Ryoga sighed sadly and looked at the scene that was unfolding in front of him. Ranma never looked so disturbed like this ever before. He could easily tell how uncomfortable and how trapped he was feeling at that moment. If he thought the last two nights were torture for them, then today's torment was exceptional!

Last night at Shampoo's second pre-birthday celebration, she didn't leave any chance to put Ranma down in every situation possible. He could see how hard Ranma was holding his temper, and on some occasions, he thought he would react on his impulse. But because of his parents' constant interference and deadly glares; he couldn't react as he wished to. Then; 'the after lecture' he got from his parents at his hotel room, had put a lot of pressure on him. He could tell it because, after his parents left his room after having that heated discussion with him, Ranma had completely shut down himself; and stopped all shorts of communication with everyone. He even stopped talking to him as well!

Ukyo had called him and even Akane had called him too, on his cellphone, asking for Ranma. Because they couldn't reach Ranma's phone, the reason was he had switched off his cell phone. They both sounded so worried for Ranma's well-being that he had no other choice but to lie to them! He did tell them that he was doing fine, but it was far from the truth. Remembering both girls, a small smile came to his face as he started thinking to himself,

'The more I am observing Shampoo's behaviour, the more I admire those two women. Ukyo and Akane-chan, you guys are an angel in my eyes now. I hate to admit that, but, I have been hanging around with the wrong type of woman all my life! If I hadn't met these two women, my judgements of women might have always been wrong.'

"Ryoga!?"

Ryoga turned and was shocked when he found Shampoo standing behind him with a smug smile on her face. For a moment he got scared thinking that she had listened to what he was thinking about her! He gulped hard and cleared his voice nervously as he slightly nodded his head at her,

"Oh hi, Shampoo! Nice meeting you.."

She snorted at him in disgust and said,

"It's my birthday, idiot! At least you could wish me a happy birthday!"

"Oh! Haha! You are right I am an idiot, I am sorry!" he offered his hand towards her, which she gladly held while rolling her eyes. He gave a soft kiss on her hand and said, "Happy Birthday to the most beautiful lady in the world."

That statement of his made her happy. She smiled at him and said,

"I am glad to hear that. I wish Ranma was half of what you are! He is so boring with girls, my God!"

For some reason, hearing her say things about Ranma made him offended. But before he could say anything to her, she continued saying in an annoyed tone,

"I thought the change of place would make him a little bit grown up! I thought being apart from me, he would finally realize what he is missing in his life! But he is still the same as usual!"

"But he was with you all day!"

"All day! Oh yeah right! All through the day, all he did was hold my hand, like I am a kid! I tried to get close to him but ahhh!" She made an infamy sound and snatched a glass of champagne which a waiter was serving to all the guests. She gulped all the liqueur at once and hissed with a frustrated tone, "He acted the same way he acted before! What is wrong with this guy!"

Ryoga looked around and saw some people strangely looking at them. He cleared his voice and told her,

"Shampoo, I think it would be better if we talk somewhere more privately.."

She also looked around and blushed. She composed herself and whispered to him,

"Let's go outside then.."

They walked outside to the garden area, not too far from the venue but far enough to have some privacy. She looked around and when she saw the coast was clear, she pulled out one cigarette from her hidden pocket and started smoking in front of him. Ryoga was shocked when he saw that happening, he asked her in a surprised tone,

"I never saw ya smoking before? When did you start smoking, Shampoo?"

Shampoo sighed pleasantly and fiercely looked at Ryoga and said,

"Long time! Anyway, don't tell my father about it! I don't want to give him a heart attack! You want to try?"

She offered him as he smirked and shook his head. He bought a can of beer with him, he opened the ring and started drinking from it instead.

"I want you to fix a room date for me and Ranma again."

The beer barely touched his throat but as he heard what she said, he started coughing it out.

"Oh come on, Ryoga! You are acting as if this is the first time I am asking you this.."

Ryoga gulped and thought to himself.

'I wish things were as normal as last time! But.. it's not! And I am not the same person either!'

He sighed tiredly and said with a straight face,

"Why don't ya ask him yourself, Shampoo!"

She blew the smoke and looked at him,

"I asked him and he ignored me! He DARED to do that again! I don't care if he wants it or not! He really made me furious this time! What does he think of himself? Drag him , force him, drug him, I don't care! I want him in my bed tonight and that's final! And if you don't do it then I will tell his parents about this and I am sure they won't mind sending him to me! They are dying to make me announce the engagement tonight! But if I don't have him in my bed within half an hour , I am not going to announce any engagement tonight! I don't care what their company requires; this time I will do AS I WISH TO! "

Ryoga looked afraid of her for the first time, he started thinking of ways to convince her as he said,

"Chill, woman! Calm down for a second! I will try my best to get him to you but I need to know something first,"

She moaned and asked him in an annoyed tone,

"What?"

He looked at her and chose his words wisely,

"If I am not wrong, aren't you dating someone new? A person who belongs to a royal family? What is the name… Ummm… huh I remember now! Prince Kirin, isn't it?"

She hesitated at first, then sighed and said,

"Yeah, so what?"

"So what! Are you crazy? You are dating THE PRINCE, for God's sake! Why would you want to waste your time on Ranma!"

She laughed maniacally and said,

"Do I really look like a dumb to you, Ryoga? I thought about this matter too! Kirin has multiple girlfriends like me! There is no guarantee that he would choose me! Anyway, I am trying my best to make him consider me as a bride but if he chooses another woman, I will be left with no one. And that's why maybe I will do an engagement with Ranma so that if Kirin refuses me, I can have Ranma ready for me! I have to think of a plan 'B' for myself, you know!"

"You don't look like a dumb to me, Shampoo, but I feel you are the smartest person I know! But in your haste to succeed your 'Plan B', don't you think you are risking your 'Plan A'?"

"Pardon me? What do you mean to say?"

He gave her a serious look and tried to convince her wholeheartedly,

"I hope you understand very well how yar life would change if ya marry that Kirin guy! You should be desperate to marry him; not Ranma! Look, if you want you can marry Ranma anytime you want! But if somehow that Kirin guy founds out about your engagement with Ranma; do ya think he would want to take you as his wife?! Think about it, Shampoo! You are acting on your impulse now; but you better check yourself! If you still want, I can easily fix a room date for you and Ranma any moment now! I know Ranma is resisting stubbornly, but if I push him and create drama with his parents; I am sure he won't have any objections to sleeping with you.! But … do ya really want to risk it, Shampoo? You know what some people say, sometimes the wall has ears too! If Kirin somehow finds out about you sleeping with another guy, you might lose that one percent chance of becoming his bride! Now… Do you really want to take this chance?"

Ryoga was holding his breath as he anxiously waited for her answer. Her one 'Yes' would be the end of his friendship with Ranma and her one 'No' might save his friend from a big trap that his parents are setting for him. She looked deeply in thought. After a long moment of waiting, she looked up at him and gave a long sigh. She put off her cigarette and silently started walking towards the venue again.

Ryoga began to sweat hard. He never felt this nervous before; not even when they were calling a cop on him. He quickly followed her and watched her every move dreadfully. He saw her taking Ranma's arm and dragging him along with her in a room. His nervous system was ready to blow up , but when he saw Ranma and Shampoo's parents waiting for them in that room, he released a sigh of relief. He walked closer to the room and tried to listen to what they were actually discussing about.

Shampoo sat beside Ranma on a couch, facing their parents as they sat on separate couches, looking at them with great expectations.

"So Shampoo, honey, are you ready to announce your engagement with Ranma?" Shampoo's father asked her with a smile on his face.

"Of course she would do that! It is better for all of us!" Ranma's father said as a matter of fact while laughing to himself.

Shampoo's father cleared his voice and said with a serious tone,

"I think it's better that my daughter say what she wants! I don't want to pressure her."

"Oh Father, you are so sweet." Shamoo said with a pleasant tone as she bated her eyes sweetly.

He smiled at her and nodded. Then turning towards Genma he suggested him,

" I think you should ask your son about his opinion as well, don't you think?"

"I know what my son wants! He wants to marry Shampoo! The earlier the better.." Nodoka said, smiling politely at him.

Ranma balled his hands and looked down.

Shampoo smiled at that and said,

"Of course! Who in the right mind wouldn't want to marry a woman like me! Anyways, about the engagement.." She prolonged the wait and said with a sweet tone, "I am sorry but, I am not ready to do any engagement with Ranma at this moment.."

Nodoka took a sharp breath of surprise as she asked her,

"Oh dear, but why? Did my son did something wrong to you?"

"Son, what have you done to her? Apologies to her RIGHT NOW!" Genma roared, angrily.

"Oh please, it was my decision to make! He won't dare to mistreat me… Umm maybe I would have loved to see a more manly side of him but, it's too late for this now.."

"But is there any way he could please you now, dear? Just give him another chance.." Nodoka tried to convince her.

Shampoo looked at her and said,

"Umm, no actually, I am not in the mood! Anyways, we have to finish our studies before we get married, isn't it? So why bother getting engaged so early? I want to wait until we finish my studies and I hope by then he would learn how to act manly.."

"But Shampoo dear.." Nodoka tried to convince her but Shampoo's father stood up from his chair and said,

"So, that's the final decision then. We will wait until my daughter finishes her studies. Wise decision daughter! So shall we resume enjoying the party then?"

Shampoo nodded her head happily and left with his father, leaving the Saotomi's behind.

Ryoga didn't stay there longer to listen to what the Saotomes were talking to each other! The air between them was so tensed that he could feel it from the far distance. He leaves that for Ranma to handle his parents! At least because of his intervene, he managed to save Ranma from a sudden engagement with Shampoo! He know it was a great deal for Ranma and he would be thankful to him once he told him how he talked to Shampoo to delay their engagement. He smirked to himself and thought pleasantly,

'You owe a big thanks to me Ranma! But for now. I would enjoy a mini celebration with myself..'

He took a bottle of champagne and casually walked out of the venue to his own room!

After a few moments of silence, Genma grumbled disapprovingly and also left his wife and Ranma alone at that room. Ranma was still looking down with the same lost expression on his face. Nodoka released a long breath and walked towards him and sat beside him as she said in a whispered tone,

"You really disappointed me today, son..!"

Ranma balled his hands tightly and asked her in a hard tone,

"But what have I done, mother?"

She casually grabbed his one hand and squeezed it vigorously and hissed in a whispered tone,

"Just one responsibility we gave you! And again you failed to fulfill that one simple job for us! My son is not manly enough! Don't you have any shame! How many times are you going to fail us, Ranma! Don't you get tired of failing! You really disappointed me this time, Son! Sometimes,... sometimes I wonder if you really are a Saotome or not! All you ever did was put shame on Saotome's name! You still have one and a half years before your marriage with Shampoo. And I hope you will work on yourself, so that the next time you come here, you can match all the requirements Shampoo needs to be her husband.. You will do it for your mother, won't you, Ranma? Or are you going to fail us again, son?"

Still looking down, Ranma looked away from her and replied softly,

"I ... I won't fail again Mother.. I am ... I am sorry for disappointing you."

"I hope not.."

She said bitterly and left the place; leaving him sit alone on the couch.

The Next Day

"Akane! Hey Akane, wait up girl!"

Akane stopped running and looked back at Ukyo who was trying to catch up with her. She smiled at her and waved at her,

"Hey, Ukyo! Sorry, I didn't hear you calling me."

Ukyo smiled back at her and said,

"It's okay. But why are you in such a rush? Where are you going?"

"Oh! I was actually going back to my house to see if I could find some books I took from the library! I couldn't find them anywhere! I checked my whole house last night! But I couldn't find some of them! Now I have to hurry home to search for them again because I have to return them by tomorrow.."

"Hmm.. books you say.." Ukyo said as she began to think for a second. Then she remembered, "Are you talking about those books you left on Ranchan's house that day!"

Akane was shocked to hear that,

"I left my book there?!" Then she recalled that day and remembered handing some of her items to Ranma. "Oh honestly! Yes, I did left those books there!" She gave a sigh of relief and said with a soft smile, "Thank you, Ukyo. You saved my day today! I was in so much panic about how I was gonna explain this to the librarian!"

"Uhh, I should actually apologize to you, Akane! Mr Hiro called me the same day to tell you about it; but I don't know why it slipped my mind!" Ukyo said apologetically.

"It's okay, Ukyo. I am just thankful that you remembered it just on time! Hey, would you come with me there? It will be a little bit awkward for me to go there alone because Ranma won't be there."

Ukyo sighed and said,

"I would have gone with you honey, but I have some important things to do now with my parents. I am so sorry, Akane."

Akane pouted and checked her watch,

"Hmm, then I better go there now or I will be late for home! See you later than.."

Saying that, she started walking again..

"Akane wait.."

Akane stopped and looked back at her and asked her,

"Yes, Ukyo?"

"Have you talked with Ranchan?"

At the mention of Ranma's name, her expression became concerned as she said,

"No, Ukyo. The last time I talked with him the same day he went there. After that his phone was switched off for some reason. I had to call Ryoga to find out what he was doing.."

"Hmm, I called Ryoga too; he just told me that Ranchan is fine but Ranchan didn't want to talk to anyone! I wonder what happened there.."

Akane hesitated for a moment, but her curiosity got better than her as she asked her,

"Ukyo, I am sorry that I am asking you this, but.. I can't control my curiosity anymore. It's about Ranma.."

Ukyo smiled at her and asked,

"What about him? You can ask me Akane, you don't have to hesitate."

Akane gave a sigh of relief and asked her in a haste,

"What is wrong with Ranma? He was so cheerful all the time! But ever since he heard about going back to his parents….. he looked so.. so.. you know.."

"Uncomfortable?" Ukyo helped her to put the right words.

"Yeah.. He didn't look happy at all! Why, Ukyo?"

Ukyo sighed and started thinking of how to prolong their lie to her. She looked at her and let out with a miserable tone,

"They demand lots of things from him, Akane! They tend to compare him with Ryoga all the time and force him to do some things that he is not ... comfortable doing. By doing so, they sometimes put him down in front of others and put lots of pressure on him."

Akane couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her heart started to squeeze in pain for Ranma. She gulped hard to swallow the lump that suddenly tightened her throat as she said with a shaky tone,

"But... but that's not fair! They can't do that to him! I agree that he was not doing that great with his studies before, but now he is trying his best! They have to give him time! They can't pressure him to do what he doesn't like!"

"Yes, I know Akane. But they are not someone who would wait patiently for him! You know Akane, my Ranchan is a naturally talented Martial artist. He was so good at it. But because of his parents, he had to quit it fully!"

Akane gave a painful smile and said in a sad whispered tone,

"I know. When I showed him our dojo, he became so happy and excited about it! He acted just like a kid exploring a Candyland! Oh Kami, he has always been so happy around me and tried to cheer me up all the time! If you hadn't told me this, I could have never imagined the burden he is carrying in his heart. Poor him.."

Ukyo bites her lower lips as she begins to feel sad for her Ranchan as she thought to herself,

'I didn't even tell you about his engagement with the woman he dislikes the most, Akane! You would be surprised to find how much burden he is actually carrying in his heart..'

Back at the hotel

Ryoga walked quickly to the hotel lobby. He couldn't believe that he slept the whole day! It's almost past afternoon when he rose and shine! In his mini-celebration with himself last night, he drank so much that he couldn't wake up on time! And after taking care of an extremely bad hangover, he has managed to get out of his room in the evening time. He rushed towards Ranma's room, too excited to tell him what he actually did for him last night. He knocked at his door and after a few moments of waiting, a room service guy opened the door for him.

"Hello sir, what can I do for you?"

Ryoga was surprised to see him. He tried to look past him to get a glimpse of Ranma as he asked,

"Where is Ranma? I mean, where is Mr Ranma Saotome?"

"Sorry, but the person who was staying here left today, sir."

For a few moments, Ryoga kept standing there with his mouth open. He was in such a state of shock that he didn't even notice Mrs Saotome's assistant passing by him. But She noticed Ryoga standing there. She got curious to see what got to him; she shook her head and went to him.

"Why are you standing here, Ryoga? What happened to you?"

Ryoga quickly looked at her and asked her in haste,

"Where is Ranma? What is this room service guy is saying?"

The service man got panicked by his accusation, he gulped hard and said,

"I didn't say anything. I am just doing my job here."

She checked her watch and said in a hard tone,

"Excuse us please. You can go back to your work.."

The service man did as she told him and hastily closed the door. Ryoga expectantly looked at her, she sighed and said,

"Last time I checked on him, he had already reached his apartment back at Nerima. He asked me to tell you that you can take your time to return back. Anyways ; I have a meeting to attend. You can book your flight ticket anytime you want. Bye then."

Ryoga kept standing there like a fool for how long he couldn't even tell. Because when he looked around after some time, he found himself standing there alone. When realisation finally hits him, he growled angrily and started walking back to his own room. He furiously closed his room door and started packing his stuff in haste. He checked out from the hotel and called Ukyo from the taxi. After multiple tries, she finally answered his call,

"Hello?"

"WHY DID IT TAKE YA SO LONG TO ANSWER!"

"Calm down, sugar! What is wrong with you?"

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME ! DO YOU KNOW WHAT RANMA DID!"

"Ranchan!? Where is he? How is he now?"

He growled loudly and said loudly,

"WHY DONT YA GO AND ASK HIM YOURSELF!"

"Huh..? Look, honey please first calm down and then tell me everything.."

He took a deep breath and did what she told him. Then taking some deep breaths, he started telling her what happened here since they came here and why he is furious now!

"I thought Ranma would be thankful to me! But that IDIOT LEFT ME HERE ALONE!"

Ukyo was still in a state of disbelief as she said ,

"You did a wonderful job , Ryoga. You really did save my Ranchan this time. Thank you for that."

Her tone made him calm as he said,

"Yeah, umm whatever, anyways; can ya please go to our apartment and check on him. He looked really depressed when I last saw him. I would try to catch the earliest flight possible. Till then, please.."

"I am out with my parents tonight, Ryoga. But don't worry, Very soon my Ranchan will get an unexpected visit from his favorite person. I know she can handle him better than me.."

"Who?... Akane? But how?!"

Ukyo's giggle answered his question. He sighed with relief and hung up the call as a small smile formed on his lips….

A/N: I hope you like this :)! Please let me know your opinion, okay? Take care... :)