My response to the 1:00 challenge


A Ranma 1/2 short fic
All characters are copywriten by Rumiko Takahashi, and are used 
without permission

One Hour

I dont even know why I agree to do this. I mean, really! Well I 
guess I can just wait.  Hoo yay! another 56 minutes to go. What to 
do? 
  I know I can practice my martial arts.
  No, I can't. Then I would lose. 
  Hmmm. What to do. What to do. 54 minutes.
  ARRGGG! I HATE WAITING!!
  I have to sit here doing nothing. Well, that's boring.
  What can I do to pass the time?
  Martial Arts? nope can't do that 
  Talk to someone? nobody around
  Martial Arts? man, time is really slow
  Read? No books, can't leave
  Martial Arts?  ARRGGGG!
  Hey, 49 minutes.
  Why did I agree to this? This is stupid! How did I get talked 
into this!
  I know, I know, I know. I got challenged, and I couldn't say no. 
So here I am. It was such a _stupid_ challenge.
  So, why am I here? I already answered that one. Better yet, why 
did she pick here? Or doing this?
  Let me see. She hasn't attempted to cook recently. She hasn't 
called me a pervert, much. I think I might have seen the last of 
that damn HAMMER! YES! What is going on?
  I could go find out. But then I would lose. I don't lose.   
AARRRGGG!
  44 minutes. ARRRGGG!
  Only someone as uncute as her could think of doing this to me. 
Nabiki would, at least, have me doing something. Posing for 
pictures, doing menial labor, what have you. I am stuck here bored 
out of my skull. 
  Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
  Why did she do this, any way? 
  Ok. I know I'll feel really silly talking to myself, but I have 
nothing better to do. This is one of the precious few vacations 
off from school. I fully expect pop to take me on a training 
mission soon.
  At least I wouldn't be bored. ARGGG!
  Well, anyway. After my morning spar with my old man, we sat down 
for breakfast. He as a panda, and me as a girl. I did my best not 
to look at Akane. She had this odd look in her eye. It kinda 
reminded me of... Nabiki. Creepy, that.
  So after consuming a meager third of the presented food (I had 
to fight pop for Akane's more than fair share:-), Akane said 
something to me.
  I looked at her. It was like, overnight she was replaced by 
aliens, or more likely got hit with a mind control potion.
  "What?" I said.
  "I just realized something. You can't sit still." Akane replied.
  "What do you mean?" I responded.
  "You are always doing something. Running around, grabbing girls, 
being a pervert, you know."
  "Look you flatchested tomboy, I am no pervert!"
  "You could have fooled me. I don't think that you can sit still. 
I think that you can not handle the idea."
  "I can too stay in one place."
  "Prove it."
  "I dont have to."
  "That's O.K. Ranma, I know that you can't. You don't have to be 
embarrassed about it. It is perfectly O.K."
  "I am not embarrassed! I have no reason to be embarrased!"
  "That's what I am saying."
  "Who are you to be judgeing me, you uncute chick? I tell ya, I 
can sit still!"
  "I bet you can't sit in the Dojo for One Hour."
  I got up, after dousing myself with the then warm tea kettle, 
and walked to the dojo. 
  Hey 32 minutes. Yea.
  Something is very fishy here. Day old sushi that lied in the sun 
smells pleasant. Why did Akane act like that? I mean, she didn't 
hit me or anything. She did call me a pervert though. 
  She is normally so high stung. It is so easy to stroke a wire 
and get a few bad notes. 
  What was that? I usually don't think _about_ metaphors, and here 
I am thinking _in_ them. I must be losing it.
  Hey 23 minutes. Time is almost up.
  Well, half way.
  What is wrong with Akane anyway. I have heard nothing from the 
house, so she isn't cooking. What could be going on? Maybe I 
should take a look. Nobody would know. Well, Nabiki might.
  Oh well. I would know. I would have lost. 
  Nope not gonna do it. Wouldn't be Prudent.
  ARRGGG! 15 minutes.
  Maybe Akane got hit with some bizzare potion. I know that 
Shampoo and Kodachi would not think a second thought about it. 
Uk-chan might do it, but she would more likely hit me with the 
okonomiyaki than Akane.
  Hmm. No bizzare laughing in the middle of the night. No Power 
Glomps from the gloating Amazon energizer bunny. Didn't smell 
Okonomiyaki. What could have gotten into her?
  well, She was staring at me in bizzare way. 
  No. She was staring at me _as_a_girl_ in a bizzare way. Does she 
like me better as a girl? I hope not. I always knew that she 
didn't like boys, but then the whole thing about Dr. Tofu would 
have been a sham. She is not that good an Actress.
  Hmm\ seven minutes left. 
  I really want to figure out what is going on. Don't tell me that 
Mom is coming around. God, I would hate that. Of all the things 
that I have come to hate is Mom's visits.
  Don't get me wrong. I love my mom. I would tell her in an 
instant who I am. I do not find it easy to lie to her. I don't 
want to. I have even tried to tell her several times, but pops 
always got in the way. I really hope that she isn't coming over.
  Wait, I hear some foot falls. I look around, knowing that 
someone is coming. I cannot recognize the pattern, or the weight. 
  This guy is standing in the door way and is holding a bucket. It 
used to hold cold water. I know this because I have just changed. 
Again.
  "Here." He says simply throwing me a towel. I dry my face and 
arms. My clothes are a lost cause. He tosses in a duffle bag. "Put 
these on."
  "Excuse me? Who are you to tell me what to do?"
  "Let's just say that... Nabiki sent me."
  Well, I really can't argue with that. I look into the bag and it 
has... 
  "A DRESS?!"
  "What did you expect? Just change."
  "Not with you looking, you pervert!"
  A small smile spread across his face. It really seemed he knew 
what he was doing.
  "Fine,"he said in a bored voice, but his face showed interest. 
Pervert.
  "I'll guard the door for you." Again that irritating little grin.
  Quickly I dress. I really do not like girls clothes. I shudder 
when I see the Panties and the Bra. Then I look at the dress. It's 
a formal evening gown, red with flowers on it. Well, I can't go 
with out a bra. I really don't want EVERY guy to be drooling over 
me.
  I walk out, a little off balance due to the heels.
  "So, what now."
  The guy turned around and smiles a wide smile. Damn do I ever 
want to wipe that smirk off his face. He offers me his arm.
  "We have a Date." 
  "WHAT! I am going to KILL Nabiki!"
  His hand grabbed my arm as I flew by.
  "No. She agreed to drop some of your debts, if you do this. 
Willingly."
  Grr. This guy knows about my curse. He still wants to date me? I 
have never seen him before, although he does look familiar.
  I look at his hand, then at him murderously.
  "Who are you anyway."
  He smiled that same wide smile. "Kaneda, but you can call me 
Akane."


  Oops. Ran out of time
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