A/N: I haven't taken much martial arts, so bare with me here. However, I love fights!
. l i g h t s .
SunshineGirl09
Characters do not belong to me.
Chapter 2: Meet the Pursuers
The morning light shone through my room as I slowly glanced over at my clock. 7:00 AM. Perfect. I had time to get up, eat, dress myself, and probably ten minutes of leisure time that would most likely include stretching out my muscles.
Sighing, I flipped off the covers and touched the cold floor with my bare feet.
Cold.
Shivering, I pulled them back up to my chest, sitting upright on my bed, finally recalling the "events" of the previous day. Great.
I groaned in protest thinking about my current predicament. An arranged marriage. Nothing could possibly be worse. I'd never thought that my father would do such a thing. Really I didn't think he would choose me either ... of all people it was me. The only girl in Japan who hated boys. And I didn't just "hate" them. I hated them with an UNDYING and BURNING passion that words really could not describe. If you're wondering why the boys at my school were a spectacular example. Nothing outlined my hatred more than an arranged marriage set up by my father to a guy that isn't humane.
Finally deciding that sulking in my room would result in nothing positive, I started using my brain and shoved my feet into yellow fuzzy slippers that were by my nightstand. They matched my yellow pajamas perfectly, making me feel like a kid again ... almost. I was sixteen and had to get some priorities straight. Starting with Ranma.
Grasping the door handle, I prepared myself mentally for a rough day that was supposed to be close ahead. It was like I could see the sign in my head that read Road Block! Take Detour ... PS It might be a long detour with bumps in the road that might inexplicably cause you to fall over. The PS was in fine, fine print.
This would be ... interesting.
I walked down the hallway, my hand trailing the railing. It was really just me being lazy. I had faint memories of my mom telling me to sit up with good posture.
"Akane," She would coo. "Sit up straight, honey."
The memories were so distant and-
"Ow!" A heavy weight crashed into me. I was shoved into the railing before retaliating.
Spinning around, I noticed it was Ranma and raised my fist.
"Watch where you're going!" I scolded angrily.
He scoffed, crossing his arms stubbornly ... which bothered me a lot.
"It's not my fault." he grumbled, averting his eyes from mine. "You're so big you're hard to miss!"
"What was that?" I demanded, attempting to kick him in the shin, my foot barely missing.
I'd never been so pissed because of a boy before. Just looking at Ranma made my blood boil with annoyance. He just pissed me off, plain and simple.
"Oi watch it!" Ranma called, snatching his leg away in the nick of time. "Macho chick!"
Before I could pummel him into the core of the earth a yawn escaped from behind me.
"I see you two are already getting along nicely." Nabiki rubbed her eyes then stretched. "You know it's seven in the morning right?"
"Yes." I replied tonelessly, still glaring at my "fiance" with darting eyes.
Ranma just stuck out his tongue, retorting, "No way I'm marrying a tomboy like you!"
I snapped my head around, turning sharply on my feet, pretending it didn't hurt as much as it did. Though I hated boys, I couldn't help but take their stupid, selfish opinions into consideration. Ranma was right. I had large hips and not a very big chest to proportion it out. My thighs would look better if they matched the rest of my body. Small waist, medium sized boobs, large hips and normal thighs. The combo didn't example complement each other nicely.
"Just shut up." I muttered, steaming.
"Get all mad about it," Ranma mumbled, following me down the steps.
From the corner of my eye I noticed Nabiki blink a few times then shrug. Of course she wasn't interested in my sticky situation ... it didn't involve money whatsoever. There was something that you should know about her ... she was a schemer. And most times she'll pretend to take notice to your feelings, helping you out, but there's always a price and she'll always be ztrying to earn a profit. We love each other but sometimes I just want to strangle her.
Kasumi had already prepared to bowls of rice for Ranma and I. They were steaming on the table, right next to each other. I was a bit mad that they were and was reluctant to sit down next to him but slowly got over while I ate, realizing how hungry I was.
"So why are you up anyways?" I asked him, not making eye contact.
"I'm going to ... oi Pops where am I going?" Ranma called to his father who was somewhere in the kitchen with Kasumi.
"School!" Genma shouted.
Ranma nodded then suddenly stopped.
"Whoa wait what?" He cried.
"Slow," I muttered but then realization dawned on me. "NO!"
"Tch." Ranma commented. "Slow." He repeated.
I gave him a death glare but ignored his annoying remark. I was just focused on how troublesome this would be. Ranma going to my school. Or at least I assumed he was going to attend Furinkan unless he was going to St. Bacchus, the all girls school.
Psh. I wish.
I was so engulfed in eating, I hadn't even realized Ranma tackling his dad, telling him he didn't "need to go to school" he needed to "train". Chuckling to myself, I scoffed. He was talking. That boy needed an education. I hadn't even seen him in martial arts anyways. He probably wasn't even that good.
There was a sudden splash that made me drop my chopsticks on my plate.
"OI! POPS! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" A familiar female voice entered my ears and they perked.
I peeked outside and found the redhead girl standing by the pond, drenched and totally giving Genma the evil eye. Then without further notice, she took the man by the arm and launched him into the pool of water with great strength.
He crashed, submerging in the water and surfacing black and white. The panda.
Genma held up a sign.
That wasn't nice.
Ranma didn't respond, spitting out extra water from his mouth. He walked to the table and took the seat next to me, continuing to eat as he dripped into his rice. I wanted to feel bad for him but was still pissed about earlier so my heart hadn't really found any room for pity, especially since he was eating sloppily, spilling rice all over the table.
Kasumi then entered the room with a steaming pot of boiling water.
"Ranma-kun?" She suggested.
It sounded weird, her calling a "girl" with the honorific "kun".
Ranma took the pot and cleared his throat.
"Man this ain't cool." He muttered, dumping the water on his head, nearly squealing at the hot liquid.
But when the steam cleared he was a boy again nonetheless, which left me in a bit of disappointment, knowing I didn't hate him as much in his girl form. Maybe it was just because looking at guys pissed me off. They seem nice at first but trust me. They're all animals on the inside. They suck.
"Shouldn't you get going?" Kasumi asked me, glancing at the clock, wearing her same smile.
I blinked then looked at the time, seeing it was almost eight.
"Gak!" I cried, springing upward.
Ranma looked at me with a funny expression that I successfully ignored and dashed to the kitchen.
I placed the bowl by the sink, picking up my book bag that hung by the back door and jogged upstairs. It took me about a minute to put on my school uniform. I was in such a hurry that I actually forgot to brush my hair, which I regretted later. It was hard when it was so long. It'd be tangled by the end of the day ... annoyingly. I did it all for Tofu-sensei but I didn't think he noticed me anymore.
Nearly running into Ranma, I ran out the door, motioning him to follow.
"Well you don't wanna be late right?" I asked him.
"Oh right." He ran after me.
"Ittekimasu!" I called as I left the gate, Ranma following.
While we walked, it took me a moment to realized that he was walking along the top of the fence. It caught my attention slightly. I had done it before but half the time I lost my balance after a couple of minutes but he was doing it the whole way ... naturally too. It seemed no problem.
I hate to admit it but that's a bit impressive ...
"Don't fall," I warned, not even caring if he responded. Making conversation wasn't something I felt like doing. However, I didn't want him to think I was mute.
"Tch." Ranma only replied, walking farther. "So how far is it anyways?"
I sighed, looking off in the distance.
"You'll now when you see a stampede." I assured him, rolling out my shoulders and doing the stretches that never made their way into my morning routine.
Ranma sweat dropped A/N: Anime style
"What's that supposed to mean?" He questioned, looking down at me.
"You'll figure it out!" I snapped. "God ..."
Ranma scowled, crossing his arms.
"So uncute."
The words hurt but I ignored them shrugging my shoulders. I couldn't let this jerk get to me ... I was a martial artist, strong and -
"Baka." I answered, loud enough for him to hear.
Well, ignoring him wouldn't really cut it. My anger normally took over and I was trying to control it but ...
"Weirdo!" Ranma shot back.
"Pig head!" I responded, sticking out my tongue for emphasis.
Before Ranma could reply to my immature remark, there were sounds of running and dust was being kicked up. In front of us was the Furinkan gate, with a hundred boys from various sports running straight at us at full speed.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Ranma cried.
I drew in a breath.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Ranma, perfectly fine with a girl dealing with the stampede, sat on the wall and observed.
Closing my eyes for an instant, I gathered my energy to the core of my body to focus. Opening them, I went for the tennis player who was going to strike the soonest. I drew my elbow back and dug it into his gut, knowing that there was a boy, number 27 to be exact, from the football team right behind him, so I brought my leg around, crashing my kneecap into his shoulder blade. As my foot followed through, I brought my book bag up, it rammed into a baseball player's chin, sending him flying back. With my bag soaring upwards and back from the blow, it hit someone else's shoulder from behind me, also knocking him back into another boy who also stumbled over.
This was so routine for me, that I hadn't even heard their "warrior battle cries".
Ahem:
"AKANE GO OUT WITH ME!"
"Shrivel up and DIE!" I clenched my hand into a fist, uppercutting a boy to God knows where.
Panting heavily, I watched the dust clear and no one remained.
Something was off.
"Strange," I stood straight. "Where's Kuno?" I murmured to myself.
Behind me I heard Ranma sigh.
"Not bad." he commented. "But it ain't that cute when a girl beats the shit outta guys."
I bit my lip, finally letting my anger get the better of me ... it did that sometimes and just got out.
Swinging my fist behind my hand and thrusting it forward, I aimed for Ranma's head, only finding him dodging it quick and swiftly ... skillfully. Another punch ... he moved. And another. I backed him up into a wall and this time instead of moving the the side, he ducked, allowing my fist to crash into the stone wall, sending a rippling crack through it.
"Ow!" I cried, grabbing my throbbing hand.
It felt like every bone I had inside of it just snapped.
Ranma shrugged.
"You brought it upon yourself." He informed me. "Macho ..."
"What was that?" I demanded, only to be interrupted by the bell.
"Oi what's that?" Ranma asked, indicating the bell.
I felt my face turn white.
"The ... bell ... dammit!" I cursed, grabbing his reluctant arm. "We have to hurry."
Ranma was making it no easier with his dragging feet. It made me more pissed because I was pretty sure he could run faster than that, considering his fast, reflexive dodging skills when it comes to avoiding my punches.
I had never been late to class and I didn't want it to start now.
"So who were those guys?" Ranma inquired, glancing around as we ran to class.
"The boys who like me." I remarked, regretting my words the moment I said them.
Ranma snorted. "Don't know why they like a violent girl like you."
Of course it was going to leave me an insult. I never should've said anything.
"It's funny that all your pursuers are jocks." Ranma added in thought.
I furrowed my eyebrow.
Ranma was getting more annoying by the second. I really didn't want him here, I never did. I didn't want him to be talking to me or making me late for class. He was doing nothing but causing me problems and there was no possible way a marriage would ever work out between us.
"Don't be such a goody-two-shoes." Ranma grumbled.
I was delighted at the fact that we wouldn't be late, realizing that our teacher hadn't arrived yet. However, I wasn't delighted by the fact that the moment I walked into the classroom, a kid demanded, "Who's that boy?"
Then it all unfolded.
"Akane ... with a boy?"
"Ne, Akane, who is it?"
"Tell us!"
"Yeah-"
I immediately released Ranma's arm to prevent anymore embarrassment but was proven wrong when Nabiki stopped by the door, behind Ranma and I. If she was visiting me it couldn't be good. She was probably bribing someone for money or-
"Tendo Akane!" A voice cried from behind me.
I cringed, knowing who it belonged to.
Kuno.
"Is it true?" he cried. "My sweet Akane?"
My face turned red from embarrassment, not responding. This was definitely not what I had wanted. I hadn't even calculated the risks before I went to school.
"Hey Akane," Ranma tapped my shoulder, forcing me to turn and face Kuno and him. "Who's that?"
Kuno's eyes widened in amazement, grabbing my arm and pulling me to his chest while he talked to Ranma.
"I am Tatewaki Kuno, age 17-"
"And ..." Ranma interrupted boredly, making me roll my eyes, getting ready for Kuno to burst out into speech.
"You cannot be her fiance ... are you?" Kuno asked loudly.
Ranma opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Nabiki, standing behind Kuno.
"Yep!" She answered.
I groaned, knowing this couldn't be good. It wouldn't be long before this spread around the entire school. My classmates were already starting to "Oo" and "Ah" which was bothering me immensely. I was only sixteen and so was Ranma. Being betrothed at this age was almost preposterous.
Feeling an uproar about to happen, I shoved my palm into Kuno's jaw, causing him to drop me.
I stepped back, standing by Ranma, dusting myself off.
"Violent much?" Ranma questioned.
I crushed his foot with mine, making him squeal and leap away.
"Definitely violent!" Ranma concluded. "Who would ever want an uncute girl like you as their wife?"
I just replied with my tongue and several sounds that included "Nnnn!"
Kuno pulled out his kantana from where only God knows he kept it under his robes and pointed it at Ranma's throat.
"When is this wedding?" Kuno was speaking directly to Nabiki.
My sister coughed a few times.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat. "Pay me first. Then you can get more information."
Kuno blinked and looked at me then at Ranma, obviously having a mental breakdown in his head picturing the two of us together.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets and pulled out 3,000 yen, plopping it into Nabiki's hand. She counted it fast as if she had practiced (which she probably had) and then nodded in confirmation.
"It's is not decided yet but-"
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Someone cried.
Ranma sighed, turning around, my eyes also following.
A boy with short black hair had piped up, crossing his arms.
"Why should the new guy get Akane?" he demanded.
Ranma scoffed.
"Get?" He repeated. "You can have her."
"Oi!" I cried, pissed off. "Don't just give me away! I'm not for sale or anything!"
"You want to be with him?" Someone asked.
"I don't want to be with anybody!" I remarked, pouting and distributing my weight to one of my hips.
Before I could elaborate on what I meant there was a ringing sound that went off at the end of the hallway.
Ranma's ears perked and his eyes widened.
"A bicycl-" My fiance cut me off by shoving my shoulders into the ground, making me duck.
A bike flew straight over my head and skidded to the stop in the middle of the room.
"Didn't do it for you." Ranma mumbled, focusing on the new arrival, gulping.
I glanced upwards and saw a flash of purple ... no blue. Purple-blue long hair. It was a girl wearing oriental clothing who was sitting on the bike, ringing the bell an extra time for emphasis, her eyes blazing and a smirk on her face.
Raising one eyebrow, I elbowed Ranma.
"And who is she?" I asked him.
Ranma sighed.
"You don't want to know."
Everyone watched the girl as she greeted Ranma.
"Ni hao. Wo ai ni!"
A/N: Ahh! Somewhat cliff hanger. Lolz sorry. So much going on in my life I didn't update very quickly. Anyways, because the story line is similar to the original series, I'm changing the reasons Ranma's fiances are after him and the reasons they're all holding grudges. I'll change the scenes too like this and MWAHAHA! Create my own fluff :) Like always XD So please guys, Read and Review !
P.S. Wo Ai Ni means I love you XD I take Chinese in school! Three years baby!