* * * * * * * * *

 Akane heard metal ringing through the air loudly while she is
readying her things for the beach, "What in the world?" she asked to no-one.
She then looked out the window, seeing nothing strange until she laid
her eyes on the dojo.
She spotted Ranko and Hawk sparring again, but this time with very
real looking swords and trying not to carve themselves up with them.
Akane watched with an awe as she saw the sparks fly from the blades'
contact with each other, both going at it with the same speed and ferocity
they
did even without.
Moreso as she got a good look at the blade the Hawk is holding.
Akane wondered how he could swing such a large, heavy looking thing around
so damned fast.
Then she saw them call it quits after almost a half an hour of battling
it out with very lethal weapons.

* * * * * * * * *

 Sheathing his sword, "You're right about one thing.you are bit
rusty." he didn't continue when Ranko slugged him in the shoulder, "But
you still could have carved me up if ya wanted to though." shrugging his
shoulders as he wrapped his arm around Ranko's behind, lifting her up.
She squealed as he picked her up off of the ground and sat her on his
shoulder, "Warn me when you do that!", she yelled at him and playfully
slapped him on the back of the head.
He just laughed as he slung the strap of the sword over his other
shoulder.
 He was just about to say something to Ranko when Akane strode in,
"Hello, Akane!" both Ranko and Hawk chorused. Akane just waved, "You
guys use swords too??" pointing incredulously to the one that Ranko is
carrying.
Ranko looked to her sword and back to Akane, "Yeah, kinda had to
since they were have to be given to us after the Rite of Posession was
over."
Akane held up her hand, "Can I take a look?"
Ranko just shrugged, "Sure," and handed Akane her rapier.
 She partially unsheathed the sword, marvelling in the attention to
detail on both the hilt and the blade itself.
Then completely taking it out, Akane was pleasently surprised to find
it incredibly light and looking at the blade a bit, she can tell it is
_VERY_
sharp, with a lot of strange markings down the blade itself. `But how sharp
can
this little sword be?' she wondered to herself, "Ranko? Can I check out how
sharp this is over on the blocks?" she asked, pointing the tip of the blade
over
to the stack of five cinder blocks.
Ranko looked slightly worried, "I think I should show you."
noticing Akane's now angered expression, "It is not that I don't trust you,
Akane. You don't know the TRUE capabilities of that sword." trailing off as
Hawk set her down.
Akane nodded reluctantly, then looked the sword, "What can this
sword do?" she wondered aloud as she looked at it more and resheathed it.
 Ranko just giggled a bit as she took the sword, "You'll see!" Hawk
said crypticly.
Walking over to the blocks, Ranko unsheathed the blade with a bit of
flair when she came behind the cinder blocks.
Looking to Akane, "Now watch carefully!" Ranko called out to the
youngest Tendo.
Akane complied, curiousity piqued.
Ranko rested the blade edgewise and let its miniscule weight go into
the blocks.and sliced through them like they weren't even there.
The bricks didn't even register the slice until the blade was already
through them. Almost to the floor, Ranko swung the blade out and quickly
resheathed it.
 Akane gasped at the ease the blade went through the blocks like
nothing at all, "That's ONE of its abilities!" Ranko beamed handing back to
Hawk to put it away for safe keeping.
"But these are normally used when fighting someone or someTHING
of incredible strength and power. Not to mention.they look really Kewl!"
Hawk drawled out in a bad Surfer-Dude accent as he held out his own blade.
Both the girls broke into a gale of laughter as he put the swords away,
"Now all that we gotta do is make sure that everyone is ready to go, neh?"
he
chimed in through their laughter which quickly died when he started talking
in
normal tones.
They nodded, "Good.I'll meet you guys at the front gate.I'm
waiting for one other to meet us here.plus," holding up his rollerblades, "I
wanna put these on for the trip out."

 Hawk was just finishing up tightning his `blades to his feet when a
shadow loomed over him.
Looking up from what he was doing, he saw Ranma.
With Uukyo on his shoulders.
Her hands wrapped around his forehead, she is dressed in a loose blue
t-shirt that is tied at her waist, proudly displaying her very flat stomach,
and
jean cut-off shorts, cut quite high on the thigh.
She waved happily to Hawk, he waved back a bit and snorted, "I see
that I am becoming a bad influence on you, man!" then gingerly got to his
feet,
trying not to fall on his rear in the process, "So where have you been most
of
today?"
Ranma also snorted, "Gee.isn't it obvious?" he drawled sarcasticly
as he gestured to his gentle cargo, "I guess that I am going to be taking
her to
the beach as well." he choked a bit when he trailed off as he set her down
to
the ground.
Uukyo picked up where he left off, bapping him in the shoulder, "He
means that he is going to be taking me to the beach, like as in a date!" she
beamed with a wide, positively sparkling smile and latched onto Ranma's arm.
Ranma didn't say anything, he just turned as red as a beet and grinned
sheepishly.
Hawk's eyebrow's shot to his hairline, "Ranma could I have a quick
word with you for just a moment?" gesturing a little ways off.
Ranma nodded and gave Uukyo a quick peck to the cheek, "I'll be
back in just a minute." He said to her and walked to where Hawk rolled to,
"What's up?"
Hawk just slapped him on the shoulder, "You tiger! I knew you had it
in ya!" he said, with his own smile on his face, "But that is not the reason
I
called ya over here." Ranma nodded, wondering where this is going, started
motioning for him to continue. "Well.to put it simply.I think Uukyo there,"
gesturing to the beautiful woman who's now leaning against the wall, "..is
the
last dragon we're looking for." he trailed off as he saw Ranma's jaw slacken
considerably but didn't say anything, "I got this feeling the last time I
met
her." stopping at the look on Ranma's face, "I take it that you have also
got
this feeling?"
Ranma nodded, "Yeah.But who would have thought." shrugging
his shoulders.
Hawk also nodded, "I know the feeling.DOH! Another bad pun of
the day!! Arg! Anyway.how about we get this show on the road and have
some fun with the girls of our lives, neh??" Hawk's hand laid out to show
Ranma back to Uukyo.

Ranko, Akane, Natsumi, Karumi and Kasumi came out of the front
gates, with Soun trailing not to far behind.
Ranko, currently dressed in a white t-shirt and blue-jean cut-off shorts
that are cut VERY high, plus her own `blades.
She spotted Ranma, "There you are you big OAF! Where have
been??" she yelled at him and poked him in the chest when she got near.
Ranma didn't say anything, he just jutted his head to Uukyo, who's
got her arm wrapped around his.
Ranko's finger lingered between the two, both Ranma and Uukyo
nodded to her unspoken question. She just shook her head and latched onto
her
own significant other.
Hawk peered around to the group, finger jutting out in front of him,
as if taking a head count, "OK! We're all here! So we go now!" he annouced
to the group, taking Ranko's hand and rolled off with the others in tow.
They were off to Sun and Fun, all chattering away at what they are
going to be doing at the beach when they get there.

* * * * * * * * *

 When they got there, it is fairly crowded.
Hawk scanned the crowd, "Damn.I guess I didn't have the same
idea." trailing off a bit as he looked for Nabiki, he did find her, "There's
our
spot!" he annouced, pointing into a certain direction, "Right where Nabiki
is.and I gotta take these things off, don't want to clean out a load of
sand."
he sai, taking a seat next to the Red-head.
"You guys go on ahead to setup, I'll be there in a moment," turning to
Ranko, "I'll meet you and the rest of you girls in front of the change
rooms?"
he asked the female population of the group.
They nodded. He just sat down on a bench that is still on the concrete
and continued to take off his `blades.

 Ranma and Hawk stood in front of the women's change rooms,
waiting impatiently for the girls to come out and fighting off the other
gals that
came out.
Ranma shifted his weight, again to another foot, "Geeez.How long
could it take to change into a swimsuit." trailing off as he crossed his
arms
over his bare chest.
Both he and Hawk changed into their respective swimming trunks in
just a minute or two but the girls on the other hand.
Hawk just shook his head, "You'd think that they are planning kinda
war in there or something!"
Ranma nodded and the both of them waited some more.
It was then they heard a burst of manical laughter erupt from within.
The two guys looked to each other, "Naaaaaahhhh!!!!" they chorused,
shaking their heads defiantly.

They didn't have to wait for much longer.
The girls came out, clad in something close to nothing, making the
two guys hearts stop.
They made other guys hearts stop as well, and the slaps from their
girlfriends echoed throughout.
Hawk stumbled a bit, his arm lashing out to grab Ranma on the arm,
who's doing a perfect imitaion of a wide-eyed, slack jawed statue right now,
to
keep himself upright and Hawk grabbed at his chest.
Starting with Ranko, she is in an off-white with golden accents along
the edges with a lattace work of thick golden strings around where the top
and
bottom meet.
A  tiny bikini.
A VERY tiny bikini.
The top of the suit squeezed down just enough to make her look
slighter bigger than she is and the bottom piece.well.there's virtually
nothing on the back except for a thin \/ like strip that's there and the
straps
clung to the top of her hips, showing them off incredibly well.
Akane was in a somewhat simple yellow one piece, cut high on the
hip with a yellow string lattace work joining either side over the hip
itself, she
still managed to look quite good despite her tomboyish figure.
Natsume and Karume were also in their own one pieces, colored an
identical purple shade with black water-like splotches.
 Uukyo, much like Ranko, is also clad in a skimpy two piece bikini,
but more traditionally styled.
Deep sea blue in color with a golden sea-like pattern etched into it.
Kasumi, she's in a plain, simple light blue one piece, still accenting
herself nicely, but not as extravigantly as two others in the group.
The gals posed for the guys, all lightly giggling when they did so,
except Karume and Kasumi, both whom walked off to their spot on the beach.
The guys around them had a MASSIVE heart-attack.
 The site that is before the guys almost made them fall to their knees
and praise the Lord that they are made a man.
Hawk quickly snapped out of it, going into his tele-vangilist voice
and falling to his knees with his arms into the sky above him, "Sweet-ta,
JeeeSUS-A!! The lord has been good to me-A! Much beauty before mine
eyes-a!! It almost hurts-a!!"
The girls dissolved into a helpless gale of giggles then into roaring
laughter when he continued, "Haleighluya and Praise the Lord-da!!! Thank
GOD I have been born a man!!!"
 Ranma put his head into his hands and groaned as Hawk ranted
onward.
Having enough of the religious ramblings, Ranma raised his hand and
batted Hawk on the back of his head, HARD, sending him facefirst into the
sand.
Everyone around them applauded that the senseless speech is
stopped.
A fairly ridiculas sight with Hawk's rear and feet in the air, head
buried deep in the sand.
He stayed there for a moment until Ranko came up and slapped Hawk
on the ass, he then came up with a start, spitting the sand out of his mouth
and
dusting some off his face and chest.
Ranma took one look at him and barreled over in laughter.
Hawk stood up, glowering at Ranma, "You could have asked you
know."
Ranma looked back up from his hysteria, eyes watering and he nearly
collapsed when started up again.
Hawk gave him a withering glare and batted Ranma to the sand,
bending over to his head, "Now ya know how I feel!!"
He chuckled a bit as he walked off to the girls, who are a bit stunned
from the `sand-biting scene.'
 Hawk came up to Ranko, "Now that noise is done.How about we
catch some sun?" Gesturing to the expanse of the sands before them.
At her nod, he took her hand and led her off.

Akane watched the two walk off for a bit and turned back to the
others, "Definitely not shy ,isn't she?" she said with an almost disgusted
smile,
"But with a body like that I would probably do the same." she added as she
glanced back at the two.
As her gaze swung back, she spotted a familiar figure with a huge
back-pack and a bamboo-umbrella and he's not too far off.
Akane called out to him, "Ryouga!!!" She waved to him when he
slowly turned to her voice.

 Ranko and Hawk reached their designated spot in record time.
She is in his arms and he was doing about Mach 7 across the sand on
his toes yelling: "YOW! HOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOT!!!"
Then they reached one of the laid out beach-towels, Ranko-chan
giggling all the way.
Nabiki lifted her head from relaxing in the sun, watching the two zip
across the sand to their towel.
When they did get to it, Hawk started waving his hands over his feet,
"Strange thing.the sand I mean.It was fine over by the change rooms." he
said to no-one, then stopping in fanning his scorched feet when Ranko
stretched out on her stomach along the towel, her head resting on her
crossed
hands with a relieved moan.
 He scratched his chin a little with an amused `Hmmmm' and held out
his hand to Nabiki, quickly understanding what he wants, put a bottle of
suntan
oil into his eager hand, "You can do me up next." Nabiki drawled out as she
too streched out on her towel.
Hawk's brow shot up, `Wha-oh! What have I started.' he wondered
to himself as he greased his hands with the oil, then rubbing it until it is
somewhat warm.
He then started massaging the oil into her back, ellicting a low
pleasure filled moan from her when he continued all over her back, thankful
that her suit doesn't have a backstrap, some of her shoulders and lower
neck,
down her buttocks, thighs and finally, her calves.
Loosening her up really well after he was done, Hawk found that she
drifted off into a light snooze.
He lightly snorted, "Ok.done here.I'm gonna go play some v-
ball." he got cut off when Nabiki decided to chime in.
"No you don't buster!" a playful smile to her lips as she watched his
face droop.
Hawk just snapped his fingers with a defeated look on his face "You
still have yet to oil me up!" she said that in such a way that it sounded
totally
different.
 Hawk turned a bit red, it is not because of the sun, "Nabiki.why I
oughta.!!" shaking his still oily fist menacingly, "but I kinda did agree to
that
didn't I?"
He splashed more oil onto his hands, "OH WELL! Not like this is a
punishment that I cannot stand!!"
Nabiki laughed to that as she unsnapped the back-strap to her top and
stretched out onto her own stomach.
She hummed in pleasure as Hawk worked in the oil with experienced
hands all over her body.
Looking over to the dozing Ranko, `Lucky girl.' she thought to
herself as she too dozed off for a bit, `Very.lucky.girl.'
 Now able to breath again since Nabiki dozed off, he drew in a large,
relieved breath as he sat down on a nearby towel to relax.
A pair of shadows loomed over him, he looked back to see Akane,
with Ryouga, "Hullo." Hawk drawled out.
Ryouga looked to Akane then back to Hawk, pointing a finger and
looked of recognistion all over his face, then turned angry, "You're the one
who knocked me out at the Nekohanten!!!"
Hawk hung his head and snorted, "Heh.good to be remembered."
looked back up to him, "I didn't want any trouble at the time and that was
the
quickest way I could think of other than clocking you over the head."
trailing
off as Ryouga swung at him with a powerful hailmaker, "Yow.Chill, man!!"
Ryouga didn't hear, probably because his punch landed right into the
sand, spraying it over the two `sleeping beauties.'
 Ranko and Nabiki awoke with a start, They looked around as they
shook their heads to get the sand out.
They spotted Ryouga, fist down into the ground, which is a sizable
crater now, with a firece expression on his face, "Stand still and Fight
like a
man!!!" he called out to Hawk, who's got his head buried in his hand.
Hawk stood stock still, "What? Like this??" Hawk called back to
Ryouga sarcasticaly, just standing in his current position with his arms
crossed.
Growling, he charged at Hawk, fist drawn back for a powerful punch.
Hawk didn't even look worried as waved him on.
 Ryouga roared as he swung his fist around with as much force as he
can muster.
Akane looked to Ranko, wondering why she didn't even look worried
as she watched the fight progress.
In fact, Ranko just looked a `bit' peeved because of the sand.
Hawk inwardly sighed and swung his hand up to intercept Ryouga's
fist.
A loud crack echoed throughout the airspace.
Akane covered her eyes, now deciding not watch this pointless farce
go on, wondering what Hawk has done to make Ryouga so steamed at him.
Akane looked up when she heard the crack and started at what she
saw.
Hawk just standing there nonchalantly with Ryouga's fist in the palm
of his left hand.
He shook his head, "Ryouga, I don't want to fight you.I'm here to
have some fun with friends and I also don't want to hurt you."
Hawk squeezed Ryouga's fist even tighter for emphisis of what he
can do to him.
Ryouga cried in pain as the ALL the knuckles in hand cracked and
popped at the same time and then looked up to Hawk's emotionless face and
realized that he went a `little' too far out of his league when challenging
him.
Hawk noticed the look on his face and let him go, "Now.you
finished trying to get at me?" leaning in a little closer since Ryouga fell
to his
knees holding his swelling hand, "I'll tell ya something though.Akane is
free
from the forced engagement of her parents." trailing off as he saw his eyes
light up, "Yes.you do have a chance with her now.especially since Ranma
is being with Uukyo full-time now."
Ryouga stood up, dusted his knees off, he looked to Hawk with a
curious expression, "Why are you telling me this?"
Hawk shrugged his shoulders as he straightened up, "Well.Akane
has no-one right now and I saw her face when myself.Ranko and her were up
at the mall.definitely not happy."
Ryouga nodded, "I see." not quite understanding this, at least not all
of it.
Bapping Ryouga on the shoulder playfully, "You'll get it soon
enough.meanwhile you go and ask her out, she's got no obligations to
fulfill,
doesn't have to.at least not while I'm around!!" he said, boastfully, then
holding out his hand, "Friends?"
Ryouga looked at Hawk's hand dubiously, then back up to his face,
"Sure." He said, clasping Hawk's hand.
"Good!" Hawk exclaimed, looking over Ryouga's shoulder, "And I
suggest to high tail it outta here.Ranko's none too happy with you right now
since you're the one that coated her with sand."
Ryouga looked back to meet with her firery gaze. Balking, turning
back to Hawk, "Uhhh.yeah.BYE!!" Ryouga finished, grabbing his pack
and took off like a shot out of a gun.
Watching Ryouga's trailing rooster tail of sand, then shifting her gaze
back up to Hawk, "Why did you let him go?!?! I wanted to let him know what
for, covering me with the damn sand!!!" she yelled at him.
He winced a little, "Sorry.better to make a friend than an enemy."
a smarmy smirk coming up onto his face, ".Besides, the sand can be easily
WASHED off." he finished, creeping up to her.
Ranko's eye's widened, "No.." she started off weakly, her hands up,
trying to fend him off, "Don't do what I think you are going to do!!"
Hawk just nodded evilly, quickly snatched her up off of the towel,
holding her above his head and made a beeline for the ocean, "If you don't
get
that sand off.I won't be able to oil ya up proper!!!"he called out to her as
they both dived in.

The others in the troop started in wondering when they were coming
back up, it was then they did. Ranko gave a withering glare to Hawk,
"You.!" was all that she managed to say when she got splashed by a
considerable wave from Hawk's direction.
It degenerated from there, with the both of them splashing one
another, both laughing heartily when they came out.
Hawk looked her over, "See.Told ya that's one way to get the sand
out!" he said, snickering a bit.
Ranko didn't reply, she just slapped him upside the head, then
shaking her own to get the excess water out.
Ranma came up to them, trying to hold back his own hysterics with
Uukyo at his side trying to do the same, "You guys done now?" Ranma asked
them, making no effort at all to hide the mirth that is running through him.
All he got was another snicker from Hawk and a glare from Ranko,
"Good to hear it.both of you feel up to some duet volleyball?"
Ranko gave her brother a blank look and then she was lifted off of the
ground, onto Hawk's shoulder, "Whatcha do that for!?!"
She felt him laugh a bit, "Well.this is why it is called duet v-ball!"
he answered her simply.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Natsume and Karumi.
Both were with a pair of guys, who were shyly talking with them and
then they all started laughing for some reason or other.
Curiousity piqued, "Hey Ranko-chan!" he called up to her.
 She leaned over a bit to put her face in front of his, "What's up?" she
asked him.
"Look over there." Hawk said to her pointing in the direction where
he saw the two girls at, "Natsume and Karumi.looks like they are." trailing
off, not knowing the right way of what he is trying to say.
But Ranko got it anyway, "Yeah.sure seems like it.wonder if
they'll play a round?" she pondered out loud.
Ranma and Uukyo, wondering what they are talking about, turned
into the direction that Hawk pointed to.
Raising an eyebrow, "Hope they do want to.It be a bit hard to play
with only four people." trailing off into thought.
Uukyo nodded, not speaking, she just clasped her hand to Ranma's.
Natsume and Karumi came over to the group that is watching them.
A bit curious as to why they are being watched, Natsume piped in,
"What's goin' on? Why were you guys watching us?"
Hawk stepped forward, "'Cause we were wondering if you, Karumi
and your guy friends would like to play a few rounds of Duet V-ball?" he
asked Natsume, gesturing to said guys that are behind her, all with Ranko
still
on his shoulders.
Natsume looked perplexed, looking back to the two guys she was
talking to, "I don't know.let me ask them." trailing off as she ran back to
the guys and Karumi.
Watching them intently, the four can see the reaction of the two guys.
Namely their nervous laughter and hefty blushing, probably because
the have to have the girls on their shoulders to play and they almost
reluctantly
agreed.
Karumi cheered, jumping up and down, then clamoring onto her
guy's shoulders without much thought or fuss.
Natsume and her `date' just looked at each other, both blushing
feircely.
Then he went onto his one knee, head down, asking her to get on.
Which she eventually did, not without some effort on his part, he had
a bear of a time getting back up onto his feet but once there, no problem.
Natsume lightly held onto his forehead, trying to get her balance, he
held onto her by keeping his arms locked over her ankles.
He appears to be having the time of his life already, judging by the
look on his face, go figure.

After a few false starts and lots of sand-eating later, the games began.
The teams consited of Uukyo/Ranma and Karumi/Heero, the other
has Ranko/Hawk and Natsume/Kaneda.
At first it looked like the Ranko/Natsume team was winning, but the
other started to get the upperhand for awhile but Natsume and Ranko won the
first round.
The subsequent rounds were mostly fun, the wins trading off between
the two teams rather evenly.
It would appear that the budding relationships of Natsume and
Karumi are starting off fairly well, since the two guys asked for their
number
and wanted to talked to them later.
Hawk and Ranko watched the unlikely matchups with interest, "It
would seem to be a bright time has come to the people of Nerima." Hawk
reminised, with his arm around Ranko's waist.
She looked up to see that the sun is just a few hours away from
setting, plus it is starting to get a bit cold. She shivered to the slight
breeze that
came from the ocean.
Hawk looked down to see Ranko's arms are crossed and trying rub
out the goosebumps, "Hmmm.I guess that it is time to go." he looked
around, "Its too damned early!" he whined.
Ranko just elbowed him in the ribs and ran off to shower and change,
"Shut it you! I'm freezing!!"
He watched Ranko's sculpted hiney as she ran off, then started
looking around a little more, mostly for Ranma, and found that most of the
beach is empty.
Straining his eyes to their mechanical limit, he eventually did find
Ranma, sitting on a towel with Uukyo snuggling up to him.
Hawk ran up to them, almost startling them in the process.
Meaning that where in the middle of `something.'
He looked sheepish when he did startle them, "Sorry about that,guys.
I came over here to let ya guys know that me, Ranko and the others are
leaving
since it is getting kinda cold out here now." shaking his head, "At least to
her
anyways, but I see that you are not cold, are you Uukyo?"
She just giggled and snuggled up somemore to Ranma's chest.
Ranma, trying to both enjoy Uukyo's company and shoo Hawk away
by jutting his head in some direction, but Hawk got it and bolted with a
trailing, "Don't do what I wouldn't do!!!" Uukyo looked to Hawk and then
back to Ranma.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked him.
Ranma just shook his head disgustedly, "I dunno.since he does do
quite a bit." trailing off, his eyes widening, he then started laughing,
falling
back into the sand.
Now even more confused, "Ok.out with it , sugar!" Uukyo yelled at
him, now standing over him with his shirt is her hands.
Ranma calmed down enough to pull her down to him and whispered
some things in her ear.
Her eyes widened and a beet-red flush made itself known, all over her
face "Oh! My!" she said, very Kasumi like with her hand to her lips, "I
could
get to like this!" flush now disappearing as she glomped onto him, locking
with his lips for many a minute.

* * * * * * * * *

Running back to the Women's Change Rooms, laughing his fool head
off. Hawk slowed to a halt in front of one the benches. Looking back from
hence he came, `Gee.I wonder what they are going to tonight?' he thought
with more chuckles coming out.
 He took a seat on the bench, knowing full well it will take Ranko
some time to come out of the change rooms.
Since he was already changed by to his usual jeans and t-shirt, it
would be a lot of time indeed.

Ranko came out of the change rooms about a half an hour later, her
`blades already on her feet.
 She found Hawk sprawled out on the bench, his head over the top of
it. Judging by the buzzing sounds coming from him, he is asleep!
Annoyed, she rolled up to him and slugged him in the gut, not too
hard, just enough to make him feel it.
Hawk did indeed feel it.
He awoke with a start. Taking in a pained breath, "That was
DEFINITELY not call for.not called for at all." Looking back up from the
ground to Ranko, "I take it that you are finished?"
He rose from the bench at her nod, "Goodie! Then we can get ready
for our DATE tonight!" He held out his hand, she obligingly took it and they
started sashaying away from the beach.

Feeling the silence getting to her, "Where's Ranma and the others?"
Hawk just shrugged, "Dunno about the others, but Ranma and Uukyo
are still at the beach." trailing off to look back for a second, "Probably
watching the Sunset or something." letting go of her hand to wrap his arm
around her waist, "Something I would like to do.but we have a previous
engagement.one that I would KILL to _NOT_ miss."
Ranko looked to the road ahead of them, "Guess I wouldn't want to
miss it either."
He raised an eyebrow to what she said, `Only if you knew of what I
have planned for tonight.'
The two casually rolled along in silence the rest of the way home.

* * * * * * * * *

 The time, currently 7 pm, a few hours later when everyone has gotten
home.
The house is in its usual bustle, but just a little more so right this time
since one of the young women in this humble home are preparing for a special
date.
 In Kasumi's room. Ranko, standing in front of a full length mirror,
dressed in a curve hugging silk chinese style red dress with a mid-hip high
cut
slit up the left leg and a violet rose adorning the chest. Plus golden
accents all
over.
She seemed a bit nervous as she posed in front of the mirror.
All the Tendo girls are also there. Akane, just sat there, mostly in awe
of the incredible looks that Ranko is showing off now, even though she was
there when Ranko was trying on the dress.
Nabiki watching as well, with her customary smirk on her face, `If
you only knew what Hawk has planned for tonight.' she thought smugly to
herself as she took a few snapshots of Ranko as she posed in front of the
mirror.
Ranko  turned back to the assembled girls, "How do I look?" spinning
in a small piroette, "Not too much?" she asked them nervously.
 Akane just looked Ranko up and down, "Wow." was all that she
trusted herself to say at the moment.
Nabiki snorted, "What she said. But I think you'll just about give
Hawk a massive heart attack!"
Looking at Nabiki, then back to Ranko, "I would certainly think
so." Kasumi said, ending with an amused giggle.
The other three stared at Kasumi and her unusual comment.
 Turning back to the mirror, Ranko started at the reflection.
It is definitely her, younger looking at least, but dressed in the usual
chinese shirt and black pants, that she used to.in her past life with Ranma.
Except the fact that the shirt is now a blood red color and it has an
inlaid golden dragon within, that said dragon seemed to move as she watched
it.
The other Ranko looked just as surprised as the one in the slinky
dress.
They both looked down each other, at the same time, then patted each
of themselves.
As they both patted themselves down, the expressions of both looked
like they are wondering what the hell is going on here.
Ranko, one in the dress, noticed that her reflection seemed to be a
good head and shoulders shorter than herself.
Plus the reflection has shorter and much redder hair than her own.
Both continued with other strange minstrations to try to get the
reflection to do something wrong.

Snapping out of her awe, "Hey.Ranko? What's wrong?" Akane as
the tall red-head.
Ranko turned to her, eyes wide, jaw loose on her face. She is pointing
blankly to the mirror on the back of the door.
Curiousity piqued, Akane got off of the bed and padded over to the
mirror next to Ranko.
Both girls eyes widened to an impossible magnitude as both she and
Ranko looked back into the Mirror.
 They see both a more adult version of Ranma-chan.and a massively
muscular Ryouga.
Akane's jaw slakened and her eyes widened considerably as she
gazed upon the now god-like form.
"Ryouga?" Akane managed to whisper, not much more for since she
didn't trust her vocal cords at the moment, he looked absolutely huge now,
much like Ranma is now.

[Maybe a bit smaller.THINK ABOUT IT!! --KnightHawke]

For some strange reason, Ryouga's image faded to that of someone
else in their view.
 The other person looks to be at first.Hawk, but as both Ranko and
Akane look more closely, they see that he is not. In fact, the person seems
older, wearing a suit of scaled, silver and black armor that Ranko has never
seen before, though the likeness is familiar.
The next thing that stuck out is the man's eyes, they have such on
intense shade of Jade-Green, much like the eyes of an ancient dragon staring
back at you.
The eyes flitted over Ranko's form, an Artic cold hardness quickly
came to them, succeeding in chilling her to the bone.
Then they suddenly shifted over to Akane.
 The original coldness instantly disappeared and was  replaced by a
love so intense that, at first, threatened to overwelm Akane instantly.
Stealing a glance over to Akane, Ranko noted that she seemed
enraptured by the image.
 Feeling a heat rise throughout her very being, `I feel as though that I
know him, but I don't know from where..' Akane's thoughts derailed to
another plane, `..Kami-Sama! He's gorgeous!!' She wondered where that
thought came from as both she and Ranko looked to each other, both
thoroughly confused.
Both women saw him mouth something akin to `I.be back.for
you.my.love.', directed to Akane.
The image faded slowly, as if this man is fighting something, strain
evident on his face while he held out his hand to Akane then faded
completely,
showing the two girls' original images.
"Wow." both Ranko and Akane chorused.

The other two elder [in a sense] girls looked to each other, then back
to the others in front of the mirror.
"What is it?" Nabiki asked, pretty much cutting off what Kasumi was
trying to say.
Akane and Ranko both turned back, both pointing to the looking
glass, "The mirror." both trailing off in their shock.
Both Nabiki and Kasumi looked to each other curiously, they both
walked over to the mirror.
They see just the four of them in the reflection, "So what has got you
two so spooked?" Nabiki asked them.
Ranko and Akane turned back to the glass and started.
They see just themselves plus Kasumi and Nabiki.
Akane and Ranko looked to each other then turned more to the others,
"But." they started saying, both pointing to their reflections.

Shaking her head to get some of the confusion out, Ranko sat down in
front of the vanity mirror, where Kasumi is helping in putting a touch of
makeup onto her face, just enough to highlight her already lovely features.
After that was done, they heard a low roar of what sounded like a
LARGE vaccuum cleaner outside.
 They all crowded the window, to see a blue-grey painted CAR hover
to the ground in front of the main-gates, it wheels flipping back up to
their
customary position.
The vehicle looks very sleek, the front portion looking like they could
eat someone alive, the lights looking like eyes from some sort of monster,
also
the car looks like it is going fast even sitting still.
The girls were speachless as the car touched down, the low turbine
howl dying down.
A gull wing down swung up and a man, emaculately dressed in a
black tuxido came out from the driver's side [looked like the passenger side
for these people, since this is an American styled car .^_^ --KnightHawke],
all
decked out in gold on his wrists and neck with dark shades on his face.
The girls instantly recognized him, it is Hawk.

 Hawk felt a set of eight eyes watching him as he got out of the car.
Looking up to them, taking off his shades [of Super Cool +5 -_^ -
KnightHawk], he waved to the girls in the upper window.
Ducking out of their sight by the wall, Hawk checked his precious
payload.
He pulled out the black-velvet ring case, trying to ease his own jitters
just by looking and holding thecase.
Taking a deep breath, he put the case back into his jacket pocket,
turned to the gates and walked into the House proper.
 He walked over to the main living area where most of the inhabitants
are assembled.
They all turned to the person who intruded into their space and all
gaped at the incredibly well dressed Hawk.
"Lookin' Great, Hawk-man!!" Ranma chimed, his left thumb in the
air.
Soun managed to snap out of it, a bit, "I do agree Ranma-kun!" then
went back into staring at him.
"So.where are you two lucky kids heading off to tonight?" Ranma
inquired, getting off of the sofa somewhat, gesturing Hawk to sit.
 He did sit down, next to Ranma, "Well.we're going to Kyoto's
Sushi." he stopped when he heard Ranma choking on whatever he was
munching on at the time.
Slapping his back, "You alright, man?" Hawk asked worriedly.
With one final cough, "KYOTO'S?!?!? Do you realise how
expensive that place is?!?!"
Hawk nodded, "Yes.I can _EASILY_ cover it.one of the reason's
why I chose the place." leaning closer to Ranma's face, "The other reason I
believe you already know." trailing off as he discreately showed the ring-
case from the jacket pocket.
Ranma nodded with a smile while he leaned back. He then jumped
up, "Well.I'll see what is taking my sister so damned long and try to drag
her
down here." he finished from the bottom of the stairs.
Hawk sighed and leaned back into the sofa, nervously fiddling as he
waited impatiently.

* * * * * * * * *

 Coming up to Kasumi's door, the last one that remains closed, the
others occupants are mysteriously vacant from them.
Ranma took in a deep breath and knocked on Kasumi's door.
He heard some muffled giggling before Akane came to the door and
opened it.
 She started, "Umm.Ranma? What are you doing here?"
He looked down to her a little, "Hawk's here, and we are both
wondering what my sister is doing that is taking so long." trailing off as
Akane looked back into the room.
"She'll be out a minute.she's just finishing on the makeup." She
answered him simply, then slamming the door into his face.
Raising an eybrow, hand to his chin, "Hmmm.heh!" he snorted,
shaking his head then walking back down the stairs.
 Ranma found Hawk pacing about the room, almost wearing a groove
in the carpeting.
He stepped into Hawk's path to stop him.
Only to have Hawk run into the mountain of muscle.
Hawk looked up, a bit of a nervous twitch under his right eye,
"Well.?" was all that he managed to get out when his throat muscles
cletched, seizing the use of his vocal cords.
Ranma just shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head, "Akane said
that she'll be down." he trailed off as they heard one of the doors open
upstairs and some controlled foot falls hit the stairs.
 Both men turned to the stairs and their jaws fell, instantly to the
ground.
Ranko stood at the bottom of the steps, clad in a shining _RED_
silken _RED_ dress with golden accents that clung to her luscious curves
like
a newborn babe to its mother.
Her hair, now done in a totally new way, was mostly tied to a wide
pony-tail, her hair _floating_ in the air behind her, her bangs were split
in
twain, framing her delicate face in a way to taunt.
"Goddess." Hawk said, regaining some control of his voice.
Ranko gestured to herself, "You like?" she asked simply to the males
in the room.
All threeof them: Ranma, Hawk and Soun, all they could do was
dumbly nod as the gazed upon, what seemed the most perfect vision of beauty
they have ever seen.
 Slapping himself, Hawk managed to snap out of it but he hit himself
hard enough to wind up on the floor.
Before anyone could move to help him up, Hawk was already back
onto his feet, dusting himself off and straightening his suit out.
He stepped up to the wide-eyed Ranko and stuck his left arm out,
"Shall we dance?" he drawled out in his most `cultured' Brit accent.
She choked back a laugh and hooked his outlaid arm, "Yes.let's!"
she answered simply.
The others chuckled at this and followed them to the door.

 When they got to the door, they turned back around.
Nabiki stepped forward, camera in hand, hamming it up as the camera
`man', "Ok kiddies. Smile for the birdie!!"
Also hamming it up quite a bit, Ranko stretched her exposed leg
across and up Hawk's chest and leaned off to the left side of him, her own
arm
outstretched.
Hawk, he just held her leg by the calf and her as well, with a HUGE
feces-eating grin on his face.
Holding back a gale of laughter, Nabiki snapped a perfect shot of the
two's hilarious pose, "Ok.for real this time!" she called out to them.
The couple nodded and switched back to a more `regal' pose and
Nabiki snapped another perfect shot of them, "Now.go on you two have
some `FUN'!" she emphisised, suceeding in getting a blush out of the both of
them.
"Nabiki!" Kasumi called from behind her, "They are just going to a
nice resteraunt for dinner."
The extemely well dressed couple just shook their heads and walked
out the door.
Nabiki turned to Kasumi, "Oniichan!! Really.You are living in the
past! PLUS.They are older than most of us put together!" dragging the others
back into the dining room, "Now all of you sit down so that I can EXPLAIN
why he is doing this."
She wiped a smile off of her face that threatened to make itself
known, "For FREE even." she purposely trailed off for effect.
 The effect is definitely what she desired.
A lot of suddenly slackened jaws, wide eyes and all completely silent,
waiting for her to finish what she had started, except Ranma.
She smiled this time, "Do any of you have any idea of what Hawk-
chan has planned for this so-called date?"
Everyone shook their heads, except Ranma, who just leaned back into
the sofa, both arms behind his head, not saying anything, trying miserably
to
look like he didn't know.
Grinning inwardly, `I kinda figured he already told you, Ranma' she
thought to herself, "Hawk-chan is going to PROPOSE to Ranko." She stated
matter-of-factly.
 Akane's eyes widened and welled over with joyous tears.
 Soun was intially stunned beyond measure and then he wailed
happily, creating a new river leading from him.
 Kasumi.well.she is also stunned and overjoyed for Ranma's sister,
so much, she couldn't even say her patented `Oh My', all she could do was
let
her usual sunny smile come onto her face, much more than usual.
 Ranma, still not saying anything, just sat there.
Still happy for Ranko either way.

 When they got to the car, Ranko paused, gazing at the mean looking
thing.
It would have looked like a monster for if it had for real eyes and
mouth.
Hawk, swinging up the passenger side gull-wing door, looked back to
Ranko, holding his hand out and he is complete understanding of what she
might be thinking.
Ranko shook out of her stare and accepted his hand to guide her into
the car. She noted that it is much more different inside than out, in here
it is
sinfully comfortable, especially in the seat, which seemed like it was
conformed just for her.
She was left to marvel the inside when the door was closed, the array
of controls that dotted the driver's side, then Hawk opened his side and
climbed in.
He turned to her, "Comfy?" she nodded, "Good.and I suggest that
you buckle up." trailing off as he turned the ignition, nothing happened.
Then he pushed a button on the dash and a dull whine filled the
interior until just a moment later.
 That whine turned into a low growl as she felt something fire up.
Then into a slow roar.
Ranko watched in wonder as everything light up on the dash while
she fumbled a bit with the belt but managing to buckle up.
Hawk was beaming, "That's not all my Ford GT-90 Super-Custom
can do." He stated when he push a button just in front of the stick-shift,
then
other, hidden controls popped out and made themselves known.
 She felt the car lightly jerk a little, then started to slowly rise.
Ranko shifted her gaze to the window to her side, eyes widening as
she watched the ground shrink below her.
Putting his hand on the shifter, "Hold tight." Hawk called to her,
shifting it into gear, "The active stealth system does work great but I
don't
want to be up in the air for too long." turning his head to her, with a
smirk
twisting his face a bit, "Especially with a CAR."
She nodded, losing her speech completely, understanding what he
ment. "Good." trailing off as he gunned the throttle, pressing the both of
them into the seats, heading quickly into downtown Tokyo.

 Everyone broke out of their reverie when they heard a combination
vacuum cleaner and a growling beast outside.
They all turned their heads to see the car rise into the air, its wheels
turning down, small blue flames come from them downwards.
They instantly all piled outside in time to see the car slowly turn and
shoot off into the distance with long twin plumes of blue flame coming from
the rear of it.
 Putting her jaw back into place, "I definitely gotta know more about
him." Nabiki stopped when a hand grasped her shoulder.
She looked over to see Ranma shaking his head, "What? Something
wrong about trying to know someone?"
Ranma sighed, "No, Nabiki." lifting his head, his face full of
concern, "It's not that.just don't try TOO hard." trailing off as he
unconsiously shivered and turned his back to her.
Curiousity very piqued now, especially when Ranma is scared of
something, crossing her arms and putting a slightly smug look onto her face,
"Why shouldn't I pry then?" she asked him.
Ranma turned back, looking into her curious eyes with his own fear
filled ones, "You haven't seen what he has done to a person who _pried_ too
hard.then turning around and tried blackmailing him with that information
that one person got out of him." stopping when a fit of the shivers took him
again and walked away with a muttered `Glad Ranko didn't see it.wish I
didn't either...'
 Nabiki looked back out to the sky, "What is it that is about him
anyway?"

*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*