Chapter 1: I'm Leaving!

Story Summary:

Ranma Saotome is getting fed up with his multiple fiancées, and the fact he switches genders at inopportune moments. Thus, he decides to take a trip to the mountains to gather his thoughts and get away from his bustling, over crowded love life. As if. Some of his more determined suitors plan on following him, and the rest of the gang decide to tag along just to make sure no one elopes. And what better to add to the chaos then a brand new Character with an unknown crush that everybody's dieing to figure out who it is. Akane x Ranma, Shampoo x Mousse, Ryouga x OC, other subtle pairings.

Author Note: I'll tell you one thing: No way is this a one shot. I know, I have a reputation on old pen names of having some really whacked up fics that make no sense at all and need new chapters badly. Well, come on, it's Anime and it's Rumiko Takahashi, I HAVE to write a fiction about it.

Please don't kill me for making it a new-character insertion. ; I'll try hard to make it a decent fic.

'Somebody once told me the world was gonna row me; I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed.'

The door slid open with the same shhf sound it always did. The house was more or less quiet, considering its inhabitants, and the sound of people talking and breakfast cooking wafted through the paper-thin doors. His bare feet moved silently down the hall, to the bathroom, where he proceeded to shower and brush his teeth quickly.

'She was lookin' kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb in the shape of an 'L' on her forehead.'

Pulling on a red Chinese-style button shirt and a black hori(?), he opened the bathroom door to allow his father passage and moved slowly, reminiscently, down the hallway, wondering who might be waiting for him asides from the Tendous' and Happousai. Maybe one of his many women suitors, Shampoo or Ukyo might've stopped by. Maybe his long-time rival Ryouga, with whom he still had not settled his differences (or the place of Akane) with, could be hanging around still. Sometimes he wondered if Ryouga did have a home. He almost lived with the Tendous'. Or maybe he'd be accused of some mishap that happened while he was innocently asleep. Either way, he knew that he'd be able to pick on Akane, his least and most favorite person in the world. He still had conflicting emotions about her. 'I should just pick one already.' He thought to himself as he slid open the kitchen door.

'Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming, I bent to the rules and I hit the ground running. Didn't make sense not to live for fun; your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb.'

Sure enough, Kasumi had just laid out her usual flawless, home-style breakfast spread, and was smiling warmly as always, chattering with Nabiki, poising her chopsticks absentmindedly whilst Nabiki grumbled with her mouth full. Akane was eating, talking with her father, Souun. Genma was probably still in the bathroom, so he sat down with a meager greeting and reached for a bowl groggily.

"G'morning."

"Morning, sleepy head!"

"Yeah."

It wasn't his fault for lacking enthusiasm; he didn't lead a very enthusiastic life. It was more of a 'Deal-or-Die' sort of thing. So he munched on a fish cake, assured it was not a towel, while Akane noticed his lack of rude mouthing-off.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nah, just enjoying the fact you didn't cook."

"Hey! I'm getting there, you jerk wad. Maybe if I had some encouragement, I'd be a little better."

"Hey! Maybe if you had some skill, you'd be a little better. Sugar and mayonnaise?"

He could at least convince them he was feeling well. Sure enough, his reflexes said 'guard' just in time for his forearms to shield his face from Akanes' foot. She soon removed it, and they continued eating.

"Stupid jerk."

"Macho chick."

He wasn't expecting the next assault. A foot collided with the back of his head with minimum force, sending his face into his rice. Upon removing it, he looked over his shoulder and saw- with great joy- his attacker.

"Yo, Ryouga."

"Don't speak to Akane in such an unruly manner."

He didn't bother to talk back; he merely shrugged the foot from his neck and continued eating, wiping the rice from his face. No one else thought it strange, but Akane noticed his change in attitude.

'So much to do, so much to see; what's wrong with taking the back streets? You'll never know if you don't go. You'll never shine if you don't glow.'

After a somewhat hectic breakfast during which he found he could eat very little, the house nearly burned down due to a sizzling glare-match between himself and Ryouga, and Shampoo popped by for a quick 'hug'. Now he walked along the fences, the usual path he took with Akane to school. He wondered why Ryouga didn't go to school. He could always leave with Akane and himself. Then he wouldn't get lost. 'What an idiot.' He thought to himself. Maybe that's why he was so horrible with directions. His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a hand on his shoulder, a pale, soft hand, which slammed him from the fence into the harbor below.

"WAGH!"

"You left yourself wide open, Ranma!"

"What was that for, anyway?" He, or should I say 'she' began climbing back up to the fence to glare at her, her short black hair ruffling slightly in the springy breezes. Two things came to her mind then, as she smiled at him. He wondered if her hair was black or more of a dark brown. Disregarding that as completely useless information, he then realized once school was over for the year, he'd probably run into his many suitors even more frequently then during the year. 'Why is it always me?' He thought unhappily, climbing back out and making sure to walk on the other fence, in female form.

"You're awfully quiet today."

"What of it?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Why you should care, fiancée of mine, I'm just thinking."

"I have a name you know."

"Okay, fiancée. You better have a kettle ready somewhere before we get there or Kuno'll have a heart-attack."

"Good riddance."

At least they agreed on something. He, she, Ranma waited by the schoolyard fence while Akane went to the nurse with whatever ingenious excuse she had concocted for weaseling a kettle of hot water from the oblivious woman. He tugged on his now red hair, his Chinese outfit baggier then when he had first intended. Akane returned and splashed him without warning. A little soggy and abused, Ranma walked onto the school grounds, and as expected saw Kuno approaching. He was holding a bouquet of red roses, muttering to himself, no doubt about his 'undying' love for Akane.

"Akane! I love-"

He was cut off by Ranmas' foot, which paused to stand on Kunos' face for a moment. He then flipped off to continue walking.

'Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid. Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play.'

"Later. I'm not in the mood."

"I thought I told you to stop fighting my fights for me."

"You're too stupid to fight your own fights."

He said begrudgingly, remembering she didn't even know Ryouga was actually her beloved pet pig P-Chan, let alone had a huge crush on her. She could be really oblivious sometimes. He stood bent over in half staring at the ground for a minute. Her book bag was really heavy.

"………"

"Mind your manners." Akane retorted, continuing to her classroom.

"Since when have I done that?" He said, lifting his head upright again.

Leaving Kuno unconscious on the ground as usual, they headed into class. Luckily, things went fine, asides from a second interrogation about Kunos' dear 'pig-tailed girl'. Upon arriving home they found Ryouga had been suckered into helping Kasumi clean. After all, he did spend a lot of time eating around their dojo.

"Oh, Ryouga, that's so kind of you!" Akane gushed. Ranma rolled his eyes. He allowed himself to be swept away by his father, in human form once more, for a training session. Ryouga blinked, and wondered why Ranma hadn't make some cruel remark about 'Yes, P-Chan, how thoughtful!' or the like. However, his suddenly finding himself in the gratitude of Akane caught up to his senses and he began showing off (perhaps proving his use as a prospective husband).

"How long have you been working, Ryouga?" Akane asked, glaring after Ranma. She decided to make him jealous, again. It may or may not work, but it may bring him back to his senses. Oh, how wrong she was…

'And all that glitters is gold, only shooting stars break the mold.'

Meanwhile, Ryouga was still fumbling for words. Akane was making more small talk than usual. He just knew that getting here early wasn't just luck! It must've been the power of LOVE! But… it wasn't exactly love reflecting in Akanes determined gaze. Whatever could she be staring at him for? His fantasies of fairy-tale romance quickly flitted into secret-revealing nightmares. Oh, it had been a while since she asked the question. She must've wanted an answer.

"Oh...uh...heheh… since noon, but that's not…"

Finally, an answer! She had been waiting for the poor, confused guy to respond, so she may whisk him off to the kitchen, regardless. "WOW!" She cried, exaggerating her voice inflictions. This startled Ryouga a little. He jumped, gripping the broom more tightly. He was already wringing it rather roughly, and it was cracking a little under the stress. Thankfully, Kasumi took no notice of this, and continued dusting obliviously.

"You must be HUN-GRY! I'll make you something, RyouGa!" She said, dripping enthusiasm. Ryouga, the poor moron, mistook it for flirting, and promptly broke the broom into many, many pieces in his hand. "O...o...o-o... Okay!" He spluttered, and Akane grabbed his hand and dragged him off, still stammering.

"Oh. Come on." Said the pig-tail dangling from behind the roof shingle. Ranma peered into the kitchen, scowling at Akane's egregious attempts to catch his attention. He dropped down next to her, startling both her and Ryouga on their way to the kitchen. "Look. I know what you're doing, brick-brains." He said, glaring scarier than ever. He didn't need this. What did he care? WHY did he care? Why did he keep butting in between Akane and Ryouga? … Maybe, he thought, he didn't have a reason.

"OH? And what does it mean to you?" Akane rebutted, gripping Ryougas hand tightly. But… Ryouga was starting to have a growing suspicion something was wrong with this picture. When he and Akane went on that date… Every time Ranma tricked him in female form… Even those times when he teamed up with Ukyou, something always felt off. But now it was even worse.

"Uh, Akane…" He started. Maybe it was because… none of them would accept his other form.

"Just a second, Ryouga." Akane said, trying to sound sweet, but it didn't work. "You've been moping around ALL DAY! What's the problem?"

"I don't need to tell you!" Ranma snapped back. He was reaching the end of his rope very quickly.

'Somebody once asked 'Could you spare some change for cash? I need to get myself away from this place.''

"Well if we're going to be engaged, you should tell me about these things."

"Hey, guys?"

"Who wants to be engaged to an uncute macho chick like YOU?"

"Guys?"

'And I said, 'Yep. What a concept! I could use a little trip myself. And we could use a little change…''

"FINE! IT'S NOT LIKE I WANT TO BE ENGAGED TO A HE-SHE ANYWAY!"

"GOOD! CAUSE I'M LEAVING!"

"…"

"What?"

- Owari! –

End of chapter one. Whaddaya think? I can't wait to continue. The new character hasn't shown up yet, but expect her sometime around chapter 3, if not immediately in the next one. R&R, constructive flames welcome! (If you just want to tell me 'it sucks,' why even bother?)