Equal Romance – Ranma ½

By M.A.L.V.

Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is owned by Rumiko Takahashi. The characters used in this story are borrowed without permission and is not intended to be commercialized in any form.

Notes:

Bold Letters denote spoken words.

(Encased Letters denote character thoughts.)

Italicized Letters denote translated words.

Underlined Letters denote written signs.

TENDO DOJO

It has been weeks since the wedding blowout. Everything seems to be quiet in Nerima, which is very unusual considering the unusual characters who reside there. Everyone who had direct participation in the wedding has maintained a low profile since. On top of the roof of the Tendo Residence, a lone figure lay with so many things in his mind.

(Jeez… What the heck did I do now?! She's mad at me again for something that I didn't do… Hmmp!! That uncute tomboy!!) He thought to himself. (It's not like I wrecked the wedding on purpose... What's she so mad about!?)

"RANMA!! Dinner's ready!" a sweet voice called out to him.

He pushed himself up with his hands and effortlessly threw himself down from the roof. He landed right near the koi pond, careful not to slip. He looked at the dining area and found a young lady and a giant panda already sitting down.

"Father and Nabiki just called to say that they won't be eating here, so I guess its just us." the young maiden said to him.

The panda held up a sign, Hurry up and sit down boy!!. And with that, the panda grabbed the nearest bowl and started gobbling its contents.

He sat down quietly looking at the empty mat beside him. That was where she usually sits, "Ummm...

K-Kasumi?" he mumbled.

Kasumi looked at him, "What is it, Ranma?"

"Wh-where's Akane?"

"Oh! She said she would be staying at her friends' house for a few days. Didn't she tell you?"Kasumi replied without taking the radiant smile off her face.

WHACK!! Something hard whacked the top of his head. He looked at the Panda with glaring eyes, "Jeez Pops!! What the heck is it now??"

What did you do to her now? A sign read.

"I didn't do nothin'!!" he answered angrily. (Not that, THAT mattered to her anyway..)

How many times do I have to tell you that you need to look out for your fiancee!!

"And how many times do I have to tell you that I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!!"

Maybe that's the problem!! the Panda held, at the same time getting a mouthful of rice.

"Bbaaahhh!! What do you know?!" he answered grimly. He tried to finish dinner but somehow thinking about her made him lose his appetite. Or at least, the thought of her not being there with him. (Why is she so mad at me for? If I do something, she blames me! If I don't do anything, I still get blamed!! What the heck should I do??)

"Ranma?" Kasumi's voice woke him in his stupor. "Huh?!"Ranma responded.

"Did you two fight again?"Kasumi asked with a worried look.

He shook his head profusely but somehow he felt that he needed to apologize for something to Akane. (That's crazy !! Why should I apologize if I didn't do anything wrong? Then again, why do I feel the need to apologize??) "Did she say who she was staying with, Kasumi?"

TRAIN STATION

She told Kasumi that she would be staying at her friend's house but she did not say who. After all that happened, she wanted to get away from it all and have some time to think things through. The things that happened in Jusendo, the wedding disaster, the seeming detachment that her fiancé is displaying despite the failure of their wedding. (And I actually thought that we could finally be…) "That jerk!!" she whispered to herself, as the train arrived at the platform.

She looked at the opening doors of the train, doubting whether to enter or not. The thoughts of not being with him makes her want to go back but her mind keeps pushing her to go. She steeled herself and proceeded inside the car, sitting near the door and leaning her head on the vertical hand post. Trying to erase him from her thoughts only brought more memories of them together. She sighed as a tear escaped from her eye, "Ranma…"

NERIMA

KNOCK!! KNOCK!! "I'M COMING!!" a voice from inside the house shouted. A moment later, the door opened,"Ohh!! Ranma!! What are you doing here?" ask Yuka with an inquiring look. She is one of his classmates and Akane's best friend in Furinkan High School.

"Hi Yuka! I'm looking for Akane and I was wondering if you know where she is?" he asked trying to sound casual.

"Akane's missing again? You did something to her, didn't you?" her gaze turned from inquiring to accusing. He knew she was going to say that, some part of him even agreed with her but his brain couldn't think of anything that he might have done to… "SO? What'd you do this time?"

"Huh? I didn't do nothin'!!" (I'm starting to sound like a machine!) "Anyway, that's not important now. We need to find her before anything happens to her. Do you know if- I mean- do you think she could've gone to Sayuri's?"

Yuka leered at him more intently, then went inside again as if she didn't hear him. He was still outside, unsure if Yuka's actions included an implying to go in. Looking inside, he sighed and thought, (How come everyone always thinks of me when there's somethin' wrong with Akane?) "Uhhmm.. Yuka?"

Yuka came out, with a phone in hand. "Sayuri says she doesn't know where Akane went either…" she says with a worried tone. "Ohhh.. uhhmm.. Thanks anyway… Could you call the Tendo's if she ever… you know?" he replied as polite as he could. Without waiting for an answer, he started to walk away, still thinking hard where she could have gone.

"I hope you find her soon, Ranma…" he heard Yuka cried out to him, as he jumped to the nearest roof.

Traveling by roof-hopping was easier and covers more ground in less time. However, it also attracts more attention considering that there was still some daylight left, and there are a lot of people still outside. He didn't mind anyone seeing him, just as long as… SPLAT!! A bike carrying a pretty purple-headed girl crashed right down his head. "Nihao Ranma!!" greeted the passenger.

(Great!! This is SO what I need right now!!) Ranma thought as he stood up, while brushing the bike off his head. "WHADDA' YA WANT NOW SHAMPOO?"

"Shampoo on last delivery. After work, Ranma go with Shampoo on date, yes?" the Chinese-Amazon cutely said to him as she put her arms around his torso.

"I don't have time for you right now Shampoo, I have to find Akane…" he replied as he struggled to be free from her Python-like embrace. Irritation was starting to get to him, but he knew that no matter how angry he becomes he couldn't hit a girl on purpose. If the wedding hadn't been thrashed maybe Shampoo and the others would finally leave him alone… (Then again, they might try to hurt Akane all the more…)

"Maybe Akane realize that Ranma love Shampoo more and run off with another boy…" Shampoo exclaimed. With that his arms found the strength to break free from her strangling hug. He suddenly felt his battle aura flare up, "NO!! SHE WOULDN'T!! he shouted. Shampoo was startled by his sudden outburst, normally he would just retort with a sarcastic comment. She began to prepare herself by gathering her own chi, but as sudden as Ranma's eruption it vanished just as swiftly.

"I-I'm sorry Shampoo… I didn't mean to burst out like that… It's just that…" he tried to find the words to express what he felt but none came out anymore. He looked at the Amazon, knowing that it wasn't entirely her fault that Akane left, though she did participate in busting up their wedding.

"You really worry about Akane?" Shampoo asked, her eyebrows crossed but her voice sounded with genuine concern. She knew that something was different with Ranma, ever since they came back from China. The whole Saffron incident somehow affected him, though he tried his best to be the same old Ranma. A part of her knew, but she didn't want to believe it herself, for Amazons never give up. She waited for his reply but he kept avoiding her gaze. (All men really stupid…) she thought with a sigh.

"Don't worry Ranma… Shampoo help you find Pervert-girl!!" she smiled at him.

"Huh?" he looked at her with disbelief. (What's she planning?) "Wh-Why would you do that?

Shampoo shot him a smile, "Shampoo help Ranma then Ranma promise Shampoo to go on date, okay?"

He sighed. (I knew it…) "Shampoo… You've gotta listen to me… I can't promise you that… Akane's already mad at me as it is… if she found out, she'd…" he let his voice trail off. (She'd punch half my life off, for sure...) "I- I can't go on a date."

Her smile didn't fade away, she stepped forward with a sneaky gaze locked on him. "What if Akane is ok for Ranma to date Shampoo?" she asked brazenly. "Then Ranma promise to take Shampoo on date?"

"Eh? Akane will never agree with that!!" he answered automatically.

"If Ranma so sure, then is no problem to make promise… or is Ranma too-too scared to make vow of honor? Or maybe Ranma is too-too scared of Akane?"

"HA! I'm not afraid of anything or anyone!!" he retorted. The Amazon looked at him with one eyebrow raised. "I've battled a flamethrower with wings and a flying yeti before… do you really think I'd be afraid of an uncute tomboy?" Her gaze didn't change. Blood was starting to rush into his head. "Fine!! If you can get her to agree with you, I promise to take you on a date." he answered quickly. (I'd never hear the end of this, if I don't agree now…) he thought to himself. Shampoo stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Ranma really promise?" she asked without a smile.

"Yeah… yeah… yeah… Can I go now?" he asked anxiously. Shampoo hugged him and then rode away with a beaming smile on her face. He shuddered at the thought of the possibility of Akane finding out. (Now's not the time, I have to find that tomboy first…)

MT. FUJI

A low rumble could be heard for miles as the ground shook. Flocks of various birds flew out of their nests, and ground creatures ran amok trying to get away from the violent quaking. At the epicenter of the tremor, a hidden shrine can be found. There is no one that can be found within the grounds but at the middle of the shrine, a deep but dry well started to release a thick column of smoke. The trembling subsided but the smoke continued to rise from the well. A few minutes passed, then a distinctive laugh could have been heard, had some one been near. A low pitched voice spoke from within the dark cloud of smoke, "AT LAST… I'M FINALLY RELEASED!! THE TIME FOR THE AWAKENING IS AT HAND!! The cloud departed, its heading directed straight towards Nerima.

NERIMA

"STUPID!! STUPID!! STUPID AKANE!!" Ranma shouted, not caring if anyone could hear his words. He somehow hoped that she would hear him then run towards him with violence in mind. It was nearing midnight and he still has no idea where she went. (Where the heck could she have gone? And what could I have possib--)

"RANMA!! PREPARE TO DIE!!" a familiar voice yelled above him.

Looking up, he saw a rapidly descending fist nearing his face. It would have connected easily, had the target been an ordinary person but he knew that he wasn't as ordinary as everybody else. At the last moment, he sidestepped to his left and swung his right foot backwards. As the fist connected to the ground, creating a small crater, he kicked his attacker at center mass and used the force to propel himself away from being attacked again. The strength of the kick sent the aggressor crashing to the nearby wall. "What is it now, bacon-breath?" Ranma questioned nonchalantly.

"What did you do to Akane now?" asked a bandanna-wearing boy as he stood up from the rubble.

(GREAT!! Now Ryoga's joined the mess!!) "I didn't do anything, P-Chan!! And what do you care anyway?! I thought you said that you're gonna let Akane go and be with Akari now!!"

"Hmph!! That doesn't mean I'd let you hurt Akane!! You've obviously done something to her to make her run away like that!!" exclaimed Ryoga while pointing his fingers at him. "I thought you've changed Ranma!! After that fight with Saffron, I thought you were finally able to be a man worthy of Akane but now… hehe.." Ryoga closed his eyes and made a fist. He opened his eyes and leered at his rival with murderous intent, shouting, "NOW I KNOW THAT YOU STILL DON'T DESERVE HER!!"

With that, the distance was immediately shortened between the two as the boy with a bandana started attacked. Ranma dodged the punches thrown with ease, but he knew that it's a waste of time to fight Ryoga at the present time. He flipped backward and purposely hit Ryoga's chin at the process, knocking the boy backwards to the crumbled wall. As soon as he hit the ground, Ryoga began his assault again, this time much more furious. Each punch thrown became faster and closer to hitting its intended target. (If this keeps up, he's gonna wear me down…) Ranma thought to himself.

"BAKUSAI TENKETSU REVISED!! TENKETSU BARRAGE!!" Multiple explosion of rocks engulfed both fighters, Ranma instantly caught all the debris that was hurling towards him, with his Chestnut Fist. (I got it now!!) "Take this pig-boy!!" With that he deflected all the rocks back to the center of the explosion. When the smoke cleared, only one was standing, the other was down covered with rocks and debris, completely unconscious.

"Sorry Ryoga, but I don't have time to take you to Doctor Tofu's…" He leaped to the roof tops again and scanned the immediate vicinity. (I have to find Akane and tell her...) Then another voice popped on his head, (And tell her what exactly?)