and here's the final part of this crappy waffy (hey! I rhymed! ^_^;) fic. enjoy!
=====
Ukyo:
(checks the time) Ikkenai... it's almost 5 and I haven't even taken a shower yet!
Voice:
Ukyo?
Ukyo:
Dare? (turns) Ryoga! What're you doing here?
Ryoga:
(blushes) Well, eto... I just wanted to ask if I could go with you to the party.
Ukyo:
(eyes widen) Huh?
Ryoga:
(beet red) Iie! Not a date or anything. See, I might get lost or something, and... y'know.
Ukyo:
// and here I thought he was gonna- oh well. // Sure, sugar. Did you get the clothes you wanted?
Ryoga:
Hai. It's in my bag.
Ukyo:
If you wanna take a shower, there's one over there. I'll take mine upstairs.
[Ryoga savagely pushes away the image of Ukyo in the bath to avoid extensive
nosebleeing]
Ryoga:
Ano... arigato, Ukyo.
Ukyo:
Sure. See you in an hour. (goes up)
Ryoga:
(bangs head on a table) Coward!
***
[Ukyo sits in front of the mirror after her shower, applying makeup]
Ukyo:
(deep breath) Calm down, girl. That's just Ryoga down there. No date.
Voice in Ukyo's head:
// But he's not just Ryoga anymore! He's different. You feel about him the same way you used to feel for Ranma. //
Ukyo:
(indignant) Used to?! Who says I still don't love Ranchan?
Voice:
// (sighs) stop trying to fool yourself. //
Ukyo:
Shut up, jackass.
Voice:
// oh, so you're cursing yourself now, is it? //
Ukyo:
(groans) I'm going mad...
***
Nabiki:
Ranma! Where've you been? We're almost ready to go, and you're not even dressed
yet! (eyes narrow) Are you trying to wiggle out of this? If you are, you better-
Ranma:
Relax, Nabiki. Besides, I just have to take a quick shower and throw on my clothes.
Nabiki:
Don't forget to bring your dress.
Ranma:
(glares briefly) Don't worry, I won't. By the way, you look good.
Nabiki:
(grins) Silly boy, I know that. Now, be a good boy and get dressed.
[Ranma rolls his eyes and runs past the stairs, passing Natsuki]
Ranma:
Natsu-chan! You look great!
Natsuki:
(blushes and smoothes down the white dress) Arigato, Ranma. Shouldn't you get
dressed?
Ranma:
Yeah, I will. Have you seen Akane?
Natsuki:
Change first.
Ranma:
(puzzled) Okay. I'll make it quick.
***
Ranma:
Let's get going!
Nabiki:
Hold on. Akane's still up in her room. You sure you don't want to come, oneechan?
Kasumi:
(nods) Hai. Besides, I'll have to prepare dinner for otousan and Mr Saotome. It's a pity Kuno-kun didn't invite Saotome-san and father for this.
[Nabiki discreetly tears 2 invitations behind her back and stuff them into her bag]
Nabiki:
Your're always right, Kasumi.
Ranma:
Geez, what's taking Akane so long? You'd think-
Akane:
I'm ready!
Kasumi:
Goodness! Akane, you look so lovely.
Ranma:
(eyes widen) // sugoi! Akane looks... beautiful. //
[Akane twirls around, showing off the dark blue strappy dress that swirled around her thighs]
Akane:
(happily) What do you think, Ranma?
[Everyone stops and stares at Ranma]
Ranma:
Uh... well... you look nice.
Akane:
(deflated) Nice? Tch. Come on, Natsu-chan, we'll be late.
[girls give Ranma looks ranging from pity to disgust]
Ranma:
(clueless) What'd I do?
***
Ukyo:
You ready to go, sugar?
Ryoga:
(jaw drops) Ukyo! You look great!
Ukyo:
(blushes) Arigato. You look pretty dashing yourself, handsome.
Ryoga:
(reddens and shyly hold out his arm) Shall we go?
Ukyo:
(slips arm into his) Hai.
***
Kuno:
Ah, Akane Tendo! You are a beauty that puts the flowers of Eden to sha-
Ranma:
(flatly) Can it, Kuno.
Kuno:
(sneers) Oh, it's you. Where is my osage no onna?
Nabiki:
She'll be late, due to a few problems.
Kuno:
Lies! Where is she, you wretch? Where have you hidden her?
Ranma:
Listen, buster, if you think I'm gonna take this-
Nabiki:
Boys, boys, there's a party going on. No fights, please.
Kuno:
Which brings to memory, Nabiki Tendo. Why is it that so many peasants have entered my mansion? Did I not tell you that you wee to but invite the-
Nabiki:
(shrugs) Probably gatecrashers, Kuno baby. Relax, have a little bit of fun.
Voice:
Akane?
Akane:
Ukyo! Ryoga! Konban-wa!
Natsuki:
Gee, the 2 of you came together! Is this a date?
[Everyone stare at the couple]
Ukyo:
(sweatdrops) Of course not!
Ryoga:
Ch-chigau!
Ukyo:
Ryoga just didn't want to get lost, that's all.
Everyone:
(doubtfully) Sure...
Voice:
Airen!
[Ranma and Akane stiffen as Shampoo glomps onto him]
Ranma:
(tries to pull away) Shampoo-
Shampoo:
You like dress? (show off red cheongsam that has a slit up to heart attack level) Shampoo pick just for you! (glomps) Maybe you and Shampoo go somewhere dark
later, ne?
Ranma:
Ano-
Mousse:
(attacks lamp post) Ranma Saotome! Stop flirting with my Shampoo!
Natsuki:
(approaches Mousse) Mousse, that's not Ran- (gasps when Mousse grabs her)
Mousse:
Shampoo, my love!
Ryoga:
Get your hands off her, duck boy!
Mousse:
Why should I? Shampoo is-
Shampoo:
Stupid Mousse! That Natsuki you holding!
Mousse:
(releases Natsuki) Gomen nasai, Natsuki.
Natsuki:
(shaken) That's okay, Mousse.
Ranma:
Next time, check before you grab, okay?
Akane:
Take you own advice, hentai! (looks pointedly at Shampoo who is still attached to his arm)
Ranma:
Hey! I didn't go near her!
Nabiki:
(rolls eyes) Let's just get inside, everybody.
***
Principal Kuno:
Aloha, everybody!
Kuno:
What are _you_ doing here?!
Principal Kuno:
Now, Tatchi, is that the way you should treat your father? By the way, where's Dachi?
***
Nabiki:
Ranma, why are you standing here in a corner? Where's your harem?
Ranma:
Har har. I don't have one. Besides, Ukyo's dancing with Ryoga and I managed to shake off Shampoo for a while. (scowls) Look at that! What a flirt.
Nabiki:
Who?
Ranma:
Your sis. Look at her, flirting with the Furinkan boys. Shameless.
[Nabiki turns and spots Akane fighting off the mob of boys crowding around her]
Nabiki:
(slyly) But I thought you guys didn't care about each other's love lives.
Ranma:
That's right, I don't! I just don't want to see her embarrassing herself like that, y'know?
Nabiki:
(rolls eyes) Speaking of embarrassing yourself, isn't it time to change clothes, Ranma? Not that you don't look dashing in that suit of yours (in fact Nabiki had already sold dozens of pictures to the girls), but we wouldn't want to disappoint Kuno, right? // along with the other boys... //
Ranma:
All right, all right. But I'll only do this for a few minutes then I'll be changing back. (stomps off) This is so stupid.
***
Natsuki:
Ranma, I'm kind of tired. I think I should go back home.
Ranma:
(concerned) Okay. I'll be ready in a minute.
Nastuki:
No, stay here. I want to be alone for a while.
Ranma:
You sure?
Natsuki:
Hai.
***
Ukyo:
Ryoga?
Sayuri:
Hi Ukyo! Great dress, by the way.
Ukyo:
Oh. Uh, thanks. You didn't happen to see Ryoga around, didja?
Sayuri:
That Hibiki guy? Umm, I think I saw him walk into that room over there. (points at the end of the room)
Ukyo:
Chikuso... arigato, Sayuri. (stomps off)
***
Ukyo:
(stpes into a dark room) Anybody in here?
Ryoga:
Ukyo! Thank the gods... I thought I'd have to stay in here 'till tomorrow.
Ukyo:
(squints) Where are you?
Ryoga:
I'm right he-EEEERE!!! (trips and lands on Ukyo)
[they tumble and fall into a heap of arms and legs.]
Ryoga and Ukyo:
Uh...
***
[Ranko steps out of the ladies room]
Nabiki:
My, my Ranma. You do now how to make a real girl jealous. Remember, don't kick
Kuno or anything like that, okay?
Ranko:
Whatever.
Kuno:
My fair love, thy beauty grows each moment my eyes lay upon you!
Ranko:
(flatly) Kuno.
Kuno:
(glomps her) I am sure you are-
Daisuke:
Sugoi, Ranma, you look great!
Ranko:
(struggles) Ussee na.
Nabiki:
Temper, temper.
[Genma suddenly appears]
Genma:
Oh, the shame of it all! My own son, dressed as a -
[SPLASH!]
Genma-panda:
Growr. (stomps towards Ranma, people scrambling to move away)
Ranko:
(shoves Kuno away and kicks Genma-panda out of the house) Take that, oyaji!
Kuno:
Such beauty in your kick!
Ranko:
You're gonna feel that in your face if you don't back off, buster!
Kuno:
(smiles) Methinks the lady doth protest too much.
Ranko:
(disgusted) I've been here long enough. Nabiki, I'm changing back. (leaps away)
Kuno:
Wait! My sweet!
Nabiki:
(steers him away) Kuno baby, look over there! Oh my gosh! Isn't that Togoki hitting on Akane?
Kuno:
Why that wretch!
***
Ranma:
Great. Now I can just relax and-
Kodachi:
Ranma-sama!
[a ribbon wraps itself around him, making him unable to move]
Ranma:
What the-
Kodachi:
Ranma darling! How good of you to sit here and wait for me!
Ranma:
(struggling) // Like I had a choice! Kuso! The ribbon's too tight for me to get loose! //
Shampoo:
Let go of Airen now, ribbon girl, or you be very sorry!
Kodachi:
Silence, heridan! Ranma doesn't care for the likes of you!
[they start fighting and fail to notice Ranma break free and silently sneak away. A pair of legs blocking his way reminded him of Akane]
Akane:
So, Ranma. Flirting with other girls again, are you?
Ranma:
Of course not!
Akane:
Liar!
Ranma:
Hey, who're you callin' a liar, huh, tomboy?
Akane:
Why you jerk!
Ranma:
Kawaikunee!
Akane:
(slaps him) That's it, Ranma. I've had enough of this! (runs out of the house)
[Ranma stands still, shocked]
Nabiki:
Ranma, sometimes you just don't know when to keep your mouth shut.
Ranma:
What should I do now?
Nabiki:
(sighs) Go after her, baka.
Ranma:
(nods) Hai. (runs off and starts opening doors)
***
Ranma:
Hey, has anybody seen Aka- WHOA!
[Ukyo and Ryoga break apart from their passionate embrace, red-faced]
Ukyo:
I swear! We weren't doing anything!
Ryoga:
Yeah! I was just- uh... just...
Ranma:
// hey... no nosebleed... Ryoga, you sly boy... // (shakes head) Did you guys see Akane?
Ukyo:
N-no.
[Ranma sighs and turns]
Ryoga:
Ranma?
Ranma:
(growls impatiently) Nani?
Ryoga:
You... uh, you won't tell anybody right?
Ranma:
Yeah, my lips are sealed. (disappears)
[silence]
Ukyo:
So... where were we?
***
[Akane sits under a tree, her arms wrapped around her knees]
Akane:
(sadly) That baka... here I am all dressed up and what am I? Nice! Later? Kawaiikunee! What a thoughtless jerk...
Ranma:
Akane?
Akane:
(stiffens) Go away, Ranma.
[he ignores what she said and sits beside her]
Ranma:
Look, what I said back at the dojo and at the party... I was lying.
Akane:
(glances) Nani?
Ranma:
(reddens) Look, don't make this harder than it already is!
Akane:
Fine! I'll just go and-
Ranma:
Wait! Hold on, okay? What I meant to say was- well... when I saw you at the dojo, I thought you looked... (softly) beautiful.
Akane:
(eyes wide) Beautiful? Me?
Ranma:
(mumbles) Hai.
Akane:
(sighs) Oh, Ranma. It's okay, you don't have to lie to me.
Ranma:
Lying? Who said I was lying? You really do look gorgeous, okay? So don't you go telling me I'm lying! So there!
Akane:
(blinks) Uh.. okay.
Ranma:
(reddens) Gomen. I went a little overboard there.
Akane:
(smiles) It's okay, Ranma.
Ranma:
(shyly) Say... I was gonna ask you to dance with me back at the party, but I didn't have the chance. So... will you dance with me?
Akane:
(startled) Here? Rama, I-
Ranma:
It's okay, never mind. If you don't want to-
Akane:
(smiles) Baka, will you stop and listen to me? I was about to say yes.
[Akane steps into his arms and they sway softly to the rythm of a straining melody]
Akane:
Ranma?
Ranma:
(looks down) Hai?
Akane:
(simply) Arigato.
Ranma:
For what?
Akane:
For tonight.
Ranma:
What's there to thank me for?
Akane:
(smiles) I was thanking you in advance.
Ranma:
(puzzled) In advance? For what?
Akane:
For the kiss.
[Akane brings his face near hers, stifling the rest of Ranma's questions]
Akane:
Well?
Ranma:
(bemused) Huh?
[Akane laughs and sighs. Ranma tightens his arms around her.]
Ranma:
(lays his cheek on her head) // I'm not ready to tell you yet... but you probably know already. //
Akane:
// Oh, Ranma... I wish you could feel the same way I feel about you. //
***
DONE!! Oh, joy! What do you think? the next fic revolves around Natsuki and her fear of the opposite sex.
here's a snip for continuation (a xover with... guess!)
***
~Untitled~
by Natsu-chan
Prologue
Natsuki yawned, shedding off the light dress she wore previously to the party. "I'm so tired..." she mumbled. Just before she dropped into bed her mind reminded her of something she had to do.
// But I'm too tired to do that... // she thought. Every night she meditated briefly, a helpful act that kept the nightmares at bay. But tonight... tonight the inky blackness just seemed so welcome...
She smiled sleepily. "No bad dreams tonight..." and fell onto the soft bed, the chilly air enveloping her.
And the nightmares began.
***
// no, // she whimpered, straining to break free. // please... //
Heavy hands grabbed her, beating her cruelly. Her clothes were torn to shreds,
her soul filled with despair. He grabbed her by the waist harshly, making her cry out in pain and terror.
{"Father..."}
{"Too late... no one's here but us..."}
A flash of silver glinted in the dark, and she emitted a piercing scream of
terror.
***
She bolted from her bed, sweat rolling off her body.
"No..." she whispered, hugging herself. "Not again..."
Natsuki Urasawa stuffed her fist into her mouth, stifling the sobs, twin diamonds rolling down her cheeks.
{"Not again..."}
***
whadda ya think? tell me, 'kay? Ja!
-natsu-chan