Chapter III

The next day Ranma was sitting bored in class as usual. He was thinking that his life had been too calm lately, and he knew that this definately wasn't a good sign.

After the bell rang he and his perverted friends went to the corridor.Hiroshi and Daisuke were passing by.

"Hi Ranma haven't seen you around"Hiroshi greeted

"Yeah since we're in different classes we don't hang together as often anymore"Daisuke agreed.

"Hey guys we should definetely set something up.Do you know Komatsu and Hatta?They're from my new class"Ranma decided to introduce them.

"You're that guy who placed last in the nationals from our school aren't you?" Daisuke pointed at Hatta.

"You're Daisuke right?You've got a lot of nerve don't you ? You also were in the last 10 I think."Komatsu defended his friend

Ranma wasn't very confortable about this topic , since he also hadn't exactly been on top of that list.

"Eh...now come on guys , let's all just get along.You have a lot of hobbies in common I think. For instance Hiroshi weren't you crazy for some pics of Sugimoto?"

"Eh you mean these guys have them ?"Hiroshi and Daisuke said in unisson.

"Ha, sure thing !" Ranma laughed.

"Let's be buds then " Daisuke proposed.

Hatta and Komatsu exchanged glances.

"Oh well friends of Ranma are our friends right Hatta"Komatsu said , giving Ranma a wink.

They shaked hands with the other duo.

"Oh what have I done, now I have created a larger group of perverts" He thought. "Still , they're decent people."

"So Ranma have you gotten some action with Shampoo yet?" Hiroshi was eager to know.

"Eh who is Shampoo?"Hatta asked

"You mean you didn't tell them about her?Well , Shampoo is this busty Chinese Amazon who has the hots for Ranma" Daisuke told the other two boys

"And there's more , there's Ukyo and Kodachi too!They are also always fighting for him!"Hiroshi stated

"Argh you bastard you'll share the joy with your friends, won't you?!" Komatsu was screaming

" And didn't you know the best part, he's actually engaged because of family matters to Akane Tendo!And eventhough they're always fighting, there are rumors she also wants to ''become closer'' if you know what I mean"Hiroshi said with a cheesy smile.

Ranma chuckled.That was a huge newsflash for him, but he didn't bother with it.

Just as his friends were about to start bombing him with questions, a sudden guest appeared.Ranma was almost thankful because it interrupted the topic.Almost.

"Nihao Ranma "Shampoo attempted to give him one of her typical hugs, however he intercepted her hands ,and with a serious face told her to stop.

"Oh Airen I miss you so much ! You take me on date right?" Ranma knew that even if he refused she'd keep insisting for the rest of the day.

Then an idea popped in his head.

"Hey Shampoo, so do you know my new friends , Komatsu and Hatta?They're good people , just like Hiroshi and Daisuke"

They stared at her with a hungry look.

Shampoo had pretty bad memories of them , since no matter how much she hurt them they always tried to cop a feel or ask her on a date.

"Damn why does a noble man like Airen have to hang around such fiends"Shampoo thought in Mandarin.

"Allright Airen , I have to go do delivery now, see you soon!" She quickly said after seeing Hatta aiming at her with his camera.

"Man you're so lucky" "I'd hit it!" "You're such a moron ; go for it!" the boys filled Ranma with comments.

"Stop it already, I want nothing to do with her "
"You mean it's alright with you if we try our luck?" Komatsu and Hatta stared eagerly at Ranma.

"Yeah whatever." He knew it was hopeless, but at least they probably'd keep her some time away from him.

The bell rang, and they headed for the last class of the day.

Afterwards Komatsu approached him ." Hey Ranma I got free tickets to this cool disco Moebius, wanna come with us check on some babes?"

"Yeah sure he's in"Hatta said for him , giving him a ticket. "See ya at 9 pm."They bidded farewell

At first Ranma dismissed the idea of going out, but as he was walking through the corridor he overheard Hikaru talking to Ayukawa.
"So Madoka-san are you going out tonight?"Then let's meet at the usual place at 8."

Ranma cursed because he didn't find out exactly where they were going.

" Hey maybe delinquents hang out at discos?It's worth giving a shot" he thought.

Just then he realized he didn't really know how to dress for a disco. He considered whom he could ask for advice. His friends would make fun of him .

The Tendos?Better go to the disco naked he thought. His father? Ridiculous idea. Just then it hit him "Ucchan!! She'll understand me!"

When he arrived at the okonomyaki stand , he was promtly greeted by her.
"Hello Ranchan!What a shame we're in different classes !Want to grab something to eat ?"She offered

"Sure thing"
"So how are things going?"
"Well pretty calm lately, what about you?"
"Oh the classes are so lonely without you!You have to come here more often!"
"Yeah , I'll pass by. Now Ucchan, I need your help with something..."

After hearing his dilemma, she sadly said

"So all these fianceés aren't enough, you've got to go to discos too."
"It's not like that!It was a promise to friends!"
"Oh well allright sugar.Now here's what you gonna do..."

After being given a lesson on fashion , Ranma used the spare time he had to continue his training. He returned home for dinner , and then got himself dressed with great care.

"What's going on Saotome?Did somebody die?"Nabiki looked at him increduously.
"I am just going out"
"Ooooh a date?You hear Akane , Ranma is going on a date!"She said loudly on purpose

"No , I' m just going to hang around with some buddies."
"And you have dressed yourself so nicely for them.Are your female hormones finally kicking in?"She laughed at him.

"It's none of your business."

Just then Akane arrived.Ranma knew what was coming so he anticipated himself to her.

"No Akane I' m not going out on a date with anybody, I' m not trying to do something perverted, and I'm not going make trouble.Satisfied?" Without waiting for an answer he left. Akane just stood there trembling, and then started crying. "How can he be so mean!! And always so unfaithful?We're engaged aren't we?"Akane was letting a lot more out than usual.
"Don't worry Akane, he's a big jerk "Nabiki consoled her.

Ranma was walking the streets at night ,asking people for directions to Moebius.He was starting to get anxious. " Argh no reason to worry, I'm the best after all."He muttered unconvincingly.He bumped into Hatta along the way.

"Hey Ranma,Ranma over here! Come on , let's go" he looked really excited."So you ready to party?"
"Uh...yeah sure."
Komatsu was already waiting for them at the entrance. "Let's rock the whole night.""Yeah , that's right!"Hatta supported him.Ranma just nodded apprehensively.

Inside, Ranma was overhelmed. It was the typical disco setting, with an extreme variety of lights and loud music, still it was entirely new for him.

Komatsu and Hatta went to buy drinks, so this gave Ranma the opportunity to look around. After bumping in a lot of people while moving , Ranma caught a glimpse of Hikaru.

"Hikaru...this means ... Ayukawa should also be here"He thought happily.
"Ah Darling!I'm so happy you're here " She saw him. "Let's dance."
"And now...CHEEK TIME" The DJ announced.

It couldn't have been at a worst moment for Ranma.Just as Hikaru got closer and got her arms around him , he saw Ayukawa sitting on a couch, drinking a cocktail.After a while ,he saw her expression darken, when she noticed that they were together.

"Damn why now"He cursed innerly.It did get worse however. A random dude came to her and asked her for a dance, and to Ranma's surprise she accepted.

Seeing Ayukawa being held close by some other guy made him furious.He knew however that he had no right to interfere, since he was there with Hikaru.

Soon , he felt he couldn't watch this anymore.

"Hikaru ,I am not feeling very well, I need to go outside."
"Oh I'll come with you"She offered.He was grateful.

He really was surprised at his own reaction to what happend."Why did it hurt so much..."
After sitting outside for a while he felt like he had no desire to return there that night.

" What if they're still..."he thought bitterly

"Hikaru , thanks for coming with me, but I really think I'd better go home"

"Oh Darling, I wanted to dance with you..." "Well alright but promise we go on a date tomorrow"
Seeing her begging expression Ranma could not refuse.

"Then it's set , tomorrow 2 pm at the fountain in the nearby park!"She was very excited

"See you tomorrow Darling!"She happily said.

"Uh yeah see ya" "Damn why can't I ever refuse girls who're about to cry" He cursed.

In a pretty dark mood he went home , sneaking inside through the window to avoid sarcastic remarks from certain people

Note: Sorry for the rather short chapter, I will make up for it in the next one!
Thanks for the reviews to everybody.