PART 4: THE DESIRES OF THE MANY, OBSCURE THE
NEEDS OF THE FEW OR THE ONES THAT DARE TO DREAM
OUTSIDE THE NEKOHANTEN
4:00 P.M.
The sky had cleared and the rain had finally ceased as
Ranma neared the restaurant, Shampoo clinging to his arm. Ranma
had his head bowed and his shoulders were slumped with depression.
A dark cloud seemed to hang over him as he silently cursed the fates for
getting him into these messes.
"Why do these things always happen to me?" Ranma
thought bitterly. "All I wanted to do was take a nice hot shower in
peace and get back to class but NOOOO.....now I'm being forced to
take Shampoo on a date! What else can go wrong?"
As Ranma continued to fume in silence he failed to notice
the sudden appearance of a figure ahead of him. Even worse, so
distracted was Ranma that he even failed to notice the figure thrusting
his sleeves at Ranma, unleashing a series of curved blades attached to
ropes, all of them aimed at Ranma's unprotected head....
"AI REN! MOVE!!!"
Shampoo suddenly separated Ranma from his kidneys, or
at least that's what it felt like to him as she tackled him out of the path
of the blades in the nick of time. Ranma quickly recovered and found
himself on the ground with Shampoo draped over him. Ranma was
about to protest when he noticed the ropes sailing through where
his head had been a moment ago and quickly stood up to face his
attacker....the master of hammerspace known as Mousse.
"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Ranma shouted.
Mousse glared at Ranma through the thick lens of his
glasses. "Need you even ask, Saotome!" Mousse growled in a voice
full of righteous anger. "My darling Shampoo leaves me alone at the
Nekohanten to serve the customers while you take her out to who
knows where and try to steal her away from me!
"You're crazy! We never....!" Ranma tried to retort.
"Stupid Mousse! Ranma no take Shampoo to date until
tonight!" Shampoo replied with contempt in her voice.
"IS THAT RIGHT?!?" Mousse took a threatening step
forward, his sleeves prepared to release another volley.
"No! Well....sort of.....but there's a reason...." Ranma
fumbled.
"DIE, SAOTOME!!!" Mousse leapt high into the air and
shot another series of blades on ropes at Ranma. Only this time
Ranma was ready for it and managed to move out of the way in
time, catching each of the ropes in his hand as the blades flew by
his body until he had them all.
"Try this on for size!" Ranma said as he suddenly yanked
down hard on the ropes, sending Mousse plummeting towards the
ground only to flip upright in mid air and aim his rapidly
descending form towards Ranma, metal claws extending from his
shoes as he aimed for the center of Ranma's chest.
"TAKA ZUME KEN!!!" Mousse screamed as he tried to
impale Ranma only to have Ranma sidestep from the point of
impact. Mousse's claws retracted just before he reached the ground
but was wide open for a roundkick to the face by Ranma. Mousse
went flying and crashed hard against the stone wall surrounding the
sidewalk, gasping in pain from the impact as he slowly slid back
down to the ground.
"Guess you forgot to....duck." Taunted a still-fresh
Ranma.
"Come on Ai Ren, stupid Mousse not worth fighting."
Shampoo said with even more contempt as they turned to leave.
"Hold it!" With a mighty effort, Mousse struggled to his
feet, his hard gaze masked by the thick lenses of his eyewear. "We're
not finished yet, Saotome."
"Jeez, Mousse, how many times do I have to beat you up
before you realize you can't win?" Ranma asked in a tired voice.
"Shampoo is not yours. I'll fight for her to my last breath."
Mousse said with quiet determination.
"Hey, anytime you want her she's...." Ranma quickly cut
off his sentence as he noticed Shampoo glaring daggers at him and he
decided to try a different approach. "Look, I don't want to beat you up
again Mousse, so give up!" Ranma said trying to be reasonable, not
realizing how self-centered he sounded.
"Give up Mousse!" Shampoo added to his voice. "Shampoo
never love you like she love Ranma. Husband is strong, defeat
Shampoo in battle, defeat all others in battle, Mousse can't even beat
Shampoo! Mousse weak man."
"Then let me prove my love for you by trashing this fool!"
Mousse offered with his fists clenched.
"Who are you calling a fool, duck boy?" Ranma responded hotly.
"Mousse never beat Ranma! Ranma invincible! Nyahh!"
Shampoo said as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"That's right!" Ranma wholeheartedly agreed, his pride
overriding his common sense.
Mousse turned to Ranma with a look of anger and betrayal.
"Why are you encouraging her?! I thought you wanted me
to have her?!" Mousse's eyes narrowed. "Why are you taking her out
on a date. anyway?!"
Ranma's face flushed and he started twiddling his fingers.
"Well....um....Shampoo....that is....Kodachi....and then....you see...."
Shampoo decided to fill in the huge gaps in Ranma's story.
"Ranma knocked out by pervert girl. Then psycho girl try to steal
Ranma and Shampoo protect him until he wake up. See?" Shampoo
showed her burnt hand to Mousse. Mousse leaned closer and took a
good look at it and his gaze darkened even further.
"Y..Yeah...something like that....then....um....." Ranma
tried to continue.
Shampoo interrupted him again by saying in an excited
voice. "Then Ranma and Shampoo take hot shower together and
Ranma promise to take Shampoo to date!"
"WHAT?!?" Mousse exclaimed with unparalleled fury.
"NOT ONLY DO YOU RISK MY SHAMPOO'S SAFETY
AGAINST KUNO'S DEMENTED SISTER BUT YOU DARE
GAZE AND WASH MY BRIDE'S NAKED BODY!?!?"
"What?! No! That's not how it happened!" Ranma tried
to backtrack. "Shampoo! Tell him what really happened!"
"But Ai Ren, that did happen." Shampoo looked at Ranma
with confusion.
"NO! Tell him how you tried to...." Ranma never had a
chance to finish before Mousse sent a huge black colored mace with a
heavy chain attached to it to land on top of Ranma's head, driving his
feet a few inches into the pavement with the force of the impact.
"J....Just give me a chance to explain...." Ranma said as
he gritted his teeth against the pain.
"ENOUGH EXCUSES! THIS TIME YOU DIE FOR
SURE! KEIRAN KEN!!!" Mousse screamed with finality as he
pressed his attack by throwing a series of egg bombs at the routed
Ranma. They all landed in a circle around him, all ticking
ominously as Ranma desperately tried to free himself of the
pavement. Then with a loud series of KABOOMS, the eggs
detonated, causing a huge cloud of smoke to surround Ranma as
the explosions released their destructive power.
"Shampoo, I've won the battle! Now you will be mine!"
Mousse exclaimed in victory as he rushed forward to embrace his
beloved, only to crash hard into a telephone phone he mistook for
Shampoo.
Then when the smoke cleared to reveal....an empty space
full of small craters and two small impressions in the pavement
where Ranma's feet were once stuck.
"What....That's impossible?!" Mousse couldn't believe it.
"Looking for someone?" A voice taunted from above.
Mousse looked up just in time to catch a heel kick to the
back of his head, driving his face into the concrete and Ranma's
foot along with it. Ranma twisted his heel, grinding Mousse's face
further.
"Had enough?" Ranma asked in a serious tone.
"N...Never...."
Ranma yelped in pain and surprise as Mousse suddenly
raised his sleeves and unsheathed his arm blades, slashing both of
Ranma's shins. Ranma was then thrown off Mousse as he shed his
cloak, leaving Mousse barechested. Mousse then turned to face
Ranma, his arm blades dripping slightly.
Mousse gave a cold smile to Ranma. "Just as you never
see the legs of a swan in water, you will never see what's up my
sleeves." His grin grew wider. "Until it hits you, that is."
Ranma threw Mousse's cloak off him and rose to his feet,
gently rubbing his shins and trying to stop the bleeding.
"Mousse...." Ranma said in a low voice. "I've gone easy
on you up till now because I felt sorry for you. But you went one
step too far pal!" Ranma cracked his knuckles and assumed an
offensive stance, his face dead serious. "Now I'm gonna ....!"
Ranma stopped in mid-sentence as Shampoo suddenly
produced a bucket of cold water and dumped it over Mousse,
transforming him into his duck form. Shampoo then grabbed
him by the neck and held him tightly for a few seconds until he
passed out while a confused and angry Ranma looked with
disbelief at Shampoo.
"What'd you do that for? I was about to teach him a
lesson!" Ranma angrily demanded to know.
"Ranma no fight stubborn Mousse any more. Ranma need
strength for date with Shampoo later. Besides, Ranma no stand up for
much longer." Shampoo replied in a calm voice.
"What'd mean!?! I can stand up to Mousse for...."
Ranma's legs suddenly collapsed from under him and he
landed on his tailbone. Ranma immediately tried to stand back up to
no avail, his legs were completely numb.
"Wha....What happened to me? Why can't I stand up?!"
Ranma asked, frustration evident in his tone at being helpless.
"Mousse coat blades with poison. Shampoo see blades
drip with it and knew Ranma need help."
"I....I don't need anyone's help!!" Ranma screamed
angrily as he tried to rise again, infuriated at having his battle
fought for him yet again. "I'm a guy, dammit!"
"No talk stupid Ranma! Shampoo get antidote for poison.
Ranma wait here!" Shampoo scurried off towards the Nekohanten,
still clutching Mousse-Duck tightly in her fist, leaving a humiliated
and humbled Ranma behind.
"Oh man....This just isn't my day." Ranma shoulders
slumped, once again lost in a cloud of dispair. "Oh well, at least it
can't get any worse...."
"Oh Ranma...."
Ranma spun around, fully expecting to see Akane with her
mallet, ready to pound him to a bloody pulp, but instead sees Nabiki.
"Oh, it's only you." Ranma breathed a sigh of relief. Then
he noticed the smile on Nabiki's face and immediately became tense
again. "W...What? Why're looking at me like that for?" he stammered.
"I was on my way home from school and just thought I paid
the Nekohanten a little visit." Nabiki said with a sly smile. "I trust
you've recovered from Akane's reaction to your food criticism?"
"Uh, y....yeah....good as new....heh...." Ranma tried his
best to sound relaxed, stretching out his arms behind his head for
good measure.
"I'm so glad to hear it. I wasn't feeling too well myself so
I decided to leave class early." Nabiki paused for a moment to take
a deep breath and then continued. "But....I forgot about a certain
homework assignment I'd left in my locker in the girl's gym...."
Ranma freezes. Solid. He closes his eyes.
"Ohnoohnopleaseno....." Ranma whimpered to himself.
"....and saw the most interesting photo opportunity in the
girl's shower of all places! Imagine that!" Nabiki smirked.
Ranma glared at Nabiki. "Don't you have any shame?!?
Ain't I got a right to any privacy anymore! Everytime something
bad happens to me, you end up making it worse! Why do you
always pick on me?" he growled.
"Why, whatever do you mean?" Nabiki said in a innocent
voice. "I exploit everyone equally. Kuno....family members...."
Nabiki smiled. "Fiancees....and strangers alike! I don't play
favorites."
"Yeah, you're an equal opportunity exploiter." Ranma
sarcastically replied. "We don't screw you, you screw us right?"
The smile vanished. "Just for that, I'm raising the price of
my silence." Nabiki said matter-of-factly.
"Silence?" Ranma stared blankly at her.
"The photos of you and Shampoo in the shower of course.
Be a real shame if I had to tell my little sister about your two
timing...." Nabiki voice trailed off.
Ranma was glad he couldn't stand up right now, he was
sorely tempted to teach Nabiki a lesson about now, girl or no girl.
"Oh no you don't! I've already been blackmailed once
today! Gimmie those photos Nabiki, NOW!" Ranma said in the most
threatening tone of voice he could muster.
Nabiki smiled and patted Ranma on the head, infuriating
him further. "First of all Ranma, I know you, you won't hit me or
any other girl no matter how angry you get. Second, I don't have
the photos with me. The *film* is being developed by a friend of
mine. And third, even you were willing to take the film from me by
force, you can't even stand up."
Ranma glowered with silent fury as he realized Nabiki was
right and she once again had him over a barrel.
"Alright." Defeat was evident in Ranma's voice. "Just tell
me how much it'll cost me to keep this quiet and get it over with."
"Don't be ridiculous! Do you really think I would have
gone to all this trouble so I could get a measly 1500 yen from your
wallet?" Nabiki admonished Ranma.
"Then what do you want?" Ranma asked, afraid of the
answer.
Nabiki knelt down next to Ranma and looked him right in
the eyes, their faces centimeters apart.
"I want you, Ranma sweetie." Nabiki whispered in a
breathy voice.
"WHAT?!?!" Ranma looked at Nabiki in disbelief.
"I want you....to be my personal slave." Nabiki finished in
a normal tone.
"S....Slave....?" Ranma gasped.
"Yes. I need you to perform several tasks for me, shake
down the welchers, acquire things for me no one else can, charm
those who would refuse my generous offers, little things like that."
"No way! I belong to nobody!" Ranma shouted, his male
pride taking over the rational part of his mind.
"Ooookay, suit yourself." Nabiki turned to walk away. "I
guess Akane will just have to be told of your cheating....as well as
Kunou....and let's not forget Ukyou....and Kodachi....Daddy....your
father...."
Ranma shuddered as he thought of all of those people
seeing those photos. Pop beating him up, Mr. Tendo wailing and
turning into that demon head, Ukyou flattening his skull with her
spatula and Akane....Akane....
"How long?" whispered Ranma.
Nabiki stopped and turned around. "What was that
Ranma?"
Ranma swallowed hard and repeated. "How long? How
long do I have to help you out?"
Nabiki gaze became thoughtful. "Well....I was going to say
two weeks, but after that vulgar comment you made to me earlier...."
Nabiki thought it over for a few moments. "About a month should
cover it."
Ranma groaned and then weakly nodded his head.
"Excellent. In that case you have my word no one will ever
see those photos." Nabiki said in her most sincere voice, which was
frighteningly realistic. "I know you have a date with Shampoo
tonight so I'll be generous and give you the day off but starting
tomorrow....you're mine. Understand, slave?"
"Don't push your luck Nabiki. I'm still Ranma."
Nabiki considers responding to that but notices the look in
Ranma's eyes and realizes she had already pushed her luck to a
uncomfortable level. I'd better smooth things over a bit. she noted to
herself as she spoke again. "Okay, Ranma. I'll see you tomorrow....I'll
even provide an alibi for your whereabouts tonight so you don't have to
worry about anyone finding out about your date with Shampoo. Ja ne!"
As Nabiki walked away, Ranma now had a look of someone
contemplating sepekku. A few moments later, Shampoo came back out
of the Nekohanten with a vial full of green liquid. She knelt down next
to Ranma and offered it to him.
"Sorry Shampoo take so long. Here, drink." Shampoo said.
Ranma took the vial and swallowed the liquid in one gulp.
Then Ranma felt his legs tingle and a moment later he found he
could move them again. Ranma stood up, tested them out with a few
practice kicks and then looked at Shampoo.
"Thanks. Where's Mousse?" Ranma wondered.
"In cage. Where he belong." Shampoo replied. Then a look
of concern crossed her face and she placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder.
"What wrong Ai Ren? You look sad."
"I...." Ranma considered telling Shampoo about Nabiki but
decided against it since Shampoo would most likely try to hurt
Nabiki and cause even more trouble than he needed. "Never mind,
I need to go and think for a while."
"But Ai Ren....!" Shampoo began to protest.
"I promise I'll be back here tonight for our date. I just
want some time alone until then...." Ranma said in a tired
voice. Then, noticing Shampoo worried expression, he did his best to
smile reassuringly. "I'll be okay, Shampoo."
"Okay then. See you tonight for date, Ranma!" Shampoo
replied as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then happily
bounced back into the restaurant, leaving Ranma alone on the street.
Once she was out of sight, he released a long sigh and looked up at the
sky. Judging by the way the day had gone so far, he fully expected it to
grow cloudy and rain again, changing him into his female form where
Kunou or Happosai would then miraculously show up at that exact
moment and try to glomp onto him....
Ranma suddenly turned away from the Nekohanten and ran
away at top speed, heading to the one place he could seek shelter for
a little while....
* * *
THE TENDO DOJO
4:15 P.M.
"There! Try to get out of that one Tendo!"
Soun Tendo stared at the shogi board with a growing
frustration as he ran his hands through his tangled hair. Genma
Saotome sat on the opposite side with a smug look on his face.
"I've got you right where I want you!" Genma couldn't resist
adding after seeing Soun's reaction.
"Just be quiet! I'm thinking...." Soun snapped at his
lifetime friend.
"Thinking of ways to admit you're beaten, is that it?"
Genma replied in a mock serious tone.
Soun ignored Genma and tried to concentrate on the board,
trying to see the one move Genma didn't anticipate, the one move
that could turn the tables....
"You know Tendo...." Genma started but paused.
"What?" A weary Soun replied.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say your mind was elsewhere.
Is something bothering you, old friend?" Genma noted with concern.
"Well....to be honest....I'm worried about the master." Soun
said, uncertainty creeping into his voice.
Genma's frown deepened and a thin line creased his brow
with the mention of Happosai. "How so?"
"Kasumi said he came home during the storm with a girl
over his shoulder. He said he had found her lying on the ground in
front of the school and was bringing her here to warm her up." Soun
continued in a worried tone of voice. "Kasumi offered to take the
girl into the bath and dry her clothes but the Master refused and said
he would take care of her himself. Then he took her into his room
and slammed the door."
Soun paused to take a long sip of his tea and then looked
back up at Genma.
"He's been in there with her for over an hour and hasn't
made a sound."
"Well....that's good isn't it?" Genma offered.
"I'm worried the master is up to no good." Soun sighed.
"He's made our life a living hell when we were training under him for
all those years. And then he started stealing underwear and food from
this town and the mayor still wants me to bring him to justice, even
though he's living in the same house as us!"
Soun's voice was approaching panic as he continued.
"What....What if he's sunk low enough to start kidnapping girls,
bringing them to MY dojo and having his evil way with them?
I would be disgraced! Accused of running a brothel!"
"Is that what you're worried about, Tendo?" Genma tried
to reassure him. "The master may be evil, but I've never seen him go
farther with women than peeking at them in showers, making them
wear bras and panties and coping a cheap feel now and then."
"That's bad enough!" Soun's voice was definitely full of
panic now. "What will I do, Saotome? I don't want him to bring
disgrace to our families!"
"Have you actually checked on the Master's room?"
Genma inquired.
"Are you crazy?! And risk incurring his wrath again?!
The last time I woke him up early he forced me to wash his entire
panty collection. All 500,000 of them! My hands were so sore and
red, I couldn't make a fist for a week." Soun slumped down in
depression. "Face it Saotome, we'll never be rid of him, no matter how
hard we try."
"Don't lose hope, Tendo!" Genma said, trying to cheer
his friend up. "One day your daughter and my son will be in
charge of this dojo and since Ranma is now Happ....the master's
heir to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, he'll have to
leave us alone eventually."
"Or die in his sleep...." Soun tried to hide a smile but failed.
Genma laughed out loud. "Amen to that! Now come on
Tendo, let's continue our game, drink our tea and forget the world's
noises for a little while, okay?"
"Okay, Saotome....You've convinced me." Soun's spirits
lifted a bit. He looked down on the board and remembered he was
still in trouble, but now that his mind was clear....
"Oh Kasumi, could you please bring us some more tea?"
Soun asked.
Kasumi popped her head from the kitchen. "I'll be right
there father. Mr. Saotome, would you like some as well?"
Genma turned towards Kasumi. "Sure, that'd be great,
Kasumi. Thank you!"
Genma smiled as he turned back to face Soun. "You sure
are lucky to have a daughter that attentive to your needs." Genma
sighed to himself. "My ungrateful son wouldn't know civility if it
reached up and...."
Genma eyes grew to huge proportions as he noticed the
Shogi board was no longer going in his favor, quite the opposite
actually.
"Uh....Tendo....Did you move yet?" Genma asked
cautiously
"I'm still waiting for you to move remember?" Soun
admonished with a slight smile on his face.
"B....But....I could have sworn.....I mean...." Genma
sputtered.
"Don't you remember me moving earlier? Don't tell me
you're getting senile in your old age?" Soun said with a serious
expression.
"Of....Of course not! I....I knew it was still my move....I
was just....seeing if you were paying attention, that's all!
Genma rubbed his temples wearily as he attempted to find
a way out of the trap he had fallen into. Soun glanced towards the
kitchen and smiled.
"Attentive indeed." he thought to himself.
* * *
FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOL
4:35 P.M.
The dismissal bell had already rung as Kunou approached
the door to Akane's classroom. He had been searching the halls for
the last three hours in vain for his pig-tailed goddess, thanks to a tip
from Nabiki Tendo which proved to be false. This surprised him as
Nabiki's information, while expensive, had never been wrong until
now. Then again, Nabiki had not yet charged him for the
information....
Kunou decided to ask her about it later as he entered
Akane's classroom, ready to take her up on the date he had
promised. He was surprised to see his beloved talking to a pathetic
excuse for a student. Then Kunou remembered the boy as someone
who had assisted him in the past. Godsukuri or something like that.
The boy was talking to Akane and holding out a series of
what appeared to be equally pathetic excuses for dolls for her to take.
They were made of straw, without paint or clothes, a small green
bow tied around the neck of each one.
Kunou frowned and began to walk over towards them. Even
if this Godsukuri wretch had helped him in the past, that gave him no
excuse to speak so freely to his darling Akane! He would have to show
him his place....
* * *
Akane sighed inwardly as she examined Gosunkugi's dolls.
She had intended to leave school right after the bell in order to find
out why Ranma had never come back to school, only to be held up
by Gosunkugi. She tried to brush him off gently but he had been so
eager to please she didn't want to hurt his feelings and decided to
give them a brief look before she left.
"Do....Do you really like them?" Gosunkugi nervously
asked.
Akane looked them over. They all looked the same but she
had to admit they had a certain....charm to them.
"They're very sweet, Gosunkugi-san. Thank you." Akane
replied.
She likes them! She REALLY likes them! Gosunkugi
thought to himself with glee, his heart soaring. "I'm so glad you...."
Gosunkugi's sentence was rudely interrupted when someone
suddenly grabbed him from behind and spun him around.
Gosunkugi found himself face to face with an enraged Tatewaki
Kunou, bokken drawn and pointed at his throat. A look of rage
adjourned the samurai's face.
"S...Sempai....?" Gosunkugi tried not to show fear, and
failed miserably.
"How DARE you presume to speak to my darling Akane!
You, who is not worthy to lick the pond scum off the bottom of her
shoes! Remove yourself from our presence, less I have to soil my
hands with your lesser blood."
"I....I was just trying...." Gosunkugi stammered.
"Do your ears fail to grasp the simplest of truths?
BEGONE!!!" Kunou pressed the tip of his bokken against
Gosunkugi's throat, causing him to flee for his life and out of the
classroom.
"Gosunkugi-san! Hikaru! Wait!" Akane called out after him,
to no avail. Then she turned back to Kunou, a blue aura beginning to
form around her as Kunou gazed at the door where Gosunkugi had
retreated, a look of utter contempt on his face.
"Hmph. The lesser that tries to imitate his betters only
proves himself the lesser of them all." Kunou arrogantly
proclaimed as he dismissed Gosunkugi with a wave of his hands
and turned his head to face Akane....
Who at this moment was now emitting a great deal of
ki-power, all directed at him. Sure, Gosunkugi could be annoying
sometimes, even a little scary, but Kunou had NO RIGHT whatsoever to
do what he just did and Akane wasn't going to let him get away with it,
not this time.
"How DARE you! Get this straight Kunou, I am NOT, repeat,
NOT your Akane! I belong to no one! Second, Gosunkugi Hikaru
is my friend and if I choose to speak to him, that's MY choice, not
yours!" Akane retorted hotly as her fists trembled from her rage.
"But my love, surely you do not wish to lower yourself to a
level that you rise above every day with the very essence of your ever
blossoming beauty?" He gestured towards her desk at the straw dolls
Gosunkugi had left behind. "Such a low-born creature as he, who
would create abominations such as those....things....is unworthy of
your attentions." Kunou finished in a tone usually reserved for an
uncooperative child, enraging Akane further.
"I'd choose to talk to him over a pompous ass like you any
day!" Akane was shouting now. "You're nothing but a egotistical,
self-centered, perverted fool with about as much sense as a head of
cabbage! You say you love me, yet you made all the boys attack me
before school every single morning, just to satisfy your ego! And
your poetry is terrible! TERRIBLE!!! I *HATE* YOU! I HATE
EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU!!! YOU....MAKE....ME....SICK!!!"
Akane shook with rage, years of anger at his treatment of
her finally rising to the surface. Kunou looked truly shocked and
hurt by her harsh words and to the amazement of the class, tears
began to slowly roll down his cheeks. Then Kunou suddenly fell to
his knees and held out his sword down in front of him with both of his
hands. The class stared at him with curiosity as he spoke in a soft
voice to Akane, who was perplexed to say the least.
"When I first saw you, I swore upon my sword to give up
on all other women and with all my love commend me to you
forever. Then the pig-tailed girl came and I did the same for her."
Kunou lowered his head in shame. "I now know I have wronged
both of you and for that I can never apologize enough. I'm sorry.
I'm so very sorry...."
Tears streamed from Kunou's eyes. The class is stunned.
Akane felt a pang of regret at her outburst and wondered if Kunou
truly wasn't a complete idiot after all.
"Had....had I known that Saotome had driven you both to
such a wretched state...." Kunou's voice was filled with grief.
"WHAT?" The entire class yelled as one, including Akane.
"Oh my love, I know you do not mean what you just said.
I know the evil Saotome has twisted your love and the love of the
pig-tailed girl against me for his own dark purposes and I forgive
you. I have been and always shall be yours. The needs of the one
outweighs the needs of the few...."
Daisuke turned to Hiroshi. "Isn't that line from Star...."
he began.
Hiroshi rolled his eyes. "Kunou must be running out of
regular poetry to butcher...."
"....or the many." Kunou was nearing the end of his
speech or so the rest of the class hoped. "Do not be afraid Akane,
come jump into my arms! Be one with me! From this time forward
I shall protect you and the pig tailed girl from Saotome once and for
all! THIS, THE BLUE THUNDER OF FURINKAN HIGH, DOES
HEREBY SWEAR!"
The rumble of thunder was briefly heard outside the
classroom as Kunou's final words echo throughout the classroom.
Kunou rose to his feet and replaced his bokken by his side as he
released Akane's hand, opening his arms wide to her. "Come
Akane, give me your sweet lips...." Kunou whispered softly to her.
Akane gave him a look that could melt steel as she raised her
fist to bash him into the stratosphere. Then she paused and glanced
down at Kunou's sword and a strange smile came over her face.
"Okay Sempai....Close your eyes."
The entire class facefaulted in disbelief as Kunou
immediately closed his eyes, waiting for Akane to jump into his
arms and smother him with kisses as he knew she wanted to for
countless days and nights. Then Kunou shuddered as he felt his
bokken being slowly withdrawn from his belt.
"Could....Could she be undressing me? Here?" Kunou
thought with alarm and excitement. "So bold my love! But while
spontaneity is the fruit of life, perhaps we should first retire to my
bedchambers? Kunou reached out blindly, his eyes still
closed....These cretins are not worthy to behold your lovely form....
"BEHOLD THIS, KUNOU!!!" Akane's voice was filled
with malice and sadistic glee.
Kunou's eyes popped open just in time to see his beloved
Akane thrust his bokken as hard as she could into his crotch. All the
boys in the class grimaced and averted their eyes as Kunou screamed
in pain and immediately dropped to his knees holding his most
vulnerable area and continued to scream very loudly.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGHHHHHH!!!!!"
Akane threw the splintered bokken on the ground in
disgust and left the classroom, leaving a very injured Kunou
thrashing and rolling on the floor in more pain than he had ever
felt in his entire life. Akane smiled to herself at finally extracting
some small measure of revenge for Kunou's treatment of her and
Gosunkugi.
"That helped....a little." Akane thought to herself. "But
what a moron! He's as bad as Ranma! Insensitive, egotistical.... "
Akane suddenly slowed her pace as she remembered her original
concern before Kunou bothered her. "Where is Ranma anyway? I
haven't seen him since I knocked him out the window at lunch. I
hope I didn't hurt him when I....What am I saying?!" Akane
scolded herself. "That idiot deserved it! Insulting my lunch like
that! He didn't have to be so mean! Toxic waste indeed!"
With the memory of Ranma insulting her cooking, and the
recent encounter with Kunou still fresh in her mind, Akane decided
to go home and smash a few bricks while she envisioned their heads in
place of them....
* * *
OUTSIDE THE UTCHAN
4:20 P.M.
It had been a long and tiring day for Ukyou Kuonji as she
made her way home. Yet she would have no time to rest as she
needed to open her restaurant for business. Sometimes Ukyou
wondered if it was all worth it....the stress of high school work, the
pressure of running a business single handed, wondering if Ranma
would ever get around to saying he loved her....
Ukyou stopped and shook her head to clear it. She
couldn't allow herself to think such things. Ranma would choose
her for his wife all in due time, she just had to been patient. "The
best things come to those who wait." she repeated over and over
in her mind.
"Ranchan...." she thought to herself. "I've waited so long
for you to admit your love for me....He HAS to pick me eventually.
Shampoo and Kodachi are too crazy for Ranma to choose over me
and Akane is too violent. I'm Ranma's only SANE fiancee." she
smiles to herself. "Not to mention the cutest."
Strengthened by this thought, Ukyou held her head up
high as she approached the Utchan.
"That's right! One day I'll be cooking in my restaurant,
Ranma will walk inside, kneel in front of me and say...."
"Hey, Ucchan!"
Ukyou snapped out of her fantasy when she noticed Ranma
leaning against the door of her restaurant, his arms folded over his
chest.
"Ranchan...." Ukyou started to say something.
"Ucchan, I have something to ask of you...." Ranma
interrupted in a serious tone of voice.
Ukyou's heart began to pound, her eyes grew wide and she
felt like the world had suddenly come to a halt.
"Y....Yes?" Ukyou replied weakly, hoping against hope.
"Could I hang out here for a while? I'm kinda in trouble
with Akane right now and going back could be bad for my health if
you know what I mean." Ranma pleaded.
Ukyou blinked. Then forced a smile on her face to hide her
immense disappointment.
"Sure Ranchan! You're always welcome here! Is Akane
cooking dinner again?"
"Um....not exactly." Ranma sighs. "It's a long story."
"Well come in and tell me all about it!" Ukyou quickly
unlocked the door of the Utchan and ushered Ranma inside. She
turned on the lights and walked over to the grill as Ranma took his
usual stool in front of the counter. As Ukyou started to heat the grill
and pull out the till, she noticed Ranma seemed to be in a state of
enormous depression.
"You okay Ranchan? You look like Ryouga over there
sulking and sighing like that." Ukyou noted.
"Yeah." Ranma muttered. "Whatever."
"Come on Ranchan, you can tell me what's wrong. I'm
your fian....your best friend after all." Ukyou grimaced at omitting the
fiancee tag but she knew it would only make Ranma even more
uncomfortable right now.
Ranma looked up at Ukyou, and saw genuine sincerity in
her eyes. After a long moment, Ranma decides to level with her.
"Okay, but you have to promise not to overreact or take this
the wrong way, okay?" Ranma said cautiously.
"Ranchan, Akane may not believe a word you say but I do. I
know you get into a lot of weird situations and I know they're not your
fault...." Ukyou tried to reassure him.
Ranma smiled briefly at that. "Thanks, I really appreciate
that Ucchan....a lot."
"Always, Ranchan." Ukyou smiled back at him. "Now
what's so bad, you're afraid to talk to me about it?" she inquired
lightly.
"Well....I've got a date with Shampoo tonight."
Ukyou blinked again. Ranma suddenly realized how blunt
he sounded and winced, expecting her kick-ass spatula to whack
him one in the skull. He is surprised when nothing happens and
sees Ukyou smiling at him without a trace of anger.
"Go on...." Ukyou said in a sweet voice, her hands, unseen
by Ranma, were twitching, aching to grip her spatula. She forced
them to remain by her sides by sheer force of will, determined not to
appear jealous and violent like Akane in front of Ranma.
Ranma suddenly felt safer and his shoulders relaxed slightly
as he continued. "Well, after Akane punched me out the window I
got knocked out for a little while. Then, Shampoo came by and
said she saved me from being kidnapped by Kodachi and got
injured in the process."
Ukyou frowned inwardly at the thought of Shampoo
performing such a selfless act without a motive involved. Her
suspicions were confirmed as Ranma continued.
"Then it rained, turning me into a girl and her into a cat.
I woke up, freaked out and ran inside to change back into a guy
and then....uh...." Ranma pauses as he considers omitting the part
about the shower then decides that since he's gone this far.... "I
changed back into a guy in the shower but Shampoo followed me in
and tried to....um....make love to me."
Ukyou gaze darkened. Ranma winced again, sure he had
said too much and was about to pay the price....
"How dare that chinese bimbo do that to you!" Ukyou
shouted with barely controlled rage, rage that she could now release
verbally in the form of her hatred for Shampoo. "Can't she take a
hint? What kind of girl climbs into the shower and tries to seduce
you against your will?! I'd never look at a guy when...." A sudden
vision of a naked Ranma in the locker room appeared in her mind's
eye, causing her to blush deeply. Fortunately for her, Ranma didn't
notice.
"Yeah well, she managed to trap me, get under the shower
head and threatened to turn into a cat if I didn't do what she wanted...."
Ukyou was definitely steamed now as Ranma continued. "I managed
to escape but I had to promise her another date. I didn't want to but I
had no choice." Ranma sighed again and wondered what he had done
in a past life to get saddled with so many problems.
"Is that why you seemed so nervous when I saw you...." she
blushed hard again as the memory of the nude Ranma came back.
This time Ranma did notice the blush and figured out what it was
from, his own ears turning red with embarrassment. "....I mean,
when I walked in on you while you were getting changed?"
"Yeah, Shampoo was naked in one of the lockers and I was
afraid you would have pounded me and jumped to the wrong
conclusion like Akane always does...."
"You didn't have to worry about me Ranchan, I trust you
completely." Ukyou replied with a tight grin. "Though it was
probably a good thing I didn't know she was in there otherwise I
would have kicked her butt all the way back to China for pulling
such a nasty stunt on a sweet guy like you."
Ranma blush deepened at the compliment as Ukyou giggled
to herself and then looked sympathetic. "So this is what's got you so
depressed? Dating Shampoo?" Ukyou inwardly breathed a sigh of
relief. At least she now knew for certain that Ranma had no interest
whatsoever in Shampoo....
"It gets worse....Much worse." Ranma replied glumly.
"Oh....?" Ukyou braced herself for the worst. "How so?"
"Nabiki took pictures of me and Shampoo in the shower and
she said if I don't do what she says for a month, she'll show the
pictures all over Nerima and have people screaming for my blood
within the hour. THAT'S why I'm so depressed. A slave to the most
heartless, merciless, greedy girl in the world for 30 days! This day
keeps on getting worse and worse...." Ranma's voice trailed off.
"Why didn't you just take the film from her?" Ukyou asked
Ranma. "Surely, you could have gotten it without hurting her?"
"She didn't have it. She sent it off to be developed."
"You mean she hadn't developed the film yet?" Ukyou
exclaimed, excitement creeping into her voice."
"Nabiki was in the shower room with us. She couldn't
leave until we did without being spotted by Shampoo and me, so she
must have given it to her friend shortly before she came to the
Nekohanten to let me know she had it."
Ukyou was silent for a long moment and then she stood up
and walked around the counter and placed her hands on Ranma's
shoulders.
"Ranchan, Do you think you can watch the restaurant for me
for a half hour?" Ukyou inquired.
"What? Um....I guess....why? Where are you going?"
Ranma asked Ukyou as she walked towards the front door.
"I have some business to take care of. I'll be back in a little
while okay?"
Ukyou quickly left the restaurant and Ranma behind as she
headed down the street at a quick pace. "Trying to take advantage of
my fiancee, are you Nabiki?" Ukyou thought to herself with anger.
"Ranchan may not be able to do anything but I can!" Ukyou then looked
up at the sky, hoping that Nabiki's consort had waited until school
was finished before developing the pictures, otherwise it would
be much harder to get them back from the source.
Ukyou continued to run down the street until she spotted
the local photomat. She walked inside and glanced around until she
found the person she was looking for, one of Nabiki's flunkies who
was waiting in line to develop the pictures. Ukyou had seen her hang
around Nabiki enough times at school to know she was one of
Nabiki's right hand women. Ukyou briefly considered the best way
to handle this and decides on getting it over with quickly as she
slowly sneaked up behind the girl....
The girl waited impatiently as the line in front of her seemed
to move backwards. She had been given the weekly roll of blackmail
film to be developed by Nabiki. The moment school ended she headed
over here to have them developed as soon as possible only to be
delayed by this stupid line....
Suddenly she felt a tight pressure on her shoulder and she
yelped in surprise. She glanced behind her to see Ukyou gripping her
shoulder with a look of anger on her face as she leaned in close and
whispered in a cold voice.
"So, still doing Nabiki's dirty work for her, are you?" Ukyou
hissed in her ear. She tried to make a break for it but Ukyou had an
iron grip on her shoulder and she knew she was trapped.
"Don't even think about it girl." Ukyou warned.
"Let go of me or I'll scream." The girl warned Ukyou.
"Go right ahead. All I want is the film. You can either give
it to me now or I'll just take it. Your choice."
The girl's eyes darted to the right and left, looking for an
escape but finding none she slumped her shoulders in defeat, reached
into her schoolbag and pulled out several rolls of film. Ukyou
snatched them from her hand and then whispered in her ear again.
"Tell your boss that if she ever tries something like this with
Ranchan again, she'll answer to ME, got it?" The girl nodded in fear and
Ukyou released her shoulder and walked out. The girl swallowed
hard and rubbed her shoulder while thinking to herself.
"Nabiki's not going to like this...."
* * *
Ukyou walked out of the photomat, an expression of
triumph on her face.
"I did it! Now Ranchan won't have to be a slave to
Nabiki!" Her eyes sparkled as she dreamed of how Ranma would
repay her for getting him out of trouble....
Ukyou dreamt of handing the photos to a grateful Ranma....
* -- Dream Sequence
*"Thanks a lot Ucchan! You're a real lifesaver!" Ranma
said with joy as he embraced Ucchan with a big hug....*
"Hmmm....That's not bad...." Ukyou blushed.
Ukyou dreams of another scenario, same situation....
*"YES!!! I'm off the hook! Thank you! Thank you! Thank
you!" Ranma leans forward and gives Ukyou a big smooch on the lips
before bouncing around the Utchan, delirious with happiness....*
"Even better...." Ukyou rested her cheeks on the palms of her
hands, her face blushing furiously as she pursued her fantasy....
*"U....Ucchan...." Ranma looked at her with tears in his eyes.
"You're so kind to me! Marry me Ucchan! I love you and only you!"
Ranma quickly embraced Ukyou and covered her face with kisses,
then he cleared off one of the tables and threw Ukyou onto it, resting
his own body on top of hers as he continued to pleasure her in ways
she couldn't even....*
Ukyou shook her head violently. "Yeah right! Dream on,
Kuonji!" Ukyou chided herself but couldn't resist smiling.
"Still....He WILL be grateful...."
Ukyou suddenly felt an urge to quicken her pace as she
headed back to her restaurant and fiancee....
* * *
THE TENDO DOJO
4:45 P.M.
"I'm home!"
Kasumi looked up from her ironing and smiled. "Welcome
home Akane, did you have a nice day at school?"
Akane ran the events of the day over in her mind for a
moment before answering. "Okay, I guess. Has Ranma been here
yet?"
"No, I thought he would come home with you." Kasumi
said, confused. "Why do you ask?"
"I punched him during lunch period and he never came back
to school." Akane replied, a touch of worry creeping into her voice.
Kasumi frowned. "You really shouldn't have done that...."
"But Oneechan, he insulted my cooking! He compared it to
toxic waste." Akane protested.
"Your lunch still tasted bad? Even after all the bridal
training I gave you to properly prepare a meal?" Kasumi's voice was
soothing rather than harsh.
Akane winced at Kasumi considering her desire to learn to
cook as bridal training for Ranma. She wasn't doing it for him!
Akane fumed to herself. She truly wanted to make nice things for
her family. She only let Ranma taste it first because she wanted to
show him that she *could* cook something good. It had absolutely
nothing to do with trying to be a better fiancee for Ranma....not at
all....
"Did you hear me, Akane?"
Akane looked up to see Kasumi staring at her, disrupting
her train of thought. "I'm sorry Kasumi, what did you say?"
"I said maybe we should start at the beginning again. Why
don't we try that curry recipe you were looking at earlier." Kasumi
offered.
"Okay! That's sounds great." Akane replied excitedly.
"Yeah! I'll show you who's dinner is toxic, Ranma!" she thought
to herself. Then she quickly added. "And my family of course....I'll
show them all!"
"So where do you suppose Ranma's gone off to?" Kasumi
asked.
"Last time I saw Ranma, he was chasing Happosai out of
the city for splashing water on him. I don't think we'll be seeing
him for dinner tonight." Nabiki muttered as she came down the
stairs upon hearing Akane's voice.
Akane groaned while Soun and Genma glanced at each
other, surprised.
"Did she say the Master and Ranma were seen leaving
town....?" Soun whispered, puzzled. "I thought he was still in his
room?"
"Perhaps he healed the girl he brought and left through the
window? Maybe we should investigate...." Genma suggested.
They bothed look towards the stairs, the desire to discover the
truth weighing against the possible consequences of disturbing
Happosai's slumber....
"Then again...." Soun started.
"Perhaps we should mind our own business this once, eh
Tendo?" Genma whispered back so Soun's daughters wouldn't hear
him.
"Yes, perhaps that is best for now. At least the master's quiet."
Soun pointed out.
Both men looked resolved as they returned their full
attention to their game of Shogi. Meanwhile Kasumi is folding laundry
and Akane notices a familiar looking shirt in the pile.
"Hey, isn't that Ryouga's shirt?" Akane asked Kasumi.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot. Dr. Tofu found Ryouga
unconscious on the street today and he and Father helped carry him
to the clinic." Kasumi replied.
"Is he okay?" Akane said with a worried expression.
"I'm not sure. Dr. Tofu stripped him down to his shorts
in order to get his body temperature down and I offered to wash his
clothes for him, since he's a friend of yours. Dr. Tofu said Ryouga
was suffering from heat stroke and exhaustion." Kasumi finished.
"Poor guy....He must have been walking for a long time to
get that tired. I think I'll give him a call and say hello." Akane
decided as she walked over to the phone and dialed up Dr. Tofu's
clinic....
* * *
THE UTCHAN
5:15 P.M.
The dinner rush was already underway and Ranma was
having trouble keeping up with all of the orders for okonomiyaki. "At
least that's the only thing she serves here so it easier not to mix up any
orders!" Ranma though to himself as he went back behind the counter
to cook up another four orders.
Even though it was hard work, Ranma found it helped him
to not think about his problems. But as time passed, Ranma knew
eventually he would have to go to the Nekohanten....and then
tomorrow....he shuddered at what Nabiki could put him through in a
month's time....
He didn't recognize any of the people in the resturant, save for
Daisuke sitting at the end of the counter. Ranma had talked to him for
a few minutes while serving up his order and was surprised to discover
that he was a semi-regular in the place and sometimes played cards with
Ukyou when it was a slow night. When Daisuke inquired as to Ukyou's
whereabouts, Ranma was about to say he had no idea when a sing-song
voice suddenly rang out.
"Ran....Chan!"
Ranma looked over at the door to see Ukyou walk up to the
counter, a big smile on her face. She held one of her hands behind her
back as Ranma walked around the grill to greet her.
"Hey Ucchan. Where'd you go?" Ranma wondered.
"Ranchan...." Ukyou said in a sweet voice dripping with
sugar. "If I were to tell you I've solved your troubles for you, what would
it be worth?"
"W....What do you mean?" Ranma asked, curious.
She held out her hand in front of her with her fist clenched.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hands."
"But why...." Ranma asked.
"Just trust me on this Ranchan." Ukyou replied.
Ranma sighed, closed his eyes and held out his hands. Then
he felt something small and plastic fall onto them, followed by several
more. Ranma couldn't stand it and opened his eyes to see several
rolls of film. Ranma looked up at Ukyou.
"Ucchan...." Ranma whispered.
Ukyou held her breath, waiting to see how Ranma would
thank her.
"....what are these?" Ranma finished.
Ukyou face-faulted. Then she leapt back up and gestured
frantically at his hands. "They're rolls of film, Ranchan! The same
rolls Nabiki took of you. Don't you see? You're home free! Nabiki
no longer has any proof that you showered with Shampoo so you don't
have to be her slave anymore!"
Ranma glanced down at his hands in shock, the full impact
of Ukyou's statement hitting him like a brick. Then he looked at
Ukyou again.
"Ucchan...." Ranma whispered.
Ukyou braced herself again, certain Ranma would thank
her this time.
"You didn't hurt anyone to get these, did you?" Ranma
finished.
Ukyou face-faulted again. Then she grabbed Ranma by the
collar and lifted him off his feet, causing him to drop the rolls of
film behind her counter. A red haze filled her vision as rage and
frustration warred with her feelings for Ranma, vying for control of
the cute okonomiyaki chef, and she shook Ranma back and forth like
a rag doll.
"NO, I DIDN'T HURT ANYONE, YOU JACKASS!!!
CAN'T YOU GET IT THROUGH THAT THICK SKULL OF
YOURS?!? I SAVED YOU FROM NABIKI AND NOW I WANT
YOU TO THANK ME LIKE A FIANCEE SHOULD!!!" Ukyou
screamed at the top of her lungs. Then she grabbed Ranma and kissed
him passionately. The entire restaurant oohed and ahhed. Ranma
blushed a deep crimson as he tried to break free of the kiss only to have
Ukyou grip him even tighter. Nearby, Ranma could hear Daisuke
chuckling to himself.
Then after a few moments, Ukyou released Ranma and he
collapsed to the floor in a heap while Ukyou struggled to calm herself
down. She blushed bright pink as she realized what she just did in front
of so many people. Ranma quickly got to his feet and whirled on the
gaping crowd, growling, "What're you all lookin' at?!?" The crowd
quickly broke their attention from the not-quite couple and paid their
respects to their okonomiyaki.
"R...Ranchan....I'm so sorry....I didn't mean to...." Ukyou
stammered nervously.
"Um....sorry about that Ucchan. I guess I didn't realize
what you did for me. I do now though...." Ranma remarked as he
brushed his lips with his fingers for a moment. "Wow...." he
remarked.
"I just....I needed that....god, I needed that....I shouldn't
have been so selfish though! Please don't think of me like
Shampoo or Kodachi! I'm not like them! Please don't be mad at
me!" Tears began to form in Ukyou's eyes.
"Mad....?" Ranma said as he saw Ukyou's face. Why
would I be mad? Ranma wondered to himself, the effects of her kiss
still lingering.
"I kissed you in front of all these people! I shouldn't have!"
Ukyou was babbling and bowing her head in apology.
Ranma suddenly felt the eyes of the restaurant upon them
both and he blushed again, breaking the spell. "It's....It's okay
Ucchan. It was my fault. I should have realized you wouldn't hurt
Nabiki." Ranma reassured her as he tried to concentrate on something
else, anything else other than what had just happened. Thank god
Akane wasn't here to see that or Nabiki wouldn't have needed that film....
Ranma remarked to himself with relief.
He glanced at the grill to see that the four Okonomiyaki he had
placed on the grill had been over-cooked, by Ukyou's standards anyway,
and were now useless. He turned back to face Ukyou. "Thank you for
helping me out with Nabiki, I owe you one." Ranma said as he gave her
a quick peck on the cheek, figuring that was tame compared to the kiss
he had received earlier. Ukyou blushed and then quickly got behind the
counter while Ranma sat down on a stool, grateful for the break.
"I don't know how you do it Ucchan. Running this place
without any help. Haven't you ever considered hiring some help?"
Ranma wondered aloud.
Ukyou dumped Ranma's Okonomiyaki and poured a new
batch of okonomiyaki batter on the hot grill. "It's not usually this
busy till around six-thirty." she replied. "Maybe the Nekohanten is
having trouble and their regulars are coming over here instead." She
remarked as she placed her ingredients on the top of the cooking
batter.
"The Nekohanten....Aw, shoot." Ranma groaned as he was
reminded of his promise to Shampoo. "I've gotta get down there
eventually for my date. I sure ain't looking forward to this...."
But Ukyou had been thinking of a way to solve this problem
as well. "Maybe you can't get out of it but you might be able to
discourage her from glomping on to you all night." Ukyou offered
as she flipped the pancakes with practiced ease..
"R....Really!" Ranma sounded excited. "How? Tell me!"
"Well you promised Shampoo you'd take her on a date and
I know you're too honorable to break your word....but I'll bet you
never said you'd take her out as "Ranma." Ukyou slyly remarked.
"What do you mean?" Ranma was confused.
"I mean....take Shampoo out on a date....as a girl." Ukyou
suggested with a sly grin. "Shampoo prefers you as a man, right?
Well she may tolerate you being a girl once in a while but even I can't
see Shampoo wanting to hug and kiss you a lot when you're a girl,
right?"
"I dunno. Shampoo might be willing to do it anyway.
Besides that she'll toss hot water on me at the first opportunity."
Ranma sighed in exasperation.
"Not if you temporarily stay as a girl...." Ukyou trailed off
as Ranma's eyes grew wide.
"Y...You don't mean...." Ranma stuttered with fear. "The
Chisuiton?"
"Why not?" Ukyou inquired.
Ranma thought about it for a moment then shook his head.
"It's all the way back in China with Herb. Even there was enough
time, I don't think I have a chance in hell of ever getting it back."
Ranma sadly replied.
"Well then....What about Dr. Tofu? Maybe he can
recommend something. A pressure point maybe? Ukyou offered.
"Maybe...." Ranma said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"That's all I can suggest, Ranchan." Ukyou said in a
sympathetic tone of voice. "If Doctor Tofu doesn't have it you'll just
have to try and avoid hot water....or bring some cold water of your
own...." She suggested helpfully.
"Okay." Ranma stood up and smiled. "Thanks for all your
help Ucchan. I'm really lucky to have a friend like you."
"Tell you what. There's a new Jackie Chan film coming
up tomorrow...." Ukyou spoke up.
"I know! 'Who Am I?'!" Ranma said with a grin. "I've been
looking forward to it for weeks now!"
"Me too. It brings back a lot of childhood memories of when
we used to go to the movies as kids, remember, Ranchan?"
Ranma smiled. "Yeah....There are times I really miss those
days. Everything was a lot less....a lot less...."
"Complicated?" Ukyou guessed.
Ranma laughed. "You can say that again!"
"Complicated?" Ukyou repeated, getting a playful nudge from
Ranma in reply as they both laughed.
"Yeah....well I was....that is....I wondered if you wanted to go
with me when it comes out....that is if you want to...." Ukyou said while
twiddling her fingers, her cheeks flushing.
"Sure!" Ranma's enthusiastic response surprised her.
"Are you sure? Your father and Akane might not like that."
Ukyou inquired.
"It's the least I can do for your help! Besides, we're just
seeing a movie. What's so wrong about that? We used to do it all the
time when we were kids, we just have to pay more now!" Ranma joked
as he walked towards the door and then waved good-bye.
"See ya later Ucchan!" Ranma said cheerfully, his mood
tremendously improved...as he walked out the door and towards
Dr. Tofu's clinic. Ukyou smiled as she saw him leave and
then turned her attention back to the grill when she noticed the
rolls of film on the floor behind her counter. Ukyou decided to play
it safe and using her heel, she smashed every roll of film flat before
throwing the now useless pieces of plastic away in the garbage.
* * *
DR. TOFU'S CLINIC
4:49 P.M.
*RING* *RIN....click*
"Hello, Dr. Tofu's Clinic. Dr. Tofu speaking."
"Hello, Dr. Tofu." Akane replied.
"Oh, hello Akane! What's up?" said the doctor in a
cheerful voice.
"I heard you brought Ryouga in for heat stroke, I just
wondered how he's doing?" Akane asked.
"He's sleeping right now. He was asleep for three hours and
then he woke up, asked me a few questions, walked out into the rain,
fell to his knees and started to laugh uncontrollably for some reason
before he finally passed out again from exhaustion." Dr. Tofu said.
"Wow....Is he going to be okay?" Akane sounded worried.
"He'll be fine with a little rest. I'll send him over to get his
clothes from Kasumi when he's strong enough. He said he walked
from China all the way here without stopping to rest."
"Poor guy. I wonder why he didn't take the time to rest?"
she wondered to herself.
"I think it has something to do with you." Dr. Tofu
suddenly said.
"Me?" Akane voice was full of surprise.
"Since he passed out again, he's been murmuring in his
sleep. Most of it is gibberish but at one point he yelled out your name
a few times." Tofu paused. "He was saying it like it was a matter of
life and death."
Akane paused as she considered Tofu's words. If Ryouga
had come to see her, what could possibly be worth risking his life
over? Whatever it was, it had to be important.
"Can I speak to him?" Akane asked cautiously.
"He's sleeping right now and he really needs it. Maybe
tomorrow would be a better idea." Dr. Tofu recommended.
"Okay I will. Thanks a lot for helping him Doctor Tofu.
Good-bye." Akane said as she hung up the phone.
*click*
Dr. Tofu replaced the phone on the cradle as he glanced over
at his stubborn patient. "You sure are lucky to have a friend like her,
Ryouga."
Ryouga shifted slightly and then began to talk in his sleep
again. Most of it was unintelligible until Dr. Tofu heard something
that made him sit up and take notice.
"What was that? What did you say?" Dr. Tofu whispered
softly, trying to coax it out of Ryouga without waking him up.
"Akane...." Ryouga moaned softly and then.... "I love
you so much...."
Dr. Tofu stared at Ryouga, surprise lighting up his
features. "Love Akane? You love Akane? But she's
engaged....ah....so that's why you two hate each other so much."
Dr. Tofu couldn't help but grin. "Ah, youth....I remember when I
had a crush on somebody's fiancee once. I never told her the truth
and it broke my heart when she got married to someone else. That's
when I moved here, to get away and start over. That's when I met...."
Dr. Tofu's eyes fog over once again as visions of Kasumi
drifted before his eyes. He had met her when she was thirteen in
high school, she had frequently visited the clinic in order to have
him heal her ten year old sister Akane for fighting in school. It had
been love at first sight for the twenty year old Dr. Tofu.
But of course she was far too young to even consider asking
her for a date. As the years passed and she matured to the age of
eighteen, she grew to be even more beautiful and Dr. Tofu found that
his senses failed him and he couldn't even focus long enough to say
what he had wanted to say for the past five years.
Now she was a year older and he still hadn't made any real
progress in trying to tell her how he felt. If only he knew for sure
that she felt the same way about him! In his dreams he imagined
them both admitting their love for each other and getting married
soon afterwards....
But in the real world, he couldn't even talk to her without
acting like a blind fool. She considered him a wacky friend that she
could count on, but nothing more....
Dr. Tofu sighed and tried to get his mind off Kasumi by
concentrating on his patient. He turned around to face Ryouga....
....Only Ryouga wasn't there anymore.
"Ryouga?" Dr. Tofu said blankly before he realized he
was gone. He glanced at the door and found it shut, likewise the
window. Had he been so lost in thought, he completely missed
Ryouga leaving the clinic?
Dr. Tofu sighed and took a seat on the bed where Ryouga
once lay, only to be startled when he felt something underneath
him. "What the...." Dr. Tofu yelped, startled as he glanced under
him to see Ryouga had returned. "How did you...." Dr. Tofu never
finished his thought as Ryouga suddenly disappeared before his
eyes, then reappeared again a few moments later. Ryouga's arms
were outstretched and his face was a mask of concentration as he
vanished again. Dr. Tofu had had enough of this and when Ryouga
reappeared again, he shook him gently.
"Ryouga....Ryouga! Wake up!"
* * *
Ryouga had to remain still. If he didn't remain still he
would never be able to master this technique. He tried to clear his
mind, tried to open his six senses but a strange chant continued to
echo in his mind's eye. A chant that almost sounded like...."
"RYOUGA!!!"
Ryouga's eyes snapped open as he looked into the worried
face of Dr. Tofu. "Doc....?" Ryouga muttered weakly.
"I'm sorry I had to wake you but you were vanishing and
reappearing over and over again on me. How did you do that?" The
doctor asked, his face a mixture of curiosity and worry.
Ryouga sighed inwardly. He had hoped to keep this
technique a secret for a while, especially from Ranma, but now he
had gone and unveiled it to Dr. Tofu while he was sleeping.
"It's a long story, Doc." Ryouga replied. "Can I trust you
to keep this between us?" he added.
"Of course." Dr. Tofu's voice reassured him.
"Well, it all began when I found myself in China by accident.
I started looking for the cursed springs when I...." Ryouga began.
"Cursed springs? You mean Jusenkyou?" Dr. Tofu
remarked.
"The same." Ryouga said.
"Why would you want to look there? You don't have a
curse...." Dr. Tofu paused as he remembered Ryouga kneeling in the
cold rain, laughing his head off. He had dismissed the unusual act as
exhaustion and stress overwhelming him temporarily but now....
"You mean...."
"I had a curse of Jusenkyou once." Ryouga replied.
"Once?" the doctor inquired.
"Let me tell my story....It all started when I wandered into
this strange forest in the mountains of China....
(FLASHBACK)
APRIL 18
SOMEWHERE IN CHINA
5:10 P.M.
Ryouga gingerly made his way from stone to stone across
the stream. The last thing he needed was to turn into P-Chan and
end up being washed away to who knows where. Ryouga had almost
made it across the stream when he noticed a rabbit nearby. Not
having eaten for the past six days had given Ryouga one hell of an
appetite.
Ryouga's mouth watered as he finished crossing the stream
and prepared to catch him some dinner when he accidentally stepped
on a twig, alerting the rabbit to his presence and it took off like
lightning. Ryouga stomach growled loudly, encouraging him to try
and pursue the rabbit before it got away. He chased the rabbit for a good
ten minutes before he lost sight of it by tripping over a tree root, landing
face first into the dirt.
Ryouga spit dirt from his mouth and inwardly cursed.
He had blown his chance for a much-needed meal and his stomach
growled with disapproval. Ryouga rose to a kneeling position and
sighed as he reached behind him and pulled out a kettle, portable
heater, a cooking pot and finally a box of uncooked soba and stared at
it guiltily.
"Forgive me Akane, but if I don't eat something soon
I'll be too weak to find my way back to you." Ryouga sighed as
he tore open the box meant for Akane and began to stuff his face.
He really wished he could cook it but had no water to boil and knew
searching for the stream he had passed up would be a useless gesture.
As he ate, he looked up at the setting sun and knew he should stop and rest
now before it became too dark to see anything.
He soon finished the entire box and stuffed it back in his backpack
as he began to look for a suitable spot to make camp. Then he spotted a
clearing nearby a full sized tree. Ryouga walked over to the clearing and
then took off his backpack, stretching out his tired muscles as he dropped the
backpack to the ground. He massaged his neck as he looked up to see
a clear sky.
"Good thing it doesn't rain around here nearly as much as
it does around Nerima." Ryouga thought to himself as he walked
towards the tree, intending to climb it and get an idea of where he was.
He had almost reached it when he was startled to hear the tree speak to
him.
"Are you one with the forest?" the tree said, sounding very
much like a young woman.
"W...What?" Ryouga stammered, caught off guard by a
tree capable of human speech and in Japanese no less.
The tree seemed to change form slightly and a young woman,
made completely out of the center of the tree stepped forward, her
back still attached to the tree as she spoke again.
"Forgive my sudden appearance. Who might you be?"
"H....Hibiki Ryouga." Ryouga replied.
"Hibiki Ryouga, I ask again, are you one with the forest?" the
tree woman asked.
"I....I don't know what you mean." Ryouga stammered.
"Are you a friend to animals and appreciative of nature." she
clarified.
"Uh....I guess so...." Ryouga replied with a shrug.
The tree woman smiled. "I am happy. It has been a long
time since one of your kind had ventured into these woods." She
opened her hands to reveal a small yellow seed. "I have here this
single seed from an extinct flower. A flower that must not be
allowed to die out for the sake of our forest. I need someone who
can leave the forest and plant this where it may grow without fear
of becoming extinct again." The tree woman leaned close, her face
a mask of fear and concern. "Do you plan to leave these woods ever
again?" the tree woman asked.
"Huh....yeah, of course....I'm only looking for the...."
"If you truly mean that, then I beg you to take this seed and
plant it somewhere where it can grow and flourish. This is the last of
it's kind and if it dies, everything it was, everything it was meant to
become, will be lost forever. Promise me you'll plant the seed in a
safe place." The tree woman's eyes pleaded to him.
"You....You have my word. I'll plant your seed for you."
Ryouga said in a shaky voice.
She held out the seed for Ryouga to take. He does so and
then carefully placed it in the empty box of uncooked soba, closing it
up and placing it carefully in his backpack.
"You have a kind soul Ryouga Hibiki." She frowned. "But
it has seen great pain and suffering as well. I offer to teach you a
way to achieve harmony with nature."
"What do you mean?" Ryouga asked.
"There is a technique that can be used by members of your
species that can enhance your six senses to everything around you,
thus making you one with nature. I offer this as a gift to you for
fulfilling your part of the bargain. I trust you will not fail me and so
I will teach you the technique now. But beware...." her gaze became
intense. "If you do not plant the seed and allow it to decay, you will
become what you failed to save, you will become a flower to replace
the one you lost....forever. Do you understand?"
"I understand. You can count on me." Ryouga said firmly.
"Very well....I will now teach you the basics of this technique.
Listen closely...."
(END OF FLASHBACK....)
"So I spent a week in those woods learning this technique by
clearing my mind and opening every one of my senses: smell, taste,
sound, sight, touch and my mind to everything around me. It was
supposed to help me become one with nature but I also discovered it
made me invisible to everyone else!
"Wow, that's quite a story Ryouga! You should write this
stuff down and make a book out of it." Dr. Tofu marveled.
"My story isn't over yet. Anyway, after I learned the basics
of the technique, I left to resume my search for Jusenkyou....
"What about the seed?" Dr. Tofu inquired.
"I planted it in a special place. I don't think anyone will
disturb it there or at least I hope not...." Ryouga replied.
"Somewhere in China?"
"Actually, I'm not exactly sure where I was at the time. It
was really pretty and there were no signs of civilization." Ryouga's face
became thoughtful for moment. "Actually, the place seemed familar to
me somehow.....like I had been there before....but, at the same time, I
was sure I had never came across it until that moment....it was the
strangest feeling of deja vu...."
"Maybe you lived a past life there, if you believe in that sort of
thing." Dr. Tofu suggested, half-joking.
"Maybe....Anyway, back to my story, I was still looking for
Jusenkyou and was about to give up and go home when I met this little
creature named Taimak...."
"Another talking creature that wasn't human?" Dr. Tofu
asked, fascinated.
"Yeah, I saved him from an animal trap and he repaid me
by giving me a single wish. Anything I wanted."
"You're kidding?!" Dr. Tofu exclaimed with excitement.
"Nope. So while he started suggesting things for me to
wish for, I starting wondering what I wanted most in life."
Dr. Tofu's excitement abruptly drops as he remembers what
Ryouga had murmured in his sleep. "Ryouga, you didn't wish for
Akane's love did you?" Dr. Tofu asked with a worried expression.
Ryouga turned pale. "How did you....I mean....Who told
you I....!"
"You said *I love you so much Akane.* in your sleep." the
doctor noted.
Ryouga groaned. Yet another little secret his sleeping self
had revealed. He had to trust Dr. Tofu now, he had little other
choice. "Okay, just keep it to yourself okay?" he pleaded to Dr. Tofu
who nodded. "No, I didn't wish for Akane's love, tempted as I was
to do so....nor did I wish for my curse to be removed or for Ranma to
be killed. I'd been thinking about this for a long time now, way
before I met Taimak, and I decided to wish for the one thing that
always eluded me in the past....
(ANOTHER FLASHBACK)
MAY 2
SOMEWHERE IN CHINA
5:35 A.M.
"I....I think I know what I want to wish for." Ryouga
interrupted as Taimak was suggesting numerous wishes for him
to use, wishes that he truly didn't care about.
Taimak cocked an eyebrow, or at least made the same
motion with his forehead. "Already? My! That was quick!"
"Are you certain young man?" Taimak asked with a note of worry
in his voice. "Remember, once you've made the wish you can't take
it back!"
"I know." Ryouga said confidently "I know what I want."
"Very well." Taimak gazed into Ryouga's eyes. "What is
your wish? Be specific and precise now!" he admonished.
"And you're sure I can wish for ANYTHING I want?"
Ryouga asked, excitement creeping into his voice again.
"Ask me again and I'll tell you the same." Taimak replied
matter-of-factly.
"O....Okay then."
Ryouga mulled over the wish in his mind. While he was
tempted to make at least two other wishes that would guarantee his
happiness, he remembered what Taimak said about misunderstandings
and having only one chance at this. And if this creature could truly
grant him this....
Ryouga took a deep breath and made his wish....
"I wish I had a perfect sense of direction so I can go anywhere
I want, without ever getting lost again!"
Taimak stared blankly at him. "A sense of direction? You
must be joking? Why would you need a sense of direction?"
Ryouga blushed, embarrassed to admit his weakness to
anybody. "Because I can't walk more than 500 yards without getting
hopelessly lost. If I could get to where I wanted to go all the time, I
could find Jusenkyou and be cured, I could be with Akane without
having to worry about wandering off again, which also means I can
finally tell her how I feel about her. So please grant my wish so I
can end my misery once and for all! Please!" Ryouga begged.
"In all my years in this forest, I have never been asked to
grate a wish such as this to anybody....However if it is truly what
you want....?" Taimak peered intently at Ryouga.
"It is." Ryouga replied firmly.
"As you wish, so shall it be done!"
Taimak seemed to shimmer slightly as a strange feeling
washed over Ryouga's entire body and then dissipated just as
quickly. "It is done." said Taimak.
"That's it?" Ryouga was surprised.
"That's it." Taimak replied. "I certainly hope you know
what you're doing young man. First you want to leave this
wonderful place behind and then you wish for something you
should already have...." Taimak trailed off as he realized how
much he sounded like his own mother. "Never mind, it's your
wish to do with as you see fit and if you're happy, then I'm happy for
you."
"Thanks. Now if I can only get directions to....Wait a minute....I
know where it is! It's about 15 miles to the northeast!" Ryouga scratched
his head. "Hey, how did I know that?"
"Your wish, of course." Taimak replied. "You wished to have a
perfect sense of direction and to be able to go where you want without
getting lost? Now you can."
"But I only went to Jusenkyou once and...." Ryouga paused as it
hit him. "That's it! Every place I ever visited! Every place I ever found
myself from wandering....I remember how to get to them all now!" Ryouga
exclaimed with excitement in his voice. "Which means...."
"You will never have to ask for directions again." Taimak
cheerfully finished for him.
Ryouga fell silent for a long moment and then he began to laugh.
Soon Taimak was watching him curiously as Ryouga was in tears from his
laughter, gasping for his breath. Pausing to wipe his eyes, he noticed
Taimak staring at him.
"I'm sorry....It's just that I've been waiting for this moment my
entire life and now that it's here, I just realized how many times I've gone
in the wrong direction or missed my destination by a few meters. It just
struck me as funny. In trying to go to a few places, I've ended up seeing
a great deal of the world. Every time I managed to find Akane, it wouldn't
be long before I would end up getting lost again...."
"It must have been hard for you...." Taimak remarked. "Trying
so hard to be with your love and never being able to stay with her because of
a simple problem of navigation...."
"It was a living hell." Ryouga replied wistfully. Then he smiled
as he continued. "But now that I've finally got my sense of direction back,
I'm going to find a cure to my curse, find my way back to Akane and
finally tell her the truth about how I feel....before it's too late!"
"I wish I could help but I will never leave the comfort of
this woodland paradise! I wish you luck, Ryouga." said Taimak.
"Thanks again....for everything, Taimak. Maybe I'll see
you again someday." Ryouga said as he began to roll up his futon.
"Doubtful" replied Taimak sadly. "No one who has left
these woods has ever returned."
"Well, I hope you're wrong! Farewell!" Ryouga bowed to
Taimak deeply before continuing to gather his stuff. Taimak stared at
Ryouga for a long moment before he took off from Ryouga's backpack
and flew away into the morning sky....
(END OF FLASHBACK)
"And then I came to Jusenkyou, found the chinese guide,
had him point out the correct spring and I cured myself. Then I
walked straight here from China and you found me on the streets."
Ryouga finished with a smile. "That's my story."
"Very nice!" Dr. Tofu actually clapped, bringing an
embarrassed flush to Ryouga's cheeks. "But I still have one
question....What were you cursed as before you got cured?"
Ryouga swallowed. While he had told Dr. Tofu most of the
truth, he had omitted a few details that could make things difficult if
they were brought to light. While he trusted Dr. Tofu, he didn't want
to risk anything that would mess up his chance to tell Akane how he
felt....
"Uh....I was a girl. Just like Ranma." Ryouga replied
quickly, trying not to show his reluctance to open up.
"Oh, that's strange, I never saw you as a girl...." Dr. Tofu
curiously replied.
"I avoided water at all costs. I was....embarrassed. Ranma
was responsible for me being cursed in the first place and that's
why I hated him so much." Ryouga said, feeling comfortable that
most of what he said is the truth.
"And here I thought it was because of Akane...." Dr. Tofu
remarked. Ryouga blushed again as Dr. Tofu chuckled out loud.
"I understand what you're going through, Ryouga. I went through
the same thing when I was your age."
"You did?" Ryouga tried to picture Dr. Tofu going through
a tenth of the hell he had already suffered.
"Yep, and trust me, one day you'll get over Akane and find
someone else, just like I did." Dr. Tofu said reassuringly.
Ryouga frowned and was VERY tempted at that moment to
tell Dr. Tofu in no uncertain terms that he would never give up on
Akane and leave her to a jerk like Ranma. He struggled to keep his
battle aura under control, not waiting to destroy the doctor's clinic
after he had been healed. Ryouga was beginning to flare up
involuntarily when the doctor suddenly mentioned....
"You know, Akane called here while you were asleep...."
"She did?!?" Ryouga's face instantly became blissful. "She
cares about my welfare! She cares about me!" he thought excitedly
to himself, his previous anger forgotten as his battle aura faded
away.
"Yes, I told her you would be down to pick up your clothes
when you felt a little better. Would you like to give her a call?" Dr.
Tofu offered.
"Um....not right now thanks....I've....got a few things to do
before I talk to her and I can't afford to waste too much time."
"Well if you...." Dr. Tofu's voice is interrupted by a loud
knocking at the door. "Wait here, I'll be right back." said the doctor
as he walked over to the door and opened it up to admit Ranma.
"Could I talk to ya for a sec? I need some help." Ranma
asked in a polite voice.
"Sure thing, come on in! Ryouga and I were just having a
great conversation...."
"Ryouga?" Ranma came to a halt as he came face to face
with his arch rival. Ryouga gave him a cold smile as he spoke.
"Hello Ranma, long time no see!" Ryouga voice was full of sarcasm
as Ranma noticed what he was wearing and laughed out loud.
"Nice robe, *Mousse*, who's your tailor?" Ranma laughed
until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I took the liberty." Dr. Tofu gave him a strange smile as
Ranma quickly stopped laughing and decided to explain why he
was here. "Listen Dr. Tofu, I was wondering if you know a pressure
point or something that will keep me as a girl even when I'm
splashed with hot water?" he asked.
"Something that will keep you as a girl?" Tofu repeated
curiously.
"Just for a little while, nothing permanent!" Ranma quickly
added.
"I'm afraid I don't Ranma. Sorry." Dr. Tofu apologized.
"Damn! I need some way to prevent from changing back into
a guy!" Ranma sighed. "Guess I'll have to stock up on cold water
and pray I can outlast her...." he thought to himself.
"I always thought you wanted the opposite." said a
surprised Ryouga. "Growing fond of being a girl, Ranma-Chan?"
Ryouga taunted him.
Ranma glared at him. "Not me, P-Chan. I just need to be a
girl for tonight when I go on my date with Shampoo. That way, she
might not want to grab at me so much!" Ranma replied.
"WHAT!" Ryouga immediately grabbed Ranma's collar and
lifted him up. "You have a date with Shampoo when you're engaged
to the most wonderful, sweet, kind-hearted....!?!"
"Hey! It's not what you think....?!" Ranma tried to defend
himself.
"SHUT UP! This had gone on way too long Ranma! The
time for your punishment is at hand!" Ryouga roared as he suddenly
dropped Ranma on the floor and assumed a offensive stance. "Ranma
Saotome, I challenge you!"
Ranma groaned to himself. That's just what he needed.
Another person trying to kill him for a flirtation that never existed in
the first place. "Look, Ryouga. You want to try and kill me? Fine.
But I made a promise that I would go on a date with Shampoo tonight
so if you want to fight, you're going to have to wait until the date is
over." Ranma said
"Revenge waits no night or day" Ryoga growled.
"Come on Ryouga!" Ranma wearily replied. "I've had a real
bad day, you know better than anyone what those feel like. I swear on
my honor to fight you after the date is over. Meet me at the stone
bridge at....uhh....how's tomorrow morning sound?
"Tomorrow?!?" Ryouga protested.
"I want to get some sleep Ryouga....and from the looks of it,
you could use some as well...."
Ryouga was silent for a long moment, his instinct to defend
Akane's honor with swift justice nearly overwhelming all of his senses.
Then Ryouga stiffled a yawn.
"You see?" Ranma exclaimed.
Ryouga growled and then relaxed from his attack stance.
"Okay Ranma. Tomorrow morning." Ryouga said in a quiet
voice.
"Really?" Ranma was surprised. He thought for sure Ryouga
would have attacked him anyway, causing massive damage to Dr. Tofu's
Clinic and almost certainly delaying Ranma for his date with Shampoo.
"Gee thanks Ryouga! You're not such a pig after all! I'll see you later
at the bridge then!" Ranma seemed almost cheerful as he ran out of the
Doctor's office.
"Oh you'll see me Ranma." Ryouga replied, a grin forming
on his face. "You'll see me a LOT more from now on...."
"What do you mean?" Dr. Tofu asked cautiously.
"Oh....nothing." Ryouga replied, the smile never leaving his
face. "You know, I think I WILL give Akane a call after all...."
Ryouga picked up the cradle and dialed up the Tendo
Dojo as he gazed at his backpack on the floor....
(Fade to Black)
CONTINUED IN PART 5....
I hope you've enjoyed this so far. C&C is very welcome. :)
Special Thanks to Bridget Ellen Bengman, Raphael See, Odie 3100,
and Webdragon for their valuable C&C during the early stages of this
story and to Robin "Lunari" Seabaugh and Gary Kleppe for their addition
help during the later stages and revisions. This fanfic is dedicated to
all of them. See you in Part 5! ;)