Disclaimer: Woohoo, you all put up with my craziness enough to want to hear more of my drivel! All right. This is the official prequel to The Morning After, and it is called, obviously, The Night Before. So… We'll see if it was worth it…
"The Night Before"
by Rain
Chapter One
"Dear Ranma-kun," the fateful notes began, in Kasumi's neat hand.
"I'm afraid you and Akane-chan will have to hold down the fort for the rest of the day." Ranma could almost hear Kasumi say "Oh, my."
"Please try to keep Akane-chan from breaking anything too valuable. Oh, and would you also be careful and try not to get Akane-chan too upset; I just bought a new frying pan, as the last one was quite useless, after she hit you over the head with it…
"As you already know, Nabiki, Otousan and Saotome-san won't be back today. As for myself, a good friend of mine who lives in Tokyo has been taken ill, and I am going to spend a few days with her there, and try and help her recover. Otousan and Saotome-san most likely will be a while, and Nabiki will go straight to school with her friend Michiko tomorrow morning.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me – I've left the number for where I'm staying by the phone in the hall – but I'm sure you and Akane-chan will be just fine. I've left plenty of food in the fridge; you and Akane-chan can just reheat it.
"Not that I ever need to ask, Ranma-kun, but take good care of Akane-chan for us. Thank you, see you in a few days, and good luck!
"Love, Kasumi
"P.S. The weather report last night predicted some snow, so be sure to dress warmly."
Ranma set the note back down on the dining table where Kasumi had left it.
Well, he thought, this is bound to be an …interesting weekend.
* * *
"Kasumi-oneechan?"
Ranma looked up towards the stairs as Akane came down, rubbing her eyes sleepily, and wearing nothing but a fluffy yellow bathrobe and slippers. Ranma blushed, although he tried not to show it. It wasn't his fault, if Akane didn't always look good, no matter what she wore, it wouldn't have been a problem.
"Ranma!" she jumped as she first noticed him. "What are you doing up so early?"
"It's not that early. It's past nine."
"I wonder why Kasumi-oneechan didn't wake me…" Akane said thoughtfully. Ranma was about to hand her the note when she looked around, not hearing any of the usual sounds of the house, and suddenly asked "Where is everyone?"
"Um, yeah, I guess we've got the house to ourselves," Ranma said distractedly, his hand behind his head. "Pop and Tendo-san scurried off on some "training trip," something about burying Happosai under another large rock. I thought Nabiki told you she was spending the night at her friend's house? What's her name, Idunno, Makiko? Minako?..."
"Michiko, I think," Akane said, taking the note Ranma held out to her. "Oh," she said, after reading it. "I hope Kasumi-oneechan's friend is all right. I don't think she would go out of her way unless it was serious…"
"Well, you know Kasumi, any excuse to mother someone. It's just her thing, I guess," Ranma replied.
"Hmm," Akane said, preoccupied.
"So…" Ranma said timidly. "Uh, what were you going to do today? As far as I can tell, they'll all be gone for the rest of the day, so I was probably just going to train this afternoon or something… But I dunno what I'm going to do the rest of the night…er…" Ranma realized a fraction of a second too late what he had just said, as Akane's head snapped up and she gave him a strange look. Oh shit. I'm dead. "Um, yeah… Hooray for awkward pauses…" Akane just shook her head and decided to ignore the comment for the moment.
"…Well, Sayuri invited me to come look at a new bookshop in town. I won't be gone very long," she added, somehow correctly interpreting Ranma's silence.
Akane put the note down, and stretched languorously. Ranma, staring at his feet, cleared his throat awkwardly.
"You should probably get, er, dressed…"
"Oh!" Akane blushed suddenly, and darted back upstairs.
Ranma sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. This is going to be a long day…
Reserved Author's Blabbing Space:
Rain:Ok, don't kill me, I promise there's a plot, this is just the start!
Everyone: You made it seem like such a big deal! It'd better not suck!
Rain: *does the oyakusoku pozu* Ok, ok, gimme a break. You should be grateful, this chapter was originally going to be cut off where you see the little "* * *" but I strung it together with Chapter Two, just for you! So, there. Until tomorrow! Hint: Reviews are greatly appreciated, lol. I'm not subtle or anything…
::Rain