With his task at last complete, Master Saffron chose to leave the castle that very morning, with his pupil the only one to see him off. Akane, of course, did her best to convince him to stay longer, insisting there was so much more he could teach her.

But Saffron wasn't a bit sentimental.

"It's long past time I return home," he'd told her, because with his debt to her mother now fulfilled, he no longer saw reason to remain in Wistalia.

Akane's lips had trembled terribly at the news.

How could they not?

Somehow, this goodbye felt different from all the rest. It felt final… especially since the imprinting egg wasn't the only gift he'd left behind.

Back in her room, Saffron had finally revealed the story of how he'd met her mother, about the debt he owed. A tale Akane had waited countless years to hear.

Master Saffron had explained it like this: "In my youth, I was a spoiled, impetuous boy, growing up on the mountain of Ho'o Peak. But despite my happy, idyllic upbringing, as future king, I despised the stuffiness of court and the simpering servants who fawned over me. Soon, I grew bored of palace life, of its restrictions, and cold, frigid water. Seeking adventure and freedom, I ran away from my palace and vowed to devote my youth to my true passion—seeking out rare, exotic hot springs throughout the country. It was during one such trip, early in my travels, that I found myself in Lumeria.

"That first day, as if in punishment for my insolence, a squall struck the springs, forcing me to seek shelter in an abandoned cavern high above the retreat. By chance or fate—I know not which—a landslide occurred that night, sealing the exit, and trapping me deep within. I have no recollection of how long I was there… but as I lay in that cold, dark cave, slowly dying, tormented by thirst, it was your mother, young Kimiko, who found and saved my life. Since that fateful day, a vow was made to repay her, and I carried that debt with me for thirty long years, as I traveled and trained, waiting for the opportunity to return what I owed." He paused then, his expression clouding over as a darker memory resurfaced. "When news of her death reached me, I was greatly dismayed. I believed I was too late, that I would never again be able to make things right…

"But that's when I met you, Akane…"

He had finished his tale there, offering no further insight or explanation; but what he'd given her had been more than enough. To think, that a reckless sprint through the woods eight years ago had led Akane to where she currently stood.

If not for Master Saffron's encouragement and motivation, could she have gotten this far?

She didn't think so.

So standing at the edge of the castle gates, Akane fought back tears; she knew he wouldn't want them. And with difficulty, asked: "Will I ever see you again, Master?"

"Only time will tell," he told her enigmatically, which was hardly an answer at all. "Until then, farewell, little one."

With no backward glance, or a final warning to use his gift well, Saffron departed from the grounds as Akane watched him fade in the distance, his silhouette bathed in the warm, golden glow of the rapidly rising sun.

"Goodbye, master. And thank you," she whispered as she placed a hand over her cloak's deep pocket where her egg rested. "I promise, I'll use it well."

"Use what well?"

Akane nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned to see Ranma standing behind her. He was staring at her with a curious, speculative look.

"Y-you dummy! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

Heart racing, she put a hand to her chest, thankful that her egg wasn't as delicate as its tasty counterpart. If she had broken it in her fright, she would've killed him!

"Geez, what are you so testy about?" He asked as he glanced around the area. "And where'd Saffron go?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Ranma shrugged. "Just curious… but let me guess. Off prepping for another dangerous test? Only this time, he's gonna throw you into a pool of knives? Or hang you upside down until you pass out and fall on your head?"

"Don't be stupid," she said defensively. "He's not your father, you know."

Ranma scoffed but was smart enough not to argue the point. After all, Ranko had told her plenty of stories about their father and his bizarre training ideas—the king once taught Ranma how to dodge attacks by releasing a swarm of angry bees on him!

"Well, where'd he go then?" he asked, looking at her suspiciously. "The guard said he saw you two come out together."

The guard?

"You're keeping TABS on me?!"

Ranma narrowed his eyes at her. "Can you blame me? The jerk could've killed you last night!"

"I already told you—he knew what he was doing!"

She said that out of loyalty, but honestly, even Akane wasn't sure if she entirely believed it. Saffron was a hard teacher… maybe nearly drowning her was part of his plan.

Ranma, however, remained unconvinced. "If you say so," he retorted with a dismissive eye roll.

Akane tried not to let it get to her. "Well, you can put away your pitchfork," she told him. "My master's already gone."

"Gone? Where to?"

"Don't know," Akane told him, waving her hand flippantly in the air. "But he's on his way out of Wistalia..." With her task done, she turned and passed him by, strolling through the inner gate and past the few soldiers stationed there.

Behind her, Ranma's steps briefly faltered, as if in shock. Or indecision. Maybe he was trying to decide whether to chase after him or not. Before yesterday, he HAD been a huge fan.

But almost immediately, she heard the sound of Ranma's footfalls as he hurried after her. "Seriously?" he complained. "Don't tell me he left already?"

Tongue in cheek, Akane replied, "Fine, I won't tell you then."

"Dammit, that's not fair," he whined as he quickened his pace since Akane refused to slow down. "He could've at least taught me that cool sword-shattering technique before he left!"

"Really?" she asked, fighting back a smile. "I thought you didn't trust him anymore? What if he made YOU swim with knives?"

"That's different. I could have mastered it without killing myself," he told her, completely serious.

At his bravado, Akane couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you, but Saffron doesn't train anybody."

"Why not? He trained you, didn't he?"

"Well yes, but not because I badgered him to!"

"But, if he's already gone," he questioned quietly, the words halting. "Does that mean you finally got whatever it was you needed from him? You did say he was part of your plan, didn't you?"

Akane frowned as she struggled to recall which story she'd told him last night. She'd been so tired, she was having a hard time remembering. The only thing she did recall (with startling clarity) was dreaming of falling asleep in his arms last night.

But that wasn't much help here.

So, despite her reddening cheeks, Akane forced herself to reconsider his question. One thing was for certain: Master Saffron's technique was far from what she expected.

It was better.

"I guess you could say that," she said, grinning and giddy, and practically skipping as she re-entered the castle.

"Great," Ranma muttered.

Although she detected something darker behind his remark, Akane was in such a good mood, that she didn't want to push it.

"Anyway," she continued, hoping to fill the awkwardness. "He won't be coming back here anytime soon, so I guess you'll have to find another mysterious master to shadow. But who knows! Maybe if you're lucky, Master Happosai will show up next, and he'll take you under his wing instead!"

Laughing at her own joke, Akane turned her head to find Ranma had finally caught up with her.

But he wasn't laughing.

He looked thoughtful. Worried.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," he mumbled, halfheartedly. "Was Happosai helping with your stepmom's rescue too?"

"No," she said slowly, carefully, as if stepping onto a minefield. "I was kidding, dummy. The only thing he's good at teaching is how to steal lingerie… are you sure you're okay?"

"Fine," Ranma said, forcing a reassuring smile. "Just distracted, I guess. I still can't believe he left like that. Aren't you upset? You waited so long."

"Trust me, when you've known him as long as I have, you get used to it."

"He did this often?"

"Only all the time," she chuckled awkwardly.

Another forced pause stretched between them after that, but right when Akane felt pressured to say something, to talk about anything instead of the subject she was purposely avoiding, Ranma beat her to it.

"So when are we going to talk about last night?" He asked, striding beside her now. "You said you'd explain the rest later. And it's later, Akane."

The suddenness of the question threw her off, even though she'd been expecting it.

Still, that didn't make her dread it any less. Every time she had to talk about her past, it was like walking on a tightrope. One small misstep and she could feel herself start to plummet…

"Oh, that. No worries," she told him, faking indifference, even as all her good humor fizzled away. "We can discuss it back in my room."

If this had to happen, it was going to happen on her terms this time; she couldn't handle another ambush.

"Sure. Sounds good."

He said that, but the silence from before seemed to return with a vengeance, the tension between them so thick, it seemed to worsen with every step. It didn't get better when they finally made it to her quarters either, which is when Akane realized she'd made a terrible mistake…

Her room was too small.

Once Ranma closed the door behind them, it was like being encased in a tiny tin can. She felt trapped, cornered, and her anxiety instantly skyrocketed.

How could she have been so dumb?

Trying to hide her discomfort, Akane leaned against the wall that was farthest away, determined to make him think she was still in control. She thought she was doing great, too, until her eyes wandered to her bed and the dream from last night returned.

Face blazing, Akane took a deep breath and tightly gripped her desk chair as she fought back the memory. "S-so, welcome to my room."

"Uh, thanks."

Ranma stood awkwardly by the door too, as if he weren't quite sure where to look.

Honestly! This was awful.

"Alright," she told him, swallowing uncomfortably but anxious to get this over with. "Go on, Ranma. Ask away."

If he was also bothered by their close quarters, or the rosy blush on her cheeks, he didn't say. Instead, he got right to the point.

"Tell me all about this plan of yours," he said, crossing his arms as he glanced in her direction. "You said you had one, right? So what is it?"

Akane pasted a smile on her face and tried to look reassuring. Even though inside she was a mess. If she wanted to protect him, how much should she say?

Since delaying was useless, she began haltingly, "Okay, but you're going to be disappointed, because honestly, I don't have much of a plan. Aside from training, I've been trying to stay off the Amazon's radar—I didn't want to endanger Kasumi and Nabiki, especially with Kasumi pregnant and all."

"Uh-huh." Ranma raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And?"

"And that's it," she insisted, deciding to keep it simple. "I'm just here to get stronger."

"Uh-huh," he repeated obnoxiously. "And that's all there is to it?"

Akane's hackles began to rise. Why did it sound like he didn't believe her? "That's right. It's why I tried to join the knights-guard back in Clarines and why Master Saffron is training me—I wanted to defend myself and protect Nabiki and Kasumi. And that's what I meant when I said I have a plan. I'm not stupid enough to confront an army of Amazons all by myself!"

"Now I know you're lying. You're DEFINITELY stupid enough."

"Ranma!"

"So you're saying that finding and training under two of the most powerful martial artists on the planet was just dumb luck? That you were strengthening your defenses and nothin' else?"

The way he stood there, openly staring and mildly hostile, was proof he wouldn't believe her no matter what she said. But that only made Akane want to double down that much harder.

"That's right," she insisted again, raising her voice to match his tone. "I was lucky and they both hate the Amazons!"

"Lucky," he chuckled dryly. "And now you're sticking around here for the same reason? Just to beef up your defenses?"

"Yes! I'm here to train. That's it."

"Alright then," Ranma said as he pushed off the wall with his foot and reached for the doorknob.

He was leaving? Just like that?

There's no way it was that easy…

Akane stared after him. "Wait, w-where are you going?"

"To grill my sister," he told her. "I'll have better luck getting the truth out of her than I will wasting my time on a stubborn dork like you."

As he opened the door, Akane panicked.

Shooting across the room, she quickly grabbed the back of his tunic, yanked him back inside, and quickly blocked the door with her body. "D-don't be stupid! You don't need to drag her into this!"

Ranma glared back. "Don't I? Because I'm sure as hell not getting the truth out of YOU, am I?"

Feeling called out and attacked, Akane stared hard at the floor. Was she that easy to read? "You say that like being honest is easy," she muttered, clenching her fists. "But it's not. I've been lying so long now, I'm not sure I even know what the truth is anymore."

She couldn't see his expression, but his touch when he took her hand was gentle. "Then tell me everything. Tell me, and we'll sort it out together," he told her, his tone soft and reassuring; like she was a colt that might bolt. "I'm here to help, Akane. But I can't do that if you're not honest with me."

"But that's the problem," she told him, pulling her hand away. "Maybe I don't want your help. Maybe I don't want anyone else to be hurt because of me! Why can't you understand that?"

"I get that—I do!" He shot back, harsher than intended because he visibly winced. "Look. The way you worry about me is the same way I worry about you, okay? But you can't protect me forever, Akane. If what you said is true, then Ranko and my mom already know, anyway, so I'm going to find out eventually. Wouldn't you rather I hear it from you?"

He was right, of course. With her identity compromised, they might have no reason to keep on lying. And if they told him everything, this would all be for nothing.

In the end, lying would only hurt him in another way.

So before she could change her mind, Akane reached into her pocket and carefully withdrew her prize. "Fine. But don't make me regret this," she warned, and using both hands, cautiously held up the imprinting egg for him to see. "This is my real plan, the prize my master gave me before he left."

Thankfully, after handing it over, Master Saffron had assured her the imprinting egg was magic, that it wouldn't break even if it was carelessly dropped. Apparently, intent was important.

But Akane wasn't willing to test that theory. She only had one.

So she held it with care like it was made of glass.

"He left you an… egg?"

"Not exactly."

With difficulty, Akane explained everything… how she unexpectedly met Saffron back when she was ten, the oath he swore to her mother, the purpose behind his training exercise the other day and all about the imprinting egg and how it worked.

When she was through, she noticed Ranma was looking at the egg with very different eyes—wonder had replaced confusion. But now, wary trepidation lingered there as well.

"It's meant to protect me," she continued, placing it safely back where it belonged. "It can put anyone under its thrall… which is why he thought it might be useful."

"But who do you plan to use it against?" he asked, giving her a sidelong glance. "It sounds powerful alright, but I doubt it would work against an entire army."

"It doesn't need to control an entire army. Only the person commanding it."

"And that is?"

Akane hesitated again as she considered the best way to bring up Hinako. She felt ridiculous now for letting him think she was a victim—now, she wasn't sure how to proceed.

"Actually, never mind," Ranma told her as he stepped away from the wall and stretched. "I think I've got the gist of it now, anyway."

Well. That was news to her…

"The gist of what?"

"Your ACTUAL plan," he told her, releasing a breath. "Let me guess. You're going to sneak into your family's castle, confront Hinako by yourself, and try to get around her life-draining power by using that egg? Well? How am I doing so far?"

Akane sucked in a sharp breath, the blood draining from her face. "H-h-how did you—?"

How did he know about Hinako?!

It dawned on her then, and she instantly felt ridiculous. "It was Ranko, wasn't it?" she muttered to herself as she silently vowed to strangle that girl. "She told you everything. Didn't she?!"

"Sang like a canary."

Of course, she did. The jerk!

"Well. Are you happy now?" Akane muttered, kicking the door with her heel. She felt foolish. Why in the world hadn't he told her before?

Ranma shrugged. "I still wish you had told me yourself. And sooner. But I get why you didn't."

Akane's eyes widened in surprise. "Y-you do?"

"M-hmm," he told her, nodding. "You were afraid I'd kill your stepmother before you got a chance, yeah? I get that. You didn't want me stealing your thunder…"

Akane stared at him blankly. With such a huge ego, she was surprised he didn't walk around bow-legged all day.

"You wish," she said with a snort, moving away from the door so he could leave again. "You'd never get close enough, dummy. She'd have you quartered and killed the moment you stepped foot in Lumeria."

Which is why it was so important that he never step foot there again. Akane's thoughts raced as she settled back down on her bed, trying to figure out the best way to keep the dummy safe.

Somehow, she had to convince him to let her handle this…

Yet, when she looked at Ranma again it was to find him already watching her too. Every few seconds, though, his gaze would shift to the bed and he'd noticeably blush before returning his laser focus on her. That's when Akane recalled their current position.

They were alone. In her bedroom. With a bed.

What in the world had she been thinking?!

"Is that what you were afraid of before?" Ranma finally asked, his voice soft. Mindful of the bed, he was careful to keep his distance. "Me getting hurt?"

"Can you blame me?" She asked, nervously wringing her sheet. "I keep thinking you're going to do something stupid—and now that you know, you are, aren't you?"

"Something stupid?" He repeated with a chuckle. "Like what?"

"Like… I don't know. Send your army, or the generals, or-or go after her yourself like you threatened yesterday?" Akane shook her head, the memory of last night's nightmare still fresh in her mind. "You won't though? Right? You promised!"

As she feared, Ranma looked away, his expression pensive, which didn't reassure her one bit. She knew that look—that was his how-do-I-cheat-and-get-around-this look.

"I won't do anything crazy," he promised instead.

Which wasn't nearly good enough.

Akane quickly stood up. "This isn't a game, you know! I meant what I said, Ranma—keeping the truth about Hinako from you hasn't changed anything! I don't want you involved."

"Yeah, but—I can help!"

"I SAID, NO!"

With no other choice, Ranma tightened his jaw and looked away. "Fine," he muttered. "You're too stubborn to change your mind, anyway. But last night, your dumb dreams were just that, Akane—dreams. Nothing's gonna happen to me. I'm not that weak!"

Akane shook her head, uncomprehending. "Dreams?" she repeated, a mortifying thought occurring to her. "W-w-what do you mean?"

"You know. Those nightmares you were having last night," he reminded her, his tone deceptively light. "You kept calling my name and crying out in your sleep. You seriously don't remember? I even had to wake you at one point…"

Too shocked to wonder what he'd been doing in her room in the first place, Akane barely managed a small, choked, "T-that was REAL?"

At his amused nod, Akane's face turned seven shades of scarlet. Spinning around, she braced her palms on the top of her desk in humiliation—and only the sound of Ranma's laughter snapped her back to reality.

"What's so funny, you-you pervert?!"

His laughter died down immediately. "Hey! What do you mean, pervert?"

"What else should I call you then? What were you even doing in my room—and in the middle of the night, no less?! Or do you make a HABIT of sneaking into girls' rooms to watch them sleep?!"

"Don't be dumb." Ranma reached under her bed and yanked out the old, ragged shield bearing the Tendo family crest—the same one she'd seen hanging over the fireplace in the guest room. The rising phoenix stared back at her, harsh and accusing under the yellow light of her bulb. "I was bringing you this."

Akane was so surprised by the sight of it, that she couldn't even be angry at its rough handling. When had he—?

Kneeling beside it, Akane brushed a hand over the delicate lines of the gold-plated phoenix etched across the coat of arms. It looked in surprisingly good condition, considering how old it was. Ranma must have cleaned it up before bringing it over.

"I thought you should have it—it was only gathering dust back there anyway, and before you freak out—yes, I was careful. It was covered, and I waited until everyone was asleep. So you don't have to worry that anyone saw."

Her fingers gently traced the familiar etching, and something in her chest swelled.

"Ranma…"

"I'm sorry for coming in uninvited too. I know you said you were tired, but I thought you'd be awake, what with your tendency to worry, stress, and overthink everything. I was more surprised to find you asleep. Well, trying to sleep," he corrected. "You were tossing and turning, and kept moaning my name…" He grinned at that last part, looking way too proud of himself. "And you say I'M the pervert."

Any goodwill she felt over his kind gesture evaporated like a fine mist.

"I was not!" she spluttered, completely mortified. "And anyway, that's not the point, stupid. You were in my room, in the middle of the night, uninvited—don't try to turn this around on ME! Not to mention, that was a dangerous and foolish thing to do, no matter how you look at it. You say no one saw but how do you really know? You might as well have announced to the whole city who I am!"

Ranma rolled his eyes. "Trust me, Akane, nobody saw me. I've been sneaking out of the palace since I was four."

"Care to bet my life on that?"

Finally, Ranma winced. "Okay, so maybe it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I was excited, alright? All this time, I thought you were dead. Excuse me for being sentimental and wanting an excuse to see you again…"

Every protest died on her lips. Leave it to Ranma to go from being a thoughtless jerk to saying the sweetest, nicest things imaginable. Akane shyly looked away, struggling to reignite some of her outrage.

She should be upset.

Having that emblem in her room was absolutely a risk. What if someone saw? She hadn't been able to keep her pendant hidden, and that was smaller and easier to hide.

Just look at what happened with Ranma!

Still, his heart was in the right place, so no matter how hard she tried to summon it back, the anger simply wouldn't come. Instead, she kept picturing Ranma trekking back to that dusty old room, balancing precariously on a stool as he removed the coat of arms and painstakingly cleaned it for her.

Her heart pathetically skipped at the thought, and her cheeks warmed.

"Anyway," Ranma continued, oblivious to the effect his words had on her. "Back to that plan of yours. You DO have one, right? Because if you don't, I've got plenty of ideas, and no offense, but I'm pretty sure they're all better than yours. I mean, let's face it, that egg will only get you so far…"

Akane blanched at the insult as all those warm and fuzzy feelings instantly vanished. "Of course, I have a plan!" she insisted, even though she'd already told him the important parts. What more did he want from her?

Was he trying to get her to admit she was making it all up as she went along?

"Okay, good. So what is it? You must have other allies, right? Are Kasumi and Nabiki bringing them along? You can have our army too, of course, but with a power like Hinako's, the more the better. You've still got the Amazons to contend with after all."

Again, Akane felt her face flush, but this time it was for a very different reason.

The truth was, Kasumi and Nabiki never wanted revenge, so no one in her family knew about Saffron, let alone Akane's plans to take down their stepmother. They thought her desire to train was just a passing fancy; a nice distraction and a safe outlet for her anger.

There were no hidden armies or allies.

No secret, sure-fire way to win.

Akane's genius "plan" had always been to infiltrate the castle after learning her master's secret technique. Then lay low in the hidden passageways of the castle and attack her stepmother when an opportunity presented itself.

And although the imprinting egg made her job easier, it was still basically a suicide mission at heart. Even if she turned Hinako into her slave, Ranma was right… there was still the Amazons to contend with. And they wouldn't just leave because she asked them to.

"Well?" Ranma pressed, impatient.

"I don't have an army," Akane admitted as she collapsed back onto her bed, bone-weary and mentally drained. "But I'm pretty sure you already knew that, didn't you?"

"I had a hunch. I mean, if you did have an army, it's a shitty one. Why would they let you wander the countryside alone, and leave you in Kuno's clutches twice?"

Both were good points.

"Then what are you really wondering?" She asked, hoping to get this over with. "Just tell me."

"Fine," said Ranma, running a hand through his hair. "I don't care how you get there, Akane—I wanna know what you plan to do once you're there." He sighed and implored, "Please, just, tell me your plan DOESN'T involve waltzing up to her and throwing that magical egg in her face."

Akane fought back a grimace; that had been a crucial part of her plan. "I'm not an idiot, Ranma."

She wasn't, right? Because part of her still thought that was a pretty good idea…

"Great," Ranma replied with a sigh of relief, which honestly, was kind of insulting. "There's no way you'd ever get close enough to do it anyway, you know. She'd have her guards on you in seconds."

The jerk made a good point.

That was one of the things Akane still hadn't managed to work out. How did she get close enough? If she tried throwing the imprinting egg from too far away, or aimed poorly, a guard or an Amazon might step into its path and get trapped instead.

Also, there was Ranma to consider.

He was a wild card.

Sure, he'd given his word not to interfere, but a lifetime of self-sacrifice and overprotectiveness didn't just go away. He had to be plotting something.

As if to confirm her suspicions, she watched as Ranma nodded to himself, as if coming to a tough decision. Closing the distance between them, he swiftly approached her bed, his gaze surprisingly serious as he stared down at her.

"I know I can't stop you, Akane, and I still think it's a stupid idea to take the bitch on yourself… but rather than sit back and watch you fail, or die trying, I still want to help you."

Akane frowned. "Dummy, I already said—"

Her protest died on her lips… because Ranma was no longer there. One minute, he was standing in front of her, facing her fully, strangely solemn.

The next, he was gone.

Akane never stood up so fast in her life. "R-Ranma?"

She glanced around the room, her eyes wide, searching for any sign of him. But the room was tiny! There was nowhere for him to go… and even if there was, strangely, it didn't feel like she was alone.

She could sense his presence, his scent, lingering in the air around her like a ghost.

Bewildered, Akane stood frozen in the center of the small room, turning her head at the slightest hint of a breeze, of movement, relying on senses she didn't use nearly often enough. And then, he began to play. Several times, she felt a phantom touch—his finger playfully tapping her arm, a tug on a strand of hair, the brush of her cheek—it was incredibly frustrating and unnerving.

And a bit exhilarating too.

After toppling her desk chair, Ranma suddenly reappeared right in front of it, and stooping, picked it up and placed it back where it belonged. "Sorry," he said, acting like he hadn't just vanished and turned her world upside down. "I thought it'd be easier if I just showed you."

"I see," she breathed, unsure what else to say. It felt like she just finished running a marathon while he didn't look winded at all.

Akane had no idea what she just witnessed.

But whatever it was, she wanted it.

"It's called umi-sen ken," Ranma explained, not keeping her in suspense for long. "It's a secret technique my old man taught me years ago, one belonging to the royal family. I shouldn't even be mentioning it to you, really, but… like I said, your plan's garbage without it."

Akane was so spellbound, she didn't even register the insult. "Y-you want to teach me that?" she asked, her heart beating so wildly she couldn't have stopped the words from trembling even if she tried.

"Not like I have a choice," Ranma told her bluntly. "But anyway, I'm not giving it to you for free, Akane…"

"Oh," she said, unsurprised, because of course it'd come with a catch. Everything of worth did. "Well then, what do you want?"

She was certain to pay whatever price he wanted.

The umi-sen ken was the answer to everything! With that technique, she'd have no trouble getting close to her stepmother and safely deploying the imprinting egg! And once Hinako was dealt with, maybe then the generals and Wistalia's army could drive away the remaining Amazons.

After that, the rest would fall into place.

But if Ranma realized just how much power he held, he hid it well. If anything, he seemed almost hesitant to name his condition.

"Okay, look," he told her as he toed the floor with his foot, suddenly shy and too nervous to look at her. "I want your word, I guess. Your word that once this is all over, once you've gotten your fill of revenge, and Hinako's dust and your birthright's been reclaimed… t-that you'll finally agree to marry me…"

Akane's lips parted in surprise and her expression softened. Out of all his demands, that had been the last thing she'd expected.

"Only if you WANT to, that is," Ranma hastened to add before she could misunderstand. "It's not like I wanna force you or anything, Akane. It's just, if you feel the same as me, if-if that was the only thing stopping you before… then, well… it doesn't need to be, you know?"

Even after he'd finished, Akane wasn't sure how to respond. Her heart felt fluttery and full, like it might burst. But still, she forced herself to remain calm, to not grin like a lovesick fool, and admit that of course she wanted to be with him—she'd loved him since she was eight.

But Akane wasn't sure if she had the right to say that…

Was it fair to give him false hope when she had no way of knowing the battle's outcome? This secret technique would be a huge help, of course, but nothing had really changed. No matter how many secret techniques she had in her arsenal, nothing was a sure thing.

She still might die.

That fact weighed heavily on her heart, and since she wasn't sure what the right thing to do was, Akane did what she always did.

She deflected.

"I'm not so sure," she hedged, purposely avoiding his eyes, too afraid to see hope and want staring back. "After everything, are you sure marriage is even possible?"

"You're kidding, right? You do know my mom and sister already love you, right? Hell, my mom will probably disown me if I don't marry you, and Ranko will definitely kill me if I don't. You would basically be saving my life, Akane."

"That's easy to say," she argued, "but you're already engaged, aren't you? What about Ukyo? Surely, you don't intend to marry us both ?"

The dummy's mouth fell open as if he'd forgotten all about his new fiancée.

The dolt.

But Akane hadn't forgotten. Not once. She still remembered how he'd tormented her for weeks over it.

"Look," Ranma sighed, nervously running a hand over his face. "It's not what you think, Akane."

"Oh? Because it sounds like you're proposing to me when you're already promised to someone else!"

"And whose fault is that?" He replied, getting defensive again. "If you stopped being jealous for a second, you'd remember that I asked YOU first! And if you hadn't turned me down back then, this wouldn't even be an issue!"

"Oh, so now this is MY fault?!"

"YES! I-I mean, no," he corrected, losing steam quickly. "I mean, I had to do something, didn't I? You turned me down and left me to the wolves! At the time, Ukyo was my best bet. But it wasn't real—she loves that fool Ryoga—and for some idiotic reason, I love an uncute tomboy like you!"

"Wha-?" Akane's cheeks reddened and her heart thrummed pleasantly in her chest, those few words, echoing like a drumbeat, drowning out every other sound. "Y-you do?"

With a mirthless laugh, Ranma tilted his head. "Jeez, I thought that would be obvious by now."

"But, you never SAID it before!"

"Neither did you!"

The reminder was like a knife to the heart because Akane did feel the same—how could she not? She foolishly fell in love with him, not once but twice. Eight-year-old Akane would be doing flips right about now! But eighteen-year-old Akane knew that sometimes love wasn't enough.

What good would leading him on do? Was false hope what either of them needed right now?

The only thing she needed was Hinako dead, or inside that blasted egg!

She didn't have time for love.

"Actually," she whispered, hating herself more than she ever had before. "I don't think I have any right to say something like that… not yet, anyway. I'm sorry."

Ranma took a deep, frustrated breath, but then quickly let it all out. "It's fine, I'm not asking you to say it back, Akane. I get it. You've got other things on your mind, things you've been through I couldn't possibly understand. But just, promise me it's not off the table. Promise me you'll at least think about it this time."

"Of course, I will," she promised, and to show how sincere she was, placed a hand over her heart.

"Good." Ranma's eyes were much brighter now, more intense as they bravely met her own. "Because I'm serious, Akane. I'm not going to give up. Ever. The only person I could ever see myself marrying is you."

The room wasn't especially warm, but it felt like Akane's face had been soaking in the sun for hours.

"Oh," she breathed, and again, there was that flutter.

"Besides," he went on, sweetly delivering a final, fatal death blow. "Us marrying would be a great way to get back at her, don't you think? If you gave up and stopped living your life, it's like she's already won. Seems to me, that being happy would be the best way to get your revenge, especially since she won't be expecting it. And not to brag, but having the Saotome clan as in-laws isn't such a bad flex neither. Anyone with a brain would think twice before messing with your family if they knew they were messing with us too."

Ohhh.

Finally, finally, something in Akane's brain clicked, and she stared at him in astonishment as several misplaced puzzle pieces rearranged themselves, slotting perfectly into place.

"W-what did you just say?"

Ranma furrowed his brow. "Um… which part? I said a lot."

Akane didn't wait for him to answer. She sat back down on her bed. Thunderstruck.

"Hey, are you okay? Did I say something wrong?!"

It was the opposite, actually. Suddenly, all of Akane's arguments sounded foolish and hollow. Why was she allowing her stepmother to dictate her happiness anyway?

Why couldn't she be happy AND take her revenge? The two weren't mutually exclusive.

Yes, she might die.

But more importantly, she might not.

She'd been so caught up in the idea of revenge, she hadn't stopped to consider what life might be like outside of it. And she'd already been happy. Every moment she'd spent in Wistalia, with Ranma and Ranko, Auntie Nodoka, the other trainees, even the generals… it hadn't even been very long, but she'd never felt such joy.

None of that would change if she went off to face her stepmother tomorrow. Ranma's feelings wouldn't change. And neither would hers.

They both knew what they were getting into.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, burying her face in her hands, groaning at her short-sightedness. "I've been such a fool."

She felt the bed dip as Ranma sat down beside her. His voice was soft with awe and wonder as he replied, "Um, okay. I have no clue what I said, what changed, but… but yeah, feel free to keep going…"

So she did.

Hinako had already taken eight years of her life.

After everything she'd lost, why in the world should she sacrifice the truth too?

"It's the same for me," she admitted firmly, confidently, as if finally reclaiming her stolen voice. "The only person I could ever see myself marrying is you, Ranma."

"R-really?" he breathed, inching closer.

"Really. I love you too, dummy." Her eyes, though shy, shone with a rare and precious resolve. "I'm sorry it took me so long to admit it, to admit to everything, really, but thanks for waiting for me, Ranma."

"Akane…"

Like gravity, she found herself inching closer, as if their fates had been sealed all those months ago—when Ranma came crashing over that wall and back into her life for good.

"That's a yes, then, right?" he pressed, moving closer still, bringing them within inches of one another. "You're not gonna suddenly change your mind again, are you?"

"I don't know," she teased, her fingers coyly skimming his hand. "Are you planning to hold another ball and go wife hunting again if I do?"

"Not a chance," he chuckled, his blue eyes gleaming as his hand closed over hers. "Now that I know you're so in love with me, there'd be no point. Looks like you're stuck with me, tomboy."

"Actually, you're stuck with—"

She never got to finish her sentence. Before she could, Ranma leaned forward and brushed her lips with his, gently, reverently. A teasing graze that promised more, enough to leave them wanting. And then he pulled away.

Akane's eyes fluttered open. "You dummy… why'd you stop?"

"Sorry," he said, laughing low, his eyes still locked on her lips. "I had to make sure you weren't drunk, or asleep, or out of your mind again, because this time, everything we do from here on out, I want you to remember , Akane."

"I'm here. I promise," she assured him, lightly squeezing his hand. "But if you don't kiss me in the next five seconds, Ranma, I swear I'll kick you right through that door!"

Her headstrong, stubborn fiancé didn't need further convincing. With a smile, Ranma did just that. And Akane bravely met him head-on, happily allowing these precious moments to carry her away…

…

Hours later, Akane awoke warm and sated and lying in her small, cramped bed.

Still half-asleep, it took her a second to realize that Ranma was sitting beside her on the edge, not under the blankets with his body curled around hers like before.

"Ranma…?"

"Hey, sleepyhead."

He was staring down at her, his blue eyes as soft and as warm as her bed. But at some point, he'd gotten dressed again, which was completely unfair.

Reminded of her lack of clothing, Akane instinctively pulled the sheet up higher until it was nearly to her chin.

"Too late, dork. It's already ingrained up here," he teased, tapping his temple.

Ignoring the gibe, she had to fight the silly urge to pull him back into bed. "Why are you up already?"

Ranma brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Sorry, I've still got some edicts to go over and since I've been gone most of the day, if I don't make an appearance soon, my old man might send a search party, and I'm the only one that gets to see you like this…"

"Alright," Akane mumbled shyly, awkwardly, as everything they'd shared came back in stunning, vivid detail. If she could've pulled the sheet up to cover her head without being mocked, she would have. "That's probably a good idea then."

Ranma's mouth quirked into a near smile as his eyes ran over her sheet-clad form.

"Nah. It's a terrible idea," he pointed out, his long fingers toying with her sheet. "The only good one is taking you back to my room and continuing where we left off…"

Again, Akane felt herself blushing.

She wouldn't be surprised to find her entire body had been permanently stained red by this point. Still, she couldn't let that kind of male chauvinism stand.

"And what makes you think I'd even let you?" she challenged, flicking away his fingers. "I'm pretty busy myself, you know."

To her annoyance, instead of looking insulted or slighted, Ranma just laughed.

"Yeah, sure. You're not foolin' anyone, tomboy. I know how much you enjoyed it." He leaned forward, his voice low and full of promise, eyes dancing gleefully. "Or should I make you beg again?"

Forgetting her own modesty, Akane quickly sat up and threw both her hands over his mouth, determined to shut his trap for good.

"Honestly!" she scolded, not realizing her sheet had fallen to pool at her waist. "You say that like I was the only one begging!"

It wasn't until her fiancé's eyes had drifted lower and really started to shine that Akane realized what had happened.

"Eep!" she squeaked, mortified, as she released him and snatched up the sheet again.

Ranma just laughed, affection oozing from every pore.

After he'd calmed down and Akane had reclaimed her modesty, he walked over to her desk and handed her back her pendant. Her neck had felt naked without it, so it felt nice to put it back on.

"I've got a bit of work to do, but I should be done in a few hours. Can you come to my room then?" At the surly, suspicious look she gave him, he added with a chuckle, "I'll behave, I swear. I promised to teach you that invisibility technique, remember? It's better if we have more space, and I can't exactly do it out in the open."

At the reminder, Akane instantly perked up, excitement and anticipation bubbling anew. If it were possible, she'd jump up and demand he teach her that very second!

But she shouldn't be selfish.

Ranma had a life outside of her too.

"Right! I'll be there," she told him, pushing aside any pettiness and jealousy. Because, honestly, it would've been nice to lay with him just a little while longer…

"Great! Then in a few hours, I'm all yours." Leaning forward, he sealed his promise with a short, sweet kiss.

Despite her resolve, again, Akane fought the embarrassing urge to pull him back into bed and keep him there. It was silly, really, how much she regretted seeing him go, as if they'd spent the last few hours in a safe, warm bubble, and stupid Ranma was letting their fragile little haven pop.

But just like he warned, the dummy pulled himself away from her and stood, headed for the door with a strong, brisk gait. However, that didn't prevent him from pausing with his hand on the door handle one last time.

He turned back to look at her, his eyes dark and heavy with promise. "Later," he told her, making it clear he wasn't just talking about their training session.

Silly, cheesy replies filled Akane's head as she stared back, but every single one died on her lips before she could speak; the magic of the moment, lost.

Instead, all she managed was a small smile as she murmured back, "Later."

Then the door closed shut behind him.

Once she was alone again, Akane placed a hand over her heart, as if she could somehow tame the manic fluttering that kept building and building, and showed no signs of quieting.

"Honestly," she muttered to herself, laughing in disbelief as she fell back against her pillows, "Just how pathetic can I be?"

Pretty pathetic, she realized, several minutes later when she heard a knock at the door, and her traitorous heart thrummed in anticipation.

At the sound, Akane couldn't help but grin.

That big dummy, she thought, amused, as she pushed the sheet aside and climbed to her feet. She should have known he couldn't stay away for long—the dork was probably trying to lure her out of bed so he could kiss her again!

Unbelievable.

"Just a second!" she yelled at the door.

Her sense of propriety prevented her from answering with nothing on, so Akane quickly grabbed her yellow tunic and panties from off the chair and yanked them on as quickly as she could, nearly toppling over several times in the process.

Darn, her klutziness!

Only when she was semi-decent again did Akane finally allow herself a quick sweep of the room to check if there was something he may have forgotten. Despite the mess (thanks to Ranma, pieces of her clothing were scattered everywhere, including conveniently over the Tendo shield) nothing stood out.

So it was a kiss, then.

Giggling to herself, Akane opened the door, her tone light and teasing as she said, "I knew you couldn't stay away for—" The rest of her words trailed off because it wasn't Ranma standing on the other side of the door at all.

"Shampoo? Mousse?" she croaked, honestly shocked.

Instinctively, she pulled the hem of her shirt down while clutching the top with her other hand—even though it probably wasn't necessary. Shampoo was known for dressing provocatively, and Mousse was as blind as a bat. But Akane found she couldn't dismiss her upbringing so easily.

"Greetings, Akane," said Mousse.

Awkwardly, she questioned, "I'm sorry. Was-was Herb looking for me?"

"That right," Shampoo told her, all smiles. "Herb send us."

"Oh." Well, it wasn't the first time the captain of the guard had sent others to track her down, though she supposed she should have expected this. Aside from her and Ranma, nobody knew Master Saffron had left Wistalia, so with her absence, they were all likely bugging the poor general for answers.

"Okay. Just, um, give me a second?"

Akane turned around to grab her trousers and cloak. No way she was going to face Herb or the others in only a thigh-high tunic!

However, as soon as Akane turned her back on them, she heard a rush of wind from behind, then something jabbed her at the base of the neck… and just like that, without any warning or sense of danger, everything faded to gray as Akane stumbled and fell, hitting the hardwood floor.

Her sleep, this time, was much less pleasant.

…

Stepping over the other girl's prone body, Shampoo quickly dragged Mousse safely past the threshold and closed the door behind them.

"That too too easy," she said, nudging Akane with her foot.

"Are you sure it's her?" Mousse asked as he adjusted his glasses, trying to get a good look at her.

"Shampoo sure," she said as she knelt and grabbed the chain that was dangling from the other girl's neck and pulled it loose, revealing that suspicious-looking medallion. She examined it closely. "Is Tendo crest for sure, just like Great-grandmother describe." She scoffed, recalling how she'd first spotted it yesterday at the pool. "So stupid for keeping on her."

"Then perhaps," said Mousse, grinning widely, anxious to return home. "We should send it back where it belongs?"

Returning his grin with one of her own, Shampoo dropped the pendant and switched to her mother tongue. "I'll miss my husband, but a trip home does sound wonderful. I can't wait to show my Great-grandmother and Lady Hinako our gift!"

And what a fine gift it was.

It wasn't every day one discovered a long-lost princess. . .

End of Chapter 18

A/N: Once I finish this story, I might go back and post a side-story for the scene where they "get together" on AO3. We'll see. ;)