Fated Destinies
Prologue, Who Needs A Fiancee?
Max-chan's Author's Notes:
This is a story I'm co-writing with Negai. Nothing much to say about it except I hope you enjoy it.
Negai's Author's Notes:
Same as Max-chan. Hope you like it. If you don't say so. Inputs are nice ^__^
Disclaimers: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.
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Akane quickly ran into her small studio apartment and dropped her coat and purse on the couch as she grabbed the red transparent phone.
"Hello?"
Kasumi's magical voice could be heard from the other line, "Hello, Akane. How are you?"
Akane fell back onto her sofa, tired out, "Oh, I'm fine, oneechan, mind telling me why daddy's crying in the background, though?"
Kasumi smiled on the other line, Akane had always known her so well, "Before I say anything, though, do you have a boyfriend yet?"
Akane scowled as she sunk deeper into her chair, "Kaaasssssuuuuuummmmiiiiii! You ask me this every time you call! No, I don't have a boyfriend yet."
"Akane, why the ever not? You're a strong, healthy, beautiful, 23-year old girl, I don't see why anyone would not want to date you," the older sister scolded gently.
"Kasumi, what's the matter?" Akane asked suspiciously.
At the Tendo home, Kasumi gave a bright smile, "Why, Akane?! Didn't you know? Daddy's marrying you off to your engaged fiancee Tatewaki Kuno!"
Akane sat back upright. "What?!" she shrieked. "But he can't do that oneechan! He knows I don't like Kuno!"
"Now, now, little sister. Don't despair, daddy only has your best interest in mind. You will have to marry him, and do not tell me you can not, because you can."
Akane wracked her brain for a way out of Kasumi's warped logic and only one thought came to mind, "But I'm already engaged, oneechan!"
Kasumi smiled, "Oh, really, Akane, what is his name?"
"Um...er...um...it's..." Akane looked around the room desperately. Her eyes caught a discarded newspaper on the floor with a wild horse on the front, "...Raaaa...nnnnnnmmm...a
aa...Ranma?!"
"Really, tell me about him, Akane," Kasumi said innocently.
"Oh, he's wonderful, Kasumi with, um...with this midnight black hair, and these..um...blue eyes. He's a martial artist...and he has a magnificent figure," Akane rambled.
"How did you meet him?"
Akane chuckled nervously, "Listen, oneechan, I gotta go, gotta date with him, you see. Just tell daddy I won't need a fiancee."
Just before Akane hung up, she heard Soun's voice say cheerfully on the other line, "Akane, I'm so happy for you! I'll have to come meet him! Kasumi, go call Nabiki to book us some plane tickets."
"But father," Kasumi said gently, "Your using our only phone line."
"Oh, well in that case-" and all Akane heard was a click and then the dial tone.
Akane leaned back into her chair before kneeling down to bang her head on the table. *Where am I going to get a temporary fiancee?* Akane cried inwardly. For, you see, Akane Tendo suffers a very severe case of physical misconception. She simply did not know how beautiful she was with her shoulder-length deep blue-black hair and dazzling, chocolate, brown eyes. She never wore make-up and frankly did not even try to act even remotely feminine. She was beautiful just the same. A beautiful tomboy.
The young journalist/actress paced her apartment before deciding the only way to get a complete stranger to be hired to be her fiancee (she simply couldn't ask anyone she knew, the humiliation was too great) was putting an advertisement in the newspaper. Yet, was it right though? *A complete stranger?* Akane wondered then thought about her alternative and shuddered *Kuno...stranger...Kuno...stranger...Kuno...stranger..." With a defeated sigh, Akane walked to her desk and started typing her advertisement.
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Ranma Saotome, CEO to Saotome Industries, multibillionaire, and women extraordinaire, walked into the large office. His mother, Nodoka sat on a small couch knitting quietly as his father, Genma Saotome sat by his desk eating a large meal. The young billionaire walked over to kiss his mother on the cheek before greeting his father.
"Hello, Ranma, have a seat, please," Nodoka ordered as her son took a seat beside her.
"What is it mother?" Ranma asked suspiciously.
Nodoka smiled proudly before saying, "Well, seeing as you are already 23 and still single. I really do not understand why you did not get married sooner, Ranma. Now, your last um...er...mistress-"
"Girlfriend, mother, we don't live in the 19th century, she's called a girlfriend," Ranma interrupted. Nodoka blinked once before totally disregarding that and continuing, "Well, your last mistress has brought to my attention that you do not intend to ever get married. Do not get me wrong, son, I know that having many ladies falling at your feet is very manly, but I simply must have a grandchild and heir. I know that you are also so very busy with you're schedule to actually properly court any lady, so I have taken the liberty..." at this point Nodoka beamed at her husband, "...I have taken the liberty of setting up some very sweet girls from very nice families for you."
Ranma groaned, "Mom, I am not going to get married to some young, pampered, inexperienced, haughty, stuck-up, ignorant chatter-box of a girl just because you insist on it. I don't plan on getting married anytime soon, if ever so please stop it, okay?"
Nodoka pressed her lips together and said in a commanding tone, "Fine, have it your way. Do you remember the contract you signed as a child stating that you would commit seppuku?" Ranma swallowed remembering that contract, he knew he wasn't going to like this.
"Yes, well, I get to decide if your manly or not, correct? Well, I believe to be manly you have to get married, or at least an engaged fiancee, before you reach the age of 24. Why Ranma?! That's only 4 months away!" Nodoka feigned surprised. Ranma looked at his mother incredulously.
"But that's too soon!" he sputtered.
Nodoka just smiled sweetly, "Guess you better hurry then."
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