Startled, Ranma looked into the happy face of Ukyo and Shampoo.
,, Ranma, honey! Now we can finally go undisturbed! We don't need all those other fiancés, do we? "
,, Woda Airen! You go with me to solve puzzles and leave everyone here, yes ?! "
"Let me down!" Was the only thing Ranma said about it. It bothered him much more what was to become of the journey. Akane was an important link on this journey, if he believed the prophecy. He had to convince her . Cost what it wanted. He was not allowed to leave her here. Even if he had to carry her, she had to go with him. He didn't care what everyone thought, what was important that she came with us on the trip, accompanied him, was with him. He had hurt her, he knew that, but had no idea how to make it up to it. He knew that they had to go today, otherwise the whole trip would go wrong. He had a feeling but without her, without the macho woman, without his 'involuntarily' fiancée, without the girl he loved so much, he wouldn't go.He was about to storm up the stairs when a warm hand was placed on his shoulder. He didn't get the tingling sensation as usual when it was Akane's hand, but he knew it was Kasumi's.
"Ranma, you hurt her very much!"
"I know ... but how am I supposed to make it up to you?"
"It's important that you go today, right?"
Ranma looked straight ahead, nodding. During the whole conversation he hadn't turned to Kasumi and just looked up the stairs. In his mind he figured out the way to go to Akane's room.
,, Ranma, it will be difficult for you to convince her now to go with you, but if you mean business and don't provoke her, she will go with you. I'm absolutely sure with this!"
“Thank you, Kasumi. I'll try it..."
“You can do it, Ranma. Now go ... "with a little push Ranma stumbled towards the stairs. Nodded encouragingly to herself and climbed the stairs.

Carefully, step by step he climbed the stairs.Always looking ahead. Not realizing that all eyes followed him and watched every single step. When he reached the top of the stairs, he stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. In his mind he went to Akane`s room. Left, right and then don't miss the door with the pretty yellow duck, on which the name "Akane" is written in beautiful handwriting. He opened his eyes resolutely and walked along the path with closed steps.

"Just don't give up now", mumbling to herself courage, Ranma finally stood in front of Akane's door. Should he really do that? Should he really ask her to come with him? Should he tell her the whole truth? Everything? Tell her everything? How would he feel? Like a traitor! Yes, he was a traitor! He had betrayed her, withheld important details from her. Not telling her what was the matter, what was going on. In Ranma at that moment different feelings appeared. Anger , grief, and shame.Yes, he was ashamed of himself. The sense of guilt was awakened in him too. He owed Akane an explanation. he just had to explain everything to her! Everything, every single detail that was so important. That seemed to change his whole life. But was it just his life that changed? This riddle? This prophecy? Yes, it didn't just change his life, but also that of his fellow human beings, especially that of a young girl who always made a happy entry, always radiated friendliness and whose room he was now standing in front of. He began to smile softly. How often had he stood in front of this door. How many times had he tried to get closer to her. How often did he want to be alone with her. To see her alone, to get to know her better ... to touch her .... Often he had already imagined being alone with her without the annoying parents who, because of their nature, always ruined everything .... But they were hers Parents really to blame for it?No, he should have just ignored her, not let himself be put off ... he should have told Akane what was the matter, but he couldn't. He, Ranma Saoetome, was afraid to tell her. To tell her that she ... that she ... that she was not only his involuntary fiancée but in his opinion his only real fiancée ... Ranma knocked timidly on the door with a slight smile.

"Akane, I'm sorry!"
"Get out of Ranma!"
,, No, I won't! I have to explain it to you, Akane! "
"What do you want to explain in a big way? It's very clear what's going on! "
,,Oh yes?! And what do you think should be down there? "Ranma was getting angry. How could you be so stubborn and not let him explain? How could you just not let someone explain what was going on! But Akane didn't seem any less angry either be.
“You want to know what's going on down there? I tell you "Suddenly the door was opened and opposite Rama was a young, pretty blue-haired girl who looked at him with shiny brown eyes."What do you really imagine, Ranma?"
"I ... I don't even imagine!"
,,Oh no! Do you think I mind that so many women are with you? And then in our house? And all dressed in weird white Chinese? I don't think they wanted to see us off1 Do you really think I mind? "

“You are right! Why should a macho woman like you mind when there are umpteen pretty women around me who want to accompany me. Why should you mind? How do I come to that? Maybe because you stormed up the stairs? Maybe because you didn't even let me in? Maybe because you ... "
"Because I what?"
,, well, because you ... "
"Red, Ranma!"
,, Maybe you are bothered because you ... because you ... because you .. like me! So now I've said it! Can we go now please ??! ??! "
Akane looked at Ranma in total amazement. How should he know she likes him? She hadn't told anyone, not even Kasumi ... Or did he just get it because he felt the same way about her?Akane's heart was beating faster and faster. Could it really be? because he felt the same for her? Could that be? Did he feel the same for her as she did for him? She hadn't revealed her feelings to anyone, but he still knew ... so from where? Did he really feel the same for her and was that why he said this? Did he unconsciously admit his feelings?
,, W ..... How did you come up with the fact that I like such a womanly hero? "
"Woman hero? I'm not a womanizer, I'm ... "
,, Of course you are a womanizer! How else are you going to explain all the women down there, who all strangely white are wearing the same dress as me and who just happen to be going on the trip with us and who just happen to be your fiancés? "
,, But that ... that has nothing to do with the fact that I AM a WOMAN HERO! "Ranma`s voice got louder towards the back. Why was he so upset? He couldn't really care what that stupid turkey thought of him, or not?,, THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT YOU ARE A FEMALE HERO !!!!! WHAT DO YOU REALLY IMAGINE? "Akane had become furious, too. Why did he keep contradicting her? Why didn't he just admit it? Was it so difficult for him to tell the truth when it was so obvious? That was no great art ! She herself did it every time! Every time? No, not in this one thing, even if it was obvious to the others, she did not say the truth, denied it, that she was him ..... that she was him ... .. that she .....

“What do I imagine? I imagine I'm engaged to a macho woman who is brutal, mean and insensitive but sometimes also .... sweet and ..... vulnerable ..... "
,,What?!"
“You already understand, Akane! We are engaged involuntarily, but we should make the best of it and not always throw untruths at each other! you are not always brutal and mean .... sometimes you are really sweet and sweet ..... but only sometimes ... ",, You know, Ranma ... you are right! We should stop lying to each other! You are not a pervert ..... well, not always ..... most of the time you are not ..... actually never ..... "
,, Akane .... it .... it. I'm sorry ..... I should have told you what's going on ... it's ... it's ... "
"A secret that I am not allowed to find out about ?!"
"At least not yet ..."
,, Yes, I thought so .... why don't you trust me, Ranma? What did I do that you don't trust me ?! "When Akane uttered these words, Ranma felt as if he had betrayed her ... as if he had hurt her, not protected her from these thoughts, feelings ....
“Akane, it's not like that! It's not like that at all! You know that I trust you more than anyone else! But not even my father knows about this matter .... no one except me .... and later you .... "
"Does that mean .."
,, Yes, I will explain and tell you .... but not now .... we are already too late .... I ask you Akane, come with me and .... come with me !!!! "Akane was silent for a short while ... should she go with him? Should she let him change her mind? Should she trust him ... yes, she wanted to trust him ... she wanted to trust him ... she wanted to believe him ...
"I will accompany you, Ranma .... I will trust you ... but do not abuse my trust ...."
“I won't! And now let's go ... "
"Yes, let's go ..."

Slowly they went down the stairs.
"You look really pretty in that dress" Akane felt Ranma's whispering voice on the back of her neck. She turned around with a smile and looked into the smiling face of her involuntary fiancé .....