Well, here's part 11, Chapters 51-56





"A Change of Scene"
September, 1998
by June "KaraOhki" Geraci (karaohki@snet.net)



The characters from Ranma 1/2 in this fiction are the
creations of Rumiko Takahashi, and borrowed without
her permission.
This story was written for non-commercial purposes only.

Previous chapters archived at
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/rothko/228



Chapter 51

	Mai was making breakfast when Mrs. Hayasuka came downstairs.

	"You're up early, Mai.  Where's Shiro?"

	"He should be halfway to Nerima by now, Mom."

	Mrs. Hayasuka accepted a cup of tea from her daughter and sat down,
laughing softly.

	"He'll have to find a way for me to meet that girl, Mai.  I've never
seen your brother behave this way before, and I've seen him in love,
or thinking that he's in love, many times."

*****

	Mousse crept up behind Shampoo, reached around her, and held out a
bouquet of flowers.

	"For you, Shampoo.  Happy New Year."

	Shampoo was surprised, and answered Mousse kindly.

	"Thank you, Mousse.  Happy New Year."

	"I'll look for my reward at midnight."

	"Mousse?"

	Mousse gave Shampoo what he considered to be a loving look, which
made her very uneasy.

	"You know that they say, Shampoo.  You marry the man you kiss at
midnight on New Year's."

	Shampoo backed away a couple of steps.

	"I told you, Mousse.  I need time."

	Mousse wanted to respond, but the phone began ringing, and Shampoo
reached for it.

	"Good afternoon.  Nekohanten."

	Shampoo's eyes widened when she heard Shiro's voice.

	"Hello, Shampoo.  Don't say anything.  I'm at the Tendos'.  Kasumi is
going to call you later to arrange for you to deliver New Year's
dinner.  Be sure you answer, and you deliver it.  Okay?"

	"Yes."

	"Can you get away for a few minutes?  I can meet you in the park."

	Shampoo looked at Mousse, who was hovering nearby.  There was no way
she could get away on such a busy day without his suspecting
something.

	"So sorry, we very busy right now."

	Shiro chuckled before answering.

	"I understand, Shampoo.  I'll see you when you come tonight.  Bye."

	"Who was that, Shampoo?  You shouldn't turn away customers."

	Shampoo forced a laugh, and smiled at Mousse.

	"It wasn't a customer, Mousse.  It was a charity, asking for
volunteers.  Maybe I'll help them out next time."

*****

	Late that evening, Shampoo packed up the order.  She'd cooked it
herself, and had added several special dishes that Kasumi hadn't
ordered.  She was very grateful for Kasumi's assistance and
friendship, and had been wondering how to begin to repay her.  Shampoo
was leaving the restaurant when Cologne stopped her.

	"This is the last delivery of the night, Shampoo.  I'll start closing
down."

	"Okay, Great-Grandmother.  I'll be back later."

	"What do you mean, later?  When?"

	Cologne ran out of the Nekohanten, but Shampoo was gone.

	Shiro was getting impatient.  He'd been watching the clock for what
seemed like years, waiting for Shampoo's arrival.  When the doorbell
rang, he flew to the door, almost pushing Kasumi aside in his
eagerness.

	"Sorry, Kasumi.  Shampoo!  Come in!."

	Shiro took the food out of Shampoo's hands, and ushered her inside.

	"Take off your coat, Shampoo.  Eat with us."

	Shampoo had been longing for, but not expecting, such an invitation,
and sat down nervously.  She felt odd sitting at the Tendo table, and
it was obvious that Soun and Nabiki didn't know what to say to her, so
she kept quiet.  After a while, Kasumi and Shiro drew her into the
conversation, and she began to feel more comfortable.

	Soun kept looking at Shiro and Shampoo as he ate.  Meals from the
Nekohanten were always wonderful, but tonight's dishes were especially
good, and there were some things that he knew Kasumi hadn't ordered.
When he saw the way Shampoo was looking at Shiro, he assumed  she'd
brought them for him.

	Kasumi noticed her father observing the couple, and smiled.  She'd
noticed that he had been rather depressed earlier in the day over her
sister's absence, and this distraction was good for him.

	When the meal was over, Shampoo started to help Kasumi clear the
table, but Kasumi shook her head, and pushed Shampoo toward Shiro.

	"This will take me five minutes, Shampoo.  No."

	Shiro didn't waste any time.

	"Come with me to the dojo, Shampoo.  We'll talk."

*****

	Shampoo took Shiro's outstretched hand, and walked with him.  Kasumi
had advised her to take her time before making any decisions about
him, but Shampoo felt so comfortable and happy with Shiro that she
ignored the advice, and followed her heart.

	Shiro sat down on the polished floor of the dojo, pulling Shampoo
down beside him.  They talked quietly of many things, while the
minutes flew by.  Eventually, Shampoo looked at the time, and
reluctantly started to get up.

	"Sorry, Shiro.  It late, and Great-Grandmother will worry."

	Shiro reached out and restrained her.

	"It's not quite midnight, Shampoo.  Please stay until then."

	Shampoo looked into Shiro's eyes, and relented.  She'd rather be with
him at midnight than Mousse.  She sat down again, and they watched the
minutes tick toward midnight.  When it came, Shampoo didn't wait for
Shiro to move first.  Instead, she leaned toward him and kissed him
softly.  Then, before he could stop her, she ran out of the dojo and
back to the house.

	Shiro caught up with her as she put on her coat.  He put his on and
walked her out of the house, keeping tight hold of her hand.

	"Shampoo, before you leave I need to tell you something.  I love
you."

	Shiro put his hand to Shampoo's cheek, and kissed her lips.  She
remained silent, and he began to worry.

	"Aren't you going to say anything, Shampoo?  Please talk to me."

	"Shampoo not sure, Shiro.  Need time.  But . . . Shampoo happy."

	Shampoo jumped onto her bicycle and pedaled off with a contented
smile on her face.

*****

	Mousse sat in the Nekohanten's dining room, staring out the window.
Shampoo had disappeared again, and he didn't know what to think.
She'd been so kind to him that morning, so why was she avoiding him
now?  When Shampoo appeared at the door, Mousse had it unlocked before
she could take out her key.

	"Shampoo, I was worried about you!"

	Shampoo was taken aback.  This was not the greeting she'd expected.

	"I'm fine, Mousse.  No need to worry."

	"You weren't here at midnight.  I have something for you."

	Before Shampoo could react, Mousse had enfolded her in his arms and
kissed her.

	"Remember what I said before, Shampoo?  You marry the man you kiss at
midnight on New Year's."

	Shampoo pulled out Mousse's arms, and ran upstairs.  He watched her
retreat, smiling.  Shampoo would learn who she belonged to.

	Upstairs, Shampoo looked at herself in the mirror as she removed her
earrings.  Mousse's words kept echoing in her ears.

	"You marry the man you kiss at midnight . . ."

	Shampoo smiled.  Hopefully, for once in his life, Mousse was right.





Chapter 52

	Miss Murata hung up the phone, and looked up at Mr. Nagata, who was
standing by her side, looking anxious.

	"It's still busy.  I'll try again later."

*****

	Ranma finished his breakfast, listening to Akane talk to her father.
Soun had phoned to wish them a happy new year, and had been bending
his daughter's ear for quite some time.

	"Yes Daddy, we will.  "Yes, I promise.  I love you too."

	Akane hung up the phone and sat down at the table, where her
breakfast was rather cold.  Ranma grinned at her expression.

	"What did you promise your father, Akane?"

	"That we'll come home for a visit the next time we have a free
weekend."

	Ranma looked at the calendar, and back at his wife.

	"He may have to wait a while, you know.  You have rehearsals all the
way up until the play starts, and then it runs three weekends."

	"I tried to explain that, but you know how Daddy is."

	Ranma frowned, and hesitated.  Akane probably wasn't going to like
hearing him criticize her father.  Then again, he had the right to his
opinion.

	"Yeah, Akane, I know.  He thinks we're two little kids who need to
have their lives run for them."

	Akane bristled, and Ranma waited for her to explode, but her face
changed and she grinned at him instead.

	"You're right, Ranma.  And your father is just like him.  If we were
living with him, he'd be telling us what time to go to bed, what to
eat for breakfast, and who knows what else."

	Ranma started laughing, and could barely get his response out.

	"You know what I'd tell him, don't you?"

	They were trying to control their laughter enough to finish eating
breakfast when the phone rang again.  When Ranma heard the voice on
the other end of the line, he made a face at Akane.

	"Hi, Pop.  We were just talking about you."

*****

	Akane felt around the sink for the last bowl, and Ranma's hands
joined hers in the soap suds, and closed around her fingers.

	"Hey!  Let go!"

	"Why?"

	"I'm not finished."

	"Who cares?"

	Ranma pulled Akane's hands out of the sink, and turned her towards
him.  When he began kissing her, she wrapped her arms around his neck,
soapsuds and all.

	"You're right.  Who cares?"

	Then the phone rang again.  Ranma reluctantly let Akane go, and
reached for it.

	"Akane, I don't care who that is, after I hang up I'm taking that
thing off the hook!  Hello?  Oh, hello Miss Murata.  Yes, yes, I see.
I'll be there as soon as I can."

	Ranma hung up the phone and turned to Akane, who was drying her
hands, and looking anywhere but at him.

	"I'm sorry, Akane, but they need me at the hospital."

	"But Ranma, I thought you were off until next week."

	"They have some kind of emergency, I think.  Miss Murata said they
would explain when I got there.  She said she tried to call yesterday,
but we must have been out."

	Ranma took his coat out of the closet, put it on, and started to
button it.  Akane just watched him.  This would be their first time
apart since their wedding day.  Ranma saw her expression, and enclosed
her in a hug.

	"I'll be here for midnight, I promise.  Keep the noodles warm."

	Any reply Akane tried to make was muffled in Ranma's kiss.

*****

	Ranma looked from Miss Murata's face to Mr. Nagata's face, trying to
understand what they'd just told him.

	"You had Tomisawa arrested for stealing drugs?"

	Mr. Nagata nodded.

	"We've been experiencing shortages ever since he got promoted,
Saotome.  I began to suspect that it was him, so Miss Murata and I
reviewed the security tapes.  At first we thought he was taking the
medication to sell them, but then we saw him taking them, sometimes by
the handful.  Tomisawa was not only stealing the drugs, Saotome, but
he was taking them on the job, and working impaired.  It's a wonder he
didn't kill anyone by sending the wrong medication up to the floor,
and I'm surprised he didn't kill himself.  We're going to see to it
that he gets some help."

	"You've proved yourself trustworthy, Saotome, and I'd like to start
training you to assist me in filling the medication orders.  Of
course, the increased responsibility would mean an increase in your
wages."

	Mr. Nagata smiled at Ranma, and waited for his response.

	"Thank you sir.  I appreciate it."

	As they walked toward the pharmacy, Mr. Nagata continued talking.

	"I'm glad you found you home, Saotome.  I realize it's a holiday, but
we really needed you here."

	Ranma shrugged his shoulders, and grinned, wondering how Mr. Nagata
was going to take his next remark.

	"Actually, you interrupted my honeymoon, but if my wife can forgive
you, so can I."

	When Mr. Nagata heard the word "honeymoon", he looked very
embarrassed.

	"We'll have to find a way to make it up to the two of you later."

*****

	Akane sat at the table, her mother's precious notebook in her hands.
Her mother had written up a New Year's menu, with explicit
instructions for each dish.  Akane looked at the words that had been
written so long ago, and wondered if her mother had planned for her to
use the notebook some day to cook for her husband.

	Akane cut the quantities down to feed only two people, stopped, and
changed the figures again so that it would feed three.  Ranma always
ate enough for two men.  She transferred everything onto her
checklists, and soon the kitchen was filled with the aromas of the
various dishes.  Akane sniffed the air, and smiled in delight.
Everything actually smelled good!

	"Ranma had better get home in time for midnight."

*****

	Ranma glanced at the clock, and was surprised to see that it was
nearly eleven.  He'd been so busy that the hours had flown by.  He had
arrived in the middle of a shift, and had stayed on for the next.  The
department was short-handed, and Mr. Nagata had also stayed to
continue Ranma's training.  There was a lot to learn, and he was
enjoying it.  Ranma was cleaning up his work area when Mr. Nagata
approached.

	"Can you stay a few minutes, Saotome?  Some of the people on the next
shift haven't arrived yet.  The snow must be holding them up."

	"Snow?  I hadn't noticed."

	A glance out the window showed that it was snowing, but that not much
had accumulated.

	"It's not deep, Saotome, but it's slippery.  I'll give you a lift
home once everyone arrives."

	"Thanks.  I promised my wife I'd be home for midnight."

	"I'll get you there."

	"Would you mind if we made a stop on the way?  That is, if the shop I
need is still open."

*****

	Akane set the table, and returned to the window.  It was snowing
harder, and Ranma was still not home.  She walked downstairs to the
porch and was looking through the door when a car pulled up to the
curb and Ranma got out, carrying a small box.  He ran up the steps,
and Akane opened the porch door for him.

	"What are you doing out here, Akane?  You must be frozen."

	"I'm fine, Ranma.  Come upstairs."

	By the time Ranma got to the second floor he could smell the dinner
Akane had made, and when he saw the table he turned to her in
surprise.

	"You did all this for me, Akane?"

	Akane put her arms around Ranma, and held him tightly.

	"No, love.  I did it for us.  Ouch!"

	Akane let go of Ranma.  The box he was holding had become squeezed
between them, and one corner was slightly dented where it had poked
Akane.  Ranma handed it to her, then began to unbutton his coat.

	"Go ahead and open it."

	The box contained two yellow roses, which hadn't been damaged by
Akane's hug.  Akane put the roses in water and set them on the table,
and then confused Ranma by looking behind him, opening the door, and
looking down the stairs.

	"Okay, where did you put him?"

	"Put who?"

	"My husband.  The man I married prefers to fight with me rather than
bring me flowers.  You are an impostor!"

	Ranma caught Akane's hands in his, and pulled her towards him.

	"So are you.  My wife can't cook, and this kitchen smells wonderful.
She's also uncute, unfeminine, and a tomboy, and you don't fit that
description.  What do you have to say to that?

	"Nothing.  Just kiss me."


Chapter 53

	The morning sun came in through the bedroom curtains, and Akane
opened her eyes.  When she saw the time, she turned over and sleepily
prodded Ranma.

	"Ranma, wake up.  You forgot to set the alarm."

	Ranma groaned, and tried to pull the sheet over his head, but Akane
held onto it.

	"I don't have to go in until later.  Did you forget?  Let me sleep."

	Akane rubbed her eyes, and came fully awake.   Ranma had been working
double shifts for several days, and though he'd be the last person to
admit it, he was tired.  He finally had a chance to sleep in, and
Akane had woken him.

	"I'm sorry, honey.  Go to sleep."

	Akane pushed back the blankets from her side, and started to get up,
but Ranma reached for her and pulled her back down beside him.  When
he kissed her, and pulled at the ribbons on her nightgown, she raised
her eyebrows at him.

	"I thought you wanted me to let you sleep."

	"I changed my mind."

	Much later, Akane thought about getting up again.

	"Are you hungry, Ranma?"

	"Yes."

	"I'll make breakfast."

	Akane started to sit up, but Ranma's arms came up around her,
preventing her from moving.

	"Stay a few more minutes, Akane.  After this weekend, we won't have
too many chances to have a lazy morning like this one."

	"You're right, Ranma.  I like having you all to myself."

	"Honeymoons don't last forever, Akane."

	"We can try."

*****

	Ranma closed the porch door, and ran down the steps.  He looked up
and waved at Akane, who was watching from the window, and started the
walk to the hospital.  The streets were beginning to fill with
students coming back to town after the holidays, and several blocks
later he heard his name.

	"Ranma, wait!"

	Mishi caught up to him, somewhat out of breath.

	"How are you?  Where's Akane?"

	"I'm fine, Mishi, but I can't stop - I'm on my way to work.  Akane's
at home."

	"Oh, don't let me make you late.  Do you think Akane would like some
company?"

	Ranma nodded, and continued on his way.

	"I'm sure she'd love to see you, Mishi."

*****

	Akane watched Ranma until he was out of sight, and went into the
bedroom.  She opened one of the drawers of the bureau that she and
Ranma shared, put away some clean laundry, and checked on the little
bottle she'd discovered hidden there.  It appeared to be a little
emptier than the last time she'd looked at it.  Akane sighed, and
replaced the bottle where it belonged.  Akane then opened the bottom
drawer, pulled a book out from beneath her sweaters, and took it to
the desk.

	Akane had kept a journal for several years, writing her thoughts and
experiences in it regularly.  Since Ranma's return to work New Year's
Eve, Akane had taken the opportunity to record their wedding day, and
the days following.  She had finally finished when the doorbell rang.

	Akane quickly shoved her journal back into the bureau, and ran
downstairs.  She was delighted to see Mishi standing on the doorstep,
and opened the door to hug her.

	"Mishi!  I'm so glad to see you!  Come in."

	The girls walked upstairs, talking away.  Akane made a pot of tea,
and answered all of Mishi's questions about her wedding.  Akane
couldn't help laughing at the expression on her friend's face when she
told her about the mayhem that had occurred.

	"You're making this up, aren't you?"

	"No, I'm not.  I don't know if the photographer caught everything
that happened, but if he did, you'll see it when we get our wedding
album."

	"But Akane, things like that don't happen!"

	"They do at my house."

	Akane sipped her tea, wondering.  If Mishi was having difficulty
believing this story, perhaps she shouldn't tell her about the wedding
that had been interrupted by guests throwing bombs.  Some stories were
best left untold.



Chapter 54

	Kuno packed his bags, and brought them downstairs.  His sister's were
already waiting in the hallway, but she was nowhere in sight.  That
gave him some time to think.

	Kuno was experiencing pangs of guilt.  He'd known Ranma's secret for
a long time, but had refused to admit it publicly.  That would have
meant admitting to all that he had been chasing a woman who was really
a man.  The scene in Ranma's apartment in Ube had been forced on him,
and he had handled it badly, rejecting a girl he truly admired.

	"You're sick", he'd said to Nabiki, when in reality he was the one
who had been acting sick.  He'd continued to act that way, by
interfering in a wedding between two people who obviously loved one
another.

	"I owe several people apologies."

	Kuno put his head in his hands.  Apologies were something members of
the Kuno family rarely gave anyone.

*****

	The Nekohanten was having one of those lulls that sometimes occur
between the lunch and dinner rush, and Shampoo had nothing to do.  She
sat in the dining room, staring out the window, and Kasumi had been
looking in for some time before Shampoo's unfocused gaze locked on
her.  When Kasumi smiled at her, Shampoo jumped up and ran outside.

	Kasumi looked past Shampoo into the restaurant, and satisfied that on
one could see her, produced another letter from Shiro.

	"Thank you, Kasumi.  Shampoo sorry to be so much trouble."

	"Don't be silly, Shampoo.  This is no trouble at all.  You don't look
very busy this afternoon.  Can Cologne spare you for a couple of
hours?"

	Shampoo looked mystified.  What could Kasumi want?"

	"Shampoo think so.  Why?"

	"How would you like to go to a movie?  I was feeling restless, and
I'd like your company."

	Shampoo nodded enthusiastically, and dragged Kasumi into the
Nekohanten.  She ran into the kitchen, where Cologne was working on
the evening's menu.

	"Great-Grandmother, can you do without me for a while?"

	"Why, Shampoo?  Where do you want to go?"

	"To a movie."

	Cologne left the stove and approached Shampoo, looking rather
confused.

	"What made you decide to go to a movie all of a sudden?"
	"Kasumi Tendo invited me."

	Cologne didn't reply, being too amazed to think of a thing to say,
and Kasumi appeared in the kitchen doorway.

	"Can you spare Shampoo for a while, ma'am?  I hope it's not a
bother."

	Kasumi's magic worked, and Cologne found her voice.

	"No bother at all, dear.  Have a good time.  Shampoo, be sure you get
back before the evening crush starts."

	"Yes, Great-Grandmother."

*****

	Cologne went back to the kitchen, and continued working.  She found
that she was having a great deal of difficulty concentrating on what
she was doing.  In all the years they'd lived in Nerima, Shampoo had
never sought out female companionship.  All of her focus had been on
the pursuit of Ranma.  Now she was becoming friends with Kasumi Tendo,
of all people.

	Cologne wished that she could discuss the matter with Mousse, but he
was in China.  His aunt, who was his last living relative, was very
ill and not expected to recover.  Mousse had gone home to spend what
time she had left with her.

	Mousse had informed Cologne of the events of New Year's Eve, and had
made it evident that he interpreted Shampoo's acceptance of his kiss
as acceptance of his courtship.  Cologne was uncertain of that, but
Shampoo's meek attitude made her wonder.  Either she was beginning to
accept Mousse as her future husband, or she was up to something.

	Cologne hoped it was the former, for she planned to close the
restaurant eventually, and take Shampoo home.  If Shampoo went home
husbandless, having failed to marry Ranma, she faced the possibility
of being rejected by her Amazon sisters.  However, if she went home
with Mousse as a properly subservient Amazon husband, her place would
be secure.

	Cologne turned down the heat under the soup, and went upstairs to get
her writing paper.  She stared at the blank sheet for a few minutes,
then picked up her pen and began to write.

"Dear Mousse,
	The strangest thing has happened since you left. Shampoo seems to
have become friends with Kasumi Tendo.

	I have an uncomfortable feeling that there is more to this friendship
than there appears to be.  I will keep an eye on Shampoo, and if there
is anything to report I will inform you."

*****

	Kasumi and Shampoo emerged from the theater, blinking at the
sunlight.  Shampoo thanked Kasumi and began to walk away, but Kasumi
stopped her.

	"We have a time for a cup of tea, don't we?  You can read your
letter."

	Shampoo smiled and nodded, and soon was seated in a cafe, sipping her
tea and reading her letter.  Kasumi watched Shampoo's expression
soften as she read, and when she finished and put it aside, the look
in her eyes made Kasumi a little bit jealous.  Shampoo looked so
happy.

	"Shiro writes from his mother's house, Kasumi.  He on way back to
Ube, for school.  Shiro wants to see Shampoo, me, again."

	Shampoo looked frustrated.

	"Wish Japanese better, Kasumi.  Could not understand all of movie,
and reading letters very hard."

	"Have you considered school, Shampoo?  There are night classes in
Japanese."

	Shampoo looked amazed.

	"Shampoo never think about that, Kasumi.  Would like that.  Then
Shampoo can talk and write good Japanese to Shiro."

	Shampoo's face fell.

	"Would like to see him."

	"He's welcome to stay with us any time, Shampoo.  Then you can spend
time together."

	"Thank you, Kasumi.  You are good friend, but Shampoo should not meet
Shiro at Kasumi's house."

	"Why not?"

	"If Mousse or Great-Grandmother find out you helping Shampoo, they
make trouble for you.  Shampoo does not want friend to have trouble."

	Kasumi frowned, and sipped her tea.

	"Shampoo, if I'd been concerned about trouble, I never would have
agreed to deliver Shiro's letters in the first place.  I'm willing to
take the risk.  What are friends for?"



Chapter 55

	Ranma and Akane's students were huddled in a corner of the gym, their
heads bent over a piece of paper.  They were so interested in what
they were reading that they didn't see the Saotomes enter, and weren't
aware of their presence until Ranma spoke.

	"Good morning!"

	Everyone jumped, and turned toward the sound of Ranma's voice.  One
of the young men hurriedly stuffed the paper in his pocket, and they
took their places so that the class could begin.

	After a few minutes, Akane took one student aside.

	"You're not extending your arms far enough.  Watch me, and see how I
follow through."

	Akane demonstrated what she wanted her student to do, and he nodded
and winked at her.

	"Sure, beautiful.  Anything you say."

	Ranma stopped dead, and turned around to glare at him.

	"You will treat my wife with respect in this class!"

	After several painful moments of silence, the red-faced student hung
his head.

	"Yes, Sensei."

	The class continued without incident, and the students found excuses
to remain behind in the gym after the Saotomes left.  They pulled out
the paper, and looked at each other.

	"When did they get married?  I thought they were just friends."

	"I don't know, but someone should tell Saotome about this."

	"I'm not going to be the one to tell him.  Anyone else want to
volunteer?"

	There were no takers.

*****

	"Akane!  Akane, over here!"

	Akane turned at the sound of Anne's voice, and joined her in the
wings.  Anne pulled a sheet of paper from her tote bag and handed it
to Akane.

	"Here's your copy, Akane.  Put it away before Yoshimi sees it."

	"Thanks, Anne.  Has anyone decided where we're going to practice yet?
We can't do it here in the theater."

	"Actually, Akane, I was thinking of your apartment."

	"Why?"

	"Because if we practiced in one of the dorms, the secret would be out
before the night was over."

	Akane glanced down at Ranma, who was sitting in the auditorium
watching the rehearsal.

	"Then we'll have to let Ranma in on the secret, too.  He's good at
keeping secrets, Anne.  I don't think he'll mind having all of you
over."

	Anne put her hands on her hips, looking rather indignant.

	"Don't tell me you have to ask his permission to have guests!"

	"Don't be silly, Anne.  Of course not!  He's just not, um,
well. . ."

	Akane trailed off, and Anne stared.

	"He's not what?"

	"Comfortable being surrounded by girls."

	"Some day you're going to have to explain that remark, Akane."

	The rest of the Sailor Scouts approached, and Anne quickly
distributed her papers to all of them before Yoshimi could see.  She'd
just finished when Yoshimi called her.

	"Anne, please stand on that mark.  I want to test the lighting.
Akane, I want you there.  Kenji, try the pink spot on Anne.  Shin, I
want a soft blue on Akane."

	Kenji's voice floated down from above.

	"I'm the only one up here, Yosh.  Haven't seen Shin all day."

	"That's not like him.  He hasn't missed a rehearsal."

	A thumping sound came from the wings, and everyone gasped as Shin
hobbled onto the stage.  His right leg was encased in a splint, and he
was leaning heavily on his crutches.  Everyone dropped what they were
doing and rushed to him.

	"What on earth happened!"

	Shin looked rather embarrassed to be the center of attention, and
turned red.

	"I went skiing over the holidays with my family.  Someone fell down
right in front of me, and I couldn't stop.  I'm sorry, Yoshimi, but
there's no way I'll be able to climb up to the catwalk with these
things."

	Yoshimi put his hand to his forehead.  Everyone in the club had a job
to do, and he had no one left to take Shin's place.  It wasn't
possible for Kenji to handle both sets of lights by himself.

	"Need a volunteer?"

	Yoshimi squinted past the footlights.  Ranma was walking toward the
stage.

	"Saotome, right?  Yes, thank you!"

	Ranma shrugged.

	"As long as I'm here, I might as well be useful."

	Ranma climbed up to the catwalk, put the blue light on Akane, and the
rehearsal continued.

	Everyone was getting comfortable with their lines, and with Yoshimi's
direction on where to stand, and how to move.  The only criticism he
offered that evening was at Ranma.

	"Hey, Saotome!  This is Sailor Venus' big scene.  Would you stop
training the light on your girlfriend and put it on her, please?

	"Yeah, sorry."

*****

	By the time they were finished it was rather late, and everyone was
tired.  They began putting on their coats, and groaned when Yoshimi
asked for their attention.

	"One more thing, people.  The art department has finished the drafts
on the promotional poster and playbill.  Would you please look them
over before you go?  I'd appreciate any input."

	The poster was passed from hand to hand, with many compliments for
the artists.  A few suggestions were made to improve the playbill, and
it was rather marked up by the time it got to Ranma and Akane.  Akane
looked it over, and nodded approvingly.

	"It looks like everyone caught all the mistakes, except one."

	Akane took her pen and drew a line through the word "Tendo" on both
the poster and playbill, substituting "Saotome".

	"Now they're perfect."

*****

	Despite the cold weather and the lateness of the hour, the campus was
crowded and noisy when Ranma and Akane left the theater and started
walking home.  Once they'd left the campus behind them the atmosphere
changed to peace and quiet.  Akane slipped her arm through Ranma's and
yawned.

	"I'm so tired, Ranma."

	"It's going to be like this all week, Akane.  If we're not working,
we'll be at rehearsals, or studying.  I think Wednesday might be the
only quiet evening we have."

	"Well . . ."

	Ranma heard Akane's tone, and knew something was coming.

	"Well what?"

	"Ranma, the girls are planning to come over Wednesday night.  There's
something we need to practice."

	"Which girls?"

	"The other Sailor Scouts."

	Ranma opened the porch door, and they started up the stairs.

	"Why, Akane?  Can't you practice at the theater?"

	"This is something special, Ranma, and it's a secret.  We can't do
this on campus.  You'll see on Wednesday."

	"Maybe not.  I might go visit Shiro and let you have the place to
yourself.  Our kitchen will be pretty crowded with five women in it."

	"What about the secret, Ranma?"

	"You should know me better, Akane.  I won't tell anyone what you're
up to if you don't want me to."



Chapter 56

	While walking across campus the next morning, Ranma became aware that
he and Akane were on the receiving end of a lot of stares from male
students they didn't know, and he couldn't understand why.  Ranma had
experienced similar treatment at Furinkan High, but that was easily
explained.  Akane had been very much sought after, and many of the
male students at Furinkan High had never accepted their engagement.
As far as Ranma could tell, he hadn't done anything in Ube (yet) to
merit the sort of looks he was getting.

	Akane didn't seem to be aware of what was happening, and appeared to
be lost in thought.  As they separated, Ranma kissed Akane's cheek,
and again felt the glares behind him.  He involuntarily shivered, and
Akane's faraway expression vanished as she focused on him.

	"Are you all right, honey?"

	"I'm fine, Akane.  See you at lunch."

	Ranma quickly walked away, leaving Akane watching him with a puzzled
look on her face.  Something was obviously bothering Ranma, and he
didn't want to tell her about it.  She hoped he wasn't disturbed by
the looks she'd been getting from some of the men as they walked
across campus together.  Some of them made her feel as if she had
nothing on.

	Shiro was waiting for Ranma outside the science building, holding a
piece of paper.  He swallowed, and nervously held it out to his
friend.

	"I think you should read this, Ranma.  A couple of guys from the
campus paper were handing them out."

	Ranma read the sheet, and looked up at his friend.

	"How did we miss this, Shiro?  This had to have started a few weeks
ago."

	"I guess we were just busy, Ranma.  We spent a lot of time fixing up
your place."

	"Yeah, you're right."

	Ranma looked at the paper again, and stuffed it into his backpack.

	"Shiro, can you take notes for me?  I'm going to show this to Akane
before someone else does.  She's gonna explode."

	Ranma waited only until Shiro had nodded before turning around and
running back the way he had come.

*****

	Akane was gathering her things together when one of the girls in her
class looked toward the door.

	"Who's that cute guy out there?  I think he's either looking at me or
you."

	Akane looked up, smiled at Ranma, and turned back to her classmate.

	"That's my husband."

	Akane could see that Ranma looked impatient, and excused herself.
When she reached him, he took her arm and practically dragged her down
the hallway.

	"Ranma, stop!  My next class is the other way."

	"You're not going, Akane.  There's something we have to talk about."

	"Can't it wait?"

	"No."

*****

	Ten minutes later Akane sat in the cafeteria, waiting for Ranma to
come back with their tea.  He set it in front of her, and removed a
crumpled piece of paper from his pack.

	"Akane, I wanted to be the one to show this to you, before you found
out from somebody else."

	Akane silently took the paper, and began to read.  It was a ballot
from the student newspaper, for their annual "Most Beautiful Girls on
Campus" poll.  When Akane saw her name, the ballot fell from her
hands.

	"Now I understand!"

	Ranma was amazed that Akane hadn't begun yelling.

	"Understand what, Akane?"

	"The way some of the men on campus have been leering at me.  It makes
my skin crawl.  Haven't you noticed?"

	Ranma shook his head, embarrassed.

	"To tell you the truth, Akane, I had noticed something, but it wasn't
that.  Some of the guys have been giving me the dirtiest looks
whenever I'm with you."

	Ranma looked at the ballot again, and pointed to a line he'd missed.

	"This is for 'eligible girls', Akane, and it lists you as 'Tendo.'  I
think we should tell them we're married, or you'll be going through
the same thing you did at Furinkan High."

	Ranma would have continued, but he suddenly became aware that Akane
was beginning to glow.  Her temper had finally got the better of her.

	"The sooner the better, Ranma.  I don't want any part of this!"

	Akane suddenly saw a mental image of the men of Sanna College waiting
for her every morning, and cringed.

	"I don't want to fight the men off, Ranma.  Not again."

	Ranma looked grim.

	"You wouldn't have to, Akane.  I'd do it."

*****

	When the Saotomes walked into the Journalism Club office, Akane was
immediately surrounded by the staff.

	"Look who's here!  The leader in the polls!  You're sure to win, Miss
Tendo."

	"That's Mrs. Saotome, and I want my name off this ballot!"

	The dead silence that followed was almost funny, as Ranma and Akane
watched the faces of the young men turn from shocked to embarrassed.
The editor ran to the file cabinet, and took out a file.

	"I'm sorry.  We take nominations from men on campus, and the file we
have on you shows you as single, and living in the freshman dormitory.
We don't accept nominations for married girls."

	Ranma held up his hand to make him stop talking, and smiled.

	"Don't blame yourself.  We've only been married for three weeks."

	Within a few minutes, all of the ballots with Akane's name on them
had gone through the shredder, and the members of the staff were
gathered around the computer screen, editing it.  Akane thanked them,
and the couple left the office.  Ranma squeezed Akane's hand, and
smiled at her.

	"I'm glad we got that straightened out.  It would have been much
worse if we tried to fix it after you won."

	"You're right, Ranma, but I think there may be another problem."

	"What?"

	"I spotted the list of standings in the voting so far.  The person in
second place might not be too pleased if she wins."

	"Who is it?"

	"Mishi."



-------

More to come

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