Akane was never really one for much makeup, but tonight, she hunched over and peered at the small mirror propped up on her desk. She smiled at herself, turning her head at different angles to make sure she looked all right. She had already slipped on the little black dress she borrowed from Nabiki, and Akane was beginning to get nervous.

Akane's door opened, and she turned around to see her sister standing in the doorway. A shoulder leaned against the threshold and Nabiki crossed her arms over her chest, smirking. Akane returned her attention to the mirror, picking up a brush and powdering her nose with it.

"You know," she heard Nabiki say behind her, "most people have their first date well before they're engaged."

"You can thank Daddy and Uncle Saotome for that," Akane quipped, never missing a beat. Expertly, she began applying a pale pink shade to her lips, smacking her lips together at the end of the process.

"To be honest, when Ranma asked for my help, I thought he was joking or on something," Nabiki admitted, still choosing to hover by the entrance. "I was about to charge him 1,000 yen for playing with me, but he mumbled something about wanting his last first date to be with you. Never really pegged him to be such a romantic fool."

Of course, Akane knew all about this already. She'd heard Ranma paid a pretty penny to keep this under wraps from his other fiancées and her suitors. (Rumor had it that Nabiki sent them to Sapporo to find a supposed magical bowl of ramen that, when eaten, granted the consumer three wishes.)

Akane set her mascara wand down. "Nabiki?" she called over her shoulder, turning her head slightly towards her sister. Silence overcame the two sisters as they looked at each other. Akane hesitated, while Nabiki looked at her expectantly. Akane stood up from her desk, exposing a triangle of skin on her back where the dress was not fastened. "Zip me up?"

--

Ranma waited by the front door, bouquet of red roses in hand. He blushed slightly when Akane had finally come downstairs. She gave him a small smile and glanced at his attire. Clad in a navy blue dress shirt, black slacks, and black dress shoes, Akane noticed neither of them was dressed like themselves. She decided it was okay, just this once.

She walked up to him, caring less and less that their families were watching. He extended his arms out, presenting the bouquet to her. She took it gratefully, holding it up to her face. She closed her eyes and sniffed it. Opening her eyes, she smiled.

"Thank you."

Akane turned to face their families, and Kasumi offered to take it and put it in a vase. She stepped into her black leather heels placed on the tiled floor by the front door, grabbing onto Ranma's arm for balance. Quickly letting go of his arm, she and Ranma looked at each other, almost shyly. "Shall we?" she offered. Ranma held out his hand and Akane took it, their fingers intertwining.

Together they walked out the door.