[Author�s Note: Anyone who doesn�t like OOC, lime, or Ranma fics that diverge significantly from the original series, leave now!
All characters TM & copyright 1996 by Rumiko Takahashi.
Place: Viz Communications HQ
City: Tokyo, Rippongi District
Rumiko Takahashi adjusted her glasses. �I�m sorry, what did you say?�
The representative from Kitty Films smiled gently. �I said, we�re going to do a remake of Ranma 1/2.�
Rumiko shook her head. The conference room had suddenly gotten very warm. �That�s what I thought you said, but I still don�t understand.�
�Why should you be surprised? It was in your last contract. We here at Viz and Kitty Films now have the right to remake any of your previous TV shows as we see fit, with NO CREATIVE CONTROL on your part�
�Well, yes. But I assumed you wanted to do a remake of Maison Ikkoku. I mean, that�s my only series that hasn�t aged very well.�
The man nodded. �Oh, I can see where you�re coming from, but quite frankly Ms. Takahashi, adult-oriented anime doesn�t sell anymore. You see, now that Pocket Monsters has peaked in terms of popularity, we really don�t have anything left. So, we�ve decided to ramp up production on remakes of earlier shows.�
�But...�
The man ignored her. �You see, after the success Sunrise has had with the Gundam altaverse titles, and JVC and AIC have done phenomenal business with Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040. So, we here at Kitty and Viz have decided to update Ranma for a more mature, teen audience.�
Rumiko Takahashi paled. �But Ranma was always geared for adolescent boys. To change him in anyway would be...�
The Kitty rep became quite angry. �That is enough! Need I remind you, MS. Takahashi, that you are an employee of the Kitty-Viz-Shogakukan consortium. To hear this type of rebellion from anyone else would be disgraceful, but coming from you, a woman no less. We have tolerated many of your eccentricities with quiet humor. Especially your continued refusals to walk three steps behind the company chairman during press conferences, but this is the last straw. You will either adhere to the terms of your contract, or we will strip you of creative control on �Inu-Yasha� and give it to Kia Asamiya.�
Rumiko shook in fear. �NO! Anything but that! Not Kia! I...I will yield. My...my apologies.�
The man smiled. �Excellent.�
Rumiko bowed her head. �So, who have you got lined up to handle character designs and plan the overall direction of the series?�
�Well, we need someone young, someone sexy.�
�Hiroshi Negeshi?�
The Kitty representative chuckled. �No, no. He�s still trying to rebuild his reputation after the debacle that was Tenchi In Tokyo. We were thinking along the lines of someone who�s worked with us in the past. Oh, by the way, did I mention that this was going to be a late-night series?�
Rumiko looked up in shock. �But, there�s only one person who does your late-night shows.�
�Yes.�
�You can�t mean him!!!�
�I�m afraid so. The new Ranma series will be directed by U-Jin.�
Rumiko Takahashi sobbed.
W*ING Higley Presents:
U-Jin�s Ranma Diaries
Dear Journal:
Jeez, I can�t believe Mom�s making me keep one of these things. Anyways, my name�s Ranma Saotome. I�m 18 years old and I just graduated from high school (barely) and now my parents are makin� me enroll in college.
I�ve led a pretty weird life so far. When I was five my Pops took me on a trainin� trip that lasted ten years. When I was 16, we visited these cursed springs in China and I ended up gettin� dunked in this �Spring of Drowned Girl.� So now, whenever I get dunked with cold water, I turn into a red-headed girl, and when I get splashed with warm water, I turn back into a guy.
Anyways, after this I was feelin� pretty low, and wanted to see mom again. But Pops didn�t want to go home yet. He was complainin� about how hungry he was and wanted to go to a nearby Amazon village to see if they had any food. But I said the hell with that, and knocked the old fool out and headed for home, only to discover that about five years ago, Mom sold the family house and moved north to Sendai. At least she left a forwarding address.
When we got back, Mom was kinda shocked by the curse, but still glad to see me an Pops. If anything, I think she felt kind of sorry for me. Turns out the old man had engaged me at birth to marry the daughter of one of his old buddies, Tenma or something. But Mom said that I was goin� through enough trouble with the curse, and didn�t need somethin� like an arranged marriage to complicate things. Basically, she forced my dad to cancel the engagement, all without me ever meetin� the girl I was s�posed to marry.
Oh well, who knows, she might of been cute or something.
*****
Ranma sat in his hotel room and studied his journal entry. Not bad, all in all.
Still, he wished he didn�t have to be here. But his mom was insistent that he continue his education, not that Ranma was sure exactly what he wanted to major in.
Absentmindedly, he thumbed through his day-planner, a graduation gift from his mother.
�Let�s see. I�ve got the entrance exam for Tokyo Tech tomorrow, St. Herebeke A&M the day after that, and then Kayo University on Friday.�
Ranma smirked at that last one. Kayo University was an �elite� school that he had no chance in hell of entering. He had just applied for the fun of it.
Ranma sighed and sat down at his desk, flipping open a book on remedial algebra.
�Gotta study,� Ranma thought, �otherwise I�ll be stuck at some prep college, and then mom might actually go through with that seppuku pledge.�
Oh well, it wasn�t like anyone in Tokyo knew where he was at.
*****
Outside the door, Ukyo Kuonji smiled. At last, after 12 years, her beloved Ranchan had returned. She smiled as she began to unbutton her blouse. Boy, was Ranchan in for a surprise......
To Be Continued
*****
Author�s Comments: This will not be a straight retelling of Sakura Diaries with Ukyo replacing Urara. Far from it. I�ve never even seen any Episodes other than the first domestic tape, so I�m using that as the springboard for a love triangle. But who, you may ask, will play the role of Meiko? Ah, now that is an interesting answer....
C&C can be sent to cactusnick@yahoo.com
Episode 2: Old Loves, New Friends
*KNOCK KNOCK*
Ranma looked up from his text book in annoyance. �The hell, who knows I�m here?�
*KNOCK KNOCK*
�Yeah, yeah, I�m comin.� Ranma got up and crossed the room to open the door. He did a doubletake when he saw who it was. There, standing in the doorway was a *very* attractive girl, about his age, with long brown/black hair and a demure smile.
�Is this room 1518?�
�Uh....�
�I�m sorry, this is room 1518, isn�t it?�
Ranma shook the cobwebs from his mind. �Um...uh....yeah, yeah. I�m Ranma Saotome. Can I help you?�
She ignored the question. �Oh good,� she said, pushing Ranma aside as she walked in. �I�m so glad I found the right room. You have no idea how embarrassing it gets when I go to the wrong client.�
�Uh, yeah, I guess,� Ranma replied. �Client? What is she, some kinda call girl or something?� Ranma then noticed that the girl�s blouse was partially unbuttoned. He could feel the blood start to flow to his nose.
His nose began a small trickle as the girl started to unbutton the rest of her blouse. �So, do you want to do it here, or do you have someplace kinky in mind?� She smiled, revealing perfect teeth.
�Do..do..do what?�
�Silly,� she said as she dropped the blouse, revealing her bra, �what do you think?�
Ranma�s nosebleed became a full-blown gusher. �L-look ma�am. I-I�m not sure who you think I am, but I think you got the wrong idea. I mean, I-I�m flattered an� all, but..but....�
He trailed off, completely flustered. It wasn�t that Ranma was ignorant about women, far from it. He�d had a few casual relationships since he had gotten back, but nothing serious, and nothing that had put him in a situation like this before.
The girl began giggling hysterically. �Geez, Ranchan, you always were easy to tease.�
Ranchan? No one had called him Ranchan since.... �Ucchan, is that you?�
Ucchan, his pet name for Ukyo Kuonji. His first and best friend. And his former fianc�e, albeit briefly. They had met when he was five, right after he had begun his training trip. The goofy thing was, Ranma had at first thought that Ukyo was a boy, because of the way she dressed. Then had come the day when Ukyo�s dad tried to engage the two of them. Genma had agreed, but as a condition he asked Ranma which he liked better, okonomiyaki or Ucchan. Ranma had answered that he liked Ucchna better. This was not what Genma had expected. He had expected Ranma to answer that he liked okonomiyaki better and steal Kuonji�s cart. He was not prepared to take another child with him. So, Genma explained that Ukyo was actually a girl (�Oh, so that�s why she pees sitting down.�) and that by saying he liked Ucchan, he would have to marry her. Ranma had gotten confused, so Genma gave up and returned the cart and annulled the engagement.
Ukyo smiled as she rebuttoned her blouse. �Yes, Ranchan, it�s me.�
The two hugged, Ranma was so glad to see his old friend. �So, how�d you find me?�
�I saw you walking into the hotel. I wasn�t sure if it was really you, after all these years, but I came in on impulse to see.�
�Well, it�s me.�
*****
The two old friends talked long into the night. Finally, �See ya Ranchan, and good luck with your tests.�
Ukyo waved as she closed the door. Only then did Ranma face-fault. �Oh man, I forgot all about my tests.�
As he sat down at his desk, his thoughts drifted back to the sight of Ucchan in her bra.
No! He had to study.
Still, he couldn�t get the sight of Ukyo out of his mind. Sighing, Ranma reached for a handful of tissues, it was going to be a long night.....
End Episode 2
C&C can be sent to cactusnick@yahoo.com
Episode 3: Hola, Shampoo!
Ranma sulked inside Akie�s Diner, staring at his textbook. His mind, however, was far from his studies. He had FAILED the entrance exams for Tokyo Tech and St. Hebereke A&M.
He sighed, the only entrance exam left was for Kayo University, Tokyo�s most elite public college. His chances for passing were next to nil. But at the same time, Ranma didn�t want to spend a year at junior college taking prep classes, so he had resolved to spend the entire day cramming for the Kayo exam the next day.
As he reached for a French fry, he suddenly realized there was a shadow over him.
�What are you studying?�
Ranma looked up with a start, to see a beautiful, purple-haired girl standing above him.
�Uh...�
The girl smiled, �I�m sorry, I should introduce myself. My name�s Shampoo.�
�Uh...�
The girl sat down in the seat across him. �Do you speak Japanese?�
Ranma finally shook himself out of his stupor. �Yeah...yeah. Course I do. My name�s Ranma, Ranma Saotome.� He offered his hand to her, which she shook.
�Shampoo, that�s an, uh, interesting name.�
�It�s Chinese.�
�Yeah, I noticed the accent.�
�So, what are you studying?�
Ranma looked at his book. �College level algebra. I got the entrance exam tomorrow.�
�For Kayo?�
�Yeah, how�d you know?�
�I�m taking the entrance exam tomorrow myself.�
�Oh, well, good luck.� Ranma was just stunned at this girl�s beauty.
Shampoo asked, �So, are you any good at algebra?�
�Eh, not really. I�ve spent most of my life studyin� martial arts. My dad was never real big on pushin� me to study school stuff.�
Shampoo nodded. �I used to be fairly involved in martial arts myself, until I came here to Japan to study.�
�You�re a foreign exchange student?�
�Yes, this will be my third year. I transferred when I was 16.�
Ranma got curious. �What part of China are you from?�
And so, for the next half-hour, Shampoo related much of her life story to Ranma. She was from an Amazon village in China, and used to be their greatest warrior. Then, when she was 16, it was decided that she should go out into the world and learn about modern society, so that she could one day return and impart this knowledge to the rest of the tribe. When she arrived in Japan, it was very difficult for her. Her knowledge of the language was limited, and people assumed that she was some kind of bimbo. But over the years, her Japanese improved to the point that she could speak fluently, even make puns and other word plays.
�Unfortunately,� Shampoo continued, �part of the entrance exam for Kayo requires knowledge of a foreign language, and Chinese isn�t one of the ones offered on the exam.�
�So which one are ya gonna take?�
Shampoo huffed, �Spanish, I guess.�
Ranma nodded. Asians had long ago discovered that Spanish was the easiest language in the Western hemisphere to learn.
�My Pops and I trained in Mexico for a year or so. I�m not fluent or anythin�, but I speak it better than most people here.�
Shampoo nodded, then sat still as she thought for a moment. �Tell you what,� she finally said. �Let�s make a deal. You stop by my place tonight, and I�ll help you with your math. I�m pretty good at it. And in exchange, you can tutor me on my Spanish. Deal?�
Ranma�s eyes bugged out. �C-come by y-your place?�
Shampoo smiled. �That�s settled then. Here.�
She took out a piece of paper and wrote her address on it. After handing it to Ranma, she kissed him on the cheek.
�Don�t be late,� she said huskily.
As Shampoo walked out the door, Ranma just sat there holding the piece of paper, his eyes still bugged out.
�Y-your place? Tonight?�
*****
Shampoo�s apartment was rather large, by student standards. She lived in Rippongi, the Americanized district of Tokyo, which was one of the more expensive areas to live in the
city.
�M-muy...b-b-bien...� Shampoo sounded frustrated as she said the words.
�Muy bien,� Ranma repeated.
Shampoo grimaced, �Muy bien.�
Ranma smiled. �That�s it. Not bad, Shampoo.�
�Thanks.� Shampoo studied him for a moment. �So, are you comfortable with the math?�
Ranma scratched his head. �I guess. I�m not all that comfortable with the calculus stuff, but then, who is?�
Shampoo grinned at his joke. Ranma looked at the wall clock.
�Sorry, Shampoo, but I gotta get goin�.�
Shampoo turned to look at the clock.
�Oh, it�s time for you to go already?�
�Yeah, Ucchan�ll get worried if I stay out too late.�
Shampoo frowned. �Who�s Ucchan? Your girlfriend?�
Ranma did a double-take. �Oh, no, nothin� like that. Ucchan�s my best friend from when I was a kid. She�s lettin� me stay at her place while I�m in town.
Shampoo looked relieved, which did not go unnoticed by Ranma. �Oh.�
Ranma got up to leave, then stopped at the door.
�Uh, Shampoo...�
�Yes?�
Ranma rubbed the back of his neck, feeling flustered. �Um..are...are...�
Shampoo batted her eyelashes. �Yes, Ranma?�
�Are....you seein� anybody?� It came out rather lamely, and Ranma was blushing badly.
Shampoo giggled. �Yes, Ranma, I am.�
Ranma�s head dropped, embarrassment plain on his face. �Oh. Anybody I know?�
Shampoo smiled again. �Oh, I think so.�
Now Ranma was confused. �Who?�
�You.� With that, Shampoo grabbed Ranma by his gi and pulled him in for a deep, passionate kiss.
To Be Continued.....
*****
Author�s Notes: The idea of Ranma never becoming engaged to Shampoo, then meeting her later and falling for her has always intrigued me. Special thanks to Nibun Yuri for helping out with proof-reading. C&C can be sent to CactusNick@yahoo.com.
Episode 4: Color It Purple
�Uh, Shampoo...�
�Yes?�
Ranma rubbed the back of his neck, feeling flustered. �Um..are...are...�
Shampoo batted her eyelashes. �Yes, Ranma?�
�Are....you seein� anybody?� It came out rather lamely, and Ranma was blushing badly.
Shampoo giggled. �Yes, Ranma, I am.�
Ranma�s head dropped, embarrassment plain on his face. �Oh. Anybody I know?�
Shampoo smiled again. �Oh, I think so.�
Now Ranma was confused. �Who?�
�You.� With that, Shampoo grabbed Ranma by his gi and pulled him in for a deep, passionate kiss.
Ranma stiffened as Shampoo kissed him, completely surprised by the move. The purple-haired dynamo wrapped her left arm around his waist, snaking her right around his neck to pull him deeper into the kiss. He finally relaxed after Shampoo slipped her tongue into his mouth.
They stayed that way for a long time, enjoying each other�s presence. Ranma felt an electric jolt surge through his body as Shampoo pulled him even closer. Ranma�s brain lackadaisically noted that Shampoo was incredibly strong. �Must be part of her martial arts training,� Ranma thought as Shampoo pulled him towards the couch.
*****
Ukyo �Ucchan� Kuonji hated cooking. Just hated it. She especially hated the pizza-like food called okonomiyaki. Truth be told, if she could sell her soul to the devil in exchange for eliminating okonomiyaki from the world, she�d do it without a moment�s hesitation.
As a small child, she�d loved the stuff. Her father ran a yattai cart selling okonomiyaki, and Ucchan ate the food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But therein lay the problem. She ate okonomiyaki for breakfast, lunch and dinner. By the time she was twelve, she had gotten sick of the stuff. By the time she was sixteen, she couldn�t stomach okonomiyaki without vomiting.
Ukyo had often times considered leaving her home, and traveling abroad like Ranchan had. Sometimes even, she wondered what it would have been like to go with Ranma and his father. At least on the road, she would have been exposed to different foods. Maybe then she would have enjoyed okonomiyaki better if she had had the opportunity to eat other foods occasionally.
Ukyo had finally left when she was seventeen, moving into the small loft apartment she now shared with Ranma while he took his tests. Her father had complained that if Ukyo had opened her own okonomiyaki restaurant, she could afford her own building. But Ukyo was adamant. She had to get as far away from okonomiyaki as possible. Not that her current job was much better......
Idly, Ukyo put down the book she was reading and turned to stare at the couch Ranma had been sleeping on. His quilt lay strewn across the pillows, Ranchan always was somewhat of a slob.
Ukyo let her mind drift. She hadn�t had a real boyfriend since that wimp, Shinji, whom she�d dated her senior year of high school. Ranchan was pretty cute, she admitted to herself. But even her mock attempt at seduction had caused him to get a massive nosebleed.
�Maybe he�s gay,� she thought. No, that was impossible. She�d seen his erection as plain as day. Those Chinese pants he wore didn�t really leave much to the imagination. Oh well, if she did decide to try a relationship with him, she�d have to be cautious.
Just then, the door opened.
Ukyo smiled, �Hiya, Ranchan!�
Ranma grinned as he came through the door. �Hey.�
Ukyo got up from the kitchen table and went over to hug him.
�So, how�d the Kayo exam go?�
Ranma looked thoughtful.
�Alright, I guess. I did okay on the foreign language and social studies parts, but I did lousy on the grammar section.�
�What about the math portion?� Ukyo asked.
Ranma blushed slightly, images of his late-night makeout session with Shampoo running through his head.
�I did great on the math part.�
Ukyo smiled.
�That�s good.� She patted him on the shoulder. �Don�t worry Ranchan, I�m sure you�ll get in.�
�I hope so. Hey, wanna get lunch? My treat.�
�Sure, Ranchan. What do you plan on doing after that?�
Ranma rolled his eyes.
�I�ll probably go look for a job. Mom says she�ll pay for my rent, but I ain�t gettin� any spending money.�
�Figures. Well, go wash up and I�ll meet you in the car.�
As Ranma walked into the bathroom, Ukyo admired his well-muscled body.
�Actually,� she thought, �I don�t think I�d mind being with Ranchan. It�s not like he�s seeing anybody else.�
*****
They had lunch at Akie�s Diner, which was fast becoming the only place Ranma could afford with his dwindling finances. It was a nice enough place, though for some reason one of the tables was filled with computers, a sign attached saying �DO NOT TOUCH! PROPERTY OF KAGURA TOTAL SECURITY!�
�So Ranma,� Ukyo said as she dipped a fry, �what�s your major going to be?�
�I�m not really sure. A year ago I woulda said physical education, but then this happened.�
Ranma lifted his right pant leg to reveal a long scar across his knee. Ukyo�s eyes widened in shock.
�What happened?�
�My father happened, that�s what. He got the damned fool idea that I should enter one of those Ultimate Fighting shows.�
Ukyo shook her head in recognition. �Oh yeah, I�ve seen those.�
�Yeah, well, anyways, turns out that most of the moves used in Anything Goes style aren�t allowed in UFC, so I got killed in my first match. The guy slammed my knee against the cage wall, and I tore my ACL pretty bad.
�Ouch.�
�Yeah, took me six months ta learn how ta walk again. After that, I�m not s�posed ta do any strenuous katas on my knee anymore, so I�m pretty limited in my martial arts now.�
Ukyo nodded as the conversation moved onto other subjects. Her mind wandered as she considered how to approach Ranma to see if he had any �male� feelings for her. She supposed she could go the direct route, and bluntly ask him if he was dating anybody.
No, that wouldn�t work. One, it would make her seem desperate (which she was, she admitted) and two, it would seem awkward coming from Ranma�s best friend. No, she had to be careful here.
Ukyo interrupted Ranma as he was reaching for the check.
�So.....Ranma, I bet you had a ton of girlfriends back in Sendai.�
Ranma looked up.
�Huh?�
�I mean, a guy with your good looks, come on.�
�Well, I dunno. I was kinda shy in high school.� Ranma began rubbing the back of his neck, feeling oddly flustered. Why? Ucchan was his best friend, it�s not like she�d ever develop feelings for him or anything.
Ukyo brightened. �Oh, so you�re not seeing...�
Ukyo was cut off as a large breasted purple-haired girl ran up and glomped Ranma with all her life.
�Woda, Ranma.�
Ukyo stared incredulously as Ranma hugged the girl back.
�Hey, Shampoo.�
Ukyo�s stare turned from incredulous to a jaw-dropping gape as she saw her Ranchan kiss this oddly-named girl. Noticing Ukyo, Ranma broke off.
�Oh, I�m sorry. Shampoo, let me introduce you to Ukyo. Ukyo�s my best friend.� He gestured to Shampoo.
�Ucchan, this is Shampoo, my girlfriend.� He colored slightly at this last statement, still not used to the idea of having an honest to god girlfriend who cared about him.
Ukyo recovered slightly, regaining her composure.
�It�s a pleasure to meet you,� Shampoo said.
Ukyo reached out to take her hand, her left eye twitching uncontrollably.
*****
Shampoo looked radiant, Ranma noted. Maybe it was the restaurant�s low lighting, but her usual beauty seemed heightened by the make-up she was wearing.
�Congratulations, Ranma.� She smiled. �I�m very proud of you.�
�Hey, don�t go heaping all the praise on me.� He took her hand, looking meaningfully at her. �You passed too, don�t forget. I�m prouda you too.�
She smiled warmly. �Thank you, Ranma.� She squeezed his hand affectionately.
It had been a week since Ranma and Shampoo had met and taken the entrance exams for Kayo University. Their relationship had advanced considerably in that time. Ranma found he enjoyed being with Shampoo. She accepted him unconditionally for who he was, and didn�t try to change him. It didn�t matter that he used slang all the time, or that he wasn�t as good at martial arts as he used to be.
It was, Ranma thought, nice to have someone who cared about him and wasn�t attracted to him just because of his physique and looks. Some of the girls he had known in high school had been incredible airheads when it came down to it.
And he liked Shampoo for those same reasons she liked him. She was smart, funny, and just as interested in martial arts as he was. That, and she was incredibly hot.
�So,� Shampoo said as they ate their meal, �did you find a job?�
�Yeah, I�m working at Ribera�s.�
�The steakhouse in Rippongi?�
�Yeah, it�s not the best place, but you can make good money as a waitress.....I mean waiter.�
�That, and you�ll be close to my place.�
�Yeah, I hadn�t thought of that.� Maybe this job wouldn�t be too bad.
Shampoo studied him for a moment. �What about your living arrangements?�
Ranma huffed. �That�s proving to be harder. Rent in Tokyo�s outrageous. I haven�t been able to find anythin� yet. I guess I�ll have to spend a few more weeks on Ucchan�s couch.�
�You could....you could stay with me.�
�Huh?�
�I mean, I�ve got more than enough space as it is. If you�re willing to go halves on the rent, I think it could work out alright.�
Ranma chuckled. �I couldn�t do that, Shampoo. I mean, I feel bad enough as it is takin� advantage of Ucchan�s hospitality, I couldn�t do that to you.�
Shampoo smiled wanly as Ranma continued on. Despite his good looks and fierce loyalty, and the fact that he actually got into Kayo University, her boyfriend could be incredibly dense and naive sometimes. She�d just have to correct that tonight.
*****
Ranma grew a little uneasy as Shampoo drove them home.
�Uh, Shampoo? You passed the road to Ucchan�s place.�
Shampoo�s face remained blank as she said, �I know that, Ranma.�
Ranma lapsed back into silence as he contemplated this. What was she up to? It was obvious that they were headed back to Shampoo�s apartment now. But for what purpose?
Idly, Shampoo took Ranma�s hand and began to stroke it in a casual way. Ranma looked at her, his brow furrowed in ever-growing confusion.
Shampoo turned to look at him briefly, before turning back to the road. She then took his hand and placed it on the warm spot between her inner-thighs.
�Guess what we�re going to do tonight,� She asked huskily.
Ranma gave a sharp intake of breath as she closed her legs, trapping his hand there. Shampoo just chuckled.
*****
They lay in Shampoo�s waterbed, sweaty and happy, enjoying their post-coital bliss. Ranma wore a combination of amazement and bliss on his face, trying to fully comprehend what had just happened. Shampoo lay in his arms, her head resting on his chest. Idly, she began running her finger along his cheek.
�Not bad, Ranma.� The pig-tailed boy blushed deeply at the compliment, but didn�t feel the same type of embarrassment he would have felt before tonight.
Shampoo shifted her position, so that she was back on top of him. She leaned down, her face inches away from his.
�My offer still stands, you know.�
�Hmm?�
�To move in with me.� She kissed him on the lips.
�As I�m sure you�ve seen by now, there are places other than my couch that you could sleep on. To sleep in.� She accentuated this last sentence so Ranma would not miss her meaning.�
Ranma contemplated her offer for all of a second before coming to his decision.
�If you�re sure....�
Shampoo responded by kissing him deeply, until she felt his reaction.
�I�ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Ranma.�
*****
Sometime during the night, as Shampoo and Ranma slept in each other�s arms, Shampoo�s waterbed sprung a leak. Normally cold, the water was quickly warmed by the body heat of the two young lovers.
*****
Shampoo stirred slowly the next morning. She smiled as the events of the night before drifted back to her. It felt good to awake in Ranma�s arms. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
And was greeted to the realization that instead of laying in the arms of Ranma, she was laying in the arms of a busty, red-headed girl. The girl stirred and smiled as she saw Shampoo.
�Hey,� the red-head said affectionately.
�AAAHHHH!� Shampoo said.
To Be Continued....
*****
Author�s Notes: With apologies to Sue Grafton. The car scene was inspired by a passage from her novel, A Is For Alibi. I threw in the bit about the blown-out knee because I�m lousy at writing action scenes. I�m going to try to keep this series from going down the same path that other �Ranma goes to college� fics have done and become an imitation of those �college romance� novels my little sister used to read as a kid. This fic won�t develop a huge cast where everyone is filled with angst over who is sleeping with who. It will always stay centered on Ranma, and who he sleeps with. If I never wrote another Episode for this series, this would be a good stopping point. But I don�t think I�ll stop just yet. C&C can be sent to CactusNick@yahoo.com
All characters TM & copyright 1996 by Rumiko Takahashi.
Episode 5: Side Story: Pig Dreams and Stranger Things....
*****
Ryoga Hibiki sat at the edge of the reservoir deep in thought. He really wasn�t paying much attention to his make-shift fishing pole. Nor was he paying much attention to his fishing partner as she balanced at the edge of the dam, doing katas.
�Hey, Ryoga,� Akane said.
�Hmm?�
�How long have we been friends?� Ryoga watched as Akane went through a rather complex kata, the one done to earn a 2nd-degree black belt in Jeet Kune Do. Akane did it effortlessly.
Ryoga flinched inwardly at the mention of them being �friends.� �Um, gee, about two years now, Akane.�
Akane paused in the middle of a cart-wheel to think. �Yeah, that�s about right.�
�Why do you ask, Akane?�
�I don�t know. It just occurred to me how funny all this would have been two years ago.�
�What do you mean, funny?�
Akane finished her kata and sat down next to Ryoga. �Well, I just mean, how much we�ve changed in the last two years. I mean, think about it. Back when we first met, you were chasing after that guy. What was his name?�
�Saotome.� Ryoga felt his blood heat.
�Yeah, that�s him. And of course, I was supposed to be engaged to the guy, before his father canceled it for whatever reason.�
�And stained your honor.� Ryoga was starting to get angry.
�Oh calm down, Ryoga. He didn�t do any permanent damage. Besides, it�s not like I wanted to get engaged anyways. Heck, I wasn�t even ready to start dating back then.�
�Yeah, that was kinda funny, all those guys attacking you everyday.�
�It wasn�t funny back then. But, yeah, in retrospect it�s kinda funny. Of course, you were in pretty much the same boat. You couldn�t even talk to girls without getting a nosebleed.�
�Well, that, and my curse.� Ryoga sounded indignant.
�So you turn into a pig. Big deal. It didn�t stop me from becoming your friend. And it didn�t stop you from hooking up with Akari.�
�Well, yeah. But Akari was already obsessed with pigs when I met her, so it�s not like that was a problem for her. And it�s not like the curse kept us together....�
�Why did the two of you break up last month, anyways?�
Ryoga�s voice became barely a whisper. �I...there...there was just something there, something that stood between us, I guess. I�m not sure what, exactly. But it made it impossible for us to continue seeing each other.� There were tears in his eyes now. �God, I hated to hurt her like that.�
�Oh god, Ryoga. I�m sorry, I shouldn�t have said anything.� Akane reached out to him, but he waved her off.
�It�s okay. I..I�m fine, really.�
Akane�s beeper went off, she reached down and looked at the LCD.
�Let me guess, Bart,� Ryoga said. Bart Savagewood was Akane�s gaijin boyfriend. A tall, muscular dude that was stationed at the U.S. Air Force Base on Okinawa. At 21, he was one of the youngest test pilots in American military history. They�d been dating for about six months, but Ryoga had somehow managed to avoid meeting him up to this point.
�You guessed correctly. I�m gonna meet him for lunch. Are you sure you�re going to be okay?�
�Yeah, go on.�
�You�re still coming for dinner, right?�
�Yeah, I�ll see you then.�
Akane got up and collected her fishing gear. Then she reached down and patted Ryoga on the shoulder.
�Cheer up. I�m sure you�ll meet somebody, or maybe you and Akari can figure out what was between the two of you and work it out.�
Ryoga nodded and watched as Akane ran off to meet her boyfriend, shuttering as the word crossed his mind. In truth, Ryoga knew exactly what had split him and Akari up. It�s name was Akane Tendo, and despite almost two years of telling himself that they were just friends, he was hopelessly in love with her.
*****
Ryoga trudged slowly to the Tendo Dojo, reluctant to arrive there anytime soon. Whether this had anything to do with Akane�s cooking or the possibility he might run into Bart, he couldn�t tell. As he walked, he fingered the bottle that held the medication he took to dampen his �lost gene.�
�Why don�t you just tell her,� asked a voice inside his head. The rational part of his mind that was never shy around girls and didn�t blame Ranma Saotome for all his problems. The part that Ryoga hardly ever let out to control the rest of him.
�I can�t.�
�Why not?�
�I...I just can�t.�
�Why?�
�Because, she thinks I�m just her friend. And she�s already got a boyfriend. If I tell her how I feel, it�ll just ruin our friendship and scare her away.
�Oh, so Ryoga Hibiki is scared that telling Akane he loves her will ruin their friendship.�
�Well......yeah.�
�Did it ever occur to you that maybe she might feel the same way about you?�
Ryoga gave a mental snort. �Don�t be ridiculous. Just this afternoon she called us �friends.��
�You�re pathetic.�
�Just...just shut up.�
*****
The Tendo Dojo looked pretty much the same as it always had, with the exception that the koi pond had been filled in so that a garage could be built over it. The current occupants included Akane, her sister Kasumi and their father Soun. The guest bedroom was currently being rented out by some half-Japanese/half-German girl named Asuka that Ryoga had briefly met.
Putting aside his depression, Ryoga managed his best smile as he entered the compound. Kasumi let him in.
�Welcome Ryoga.�
�Thanks, Kasumi. How are you?�
�I�m fine. Thank you.�
Akane entered. �Ryoga, I�m glad you came.�
Ryoga stared. Akane was dressed in an elegant formal kimono with a floral pattern on it. Her long blue-black hair was pulled back into a traditional ponytail.
�A-Akane...�
�How do I look, Ryoga?�
Ryoga snapped out of his reverie. �Uh...beautiful.�
Akane colored slightly.
�Hey, babe. Who�s this?�
Akane turned and grinned. Emerging from the kitchen was a tall, blond American. He stood about 6�2� and had to weigh at least 230 lbs., all muscle. But perhaps his most prominent feature was his long, protruding chin.
�Ryoga,� Akane said, �this is Bart Savagewood. Bart, this is Ryoga, my best friend.�
Ryoga again cringed inwardly at the mention of the �F� word.
�Hey dude, nice to meet ya.� Bart grabbed Ryoga�s hand to shake it, practically breaking every bone in the lost boy�s hand with his strength.
Akane broke the ice. �Ryoga, Bart is a test fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force, wrestles alligators for fun in his spare time, and he speaks five different languages. Ryoga here is a wandering martial artist and a high school drop out.�
Bart stared at him with the same goofy grin he had worn since Ryoga first met him. �Wow,� he finally said.
*****
Ryoga sat on the Tendo couch, listening to Bart drone on about his career and hobbies.
�Yeah, so there I am, about to get crushed in the jaws of this giant alligator, when my buddy Jake tosses me a T.O.W. Rocket Launcher. I point that thing at the alligator�s mouth, and blow him to kingdom come.�
Ryoga sounded bored. �Fascinating. It�s nice to know you hold endangered species in such high regard.�
�Well, hey dude. It was either him or me.�
�Yes, never mind the fact that you were in a petting zoo at the time, and the alligator was completely docile.�
�Oh, that Bart, always a kidder.� Akane walked in carrying a plate of hors d�ouveres. Ryoga�s eye began to twitch.
�Um, did you cook that, Akane?�
�Why of course, Ryoga.� Akane looked at him in wonderment. Bart interrupted.
�Hey, always great to taste Akane�s cooking.� With that, Bart Savagewood reached over and grabbed one of the greenish food stuffs that passed for Akane�s cooking. Ryoga watched in amazement as Bart ate it and then sat back, demonstrating no ill side-effects.
�Great cookin�, babe.�
Groaning inwardly, Ryoga excused himself and headed for the kitchen.
Kasumi looked up from the stove. �So how�s everything going in there, Ryoga?�
�Just fine,� Ryoga said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. �The human chin out there actually seems to enjoy Akane�s cooking.�
�Why Ryoga, do I sense some jealousy?�
Ryoga stared at her. It was a cliche, but you really couldn�t hide anything from Kasumi.
�I...I...�
Kasumi smiled. �Ryoga, it�s been obvious for quite some time now that you have feelings for my little sister. Why haven�t you ever mentioned anything to her?�
�Why do you think,� Ryoga asked as he gestured towards the living room and the Chin.
Kasumi nodded. �Akane does seem to care about Bart a lot. Though if Nabiki weren�t in prison right now, I�m sure she�d offer to break them up, for a price.�
Ryoga shook his head. �Even if she was, I�d refuse. Akane�s happiness means more to me than that. Regardless of my own feelings, I would never-�
Ryoga�s ranting was cut short as Kasumi put a hand on his mouth. Ryoga stared incredulously as Kasumi spoke.
�Ryoga, do yourself a favor and take some advice for once.� She removed her hand.
�What�s that?�
�Get off the cross.�
Ryoga was confused. �What?�
Kasumi smiled. �Ryoga, it�s nice that you play the martyr so often. But you can�t play it all the time. It�s obvious that you�re love for my sister is genuine, but you refuse to do anything about it.�
�But she�s in love with Bart.�
�Is she? Ryoga, you haven�t been here before when Bart is here. He pushes her around and manipulates her. He�s just a macho gaijin. Personally, I think their relationship is a
dead end.�
�But...but what if she doesn�t feel anything towards me?�
�Then at least you�ve tried, which is more than you can currently say for yourself. A lot of times my little sister doesn�t know what�s best for her, and someone has to tell her. Look at Tofu and me. We would have never gotten together if I hadn�t finally confronted him and forced the truth about his feelings out. In the two years I�ve known you, Ryoga, you�ve always taken the cautious path when it comes to Akane. You�ve always done what she�s wanted, and never gave any noticeable hint about your feelings towards her.�
�That�s not true. I�ve asked her to come on picnics, we�ve gone to the movies, we�ve gone rowing....�
�And each time she�s thought it was because you were her friend, not a potential suitor. And when you go on these �dates,� you always stiffen up and become jittery as a clam. Ryoga, for once in your life, take a risk. You might just find you like the results.�
*****
The rest of the evening went uneventfully. Kasumi served dinner and acted as an intermediary for Ryoga, keeping the dinner conversation away from topics that could cause Ryoga to lose his temper and attack Bart.
Ryoga, meanwhile, observed that Kasumi was telling the truth. Bart was somewhat pushy towards Akane, never really treating her like an equal.
*****
Ryoga�s apartment was what was called a �studio apartment.� Though in truth it was more like a walk-in closet. There was room for a couch, bed roll, dresser, portable TV, hotplate and a cheap card table, but that was about it. The bathroom was communal and down the hall.
Ryoga had just finished dressing for the day when there was a knock at the door. Much to his surprise, who should walk in but Akane Tendo.
�A-Akane...this is a surprise.�
�Hello, Ryoga.�
�To...to what do I owe your visit this morning, Akane.�
Akane huffed and slumped/collapsed into Ryoga�s worn and beaten couch. �I need your help, Ryoga.�
�My help.� Ryoga sat next to Akane. �My help with what?�
�Bart.�
�Savagewood! What did he do to you?!!?�
Akane was looking at the floor, so she failed to notice Ryoga�s battle aura flare up, brighter than it had ever flared before.
�It�s what he tried to do. After you left and Kasumi and Father went to bed,� she blushed, �we began making out.�
Ryoga�s battle aura flared so brightly that a peeping tom in the building across the street went blind.
�After a while, he began, well, he tried to take it beyond making out.�
�You mean...�
Akane nodded. �Yes. Actually, this isn�t the first time. Our last few dates he�s been getting pretty aggressive. I�ve been able to hold him off so far. I�m not ready to do all that, you know.�
�How...how did he react last night?�
�He didn�t take it very well. He left the house in a huff. That�s why I came over here. Ryoga, you�re my best friend. I was hoping maybe you could help me figure out some way to get Bart to realize I�m not ready for sex yet.�
Ryoga clenched his eyes shut. Great, she had come to him for help on how to cool off Bart. God, could this get any more screwed up?
Hesitantly, Akane asked, �Um, Ryoga. I hate to ask...but, how did it happen the first time
between you and Akari?�
Ryoga blushed deeply. �Actually, Akane, we never got that far in our relationship.�
�Oh. I�m sorry for asking.�
�No, it�s alright.�
Akane chuckled slightly.
�What�s so funny,� Ryoga asked.
�Nothing. Just thinking of Akari, that�s all.� She turned to look at him, smiling shyly. �You know Ryoga, after we�d been friends a few months, I realized....I realized that I was sort of attracted to you.�
�WHAT?�
�Well, just a little. But I never pursued it because you were already with Akari.�
The voice in the back of his head returned. �For the love of Buddha, capitalize on this! Put your arm around her or something!�
Slowly, hesitantly, Ryoga placed his arm on her shoulder. Akane didn�t seem to pay any attention to this.
�Well, DUH! She does consider you her best friend,� the voice said.
Ryoga mentally told the voice to shut up while he contemplated his next move. �Akane....� His voice cracked.
Akane stared at Ryoga as he took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself and regain his inner balance. Finally...
�Akane...I..I am sorry. But I cannot help you find a way to appease Bart.�
�Why not?�
�Because....because in truth, I�m jealous of him.� Ryoga was on the verge of having a heart attack.
�WHAT??!!!!� Akane�s eyes bugged out and she stared at Ryoga as if he had just told her that she was pregnant with quadruplets. Then she noticed that his arm was around her.
Quickly, Ryoga took his arm off her shoulders and placed it on the couch padding behind her. He continued, however, to stare directly at her.
�Akane. Akane, the reason things didn�t work out between Akari and me was because I was....and still am....deeply in love with you.�
Akane stared wide-eyed at him, deep in shock. Finally, �Ryoga....�
Ryoga took her hand. �Akane...�
Akane finally regained her senses. �Uh..Ryoga. I...I don�t know what to say. I...I thought we were just friends.�
�I�m sorry Akane. I tried to keep telling myself that, but I can�t any longer.�
�But I�m with Bart now.�
�I..I know that. I admit, my timing was horrible. But I couldn�t keep lying to myself, Akane. I had to tell you. I had to take that chance.�
Akane shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. �Ryoga, I�m sorry. I don�t know what to say.�
Ryoga Hibiki swallowed hard. He had fantasized often about the day he would finally confess his love to Akane. Each one ended the same, with Akane declaring she shared the same love, and agreeing to marry Ryoga. But now that the fantasy had become real, he knew how it would end, and not how he wanted it to.
�Akane....� He let go of her hand. �Akane, I�m sorry if this ruins our friendship. But I had to tell you. Otherwise I couldn�t live with myself. I�m not asking anything of you, not to date you or anything. I just had to tell you.�
�Ryoga...I...I think I understand. And this won�t ruin our friendship, we�ll always be friends. But I don�t know what else to tell you. I mean, Bart�s a great guy. I can�t throw away the last six months, our current problems aside.�
�I....I see.� The disappointment was plain in his voice.
Akane grabbed her purse. �I think I�d better go, Ryoga.�
Ryoga merely nodded, maintaining his place on the couch. �Take care.�
�Will I see you at Kayo?� Ryoga was taking equivalency classes at Kayo University, in an attempt to finally get his high school degree.
Ryoga nodded. Without another word, Akane got up and left Ryoga�s apartment. As she entered the elevator, she sighed and leaned against the wall. She had a lot of thinking to
do.
*****
Shampoo stared in horror at the red-headed girl who had taken the place of Ranma Saotome in her bed.
�Who are you?�
�Whatcha� talkin� bout, Shampoo? It�s me, Ranma.�
Shampoo shook her head. �You�re not Ranma. Ranma�s a guy.�
Ranma finally looked down at herself. �Oh crap.� Ranma finally realized that she and Shampoo were laying in a half-deflated waterbed with water leaking everywhere.
Sighing, Ranma began to explain the history of Jusenkyo curses.
*****
Ranma emerged from the bathroom dressed and toweling his hair off. He smiled at how accepting Shampoo had been of his curse. In an odd coincidence, Shampoo�s home village had been located very near the cursed springs.
Ranma finally took the opportunity to look around the rest of Shampoo�s apartment. It was fairly large for a student. He wondered how she was able to pay for it all. Wandering around, he finally realized that there was a second bedroom in the place.
Walking in, he stared at all the toys in the room. He was about to call to Shampoo and ask her about this, when he heard a knock at the door.
Ranma walked into the foyer and stared dumbstruck as a youth with long, black-hair and thick glasses walked in.
�Hello, Mousse.� Shampoo�s voice was neutral as she greeted him.
�Hello, Shampoo.� The man�s voice was also neutral.
Ranma was about to interrupt the proceedings when he heard a young voice shout out �Mommy!�
Ranma watched as a young girl, no more than two-years old, bounded in and hugged Shampoo for all she was worth. Shampoo hugged her back like there was no tomorrow.
Finally, Shampoo took the young girl�s hand and turned to face Ranma. She smiled wanly as she said:
�Ranma, this is my daughter, Chengmy.�
To be continued.....
*****
Author�s Notes: Okay, okay. I know I said I would keep the focus on Ranma, but everyone e-mailed me wanting to know what Akane was up to in this series, so here you go. Bart Savagewood is a minor character who appeared in the Bloom County comic strip in 1987. Apologies to Berke Breathed. The name of Shampoo�s daughter may raise some eyebrows, but I�m tired of fics where all the Amazons have beauty-care related names (Conditioner, Lotion, etc.). Chengmy, btw, is named after Hong Kong action star Chengmy Yau. C&C can be sent to skywarp@cephiro.com
Episode #6: Of New Loves and Old Bargains
Ranma walked into the foyer and stared dumbstruck as a youth with long, black-hair and thick glasses walked in.
�Hello, Mousse.� Shampoo�s voice was neutral as she greeted him.
�Hello, Shampoo.� The man�s voice was also neutral.
Ranma was about to interrupt the proceedings when he heard a young voice shout out �Mommy!�
Ranma watched as a young girl, no more than two-years old, bounded in and hugged Shampoo for all she was worth. Shampoo hugged her back like there was no tomorrow.
Finally, Shampoo took the young girl�s hand and turned to face Ranma. She smiled wanly as she said:
�Ranma, this is my daughter, Chengmy.�
Ranma stared, dumbstruck. The little girl, Chengmy, he corrected himself, seemed intimidated by him. Finally, she hid behind her mother�s knees, Shampoo�s knees.
�Ranma...� Shampoo said questioningly.
He finally came to his senses and bent down. Smiling softly, he said, �Hello. My name�s Ranma.� He extended his hand to the girl. With some prodding from Shampoo, the girl took Ranma�s hand and shook it.
�Hi,� she said.
*****
They went to the park, where Mousse played with the little girl while Ranma and Shampoo watched from a nearby bench.
Ranma looked at the girl, then to her mother. Chengmy bore little resemblance to her mother, sharing Mousse�s long, black hair and narrow face. �How?�
Shampoo looked away for a moment, before speaking. Two-and-a-half-years ago, there was a contest in my home village, to decide who the strongest Amazon warrior was. I won.�
�So?�
Shampoo rolled her eyes. �So. That meant that I was the strongest warrior in the village. The odds of any Amazon male beating me were next to nothing.�
�And you couldn�t get married until a male beat you?�
�Correct. When I realized that, I became depressed. I...I felt very alone.�
Ranma took her hand. �You�re not alone now.�
Shampoo smiled and squeezed his hand. �Not now, but back then.... Mousse was my most persistent challenger. He�d been obsessed with me since childhood. Every time he challenged me, however, I beat him with ease. But one day.....�
�But?�
�But one day, shortly after the tournament, he challenged me again. By that point, I was in the depths of depression.� A tear rolled down her eye. �I..I threw the fight.�
Ranma�s eyes widened in shock.
�I let him beat me. We were married right after that. I don�t know what I was thinking. I was just relieved that I wouldn�t be alone.�
�But it didn�t work out, did it?�
Shampoo shook her head. �I was already four months pregnant when Mousse and I finally realized that we could never be happy together.�
�It�s true.� They turned in shock to see Mousse standing there. Chengmy was playing on a tire swing. �I guess,� he said, �I guess I was in love with the idea of being in love with Shampoo, not actually in love with her. If that makes any sense.�
�Yeah. I think it does,� Ranma said.
Shampoo picked up the story. �We were divorced shortly thereafter. Mousse got custody because it had already been decided that I would go to Japan.�
�How often do you see Chengmy?� Ranma asked.
�Two weeks every other month.�
�So Ranma,� Mousse said, �do you like kids?�
Ranma did a double-take. He looked at Shampoo, worry plain in her eyes.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. �Yeah. I like �em a lot, actually.�
*****
Across town, at the Tendo Dojo in Nerima:
Asuka Soryu-Langley sang softly to herself as she fixed herself a sandwich from the fridge. It wasn�t that she didn�t like Kasumi�s cooking, it�s just that she could only stand so much Japanese food before it drove her crazy. Even as it was, she had a hard time finding bratwurst in Japan.
�In other words....� Akane watched with amusement as Asuka started to walk back towards the guest room she rented from the Tendos.
�Hold my hand. In other words....� Asuka�s voice faded from the room as she walked into the hallway.
Akane turned to her boyfriend, macho test-pilot Bart Savagewood. �So Bart, what time are you picking me up tomorrow?�
�Excuse me?�
�You know, for the dance.�
�What dance?�
Akane rolled her eyes. �The �Ice Breakers� dance that Kayo is holding for incoming freshmen.�
Bart shook his head. �I didn�t know there was gonna be a dance.�
�But you said you�d take me.�
�Did I? I can�t remember that.�
Akane became exasperated. �But I told you about it weeks ago.�
�No, I woulda� remembered if you told me something like that.�
�But I already bought a dress.�
Bart checked his watch. �Well, if you saved the receipt I�m sure you can take it back. Oh shit, look at the time, I gotta get to base. See ya� later, babe.�
�But...�
It was too late, however, and Bart Savagewood was out the door.
Throughout all of this, Kasumi stood quietly at the sink, washing the dishes. �Oh my, that didn�t turn out well.�
�You�re telling me.�
Kasumi looked thoughtful for a moment. �I believe Ryoga said he was going to the dance.�
�Huh?�
Kasumi nodded in remembrance. �Yes, that�s right. He is going. Why don�t you ask him?�
�Ryoga?� Akane stared at her older sister. �Kasumi, you didn�t talk to Ryoga the other night, did you?�
Kasumi smiled blithely. �Why whatever do you mean, Akane?�
�I went to visit Ryoga yesterday morning, and he broke down and told me he loved me.�
�Oh my, did he do that?�
�Yes. And now that I think, he would never do something as bold as that without some sort of prodding.�
�Well, how do you feel about that?�
�Feel about what?�
�About Ryoga being in love with you,� Kasumi stated simply.
Akane colored slightly, but shook it off. �I...he...I....we�re just friends.�
�I see.�
Akane became flustered. �I..I mean...we�re good friends....very good friends.�
�Really?�
Now Akane was blushing a deep red. �I mean....not that type of good friends....I mean....�
�You�re attracted to him, aren�t you?�
�NO! I mean....YES.....NO......I....I...YES, ALRIGHT! I�M KIND OF ATTRACTED TO HIM!� Akane collapsed into her chair.
Kasumi smiled. �Well, I�m glad we finally got that out of the way.�
*****
The dance was a formal affair, with the men wearing tuxedos and the women wearing demure gowns. Kayo University was far different from junior college. While there were no uniforms, the school maintained a strict dress code that forbade any of the popular �grunge wear� that had come to dominate Japanese late-teen fashions at the end of the twentieth century.
Akane would have been embarrassed to come to the dance by herself, if she wasn�t feeling conflicting emotions about Ryoga and Bart. She wasn�t even sure why she had come, except that she didn�t want to waste the money spent on the tickets.
The dance also drove home just how alone Akane was now. Yuka and her other friends had all gone to other colleges. She knew no one here except Ryoga, and he wasn�t even technically a real student, just a ronin taking make-up classes to get his high school equivalency degree.
Ryoga....
Akane had always dreaded being one of those girls who spent all their time at the bar, drinking away while the guys asked other, better looking girls to dance. And, of course, here she was at the dance sitting at the bar drinking away while all the other girls danced. It was at this point, at the depths of her depression that she heard a familiar voice from the next room.
�So anyways, babe, what say we go back to your place after the dance?�
BART?!!? HERE?!!?
Akane got off her barstool and moved into the next room. Sure enough, there was Bart with some girl. Akane stared incredulously at the couple.
�WHAT THE HELL IS THIS??�
Bart paled as he heard Akane�s thundering voice from across the room. He turned to see Akane standing there, her battle aura in full flare.
�A..Akane?�
�I said, what the fuck is this?� Kasumi would have been shocked at Akane�s language.
Bart began to visibly sweat. He had never seen Akane�s temper this bad before. �Um, Akane...what are you doin� here?�
�What do you think I�m doing?! I came to the dance, God only knows why, and here I find you with some cheap bimbo, after you said you couldn�t remember the dance was even occurring!�
�Well...uh...you see...�
Akane turned to finally look at the girl Bart was with. She really did look like a cheap bimbo, and had breasts at least four times larger that Akane�s.
�What I see,� Akane said, �is some cheap hussy with more saline than an IV tube in her.�
�Now, Akane. I can explain all this.�
Akane summoned her mallet from sub-space. �Oh you can bet you�re going to explain this. Hell, I�m going to beat the explanation out of your hide, you worthless gaijin.�
It had been a very long time since Akane had worked her aggression out this way. It felt very good.
*****
Ryoga, meanwhile, was situated at the other end of the ballroom, mired in the depths of his own depression. He�d hoped that going to the dance would take his mind off his now strained relationship with Akane Tendo. All it had done was drive home how alone he felt these days.
�You sonofabitch!�
WHAM!
Ryoga turned as the whole building shook.
SLAM!�
�To think, I let myself fall for some macho jerk like you!�
CRASH!
�Six months! I�ve spent the last six months trying to make this work! And you repay me by cheating on me with some slut!�
THOOM!
Ryoga ran into the room to see Akane boot some large breasted woman into Low Earth Orbit. He did a double-take as he saw Bart cowering in fear before the almighty Akane Tendo.
�Please, Akane. Show some mercy!� Tears were flowing from Bart�s eyes.
�Oh, I�ve shown you more than enough mercy! Enjoy the flight!�
Ryoga smirked slightly as Akane flipped Bart Savagewood around and booted him into HEO (High Earth Orbit).
Slowly, Akane�s battle aura died down, leaving her to sink to her knees and begin crying. Hesitantly, Ryoga approached her and put his hand on her shoulder.
Akane turned to look at him, tears streaming down her face.
�Ryoga?� She stood, shakily, and turned to fully face him.
�Uh..Akane. I...I...I mean, I�m here....�
Akane collapsed into his chest. Not knowing what else to do, Ryoga put his arms on her shoulders.
�Oh, Ryoga...� Akane began crying again. All Ryoga could do was pat her on the back and try and comfort her.
*****
�So, this is your first time at a soapland?�
�Uh, yeah.�
�What�s your name, anyways?�
�Kyosuke.�
�Nice name. What brings you to a soapland?�
�I split up with my girlfriend.�
�Oh, really. What was her name?�
�Ayukawa.�
�Hmm. Well, it�s $50.00 for a blow job, and $300.00 for full-on sex.�
�Fine.�
�Now just relax, sugar. Ucchan�ll take care of everything.�
*****
Ryoga and Akane stood in the parking lot, Ryoga using his handkerchief to clean her face.
�*sniffle* Thanks, Ryoga.�
�It�s no problem, Akane. I just wish you would have let me taken care of Bart.�
Akane smiled slightly. �I�m sure you would have.� She shook her head. �God, I can�t believe he did that.�
�You deserve better.�
�You think so?�
�I know so, Akane.�
Akane bit her lip and thought for a moment. �He really hurt me, you know.�
Ryoga frowned. �I would never do anything to hurt you, Akane.�
�I know, Ryoga.� Hesitantly, Akane took Ryoga�s hand.
�Akane?�
�I�m on the rebound, right now Ryoga. So I can�t guarantee this will work.�
�What will work?�
Akane blushed. She took Ryoga�s hand and clasped it to her heart. �Us. I mean...what I�m trying to say...�
Akane took several deep breaths, trying to find her inner-balance. Finally, �I mean, I�m willing to give this a chance. To give US a chance.�
Ryoga�s eyes widened in shock. �You mean...�
�Yes, Ryoga. I can admit now that I l-l-lo....have some feelings for you. And I�m willing to see if we can make a relationship work.�
�Akane, I don�t know what to say.�
She took her free hand and brought it to the nape of his neck. Slowly, she began to pull his face down towards hers.
�Don�t say anything at all.� And kissed him.
*****
As Soun Tendo reached to answer the phone, he caught site of Akane�s boyfriend sailing through the night sky.
�Hmm. I guess Akane finally dumped that macho goof. Tendo residence.�
�Uh...hello Soun.�
Soun�s eyes hardened. �Hello, Saotome. To what do I owe the honor of receiving a phone call from one so honorless as yourself?�
�Now wait a minute, you know damn well it wasn�t my idea to call off the engagement between our two clans.�
�No, but you went along with it, and stained the honor of both families.�
�Look, I�m not happy with it either. But my wife�s got that damn katana. Never mind, I�ve got good news.�
�Oh, what�s that? You�ve finally decided to commit seppuku?�
�No, even better. Nodoka now feels that Ranma is old enough to handle the curse AND honor his engagement.�
�You mean....�
�Yes.�
The two of them cried out in unison, �AND SOON THE CLANS WILL BE JOINED!�
*****
Ranma sneezed.
�Everything alright?� Shampoo asked.
�Yeah, I guess someone is talking about me right now.�
�Well, whatever it is, I�m sure it�s not important.� With that, Shampoo snuggled up to her boyfriend.
�Yeah, nothing important.� Ranma said as the two began to make love.
To be continued....
Author�s Notes: Ryoga acting clam around Akane isn�t really OOC in this fic, as he�s already been with Akari here. C&C can be sent to cactusnick@yahoo.com
About The Author: W*ING Higley is the author of over 13 different fanfics, including the critically acclaimed �Tenchi Muyo: The Apprentice� and �Evangelion: The Day After.� When not writing fan fiction, Mr. Higley enjoys golfing and making life miserable for the brain trust who decided to hold Anime Expo at Disney this year. W*ING Higley currently lives in the Southeastern U.S.
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