Ranma 1/2 is owned by Rumiko Takahashi


The First Time
--------------

By: Anand Rao


"Come on, Pop!  This wasn't part of the deal!"  Ranma protested.

"You want to make your fiancee' happy, don't you?" Genma demanded.

"Of course I do!  I wouldn't be marryin' her if I didn't!" Ranma retorted.

"Well, then you must do this.  Trust me, Akane will appreciate it later,"
Genma replied.

"Trusting you always leads me into trouble!  Knowing Akane, she'll probably
start poundin' 
on me when she finds out!"  Ranma complained.

"It's time for you to become a man, Ranma!"  Genma proclaimed.

"What does being a man have ta do with this?" Ranma asked.

"If you don't know, then I can't explain it to you," Genma replied sagely.

"Oh man!  I can't go in there!  What if someone sees me?"  Ranma protested,
seeing where his 
father was leading him.

"That's why we're coming here at night.  Don't worry so much boy, no one
will know that 
you're here," Genma said, trying to assure his son.  Ranma halted and
looking around 
nervously.  "Well, get going boy!"  Genma snapped irritably.

"Aren't you coming in?"  Ranma asked.

"What would -I- need to go in place like this for?" Genma demanded, a blush
growing on his 
face. 

"So you're just gonna leave me here!" Ranma demanded.

"I'll, uh, wait outside," Genma replied.

"You had better be right about this, old man!" Ranma threatened, as he
knocked on the door 
in front of him.  After a few minutes, a tall, beautiful woman with shortly
cropped hair 
opened the door.  She smiled at him and gestured for him to enter.

"Hello, you must be Ranma.  I've been expecting you.  My name is Miaka.
Please, come in."

"Uh, It's nice ta meet ya," Ranma mumbled as he walked through the doorway.
 He glanced 
around the room and was surprised at the look and feel of his surroundings.
 The room was 
dimly lit, and colorful portraits adorned the walls.  Large, cushioned
chairs lined one side 
of the room, while several love seats were placed around a large coffee
table in one corner.  
"This, uh, wasn't quite what I was expecting," Ranma confessed.

"You look a bit nervous, but I guess that's to be expected.  New grooms
often get cold 
feet," Miaka smilingly said.

"How'd ya know I was getting' married?"  Ranma asked.

"Oh, I know all about you!  Your father speaks often of you," Miaka replied.

"My father comes here?" Ranma asked, shock registering on his face.

"Oh yes, not as often as when he was younger though.  When he was a little
older than you, 
he frequented this establishment quite a bit.  Of course, he was my
mother's client back 
then," Miaka replied.

"I don't believe the the old man had it in him!  I can't believe he was
even able to afford 
it," Ranma muttered.

"Well, it wasn't quite as costly back then.  We weren't as popular then as
we are now," 
Miaka replied laughingly.

"Uh, right."

"Well, why don't you sit down and make yourself more comfortable, and we'll
get started," 
Miaka suggested.

"Uh, well, ya see, this is my first time in a place like this and-"  Ranma
started to 
explain when Miaka laughed throatily.  

"Don't worry about that!  I'll take good care of you.  Trust me, this won't
hurt a bit.  In 
fact, you might like it!" Miaka said with a wink.  Ranma blushed bright red
as he wordlessly 
sat down in one of the chairs.  Miaka shook her head and looked at him with
an amused grin.  
"You need to relax, Ranma!"  She admonished him, walking over to where he
was sitting.    

Standing behind the chair, she gently started kneading his shoulders.
"Goodness!  You're as 
stiff as a board!  Come on!  This will be much easier if you relax!"  

"You treat all your clients this way?" Ranma asked, guiltily enjoying the
impromptu back rub 
he was receiving.  

"Well, most of my clients aren't as nervous as you, and besides, I'd do
anything to keep a 
client happy," Miaka replied earnestly.

"Can-  can I ask ya something?"  Ranma asked hesitantly.

"Of course! What's on your mind?"

"Well, is, uh, is the length really all that important?" Ranma asked
plaintively.  Miaka 
laughed again and patted Ranma's shoulders affectionately.  

"Length doesn't mean anything, Ranma.  It's what you do with what you have
that's 
important." 

"Yeah, I guess.  Then why is it so important that I do this?" Ranma demanded.

"It's not important.  Not really.  But if you go along with this I
guarantee you won't be 
disappointed," Miaka promised.

Ranma silently nodded then sighed.  "Okay, let's do it."

"Great, let me go get my equipment," Miaka replied, walking away from the
chair.

"I hope you appreciate this Akane.  I'm sure gonna look funny without a
pigtail," Ranma 
thought aloud.

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