It had been three days since anyone in the Tendo household had seen Genma Saotome, and when Ranma woke up that Wednesday morning, he was confident he would walk into the kitchen and see his father snarfing down Mr. Tendo's food, dodging any questions about where he had been all this time. Instead, he found no one. A lump formed in Ranma's throat, but he wasn't worried about his pop. He wasn't. It was just weird, that was all.
After eating a quick breakfast, Ranma waited for Akane, watching the clock tick closer and closer to the time they had to leave for school. Then he heard a ghastly sound from the upstairs bathroom, and Ranma recoiled in sympathetic pain. As quietly as he could, Ranma walked up the stairs, the sound of retching intermixed with sobbing still coming from the bathroom, and once in front of it he knocked lightly. "You okay in there, Akane?" he whispered.
There were a few moments of silence before he got a response, Akane's voice tired and raw. "I think...I'm not feeling well. You should go to school, Ranma, I don't want to make you late. Just...tell the teachers I'm doing my best to get better." There was a short pause before she added, "Have a good day." Ranma was out the door and on the way to school before he had to listen to any more of what Akane was going through behind closed doors.
It was almost lunch, during his Math period, that Ranma was woken up by a book being slammed on his desk. He sat up with a jolt, only to see his math teacher, Ms. Ichini, glaring at him. "Having a good rest, Mr. Saotome? That's good. You'll need plenty of sleep, considering our chapter five test is this Friday." She went back to her lecture, leaving Ranma embarrassed and annoyed, not to mention dreading what the end of the week would bring.
Once lunch actually started, Hiroshi and Daisuke came by the hang out, as was usual, though today they were wearing mocking grins on their faces. "Aren't martial artists supposed to have great focus or something? Dude, you couldn't even sit through an entire math lecture without nodding off," Hiroshi laughed.
Daisuke rolled his eyes. "If I remember correctly, you were drooling all over your textbook Hiroshi." How exactly he was able to keep up that 'cool and confident' act Ranma wasn't sure, but it was great at annoying Hiroshi. Then his friend's eyes moved back to focus on Ranma again, and he asked casually, "So how are things with Akane?"
The question confused Ranma. "I mean...she's been tutorin' me and stuff. Probably the only reason I'm not failing everything right now. She's been training more lately, which is pretty cool..." His friends were still watching him intently. "Look, what is it you want to hear? Why'd you even ask me that?"
Ranma's friends looked at him like he was the dumbest person on the planet. "Ranma, you're engaged to Akane Tendo. Most of us are worrying about getting a girlfriend, and you've already jumped five steps ahead of us! So what's she like? Is she as hot under those clothes as she looks?" Hiroshi asked, with Daisuke's steady stare backing him up.
"I...wuh..." Ranma sputtered, his mouth trying to say something without the help of input from his blitzkreiged brain. Once he fully understood what they were asking of him, Ranma looked at the choices ahead of him: tell the truth or lie to seem cool. Then again, there was a third option...Putting on a knowing, cocky grin, Ranma leaned back and said, "We're moving slow, y'know? I'm living at her pop's house, don't want to get caught or nothin'. But she's..." He struggled for a word he couldn't regret later. Finally, he found something. "...cute."
As the conversation swerved into a new direction, Ranma congratulated himself on his cunning. He hadn't lied exactly, he'd come off pretty cool, and there was no way for this to bite him in the ass later!
Right when the last class's bell rang, Ranma jumped from his seat to vacate the school, only to be stopped by Akari, one of Akane's friends. She held up her phone. "Ranma, hold on a second! Akane messaged me, she wanted you to read this." Curious to what his fiance had to say, Ranma looked at the screen and read.
"I completely forgot until a few hours ago, but I promised a friend of mine that she could hang out with me and you. Since I'm still sick, do you think you could spend the afternoon with her? She's waiting at the cafe three blocks from our house, the one run by that old couple. You don't have to if you don't want to, but it would mean a lot.
"Oh, and don't forget to come by my room tonight, we've both got to study for Friday!" With a murmur of thanks and a handing back of the phone, Ranma began walking. More than anything else in the world, he wanted to just head home, or goof off somewhere and tell Akane he'd tried to find her friend and gotten lost. But he couldn't. As much as he'd been trying to avoid it all day, guilt sank into his stomach. There was no way this was some random stomach bug. Akane'd been the only one brave enough, nice enough, to eat the curry he'd made last night, and she had missed a day of school.
If it was him, that'd be the one positive to getting sick, but he knew Akane well enough to know she was miserable, unable to see her friends or attend class. He didn't really understand it, but he felt crappy nonetheless. Ranma had spent the last several years of his life cultivating an atmosphere of 'I don't care'. Taking the time to help someone, even Akane, totally went against that image. Lying would be so easy, it would be so him.
Every step towards the cafe, Ranma told himself he'd turn away at the next block, but somehow he ended up inside the building, seated at a table sandwiched between two booths by an elderly Japanese woman with a wrinkled, smiling face, and waiting for someone he didn't even want to see. After five minutes, guilt or no guilt, Ranma was getting ready to skedaddle when a girl his age entered the building.
She was wearing the same clothes he'd seen her in exactly four days ago, the day they'd met. Well, 'met' had a vague meaning when talking about someone like her. Someone like Ranma. Someone cursed. The chubby girl had changed outfits, now adorned in a white blouse covered with a puffy yellow vest and a green skirt that reached her knees. The demoness's normally brown eyes were blazing a steady red, shimmering like a flame, as she sat across from Ranma. "Saotome," Ino said, her voice echoing through the air as if shouted from across a deep cave, "Where is Akane?"
Knowing full well that she could probably smite him without any effort at all, Ranma decided to play chicken, leaning in and giving her a cocky grin. "Unfortunately, little miss martial arts expert went and caught a stomach bug, couldn't even go to school. Apparently, she wants the two of us to spend quality time together. Now, I know she isn't here, but I'd hope that the truce still stands, since I'm only here cause she asked."
Silence reigned for longer than Ranma was comfortable, but he kept up the charade, hoping Ino didn't see his tensed muscles, ready to run like hell (heh) the second she tried to strike. It probably wouldn't help much, but an unprepared martial artist is a dead one, Ranma's old man always said. Finally, Ino broke their stare, looking out the window as she replied, "As long as you don't start anything, I won't finish it."
Well, that was...something. Though, knowing her, Ranma wasn't sure if 'starting something' necessarily meant 'throwing a punch' or went as far as 'making her mad'. If it was the latter, he was already dead. Her declaration made, the two sat in silence for a few seconds, neither knowing what to say, when the old lady who brought Ranma to their table originally came over. "So, what would you two like, hmm?"
"You're paying, right Saotome?" Not wanting to 'start something', Ranma nodded at the question posed to him, and was relieved when Ino brought her attention back to the waitress, the hint of a smile on her face. "I'll take a tonkatsu, some miso soup on the side, and a green tea."
Numbers ran through Ranma's head, and he realized that Ino had already spent most of his money. Realizing all eyes were on him, Ranma blurted out, "I'll just take a soda." The waitress disappeared into the back, and with nothing else left to focus on, Ranma looked at Ino. In sharp contrast, she was pointedly looking anywhere except at him. Rolling his eyes, Ranma decided to try and start a conversation. "So, uh, pretty big lunch there."
Her eyes swiveled to meet his in an instant, and suddenly Ranma couldn't move his body. It occurred to him, far too late, that of all the possible ice-breakers he could have opened with, that may have been the worst option available. Then a blush appeared on her cheeks and suddenly a tree outside must have become incredibly interesting, and Ranma could breathe again. "I haven't eaten anything today."
That raised an interesting question that Ranma hadn't considered, after learning that Ino was Ryoga's cursed form. "Where exactly are you living? Like...you're from Osaka. Do you have family you're staying with or somethin'?"
It didn't look like Ino wanted to give Ranma an answer to that, but she replied regardless. "I've been chasing you since middle school, remember? I...have a tent. That I live in."
Ranma had lived the nomad life before, with his pops. Hell, sometimes they didn't even have the luxury of a tent, just the cold unrelenting ground. But that just raised further questions. "So, how are you getting food, when handsome martial artists aren't paying for it? And where are you getting your clothes?"
In all the years Ranma had known Ryoga, or Ino, they'd never looked ashamed. Guilty, sure, especially when Ranma had threatened to tell Akane of who they really were, but never like they were in moral agony. But somehow, with her eyes getting all watery and her face lookin' all downtrodden, Ino was definitely giving him the impression that she'd done something she wasn't proud of in the slightest. Then, she whispered something, so quiet that Ranma couldn't make out a single word.
"A little louder pork chop?" Ranma asked, exaggeratedly putting a hand to his ear. Despite his sarcasm, he was starting to actually get kind of worried. They'd always had a temper, but had Ino hurt someone? Maybe even...killed someone?
It was to Ranma's immense relief and disappointment when her barely audible response was, "I've been stealing." With all that build up, Ranma felt let down by the reveal. Seriously? He'd been stealing from random folks for years, just like Pops taught him. Unable to help himself when faced with this anticlimax, Ranma let out a rolling laugh that he had difficulty controlling. Clutching his stomach and trying not to cry too hard, he could barely see Ino looking surprised and aghast. "Don't laugh! That's a huge secret! I feel really bad about it..."
Once Ranma had settled down and wasn't in danger of dying of laughter, the conversation was interrupted by the reintroduction of the waitress, carrying a tray of food. She turned to look at Ino, still all smiles. "You had the tonkatsu and the miso soup, yes?" Ino nodded shyly and the old woman set the food down in front of her before retreating only to come back with two glasses. "Your tea," she said, sliding the glass in front of Ino, "and your soda." Once Ranma's drink was in front of him, she looked over and asked, "Will you two need anything else?"
Realizing the question was directed towards him, Ranma stammered out, "Uh, yeah, no, we're good. Thanks." With that, the old lady walked away, leaving the conversation back where it had been. Rather than continue on, Ino dug into her food, which Ranma totally understood. When you haven't eaten in a while, restaurant food like this would seem like a dream come true. Feeling a need to say something while she demolished her pork chop, Ranma posed, "Y'know, if you don't wanna steal and sleep outside and junk, you could try finding a job."
Through a mouth full of meat (delicious, fried, breaded, mouth-watering meat), Ino chuckled. "Oh yeah. 'Hi there, I'm a girl who can only work one out of every four days, has no education history, no references, and no paperwork. I can beat people up real good though.' Yep, that'll go over fantastic."
She had a point. "Well, Ryoga could try getting a job."
Ino had started on the rice and lowered the pitch of her voice, doing a pretty bad impersonation of...herself. "'Hi there, I'm a guy who can only work three out of every four days, has no education past middle school, no references, and all my documents are in Osaka. I can beat people up real good though.' Second verse, same as the first. Let's face facts, Ranma, I'm unhirable no matter which body I'm in."
For as long as Ranma had known Ryoga, he had been the most tenacious person in the world. The guy literally didn't know the meaning of the phrase 'give up'. Hearing him, or rather her, being such a defeatist, didn't sit well with Ranma. He struggled to find some new avenue, some sort of solution, when he hit on something. "The dojo!" Ino looked confused. "My dojo! Akane's dojo! Anything Goes Martial Arts! Mr. Tendo would be thrilled to have another martial artist, it wouldn't be hard to make you an acolyte or whatever. Food, money, a roof over your head, it works perfectly."
Ino looked conflicted, and before she could come back with anything Ranma already knew it wasn't a perfect solution. It would take some work, a lot of explaining, Akane'd probably have to learn about the whole curse thing, not to mention Ranma and Ryoga would have to spend more time together. But all of that could be hashed out, it was a path forward.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Ranma Saotome." The voice came from the entrance to the cafe, and the words sounded rehearsed, theatrical. Ranma tensed for a moment as he turned around to look, but it wasn't anyone he recognized. A teenage guy, maybe a year or two older than Ranma himself, was standing there with an arm around a girl who couldn't take her eyes off of him. Even as a guy, Ranma could tell this guy was handsome, with a chiseled jawline and poofy hair that framed his face perfectly. He was wearing a black blazer over a white buttoned-up shirt, which was tucked into gray slacks, all of it top-quality material.
Ranma had no clue who this bozo was. "Yeah, uh, I don't know you. Am I supposed to?"
The man and his date approached, and the second the words left Ranma's mouth he saw the guy's pretty face distort in irritation, but it was gone again fast enough to make Ranma wonder if he'd even seen it in the first place. "Ho ho ho, oh Ranma, you kidder you. Surely you've heard of your upperclassman, Mikado Sanzenin." He only received a blank stare in response, and as he continued Ranma felt like he could hear his teeth grating together. "We have gym period together."
Deciding to throw the guy a bone, Ranma faked understanding, gasping loudly and going, "Oh, yeah, Mikado! Sorry buddy, for a second there I was confused." Then Ranma's eyes fell on the woman wrapped around Mikado, a blonde American girl by the looks of it. "Care to introduce me?"
Returning Ranma's false smile with one of his one, Mikado motioned and said, "This is Jessica Murphy, an exchange student from San Francisco." Then the young man's eyes fell on Ino, and he asked, "And who are you seeing today?"
"Oh, her? She's Inoshishi Yamamoto, we know each other from way back." As Ranma was introducing her, he was surprised to see Ino was actually blushing, seemingly taken aback by the attention being directed her way.
Suddenly, a grin appeared on Mikado's face that Ranma didn't like the look of at all. He leaned it, pantomiming a conspiratory whisper while speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. "I appreciate your sense of charity, Ranma, but you need to date someone your speed. Don't slum it with the fatty."
His date didn't react to the words at all, it looked like she didn't speak much Japanese, but Ranma saw every stage of Ino's reaction: anger, then self-pity, then sadness. Tears welled up in her eyes and began spilling down her face. Ranma didn't feel much of anything. Nope, nothing except blinding rage. In less than a second, Ranma rose from his booth, drew his arm back, and threw a punch at Mikado's pretty face...
...only for the upperclassman's hand to flash up and catch his hand. Ranma wasn't the strongest martial artist he knew, but catching a punch from him was something no random high school student should be able to do, and that wasn't even counting the speed required. "You're a martial artist." It was a statement, not a question. Ranma withdrew his hand, and Mikado pocketed his, looking surprised but interested.
"I'd heard you were something, Saotome, but color me impressed." Mikado reached into an inner pocket of his blazer and pulled out a laminated business card, then tossed it through the air. Ranma caught it without looking. "If you want to 'teach me a lesson' or 'defend her honor', meet me there tomorrow, after school. I haven't had a good fight in a few months." Then the young man walked towards a table in the back with his date. Ranma and Ino got up to leave and pay their bill, but as they were exiting Mikado called out, "Oh, and bring a partner! We only fight doubles matches."
The two martial artists walked back towards the Tendo household in silence, but inside rage was still coursing through Ranma's body like a living force. "You didn't have to do that, you know?" Ino's voice shocked Ranma, making him look at her. He couldn't read her face at all, but she didn't look upset anymore.
The question confounded Ranma's brain. "What do you mean?" he asked, struggling to understand what she meant. "Mikado's a freaking asshole! What he said about you..." Ranma took a deep breath to steady himself a little, to distance himself from his anger. "I'm a girl sometimes too, and if someone said something like that about me-"
"But he wouldn't," Ino said quietly. "You're gorgeous. Curvy in the right places, thin everywhere else." She looked down at herself as they walked, her dissatisfaction evident. "I am fat. A fatty. Of course he'd wonder why a guy like you was with a girl like me."
All Ranma wanted to do was tell her she was wrong, that he didn't think that, that she wasn't fat, that she was cute, that he liked her. But instead what came out of his mouth was, "Meet up with me tomorrow, at..." Ranma read the card Mikado had thrown to him. "...the Nerima Ice-Skating Rink! We'll kick that guy's ass and have fun doing it!"
For a second it looked like Ino was going to smile, but instead she let out a sigh. "Ranma, I'm not...I'll be Ryoga again tomorrow. When I'm him, we're enemies, remember?"
Her comment made Ranma want to roll his eyes. "Ino, Ryoga, you're the same person. Can't we put our feud on hold for, like, a day or two so we can beat the snot of someone we both hate? Wouldn't that be fun?"
When they reached the outer gate of Akane's house, Ranma still hadn't gotten an answer. They stood outside the doors, awkwardly standing there for a few seconds before Ino finally said, "Alright, let's do it. Four o'clock?"
"Four o'clock," Ranma agreed. Ino started to walk away, towards her tent he guessed, but Ranma had something else to say. "Ino...I had a really good time." Her back was to him, and he couldn't see her reaction to his words, but she did stop for a few seconds before leaving. Full of confusing feelings, Ranma entered the Tendo household holding onto the one thing he had to look forward to: the ticket for Mikado Sanzenin's asskicking.