Ok, I know my last two were short, but this one is gonna be longer!!!! Promise!!!

Akane woke up slowly as the hot water poured over her body. Ranma, although he was not a gentleman, looked away, and she was thankful for that. She picked up her nightgown and slipped it over her head.

"I'm dressed." She sat on her bed as she said it, picking at the bedspread awkwardly.

Ranma turned around. "Are you okay?" He actually seemed genuinely concerned, a first since she had known him.

"Yeah, I think so. Thanks for the hot water." And thanks for not saving me, the thought almost made its way out of her mouth, but she managed to keep it in her head.

"Um, no problem." The awkwardness engulfed them like a smothering pillow. "So." Ranma tried to break the awkwardness.

"What?!?!" Akane didn't feel like talking right now. What she really needed was a hug, but now way in hell was she gonna ask Ranma for one.

"I'll just go now…" He looked as if he was pleading for her to do something, to maybe forgive him for making her sacrifice herself for him.

"Look, I don't know what you're thinking, but I didn't fight for you. I fought because Shampoo is so annoying. I don't care if you wanted to go with her. You could go anytime. I just felt like fighting her. I wouldn't give up half of myself for you." Akane's lips trembled as she said it, and her fists clenched and unclenched. Why do I have to be this way? Why do I always have to ruin it for myself?

Ranma blinked. Once. Twice. When he finally spoke, his voice was filled with hurt, but his words sounded like the usual Ranma. "Alright, dummy, see what I care. I wasn't gonna save you anyway. I just felt like coming in here and helping you, but ya know, if you don't want any help, I don't have to give it! And…and…you're a better rabbit that a human 'cuz rabbits don't talk, and they don't look so ugly!"

At that last remark Akane couldn't hold back any more. She stretched her fist back and punched him hard in the face, so hard that he fell to the floor, writhing in agony.

"I don't know who you think you are, but you can get out! For once I thought you were going to be nice, and look what you do… I knew it wouldn't last!"

And with that, Akane pushed Ranma into the hall, slamming the door in his swollen face.

Ryoga strolled out of his room to see Ranma slumped against the wall next to Akane's door, with a huge black and blue mark on his upper jawbone.

"Nice going! I don't even have to ask."

"Shut up, piggy boy, you aren't doin' any better"

Ryoga smirked. "Ahh, but I'm about to score major points for me. You see, if you had half a brain, you would try to teach her how to handle being half a human, getting closer to her all the time.

"Hah! Like you even know how to handle being a piggy boy, piggy boy."

"Don't call me that!!!! Anyway, I have flowers and chocolates." Ryoga produced all three out of his knapsack.

"What is that?" Ranma pointed to a bedraggled looking notebook that had fallen out of the bag. " 'The Guide to being half-human'…what the hell is this?

"Hey! Gimme that!!!!!!" Ryoga grabbed at thin air as Ranma swung out of his reach and started reading the first page.

" 'Being a half human is hard, especially when it is raining. Pig-men are the best kinds of half humans, and girly boys are the worst.'…This is crap." Ranma grimaced at Ryoga, who took the opportunity to grab the little book out of Ranma's hands.

"So long, sucker!!!! I'll invite you to the wedding!" And with that he kicked Ranma through the roof and ran to Akane's door. When she answered his wavery knock, she smiled.

"Oh, it's just you, Ryoga! Come in. I feel like talking to someone mature and sensitive." She said those last words loud and clear so they could be heard by anyone, even someone sitting on the roof.