Hello again!
2.693 words for you!
No one wrote a review so I'm gonna skip that sadly. My updates will probably slow down because I'm having so much homework to do lately that I almost don't have time for myself. I'm really sorry if this happens but I'm not thinking about abandoning this fic so soon.
Please enjoy your new chapter!
Btw: Nodoka pays them a little visit!
Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media. I don't own any of it in any shape, form or way!
The place, where Kasumi always bought the ingredients which were on the list, was a very long street with various little colourful shops full of life. They were little but had almost everything the household needed. The owners all knew Kasumi and had been wondering because of her absence lately. To their surprise they didn't saw their beloved client but two famous teenagers approach. Many shop owners gulped and shared nervous glances when they spotted them. Some of them even hurried to close the shop and watched through a window.
After all, everyone in Nerima knew about Ranma, Ryoga and the rest of the teens. The "Nerima wrecking crew" or for short "NWC", as they were called, were Nerima's tourist attraction number one and were known for their destructive reputation. Perhaps Ranma's female form was still unknown for a few people but his male form was known all over the place.
When one of them was there, there was a very little chance of peace because one of them was enough to attract chaos. If there were two, the chances were less than low. And if it was Ranma and Ryoga- or Akane in many other occasions- the probability of peace was nearly impossible.
Both martial artists walked next to each other and didn't seem to notice the silence that suddenly was spread throughout the street which had been full of animated chattering only seconds ago.
They appeared to be nonchalant about each other's company but in their heads they were screaming in frustration. Frustration about what they didn't knew. They only knew they were frustrated about something.
After some minutes, before they reached their first stop, Ranma glanced at his companion and when this one noticed so, the pigtailed teen turned quickly away. This continued for a few times until Ryoga got annoyed.
"What?" Ryoga growled.
"Uh... Nothin'..." Ranma said but now looked at him directly, frowning ever so slightly.
"Well, there is obviously something wrong 'cause you're staring at me and it's really making me uncomfortable," Ryoga answered enervated.
"Err... Is today perhaps your birthday?" Ranma suddenly asked without taking his inspecting eyes away.
"What? No. Why?"
"'Cause I feel as if I'm forgetting something about you but I have no clue what it could be..."
With sudden realisation, Ryoga widened his eyes. Ranma was feeling that something was wrong and if he thought about what it could be he might remember Ryoga's oh-so-hated curse. I don't want him to remember me as P-chan again! He'd give me hell! Ryoga quickened his pace that much that he was almost running.
Ranma who was startled by the sudden increase of speed, followed shortly and saw how Ryoga was starting to head off into a side street that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He's probably going to end up in Timbuktu or somewhere else if he follows that way! Perhaps he wouldn't even notice it!
"Hey! Ryoga! Man, wait up!" Ranma called and even ran, trying to catch up with his rival. Ryoga didn't listen to him. When Ranma reached him in time, he took his wrist and stopped him from walking any further.
"What's wrong, man? You didn't saw Akane, did you?" Ranma asked raising an eyebrow, confused by Ryoga's actions. Ryoga looked down at his wrist and snatched his hand away, but not before a soft blush covered his cheeks. Of course, Ranma failed to see it.
"N-no. I-I just happened to see the shop we were searching and I took a head start. Ha. Haha. Ha." The nervous laugh that escaped Ryoga's mouth worried Ranma slightly but was soon forgotten when he saw a little crowd forming behind them.
Actually, both of them noticed and turned around.
The shop keepers were gossipers and they wouldn't miss such a strange scenario. After all, gossip was the favourite hobby of Nerima's population and gossip about Ranma was even more entertaining.
Both martial artists stared at the crowd.
The crowd stared back.
It was like playing a game and the loser would be the first one who moved a muscle. The tension and awkwardness that was in the air could almost be felt. Well, Ranma and Ryoga somehow did felt it as an aura.
Suddenly after five minutes of staring, Ryoga decided to cough awkwardly and Ranma gave him a sign to follow him. "O-okay...? Well, we've got to go..." Ranma said and Ryoga did as expected. They walked back to the main street and the crowd split up to let them pass, not letting their gazes fade away. Ranma and Ryoga turned around and saw those strange persons still staring at them, which caused both boys to shudder.
Both quickly bought the ingredients and the other stuff on the list and left as soon as possible.
Meanwhile the street seemed to have returned to normality and the shopkeepers showed their clients their products, acting as if nothing had happened.
Still, both males could almost feel the built up gossip aura.
It was simply weird.
But that wasn't the most uncomfortable or weirdest part of the day. After what was about to happen, they wished it had been.
Walking back home, Ranma and Ryoga were both carrying several giant bags of food, which still didn't seem to weigh a thing to them. They didn't weigh for them but the teens still felt uncomfortable and not because of the bags. To be honest, it was the silence between them was what made them feel uncomfortable.
"That really was weird, huh?" Ranma suddenly said, after a while of awkward silence.
"What?" Ryoga asked.
"You know... How everyone stared at us. I know there is gossip about me, I mean I'm fabulous," Ryoga coughed noticeable and Ranma shot him a frown but dismissed it again, "but I'm already used to it. However, it's still strange to see everyone staring at me."
"What? But you are Saotome Ranma, heir to the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts! You love attention!" Ryoga exclaimed in disbelief and stopped on his way. Ranma shook his head and kept walking. Ryoga saw this and started walking again.
"Nah, not really. There was a time I did and I loved to know that people knew me but now... Now I feel they don't know me for being Saotome Ranma, greatest martial artist in the world, but only for gossip, trouble and for a gender shifting freak," he gave the last word a hurt tone, "I feel as If I don't have any privacy at all, sometimes I just wish I had for once a normal life, without crazy fiancées and curses," Ranma said with a sigh and stopped. He turned around a bit and looked at Ryoga before smiling.
It's a mix between an honest and a forced smile, Ryoga noticed.
"Anyways, life turned out to be interesting with all the chaos, so it might not be that bad. And who knows if I'd had ever met all of you crazy guys, -including you, buddy- if my life hadn't been always chaotic and normal." Ryoga didn't know what to say and decided to nod and follow his... somewhat friend.
"Hey! We're there!" The red wearing boy called out when he saw the walls of the Tendo Dojo before them and quickened up his pace. Ryoga followed shortly.
They entered the property through the gate and both reached the front door. Ryoga knocked but Ranma was about to simply open the door and walk through it inside, when he heard Akane's voice shouting in a voice that seemed to be near fear. "Oh! That must be my dear cousin Ranko! Don't worry, Auntie Nodoka! I'll go open it!"
Ryoga heard the way she spelled that strange name and opened his mouth to ask Ranma what it was all about when he heard how his companion gasped and all the bags he'd been carrying, fell with a loud 'thud' to the ground. He turned around just to see a flash of black hair disappearing behind the corner of the house, probably heading towards the garden, just in time before the door was opened by a very worried Akane. He almost didn't heard a splash coming from the direction where Ranma disappeared to.
"Where is Ranko?" said an excited female voice which belonged to an already familiar auburn-haired woman who stood behind Akane.
"I don't know, Auntie. I thought she'd come back. I must have guessed wrong- Oh! Hello Ryoga! You came back!" Behind Akane towered the woman who helped Ryoga the other day out. She had looked past him searching someone and almost didn't even notice him but when she did, she smiled wide and greeted him. "Oh hello! It was... Hidiki Ryun, right? I see you managed to find your way to the Tendo's on your own," she said politely.
"Ah... Hello! Actually, it's Hibiki Ryoga."
"Oh! I'm really sorry, Ryoga-kun! It is so nice to see you!" she bowed and Ryoga followed her example.
"Nice to see you again too but to be honest I found my way because I was with-" Ryoga started to say but was interrupted by a very girly and high squeal coming from behind him. He turned to see who had been able to appear out of nowhere behind him. There were only four persons who could sneak up on him but only one person had such a high voice...
"Ranko!"
"Auntie Nodoka!" Ranma exclaimed, her clothes very wet. It seemed as if she'd fallen into the pond which explained the earlier splashing sound.
"My dear! How are you?" The older woman grinned and stepped out to give Ranko a hug. Ryoga raised his eyebrow and looked at Akane questioning who simply gave him a pleading look of "please, don't say anything or we're all going to die". He nodded once at her and watched the curious scene before him unfold.
"Auntie! Don't hug me or you'll get wet! I slipped and fell into the pond!" Ranma squealed laughing and giggling.
Yeah sure she did...
Nodoka didn't seem to mind and did as she pleased. "Oh, Ranko! How long has it been that we didn't see each other? You didn't change a bit." She said pulling away and looking at her. "Oh dear, you're going to catch a cold! How is it that always when we see each other you're walking around with soaking wet clothes! That's not very ladylike! You're such a Tomboy!" She scolded but quickly smiled after that.
"Well, ya know how I am, Auntie," Ranma said, a nervous smile on her face that resembled Akane's.
"Where have you been?" Nodoka asked and looked at the bags on the ground.
"Uh... Ryoga an' I have been out shopping some things Kasumi asked us to buy for her." Ranma simply said and shrugged. Nodoka eyed her and Ryoga, before smiling wide.
"Oh, I understand. Well, seems as if Kasumi knows what she's doing." Nodoka chimed and walked back into the house. Ranma and the others raised an eyebrow in confusion but also followed her inside.
Meanwhile, Ryoga was dying to know who that mysterious woman was and why she called Ranma Ranko. He looked at Ranma and even though she was smiling, Ryoga could see her swallow saliva the whole time. Even Akane who was an amazing actress, showed a nervous aura. Ryoga didn't understand why but this seemed to be a matter of life or death.
Still, curiosity won over and he didn't resist the urge to ask the woman who sat down at the dining table who she was. "Oh how rude of me! Where are my manners? I should have said that right at the beginning. I'm Saotome Nodoka." She answered and smiled, closing her eyes.
Ryoga coughed loudly and widened his eyes. "Saotome?!" He looked at Ranma frantically, who bit her lip next to him. "Does that mean you're-umpf!" He was interrupted by an elbow crashing against his ribs with force. Ranma of course had done that in a very discreet way, so Nodoka wouldn't notice. "Yes, Ryoga. She's Saotome Ranma's mother. You know. Your rival and friend. Akane's fiancée." She explained while sending him a glare that was a mix of "help me" and "say something and I'll kill ya, buddy". Ryoga groaned and rubbed his slightly sore ribs.
Nodoka smiled and nodded but soon her smile turned sad. "Sadly, I had no chance to meet him. He's been busy training with his father every time I make a visit here," Ranma seemed to look more than guilty. "I've never had the opportunity to see him and it's been so long..." she looked at the package she had been carrying that was now on her lap.
Ryoga's curiosity seemed to have no end. Just when he was about to ask why she hadn't seen 'Ranma', she seemed to have cheered up and looked at Ranma and Ryoga with mischief. Both cringed slightly at the look and even Akane wondered what was happening.
"So Akane. Why didn't you tell me?" Nodoka finally asked, not pulling her look away from the two.
"Tell you about what, Auntie?" She asked in a truly confused tone.
"And you didn't tell me either, Ranko! I thought you would tell me!" Nodoka exclaimed without paying any attention to Akane's ignorance towards the unknown topic and pouted slightly. Ranma looked at her mother in confusion and looked at Ryoga, hoping he'd know what she was talking about by miracle. He shrugged and the three looked back at the older woman.
"We really don't know what you're talking about, Auntie..." Ranma declared while the others nodded in agreement. Nodoka shook her head and gave Ranma an accusing look. "I'm talking about your engagement, dear. You didn't say a word."
"About my what?!" Ranma shrieked in disbelief and looked at Akane. Akane had widened her eyes and looked at Ranma with the same expression. In sudden shock, Ryoga started to form a realisation. A horrible, horrible realisation.
"Your engagement, Ranko-chan. I'd hoped you'd tell me about it once you saw me- Oh! Was it supposed to be a surprise?"
Ranma still blinked.
Akane still had her eyes widened.
Ryoga was still trying to slowly stand up and disappear. Preferably under a stone. Far away.
"So, uh... I've got to go do something-" he said and started to retreat as fast but as carefully as possible.
"Now that I think of it... it can't be... Ryoga-kun would've said nothing if he shouldn't have. He'd known if he should say something or not about your engagement, am I right, Ryoga-kun?"
So close...
Ranma and Akane turned in Ryoga's direction at the same time and had dangerous looks in their glares. Where was a stone to hide under when you needed one?
Ryoga's instincts told him to run and he would have if he'd been able to move under both girls glares. They were so cold, they literally froze him.
"Oh... Ryoga-kun did so, huh? And who exactly did he tell you, Auntie Nodoka, would be the one I'm engaged with?" Ranma said with anger trembling voice but managed to disguise it with a sweet girly sound.
Ranma hoped, Ryoga hadn't said she was engaged to Akane and that way he told the truth. Worse, he might have said she was engaged to Kuno, so Ryoga could bother her and make it easier for him to get to Akane, once Ranma was out of the way. She really hoped her thought friend wouldn't do something that stupid.
Akane was biting her lip and looked at Nodoka. She was really hoping Ryoga hadn't told the Saotome matriarch, she was engaged to 'Ranko'. If he'd told her she was engaged to redhead as well, they'd be in very deep trouble.
Ryoga was still standing there frozen but was starting to heat up his muscles and prepared to do for once what his mind and instincts had to say: Run.
Suddenly, Nodoka laughed and seemed very amused about something silly and apparently obvious. Ranma, Ryoga and Akane laughed nervously as well, along with her. "Oh dear, of course with Ryoga-kun!"
Uh oh.
WAIT WHAT?! WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K?
RANMA'S ENGAGED?!- *cough*-wait... that came out wrong...
RANMA'S ENGAGED?! AGAIN?!
WHAT THE HELL?! STAY TUNED FOR WHAT'LL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!
...Ryoga, you're so dead, my friend.
