Equal Romance – Ranma ½
Equal Romance – Ranma ½
By M.A.L.V.
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is owned by Rumiko Takahashi. The characters used in this story are borrowed without permission and is not intended to be commercialized in any form.
Notes:
Bold Letters denote spoken words.
(Encased Letters denote character thoughts.)
Italicized Letters denote translated words
Underlined Letters denote written signs.
TRAIN GOING TO YOKOHAMA
Akane Tendo has always been an independent and strong girl. She never needed anyone's help in taking care of her own problems, that is until HE arrived. When he entered her life it seems he always makes it a point to butt in with her problems as if its his own. She never asks him to but he always does, even if she insists that he shouldn't. A flood of memories flashed on her mind.
"Akane is my fiancée, if you touch her… I'll kill you!!"
"Akane is mine!! AND SHE'S ENGAGED TO MEEEE!!"
"I wanted to tell you that I love you!!"
(Did I really hear that from him?) she thought to herself.
The train finally stopped and she was the last person to exit. Looking around, she noticed that very few people were on the station, considering its proximity to Mt. Fuji, a very well-known tourist spot. In fact most people were in a hurry to exit the station, and there were no guards who usually patrol the platforms. As she climbed the exit stairs, Akane felt her hair stand on end. Immediately, she posed for battle and looked at her surroundings. (That's odd… I can definitely feel someone's here but I can't see anyone...). After several battle-ready steps, she lowered her guard and hurriedly climbed out of the station.
"I must be getting exhausted…" she whispered to herself.
Inside the empty station, a dark mist formed and hissed, "Her battle aura will do quite nicely…"
TENDO RESIDENCE
A pig-tailed figure leaps over the fence and lands on the stone near the koi pond. His shoulders is noticeably slumped and his eyes reveal his fatigue. He was out all-night trying to find her but to no avail. He walked towards the house and is greeted by a young woman with an icy stare, "Hello Ranma."
"Huh? Oh it's just you Nabiki."
"I take it you were looking for Akane?"
He shrugged and proceeded towards the guestroom. (I need to get some sleep, she can do whatever she wants for all I care!! It's not like I did something wrong or anything…)
"You won't find her here in Nerima you know?"
He stopped and looked at the girl quizzically. "D-do you know where she went?"
The girl smiled and stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe…"
NEKOHANTEN
A boy can be seen sweeping the area near the famous Cat Café. It was still very early but he decided to start his chores already since he's already awake. On most days, the other two residents of the Café would still be asleep but it wasn't like that today. The boy heard footsteps descending down the stairs from inside the Café. He adjusted his thick glasses and peeked from the store window. A purple-haired girl can be seen carrying a small backpack and obviously trying to walk discreetly. She was about to exit to the door when he finally made his presence known, "Good Morning my darling Shampoo!!"
"AAIIIYYAAA!!" she leaped in surprise. "Stupid Mousse!! Why you scare me like that!!" she whispered with an angry gaze.
"I'm sorry. But why are you already up? And why are you whispering?" he asked her with his normal voice volume.
"Shampoo go somewhere today so need to wake up early. I didn't want to wake you or great-grandmother."
"Oh? Where are you going? I'll come with you," the boy answered with glee.
The girl was obviously annoyed at the notion, "NO! Shampoo go alone, no need help from Mousse. And great-grandmother need help in Café today."
He was about to answer back but cold water was splashed in his face. Immediately, the long-haired boy disappeared leaving only his clothes and a quacking duck in his place. "QUACK… QUACK…"
Before the duck could fly out of the clothes, the Amazon girl trapped it with a wooden cage. "Sorry Mousse but Shampoo cannot allow you to interfere. This is for Ranma." And with that, she took a bike parked by the side of the building and pedaled away.
The duck quacked loudly as the girl disappeared around the corner. (Ranma again!! If it takes me my life, I will defeat Ranma and claim you as my bride, Shampoo.)
FUJIYAMA ANCESTRAL HOTEL, NEAR MT. FUJI
As Akane entered the mansion, a short and cheeky-faced butler greeted her, "Good Morning, Miss! Akane Tendo, I presume?"
She nodded her head to confirm her identity and then showed him her I.D. He smiled at her and stepped aside while gesturing her to proceed to the living room. She walked slowly and instinctively looked around the vicinity. The mansion was obviously old but well-kept. It still had the styles of architectural design made during the medieval era, when it was originally built. The paintings that hung on the walls were famous masterpieces of classical Japanese artists. Whoever owned the mansion, made sure that an ordinary person walking inside would be intimidated. Akane, however, was far from ordinary. She did marvel at the luxurious surroundings but mostly her mind was calculating what she can grab and use in case she ever got into a fight inside the mansion.
It was the butler's question that broke her reverie, "So why did Ms. Nabiki bestow you her prize?"
"Huh? You mean this vacation package was something that she won?"
"She didn't tell you? Not that I would be surprised but for three years she would always win a bet against the owner of this mansion, and the owner is a very careful gambler, but somehow Ms. Nabiki always get to win a week long vacation. So, we know a little bit about Ms. Nabiki's uhhmm... skills. Every year she would come here with only a purse but when her vacation is over, it would take 3 bell boys to help her with all the stuff she won from bets and blackmails against the other customers. I am surprised that she gave you her slot this year though."
(So that's why…) She smiled at the man and replied, "I think she thought she owed me something, that's why she let me take her place." (Maybe she felt guilty for inviting all those who wrecked the wedding…)
The butler looked confused, "You mean she lost a bet to you?"
Akane laughed at the butler's notion, "No… It's not like that. She just did something that she thinks she needs to make up to me, and so here I am."
"I take it you're not like your sister? As in the gambling-money-loving-type?"
"Hahaha… No! I'm here to unwind and forget my troubles." (To forget all about my insensitive, handsome, jerk of a fiancé…) (Did I just say handsome?)
The short cheeky man rang the bell and two tall uniformed boys came running. As they were about to lead the short-haired girl to her room, the butler spoke up, "This place is the right place for you then Ms. Akane… You can forget the things that you need to forget here, but in my experience… this place is also a place where you can remember the things that you may have forgotten."
She looked at him with a confused gaze. (Did Nabiki say something to him?)
"Just call the front desk if you need any assistance Ms. Akane," the butler smiled and then proceeded back towards the entrance. With that the bellboys waved for her to follow them to her suite.
When the bellboys finally left her alone, she slumped down on her bed and sighed heavily, "Ranma…" She didn't want to think about him but that apparently is impossible to do for her mind doesn't agree with her as it filled her with his visions of his face and recalled memories of being with him. (I won't get bothered by HIM… I'll enjoy this vacation and forget all about Ranma… I'm going to have a good time without him… and… and… miss him the entire time…) She closed her eyes and as sleep claimed her, the last thoughts on her mind was that of pig-tailed boy holding her closely and whispering three words in her ears.
It was still early in the morning but the girl was already fast asleep due to the exhaustive traveling she did. Usually, morning light brightens the suite but the day was unusually dark. From the open window, crept a shadowy mist, inching its way to the slumbering young woman. It engulfed the sleeping figure without a sound, and after a few seconds of darkness, the mist cleared and the day brightened again. On the bed, the short-haired girl still lay asleep, dreaming the same thoughts that she had before she slept.
NERIMA TRAIN STATION
The train was late and hundreds of passengers were already irritable, but not as much as a certain pig-tailed martial artist. (Geez… Why does the train have to be late? Today of all times!!) He already knew where his missing fiancée went, courtesy of her sister. (Why didn't she tell me she was going on a vacation? I could've gone with her… Not that she would've wanted me to…) "WHERE THE HECK IS THE TRAIN!?"
An announcement was heard from the public address system, "We do apologize for the inconvenience. The train in Yokohama has halted. Therefore, all departing trains going to Yokohama is temporarily suspended, until further noticed. Thank you."
(Greaaaatttt!! Just my luck… Now I have to find another way to get there…) He exited the station and started walking south, towards Kanagawa prefecture where Yokohama is located. It wasn't long before he heard a cry behind him, "RANMA SAOTOME!! YOU FIEND!!"
A tall young man was running towards him carrying a bokken, and already posed for an attack. "Where have you taken the virtuous Akane Tendo?" the kendoist asked as he swung his sword aimed at the pig-tailed boy.
"I didn't take her anywhere, Kuno!!" he cried back while dodging the continuous slashes directed at him. Had it been a normal day, Ranma would have no problem with Kuno but he still had no sleep from looking all night for Akane. He was supposed to get some rest earlier, but upon learning Akane's whereabouts from Nabiki, he felt that he can rest after he found her. Another swing of the bokken slashed a part of his sleeve, but he also connected with a kick on his attacker's chin.
Kuno backed away to catch his breath, he noticed Ranma's weary figure, "What's wrong Saotome? Do you finally realize that the great Tatewaki Kuno is more than a match for you?"
Ranma dropped his pack while trying to think of a way out. (I can't fight him like this, I'd definitely lose…) Behind Kuno, he noticed that the fence he usually walked on top on the way to school. He knew behind was the water canal. An idea came to his mind, and he posed for an attack.
Becoming aware of his pose, Kuno made a defensive stance. "You would be a foolish man if you think you can defeat me, for I am called—" before he could finish the sentence, Ranma leaped towards him with hands readied for a barrage of punches. Instantly, Kuno countered by making a whirlwind from his bokken. As he raised his sword, the whirlwind carried the attacker upwards and thrown him behind the kendoist. Kuno smiled as he heard water splashing from behind.
With a final attack in mind, the swordsman leaped over the fence and landed on the water way. Much to his surprise, the pig-tailed boy was nowhere to be found but instead a pig-tailed girl can be seen covering her sleeve.
"PIG-TAILED GIRL!! Has that foul Saotome besmirched your heavenly form?"
The red-haired girl looked up on the young man and batting her eyelashes called out to him sweetly, "Oh Kuno!! Ranma stole something very special to me and then he ran off, leaving me here wounded."
"WHAT? WHY THAT DISHONORABLE PEASANT!! I WILL HUNT HIM DOWN AND RECLAIM YOUR HONOR, MY LOVE…"
"Thank you Kuno. Ranma said he will run off to Hokkaido and hide there from you…"
"HAH!! No doubt he feared the prowess of the Blue Thunder!! Fear not, pig-tailed girl… I will go to Hokkaido myself and smite that no-good knave with my own blade. Come my love and you will see first-hand my victory over that barbarian!!"
"NOOO!! I mean… I would rather wait here for your return as a damsel waits for her knight in shining armor…"
The swordsman swooned over the idea, "Ahhh… Your thoughts reveal how much romance you have kept in your heart for me, my darling… I will return victorious and with it, will be Ranma's defeat…"
"ooohhh… Kuno… There's also another thing I want to give you… for good luck…"
"Anything that comes from one as exquisite as you would be a gift from heaven itself. What is it my love?"
Ranma smiled sweetly and leaned closer to the young man, "But you first have to close your eyes…"
Drooling with the idea of a gift from the pig-tailed girl, Kuno closed his eyes quickly and inched closer. "No peeking…"
"Uh-huh…"
"Ready?"
He nodded in agreement. Immediately afterwards, a loud blow can be heard and a young man holding a bokken can be seen flying away from the waterway.
