=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Part Four-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
(The morning is crisp and new, after a cleansing storm has scrubbed the
world clean. Birds chirp joyfully, the sun shines brightly and the world
certainly seems at peace. It is Sunday, as time reckons, and the
temperature starts to shoot up. Not many cars roam the streets as
people take to their bikes and their feet, to save on gasoline. The
overall pace of the day seems to be a laissez-faire package deal, a slow
and relaxing change from the punishing pace that school and work
demands. As always, Kasumi and Nodoka are up at the crack of
dawn, preparing the breakfast. P-Chan, who returned sometime
during the night, snuggles closer in Akane's arms. Nabiki wakes up,
savoring her dream of money raining from Heaven. Soun and Genma
wake up, savoring their common dream of "disposing" of Happosai and
dumping him in the deepest pits of Hell. Happosai is still asleep,
clutching a pair of panties. Akane, Ranma and Ranma-chan go for their
morning run.)
Akane : P-Chan came back, Ranma! Isn't he a good little boy?
Ranma : Yes, isn't he? (for once, P-Chan does not make faces at him)
Ranma-chan : (running in one spot, her hair and bosom bouncing
lightly) You said it! Let's go!
(The threesome run around the neighbourhood, with Ranma and
Ranma-chan leaping over houses and running on fences. Akane
sheds her inhibition against overt displays of her martial arts skill
and she joins the other two in their little game of leaping over houses)
Ranma : So, you've finally decided to join us!
Akane : Such a fine day musn't be wasted, y'know!
Ranma-chan : Watch this, you guys!
(She crouches and leaps high into the air, eclipsing the morning sun for
a brief moment, and she lands on one foot on the top of a tall telephone
pole. Ranma-chan proceeds to jump from pole-top to pole-top with
grace and ease. Ranma follows his female-counterpart's lead and he
starts leaping from telephone pole to pole. Akane just shakes her head
and follows suit - on the ground for there were enough people out to
make her think twice about calling attention to herself. The three of
them finish their run and head back to the Tendo residence.)
Akane : Well, nothing like a good exercise in the morning to get one
going!
Ranma : You said it!
Ranma-chan : Hey, that's MY line!
Ranma : Same thing, no?
(The trio set a good pace and upon their return they are soaked with
sweat. As Akane and Ranma-chan talk animatedly, Ranma tries to avoid
looking at their chests, because sweat tends to make their light cutoff
shirts cling to their breasts, but to no avail. Luckily for him the two
girls seem not to notice his gaze, continuing their conversation. Akane
goes to take a shower and Ranma and Ranma-chan turn to each other.)
Ranma : Well, let's have a little martial arts practice before a shower
and breakfast!
Ranma-chan : Alright!! Let's go!
(The two leap high into the air, exchanging punches and kicks above the
carp pond. The fierce grins on the two of them show their obvious
enthusiasm for their art. Genma looks on with pride at his son and
his daughter fighting. The two land and duke it out on the ground.)
Ranma : (ducking a swing) You're no slacker, that's for sure! (snaps
out a sidekick aimed at Ranma-chan's ribs.)
Ranma-chan : (deflecting the kick and replying with one of her own)
Same with you!
(Ranma catches her leg and twists it, hoping to throw Ranma-chan to the
ground, but Ranma-chan quickly twirls in the air and snaps the other leg
out at his head. Ranma drops her leg and somersaults out of range
while Ranma-chan easily flips back onto her feet.)
(As Akane watches the both Ranmas fight, she suddenly realizes that she
could never hope to win in a fight situation with either Ranma. So why
was she so good at beating the crap out of them both? Why don't they
ever hit her back?)
(Ranma-chan runs in and unleashes a flying roundhouse kick aimed at
Ranma's head. Ranma ducks the kick and replies with an uppercut
punch directed at Ranma-chan's solar plexus. Ranma-chan catches and
holds his fist in two hands, and using her weight and momentum, she
twists on her way back to the ground and sends Ranma into a throw.
Ranma flips in the air and Ranma-chan launches a flying kick at him.
Ranma twists aside at the last moment and sends a chop to her exposed
neck. Ranma-chan blocks the blow and the two land on the ground,
facing each other, barely winded. Then they begin to fight some more,
with the same results, for more than half an hour. Eventually they call
it a draw.)
Genma : The two of them are evenly matched, Tendo.
Soun : So it is.
Akane : Wow, I've never really seen such fighting skill in some time...
Nodoka : Well, I think a girl should not be fighting as savagely as
Ranko is. A girl should be more refined, more subtle.
(She looks strangely at Ranma-chan for a long moment as she cools off
under a garden hose. Dripping wet, her shirt hanging loosely about her
slim shoulders, Ranma-chan shoots the stream of water at Ranma - who
cringes at first, then, realizing his mistake, roars in mock outrage at the
unexpected attack. He launches himself at Ranma-chan and the two
grapple on the ground for the hose. Ranma-chan's shirt slips loose a
little more but Ranma seems not to notice. Genma and Soun start to
sweat a little and Akane's eyes narrow dangerously. Ranma rips the
hose away from Ranma-chan's grip and sprays her with an unrelenting
stream of cold water. Ranma-chan squeals with laughter and holds her
hands up in mock surrender. Ranma turns the water off and grins at his
female counterpart, who smiles back. Nodoka says not a word and she
starts to dish out the rice.
Ranma and Ranma-chan take their showers, at different times, and
head downstairs. Ranma is dressed in a cutoff shirt and shorts while
Ranma-chan is wearing her pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt with the
words "Wet-N-Wild" printed diagonally on the front in lettering
resembling spouts of water. Even Akane had to grin at Ranma-chan's
choice of clothing. The two families eat their breakfast and the
teenagers congregate to discuss plans for the afternoon.)
Ranma : So, what are we doin' today?
Nabiki : Well, it's a nice, hot day...(her voice trails off, suggesting...)
Akane : I know, we can go to the beach!
Ranma-chan : The beach? That's a great idea!
Ranma : Yeah, let's go! (gets up and runs to his room)
Akane : (to Ranma-chan) Ranko, do you know where you can find
Ryoga?
Ranma-chan : Ryoga? Why, Akane?
Akane : Well, if we're going to have fun, why don't we bring Ryoga
along too? He's my friend even if he isn't yours.
Ranma-chan : I didn't say that! (glances quickly at P-Chan in Akane's
arms) Well, if I can _find_ him, then I guess it is okay, IF he wants to
go.
(After a moment's hesitation, P-Chan leaps out of Akane's arms and
trots away, grunting contentedly.)
Akane : Now, don't you go too far again, P-Chan!
(P-Chan gives a non-committal grunt)
Akane : Maybe I should get a collar and a leash for him....
P-Chan : (whirls around, eyes wide) BUU-KIII!?
Ranma-chan : Maybe not. He's not some kind of stupid dog. He's a
smart one, that pig. He just has a bad sense of direction.
Akane : I prefer to call it `adventuring spirit', Ranko! I guess you're
quite right. I don't think I could bear to put a collar on him, not after
what Azusa did.
P-Chan : Kweew! (he wipes a sweat drop from his forehead)
Ranma-chan : (to Akane) I'll go get my change of clothing, then I'll go
find Ryoga, okay?
Akane : Sure, Ranko. I'll just help Kasumi with the dishes and I'll get
ready after.
Nabiki : Okay, I'll meet you guys at the beach, then. I'll save you a
spot, heh heh heh.
(Ranma-chan follows P-Chan upstairs to the bathroom. P-Chan leaps
into a tub of hot water and Ryoga emerges from the tub - just as Ranma-
chan walks in.)
Ryoga : AAAAAHH!!! Ranma, what are you doing in here? (sinks
lower into the tub and pinches his nose.)
Ranma-chan : For pity's sake, I'm a guy, not a girl. Well, there are
two ways to look at it....
Ryoga : (still pinching his nose) You're a girl right ndow, so will you
please turn around while you're in here?!
Ranma-chan : Oh, alright! (she turns around) Anyways, I just wanted
you to know what you're getting into if you follow us to the beach.
Ryoga : (quickly drying off) I'll just borrow Shampoo's anti-curse soap
again.
Ranma-chan : You mean that useless thing? It just wears off after a
while. (she feels the urge to turn around and look at Ryoga)
Ryoga : How long do you suppose I'm going to swim in the water,
Ranma? (pulls on his normal clothing, which just happened to be in the
clothes hamper) Okay, you can turn around now.
Ranma-chan : (Turning around. Looks at Ryoga and sighs, somewhat
disappointed.) Y'know, if you ask Shampoo to lend you the soap, she'll
definitely ask for a reason why.
Ryoga : What do you mean?
Ranma-chan : One way or another, she'll find out that we're all goin'
to the beach, then she'll want to come too.
Ryoga : So?
Ranma-chan : Let's just say that catfight won't describe what will
happen if you put Akane near Shampoo.
Ryoga : So? Is it my fault that they fight?! I'm blameless for anything
relating to that!
Ranma-chan : (hand on face, eyes shut) Tell you what. I'll simply
invite Shampoo along and I'll ask for an extra bar of that soap. Okay?
(She leads Ryoga out of the bathroom and tells him to go join Akane at
the bottom of the stairs. She watches him to make sure that he finds his
way downstairs and then she goes to get her swimsuit. Ranma comes
out of his room just as she reached for the doorknob.)
Ranma : Gettin' ready? I am! (he holds up a borrowed swimsuit from
Akane)
Ranma-chan : (tries not to laugh) Uh, Ranma?
Ranma : Yeah?
Ranma-chan : What's that in your hand?
Ranma : A pair of.....aww, jeez!!
Ranma-chan : Forgot, again?
Ranma : Shuddup, you. (Ranma-chan giggles)
(He heads back into the room, followed by Ranma-chan. She grabs her
swimsuit and Ranma grabs a pair of men's swimming trunks. They both
head downstairs to meet up with Akane, who was putting dishes away.)
Ranma-chan : Uhm....Akane?
Akane : Yes? (she is holding a metal frying pan cover.)
Ranma-chan : We gotta stop by Nekohanten before we go to the beach.
(*Crunch* The cover crumples like paper beneath Akane's grip, her
fingers making indentations in the tempered steel.)
Akane : What for, RanKO? (she smiles sweetly, and she puts the piece
of modern artwork in the cupboard.)
Ranma-chan : (under her breath) Jeez. Why'd I hafta be the one to tell
her, of all people? (to Akane) I have to see her. To get something.
Akane : WHO are you talking about, RanKO?
(She starts to reach for a porcelain plate while still looking at Ranma-
chan, but Kasumi surreptiously moves the dish rack out of her little
sister's grasping fingers and places a wet dishcloth in Akane's hands.
Akane seems not to notice as she wrung the dishcloth tighter, and
tighter, as if she were strangling some imagined enemy, and streams of
water flowed from the tortured dishcloth. Kasumi smiled and readied
another wet dishcloth.)
Ranma-chan : Y'know, Shampoo.
Akane : Why?! She'd only cause trouble!
Ranma-chan : (finally getting fed up with Akane's attitude) Jeez, Akane!
What's wrong with bringing another person along? Don't you ever
think about her feelings for once? Don't you think she gets sick of
being alone and working in that restaurant? I'm sure that ghoul can
handle the store by herself for one day.
(Akane looks strangely at Ranma-chan for a moment, then she steps out
the kitchen, grabs her bag, and heads out the door. Kasumi smiles as
she picked up the five dishcloths that Akane had wrung bone-dry.
Ranma, Ranma-chan and Ryoga follow in her wake and soon the
foursome are heading in the direction of Nekohanten. They reach
Nekohanten in a matter of minutes. There are no lines of people outside
the restaurant and a quick glance at its interior seemed to indicate that
there were no customers inside.)
Akane : I'll wait outside while you go in and ask her, but I'm sure she'll
be too busy to get off work.
Ranma-chan : Too busy...? (looks at the restaurant) Alright.
Ranma : I'll go in too... (starts to head in.)
Akane : (she grabs his pigtail. Ryoga puts his hand through a nearby
wall) No you don't! Ranma can do it all by herself, can't she!?
Ranma-chan : S-sure, Akane.
(She pushes aside the billowing curtains that comprise of the store's
door, and she steps into the richly-scented atmosphere that is
Nekohanten. The delicious aroma of cooking ramen and steaming pork
buns wafted from the kitchen and into Ranma-chan's nostrils, making
her salivate. It was as it was seen from the outside - there were no
customers at this time of the day and the only person seen in the entire
restaurant is Shampoo, who is half-heartedly wiping a table. She turns
around at the sound of Ranma-chan's footsteps.)
Shampoo : Girl-type Ranma. (she plops into a nearby chair and
indicates that Ranma-chan take a seat too.)
Ranma-chan : Thanks, Shampoo.
Shampoo : Oh, Ranma. Shampoo SO bored. (she rests her arm on the
table and puts her chin on her palm.)
Ranma-chan : Why's that?
Shampoo : Shampoo have to work in here, but is no customers.
Shampoo have nothing to do.
(Shampoo absent-mindedly twirls a bowl by the rim on the tip of her
index finger of her other hand as she spoke.)
Ranma-chan : Look, if I get your great-great grandmother to let you off
work for the day, will you do me a favor?
Shampoo : Is true, Ranma?! You can get Shampoo have fun? (she flips
the bowl onto the table and she perks up, eyes wide)
Ranma-chan : Trust me! I'm sure she'll agree! That withered old
mummy ought to know better than to....
(Ranma-chan suddenly threw her hand up - just in time to catch a well-
aimed chopstick that had shot out of the kitchen.)
(Voice from the kitchen) : Who are you calling a withered old mummy?!
(Cologne comes hopping out of the kitchen on her stick with a takeout
bag of hot dumplings in one hand.)
Shampoo : Great-great grandmother, can Shampoo go out?
Cologne : There isn't much business on a Sunday anyways, and I'd
rather stay inside and rest these old bones a bit. Why not let my great-
great-granddaughter go out for a bit of fun in the sun?
Shampoo : Is true, great-great-grandmother?
Cologne : Yes, child. And take these dumplings with you. (tosses the
bag to Shampoo) I have a feeling that you might be going to the beach.
(she looks pointedly at Ranma-chan's swimsuit hanging over her
forearm.) See you kids later. (she hops into the back of the kitchen)
Shampoo : Beach, Ranma? Who go beach with you?
Ranma-chan : Umm..er...!
Shampoo : Shampoo no really care.
Ranma-chan : (thinking to herself) Oh, really?
Shampoo : Shampoo go get swimsuit and anti-curse soap. Wait here,
Ranma!
Ranma-chan : Okay, but bring two bars of that soap!
Shampoo : Why?
Ranma-chan : One for Ryoga, okay? Think of this as a favor for me.
Shampoo : O-kay. Shampoo be back!
(With a noticeable bounce in her steps, she runs upstairs. Ranma-chan
hears a splash of water and the furious quacking of a duck, followed by
what sounds like a minor struggle between the duck and Shampoo, who
keeps scolding the duck to `hold still so Shampoo can tie stupid duck
up'. After the minor altercation, Shampoo returns with her swimsuit
and two bars of soap. She tosses one to Ranma-chan and the two head
outside the restaurant. As Shampoo exits the restaurant, she and Akane
meet eye to eye in a searing confrontation that scorches the humid
atmosphere with its sheer intensity.)
Shampoo : Hai-yaah! Tom-boy girl!
Akane : Rrrrrgh...! (puts her hand through a nearby wall, making a hole
next to Ryoga's)
Ranma : Um, you guys? Let's go before Nabiki loses her spot on the
beach!
Ranma-chan : Somehow that makes me want to laugh, but something
prevents me from doing it.
Shampoo : Okay, ai ren! We go! (tosses her rival a sneer and clings
onto Ranma's arm.)
Ranma-chan : (grabbing hold of Akane and Ryoga's hands with her
own) Let's go, already!
(Ranma-chan surreptiously slips Ryoga the anti-curse soap as she places
her hand in Ryoga's. The fivesome make good time, regardless of the
seething emnity brewing between Akane and Shampoo, and they soon
reach the beach. The group separates as they reach the changing rooms.
Ranma and Ryoga head off to the men's section while Ranma-chan,
Akane and Shampoo go to change.)
Ranma-chan : Wow, so this is what it feels like to _use_ the women's
change room....
Akane : And you're not already familiar with it....?
Ranma-chan : That was only because I wanted to find that Nannichuan
under that girls' locker room! And Mom forced me to go bra shopping.
Now that I'm in girl-form, and I'm using it because I want to....
Akane : Oh, well. I suppose you can't go change in the men's section,
though you can if you want to...
Ranma-chan : And have the lot of them drooling over me?! No, thanks
but I'd rather have a shower with WATER, not drool.
Akane : I'm just kidding! Can't you take a joke? (she walks into the
shower area)
Shampoo : (fanning Akane's smouldering ember of hatred) Akane make
joke too much.
Akane : (smouldering ember fanned by comment, grows in intensity)
Shut up, you mindless, sex-crazed, half-cat bimbo!
Shampoo : (eyes light up with inner fires) Akane built like brick, thigh
too thick, hair is cowlick!!
Ranma-chan : Hey, hey! No fighting, you guys! (sotto voice) People
are _watching_!
Akane : (looking at Ranma-chan) Hey, you're the one who started
calling me those names, not to mention starting this whole fiasco by
bringing HER along, so why don't you...!
(Shampoo strips naked in front of Akane and Ranma-chan, showing off
her tremendously well-proportioned curves with a knowing sneer on her
face directed at Akane, before she starts to wash herself under the
shower hose with the anti-curse soap. Akane glowers at Ranma-chan,
who recoils at the amount of venom in that gaze, so unlike Akane.)
Akane : Wasn't it a such a good idea to bring her along, Ranma.
Ranma-chan : Aw, Akane. Give me and her a break, willya?
(She strips off her clothing and starts to shower, and Akane does the
same. Akane steals quick glances at both Ranma-chan's body and
Shampoo's body, comparing their figures with hers, their breast sizes
with her own. Ranma-chan doesn't seem to notice as she tilts her face
upwards in the stream of cool water, letting the cleansing liquid flow
down her face, over her breasts and down her body, little rivulets of
pure water running over her backside and between her legs, to snake
their way down her shapely calves and onto the ceramic floor. Her
perfect skin glowed with a healthy sheen and she let out a small sigh of
pleasure. Akane snorted and went back to showering her body.)
(Ranma-chan, sensing that Akane was finally not paying any attention
to her, opens her eyes and looks around the shower area. The sight
of naked females doesn't even elicit a twinge of pleasure in her body.
She remembered the time when she, Mr. Tendo and her dad went off
to search for the Happodaikirin scroll, and she was forced to infiltrate
a girls-only hot spring in order to lay hands on the scroll. How she
was intimidated, yet sexually excited, by the sight of nude female
bathers, even though she was in girl-form at that time! She turned the
shower hose off and she went off to get changed into her swimsuit.)
(Shampoo finished rubbing the anti-curse soap into every inch of her
body and she began to rinse herself off. Oh, how nice the cool water
feels on her human form! She let the cool, cleansing water run through
her flowing, lavender hair. With a quick motion, she risked a glance
behind her. <Girl-type Ranma looks much, much better than Akane,
she thought. That sexless, no-figure, tomboy can't compete with me, but
girl-type Ranma can....great-great-grandmother says that all obstacles
to marriage with one's beloved are to be defeated. Or slain in many,
many horrible ways. I wonder what I should do...?> Then she thought
back to her insult at Akane's figure and inwardly winced. If only her
Japanese were as good as her Chinese, she'd REALLY call Akane a
thing or two....)
(Outside the men's change room, Ranma and Ryoga wait impatiently for
the three female members of their troupe to emerge from the women's
room.)
Ryoga : What's keeping them so long?
Ranma : Don't ask me, I'm not a girl. Well, not a girl anymore, that
is! (whacks his chest in pride)
Ryoga : So, how's it like not being cursed anymore...?
Ranma : Feels great!! Now I can take all the cold showers I want
without having to dunk myself in hot water to change back into a guy!
Now I don't have Kuno running after me, except to challenge me. Hey,
it's PA-RA-DISE for me, man!
Ryoga : You don't know what you're lucky to have until you lose it, eh?
Do you think it'd be a good idea to use that Nullifier...on me?
Ranma : (leans forward) Hey, man.
Ryoga : What?
Ranma : (whispers) Would you like to be stuck as a pig for the rest of
your life?
Ryoga : No way! I'd rather die first!
Ranma : Then don't use the Nullifier, ever. Y'see, the girl Ranma is
really me in a different body, you know that right? Anyways, her..I
mean..HIS personality is going through some major changes because of
her female body. He was starting to act more and more like his female
body, but you weren't here to see it, though.
Ryoga : Then why hasn't your personality changed?
Ranma : Because I was a guy from before and my personality suits me
just fine the way I am. Now, because the girl Ranma doesn't have a
much of a male side to balance out, his, um, personality is sorta going
to his girl's side, y'know what I mean? Just think. What if another
Ryoga was created, but he was stuck as P-Chan. He'd feel like hell
when he's not around Akane but...
Ryoga : ....I would turn into a pig in mind, too. Imagine what that
would mean for your dad, or Shampoo, or Mousse....!
Ranma : Exactly. Oh, here they come. Took them long enough.
(Ranma-chan saunters out in her outrageously sexy Body Glove
swimsuit, followed by Shampoo in a two piece bikini and a stony-faced
Akane in a striped swimsuit. Ryoga gapes at Ranma-chan's incredible
beauty, enhanced tenfold by the sexy swimsuit. Ranma sweats a little
as he looks at Ranma-chan, who poses a little for the benefit of males
in the immediate vicinity; last night's little caper was still swimming
around in his thoughts. He looks at Akane, who gives him a stare that
could obliterate him, if looks could kill.)
Ranma : (fidgets) Uh...what's wrong, Akane?
Akane : Nothing. Let's go find Nabiki, OKAY?. (she leaves her
sentence off with a flat tone, indicating that she doesn't want to talk
about it, not yet.)
Ranma-chan : Hey, you guys! I think I see Nabiki over there! (she
points off in the distance, where Nabiki could be seen waving to all of
them.)
(The fivesome plop down on the beach towels that Nabiki got off
someone, and they begin to enjoy the warming rays of the sun while
listening to nearby CD players, belonging to other people, positioned
strategically around their beach spot. When Ranma commented about
how lucky they were to be so close to other peoples' CD players, saving
them from the trouble of bringing their own, Nabiki only smiled and
sipped at her iced tea, implying that luck had nothing to do with it. The
day passes slowly, much to their relief and delight, and the activity on
the beach increases as the sun moves closer and closer to its zenith in
the cloudless sky.)
Ranma : (opening his eyes) I'm goin' for an ice cream. Coming,
Akane?
Akane : Mmmmph. Zzzzznx*~...Die, Shampoo.... (an unopened pop
can somehow found its way into her hands and she crushed it into an
unrecognizable ball with one hand, its contents exploding outwards and
seeping into the sand, disappearing in seconds.)
Shampoo : Zzzzzzz. Mmm, Akane, wo yao...(fist pounds deep into the
ground, spraying sand on a sleeping Ryoga).....zzz (tosses and turns on
her beach towel)
Nabiki : (holding a tape recorder in each hand, each recorder under
Akane and Shampoo's nose, respectively) Shhh, Ranma. This would
be quite something, wouldn't you say?
Ranma : Yeah. Sure, Nabiki. Coming, err..Ranko? Ranko?
(The spot where his female counterpart was lying on is empty. Ranma
shrugs his shoulders and strolls over to the ice cream stand. As he digs
in his pocket for money, he ducked under the canvas flap and stopped,
directing his full attention to fishing out 100 yen for an ice-cream cone.)
(Male voice) : Wow! You sure can finish a banana split quickly,
y'know that?
(Another male voice) : That's..um..amazing! Want another one?
(Ranma-chan's voice) : Sure, guys! Another one!
(Ranma looked up in surprise and sees Ranma-chan sitting at a table and
surrounded by admiring boys. His friends, including Hiroshi, seemed
to be putting the moves on Ranma-chan. Suddenly all thoughts of an
ice-cream cone flew out of his mind as he silently ghosted closer to the
table.)
Ranma-chan : Wow, thanks guys! How much was it?
(Guy #1) : 300 yen! But for you, it's free!
(Guy #2) : Let me buy you another one when you finish that one, okay?
(Guy #3) : No, let me!
Ranma-chan : Whoa, slow down, guys! Heh, heh! (she devours her
banana split with gusto)
Hiroshi : Ranko?
Ranma-chan : Hmm?
Hiroshi : Will you...umm...that is...are you...(visions of swimming
beside `Ranko' float through his head.)
Ranma-chan : (still thinking of Hiroshi as a normal friend) Doing
anything later tonight? No. Why? (starts on the second dish)
Hiroshi : (quick to seize any opportunity) Want-to-go-out-to-the-movies-
tonight? I'll-pay-of-course! After-that-we-can-try-out-that-new-restaurant,
you-know-the-really-high-class-one! (sweats heavily as he waits for
Ranma-chan to respond)
Ranma-chan : The movies? Sure. And a restaurant? Well...alright.
Say, what happened to fast food joints? Oh, I don't care. You just pay
my way and I'll tag along. (noisily resumes eating her ice-cream)
Hiroshi : You mean...you'll go with me? Yippeee!!
(Guy #2) : Lucky guy.
(Guy #1) : I'll say.
Ranma : (sliding up beside Ranma-chan) Hey, Ranko.
Ranma-chan : Ranma! Have a seat! (points with one arm to an empty
seat)
(Guy #3) : No, that's my seat!
(Ranma merely stares at him, eyes flashing, until the boy backed down.
Ranma took his seat and leaned in close to Ranma-chan.)
Ranma : Aren't you overdoing it, Ranko?
Ranma-chan : Hey, how can I pass up free food, free treats and free
movie tickets? These guys must really want to get on my good side!
I was never this popular....!
Ranma : That's not the only side they want to be on...you just be real
careful, okay? Believe it or not, you are the catch of the beach. See,
even the girls are whispering something bad about you.
(Ranma-chan turns her head and sees a group of whispering girls sitting
at a table. Every now and then, a girl would turn around and spy upon
Ranma-chan. Quite a few of them also spied on Ranma, much to
Ranma-chan's amusement and Ranma's embarassment. The two
Ranmas make a strange contrast sitting side by side. They look
familiar, with basic facial features and their pigtails, but the similarity
ends there. Where Ranma's muscular upper body seemed to perfectly
compliment his chiseled features, Ranma-chan's firm breasts, rounded
hips and slender arms matched her delicate face.)
Ranma-chan : Seems like I'm not the only catch of the beach.
Ranma : (reddens) Well, y'know it's about time girls started noticing my
good looks!
Ranma-chan : What are you talking about? What about Akane,
Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi? And don't forget me!
Ranma : What is that supposed to mean? (thinking about a certain
nighttime incident almost shared with Ranma-chan)
Ranma-chan : I already knew how good I looked when we were half and
half, and since I'm a girl now, I count, don't I? Well anyways, I'm `hot
stuff' now?
Ranma : Yup.
Ranma-chan : (thinks for a moment, spoon in her mouth) Makes me feel
great, that does!
Ranma : What?!
Ranma-chan : Ha ha ha! Gotcha, you dolt!
(Guy #2) : Hey, buddy! Let us have a chance too, you know!
(Guy #1) : Yeah, don't hog her all to yourself!
Ranma : H-hog h-her? Whaddaya mean?
Ranma-chan : (suddenly angry) Yeah, whaddaya mean?!
Hiroshi : It's true, Ranma. I mean, you already have Akane, Shampoo,
Ukyo..and even that Kodachi. What do you need ANOTHER girl for,
anyways? At least let us have Ranko!
Ranma-chan : Look, you! I pick my friends, not other people, so don't
tell me how to run my own life! And I'm not anybody else's!
Hiroshi : Umm..sorry? (visions of his date with Ranma-chan going out
the window)
Ranma-chan : S'okay. Well, seeya at seven tonight, okay? At the
movies?
Hiroshi : Yeah, sure!!
(As Hiroshi is immediately mobbed by the crowd of boys, Ranma-chan
stands up, grabs hold of Ranma's arm and leads him back to their beach
spot.)
Ranma : Let's wake the others up and go for a swim.
Ranma-chan : Good idea.
(Ranma-chan lets go of Ranma's arm before going to wake Akane.
Ranma rouses Shampoo and Ryoga, and all except Nabiki go for a
refreshing swim in the ocean. Ranma, Ranma-chan and Akane dive
in without hesitation, followed by a more cautious Shampoo and an
even more cautious Ryoga. The foursome spend the rest of the day
alternating between frolicking among the waves and eating ice-cream.
The seemingly everlasting day finally begins to wane and people begin
packing for the return journey. As Nabiki cashes in on the pawned
beach towels and miscellaneous apparel, Akane, Ranma, Ranma-chan
and Ryoga head to the showers. Then, cleansed of the salty water,
all six head back to their respective homes, Shampoo giving Ranma a
not-unexpected hug [and giving Akane an icy glare] before walking into
Nekohanten. Ryoga, being at the back of the bunch, gets himself lost
in short order. The rest of the troupe reach the Tendo Dojo after a
while.)
Soun : So, how was the trip to the beach?
Nabiki : One thousand yen, one thousand five hundred yen......great,
Daddy! Two thousand...
Ranma : Yeah, I'm sure you thought it was great, Nabiki.
Nabiki : What are you talking about, my dear Ranma?
Akane : Hey!
Nabiki : Sorry. Just the way I talk, that's all. You don't have to be so
jealous of me, Akane.
Ranma : Yeah, lighten up, Akane.
Akane : Shut up, Ranma.
(She glares at Ranma, but Ranma was already starting up the stairs)
Soun : So, how did daddy's little girl enjoy herself, hmm?
Akane : I sure enjoyed myself, except for one little detail.
Ranma-chan : _Give_ me a break, willya?
Soun : What is it, Ranma?
Ranma-chan : (sotto voice) Shhhh! What if my mom hears?!
Soun : No fear of that. She's gone to visit her friends in some town
outside of Tokyo. She won't be back for a week, at least.
Ranma : (from halfway up the stairs) Did my dad go with her?
Soun : No, he went back home, he said. He'll be back sometime next
week, I suppose. I guess that I will have to survive without a worthy
shogi opponent until he gets back, eh?
Ranma-chan : Come to think of it, we haven't been back home ONCE!
Ranma : Oh, yeeaah...! I've completely forgotten about home!
Ranma-chan : Let's go home tomorrow! Tomorrow's a school holiday,
right?
Akane : That's right! And it's a Monday, too.
Ranma-chan : Want to come along, Akane? It'll be something to do.
I mean, it'll be fun to show you around my....our house and our old
neighbourhood.
Akane : Can I, really?
Ranma : Who's stopping you?
Ranma-chan : I wonder if any of our old friends recognize us now?
Ranma : Me, probably. I'm sorry to say but they certainly won't know
who you are.
Ranma-chan : That's okay, I guess. Can't really blame any of our old
friends for not knowing who I really am.
(Kasumi walks out of the kitchen at that moment)
Kasumi : Come on! Dinner is ready!
Ranma : Alright! Food!! (thumps down the stairs and runs to the table)
Akane : Wait, I've got to put my stuff in my room, and look for P-
Chan. P-chan! P-chan, where are you?! (walks up to her room)
Ranma-chan : Me too. I'll be back down. (she checks the time. It is
almost five o'clock.) Akane, wait for me! (thumps up the stairs)
Akane : Yeah?
Ranma-chan : C'mon, let's go in your room. I don't wanna talk about
it in the hallways.
Akane : Okay. Help look for P-Chan, will you? P-Chan!
(After a few minutes of calling, P-Chan walks out of the bathroom and
Akane picks him up, cuddling and cooing to her beloved pet pig. Then
the two girls head into the room and Ranma-chan shuts the door behind
her.)
Akane : Isn't P-Chan such a dear, Ranma? My little baby always
returns to me! (pats P-Chan and cuddles him. P-Chan just shrugs at
Ranma-chan and gives a contented grunt)
Akane : Well, what is it, Ranma? (starts putting her beach stuff away)
Ranma-chan : First of all, sorry to have invited Shampoo along. I had
no idea that she was going to be so mean to you. (crosses fingers out of
Akane's sight. <Yeah, like I could get the soap without Shampoo
finding out where we're going.>)
Akane : Don't be. I've never liked that little tart anyways.
(she starts changing into clean clothing in front of Ranma-chan, pulling
off her clothing one piece at a time. P-chan watches her, fascinated.
Out of habit, Ranma-chan whacks P-chan one upside the head, and P-
chan automatically sank his teeth into Ranma-chan's arm, eyes still glued
on Akane. Ranma-chan pulls P-chan off her arm and mashes him into
the floor.)
Ranma-chan : So, you forgive me then?
Akane : Of course.
Ranma-chan : Gee, how come you didn't forgive me as fast when I was
half and half?
Akane : That's because you were a jerk back then. Besides, it's always
easier for me to forgive a girl than a guy and it's no different for you.
Ranma-chan : I...I see.
(Akane pulls on a pair of shorts and tucks her shirt into them. She picks
her dirty clothing up and tosses them into a basket filled with other dirty
clothing, … la basketball style. Ranma-chan remains silent, mulling over
Akane's words.)
Akane : Ranma?
Ranma-chan : What?
Akane : How does it feel like to be a guy in a girl's body? Now, I
mean.
Ranma-chan : Why do you ask?
(Akane picks up a flattened P-Chan, who squeals and drapes himself
over Akane's arm. Akane smiles and pats him on the head.)
Akane : When you were in the girls' shower room you showed no
hesitation in showering together with real girls. Then I noticed you
were looking about at all the girls who were showering, Shampoo and
me included. (eyes Ranma-chan)
(Ranma-chan blushes furiously. P-Chan's ears perk up and his
eyes go wide in surprise.)
Akane : And when you looked at our bodies, you showed some
disappointment, or something. Tell me, Ranma. I'm worried.
Ranma-chan : (teasingly) Worried that your breasts aren't firm enough?
Shame on you!
Akane : What?!? (she holds her hand out, as if waiting for something to
appear in it....something distinctly mallet-like in shape)
Ranma-chan : Hey, take it easy! I was just kidding, that's all.
Akane : Hmph!
Ranma-chan : Anyways, why would I be worried over my body when
I'm with girls? I mean, I've got everything they have so why should I
be so concerned about standing out?
Akane : So _that's_ why you were so disappointed when you snuck
some peeks at us.
Ranma-chan : Not really. To tell you the truth, I was disappointed
because I felt nothing.
Akane : Felt...nothing?
Ranma-chan : Not even excitement. I was hoping against all hope that
I would feel, y'know, attracted to them, but I didn't. And if I don't feel
anything looking at their bodies.....
Akane : In other words, if it's not one thing, it's probably the other?
Ranma-chan : Yes.
(Ranma-chan sinks to her knees and she puts both hands on her lap.
Akane does the same too, involuntarily dropping P-Chan onto the
carpeted floor.)
Akane : Well, anyways, what was it you wanted to see me about that
was so important that we couldn't talk about it in the hallways?
Ranma-chan : Well.....I need you to do a big favor for me.
Akane : Go on.
Ranma-chan : (small voice) Can you lend me one of your dresses, and
shoes?
Akane : Speak up, I can't hear you.
Ranma-chan : I said, can you lend me a dress, and matching shoes?
Akane : Why do you need a dress and matching shoes for? If you're
going out tonight, all you need to wear is what you normally dress in.
Girls don't have to get all dressed up and look nice just so they can
enjoy themselves downtown!
Ranma-chan : No, no, no! It's not that!
Akane : (as if she didn't hear her) You two would look pretty strange
if only the one of you is dressed up really nice...
Ranma-chan : Hey, hold on a minute! Who do you think I'm going out
with?
Akane : Why, Ranma of course....unless it's someone else? If it's
Ukyo, or even HER, you still don't have to dress up nicely....
Ranma-chan : No, it's a guy from our class!
Akane : Huh?!
(Ranma-chan scoops up P-Chan and begins to pet him too. Normally
P-Chan wouldn't tolerate any other set of hands other than Akane, but
Ranma-chan did it with such easy familiarity and with such grace that
the little black pig didn't object.)