Author's notes: this story is actually based off a dream I had, although all I remember of it was Ranma and Akane were off on a date... this is a very rough draft, and writer's notes are all over I believe... enjoy!
Hanshin Koshien Stadium right field `Alps" outfield benches along the lines returning pacific leauge champions Saitama Seibu Lions are going to play in the Japan Series.
Central leauge defending Champions Yomiuri Giants Black jersey white pants orange trim not exactly liked are rumored to use underhanded tactics to win and recruit players. Have won the pennant Hanshin Tigers (Pinstripe suits)
To-Lucky is the mascot and Lucky is his girlfriend
It was a warm late summer afternoon as the crowds worked their way from the Koshien station, many of them having come from all over Japan on the Hanshien Electric railway to gather here this day. Excitment was in the air as people, young and old, Families, Kids of all ages, made their way like the Roman spectators of old to the modern day colisium known as the Hanshin Koshien Stadium. They have traveled far and wide to witness the time honored clash of gladiators pitting themselves against each other in a war of Skill, Teamwork, Endurance and Competition. They have come to see that which has taken the nation by storm.
As the crowds poured through the gateways, as they worked their way into the multitude of seatings and the vendors worked their way amongst the crowds, selling their wares of hot dogs and popcorn and peanuts and octupus puffs, As the crowds chatted and settled in, restless before the show was to begin. As two particular people made their way to their seats, the loudspeakers started a familiar song, the Titantron coming to electronic life.
*Hello again Everybody! Hiro Hamachi bidding you a big roaring welcome from Hanshin Stadium Where tonight before a capacity crowd of 48,000 roaring fans the Tigers of Tokyo will attempt to bring down their quarry for a shot at an entry into the Japan Series!*
"A Baseball game!" Akane Tendo squealed as the two of them made there way to their seats in the 'Alps' along the first base line. Akane was dressed in a Hanshin Tigers baseball cap and pinstriped jersey, worn outside the snug jeans she wore. "This is Great!" She giggled, glancing down at the tickets she held in her hands. Akane was really looking forward to this, after the last serveral months of an almost constant parade of amazons, martial artists challengers, harranging fathers, kidnapping princes and a total of THREE Different bokken wielding bakas it was nice to get out and do something normal like with Ranma, even if it wasn't a date, just two people going off and doing something other people did that wouldn't lead to them to get married or any other unplesant things like that.
"Well, I thought it might be somethin ya'd like y'know?" Ranma replied. Unlike Akane he was dressed in his usual black tongs and blue silk chinese shirt, a styrofoam cooler held over his shoulder. He glanced over Akane's shoulder at the tickets she held then pointed before them to their seats. Akane practically bounced around the railing over to the benchseats, while Ranma gracefully glided amongst the other spectators. Akane reached up and helped Ranma set the cooler down, wedging it between their feet under the bench. Ranma glanced over as he sat down, watching Akane happily bounce about in excitement. Ranma himself wasn't expecting much from this game, he wasn't even sure how baseball was played. But it was worth it already just to see the cute smile on Akane's face.
"But how'd you get tickets for it?" Akane asked, "What made you think of taking me to a baseball game? especially this one? Not that I really watch that much baseball..."
Ranma's first thought was that it was just the sort of thing a tomboy like Akane go for, but his mom Nodoka had lectured him about NOT insulting Akane while they were out... And lectured... And lectured... "Well, Mom actually got the tickets for me," Ranma admitted, nervously tugging at his pigtail, "But I asked her to get them for me. That way I figured Nabiki wouldn't be able to con them off me. I just thought... that with... how stressful things have been lately... " Ranma was stopped however at Akane's sunny smile.
"That was very sweet of your Mother Ranma," Akane agreed, "We'll have to do something nice for her later." Akane then leaned in closer. "It was also sweet of you."
Ranma started cuckling nervously as his brain melted.
*- And aren't they just a sweet couple folks? A Romantic outing to a Baseball game just the thing for a Summer Romance!*
The two heard over the loudspeakers. The two Nerimites turned their attention back towards the field only to see both their faces on the Titantron as the crowd gave them a giant `Awwww-!' Both of them felt the blush rush up their cheeks as Ranma and Akane jumped away from each other.
"Jerks!" Ranma muttered, "Why can't they mind their own business?"
Akane growled something in agreement as the Titantron switched it's view to the players coming on the field, the crowd cheering. Leaning over, Akane opened the cooler and pulled out two sodas, the ice inside scrunching as she did.
"Hey Akane," Ranma asked as the teams took to the field, "what did you mean by this game? is there something special about it?" He thought it was just a baseball game.
"Something Special?" Akane asked in shock as she handed the young martial artist his soda, "You mean you don't know?" As Ranma shook his head Akane's jaw dropped. "It's only a Classic! It's the Hanshin Tigers vs the Central leauge defending Champions Yomiuri Giants! They're classic rivals! Not only that but the Giants are reputed to use sneaky tactics in their recruiting practices to get all the best players which stuck the Tigers with second round choices and rookies!"
"So... The Giants are the bad guys?" Ranma asked hesitantly, toying with his pigtail again.
"Yup!" Akane agreed, leaning closer to Ranma then, "Now the Tigers were pretty awful at the beginning of the season but they really started to gel midway and are now second in the leauge, but the Giants were almost undefeated and beat them for the Central Leauge penant, But this is the Tigers chance to get revenge because of the Climax series that was introduced. Whoever wins this game goes on to face the returning pacific leauge champions Saitama Seibu Lions and are going to play in the Japan Series!" Akane stopped at the funny look Ranma was giving her. "What?"
"Geez Akane, I thought you said you didn't watch baseball?" He grinned at her, then popped open his can of soda.
Akane blushed in embarressment, turning back to the game. "I might have watched a game or two..." She admitted. Down on the field The first inning had started, The Giants moving to the outfield. "Hmm, looks like they're starting off with Yuya Ando... good choice there." Akane commented, watching as the Tigers pitcher stretched out by the dugout.
"Yeah, how so?" Ranma leaned forward to get a better look at the pitcher that was warming up
"He's been very successful against the Giants before, veteran right handed and he won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics baseball games." As the game started Akane leaned closer to Ranma, pointing out the various players on the feild, telling him a little about the player as she did. Akane could see that the pigtailed martial artist really didn't have an idea what was going on, so she was determined to help him enjoy himself.
They watched the first two Innings go by. As far as Ranma could tell both teams were good. It seened the Giants did indeed have the better players, things just seemed to be easier for them, but the Tigers were working hard. They seemed to have more heart for the game. As the third inning came about, the score was 0-0. The Tigers were solid with their defense, but Akane seemed to think their offense was their weak point. Keiichi Hirano was a case in point. He was a great outfielder, but everytime he came up to bat he was struck out, much to his frustration.
As Ranma bent down to get another soda the Giants hitter tagged the ball, sending it screaming deep into the outfield. The Tigers outfielder ran for it, making a spectacular dive into the wall to catch it before it could go over the wall. As one the Tiger fans roared, jumping from their seats to applaud the fantastic play.
"Wow, what a great catch!" Akane cheered, sitting back down, "Did you see that Ranma?" She asked, turning to the now dripping wet redhead glaring at her. "When did you-?" Akane started...
"Yeah. Great Play." Ranma answered flatly. "Want another soda?"
Akane stared at her now empty can blankly. "I'm sorry Ranma-!" Quickly she started to dig out a towel as Ranma blew her wet bangs back. A kid from behind them reached over to tap Ranma's shoulder.
"Yeah?" Ranma asked, turning to the six year old.
"Weren't you just a mister Lady?" He asked.
"Hehheh, cute kid... Here, have a soda," Ranma replied, handing his unopened can to the kid.
"Gee, Thanks Lady!" The kid beamed as he took the can, sitting back down.
"I'M A GUY-!" Ranma groussed with a facepalm, Akane trying to dry him off with a towel they'd brought for just such an emergency. After a moment though he straightened, catching Akane's hands with his own. "I think I'll just go wash this off before it gets sticky, don'tcha think?"
"I'm Sorry Ranma," Akane repeated as she handed Ranma the towel.
"Eh, don't worry `bout it Akane..." Ranma smiled half heartedly as he stood up. He really couldn't be mad about getting doused, He knew Akane hadn't meant to and it wasn't like he wasn't expecting to get splashed at some point. "Be right back." With that he started making his way down the aisle to the stadium walkway and the restrooms.
*Insert announcer statement here*
Ranma was starting to regret not bringing a thermos. The muffled sounds of the game and the crowds echoed in the packed stairwell to the restrooms. She could already feel the soda starting to dry along her back, making her silk shirt uncomfortably stickly. Just the way she wanted to spend her weekend... and the line wasn't moving! How long did it take to go to the bathroom?
"C'mon, give a girl a break huh?" Ranma groussed, "how long does it take?" One of the guys in line before her looked over his shoulder. "Did you get a number?"
"Oh Come On!" Ranma started tugging at her shirt. Man what she wouldn't give right now for Ryouga to show up, or one of the fiancees, scare these turkeys off... She'd even settle for one of those Youma thingies from Juuban, at least then she wouldn't be bored...
With a dull thud, the cement wall shuttered, cracks spiderwebbing across the surface. Another thud sent dust showering down into the crowds, drawing the attention of the suddenly silent spectators. With a Thunderous crash a Youma came bursting through the wall. Looking like a twisted cross between a woman and a soda machine, it straightened up to it's full height, laughing electronicly. "I Am Zhodapop!" It cackled as people started dropping their souvieners and screaming, "Lets have a Coke and a smile!"
As the crowd ran up the stairs past her Ranma looked skyward with a broad grin. "Thank you God, nice to know someone up there likes me. Hey Bucket Head!"
Akane was starting to worry about Ranma, It had been almost two complete innings since he'd left to get cleaned up... did something happen to him? What trouble did that Baka get into now. With a sigh Akane started to get up, better go bail him out...
"Where ya goin' Akane?" Akane looked around in surprised as Ranma practically bounced down the stairs, His arms full of souvieners and a cocky grin on his face. "Ya miss me?"
"Well you seem to be in a better mood," Akane smiled back, letting Ranma squeeze past to take his seat. "What happened?"
"What can I say?" Ranma said as he settled back down in his seat, "Once you give it a chance baseball can be a fun game. Oh, by the way I got these for you." Akane sqweed in delight as Ranma handed her the pennants, flags, and other souvieners he'd gathered. There was even a stuffed tiger with a baseball jersey and bat. "You shouldn't have!" She giggled.
"Probably not," Ranma agreed with a grin. Then turned around as he was tapped on the shoulder. "Oy! Whats up?" He asked the kid leaning over from behind him again.
"Are you a Mister again Lady?" The kid asked curiously, still holding the soda can from earlier.
"I'M A- Oh why do I even bother..." Ranma's head sunk as he turned back around. Akane hugged him around the shoulders both in thanks and in sympathy.
By this time the Fifth Inning had come around. At the top of the Inning the Giants hit a single, then a home run into right field, making the score 2-0 Giants leading. The afternoon heat was starting to cool down as the sun was settling lower in the sky. Ranma noted how tense the crowd was growing. Akane was leaning forward herself, her hands folded in front of her chin as she watched the field with a intensity Ranma had rarely seen from her outside the dojo. "It's looking bad isn't it?" He asked.
Akane glanced up, Smiling ruefully at Ranma's curious expresion. "Well, there's still four more innings, but the Giants are being really good with their defense, they're keeping the Tigers from scoring. Somethings going to have to change
4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
