On Tue, 22 Jul 1997, KOUMA RYODACHI wrote:

   Chapter 3: Little Date?

very little.

   (Now, son-in-law, remember. She will not be quick to accept you. 
You must woo her, bring her around. If you do not ease into it, you 
will repel her.)

Oops.  Ryouga, *ease* into something?  Mister "Leap on Girl and Squeeze 
Her Like Toothpaste at the Slightest Encouragement"?

   "Well, if that doesn't, this does," Kasumi said, opening the card, 
and reading it. "Dear Ranma: please meet me in the park overlooking 
the canal from the east, right before sunset. I'll try not to be late.
 PS: I hope you enjoy this small offering." Kasumi closed the card. 
"No signature." 

Danger!  Throw it away!

   Smirking, Nabiki blew upwards at her bangs, and then said, "Well, 
if you must know, the 500 yen information packet on you explicitly 
states that you hate secret admirers."

the 1000 yen package reveals you're actually a boy.

   A half-hour before sunset, the Tendou family minus Ranma sat 
around the dinner table, having snowcones. Soun and Genma were both 
wailing about Ranma's "date" and trying to encourage Akane to go 
along.

	Go, Akane!  You might distract Ryouga and save us all!

   "Ranma can take care of himself. He doesn't need me to babysit him,
" Akane grumbled. 

Yes he does.

   Ryouga leaned against his umbrella, huffing for breath, outside 
the entrance. As the door slid open, he panted, "Which...way...canal..
.?"

Lost already...

   "Kasumi?" Ryouga looked confused, then came into focus. "Is Ranma 
in?"

Must kill Ranma...no, must date Cologne's granddaughter...

   "Goodness," Kasumi said, blinking. Then, forgetting the incident, 

until further notice.

sat on the bench, she took in every detail of the place as she 
nibbled the chocolates she'd received.

	Now, some might say that Ranma should be a little more cautious 
about food by this time.  But since this is supposedly the manga 
continuity, Shampoo has drugged his food a total of *once*, and Kodachi 
twice, maybe three times.  And neither of the girls had any subtlety 
about it.

west half of the park was for watching the sunrise, and this part was 
for watching the sunset. <How romantic,> she mused. 

aww.

   When twilight had descended fully, Ranma stood from the bench. 
"Well, whoever it is, ain't comin'," she remarked to nobody in 
particular, and headed home.
   She didn't bother to try to figure out why she felt slightly 
disappointed.

Because she was hoping to beat someone up by this point in the story.

   A handful of stars had speckled the dusky sky by the time Ryouga 
staggered into the park. He looked around for a moment, then sighed. 
"Damn." Shifting the weight of his backpack, he trudged wearily back 
towards the restaurant district. At least, he hoped that's where he 
was going.

Now, the question is, was this part of Cologne's plan?

   Akane blinked. Ranma continued, "Sure was a nice sunset though. 
Shame I had to watch it alone." With that, the redhead trudged 
upstairs. Akane watched her, wide-eyed, wondering what had gotten 
into her half-and-half iinazuke. 

Say you'll go with him next time!

So far, a pretty subtle effect.  The park sequence could have come out of 
a "warm fuzzies" fic.  (But if Ryouga had shown up, how subtle would the 
effects have been then, hm?)

Probably the real fun starts next time...


SKJAM!