Yet Another Scary Thought.
by David L. Battley Chapter 2 First Date.
All things he had done for purpose. To raise Akane and keep her safe and well fed, sure some things had to be sacrificed, but it was all for the best, right? His wife and his best friend had said they understood and that they had forgiven him, but not so much that he wasn't still sleeping in the guest room. Well, it was hardly that, more like a storage closet with things moved aside so he could lie down. His old friend didn't seem much for a good game of go, lately either. Well,
give them time, things would settle down. There was much to be gained,
after all.
This last thought crossed his mind as he looked at his son. He was so much like his mother in looks, which was a good thing, after all. At least he hadn't lost his hair, yet. He entered the dojo, watching Ranma practice; the boy was balancing a Ping-Pong ball on the edge of his bokken. Occasionally he would toss it into the air and hit it straight up a few times, always using the narrowest part, and catching it on the edge again. A good coordination drill, he knew, but he just couldn't help himself.
"That looks like a child's game."
Ranma's concentration didn't waver. He flicked the ball into the air again, hitting with the edge of the bokken as it came down. "Not..."
hit "as easy..." hit "as..." hit "it looks." This time he spun in place before catching it on the edge again.
Genma grinned. "Why don't you show me what else your mother has taught you?"
"Actually," Nodoka's voice came from off to the side, "Ranma has been developing his own moves and techniques for a while now. Ranma, show him that new one you've been practicing."
Ranma smiled and moved the bokken and ball in front of Genma, balanced in one hand at arm's length. Ranma let out a relaxing breath and with one sudden movement, Ranma's sword arm was straight up above his head,
the Ping-Pong ball fell cut neatly in two.
Nodoka applauded. Genma nodded his approval. "A very neat trick, but how is it useful in a fight?"
"Well, I'm still working on it." Ranma said sheepishly. "But a sudden,
seemingly unprepared strike would come in handy somewhere, right?"
"He based it off the 'six inch punch' he saw in the Bruce Lee documentary." Nodoka said proudly.
"How about sparring with your old man, eh? Let's see what you can do?"
"Sorry, Pop. Only a light workout, tonight. I have to be ready for my date."
"Oh, you're taking Akane out? That's good, son. I'm proud of you."
Ranma bit back his first remark. "N-not really, Pop." He spared a glance at his mother, "Hey, I'd better start getting ready. Don't want to be late." He left rather quickly.
Genma turned to Nodoka. "He's not going out with Akane? Who's he going out with?"
"Just another girl from school."
"I forbid it!" Genma exploded. "Nodoka, we have to stop the boy."
"Why?"
"'Why'!? Because he already has a fianc e, that's 'why'!"
"Ranma is capable enough to handle several girlfriends as well as a fianc e. Last I heard, over half the girls at school wanted a date with him. You should be proud that he is so manly."
Genma sighed and grit his teeth. He had forgotten his wife's concept of a true man. He worried for the future. "Dear." he tried again. "I am not talking about a girlfriend, I'm talking about a fianc e. Akane has a little higher priority than some girl he met at school. What would happen if Ranma fell in love with this girl? What would happen then, hmm?"
"Well, that girl would have to become his mistress, of course." she said matter-of-factly. Genma facefaulted. "Why has this got you so upset?"
Genma picked himself up off the floor. "Dear." Genma composed himself, "I realize Ranma doesn't exactly approve of our choice of fianc e for him. We don't need anything distracting him from getting married."
"Ranma will go through with it. He knows his duty."
"That's not the point!" Having reached the limit of his patience,
Genma stormed out of the dojo. He didn't like the direction that argument was going or what it might say about his own marriage. It was something he just didn't want to know.
He found Akane watching TV in the living room. "Ah, there you are,
Akane. Hurry up and get ready, you're going on a date."
"What? I am? With who?"
"Don't argue with me, girl!" Genma snapped. "Just do it."
"Sheesh, what bug crawled up his butt?" Akane said as Genma stormed off to find Ranma.
Genma looked in the boy's room, but couldn't find him. He went to the bath as he opened the door to the furo. A splash of cold water hit him in the face.
"Oops, sorry Pop. I didn't know you needed the bath." Ranma said.
"I'll just get out of your way."
"Grawr! Mur-graaw!" Genma-panda said, trying to get his son's attention, but Ranma was already gone. He was about to step into the furo only to find it drained. He reached for the hot water tap but it had been removed. He went out to find his son again or would if he could get his bulk through the door which was jammed to open only halfway.
Ranma ran over to Nabiki's room as soon as he was out of the bathroom and knocked on the door. Nabiki looked at Ranma who was still holding a towel around his waist, only taking the briefest glance at his chest in appreciation. He was only her little brother, after all.
"Hey, Nabiki. Pop's stuck in his panda form and could really use some hot water. Interested?" He held up the handle to the hot water tap significantly.
Nabiki smiled and took the handle from him, "Thank you, Ranma."
"Good. You have to run interference for me. Just delay him for a few minutes."
Ranma made it to his room and dressed as quick as he could. Dress pants, white shirt, tie, and vest, a quick comb through his hair and he was ready, now all he had to do was leave before his father could stop him, or worse. Yes, there was definitely worse. He opened the door to his room only to find said furry father holding a sign that read, [What do you think you're doing, son?]
"Sorry. No time to talk, you know how women are if you don't show up on time." He shoved his way past his father and hurried down the hall,
Genma raised the sign to bash his son on head but thought better of it,
having only recently been reunited, he didn't want to alienate the son he never knew. Genma followed him down the hall frantically waving a sign, [I'm trying to talk to you!], to get his son's attention and really was about to clobber him with it until Nabiki stepped in his way.
"Uncle Saotome, looks like you could use a little help..."
Ranma slid down the banister, raced to the front door, and nearly received a fist in the face as he stepped out.
"Kuno." He never could say it without unclenching his teeth.
"'Upperclassman'." The taller boy corrected for what he felt was the millionth time. "I did not come to seek you out. Rather I come bearing gifts for the beauteous long-lost sister Akane Tendo who is as fair as the evening twilight in autumn's..."
"All right already. Geez." Ranma noted the flowers Kuno held and smiled as another thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Akane. Are you ready to go yet?" he called back into the house.
Akane appeared around the corner. "Ya' didn't need to shout, I'm right here. Oh, Upperclassman Kuno. What are you doing here?"
"Heh. You two kids have fun." Ranma walked past Kuno who seemed to be at a loss for words staring at Akane. She was dressed in a blue Chinese shirt and black slacks, but still no make-up. True, she wasn't dressed for a date, but he wasn't about to correct her. Ranma leaned back at the last moment and plucked a single rose out the bouquet then raced off, Kuno still not noticing.
Akane, however, was not impressed. "So, you're my date, huh? Listen,
I thought I told you I wasn't interested."
"These are for you." Tatewaki held the bouquet out. "You would do me a great honor to accompany me this evening that I might clear up a misunderstanding and a most fortunate mistake. The knowledge of these events are not clear to my person, but for your own perspective, I might rectify this oversight."
Kuno continued to talk, but at this point, Akane had stopped listening.
She was staring at the bouquet of roses. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off them, her heart started beating hard in her chest. No one ever offered her roses. They were just a bunch of smelly flowers. Why was she getting so worked up over them? Slowly she took the bouquet with a smile. "...Thank you."
"So, you will accompany me, then?" Kuno finished.
Akane glanced back at the house. "I... Well, I..." She looked at the flowers again. "I guess so. It's kinda elaborate for an apology,
though. Plus it seems kinda weird that the old man would want me to go out with you." Kuno, wisely, didn't question it, only led her away from the house.
By the time Genma, now in human form, hurried into the street, neither child was in site. *Damn. Missed 'em. Ranma did yell to make sure Akane was ready to leave with him. Maybe he listened to his old man after all.* He walked back into the house, pleased with himself that he had some influence over his son.
The girl looked at Ranma as he approached, appreciating his smart attire. "Well, how were you able to get out of the house this time?"
"Do you think I had to lie to my parents?" The girl only gave him a knowing look. "I didn't. I really did tell them I was going on a date. I just didn't mention with who."
"These little trysts are becoming tiresome, Ranma. When are we going to be open about our relationship?"
"Kodachi, you know what my mom would say. Besides, it is more fun this way. Always the danger of being caught. Knowing something few other people know. Being on edge just knowing this might be the last time."
"Don't even mention something like that, darling." She said with a pout, but her body stiffened, betraying a deeper fear... or was it anger? "I don't..."
"Hey, now." Ranma stopped her. "Don't start getting all serious on me,
okay? I came out here to have fun. This week has been entirely too weird and I need some fun."
"Why, darling? Did something significant happen?"
"Don't worry about it right now. Tonight is ours. C'mon." He started dragging her to a nightclub.
Akane and Kuno were in a posh restaurant, Kuno sipping his wine,
waiting for another order of calamari. Akane had allowed Kuno to order for her, but still didn't know what 'escargot' was. As they waited Akane related some of her travels to Tatewaki, who listened politely,
trying to ignore how she ate a breadstick and still continued to talk despite not having swallowed.
"So, you're life as a gypsy is over now that you're home again." Kuno said as their food arrived. "Do you find it difficult being..."
"There's snails on my plate!" Akane said, standing up suddenly.
Kuno only looked confused. "Yes. It's a delicacy. Please, try it."
Akane laughed. "You're wacked! It looks disgusting."
"Please don't make a scene, Akane. Do you think a place like this would ever serve something that wasn't the best?" The girl didn't look convinced. "And aside from that, this is an apology dinner. Would I ever order you something that put me on you're bad side again?"
Akane sat down and slowly picked up one of the snails and studied it,
"I didn't mean to be rude. I mean, I ate grubs and worms before as part of survival training." She slammed the snail into the table and broke the shell open, then proceeded to pick the fragments out of the meat. "Doesn't mean I liked it." She popped it into her mouth, "Hmm,
not bad for a slug. They don't expect you to eat the shells too, do they?" She placed a second snail on the table and raised her fist above it.
Kuno nearly leapt over the table in an effort to stop her from beating on her defenseless meal. "No, no, Akane, please. Look, use the smallest fork, stick it into the meat and pop it out."
"Oh." Akane said, embarrassed. She felt way out of her element sitting in this restaurant. She fumbled with the fork, trying to get the meat out. She knew some of the people were staring at her. One woman in an elegant evening gown in particular was glancing at her, whispering to her companion. Looking at her dress made Akane consciously aware of her normal black slacks and faded blue silk shirt. She felt her anger growing to cover her embarrassment. "Stuck up, fancy pants..."
"Hmm?" Kuno looked at the girl as she glowered at the other table.
"Akane, please."
"What's up with you, Kuno? You always struck me as more talkative than this."
Kuno took a moment before answering. "It would be a shame to disturb the ambiance of this establishment with an overabundance of idle chatter."
"Oh." Akane picked up a fresh snail to try again when she noticed the woman still staring at her. She quickly held the snail to her lips and sucked the meat out of the shell with a loud pop. The lady quickly looked away, disgusted, as Akane smiled broadly as she chewed.
Kuno raised his hand, "Check, please."
The nightclub had been a good way to forget everything that had happened to him. Loosing himself to the beat of the music with a beautiful girl on his arm was just what he needed. Now, he was alone with his thoughts, or nearly alone. Nestled against his side, soft flesh moved contentedly. He held her absently as he stared at the ceiling of the Love Hotel where he had purchased a room by the hour.
He was not thinking of the woman who lay beside him, instead thought about home and family and duty.
"Ranma-sama."
He absently kissed the forehead that lay on his shoulder hoping she would lie still a while longer. He knew it wouldn't do any good,
though; no matter how much time he took, no answers were coming to him.
"My Darling, what is wrong? You seem distracted just now."
"What do you think about when we are lying here together like this?"
Ranma asked after a pause.
The girl sighed. "Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes, nothing. Now is the only thing that matters, darling. No memories of the past or plans for the future could ever hold a candle to the fire that warms us right now, and nothing exists beyond these four walls that would effect us here." She stroked a hand along his bare hip. "Not while I am here with you."
Ranma sucked in his breath trying to stay focused. "What would you do if something were to try to come between us?"
"Fight for you, of course. Why? Does your mother suspect..?"
Ranma laughed, "Mom encourages me to go out on dates..."
"Yes," the girl said sourly, "as many dates with as many girls as would suit your fancy so that none may truly capture your heart." She raised herself up to face him. "And that is why your mother hates me so,
because it is precisely what I have done."
"Are you sure of that, Kodachi?" he asked with an arch to his voice.
"I would prove it to you as many times as need be just to make you mine forever." She lowered her lips to his, pressing her bare flesh to the full length of his body once again.
"Kuno..?" Akane began.
"Please, call me Tatewaki." he interrupted. Kuno had been remaining mostly quiet throughout the evening. It had been a disaster. This Akane was nothing like what he had pictured Ranma's chosen bride to be like. He had met Mrs. Saotome on several occasions and found her a traditional Japanese woman of high caliber, despite how her son had turned out. Though Akane was not without her charm, she was not, in any respect, traditional. Even as the night continued, he couldn't help but be drawn to her. Her naivete concerning anything remotely feminine was refreshing, even to the way she walked. Her confident swagger was more reminiscent of a man except for the grace that marked her as a martial artist. She was firm in her convictions not taking the barest slight from anyone, much like her sister, Nabiki, yet more on a physical level. To tame such a wild spirit and coax out the femininity that lay hidden behind deep within, much like the rarest orchid, would be the accomplishment of a real man, and that cad Saotome, his masculinity obviously threatened, hadn't even bothered to rise to the challenge. As they walked he reaffirmed his vow to woo the air Akane and thereby strike a blow to the wretched Ranma.
"Tatewaki, then. Um... Why are we going to the park?" Akane asked.
"I was hoping to find someplace that we may converse in private..."
"No way. I don't 'converse' like that, OK?" she said as she pulled away from him.
"Hmm?" Kuno looked around him, seeing several couples standing as close as possible in the deepest shadows. "Oh. No, truly, fair Akane,
I would only talk with you, nothing more."
"Then can we keep walking? This place makes me nervous."
He moved a step closer, "Does it, now?" he asked, archly.
She grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Y'know, I'm going to leave your hentai ass here."
"Akane, wait. Please. I apologize; it was a jest in poor taste and bad timing. I beg you, walk with me."
Akane looked at him and saw the same look was in his eyes as when she had pulled him from the pool that she had kicked him into. In a small way she felt almost guilty that Kuno believed her male side had almost killed him. It couldn't hurt to stay out just a little longer.
Crossing her arms in front of her, she kept the pace beside him.
Besides, if he tried anything, she knew she could take him out.
"Thank you, Akane. Your grace doth equal your beauty in allowing my humble person to bask in you presence..." Akane tuned him out at this point, worried that his monologue would lull her into some sort of trance. She tried to tactfully steer them back toward home. As his voice continued to buzz in her ear, she began to wonder if it wasn't worse than just killing him.
Ranma and Kodachi finally broke the kiss as she leaned into him with a sigh. Standing in front of the Kuno mansion, she pulled him tighter as she remembered how distant he had seemed.
"I am so happy you are here, Ranma-sama. I remember when I first saw you at the cemetery... to be honest, I didn't think too much of you then. Since that time, you have become my strength, my pillar, my very reason to carry on." She felt Ranma shift in her embrace. "If you were not here, I don't know what would happen to me. I fear it."
"Hey, don't talk like that." He tilted her head back to look into her eyes. "Listen to me. You are strong. You must believe that. Even if I were never here, or if I left today, you would be fine because you have the will and the intelligence... the beauty." She blushed as she looked away. "You must believe in yourself, Ko-chan. I do."
"I love you, Ranma-sama."
Ranma leaned in and kissed her and she returned it with passion. He broke and turned away as she stepped through the gate. She leaned against the gate as the date played over again in her mind with a smile and a sigh.
She turned and kicked the gate with an exasperated shriek. "He did it again. Curse you, my darling. They say actions may speak louder than words, but sometimes a maiden must hear the words. If not for your meddlesome mother, I would be free to use the less gentle means at my disposal. 'Test my mettle as a woman,' indeed. But mark my words,
someday soon I will make you admit your heart and you will finally tell the entire world that you love me and only me. I swear it!" She stalked into the mansion, her smile betrayed the fury she tried to portray.
*God, doesn't this guy ever get tired of listening to himself?* Akane thought as Kuno continued to ramble on about her eyes and forestry.
"Kuno will you shut up already. Geez. Do you hafta keep going on and on about things that don't make any sense?"
Kuno looked startled, "I have offended you in some way. I only wished to compliment your beauty in every aspect."
Akane rolled her eyes, "What for?"
"It appears I was wrong in my assumption. To be graced with poetic flattery would certainly be the one true path to any maiden's heart.
Truly you are none."
Akane stopped walking, "What does that mean?!"
"Akane, I would very much like to get to know you. You are not what I envisioned the doting Mrs. Saotome would choose as a bride for her son.
Who are you that you would hold such a dubious honor?"
"You JERK! This is what you asked me out for, to get back at Ranma by dating me? God this is so stupid." She turned and walked off.
Kuno got up to cut her off. "Akan...mfrph!" A fist planted in his face cut him off.
"I told you before, I am not going to be some prize in your little games with Ranma!" she yelled.
"Akane wait. I can explain this. It is all a misunderstanding."
"Oh, really? OK." She said crossing her arms. "Explain."
"I can understand your distress at being engaged to a cad such as Saotome, but to suspect that I would be attracted to you by any other means than your own merits is simply laughable. When I say you are unlike any other girl, I mean that your charms are unique and likeable,
a rare flower among carbon copy pretenders."
"Can you even smell the shit you're shoveling? I'm otta here." She turned to leave.
"No. I cannot allow you to leave unescorted."
"Try and stop me." She heard footsteps rush toward her from behind,
she spun around quick enough to make Kuno stop in his tracks. "Last warning, Dip-shit. You leave me THE HELL ALONE!" This last part was spoken in a male voice as a stream of water hit her in the back of the head causing the transformation. He turned around to find where the water had come from but could see nothing in the darkness of the park.
Kuno stared at the tall man who stood where Akane had just been.
"You!" said Kuno when he regained his voice. "It was you all along.
You would kill me to take my place as the most loved of Furinkan High School. An incubus hiding beneath our very eyes. I heard the voices of the girls all talking about the golden hared delinquent that sulks about the school. You plan to take them over, just as you've taken over the body of Akane Tendo."
Akane stared, wondering where this conversation had gone totally wrong.
"I should have seen it from the start. No true woman could possibly act so unfeminine as Akane Tendo. From her tomboyish antics to even cursing like a man." He drew his bokken from his sleeve. "Curse you,
evil incubus. I see my purpose clearly. I shall drive you out of Akane Tendo and restore her to her proper femininity..."
Akane-kun's fist sent Kuno sailing in a graceful arc into the fountain.
Kuno stood and spit out some water and looked up just in time to see a blond hared freight train slam into him, sending them both crashing through the fountain sculpture. This time, Kuno was out cold. Akane let him drop to the cement. "Maybe I'm not that feminine, but I'm definitely more of a man than you."
Nabiki left the park quickly, disposing the water gun she carried along the way. Things had not gone exactly as planned. For as long as she had known Kuno, the pompous jerk had had a grudge against Ranma. She hoped that by displaying the curse, Kuno would lose interest and Akane wouldn't have to put up with being a prize in a contest. Now, she had turned Kuno into Akane's enemy. She had severely underestimated Kuno's inability to handle an abnormal situation.
She slowed her pace as she continued to walk, thinking about her sister-turned-brother and about Ranma. Was it really fair to try and get them together? Ranma was completely against it, which was obvious.
Akane, though, was a mystery. She had known her sister less than a week, but from what she had seen tonight, it would be difficult for her to relate to boys. This made Ranma the obvious choice since the family obligation was there, besides, he needed to finally settle down before he screwed his life up completely. But, of course, he was against it, a vicious circle that ended with one unhappy and alienated little sister.
This was going to take more thought. ...A lot more.
Ranma waited just outside the gates of the Tendo Dojo. His parents and Uncle Soun were still on the verandah, which meant Akane wasn't back yet. His timing was perfect. He would just sit here and wait for Akane to show up and walk in with her, if Kuno could stop talking sometime before dawn. That way his Dad wouldn't be on his case about not taking Akane out.
To him, they were all being very unreasonable about the whole thing.
How could they expect him to just give up everything for a fianc e that wasn't even a girl. The fianc e thing wasn't anything new to him. It had even gotten around school that he had some mysterious, long-lost fianc e arranged by his parents, but that had never stopped him from dating. He knew his Mom was encouraging him to continue dating, but to be sure it never got serious, and he didn't. It was all in mutual fun.
Besides, he always used protection. Some girls were just too serious.
...Like Kodachi. In spite of it all, he just couldn't give her up.
Despite what he had told her he knew she needed him in a way that went beyond dating. But breaking it off had proven to be worse for her.
She had gone over the edge, ambushing his dates, accosting his mother,
and being generally self-destructive. He knew she was unstable enough without having to go though an actual breakup. He knew she needed help and tried to build her confidence and independence, but it hadn't worked. She appeared strong on the outside, captain of her school's gymnastics club, respected student, but inside she was still that same girl he first saw in the cemetery all those years ago, afraid and desperately lonely.
"Penny for your thoughts, Ranma."
"Nabiki?" He was startled. Even now, she could still sneak up on him.
"Keep your voice down, will ya? What are you doing out here?"
"Just checking on a few things." She said evasively. "Ranma, what do you think about Akane?"
"I try not to think about Akane."
"Seriously, Ranma," she said, getting a little miffed, "have you ever considered what it would be like for her to keep changing genders like that?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, if it were me, it'd suck. But who knows? For a tomboy like her it might be a step in the right direction."
"Ten Thousand Yen."
"What for?!"
"For not telling your dad your out here waiting for Akane and for being an insensitive, heartless JERK!" Ranma took a step back from the fuming Nabiki as she spun on her heel and stalked inside.
He didn't have time to think about what Nabiki had said as Akane came striding down the street. "Good. I'm glad your back at a reasonable hour, let's go." He also took note that Akane was in her male form.
Akane didn't seem to hear him as Ranma opened the gate for him and followed him inside.
They found their respective parents gathered in the family room. Genma didn't even bother with a greeting as they entered. "Well, how did your date go?"
"Great." Ranma replied immediately as Akane continued into the room.
"Except for a water accident, it went pretty..."
Akane-kun picked up Genma by his gi. "If you ever set me up on a date like that again I'll sell you to the zoo!" He hurled Genma out into the pond for good measure. He turned and stomped his way up the stairs.
"...pretty good." Ranma finished. "Um, I think I'll turn in, too.
It's getting late..."
"Ranma."
"Yes, Mother?"
"I'll expect you a half hour earlier for practice tomorrow morning,
dear." She said, taking a sip of her tea, not looking up.
"Yes, Mother." He sighed as he went upstairs. *'Practice' she says; a polite word for 'punishment'.*
End chapter 2.
Man, that took a long time. I still can't rush things if I want it to be the best it can be. Blame the perfectionist in me. Hopefully, I can get the next chapter out a little faster.
Anyway, comments, criticisms, and suggestions welcome.
dbattley
Special thanks to T. H. Tiger, Mr. Bullet, and Fernando A. Pe a, for pre-reading and suggestions.