I hope this doesn't get deleted along with all the other
junk. Just an extra note, please email me any comments, rather
than post onto the ML. TIA.


Chapter 13
 
[In front of Ucchan's, Late Morning]
 
(Akane has just asked Ranma where they should go)
 
Ranma: (Scratching his head) Um... how about the wrestling
 match?
 
Akane: (Raising her eyebrows) A  _wrestling match_?
 
Ranma: (Nodding) Yeah, I've known about it for two weeks,
 'cept I didn't think I'd get to go since it's during school. But
 now that we're playing hookey-
 
Akane: (Shaking her head) No. Definitely not.
 
Ranma: How about the arcade?
 
Akane: I don't think so.
 
Ranma: (Throwing his hands up in the air) Well, where do
 you want to go then?!
 
Akane: (Hands on hips) How about the skating rink?
 
Ranma: (Angry) Oh yeah right, last time I went there I got kissed.
 'Sides, skating is no fun.
 
Akane: Is too! You just don't like 'cause you suck at it.
 
Ranma: I skate just fine! 'Member, I beat the 'Golden Pair', no
 problem!
 
Akane: (Snorting) That's only because Azusa broke the skating
 rink before you had a chance to loose.
 
Ranma: I- (Stops) Fine, I'm sorry we started this stupid fight.
 Let's stop, ok?
 
Akane: (Taken back) S-sure. 
 
Ranma: (Relieved) Good. Now how about we go to a
 hockey tournament?
 
Akane: (Annoyed) I don't think you and I are thinking on
 the same wavelength.
 
Ranma: What, you want me to take you to some 'romantic'
 white-tux restaurant? Get real!
 
Akane: (Boiling) I'd rather go to a strip-joint than a fancy
 restaurant with you! Or anyplace for that matter!
 
Ranma: (Furious) Then why don't you go away!
 
Akane: I will! (Turns, starts stomping and stops. Turning her
 head,) You know, P-Ran can't possibly be you; he's so much
 sweeter than you!
 
(Silence)
 
Ranma: (Lowering his, head, having a hard time controlling his
 voice) Fine then, if you feel that way Akane, I'll leave.
 
Akane: (Surprised, facing her whole body to him) No, wait, Ranma!-
 
Ranma: Good bye. (Runs a few feet, jumps onto a roof and goes off
 into the distance)
 
Akane: (Holding her hands together, quietly) That wasn't what I
 meant, Ranma.
 
 
[Under a bridge, early evening]
 
 
(Ranma is sitting on a large rock, hugging his knees and staring
 into the water)
 
Ranma: Stupid girl... (Picks up a pebble, and throws it from hand to
 hand) Why, why, why? Why is that other Ranma so much better
 than me? 
 
 (He throws the rock into the water, and lays his head on his knees)
 
Ranma:  *I... I feel the same way when I thought Akane loved
 Shinnosuke. Oh, Akane, you idiot....*
 (Stares a little longer)
 
Voice: Came here to mope too, huh? (Ranma turns, too deep
 in thought to have heard any footsteps. It's Ukyou; she takes
 a seat next to the rock Ranmas sitting on)
 
Ranma: Er, hi Ucchan. (Realises something) You didn't hear
 anything I just said, did you?
 
Ukyou: Me? Naw. (Looking at him) But you look really upset;
 what, Akane again?
 
Ranma: (Blinking) How did you know?
 
Ukyou: (Lowering her head) It's always Akane.
 
 (Silence)
 
Ranma: (Clearing his throat) P-Ran didn't hurt you, did he? 
 
Ukyou: (Avoiding Ranma's gaze by looking at the water) N- Well,
 yes, I guess you could say that. (Sighs) But since you really feel
 that way about Akane- (Her eyes fills with tears) I would have
 heard it sooner or later.
 
Ranma: (Feeling awful) Ucchan, P-Ran doesn't know what he's
 talking about! 
 
Ukyou: Ranma, don't bother. I-I knew all ready.
 (Takes a deep breath) I didn't want to admit it, that's all. 
 
Ranma: Ucchan-
 
Ukyou: Please, just give me some time to think.
 (Looks up to him and gives him a watery smile)
 Then I'll talk to you, ok?
 
Ranma: (Feeling as if a knife was being stabbed into his heart)
  Ok, but it's getting cold, you should go home.
 
Ukyou: (Shaking her head) I'll be fine, Ran-chan.
 
Ranma: (Doubtful) If you say so...
 
 (He stands up, and begins to walk up the hill. He reaches the
 sidewalk, where he finds a pebble to kick)
 
Ranma: *Aw, who am I kidding? I have nowhere to go.*
 
 (He looks up at the sky, which is dotted with a few stars)
 
Ranma: *Akane. Be happy with that jerk* 
 
Voice: Hey, Ranma! (Ranma turns to see P-Ran running to him) 
 
Ranma: (Voice cold) What do you want?
 
P-Ran: Where are you going?
 
Ranma: Ahead.
 
P-Ran: (Observing Ranma for a moment) You screwed up with
 Akane again, didn't you?
 
Ranma: (Whirling around) I did _not_! (Glaring at him) And who
 are you to talk, because of you Ucchan is down there, crying.
 
P-Ran: (Winces) Yeah, I know. But she would have been more
 hurt if you had just kept on lying to her.
 
Ranma: You're the one that keeps lying about me! 
 
P-Ran: Yeah, yeah. By the way, Akane's sorry.
 
Ranma: (Surprised) She said that?
 
P-Ran: No, but I can tell. 
 
Ranma: Just like you can 'tell' what my feelings are?
 
P-Ran: (Calmly) Ranma, I don't know what you have
 against me-
 
Ranma: Isn't it obvious?
 
P-Ran: (Ignores him) But Akane's back home lookin' really down,
 and I'd bet all my money it's over some silly fight.
 
Ranma: (Head down) ... (Quietly) Is she really upset?
 
P-Ran: Yeah, she's being quiet and thoughtful.
 
Ranma: If she is, then... (Looks up) All right, I'll go
 back home.
 
P-Ran: Good for you; now let's go, or Akane and the
others willget worried. (P-Ran starts running)
 
 
[Before he joins P-Ran, he looks back where Ukyou is. He's
 about to go back down, re-considers, and runs after P-Ran.
 The scene fades]