You could say this is also an Aftermath, as I believe it had to be done to explain some details that will be used later on, and to connect those dots that I left on the open.

Hopefully the good part will come by the next chapter, sorry everyone. (Currently under a good amount of work.)

Morning wasn't always easy. Sometimes you wake up by the mountains, training yourself till exhaustion. Other times, you wake up with a beautiful red-haired girl with nothing more than her usual shirt and panties, not letting you go from her grasp.

It gave the wrong idea, but it wasn't something he could complain about.

As soon as Ryoga went out of her room, he finally grasped reality all over again. About sleeping with his nemesis, or who he thought it was his nemesis. He wasn't sure anymore.

"Oh, Ryoga! I didn't knew you were here. Have a sit, you have to eat" - Kasumi like always couldn't stop behaving nicely towards anyone, even to someone who "invaded" their home without their consent.

"Boy, explain yourself. What are you doing here?" - Tendo couldn't avoid it either, but before Ryoga answered either of them, Akane stood up from the table and stood aside of Ryoga.

"I invited him here, he was staying for the night" - Akane tried her best to correct what she did last night, even if it had been small, it was a big deal for herself. - "Sit Ryoga, Kasumi didn't allowed Genma eat everything there was on the table"

"It's not fair, I'm a growing man!" - Said the sign that stood on the panda's stomach.

Nabiki was next, although she wasn't really interested in why he was there or not. - "Good morning, Ryoga"

"F-Forgive me for intruding. Either way, I'm leaving already. I left my backpack..." - Ryoga couldn't deny one truth though, he had no idea where he had left it. - "... Now where was it..."

"Ryoga... I'm sorry for what happened last night. It really wasn't my intention. Please, forgive me" - Akane tried her best on whispering him, her guilt had taken the best out of her and the quicker she apologized the better

"Eh?" - Ryoga couldn't believe what Akane was saying, or what she was talking about. Last night had been so crazy for him, that it took him some moments before catching up. "Ah, about that. Don't worry, I had completely forgotten about it"

"A-Anyway, thank you for your hospitality. But I have to go"

Just as he went out, Ranma came out from her room, scratching her head.

"Haaah, what the hell was that all about? Confusing... Yes. That's the word. Extravagant, and fun... and kind, and warm—Gah!" - Ranma tried to snuff out those thoughts from her head, but just as soon as she tried, they came back in.

Her body was moving on its own, and without her realizing it, she took Shampoo's bicycle that laid on her spot on the table and moved it aside so she could sit and eat her already cold breakfast.

But still, everything was all too damn confusing, it almost made hot steam come out from her head of how much thought she was putting into it.

Ranma could only look at her bowl of rice, unable to put it into rest. She was only playing with her hair on her fingers, thinking about it over and over again, with nothing else in her mind or nothing else bothering her thoughts. Just him.

"... Do you know why?"

"Eh?" - Ranma at long last snapped out of it. - "What, why?"

Sighing, Akane looked at her with most annoyance. - "I can't believe it! Kasumi asked why Ryoga hurried out? He didn't even took breakfast, and Kasumi even tried to insist"

"Aye, it looked like if his mind wasn't on the right place, just like your own. Did something happen between you two?" - Nabiki added, with the entire family looking at Ranma like if she had done a bad joke to him all over him.

"Oi, Ranma... Don't tell me you did something awful to him again like playing as his girlfriend or sister?"

"G-Girlfriend?! W-What are you talking about? Hahahah!" - Ranma seem flustered all the sudden, she even jumped back away from the table. - "Crazy talking, t-that's what all of you are doing"

Nabiki smirked, as if she enjoyed how Ranma was reacting to their comments and glaring. - "Hmm... Y'know? I think something actually did happen"

"I told you already, nothing happ-" - Ranma stopped herself, and started to think about it. - "Nothing really happened between us, did it?" - She could only talk to herself, and shortly she was seen playing with her hair again.

"Hm? Ranma. Have you forgotten to tie up your hair? - Kasumi was the first to comment something after some time of silent.

"Eh?"

Everyone pointed out that her pig-tail was missing, and instead her hair was completely loose.

"Ah... Today I don't think I want to have it"

The shock in everyone's faces made the environment even more awkward that what it was already, mostly due to Ranma. Again.

"I-Is that something bad?" - Ranma tried to calm their anger or confusion, or whatever the hell it was.

Genma was the first to break the silence, even though the signs made the talking. - "It's not about it being bad. You never took out that tail, even after the curse of the Dragon's Whisker. It's odd, Ranma. It's confusing. It's sacrilege"

"A-Alright, I get the picture" - They were right, of course. It was odd. - "I hate this kind of talking though, if you'll excuse me..."

Soon she stood up and was moving back to her room until Kasumi interrupted her steps. - "Ranma, could you at least return the bicycle to Shampoo?"

"Bicycle—Ah..." - Right, she moved it aside. - "Ugh, why must I do such thing, Kasumi?"

"I'm worried about that girl. She was supposed to come back with you, but when she returned, she was gloomy and left without a word. I bet she left the breakfast on the bike too. Please, Ranma"

Kasumi looked at Ranma with pity eyes, as if she were about to cry about how concerned she were. It wasn't healthy for Ranma, and tried not to look at her although it was almost impossible.

"Ranma... Where's Kasumi's school clothes?" - Nabiki gave the final strike. Referring to the clothes that had now become loosen because of Ranma's transformation of man while wearing them.

"Ah-Ahahah! Of course I'll go Kasumi, stop worrying! Hahahah! After I come back I'll be hungry for sure"

"I'm glad. Ranma, you're such a kind person" - That was close. Almost too close to be honest, but Kasumi didn't seem to pay attention to Nabiki's comment.

Ranma didn't waste any more time though, and decided to deliver Shampoo's bicycle to the Cat Cafe before Nabiki mentioned anything else that could cost dearly to her.