So sorry to be posting this again, but some people notice every little
mistake.

This is the last time, I promise.


Ranma-Manji Itoko Series
Chef Akane
by 
James Epnett


Author�s Notes: This story is the result of insomnia and should be taken
quite lightly. Any and all PRIVATE C&C welcomed (not only welcomed, but
NEEDED. I am a beginner) This story includes two characters of my own
construct, Cloud and Ku Manji. More will be learned about them later in two
stories I am working on called The Manji Itoko Mini-series and Manji Itoko
series: The reality Crystals.
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Insert standard disclaimer here.

Ranma - Manji Itoko series created by, copyrighted by James Epnett, 1998
(That is, all characters not belonging to Rumiko Takahashi are mine.)

Please, enjoy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------


	The look of frustration on Cloud�s face was plain for all to witness, even
though no one was there to see it.  He looked into the empty ice box and
his hart sank. He *knew* he should have let Ku go to the market before he
left on his training mission. 

	�I can handle it,� Cloud had said, noting the look of disbelief on his
itoko�s face.

	�If your sure,� Ku responded as he exited the house, �I will be gone for a
month.�

	�Don�t worry about it, I�m a big boy,� said Cloud, a hint of anxiety in
his voice  at his cousin�s concern, �But you may want to leave some money.
I�m not good enough with Bonsai Trees to sell them.�

	�You could always go to the Cat Cafe,� said Ku,  his cousin�s sudden
discomfort apparent.

	�I think I will pass,� said Cloud, an image of Shampoo danced through his
head. 

	�Why not visit Ukyo�s?� The indication in Ku�s voice was unmistakable. 

	Cloud blushed slightly and turned from his cousin.

	�I�m sure than okonomiyaki is as good as Ranma claims,� Ku continued, 
aware of his cousin�s sudden color, �Or you could always stop by Ranma�s
house. I�m sure Kasumi wouldn�t mind at cooking for one more.�

	�I may just do that,� Cloud turned back to Ku, glad for the change of
topic. Cloud�s feelings for Ukyo had been no secret to Ku, even if Ukyo
only had eyes for Ranma. He didn�t know why, but the first time he had
entered Ucchan�s with Ranma, he had felt a warmth from the young women, a
serene kindness that had been a longed for feeling on his part. It had been
completely platonic on her level, and that�s how Cloud intended to keep it
until she had excepted that Akane and Ranma would be together.

	�Cloud?� Ku�s voice awoke Cloud from his waking sleep.

	�Huh?� Cloud managed, turning to his cousin.

	�Here is 5,000 yen. This should keep you well suited until I return.� Ku
dug through his pocket and pulled the wad of cash out.

	�Yeah, this should do it.�

	But it had not. Who knew that a fight with Kuno would have been so
expensive. Cloud looked around a all the repairs that had been made after
their encounter. Luckily, Kuno had brought his stick with him rather than a
real sword, and it had lasted almost no time against Cloud�s Chinese
Broadsword. No time at all was long enough, however. Kuno had done a fair
amount of damage before he had left, excepting the fact that Ku was no
where to be found. <What an idiot.> Cloud had thought. <The �Blue Blunder�
is gonna� mess with me once to often.> Cloud felt his rage begin to build.
His battle aura began to glow.

	�NO.� Cloud said verbally, trying to calm himself. He sat on the floor and
began to meditate. Soon, his aura began to calm, going from a dark red to a
light blue, and then to nothing. 

	That had been close. <I have to *control* my anger, to harness it and use
it to *my* will.> Cloud thought, getting back to his feet. He looked once
more at the ice box, his stomach growling harshly. There was only one thing
for it. He would set out for the Tendo Dojo soon.

	*	*	*

	Cloud looked at the front entrance to the house, the door opened wide. He
walked closer to it and looked in. �Hello,� he called, knocking on the door
frame. A sudden sour-sweet smell filled his nostrils. It was pleasant, but
smelled a little...off.

	�Who is it?� A light call came from the kitchen as Akane walked swiftly
into the hall. 

	�It�s Cloud,� he said, waiting for the young women to reach the door, �May
I come in?�

	�Sure, come on in.� Akane�s politely called, smiling as she neared the
door.

	Cloud pulled his shoes from his feet and entered the house. 

	�What�s up?� asked Akane, escorting Cloud into the family room.
	
	�Not much. I was finding it quite lonely at my home, to tell the truth.�
he said, sitting across from Akane at the coffee table. 

	�Would you like some tea?� Akane asked, still standing.

	�Yes please,� Cloud replied, his stomach growling. Akane made for the
kitchen, and Cloud continued to talk, �Actually, I was wondering if you had
an extra spot at the dinner table tonight. With Ku out of town, I have
neither the funds or skill to cook for myself.� 

	�I�m sure we can fit you in,� Akane called. �Actually, we were just about
to have lunch.�

	�We?� asked Cloud, scanning the room for other people. 

	�Ranma and I, that is.�

	�Where is Ranma?�

	�He�s in the dojo, training.� 

	�Where is everyone else?� Cloud asked, a deep sense of foreboding filling
his mind.

	�Mr. Saotome, father, and Happosai are out *training*.� Akane�s last word
was acid. Cloud flinched unconsciously.

	�Nabiki had *buisness* to take care of, and Kasumi went to Dr. Tofu�s
clinic to barrow a few medical books.�

	�So that means....� Cloud froze, suddenly wishing he had stayed home.

	�That�s right,� Ranma was suddenly in the door that led to the garden out
back, �Akane is cooking.� 

	Cloud�s stomach sank, nausea washed over him. He did not want to be
disrespectful, but the memory of his last meal prepared by Akane and Dr.
Tofu�s stomach pump filled his mind. 

	�I would not want to impose on you...� he did not finish, Akane was back
in the room with a tray that carried three glasses of tea and three bowls.

	�Not at all,� said Akane, placing the tray on the table. Cloud looked
longingly into the bowl. It couldn�t be *that* bad. 

	<Oh god,> he thought suddenly, <She's been experimenting.> The sight in
the bowl was *not* a pretty one. It *looked* like scrambled eggs, but was
covered in a dark brown sauce. 

	Cloud�s face drained of color. He reached for the glass of tea Akane had
brought to him and drank as much of the hot liquid as he could. If he could
burn his taste buds severely enough, he might not need taste the substance.

	�Where do you think *you�re* going?� Cloud looked up to see Ranma edging
his way for the back door. 

	�I�m not really hungry, Akane...� Ranma froze, the look on Akane�s face
said it all, that and she suddenly had a *very* large mallet in her hand,
tapping it impatiently in the other.

	�I knew I came in too soon...� Ranma whispered, taking a seat at the
table. Akane followed, sitting down in front of her space.

	�Akane.� Cloud started, Akane looking up at him, �Not to be rude, but can
I ask what this is?� 

	Akane smiled at her friend and explained, �It�s brown rice, silly. I�ve
been trying to adapt my own sauce based on one of Kasumi�s recipes.� She
smiled. �Try some.� 

	Ranma grimaced. <I never could have gotten away with that.> he thought,
looking at the bowl in front of him.

	Cloud looked down at the bowl, still convinced that the contents were some
sort of strange egg.

	Reluctantly, Cloud reached for his chopsticks, as did Ranma. At about the
same time, both caught a clump of the substance and place it in their
mouth.

	Cloud was the first to be observed, his face becoming paler still. He
chewed the rice, at the protest of his stomach. At least his taste buds
were still slightly numb. With all the strength he could muster, he
swallowed it. 

	Ranma had also become pale, his right eye began to involuntarily twitch.
<What *is* this stuff?> he thought, chewing it as best he could. After a
strained  moment, he swallowed the food, followed by a swig from of his
tea. 

	Cloud and Ranma both looked at Akane, and regretted it. Akane�s face was
bright red as she looked at the contents in her bowl. She sniffed at it,
but refused to eat it. �Oh no,� she said, an annoyed look crossing her
face, �I think I used too much anchovy paste.� she whispered, as if trying
not to let the two across from her hear.

	Ranma and Cloud�s eyes were like saucers. Both calmly stood from the
table. After a quick glance at each other, both made a dashing bolt for the
bathroom, both trying to out run the other. 

	Akane watched in disbelief at the sight before her. Both men ran like
animals, trying to hold back the contents of their stomach. 

	Ranma reached the bathroom first, slammed the door shut, and locked it. 

	Cloud, unable to think, made for the closest window. He pulled it open and
leaned out. 

	*	*	*

	After a few moment, Ranma exited the bathroom holding his stomach and
looking quite sick. 

	Cloud approached Ranma from the end of the hall, in much the same
condition.  

	As they made their way back to the family room, Akane�s battle aura caught
their attention. They both looked up at her, and realized that she held a
super large mallet in her hand. 

	�So,� she said in a low voice, �my cooking is that bad, is it?�

	�Well,� Ranma started in a low voice, �yes.�

	*	*	*
	
	The two human-shaped holes in the top of the Tendo house could be seen
from almost anywhere in the neighborhood. Ranma and Cloud fell fast from  a
low orbit flight - and right into the koi pond behind the house.

	A large panda and a red hair girl both sat upright in the pond, looking at
the house. Akane glared at them from the door.

	�Baka,� she screamed, �the both of you!!� She slammed the doors closed as
hard as she could. 
	
	�You know,� Ranma said looking at the newly shaped Cloud, �I wish people
would stop writing fan stories about Akane�s cooking. I don�t think my
stomach can take much more.�

	Cloud-panda could only grunt in reply.

The End