"I believe that he is still here Shampoo," Cologne answered.

"Then why he no visit Shampoo?" she asked.

"I think he is quite mad at you."

"Then Shampoo go visit him," Shampoo said. She got out of her chair but was stopped by Cologne.

"He is mad at you for a reason Shampoo, and I think going to see him will only make the situation worse. It is best if you just leave him alone for awhile."

"Is right," Shampoo said deflated.

"Stupid old fool," Raizo cursed as he trudged through the park. "It’s not my fault those bastards attacked us."

"Such a beautiful night out," Akari said as she gazed at the cloudless sky from the bench she was sitting on with Ryoga.

"What a perfect way to end the day," Akane said from the bench she was sitting on with Ranma. "It was so nice of you guys to take us out."

"It was Ranma’s idea," Ryoga said as Akari snuggled up close to him.

Ranma nervously glanced at Akane and saw she was smiling.

"Don’t worry Ranma, I know this was for Akari," she whispered.

"Actually Akane, I had another reason to ask you out," Ranma admitted before he realized what he was doing.

"R-really?" Akane asked, blushing as she did so.

"Uh-I mean no, there wasn’t another reason" Ranma stammered.

"Oh, okay," Akane smiled at him. I knew it.

A figure emerged from the bushes and the evening suddenly took an odd turn.

"It’s you!" Raizo yelled. He had just dumped the gun under some heavy brush and was coming out when he noticed Ranma and Ryoga.

"You must be mistaken," Ryoga said as he took Akari’s hand and led her away. He stopped when two more people emerged from the bushes.

"Raizo, do you know these people?" Ishii asked.

"Ishii, Minoru, what are you doing here?"

"Never mind that, do you know them or not?!" Ishii asked again.

"Yeah, these guys were the ones who destroyed our shipments, and they snapped Kozo’s knee," Raizo said.

"You’re thinking of someone else," Ranma said. He began to lead Akane away.

"Stop!" Minoru ordered. "You are going to come with us."

"Shit," Ranma cursed. "Akane, you take Akari and get the hell out of here."

Akane nodded and ran towards Akari. She grabbed her arm and they took off.

"Raizo, follow them," Ishii commanded. Raizo took off after Akane and Akari.

"Hey stop!" Ryoga yelled, but was silenced when Ishii kicked him in the face.

"You will come with us, one way or another."

Ryoga leapt to his feet and charged Ishii. Ranma did the same to Minoru.

Akane and Akari ran as fast as they could but, the dresses they were wearing severely limited the length of their strides. Raizo quickly caught up with them and was able to get in front of them.

"You must be the girl Shigeru was talking about," Raizo said to Akari. "You’re really cute," he said mockingly.

Akane was getting angrier by the second. To see a jerk like him taunting her friend and making fun of her pushed her passed the breaking point.

Akane took off on one foot and kneed the unsuspecting Raizo in the groin with as much strength she could muster.

Raizo was about to scream but he couldn’t find the strength to do it. He collapsed onto the ground with a moan.

"You little bastard," Akari said to the fallen Raizo as Akane led her away.

Ranma and Ryoga weren’t fairing as well.

"These guys are pretty good," Ranma whispered.

"I think its time we showed these guys how to really fight," Ryoga said evenly.

"Yeah you’re right," Ranma agreed.

Ranma and Ryoga took a few strides away from each other and took up their battle stances.

Ishii and Minoru turned to look at their opponents before charging in. They didn’t even get within five feet.

"Shi Shi Hokodan!"

"Moko Takabisha!"

Ishii and Minoru were thrown back as the two ki blasts sent them into the trees.

Ryoga slowly regained himself and walked over to their defeated opponents. Ranma slowly approached as well.

Ranma picked up Ishii and flung him onto his shoulder. Ryoga did the same with Minoru.

"Guess we should take them to the Dojo," Ranma said.

On their way out of the park they met up with Akane and Akari.

"What happened to them?" Akari asked. Ishii and Minoru were in rather bad shape.

"Bit off more than they could chew," Ranma smiled. Akane smacked Ranma on the head. "What was that for?!"

"Don’t be so cocky," Akane said. "Where are you taking them?"

"To the Dojo," Ranma answered. "Might as well try and talk to them. Didn’t get much of a chance back there."

"Any idea why they attacked us?" Akane questioned.

"Not really," Ranma replied. It wasn’t much of a lie.

"What happened to the guy who was chasing you two?" Ryoga asked.

"Akane took care of him," Akari answered.

"Yeah well, that jerk had it coming," Akane said smugly.

"Now who’s being cocky?" Ranma asked.

When they arrived at the house, they were greeted by two half-in-the-bag fathers that made a drunken uproar when Ranma and Ryoga walked in with two unconscious people on their shoulders.

After explaining what happened to the entire household, Ranma and Ryoga took Ishii and Minoru to the Dojo. Soun and Genma were too drunk from their celebration over their children’s realization of the love they felt for each other so they retired to go sleep.

Ranma told Akane and Akari to go to sleep and he wouldn’t allow them in the Dojo. Of course that didn’t stop them from sneaking around the Dojo and trying to pick up snippets of the conversation.

"-id Inafune send you?" they heard Ranma ask.

"No. We were being ordered to follow-," at that point the wind picked up and they were unable to hear the rest of the reply.

"Does he wish to meet us?" Ryoga asked.

"We must consult him, and then we will contact you," Minoru said.

"I am attending Furinkan High School so you can contact me there during lunch. I do not want my family to find out about this."

Akane and Akari decided that they should leave. They went to Akane’s room. They both suddenly felt very tired.

"I knew it," Akari said.

"I can’t believe those two!" Akane nearly shouted.

"It’s not that unexpected Akane."

"I know, it’s just that they would keep it from us. I mean they even beat up some guys and snapped someone’s knee if that guy was telling the truth," Akane said.

"Look, it can’t be the way it sounds. I haven’t even seen anything in the news about a bunch of people being beat up," Akari said.

"Do you think we should just confront them about this?" Akane asked.

"Yes, it would probably be for the best," Akari agreed.

"All right, I’ll talk to Ranma and you’ll do Ryoga," Akane said.

Ryoga went to the room he and Akari were staying in after he and Ranma had talked for a little longer. Akari was waiting for him.

"Ryoga, we need to talk."

Ranma was heading to his room when Akane stopped him and took him by the arm into her room.

"What is it Akane?" Ranma asked, rather nervously.

"We need to talk Ranma," Akane stated.

"Look, if this is about what happened in the park-,"

"No Ranma," Akane interrupted. "It’s about what you were talking about with those guys in the Dojo."

"You were eavesdropping?" Ranma asked, shocked.

"Yes," Akane nodded.

"Did you hear everything?"

"Most of it," Akane admitted. She sat Ranma down on her bed and moved her chair so she could see his face.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Akane asked.

"I didn’t want you to worry," Ranma replied.

"But what your doing Ranma, isn’t it dangerous?" Akane asked, moving closer to Ranma.

"No Akane, it shouldn’t be."

Akane moved a hand to Ranma’s face.

"Ranma," Akane said softly, "If anything should happen to you-,"

Ranma grabbed Akane’s hand. "Nothing will happen Akane."

"Then I’ll go with you."

"No Akane," Ranma shook his head.

"Why?" Akane asked quietly.

"Because I don’t want you to be in danger," Ranma answered.

"I can handle myself," Akane protested.

" Akane, what if something happens to you. After what happened at Jusendo, I mean… You almost died, trying to save me. When I got free of Saffron’s threads and I turned and saw you just disappear, it hurt Akane. It hurt more than anything I’ve ever felt before. And I had to go through it again when I thought was too late with the Jusenkyo water. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you are never in danger again," Ranma said as he blinked a few times to clear the tears from his eyes.

Ranma turned to leave but was stopped when Akane turned him around and hugged him fiercely. Akane began to cry into Ranma’s chest. Ranma slowly brought up his arms and wrapped them around Akane.

"O-okay Ranma, I w-wont make you worry," Akane cried.

Ranma didn’t reply. He just held Akane in his arms and let her cry.

"But what if you get hurt?" Akari protested.

"I won’t, I’ll be careful," Ryoga said.

"But I might lose you," Akari said as she stared at the ground.

"Hey," Ryoga moved Akari’s head up to face his. "I’ll be fine. Ranma will be with me the whole time."

Akari knew she was losing the argument, it was just too hard to argue with Ryoga.

"Just promise me that you’ll be careful," Akari said.

"Of course," Ryoga smiled.

Akari turned away. It wasn’t fair, she had finally found a man that she loved and now he could be taken away from her.

Ryoga saw Akari begin to shake with silent sobs and he realized that it was because of him. Ryoga moved closer to Akari and wrapped his arms around her.

"It’ll be okay Akari, I’ll come back to you, I promise," Ryoga whispered in her ear.

Akari moved her head up and pressed her lips against Ryoga’s. She felt Ryoga tense and his arms drew Akari in closer. Akari moved back from Ryoga and looked at the shocked expression on his face.

"What’s wrong Ryoga?" Akari asked.

"I-I’m sorry Akari. You caught me off guard."

With that said, Ryoga pulled Akari in close and kissed her.