Chapter 2: Accidents and Favor
Akane was on her way out of her apartment building. She wore her most formal outfit to look impressive for her job interview. It was her third interview for that week and so far, all her interviews were quite good. She made an effort on this particular interview because it was the first job that she really wants. A teaching profession, which includes a lot of benefits including the close proximity of the school, was really a tempting job. Besides, she could do the things that she loves which are being around children, teaching history and literature.
Her hair tied up on a bun and her make-up was perfect. Wearing her rose three-fourth polo shirt with a pink overcoat and a brown skirt, Akane looked like a model of a career-oriented magazine. Most of the men she encounters have their eyes focus on her especially on her long legs, which by then irritated her.
"Perverts…," she muttered as she walked pass on a group of men whom were grinning naughtily.
She stood at the cross-section of the street waiting for a truck to pass while making short glances on her watch checking for the time. Suddenly, a guy came running down from the corner looking rather frightened of something or someone that seemed to follow him, knocked her off. The guy landed on top of her with his hands on some of her delicate parts. For the onlookers, they were on a very uncomfortable position.
Immediately Akane's shade turned to red out of embarrassment and anger. Noticing this, the guy quickly stood up and apologize.
"I'm sorry, miss," said the guy then extending his hand to help Akane up.
Akane did not accept his hands. At that time, she was ten times pissed with the stranger. She felt embarrass, furious and harass all at the same time that she was confused on which of the emotions she should cater first. But as she saw the large stained on her shirt cause by the chocolate ice cream that the guy was once holding which he threw immediately after seeing the furious face of Akane, she saw her ideal job slipping away from her grasp.
"I'm really sorry, miss," the guy said again then taking a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off the stain.
"Don't come near me… Stay there! And don't ever touch me again. You've done enough damage to me for a whole day."
"Ok, I'll back off. You can use my hanky, here," extending his hand with the hanky to Akane, "Relax."
"Relax? How can I relax? I'm late for my job interview, I'm covered with your ice cream and I'm stuck with you whom is the most unlucky person I've known."
"Calm down, miss… first – maybe the job wasn't intended for you but if its meant to be then you'll have it even with this accident. Second, the stain can be clean with some bleaching or something. Lastly, I'm not unlucky. I don't believe in luck but I do believe in Karma but not luck. This thing happened because you are at the right place but at the wrong time."
"Well, thank you for your nice explanation. But I didn't ask any of it."
"I'm just explaining to you so that you may see things clearly."
"Well, too bad, I don't need it. And will you stop staring at me… jerk," Akane said catching his eyes staring at her.
"I heard that," he said while grinning hugely obviously amused with their bickering.
"So? You're not contented with jerk. Ok, then I'll call you stupid… Pervert would also fit for you… oh, what else?"
"That's enough lady. I don't intend to hurt a woman even those who are not acting like one."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing…"
"The nerve of you… condemning me for my improprieties when you, yourself is behaving ungentlemanly," she said with an infuriating voice.
"I don't want to argue with you anymore. Here is ten thousand yen. Would that be enough for the damage I caused or would you like some more?" he said dismissing Akane's argument.
"I don't need your money. Even if I don't have a job, I think I can still pay for my laundry."
"So why all the fuss? You don't want my apology and certainly not my money so what else do you want me to do?"
"Well, I want something like this," Akane brush her hands to the stain left on her shirt and rub it into the guys's shirt thus staining it.
"What the?"
"Sorry… Now we're even…," Akane laughs evilly before walking away.
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"What happen to you, honey? You look like a kid with ice cream stain all over him," Ukyou asked as she saw her favorite costumer with ice cream all over his shirt.
"I didn't intend to end up like this. It was an accident or rather she purposely did this after the accident."
"She? You mean there is another woman?"
"This is how it happened…," trying to explain, "I bought a scoop of chocolate ice cream on my way here. It was really hot so I thought that the ice cream could cool me off. While I was walking on the street, two stray cats were fighting in front of me… you know how… well, you know what I mean."
"Afraid of cats…," Ukyou continued with mirth on her eyes.
"Hey, it's not funny."
"I know but I can't help laughing about it..," she said in between her laughs. "So what happened next?" trying to get back to the story.
"I ran off the street and collided with this woman. My ice cream made a huge stain on her blouse and she was a bit pissed about it. I've apologized and even bribed her some money but she refuse to accept any of it…"
"So what does she want?"
"She thought that it wouldn't be fair if she let me get away without a scratch. First, she called me names which was really childish of her then she rubbed her dirty hands on me to get even…," Ranma said then motioning to his shirt.
"Really? Then I need to meet this woman then. She really have guts to have done this to you," Shampoo teased.
"I doubt that you would meet her. She's not from here… and I think she won't be coming back since she didn't appear on her job interview."
"Too bad. I was even excited to meet her."
"Ukyou?!?" the manager called out.
"Ok, honey… Now, I must go back. But before that, what is your order?"
"Beef Teriyaki and a bowl of rice."
"Is that all, sugar?"
"Yeah…"
"Beef Teriyaki and rice, coming up!"
"And Ukyou, stop calling me honey or sugar. You know I don't like it."
"I thought you like it, Ranma-honey," she said purposely teasing Ranma for a moment.
"No… I'm not comfortable with it."
"Ok, I"ll stop but you must help my friend."
"Sure. As long as it is possible and doesn't involve any cash. I'm quite low on that area right now."
"No, it doesn't. Can you help my friend get a job at your school. She's a fresh graduate and majors in History."
"Ok. So what's her name?"
"Tendo, Akane."
"I'll try my best but I won't promise. Don't expect anything, Ok?"
"Do not try, do it for me Ranma-honey."
"Ok. I get it, Ukyou," he said catching Ukyou's teasing smile.
"Ukyou!" the manager called again, the same time as the costumers came rushing.
"Coming! Do it, Ranma. Ok?" she demanded before leaving Ranma's table.
"Yeah… I will," Ranma answered then diverting his attention to the glass window which gives a clear view of the busy streets of Tokyo.
