Disclaimer: These characters belong to the incomparable Takahashi and her powerful lawyers. I will try to do them justice.

Well, here it is, chapter three. I know that my chapters tend to be small, but this is my first storey, and writing it is not as easy as I believed it to be. Also, I've modified chapter 2 a small bit, as one line did not fit into the storey.

The First Cracks

Day One

The school yard was silent as Ranma walked away from Kuno, who lay sprawled amongst the shattered fragments of his family sword. The shocked students stood staring soundlessly at the combatants. Only Ukyou, standing in the entrance way to the school, managed to shake herself out of her stupor as Ranma passed by her without a word.

"Wow, Ran-chan! That was something else!", she exclaimed, latching onto her stone faced fiance's arm.

"Yeah. Whatever, Ukyo.", Ranma replied, shrugging her off and continuing on his way to class, leaving the stunned chef in the hall.

Wha-what's going on? What just happened? Did HER Ran-chan just give her the cold shoulder? He'd never done that before! He was always happy to see her! Did this have anything to do with yesterday? She was sure that Ranma would have been thankful that his CUTE fiancee had been there to help him!

A lone, silent tear made its way down Ukyo's face, visible to everyone. If anyone had cared to look.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Kitchen of the Nekohanten, Cologne paused in thought. She could tell something had happened in Son-in-Laws vicinity. Something bad. One of the local fighters energy had just dropped to practically nothing. This might bear some personal investigation.

"Shampoo!"

"Yes, Great Grandma?", Shampoo answered, coming into the kitchen.

"Something has come up, child, and I am needed. Stay here and mind the store.", Cologne explained.

"Alright, Great Grandma. Shampoo take care of store, make Hibichan proud!", Shampoo replied.

Cologne could only wonder.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Nabiki hurried from the schools office, hoping to get to fight before anyone ( anyone being Kuno, of course) was seriously hurt. She had never seen Ranma look so... Un-Ranma-ish... 'What was wrong with him?', she wondered. 'Could he be THAT upset about the wedding?' She hoped not, an upset Ranma, one who would actually hurt someone, was NOT in her best interest. Maybe something had happened between him and Akane while they where in China. No one had spoken much about what had happened on that little adventure. And the wedding had happened almost immediately after they got back, so she had to operate without all the facts. She hated to operate like that! She was only trying to help, after all! Those two weren't ready to get married yet! And so what if she had made a profit out of it!

With that thought, Nabiki broke into a run.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At the schools gates, Akane stood. She could scarcely believe what Ranma had just done to Kuno! Sure, Kuno was an honor less jerk! But this!

She stared at the Kendoist, unable to move. Unable to either follow her Fiance, or help the unconscious fool who has attacked him. She had seen Ranma do wonderful, terrifying and amazing things, but this! This was just crazy!

She was shaken from her reverie by the approach of a heavily panting Nabiki.

"A-akane! Where's Ranma? What happened to Kuno?", Nabiki gasped as she stumbled to a halt by her little sister.

"...", was Akane's intelligent reply.

"Akane! Akane answer me!", Nabiki snapped. "AKANE!!"

"Kuno attacked Ranma with his sword. Ranma beat him up. Then Ranma left.", Akane explained.

Exasperated, Nabiki felt like strangling her sister. "I know that, Akane.", she explained, patently, checking to make sure Kuno was still alive. "What did Ranma hit him with?", she asked, pulling shards of steel from the unconscious boys throat.

"His sword."

"What?"

"When Kuno attacked him with his sword, Ranma grabbed it. Then he punched through the blade. That's what caused it to break.", Akane finally explained.

"Is Ranma alright?", Nabiki asked, concerned.

Akane didn't answer, as she realized, she didn't know.