Here it is FINALLY!  All you prodder's get off my back now!  I'm sorry it
took so long!  But it's finally here and I hope you all enjoy it!  I think
it's better than the last chapter and kind of got that feel of the prom back
in this story.  A shout out to AkaneSensh for getting me back on track!  Only
one more to go now...

Chapter 15: Alone Together

	Genma stopped in front of the hotel, as he fell off the pink cycle.  He
tossed it aside as he stumbled towards the hotel.  "Park this for me, will
ya," gasped Genma to the valet attendant.
	The man behind the check-in counter looked oddly at the shanty dressed man
who looked like a mess flounder towards him.  "Is there something I can help
you with?"
	"Room... need to change... room reservation... need... new room," huffed
Genma.
	"Excuse me sir?"
	Genma looked up at the clock on the wall.  It had taken him a half hour to
get here, and he didn't have much time until the other's got there.  He took
a deep breathe.  "IneedtochangethereservationunderSaotomebutonlykindof.
 Needthesameroomfor
Saotomeparty,butwhenthesecondgroupofpeopleaskforSaotomeroom,givethemadifferent

room." Genma quickly blurted before he ran out of breath again.
	"Excuse me sir?  Could you repeat that please?"
	Genma couldn't get his breath back again...  He had to do something and
quick.  He turned around and saw a fountain in the lobby.  He quickly ran
towards it and jumped into it.
	"Sir!  What are you doing!  Are you...," the clerk didn't finish his
sentence as huge panda was suddenly walking towards him.  "Mommy," whimpered
the clerk.  "Please don't eat me!"
	The panda smiled and held up a sign that read, "I'd like you to do a favor
for me..., will you do me a favor?"
	"As long as it's not eating me..."
	"I just need one favor," another sign read.  And then he quickly held up
another sign that said, "And some free room service for me if you don't
mind..."

	"Am I the only one here who's feeling antsy about what just happened," Ukyou
asked the rest of the party.
	"Shampoo no like this either," she stated as she struggled with Mousse who
was hugging her tightly and moaning about finally having some time without
Ranma around.  "And Shampoo need Ranma beat living rice balls out of Mousse!"
she said as she grabbed his head and slammed his face into the pavement.
	Kodachi stood with her arms crossed and tapping her foot impatiently.  "This
would be a good chance to kill the lot of them off right now," thought
Kodachi as she held her ribbon tightly.  "But I simply cannot leave Ranma
snoogums with that dreadful tomboy in a hotel room."  Kodachi gazed out into
the night sky and looked at the still visible hotel brightly lit along with
the rest of the Tokyo skyline.
	Ukyou turned her head to look at what Kodachi was looking at.  And she began
thinking exactly what Kodachi was thinking (which kind of scared her).  "Just
a question, but how far away to you figure that hotel is from where we are
now," she asked.
	Shampoo looked and thought for a moment.  "Not far much.  Shampoo think 3
mile most."  She then caught onto the train of thought of the rest of them.
 "Shampoo go everyday from Cat Cafe to Ranma house 1 mile in no time."
	"That's about the same for me from my place to Ranma sugar's place."
	Kodachi looked at the both of them.  "You two ho's just drop that thought;
there's no way you can possibly be as expeditious as the black rose."
	"We'll see about that!" Ukyou said as she ran off towards the hotel.  She
suddenly tripped and fell flat on her face.  "What the hell," she wondered as
she crawled to her arms and looked back.  Her legs had been tied by Kodachi's
ribbon.
	"Aaaaaaahahahahaha, nothing personal, but Ranma is mine," cackled Kodachi as
she leapt off the over pass, and started bounding off speeding car after
speeding car on the freeway towards the Sheraton.
	"No Shampoo, let them run off!  The two of us can stay here all alone, with
just the crackling limo and each other to keep us warm," Mousse pleaded right
before Shampoo kicked him high into the night sky.
	"Shampoo jump in fire before warm self with Mousse!"  She then turned and
winked at Ukyou.  "Too bad you all tie up, but you rather have Ranma with
Shampoo than Kodachi, no?"  She then smiled and bounded off after Kodachi.
	Ukyou reached for a mini-spatula to cut the ribbon, but then remembered she
had used the last of them already.  Suddenly, the ribbon went slack and were
pulled off.  The limo driver had cut them off with a pocket knife of his.
 "Thanks a million," she thanked as she got to her feet.  She sighed hard.
 "It's going to be hell catching up to them...  You going to be okay with
just duck boy to keep you company?"
	"If I get hungry, I'll just cook him," joked the driver.
	Ukyou looked towards the vanishing figures of Shampoo and Kodachi running
off, and joined the race.

	"You two have fun together, you here!" suggested Soun as Ranma and Akane got
out of the car.  "You two have fun and remember, practice safe...," but Ms.
Hinako put a hand over his mouth before he could say it.
	"You two children better behave!  And don't forget, we have a test on
Monday!" Hinako told them.
	"I'll probably be asleep having to hang out with that boring, plain,
tomboy," Ranma said right before he quickly jumped away as a mallet left a
crater where he was just standing.
	"Don't worry about anything...  I'd rather sit in the lobby by myself and
wait for the rest of them than be alone with this pervert!"
	"Who you calling pervert you she-man!" shouted back Ranma.
	"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" screamed Akane as she raised her mallet over her
head.
	Soun smiled as Ranma ran off into the hotel with Akane chasing him with her
mallet primed.
	The cell phone suddenly rang.
	"Saotome, is that you?" asked Soun as he picked it up.
	"Rowrrrrgrrrrowrrrr," answered the other line.
	"Saotome, I can't understand a word you're saying!"
	Soun sat there waiting and after a long pause, said, "Saotome, I can't read
the signs you're writing on the phone..."
	"Rowr!"  Some footsteps followed by a faucet, a splash, and then pitter
patter back as Genma finally answered the phone.  "Are they here yet?"
	"Just went in.  How did everything go?"
	"Heehee...  I got the guy at the desk to give one room to the first group of
Tendo party to show up, and a different room for the next group to ask for
Tendo party.  And I got them to throw in a free plate at their all you can
eat buffet!"
	"Haha Saotome!  Everything is going perfectly!  Now all we need to do is let
nature run it's course.  I'll be home right after I drop off Ms. Hinako.  See
you soon!"
	"Sounie, aren't you forgetting something..., like those other kids,"
reminded Hinako.
	"Errr... how about we just go to your place instead?" Soun said hoping that
would make her forget about the other's
	"We have a responsibly as chaperon's to take care of these children!  I will
not slack off my responsibility to the children of Furinkan high no matter
how much I'd be... tempted to..."
	Soun slumped his head and started the car.  He really didn't have a choice.
 Besides..., maybe it was better he didn't wasn't alone with Hinako.  "Come
on Ranma, make us proud boy...," Soun said to himself.
	As Soun drove off, he didn't notice a little black piglet wandering around
lost, slowly making his way into the lobby.

	Ukyou bent over and held herself up by placing her hands on her thighs.  She
was panting hard and this dress wasn't making leaping any easier.  She looked
off and saw she was losing ground quickly to Kodachi and Shampoo still
bounding away.  She couldn't catch up to them at this pace.  She moved her
dress slightly to inspect the tear in her panty hose.  "Great," she thought.
 "These weren't cheap either."  
	A white Acura Integra  suddenly stopped sharply next to her.  Ukyou looked
up as the window rolled down to see a young man grinning at her.  "Hey there,
do you have any books overdue at the library?"
	"Huh?" replied Ukyou.
	"Because you got fine written all over you," smirked the young man.
	Ukyou rolled her eyes.  "That's real cute mister," she said with a slight
smile.  Well, it was kind of cute.
	"If you need a ride, I'd be happy to oblige.  Don't worry..., you can trust
me.  Honest."
	She contemplated the situation.  This was the only way she could beat
Shampoo and Kodachi back.  Then again, she didn't know if she could trust the
guy.  Oh hell, the guy looked cute.  With her sleek agility, she slipped into
the car through the window.  "I need to get to the Grande Sheraton ASAP.  And
no funny business pal!  Believe you me, you'd regret it."
	"ASAP?  This is an Integra...  You don't have to ask me twice," he
confidently said as he floored the car and quickly shifted to fifth gear.
	"I gotta get me a car like this," Ukyou thought.

	Ranma was lying on the bed with his coat off.  The TV was on showing free
HBO.  Ranma really didn't know why he was watching a movie called Alien
Terminator, but it was just him and Akane in this room and he..., he
needed..., a distraction.
	Akane walked out of the bathroom in a change of clothes.  She got out of her
uncomfortable dress and was wearing a pair of shorts and just a baby-tee now.
 "What in the name of god are you watching Ranma."
	"It's not that bad," replied Ranma dryly.  "There was this scene with a
naked chick taking a shower..."  A pillow smacked against his head before he
knew it.
	"Hentai!" screamed Akane.  "I don't want to be cooped up with a hentai like
you!  I'm going to get a coke, you want one."  But before she could get out,
a pillow smacked against her head.  "HEY!"
	Ranma stuck out his tongue and let out a, "Nyaaaaaa!"
	"Hmph!" replied Akane as she stormed out of the room.  Before she closed the
door, she peeked her head through and yelled, "Baka!!!" right before slamming
the door hard.
	Ranma considered chasing after her to get the last word in, but the alien
terminator was just about to infiltrate this girl's room while she was
getting ready for bed...  And then the TV suddenly turned off.  Along with
all the other electricity in the room.  "What the?" wondered Ranma.  He
picked up the phone and called the lobby.
	"Must have been a bad switch or something sir...  We'll get on it ASAP."
	So Ranma was stuck here sitting in the dark.  He turned on the small
portable radio Akane had brought with them for the afterparty and turned it
on.  Janet Jackson's "Any Time, Any Place," was softly playing.  Suddenly,
there was a knock on the door.  "Stupid Akane, bet that dummy forgot her key
or something."
	He opened the door to reveal a bell boy pushing a large cart filled with
food.
	"I didn't order any room service," Ranma said.
	"It's on the house sir, for the black out.  Enjoy!" the bellboy said as he
stuck his hand out.
	Ranma looked at his hand, and then him.  "You said it was on the house."
	The bellboy gave an "ahem" and said, "The food is sir."
	Ranma looked at him quizzically.  He then took a piece of fried chicken from
the cart and placed it in his hand.  "Well, if you wanted some, why didn't
you just ask?  Now get out of here," Ranma said as he pushed him out.
	Ranma prepared to eat (of course he didn't wait for Akane), but realized the
little light streaming through the window wasn't going to make eating easy.
 He looked around for some solution and laid eyes on the candles they had
received from the Prom.  He picked it up, and placed it in the middle of the
table..., but hesitated to light it.  There was this strange sensation of
nostalgia about keeping this candle intact... forever and ever.  He shook it
off, and quietly chanted, "Mouko Takibishya," and a flicker of radiant energy
escaped his fingertips and lighted the candle.
	After gorging all ten pieces of fried chicken in seconds, he searched for a
beverage and noticed they had given him a glass of red wine.  He never drank
alcohol much before beyond a little sake, but what the hell he thought as he
popped the cork.

	P-Chan was beginning to lose hope.  Lord knew where he was now, and he was
hopelessly lost in this hotel now.  He waited patiently as the elevator he
wandered into finally came to a stop and he stumbled out.  He squealed
quietly as he looked around to see what floor it was.  His little pig heart
almost came to a stop when he laid eyes on Akane just down the hall!  He
squealed loudly in delight as he went charging towards Akane.  She was
opening the door and just about to walk in!  He had to hurry up or get her
attention!  He squealed as loud as he could as he charged towards Akane.  And
watched her close the door behind her.  And Ryoga being Ryoga forgot to slow
down and slammed face first against the door.

	"Hmmm," wondered Akane.  "Thought I heard something."  Akane turned around
and walked into the room with no small amount of surprise.  The lights were
off, there was a 5 star meal on the table, all illuminated by candle light.
 And in the background a romantic Janet Jackson song was playing.  And
sitting there with barbecue sauce all over his face, consuming a new york
steak with reckless abandon was Ranma..., looking as adorable as ever.
 "Adorable?" Akane asked herself.  "Where did that thought come from?"
	Ranma looked up at Akane and tried to say something, but his mouth was too
full.
	Akane walked up to the table and pulled a chair for herself.  "Ranma...,
what can I say...  This is so..., unlike you.  So..., romantic."
	"Huh?" mumbled Ranma through his full mouth.
	Akane poured herself a glass of wine and sipped it.  "Ranma..., thanks for
this...  I'm speechless..."
	Ranma took a big gulp and swallowed the piece of steak.  It was beginning to
bleed into his head what Akane was thinking.  "Uh-huh..., she's going all
mushy on me...  Better tell her before she goes and does something stupid,"
Ranma thought but froze when Akane's hand was suddenly on top of his hand.
 Her warm hand on top of his, softly, gently, barely even rubbing his.  Ranma
took another gulp of air.
	"Ranma, this means alot to me...  With the way everything earlier had
gone...  From destroyed restaurants to exploding limo's.  This makes up for
it Ranma," Akane kindly said.  "Thanks again Ranma."
	"You're welcome Akane," replied Ranma.

	The Integra pulled to a stop in front of the hotel lobby and Ukyou quickly
hopped out after grabbing her bag with her stuff in it.  "Thanks alot mister!
 I owe you big time!"
	"Hey, wait!  Before you go, can't I at least get your phone number!"
	"Just drop by Ucchans in Nerima some time...  I'll hook you up to an
okyinamiyaki for free!  Wait, make that 50% off!" Ukyou said with a wink.
	"I'll make sure I do," the young man replied as he watched Ukyou bound off.
 Tetsuya sighed as he put the car in gear, when something suddenly bounced
off the roof of his car.  He looked out his window to see two girl's bouncing
off his car into the hotel.

	"Which room is Ranma Saotome in!" yelled Ukyou when she reached the counter.

	"Ummm...  I'll need to look that up ma'am."
	"Ma'am?" Ukyou thought.  "Geez, I'm not that old."  Ukyou waited
patiently..., for about ten seconds before she reached over the counter and
grabbed the man by the collar.  "Which room!" she demanded.
	"Errr... Room 232 ma'am...  Here's the card key."
	"Ai ya, thank you very much!" a voice squeaked from behind.  "Shampoo now
save Ranma from hoochie girl!"
	"Not before I do you detestable wench!"
	"Hey you two!  No fair!  Ranma's mine!!!"
	All three of them ran at breakneck speed until... they all had to stop and
wait patiently for the elevator to arrive.  All three girls stood there
impatiently staring each other down until the elevator door finally opened
and...
	"Bweeee!"
	"Ryoga, is that you?  Where have you been you jackass?" inquired Ukyou.

	"Ranma, if you're not danced out already..., how about one more go round?"
requested Akane.  "I like this song...  'For You I Will' by Monica."
	"Ummm, yeah..., sure..., I guess...," stuttered Ranma.  "Why am I doing
this?" Ranma thought to himself.  "Why am I getting all mushy with that
tom-boy Akane.  I should be running away from her, not..."  His mind drifted
when he clasped one hand to Akane's and put the other arm around her waist.
	Akane moved her body against Ranma's as they swayed together.  "I did not
even suspect a thing at all Ranma..., you totally got me by surprise.  I
appreciate it more than you can imagine Ranma."  She then moved her head
besides Ranma's.  "Oh, Ranma...  How did you get the wine?  The room service
didn't check for ID or anything?"
	"Oh, it just came with the rest of the meal they sent up for the faulty
electricity.  I guess they didn't notice or something."  He suddenly felt
Akane stop moving.
	"The faulty what?"
	"Uh-oh," whimpered Ranma.

	"Damn it all to hell!  They are not in this room!" cursed Kodachi.
	"It right room!  Where they at!  Not possible they no arrive yet."
	P-Chan was squealing wildly, and kept motioning towards the elevator.
	"Piglet sure oink alot.  You try tell us something P-Chan?"
	"Is it about Ranma and Akane?  You want us to follow you?" asked Ukyou.
 P-Chan was nodding violently right before Shampoo smacked him lightly.
 "Stupid piglet!  Ryoga sense of direction no better as pig!  How we follow
you?"
	"Wait, I have an idea... maybe this will help," Ukyou said as she picked up
P-Chan and tossed him into the bathtub and turned on the hot shower.
	"Maybe you can at least tell us what floor they're... on...," uttered Ukyou
as a very naked Ryoga was suddenly standing in front of her.
	"Heehee," Ryoga nervously laughed as he pulled the shower curtain over him.
 His whole face was red.
	"Quiet you heathen's," Kodachi ordered.  "Don't you hear that?  That booming
noise.  Like..., something was hammering the ground."
	"Yes, Shampoo hear too.  Repetitive boom, boom, boom...  Think come from
upstairs."
	"That sounds alot like Akane's mallet," Ryoga proclaimed.
	All four of them then looked at each other for a moment, before they all ran
out of the room to the elevators.  "Damnit, don't any of you have a change of
clothes!  I'm only wearing a bath towel now!" Ryoga hollered after them.

	"They ran off to the hotel already!" yelled Soun.  "They RAN there???
 Damnit, I hope they didn't get there too fast."
	"Not the boy with glasses.  He took a nose dive into that lake right behind
us, and flew off as a duck towards there."
	"Don't worry Sounie.  Now we can just go straight to my place," Hinako said
as she grinned mischievously.
	"Ummm... heehee..." nervously laughed Soun.
	"Errr, excuse me... but I kind of still need a ride," interrupted the limo
driver.

	"Ranma you jerk!!!  How dare you lie to me!  Make me think that you prepared
that little romantic thing on purpose!  I should've known an idiot like you
wouldn't have a romantic bone in his body!!!" she roared as she attempted to
smash Ranma with her mallet repeatedly.  "You lecher!  Trying to take
advantage of me like that!"
	"What's to take advantage of about you!  As far as I'm concerned, you and
advantage have nothing to do with each other!" yelled back Ranma.
	"OOOHHH!!!  You dummy!  How dare you talk back to me you liar!" Akane
screamed as her mallet plowed through the elevator door.  Ukyou, Kodachi,
Shampoo, and Ryoga looked through the gaping hole in front of them at the
two.
	"Guess Shampoo should know better than be afraid of stupid tomboy.  How she
be so violent towards lovable husband."
	"Akane!  I've found my way back!" shouted Ryoga as he ran towards her.  He
was driven to the ground as Ranma landed on his back.  
	"Well, look who's finally found his way back after a good butt-whupping!"
	"I'll show you butt whupp... OOOOF!" cried Ryoga as Akane's mallet smashed
into his back where Ranma was standing.
	"Oh, I'm so sorry Ryoga!  I meant to hit Ranma!  Are you alright?" asked
Akane as she put her mallet down and rubbed his back.  "Ryouga, maybe you
should put on some clothes, that bath towel is slipping off.  Ryoga laughed
mindlessly and blushed again.  "Ranma, look what you made me do!" yelled
Akane as she picked up her mallet and pursued Ranma again.
	"Ranma, we're not done fighting yet!" bellowed Ryoga as he got up and
tighted the towel around his waist.
	"Ranma!" the other girls screamed as they all ran towards Ranma.
	"Quack quack!" Mousse loudly wailed as he flew in through a hole in the wall
Akane had made earlier.
	"Everything always has to end up like this doesn't it," Ranma thought as he
ran from his many predator's.

	"Damnit...  I set up everything perfect for that damn boy and he STILL
screws up," cursed Genma as he looked at the scene from the hallway's
surveillance camera.  "For once, the plan was going right and he had
everything on a silver platter..., stupid boy of mine!  Oh well..., at least
I still have this."  Genma splashed himself with cold water again, walked
over to the clerk he had been torturing all night, and held up a sign saying,
"Do you have anymore of those ribs?"

*Author's Notes:  Okay... maybe I was overestimating my abilities when I said
every two weeks... How's once a month sound to you all?  Yeah, that's what I
thought...  Well, it did finally come out and it's really all thanks to
someone who sent me a very encouraging piece of fanmail that got me missing
getting fanmail (since I didn't write spittle in so damn long).  But now that
this chapter is out of the way, the conclusion to this story that I've been
SO LOOKING forward to writing can finally be done.  And then I guess I
usually say what's coming out next here.  We'll guess what?  I'm not.  I'll
explain why next time, which will hopefully be in two weeks!  I appreciate
the support I get and thank everyone for putting up with my slowness.  And
for all the people who want to give MUCH desired comments and such, (but will
probably just prod me ^_^), my e-mail address remains chihokodan@aol.com.
 Next time, the conclusion of the story!  The following morning finally
arrives after a LONG night...
Jya Ne!
Shiaw Chi "Hokodan"