Chapter 1: Thoughts of a Doctor (Tofu)
Ranma waited nervously downstairs with his entourage. Daisuke and Hiroshi were watching the mighty Saotome sweat waiting for his date. Soun and Genma were playing Go again, but Soun kept glancing toward the stairs, giving Genma lots of time to cheat. Doctor Tofu was watching Nodoka fuss over Ranma as she made sure Akane's first sight of him was memorable. The Doc knew that Ranma was about to lose the war of first impressions; he was just hoping second place wouldn't pass out though. Still, the young man cut quite the dashing figure. The suit they bought for him last weekend was cut very well, and showed off his musculature nicely. Akane should be impressed at least.
Doctor Tofu felt unsettled though. Much planning had gone into this evening, but something was wrong in the room. The Doc reviewed the players with him. Daisuke and Hiroshi were here to provide "moral support" for the victim. O.K. really, they were hoping to see Ranma pass out at his first sight of Akane, but they would settle for stunned. Hiroshi was out for revenge after Yuka surprised him on his first date with her and Ranma (and Daisuke) ribbed Hiroshi for a week afterward. Daisuke just wanted something to hold over Ranma's head (of course, what Daisuke was really doing was ensuring a rough time on his first date, but never mind). However, the boys wanted the date to happen and were not the problem.
That left the parents. Soun looked as he should. It was never easy watching your youngest grow up, but he wanted Akane to be happy, so there was no issue there. Nodoka wanted her son to marry Akane as fast as possible, and produce grandchildren. Tofu wasn't sure what was behind that thought train, but it make him uneasy – he would have to make sure Nodoka didn't try and hijack the date into a love-hotel (she had already tried once). Tofu watched Genma the most though; something was wrong there, but what? Genma looked and acted like his normal self staying at the Go board. Why should that alarm Tofu? It wasn't as if Tofu wanted Genma to give Ranma advice. The less the part time panda said, the better. It was somewhat surprising that the man was so quiet though…
"Oh, hell" Tofu thought. "He's planning something. Normally, Genma would be up front trying to take control of the stage. He's letting things roll though, biding his time, and I need to be elsewhere, so I can't stop him. Great. I need to block him somehow. Who do I have free?"
Tofu ran through everyone in the know. Hiroshi and Yuka were going on their own date shortly after Akane and Ranma left, so they were out. Daisuke and Sayuri were not up to the task without the other half of the quartet – Genma could side step them easily. Kasumi would be needed elsewhere. Hinako would tire early due to her child-like state and have to head home soon, so she wouldn't be of help.
"That leaves Nabiki," Tofu thoughts finished. "It has to be her. Trouble is, she might get too creative. She wants to get even with Genma for his plot to steal the Tendo home." The doctor rubbed his eyes. "Actually, I'm sure he's still plotting it." He sighed to himself. "I cannot pull any of the other players until later. I'm going to have to talk to Nabiki and trust her until I can send reinforcements. So be it…"
As he made his decision, Tofu heard a door upstairs open and the ladies trooped down the stairs. Ms. Hinako was first, practically bouncing down the stairs. Kasumi was next and was wearing her ever-present smile. Sayuri and Yuka followed grinning mischievously at Ranma and seemed to be taunting the sacrificial male. Nabiki was the last down the stairs with her well known smirk. She waited until the other ladies had made their way into the room, and then addressed everyone: "Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me great pleasure to present Miss Akane Tendo." Tofu watched as Akane stepped gracefully down the stairs. He always knew the young lady was pretty, but even he was surprised by how well she cleaned up. While he felt that his own bride-to-be had her sister beat, it was close – very close. Tofu let out an involuntary whistle only to have Kasumi nudge him with her elbow. Thank heavens his fiancée wasn't the jealous type. There was a crash as Daisuke hit the ground, surprising Tofu again. "Please!" the Doctor prayed. "Please don't let him have a crush on Akane too!" Tofu could see Hiroshi staring resolutely at Yuka, determined not to wreck his own date.
Tofu watched as the parents in the room reacted for a different reason. The Doc heard the Go board hit the ground as Soun staggered to his feet, watching his dead wife's re-incarnation stand before him. Nodoka had gone pale and brought her hands to her face. She was staring at Akane in surprise and a little awe murmuring: "She looks just like her." Genma had also gone very pale and seemed to be swallowing hard in terror.
The Doc looked at Ranma and Akane with a growing unease. Ranma seemed to be carved in ice and fear was showing in Akane eyes. Tofu recognized what was happening but resisted the urge to interfere – the couple had to work this out. If they couldn't start trusting each other, there was no point in continuing with the date. Tofu began praying again. Suddenly, Ranma moved forward and dropped to one knee gracefully, bowing his head to the elegant woman. The shape-shifter spoke in over-blown tones: "My dear lady, never have I seen anyone as beautiful and stunning as you." Then the young man raised his face and gazed adoringly at his fiancée. Ranma seemed to be saying something else, but Tofu couldn't quite make it out. Whatever it was caused Akane to smile gently in return. As Ranma rose to his feet again, Akane hurled herself into Ranma's arms whispering something into his ear.
Tofu seemed to hear a sound in the back of his head, like a key clicking in a lock. He found that he had been unconsciously holding his breath, so he let it out. Kasumi glanced at him and he winked at her. She smiled and watched the young couple again. "It's going to work," Tofu thought to himself. "The boy has finally grown enough to be a young man. Whatever happens tonight, he's ready for it, and so is she…"
Tofu woke Daisuke using smelling salts. The Doc was tempted to let him sleep until after Ranma and Akane left, but he needed the young man's assistance with the next part of the vanishing act. As it was, things were just under control. The three parents were in a stunned state caused by Akane's adult appearance. Apparently she looked enough like her mother to pass as a twin. Tofu had not known Kimiko until she was about 30 or so, but he could see a strong resemblance between the two women. Tofu had no idea why Soun wasn't balling his eyes out, but he'd take what he could get. Yuka and Hiroshi were bent down next to the Doctor; Sayuri was on the ground laughing. Ranma and Akane were talking to each other quietly, exchanging compliments, blushing a little, and ignoring everyone else. Kasumi was watching them, looking like she was seeing her fondest dream come true. There was no sign of Hinako or Nabiki.
Gradually, Daisuke came around. The young man sat up slowly and held his head. He looked up at Ranma and Akane and then held his head again. "When the hell did she grow up?" he asked. Then he looked at Yuka and Hiroshi, "Hell, when did we all start growing up?"
"Ah, that's what got you," Tofu said with sudden understanding. "Sorry, Daisuke. You're just like the rest of us. You get there one day at a time." Daisuke sighed. "For what is worth, you never have to grow up completely. I know I haven't yet," added Tofu.
"Trust me on this, Daisuke," Kasumi added. She had approached the group quietly, taking time to bop Sayuri lightly on the head. "Tofu definitely hasn't grown up yet." Her fiancé shot her a grin.
"We can talk about this later. Right now though, we need Daisuke the Trickster," Tofu continued. "Think you can get up now?" Daisuke nodded his head. Hiroshi and Tofu helped him up and into the kitchen. Daisuke grabbed some milk and seem to shake off the worse of his indisposition. He then began to check the wiring he set up earlier. Tofu watched him for a minute, noting the confidence flowing back into the young man. Satisfied with what he saw, the Doctor picked up the phone and called the limo company to send the car. Then he went out into the main room where Kasumi was back watching Ranma and Akane. He tapped Kasumi on the shoulder and then tapped his watch when he had her attention. She nodded and approached the young couple. Meanwhile Tofu went to the front door where the second couple waited. The Doc's next job was to give this couple cover as they ran to the limousine in the middle of Daisuke's pyrotechnic display.
Tofu sensed the watchers studying the Tendo house as the limousine car approached. The gate crashers adjusted themselves to spring into action knowing they would only have one chance at this. The car stopped just outside the gates of the complex and the driver, a huge hulk of a man, got out. He stepped around to the passenger door and opened it, and then looked at the house. The watchers did likewise. Of course, had they continued to pay attention to the driver, they would have seen the driver take out a pair of dark glasses and place them on his face. Suddenly, the front yard lit up like a supernova as hundreds of flash flares went off at once, blinding everyone for about five seconds. Tofu's couple, wearing dark sunglasses, ran straight down the path. There was the sound of a car door slamming. Tofu watched the second volley of flash flares fire as the driver opened his door and climbed in fast, closing the door quickly. At the third volley, Tofu watched the car peel out. Then he heard the shouts:
"NO!"
"AIREN!"
"BELOVED! COME BACK"
"I WILL RESCUE YOU, MY FIERCE TIGERESS!"
As he watched, four people staggered into the street and tried to clear their collective heads. Then they all tore off after the car, hoping the streets of Nerima would slow it up long enough to at least track the vehicle. The Doc continued to watch as several other teenagers also wandered into view and shook off the blindness, but they were there only to see history made. As the others watched the four chase after the limo, they began to chuckle and then to laugh. Many of them began swapping money with others while bragging and quipping with each other:
"I told you they would pull it off."
"Whoa, he actually grew up."
"Told you she was straight!"
"I bet Daisuke was behind the flash flares."
"What a bunch of losers. They lost, get over it."
The doctor noticed older people hiding in the shadows trying not to be seen. They were bookies and gamblers who had bet on the Nerima Fiancée Wars. Some of them were very happy at the scene in front of them, but many more were very angry. All of them were determined to shape tonight's outcome. Fortunately, the doctor was aware of them and had included them in his plans. That and the reinforcements the gamblers would bring with them. After all, four people were hardly going to keep all of Tofu's troops busy. Tofu amused himself with the thought for a moment and then got back to business; he had one couple sent on their way safely. Now he just had to catch up to Ranma and Akane.
