For Every Action Part 9

"So, what are you going to do for your hot date tonight?" 
Ranma asked Akane as they walked home.  

"That isn't funny, Ranma!"  Akane had been doing her best 
to forget the obsessed chinese girl after her new male 
identity, without much success.

"Maybe, but she's still going to show up tonight expecting you
to show her a good time.  How're you gonna handle it?"

"Maybe we could just tell her 'Kaneda' doesn't live there?"

"That could buy you some time, I guess.  Of course then 
she'll be mad at you for standing her up and when she catches 
up with you, she'll either hurt you or cry or both."

"Who says she'll catch up with me?  All I have to do is keep 
from turning into a boy long enough to...-ite!"  Akane was 
interrupted by a watering pot which bounced off her head, 
drenching her in the process.  She rubbed her head and 
glared up at the apartment building they were passing before 
pulling her uniform dress off again to reveal the masculine 
t-shirt and shorts beneath.  

Ranma grinned, "You wanna finish that thought?"

"Well, what are the odds that-"

"Nihao, Kaneda!"  Bie-Deh called out cheerfully as she rode 
past on a bicycle, holding up a shopping bag for Akane to see.  
"Bie-Deh buy clothses for tonight!  See you after!"  The bag 
bore the emblem of a store that Akane wished she had the money 
to shop at.  

Akane groaned, then glared at Ranma, who was doing a poor job of 
hiding his amusement.  He spread his hands in apology and said,
"Look on the bright side.  At least she hasn't started crashing
her bicycle into you to get your attention."

Akane grinned ruefully, and said, "Ranma, could I borrow that
red and black chinese outfit of yours tonight?."

As they headed toward Doctor Tofu's, a lawn sprinkler set too
close to the sidewalk suddenly came alive, spraying Akane, 
whose larger size shielded Ranma from the spray.  "Huhn," he
commented.  "I'm not used to being this dry all day."

"I'm already transformed, so why did that happen?", Akane 
complained.  "I hope I don't catch a cold."  

"I never did."

"Yes, but you have a really disgusting constitution." 

Ranma winced a little, and pleaded, "Could ya talk a little
less like a girl when you're like that?"  

"Oh yes, like you ever bother to talk like a girl when 
you're one, except to con people."

"It's different with me."  Ranma had a sinking feeling that
he shouldn't have opened his mouth.  Not an unfamiliar 
sensation, of course.

"What?  What makes it so different for you?"  Akane snarled,
clenching her fists.

"Er, I dunno.  Say!  Here we are at Doctor Tofu's, so you can
change back.  That's lucky!"  

Doctor Tofu was as friendly as always, and his manner always
had a mellowing effect on Akane, "I'm sorry Akane, but this
a little beyond my expertise.  All I can say, is that since
Mizu could manipulate the curse so easily, and for no obvious
personal gain, he probably isn't human, and is what his name 
implies;  a water spirit.  Expecting to defeat him in in
personal combat is probably unreasonable, Ranma."

Ranma cracked his knuckles as he pondered, *Everyone has a 
weakness.  If I can use Mizu's...*
	
As Ranma led the way out of the clinic, a passing roller 
blader gave him a cute smile, and started skating backwards,
as she called out, "Say, you remind me of my old sempai.  Did 
you...whoops".  She tripped and her Giant Economy Cup
flew out of her hand, the screw-on lid coming loose as it
flew forward to drench --who else-- Akane.  

"Aaah!  I've had it!"  Akane snarled.  "Mizu is doing this on
purpose and it's all your fault, Ranma!"  She stomped homeward,
Ranma following at a cautious distance.  

Behind them, Kouchi stripped off his disguise as he commented to 
himself,  "Drat!  I missed again.  This is turning into a tougher
job than I figured.  Who would have thought getting Ranma Saotome
wet would be so difficult?  And who's that guy with him?"

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And, on a personal note:

It's time for me to make a confession.  I'm not who you think
I am.  I'm actually a langur monkey with language skills.
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