Ryoga approached Ranma outside of Furikan High School. He stopped him in his tracks and asked to speak with him.

"Look, Ryoga, I'm not really in the mood 'ta fight-"

"Me neither. I promise, it's only a talk."

Ranma sighed. "Okay, let's hear it."

Ryoga looked at Akane, "Uh, actually, it's better if we talk alone." His face turned a light pink.

"Oh, okay. I'll see you inside." Akane said to Ranma before leaving.

"So, what's this about?" Ranma asked.

"I know how you feel about Akane, and I'm willing to back off."

"I don't feel anything for her." Ranma said, getting a little angry.

"I know you smelled the roses. I did as well-"

"She doesn't feel anything for me! And if she doesn't love me, then what's the point?" The bell rang. "I'll see ya, Ryoga."

Ryoga knew he should've told him about the other night and how Akane smelled the roses, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He said he would back off, but he never said he would go out of his way to get them together. He loved Akane too much, and while that was selfish, he only cared a little. He was human, and humans are selfish. That's what he told himself, and he still felt guilt weigh on his chest.

~Time Skip~

No one in the household would talk about what happened between Ranma and Akane. Or, more like, they wouldn't dare to. So, that night, they all ate awkwardly, and would only talk when someone asked another to pass something.

Ranma finished early and asked to be excused before going outside for a walk. He wanted to...think.

Think about him and Akane. About how he loved her and how she didn't love him back and how much that hurt. He felt his heart weigh heavy in his chest and wished he could cut it out to get rid of the sadness and nauseau it brought. He sighed and looked up at the moon.

"Why...why did this happen to me? Why did it have to be her? Why couldn't I have fallen for someone who felt the same about me?" He looked back down at the ground and thought about Akane again. She seemed to be all he could think about. He was a fool in love. He screamed, "But I don't want to be!" He punched the concrete and watched it break under him. He turned to see Akane stare, mouth slightly agape. "A-akane..."

She had tears in her eyes. "Ranma, I...I don't know how to explain this...I'm sorry." A few tears fell and Ranma walked over to wipe them away. She held his hand to her cheek. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I just didn't know how to accept that...I love you." She let out a short chuckle. "But I don't deserve your love."

"Don't say that." He said, quickly.

"How many times have I hurt you, Ranma?" He stayed quiet. "Exactly. I've gotten angry at you because I love you, but it wasn't fair. I don't deserve you."

"That's what I should be saying. I don't care what you did in the past, I just want to have a future." He let out a chuckle. "That sounded stupid."

"But you meant it, didn't you?" She seemed hopeful.

"Yes." He admitted. "Akane...will you-"

"Ranma!" A familiar voice came from behind them.

They turned to see a purple-haired girl. "Shampoo." Ranma said.

"Shampoo came to see you. Hello, Akane."

"Hey..." She responded. "I'll-I'll just head back to the house."

"No, wait." Ranma said and grabbed her wrist. "I want to be with you."

"Ranma...?" Shampoo said, her voice beginning to break.

"I love Akane." He said as he looked Shampoo in the eye. "I plan to marry her, so I'm sorry, Shampoo, but whatever you thought was between us is over."

Shampoo ran away crying.

"Yes." Akane said.

"What?"

"You were gonna ask me out, right? Well, my answer is 'yes'."

"Really?! Yes!" He picked her up and spun her around.

She squealed and laughed. "We should head back."

"You're right. Come on." He grabbed her hand and they walked back to the Tendo/Saotome house.