Dear FFMLers
Here is the third chapter of "Fruition." Upon
reading it, some of you may think that it employs the
same comedic elements that the original Ranma 1/2
utilizes; you may even venture to believe that some
elements are directly from the manga/anime. And, I
must admit, you are quite right. However, I purposely
used these elements as a "literary" device of sorts.
I wanted to portray the characters as much "in
character" as possible in order to set up a contrast
with their characters later in the fic. This chapter
may seem superfluous to some, but to me, at least, it is
necessary; not only to provide contrast but to to
further develop the dynamics of this work.
I also enjoyed writing this--the idiosyncracies
of many of the characters were fun to portray! ^_^
Another aspect people may find fault with, but I couldn't
help it!
Once again, C & C are welcome, but please
keep them tasteful and constructive. You may either
respond privately to gnbean@u.washington.edu or through
the ffml. Thanks and I hope you enjoy reading it!
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FRUITION by B.S.N.
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DISCLAIMER: The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the
property of Ms. Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Sunday, Kitty,
Viz Video and all other associated parties. This
fanfiction does not intend to reap profit or benefit
of any kind; it was created for entertainment purposes
only.
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NOTE: This fanfiction does not follow the Ranma 1/2
manga/anime timeline. Rather, it has created an
alternate time. Moreover, although it uses the
characters of Ranma 1/2, not all of the characters will
be employed as I have not yet read all the manga and
have not yet watched all the anime.
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TEXT CONVENTIONS:
* * indicates thought
---- denotes change of scene/break in scene
<" "> shows Chinese dialect
_ _ notes emphasis
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CHAPTER 3: A Mystery
Ranma sat slouched at his desk, his head
propped up against his hand. *It just don't make sense!
Does Akane really need help with her homework? It
seems. . .impossible.* He shot a look at the
dark-haired girl seated near the front of the room.
*There's definitely something weird is goin' on here.
It just don't add up.* He watched her rise from her
desk to give the correct answer to the instructor's
question. *Yeah, she's gotta be up to something!
I guess I'll just hafta find out what it is. She
said she had to be tutored after school, so I'll
just follow her and--*
"Saotome-san!"
Ranma bolted up from his seat. "Y-yes,
Sensei?"
The teacher sighed in exasperation.
"Saotome-san, I've asked you the same question twice.
You were obviously not paying attention! So, for
punishment, I will assign you an extra set of questions
for homework."
"I'm sorry, Sensei," the boy answered,
a flush staining his cheeks as he bowed low.
Akane glanced back at the boy, sympathy in her
eyes. *Poor Ranma. Now he has extra homework. I'd
help him, but I'm busy after school.* She stole another
glance at him. *Gee, I wonder what kept him so
preoccupied?*
-------------------------------------------------------
Ranma was laguidly leaning against a light-pole,
awaiting Akane's emergence from the book store. His
eyes roved restlessly about and he beat his foot
impatiently against the pavement. *Man, what's taking
her so long?* He directed his gaze towards the store
once more. *I mean, how long can it take to buy a book
anyway?*
His vigil, however, soon ended. Akane stepped
out of the store, a slender volume in her hand. *Ah!
There she is! Now to find out what she's up to. . .*
He hurried after her, keeping at a safe distance.
As Akane threaded her way through the bustling
thoroughfares of Nerima's business district, Ranma
noted that the girl often looked furtively about her.
*Oh man, I wonder if she knows someone's followin'
her? Did she see me? Nah, there's no way she could've
seen me. But just in case. . .* And the boy dropped
a few paces behind.
*Uh-oh!* The girl had stopped. Ranma quickly
ducked into the entryway of a building, taking care to
conceal himself as well as securing a clear view of the
object of his pursuit.
*Hmm. . .why do I get the feeling that someone's
following me?* The girl looked about her in suspicion.
There was no unusual activity nor were there mysterious
personages millings in the crowd of shoppers and
pedestrians throning the street. *That's funny. I
could've sworn. . . Oh well. I guess I'm just
overreacting.* Akane glanced at her watch. *Oh my!
Four-fifty already?! I'm running late! Hinako
Sensei is probably waiting for me!* She quickened her
pace, a small frown of worry creasing her brow. *My
first day and I'm already going to be late! If only I
picked up that book yesterday, I would have plenty of
time to get there!* She looked at her watch again.
*Only tend more minutes!* She made her way around the
corner before she broke into a run.
*Dammit! I managed to follow her around the
corner and then I lost her! I guess I better go up
and see if I can find her.* But before Ranma could
spring onto the roof of a building, two slender
arms encircled his waist and held him to the ground.
"Ranma! Shampoo too too lukcy to see you
twice in one day! Now school over, husband take
Shampoo on date, yes?" The Amazon then tightened
her hold, her face beaming with happiness.
"Look, Shampoo, I ain't got time for this!"
Ranma exclaimed, as he writhed to free himself from
her embrace.
"Saotome! What are you doing to my beloved
Shampoo?!" someone shouted. Ranma looked up to see
a tall boy drop his bags and rush towards him.
Ranma began to swet. *Oh man! Now I'm in
trouble!* "Hey, leggo, Shampoo!" He tried to run,
flapping his arms and spinning his legs frantically
to release himself but the Amazon's iron grip could
not be broken.
"Shampoo want to stay with Ranma!" And the
girl squeezed Ranam even harder.
"You enslaver of women! How dare you! And
in a public place too!" the boy roared, flinging
several knives at Ranma from the depths of his long
white sleeves. "Release my Shampoo at once!"
But before the knives could spear their mark,
Ranma freed himself, pushing Shampoo aside as he
dodged to the left. "Hey, wait a minute! I didn't
do nothin'!"
"Liar!" Mousse snarled as he hurled more
knives at the hapless Ranma. Ranma leapt into the
air as the blades whizzed under him, missing their
target by a few feet. "Mousse! I ain't got time
for this!"
"Aiya! Ranma!" Shampoo cried out.
The boy spun around to see several chains
snaking towards him. "Aaagh!" He flipped into the
air and landed neatly next to Shampoo. "Look,
Mousse--" Ranma began.
"Stupid Mousse!" Shampoo angrily interjected.
"Mousse leave Ranma alone! Ranma Shampoo husband!"
She leapt up and grabbed Ranma's arm, laying her head
on his shoulder. "Wo ai ni!"
"Hey, stop that!" Ranma exclaimed while
Mousse grew even more livid.
"You. . .you. . .womanizer!!!" Mousse
bellowed as he lunged at Ranma.
But the Chinese boy was abruptly checked by
a mysteriously beckoning Shampoo. Her coy signal
had captivated him; a look from his beloved
instantly transformed the incensed Mousse into a
bemused and obsequious slave. "Sh-Shampoo. . .
Wh-what is it?"
"Come here, Mousse," purred Shampoo, "Shampoo
have something to tell."
Mousse eagerly leaned forward. "Y-yes, my
love?"
"Closer, Mousse. Shampoo have secret."
The boy was nearly swooning from excitement
and anticipation. "Y-Yes, Shampoo?"
The girl sidled up to the dazed Mousse. She
cupped her hands over her mouth, took a deep breath and
screeched, "Shampoo say stay away!!!"
The boy staggered back, overcome by the volume
of her cry. Shampoo pounced and in a trice, the boy
was beaten senseless. "Next time, Mousse listen to
what Shampoo say!" And she violently booted the
unconscious Mousse into the sky.
The Amazon girl then reverted her attention
back to Ranma, the anger and scorn in her violet-brown
eyes immediately converting into joy. "Ranma. . ."
she said. But the boy was no longer there. She
glimpsed a lean figure running along the rooftops.
"Ranma!" And Shampoo bounded after him.
-------------------------------------------------------
"That dumb Mousse! 'Cause of him, I wasted
time!" Ranma muttered as he vaulted from rooftop to
rooftop. The fight had only lasted a few minutes, but
it caused the boy to lose precious time nonetheless.
"Jeez, where'd Akane run off to?. . ." His
eyes darted here and there, searching for the familiar
dark head and dark blue-green uniform in the shifting
pattern of pedestrians below him. He spotted the girl
near the intersection of a busy street and jumped off
the roof to continue his investigation on the ground.
"Okay, now to get to the bottem of this--without being
interrupted."
It was five o'clock and Kodachi had just
finished gynmastics practice. Ordinarily, Sasuke or
some other servant would have attended her home but
she had imperiously dismissed them from service. The
girl had other plans that could not be interrupted.
*Oh, Ranma darling, I am finally coming to
see you! I have baked these special cookies for you--
cookies that were baked with all the love of a maiden's
pure and innocent heart!* She looked down at the bag
of cookies she held carefully in her ahnds and then
lifted her head in bliss, her pale blue eyes starry.
*Oh, Ranma, my love! Wait for me! I am coming!*
The light flashed green and the crowd began
to shuffle across the crosswalk. Kodachi was so
enraptured with her visions of Ranma, she failed to
notice Akane crossing the street. She simply
continued to stroll along, her dreamy face still raised
to the sky. Suddenly, without warning, some one
collided into her. She looked down to see the very
object of her fantasy standing before her.
"Ranma darling!" Kodachi cried. "Oh, my love!"
She threw her arms around him. "How I have _pined_ to
see you! And look--"
"K-K-Kodachi?!" Ranma stammered, perspiration
beginning to bead his brow.
"But of course, my love! It is I, Kunou
Kodachi, your one true love!"
*Not again!* "Uh, look, Kodachi, I really
gotta go. . ."
"But my love! See!" She relaxed her hold and
held before Ranm's terrified eyes a lacy, ribboned
paper bag. "I have baked these special cookies for you
with all the love of a maiden's pure and innocent
heart! And I have brought them to you, my own heart's
darling!"
"I ain't got time for this!" Ranma shouted as
he freed himself from Kodachi's grasp and broke into
a run. Yet Ranma had only advanced a few feet before
he found hismelf ensnared by the gymnast's ribbon.
"But Ranma darling!" Kodachi cooed, as she
deftly opened the bag and selected a cooky. "You
cannot mean to refuse! All the love of my maiden's
heart has prepared these treats for you!"
The boy wriggled desperately as the cooky
approached his mouth. *That thing's more toxic
than Akane's cooking! If I eat that. . .* The
thought galvanized him into action and within
moments, the boy had broekn free and was tearing
through the crowd at top speed.
"Ranma darling!" Kodachi called, but Ranma had
disappeared.
"Well, well, my love, it seems that you want to
play a little," the girl murmured. "Very well, then,
_I_ shall chase _you_!" She stripped away her brown and
white school uniform to reveal a bright blue-green
leotard. Her eyes narrowed as she smiled mischievously.
"Yes, Ranma, my darling, I am coming for you! Ha ha ha
ha ha ha!" And she twirled her ribbon about her,
raising a flurry of black rose petals as she leapt away.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Man! That was close!" Ranma panted as he
sprinted down the street. "Jeez! First Shampoo, then
Mousse, then Kodachi! Who am I gonna run into next?!"
The boy stopped and surveyed the great current of people
flowing past him. The girl was nowhere to be seen.
"How am I gonna find Akane in this crowd?" he muttered
as he plunged into the stream of pedestrians. The tide
of humans was so great, it soon taxed his strength
and patience. He had nearly vreached the line of stores
that banked the sidewalk when he glimpsed a dark blue-
green uniform bobbing up and down in the wave of
people.
"Finally! There's that dummy!* Ranma turned and
waded back through the crowd. He was almost within arm's
length within the girl when a foot unexpectedly shot out,
causing the boy to stumble.
"Wa wa wa wa wa wa!" His arms flailed wildly
about, his hands stretched forth to find purchase, trying
to hold on to anything that could break his fall. He
had managed to steady himself and was about to move on
when a voice screeched, "Pervert!"
Ranma gingerly felt his support; it was strangely
soft and warm. . .and rounded. He looked up to see his
hands clutching the shirtfront of a girl. "N-n-no!
It's. . .it's not what you think. . ." he stuttered.
"You pervert!" the girl shrieked again and
delivered a mighty blow.
The world tilted at a crazy angle, the asphalt
loomed before him, the girl let out a suprised gasp--
these were the things Ranma sense before he lost
consciousness.
"Ranma?" the voice queried. "Hey, Ranma, get
up!"
"Hn?" the boy grunted as he slowly sat up.
Ranma dazedly looked about him as he pressed his
hands against his throbbing temples. "Man, what hit
me?"
"I'm afraid I did, Ranma," replied the girl.
"Nabiki?"
"In the flesh," she answered.
The boy groaned as he stood up. "You hit hard,
Nabiki."
"Well, _you_ scared _me_. Instant reflex."
"It's not my fault! Someone tripped me!"
Ranma said as he massaged the back of his neck.
"Whatever. See ya, Saotome," and Nabiki
began to walk away.
"Hey wait, Nabiki!"
"Yes, Ranma?" Nabiki paused, a bored expression
on her features.
"You wouldn't happen to have seen Akane, huh?"
Ranma asked.
"Well, that depends," Nabiki drawled. "I could
know. . ._if_ you're willing to pay me."
"What?!" Ranma exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well, it _is_ classified information," Nabiki
pointed out. "I can't just give it for free."
"How much is it?" Ranma asked glumly, his
hand already in his pocket.
"One thousand yen."
"That's highway robbery!"
"No, that's the asking price--so far. I could
raise it. . ."
"Okay, okay! Here!" Rnam thrust the money
into the girl's hand. "Now tell me where she it."
"I saw her heading down that street," Nabiki
replied, waving her hand towards the right as she
counted the bills.
"_That's_ the classified information?!" Ranma
raged. "I can't believe you sold me that lousy
piece of information for one thousand yen!"
"I didn't say it was _quality_ information.
I just said it was classified. Two entirely
different things," Nabiki answered as she tucked the
money into her stachel. "Besides, you're better off
now than you were before, right? Earlier, you had
no idea where she went. I gave you a clue."
"I should've know," Ranma moaned. "Thanks
a lot, Nabiki!"
"Anytime, Saotome!" Nabiki gaily replied with
a wink.
-------------------------------------------------------
"Tendou Akane, pig-tailed girl, Tendou Akane,
pig-tailed girl," the kendoist chanted as he strutted
down the street.
"Wait, Master Kunou!" the little retainer
begged, "Slow down! These gifts are so heavy, I can't
keep up with you!"
The boy paused to glare the wee ninja. "Sasuke!
Have you forgotten my command already?! Did I not order
you to remain silent whilst I am in meditation?!"
"But Master Kunou--"
"Enough! Do you dare argue with your master?!"
Kunou growled.
"N-no, Master Kunou, but I--"
"Sasuke! I will hear no more of your insolent
chatter! Go now!" Kunous commanded. "Go to the home
of my beloved Tendou Akane and my goddess in pig-tails
and deposit these tokens of my devotion."
"But--"
"Go!!!"
"Yes, Master," sighed Sasuke. The small servant
bowed low and quickly departed.
Kunou watched Sasuke bound away before he resumed
his walk. His handsome countenance glowed with pleasure
as he imagined the surprised and rapt faces of his darlings
when they received their gifts. "Yes, my beloveds, I can
well imagine your bliss when you receive these tokens from
your true lvoe. Verily, I believe that those enlarged
portraits of your dashing hero, the great Kunou Tatewaki,
will indeed transport you both to the greatest heights
of heavenly joy!"
Suddenly, his expression darkened. "Ah, but the
one thing that mars my happiness is the knowledge of the
vile and treacherous Saotome still holding my loves
captive!" His blue eyes filled with tears as he
envisioned the misery of his darlings.
"Oh, the tragedy of it all!" he groaned as he
clutched his head in agony. "To think that knave, that
evil Saotome, has imprisoned the fair and beauteous
Tendou Akane and the dazzlingly lovely pig-tailed girl!"
He pounded his chest and slumped to the ground,
overwhelmed by grief. "Oh, my noble heart doth bleeds
for thee, my darlings! Oh, my dears, how you suffer!"
Soon, Kunou felt the felt of hope and indignation
spark within him and burn away his despair. "But hold!
Can I, the great Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, stand
aside whilst my loves suffer at the hands of that cretin?!
Can I passively watch my loves subject themselves daily
to the foul manipulations of the craven Saotome?!"
Enraged, he leapt to his feet and thrust his bokken into
the air. "By the gods, I shall not! I shall smite the
evil wretch and liberate my loves from his bondage!
Fear not, my dears, your hero comes to your aid!"
-------------------------------------------------------
Shampoo peered down into the busy street below
her as she nimbly ran along the rooftops, her long
purple mane of ahir streaming behind her. "Why
husband so hard to find?" she sighed, her pretty face
downcast. "maybe Shampoo no can find Ranma." She
looked down again into the throng of people hurrying
beneath her. "Fifteen minute go by and still no see
husband." Suddenly, her expression brightened.
"Aiya! There is husband now!" she squealed in delight.
"Ranma darling! Dearest! Where are you?"
Kodachi called. "Oh, Ranma, my love! You are simply
too amusing! So playful!" She smiled. "But I shall
soon find you and we will be reunited once more!" As
she rushed along, her eyes scanned the crowd below her.
She eventually caught sight of a bright red speck in
the dark nebulous mass of pedestrians. "Ranam!"
Kodachi squeaked joyfully.
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*Five-fifty already?! Damn that Nabiki! She
must've hit me harder than I thought! I was knocked
out for more than fifteen minutes!* He sped on for some
minutes mroe before he finally slowed to a halt in front
of the library. The boy slumped down onto the great,
shallow flight of steps. *It's been nearly an hour and
I still haven't found her. Man, this search is hopeless!
Too much time has gone by since I last saw her, so there's
no opint in lookin' for Akane anymore.* He sat in a
brown study, his chin in his hand. * I guess I won't
be able to find out what she did today. What in the world
was she up to, anyway?*
Ranma was so lost in thought, he failed to notice
the girl barrelling towards him. "Well," he said,
standing up, "I guess I better go then. Maybe I can find
out to--Urk!"
"Aiya! Shampoo finally found you!" The Amazon
ecstatically rubbed her cheek against his chest.
"Sh-Shampoo! What're you doin' here?!" Ranma
exclaimed, his face flaming with embarrassment.
But before the girl could expalin, an all-too-
familiar voice commanded, "Let go of my Ranma darling,
you impertinent tramp!" The pair looked up to see an
incensed Kodachi bounding towards them. "Hold on,
my love! The Black Rose will free you from the clutches
of that brazen hussy!"
"Crazy girl too too stupid! Ranma is Shampoo's
husband!"
"Surely you jest! _My_ darling Ranma, the
husband of one such as yourself? It is to laugh!"
"Shampoo not laughing! Crazy girl not know
what she talking about!"
"Now wait, girls! There's realy no need--"
Ranma pleaded.
"My lvoe, Kodachi interrupted, "there _is_
a need. Gladly will I battle this insolent wench
for your sake, darling!"
"If crazy girl want to fight," the girl said,
freeing Ranma and cocking her fists, "Shampoo ready!"
"Very well, then! Prepare yourself!" And the
gymnast sprang into the air and lashed her ribbon
towards the pair. It whizzed through the air and headed
straight for. . .
"Hey!" Ranma yelped as the ribbon snaked about
him. "What the hell is going' on here?!"
"Dearest," Kodachi purred, "this is the only way
to keep you out of harm--_and_ out of the clutches of
that barbarous tramp!" She began to reel her catch in.
"Not too fast, crazy girl!" Shampoo snapped
as she sliced through the taut ribbon with a well-aimed
kick. THe sudden release of her prize sent the gymnast
staggering backwards.
"You. . .you. . .!" Kodachi sputtered.
"Ha! Crazy girl too too slow for Shampoo!
Crazy girl no can beat Amazon!" the girl smirked.
"Proud words, wench! But you shall soon regret
ever saying them!"
"Shampoo only sorry for not getting rid of
crazy girl sooner!" the Amazon yelled. "Shampoo no
put up with crazy girl any more. Now is time to finish
this!"
"For once, I agree with you. We will settle this
once and for all, cretinous wretch!" Kodachi snarled.
"Well I, for one, ain't gonna stand here and
watch ya do it. I'm outta here!" And Ranma prepared
to bound away. Yet before the boy could make good his
escape, Kodachi's ribbon twined about him and held him
fast. "Oh no, dearest! We need you here!"
She spun around to face Shampoo. "Shall we
have a little match, then, wench? Whoever loses this
match forfeits her claim on dear Ranma!"
"Shampoo not lose! Shampoo can fight crazy
girl and win! No problem!"
Before Kodachi could answer, Ranma shouted,
"Hey, this ain't funny! Lemme go, Kodachi!"
"Now, now, dearest," Kodachi purred, "there
really is no need to struggle so. This is the only
way you and I can rid ourselves of this nuisance."
"What?! Crazy girl too too stupid! Is crazy
girl who make trouble for Ranma and Shampoo!"
"i beg to differ! Ranma darling and I were
quite happy until you--"
"Husband not happy with crazy girl!"
"Husband! WHy do you persist in calling him
that?! _My_ darling Ranma could never be _your_
husband!"
"Ranma _is_ Shampoo's husband!"
"That is an outrageous falsehood!"
"Is true!"
"Is not!"
"Is true!"
The qurrel between the girls continued to
escalate--the exchange of insults rapidly giving way
to an exchange of blows. While the girls were thus
engaged, Ranma began to wriggle stealthily away. With
amazing swiftness and dexterity, the boy had managed to
squirm a hundred meters away from the battling girls.
Unfortunately for Ranma, however, the ribbon went no
further. The gymnast, who had held a tight grip on the
ribbon all the white, felt a tug at her line and
promptly began to draw the boy towards her.
"What is crazy girl doing?! Ranma not yours
yet!" The Amazon quickly seized the loose end of
the ribbon and began pulling Ranma in the opposite
direction.
"He's mine, you barbarous bimbo!"
"Is not, stupid crazy girl!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Can this get any worse?" Ranma groaned.
"Hold!" shouted a voice. "Saotome Ranma
is mine sworn enemy! You will not--cannot--shield
him from the wrath of the Blue Thunder of Furinkan
High!" Kunou jabbed his bokken into the air.
"Vengeance is mine! I, Kunou Tatewaki, will defeat
the evil demon and rescue my beloveds!"
"What the hell. . .?"
"Saotome, prepare yourself! I attack!" Kunou
charged towards the prostrate Ranma, his bokken
raised to strike. In a sudden burst of strength,
Ranma freed himself from his bonds, narrowly avoiding
the blow. *I should really learn not to ask stupid
question!* "What the hell are ya doin', Kunou>!"
"Silence, cretin! I shall rescue the fair--"
"Oneesame! How dare you come here and--"
"STupid stick boy stop fight! Shampoo--"
"What is going on here?!" a voice demanded
while another voice gasped, "Oh my! Delinquent!"
The combatants immediatly ceased their
bickering and turned to see an irate Akane and an
astonsished Ms. Hinako.
"Tendou Akane! I, Kunou Tatewaki, am here
to free you! Are not you glad? Oh, my darling. . ."
Kunou cried as he rushed to embrace the girl.
"Knock it off!" Akane and Ranma yelled in
unison as they punted the kendoist into the sky.
"Ranma!" the girl growled threateningly.
"What is going on here?!"
"Really, Akane, it's not what you think!"
"Oh, really?" Akane acidly replied. "Then
what _is_ going on?"
"Hold, Tendou Akane! Keep away from _my_
darling Ranma!"
"What?! Husband is not crazy girl's!"
"My dearest Ranma is not your husband!"
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
The affianced couple and the instructor
stood and stared in amazement at the quarreling
girls. "My, my!" Ms. Hinako said as she drew out
a coin. "I think I better punish these miscreants!
They really shouldn't be fighting like this!
Happou Five Yen Satsu!"
"Wait!" Ranma yelled. The seized his
fiancee by her waist and precipitately fled. A
bright flash of light immediately enveloped the
bickering girls and within moments, they collapsed
to the ground. A transfigured Ms. Hinako--a taller
and more curvaceous Ms. Hinako--sashayed over to the
unconscious pair.
"Well, I hope that this has taught you two
a lesson," Ms. Hinako admonsiehd in a sulty voice.
"Next time, you girls should think twice before
fighting."
"I sure hope they will," said Ranma.
"Gee, are they okay?" Akane asked rather
worriedly.
"There's no need to worry, Akane-san.
Granted, it will take them a while to recover, but
I'm sure they'll be fine," said Ms. Hinako.
"That's good." Akane then turned to Ranma,
her hands on her hips and a belligerent look in
her eyes. "Now, Ranma, would you mind telling me
just what went on?!"
"Uh. . .uh. . .I-I was. . uh--"
"Well, Akane-san, I believe I'll be going now,"
the teacher smoothly interjected, interrupting Akane's
impending tirade. Ranma breathed a small sigh of relief.
"I suppose you and Saotome-san have a lot of talk about.
We'll meet again tomorrow for your tutorial."
"Hm? Oh yes, Sensei. I'll see you tomorrow
at the library. Good-bye," said Akane as she bowed to
the instructor. Ms. Hinako gave a slight nod in return
and sauntered away.
*Wow! I guess Akane did tell the truth! And
luckily for me, Ms. Hinako distraced. . .*
"Ranma!"
Ranma winced. *Uh-oh. Guess she didn't
forget. I'm in for it now.* "Y-yes?"
"Well? Aren't you going to tell me just what
went a little while ago with Shampoo and Kodachi?"
"Uh. . .uh. . ."
"Well?!"
"Uh. . ."
"I can tell you, Akane-chan."
"Nabiki oneechan?!" The two spun around to see
the second Tendou daughter approaching.
"Well, well, I see that you and Ranma are
engaged in your usual tet-a-tete. And I also see that
there has been the usual skirmish between fiancees."
Nabiki glanced at the two girls. So, tell me, how are
you, little sister?"
"I'm fine, Nabiki oneechan. But _don't_ try to
change the subject. Tell me, how do you know?" demanded
Akane.
"Well. . ." Nabiki shot a look at Ranma. The
boy's eyes had bulged out in alarm and he waved his hands
frantically in the air as a wordless plea for secrecy.
*Hmm, mabye I shouldn't say anythin. . .* But a
mischievous glint appeared in the girl's eyes. *Then
again, this could be interesting. . .*
"Well, I just happened to _run_ into him this
afternoon," Nabiki gave the boy a sly grin, "and he had
just escaped the clutches of Shampoo and Kodachi."
"What?! Why you. . ."
"now, now, Akane!" Nabiki raised her hand in
a placating gesture. "Before you pound him into a
pulp, you should hear the rest of what I have to say."
Akane's mallet froze midway in the air above
the cowering Ranma. "What?! There's more?"
Nabiki nodded. "Of course, there is a fee. . ."
"Nabiki oneechan!"
"Well," Nabiki replied reluctantly as she cast
another look at Ranma, who was still cringing beneath
the shadow his fiancee's mallet, "I guess I can let you
have this one for free--but just this once."
"What is it, Nabiki oneechan?"
She leaned forward, beckoning her sibling to
come closer. "Ranma. . ." said Nabiki in a confidential
tone, "was looking. . .for you."
"For me?!" Akane's eyes widened as she drew
back in astonishment. "Why would he do that?"
"That's something that I can't tell you. You'll
have to ask him yourself if you want to know."
"Ran, you better have one good explanation. . ."
Akane warned as both girls turned to look at the boy.
Akane gasped. "He's. . .he's gone! Where
_did_ that dummy go?! He was right here a second ago. . ."
"hmm. . ." Nabiki rubbed her chin thoughtfully
as she looked at her sister. "it looks like Ranma
high-tailed it out of here. Smart move."
"Why that jerk! How could he just disappear
like that?!"
Nabiki glanced at the mallet in Akane's hand.
*Oh, I could think of _one_ good reason to explain
his disappearance.*
"Nabiki oneechan, do you know why Ranma
followed me to the library?"
The second Tendou daughter shrugged. "I have
no idea. Like I said, you'll have to ask him."
"I guess so. But still, it's so strange. . .
it's like he's hiding something. . . Ranma's acting
really. . ."
"Mysterious?" Nabiki quipped.
"Yes. . .I guess that's what it was."
"Well then," replied Nabiki airily, "I suppose
you'll simply have to sovle that mystery, Akane-chan."
"Maybe I will. . ." Akane was silent for a
moment before she quietly added, "But then again, maybe
I won't."
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Again, C & C will be greatly
appreciated. I also want to thank those of you who
did give C & C; I thank you for your efforts and
encouragement. I also want to thank those of you who
have stuck with this fic and have continued reading it--
it's nice to know that this fic hasn't bored you so
much that you stopped reading it. Thanks! ^_^
I hope to have the fourth chapter done soon--and
I promise things will get a little more "juicy" as
the fic progresses!
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