baby girl that! Enough was enough! Throwing her arms out, Akane said, "Ugh, Dad, you're impossible! I got my butt kicked by that damn Shampoo—"

"She did what now!?"

"—and I'm not remotely a match for Ranma or Ryoga either! I'm sick and tired of being the weakest among all the martial artists I know!"

"W-well... you didn't even know any of those people until recently—"

"Daddy, please!" Akane said, desperation rising. She moved her face close, her eyes shimmering. "I need this! Like I needed to cut my hair! I know I can be better than I am, but I've just been practicing by myself for years because of you!" She pointed a finger at him, and he had the decency to look at least a little ashamed. "Help me get better, Daddy! Help me make sure that no one stands a chance of hurting your youngest daughter ever again, because she's too good for them to land a hit!"

Lip wavering, Soun looked at her, silently, for a good half a minute. Akane's hopes began to rise. He looked down at the floor, then back up at her, a determined look in his eye. Yes! She could feel it, he was going to say—

"No."

Akane's heart dropped like a rock.

"I'm sorry, dear, but I just can't." He flexed his thin arm and said, "My bones aren't what they used to be, and I haven't practiced at all since I last taught you."

Though she could feel tears welling up, Akane did her best to push them back down. Fine. So he wouldn't help. Well… at least it was nothing new. She'd just have to train even harder somehow… maybe get Chie to—

"But…" Soun said, stroking his moustache, "I think I could convince Genma to train you… He owes me for endangering Nabiki like that, after all."

Akane couldn't help but grimace. Genma's training methods seemed… unappealing, to say the least. And she had many problems with how the man had raised his kid. And also with his cowardice. And his general personality. But…Chie was very good. Some of it might just be natural talent, but surely some of Genma's training had helped make Chie as good as she was.

"Do you not want me to?" Soun asked, no doubt noticing Akane's frown.

"Oh! No, yes, please!"

Her father looked confused.

"Yes, please, Daddy, I'd appreciate it so much!"

Soun smiled wide. "Then consider it done!" Opening up his arms, he wordlessly invited her into a hug, which she happily accepted. His hugs weren't as good as Kasumi's, but then, no one else's were, and his were pretty darn good. After a moment, she pulled away, and he gripped her arms, smiling softly, tears running down his face.

"Akane… I'm sorry. Forgive your fool of a father, won't you?"

-b-

The next morning, Akane awoke with a smile. Despite a rocky start, yesterday had ended up being a great day. She might not be able to start training with Mr. Saotome yet, since he had yet to show back up, but that wasn't going to stop her from doing her normal morning jog and katas with renewed fervor.

Later that morning, partway through those exuberant katas, some unwelcome but not entirely unexpected visitors entered the dojo. Chie was in pajamas and had very tired eyes, while Shampoo looked like she'd had a perfect night's sleep and was dressed in the same clothes that she'd been wearing yesterday. The purple-haired girl was still clinging to Chie as though the shorter girl would disappear if she let go.

"Um… Hey, 'Kane…" Chie said with a tiny wave of her fingers.

Apart from a quick glance, Akane avoided eye contact, instead focusing on her katas. The excitement she'd had while doing them had dissipated a bit because of the interruption, but she refused to let that get her down. "Good morning, Chie. Have a nice night with your fiancée? I assume she slept with you?"

Waving her arms wildly, Chie said, "N—not like—! We didn't! I didn't even let her sleep in my bed! But Pops was gone, so she slept in his bed…"

"Shampoo keep trying sleep in airen's bed, but airen keep pushing Shampoo away!"

Akane's eyes shifted to Shampoo's grip on Chie's arm. "Not doing a lot of pushing away now, though, are you?"

Chie grimaced. "I—I mean… 'Kane, look, I wanted ta 'pologize, after what happened in the furo…"

"At least you two have clothes on this time," Akane said, finishing up her katas. Wiping her brow, she grabbed the tea Kasumi had made for her this morning and finally looked Chie in the eyes, thoroughly unimpressed.

Burning red, Chie said, "Y—yeah, well… 'Kane, I know I made ya mad last night, an' I just wanted ta sincerely—"

"So you've chosen one of us, then?" Again her eyes shifted to where the other two girls' arms were linked, then back up to Chie's face. "Shampoo, I assume, given she's still clinging to you."

Panic was rising in Chie's eyes. "I—I—I… uh, no, well, not exactly, but—"

Letting out a short huff, Akane said, with as little anger as possible, "Chie, if you haven't made a decision then there's no apology to be had. Even if you choose her, just choose. I'm…" She let out another breath. "I'm open to sharing you with someone else. Someone like Kodachi. But with her?" She looked at Shampoo, who glared back. "…I'm not interested."

"Shampoo no interested in you either, stupid girl!" Shampoo said, sticking out her tongue. Akane barely avoided rolling her eyes.

"B—but, 'Kane!" Chie said, looking as though she'd been physically struck. "I made ya so mad that ya chopped all your hair off! I—I didn't mean—"

Despite her efforts, real anger was rising within Akane. "I didn't cut my hair because of you, Chie! Or because of Shampoo, either! I came to that decision by myself!"

"Cut it by yourself too, Shampoo think. It look terrible."

"It doesn't look that bad!" Chie said.

Don't take the bait, don't take the bait… "If all you're going to do is sidestep making an actual decision and insult me, then please, leave. I'm not interested!"

"Wait, but!" Chie easily removed her arm from Shampoo's grip, waving her hands around in a panic. "I didn't mean an insult, I think it looks cute—"

"I don't want to hear it right now, Chie!"

"Yeah, no lie to angry girl, Chie. No make her feel better anyway."

"Sorry! But please, 'Kane, you've got to—"

"I've got to do what, Ranma!?"

Akane slapped a hand over her mouth. Her and Chie's eyes went wide. None of them spoke, as Shampoo looked suspiciously back and forth between the other two girls.

"…Why you call airen by name of evil boy?"

"I—I, um…" Akane's mind cast about for an answer. She hadn't meant to… she'd been so focused on controlling her anger... "Well she just kind of looks… similar? So, um…"

Shampoo's eyes narrowed. She brought her face close to Chie's, really scrutinizing it. "Airen does look like Ranma. Like… sister, maybe?"

Both Akane and Chie shook their heads up and down vigorously.

With a heavy sigh, Shampoo crossed her arms. "Shampoo no happy about it, but Shampoo must kill airen's brother. Shampoo put it off too too long now… Too focused on cute airen."

Chie smiled halfheartedly.

Face slipping into a familiar serious expression, Shampoo said, "Airen, where Ranma? Tell Shampoo now. No more wait."

Dammit, this was Akane's fault. She'd been mad at Chie, sure. She was still mad, really. But she didn't want the girl to be hurt, and she especially didn't want her killed!

"I—I—I… Well, the thing about Ranma…"

"Stay quiet, violent girl. No stall, Chie! Tell Shampoo now!"

What could she do? Could they give her a far off location and say Ranma was training there, maybe? But she'd eventually be back, and angrier than ever at being lied to… It might give them enough time to figure out how to handle that, though. If she started with that lie, Chie would pick up on it and follow, right? Probably… So all she had to do was figure out how to start it. The right words…

Akane was so wrapped up in rapid planning that it took her a moment to notice that the teacup in her hands had just been removed. To her horror, she realized Chie had it, and was dunking it over her head.

With a sharp, loud gasp, Shampoo pulled away, hands over her mouth. Akane's face was all shock too. How in the world was Ranma planning on spinning this!?

"Ch—Chie is… curse?" Shampoo said, unusually soft.

"Y—yeah…" Ranma said, with a forced smile. "I—I didn't wanna tell ya, 'cause I liked ya bein' nice, even if it was a bit much… but I can't keep lyin' to ya."

Tears welled up in Shampoo's eyes. Wordlessly, she turned toward the door and marched out of the dojo.

For a moment, neither Akane nor Ranma spoke. There were a lot of conflicting emotions coursing through Akane's body. Most of all, right now, was confusion. Was it really over so easily?

The door to the dojo slammed back open. Shampoo, tears still in her eyes, held two of those round weapons of hers, and she looked irate.

"No… she's got the chuí again," Ranma practically whispered.

Is that what they were called?

"Ranma pay for breaking Shampoo's heart!" With a loud, long yell, she charged at Ranma, raising a chuí up high. Before Ranma had a chance to dodge, though, Akane leaped into the fray, landing a kick on the side of the chuí and changing its trajectory so that it slammed into the ground to Ranma's side. It made a hole in the dojo floor, but better that than Ranma's face, even if Akane was still mad at him.

Shampoo's head turned sharply to face Akane, tears and rage still in her eyes. "Why Akane always get in Shampoo's way!?"

"Oh, you do know my name!" Akane said, smirking. She wasn't usually one to feel cocky during a fight, especially not when she knew she was massively outmatched. But… she felt good right now. She'd warmed up already, she'd gotten a successful hit in… she felt pretty optimistic about this!

Growling in frustration, Shampoo swiped both of her chuí at Akane. But it was strangely easy to dodge. Shampoo had been angry yesterday when they fought, but this was a different sort of anger. A much less controlled one. It was making her easier to read, and slower to act. Akane might not usually have a chance against someone like Shampoo, but with her like this… Akane just might have a shot. And since the taunting was working…

"I don't know why you're so upset anyway," Akane said, dodging another wild swing. "According to your own rules it's me you should be engaged to anyway."

Both chuí slammed into the dojo floor, splintering the wood into tiny pieces. Her father wasn't going to be happy about that. "Shampoo never marry Akane!"

Getting a good kick on Shampoo's side, Akane leaped away to avoid retaliation. She glanced over at Ranma, who looked paralyzed with indecision over how to handle this situation. Of course he was, the idiot.

"Hey, to be clear, I don't want that," Akane said, finding it easier and easier to dodge Shampoo's attacks. "I just want to know why you refuse to acknowledge reality! Chie was in your arms, you were looking right at her, it doesn't make sense that she was the one to knock you out!"

One of Shampoo's chuí launched through the air so quickly that Akane barely managed to avoid it. The weapon broke right through the wall, landing somewhere in the garden outside.

"Akane only hit Shampoo first time with luck! If Shampoo no distracted, amateur like Akane never could have done that! Second time no different!"

"So you admit I hit you a second time yesterday!"

"Aiyah!" Shampoo shrieked. The enraged woman made to swipe at Akane again, but as Akane dodged, she realized a split second too late that it had been a feint. The chuí slammed into Akane's stomach, knocking her backward and into the wall, not unlike Kodachi the day before.

"Akane no warrior! Shampoo no marry idiot lucky girl! Shampoo only marry warrior!"

Charging toward Akane, presumably for the killing blow, Shampoo stopped in her tracks when Ranma leaped between them.

"Shampoo, don't! She's down! Please, leave her alone!"

Taking an aggressive step forward, Shampoo said, "Why Ranma care about stupid no-warrior girl? Why Ranma is Chie? Why Ranma!? WHY?"

"I—I… " Ranma swallowed his fear, glancing back briefly at Akane. "She's a good person, Shampoo. Even if she's not the best at fighting, she's got a good heart. And she's… she's important to me, okay? I won't let you hurt her!" His voice grew softer as he continued, "I'm sorry about Chie… I didn't want to hurt you. But, I mean, you wanted to hurt me, huh? If I told you up front you would've kept trying to murder me, so… I'm sorry, but… shouldn't you be, too?"

Shouting as loudly as she could, Shampoo swiveled around and hurled her chuí at the wall, making another hole in it. Her rigid form relaxed as she stood, facing away from Ranma and Akane. Quietly, almost too quietly for them to hear, she said, "Wǒ de xīn suìle." Akane didn't know what it meant, but she could hear the utter misery behind it.

And then Shampoo left.

Ranma rushed over to Akane and helped her to her feet, offering apologies the whole time. She felt sore, but she didn't think she was hurt too bad. She could always have Dr. Tofu check later, if the pain persisted.

"Thanks," she said, with a soft, melancholy smile.

"No problem," Ranma said, looking a little embarrassed.

Taking a glance about the room, Akane said, "Daddy's gonna be upset about how much damage she caused."

"Yeah," Ranma said, clearly only half paying attention. "…I kinda feel bad."

"For the dojo?"

"For Shampoo."

Akane sighed. Right. Of course. "She knocked me into a wall. She did the same thing to Kodachi, too, remember?"

"I—I mean, I feel bad for you and Kodachi too, but—"

Shaking her head, Akane began to walk away. "Sorry, I can't anymore. Not right now." She got all the way to the door, then turned back, a mixture of sadness and anger in her eyes. "Figure out what it is you want, Saotome."

And with that, she left.