"This is the most humiliating thing that has ever been done to me!"
Akane Tendo, your average 17-year-old martial artist, was on the verge of a category 5 meltdown.
"You should calm down, Akane-"
"No way in hell!"
Ah yes, she was going to commit murder, or at least the kind of aggravated assault that could land you in prison.
"Akane, please-"
"If your value your wellbeing you'll move out of my way!"
"Please, Akane, show mercy please!" He pleaded.
"Mercy is for the deserving not the sinful." She grabbed his shirt.
"Please, I'm sorry!"
"Akane, as much as I would like to see you murder him, it's very illegal." Ranma attempted to pull her off of him, wondering when he had become the type to stop a fight. "Geez, when the hell did you get this strong?!"
"When my honor was taken away!" She grunted, sending Ranma flying to the wall. Finally, in an unnerving quiet she turned her attention back to a certain bandana wearing boy in her grasps. "You."
"Me." Ryoga squeaked.
As the anticipation for the beatdown had peaked, a 20-year-old Kasumi Tendo put a hand to her cheek and let out a sigh, wondering how things could have gotten this bad so quick. Alas, the thought was quickly postponed as Akane began to give a pummeling that even she didn't think she could ever give. What a sight!
--
1 week prior
"Happy Birthday, Akane." Kasumi released a party popper. "You're finally 17, congratulations."
As happy as Akane was that someone had remembered it was her birthday, even if that someone wasn't herself, it was 7 am on a school day and she was not a morning person to say the least. She forced a smile and pet the confetti off of her person as gracefully as possible. If she had to be completely honest, she didn't care too much about the event. "Thanks so much, sis."
"Oh, don't be so glum, it's your birthday and you're young you should be bursting with energy." Kasumi stated. "It's a rule."
Akane stared blankly at Kasumi, seemingly in an attempt to think of her words very carefully as if she spoke without thinking she was bound to say something regrettable. Every part of the young girl was screaming at her to put up a fight and not give in to her older sister's insistent need to overdo her birthday again this year, but she didn't have it in her to defy Kasumi or to deny her one of the overly dramatic joys she had. After all, Kasumi rarely ever overdid anything. Eventually she gave up and walked past her older sister, stifling a yawn as Kasumi followed behind her.
"Come on, Akane, today is your day." Kasumi sped up to keep up with her little sister, though taller the older girl was an embarrassingly slow walker compared to her. "Tell me, what would you like to do, anything. Name it and I'll do what I can."
"Mmmm, a cup of coffee would be good." Akane smiled, "Sorry, I stayed up late studying last night."
"Akane, I'm serious." Kasumi set her hands in her hips. "Listen, I'll give you until the end of the day to decide or I will, understood?"
A chill ran up Akane's back, even though she knew her sister never got angry, she also knew Kasumi didn't have to raise her voice to intimidate someone into submission. Perhaps Kasumi did have some of that Tendo fighting spirit the rest of them had after all.
"Okay, okay, understood." She sighed in defeat. "Now what's for breakfast?"
Kasumi smiled and ran off, giddy like a schoolgirl as she went to fetch an assortment of foods, laying them all out in front of her sister. Excitement was nearly pouring out of her smile, while simultaneously a cold sweat broke on Akane's body. She does Not expect me to eat all this, does she?
"It's 17 different dishes, for every year you've been alive! Now eat up!" She nearly squealed with joy.
Before a word of objection could even form in the mouth of the unwilling birthday girl, a certain pigtailed boy floated in, like a cartoon character drifting towards a delicious aroma.
"Holy crap, Kasumi, you really out did yourself today! You really didn't have to since our dad are gone on a trip and all." Ranma ran over and at nearly full speed tried to swipe up a piece of Onigiri. Don't mind if I do.
Before Akane could even react Kasumi swiftly slapped his hand away, catching both of the engaged couple off guard. "You mind yourself today, Ranma." she scolded.
A look of disbelief was shared between the pair. It was almost as if the world had shifted and Ranma couldn't help but briefly believe that maybe he had woken up in an alternate universe, but that idea was quickly shattered as Kasumi quickly regained her composure and kind demeanor. "Sorry, Ranma, this is for Akane. I'll forgive you this time but for future reference I want you to keep in mind we value birthdays highly in this household. "
"Ah, okay." He said meekly before fully processing what she had said, eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. "Wait, it's her birthday?! Why didn't you tell me?!"
Kasumi shrugged. "I thought Akane already told you."
Akane shrugged back, calmly examining a piece of rolled omelet in her chopsticks before placing it atop a bowl of rice Gotta at least eat some of it. "I kinda forgot about it, I did get a tummy ache yesterday night cause I felt like I was forgetting something though." she laughed. How am I gonna finish this all?
They both gasped. "You forgot!?"
"But I put reminders in our calendar!" Kasumi pointed towards the kitchen, an over filled calendar catching the pair eyes briefly.
"Haven't had time to check it recently." Akane took a bite of the assorted steamed vegetables, savoring the taste. Amazing.
"We've lived in the same house for nearly a year and you never thought to tell me?" Ranma exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table and closing in on the raven.
"We've lived in the same house for nearly a year and you never bothered to ask, too." she glared at him before returning to her food. Ooh, that looks good.
Kasumi and Ranma shared an understanding look before returning their attention back to a rather unbothered Akane. Just as they were about to begin a barrage of
questions fit for a government investigation, a very upset teenager entered the dining room.
"You lot have no care for anyone's beauty sleep!" Nabiki glared at the trio individually before her eyes finally landed on Akane, a sigh escaped her. "Happy Birthday, Akane."
"Aw, thanks, sis." Akane giggled.
--
I can't believe you! How could you keep such an important thing about you away from me?" Ranma exclaimed from the top of the fence. Though they had gone through many things in the last few months ranging from a new school year to a near death experience, daily routine is still daily routine. "I feel offended."
Akane scoffed. "Yeah right. I'm a 100% sure that even if I had told you, you wouldn't have cared. You're just being butthurt to annoy me." She stuck out her tongue.
Ranma crossed his arms, ready to take a defensive stance both literally and metaphorically. "You always assume the worst of me! I'm witty not a monster, 'kane." A snide expression formed on his face. "I bet you don't even know my birthday."
She stopped, a serious look on her as she stared at his eyes for a minute in silence. This is scarin' me more than if she just hit me.
"It's... in a week!"
"No way in hell you actually knew that you just took a lucky guess!" He accused.
"Did not! Your dad told me!" she defended, letting out a scoff before she continued. "You're just mad that I pay better attention than you."
Damn that old man!"Shut up, you just always have to be right huh?"
"I don't choose to always be right, I just am, sorry." she smirked. "Just admit it, you're just too self-absorbed to care about anyone but yourself. If you had to consider anyone else in your day to day life you'd combust."
Ranma felt his face get hot. "I'll show you, Tomboy. You better prepare for it cause I'm gonna give you the best birthday you'll ever have."
Akane laughed. "Yeah right!"
"Don't you dare laugh! You'll be tellin' future generations that the best birthday of your life was the one I planned."
"I seriously doubt that." she dismissed him with a wave, continuing her walk to school.
"I'm serious, 'cause I am not as self-absorbed as you claim." He jumped down, catching up to her. "I'll prove it starting now."
"Really? And how do you plan to do that, Ranma?" She clicked her tongue, though she was curious.
Ranma felt his face morph into discomfort. How was he gonna do that? More importantly, how was he going to do that while simultaneously proving that he was not in love with her. Because if anything, he was doing this to prove a point and not anything more, definitely not. Well, at least that's what he's convinced himself of.
Before any further grave digging could be dug, a certain boy with no internal compass had made the attention of both refocus. "Ryoga?"
The unsuspecting boy quickly went through a wave of emotions in a rather awkward minute: ranging from anger at the mere sight of Ranma, the lovestruck feeling that Akane still gave him, to even the embarrassment of finding out that he had landed back into the Nerima Ward rather than Hokkaido as he had initially intended.
"Nice seeing you two." he forced a smile. "You two headin' to school?"
"Oh yeah, arguing and headin' off to class, the typical morning." Ranma crossed his arms. "What about you? Lost again, piggy?"
Ryoga felt a flicker of anger before quickly shaking it off. "That's none of your business, Ranma. Anyway, what are you bothering Akane with this time? Sure you're just annoyin' her like usual cause you're you after all."
"You'd like to know, P-ch-"
"He forgot my birthday." Akane interrupted, "I called him self-absorbed and he wants to prove that he's not."
"Ha, fat chance." Ryoga chortled.
"Oh screw you." Ranma pouted. "Besides, it cancels out cause I promised her the best birthday ever. The kind that'll be the talk of the town for years to come!"
"Because that'll prove to everyone that you don't care about only yourself. You doing something extravagant to catch peoples attention, just to say you're not self-absorbed?" Ryoga sighed and gave Akane a pitiful look. "It comes full loop doesn't it?"
"I'm afraid so Ryoga." Akane reciprocated his feeling.
"What the hell are you two talkin' about?" He shook his head in disgust at the sight of a mutual feeling being shared between the two. "Never mind, doesn't matter anyway cause I'm about to knock your socks off, Akane."
She rolled her eyes, sarcasm thick in her voice. "Oh boy, I'm just bursting with excitement."
Ranma huffed as Akane walked off ahead of him, leaving him alone with the only person in his life who could casually fill both the role of enemy and best friend, he forced a smile. "So, Ryoga-"
"I'm not helping you with this, Ranma."
"Oh come on, you know you want to." He grimaced initially but forced a puppy dog look. "If not for me, than for Akane."
"No."
"Come on. It's Akane, we both know you've been in love with her for forever now you should be jumpin' at the opportunity to make her special day." He nudged. "If not that, because friendship and all that, you two are, ugh, friends, right?"barf.
"Ha, that gives me more of a reason to not help you." Ryoga crossed his arms. "It would be unmanly as her friend for me to let a scumbag such as yourself redeem yourself so easily."
Ranma groaned. "Come on, just help me."
"Only if you beg for it, then I'll think about."
A twinge of anger rose, quickly stifled down only by his need to win. "Fffine." He gritted his teeth. "Will you help me out?"
Ryoga remained in his position, waiting for him to continue.
"Please."
Silence.
He avoided eye contact. "... with a cherry on top."
Silence.
I'm gonna throw up."I need your help and you can ask for something in return."
His eyes met Ranma's, still waiting for more.
"No questions asked, whenever." he grabbed Ryoga by the shoulders. "That good enough?!"
Ryoga smiled. "Good enough."
"Great, lets get plannin'." Ranma let go off him, grabbing his hand and dragging him along.
"Wait, don't you have class?" Ryoga asked.
"I'll be fine if I skip one day." Ranma dismissed the thought.
Ryoga looked at him with a deadpan expression.Pretty sure he was failing last time Akane told me.
--
Akane was getting a knot in her stomach, the kind you get when you got a bad feeling. She laid her head down, she should've dragged Ranma to school cause then she could keep an eye on him. God, why couldn't people just forget about this date for forever?
--
"We need more time, dammit." Ranma yelled. "We ain't even got a solid plan down yet and the school days almost over."
Ryoga wallowed in his chair. "If only we had someone who knew a lot about this topic."
A lightbulb went off in Ranma's head just as Ryoga's sentence had ended.That's it."Ryoga, there is someone who fits that description perfectly."
"Who?"
"Kasumi.'
"Wait, Akane's big sister?"
"Yeah, this morning she was all over Akane for her birthday and she said something 'bout how birthdays are a big deal in the Tendo household, but I'm go ahead and assume that she's the main celebrator." Ranma stood up. "We gotta get her help before Akane gets home."
The pair headed over to the kitchen area, with their parents gone and the two other sisters off at school the house felt big enough to sneak in unnoticed.
"What are you doing home, Ranma?" Kasumi put a hand on her cheek before quickly noticing Ryoga by his side. "Oh my, Ryoga's back, let me get you some tea, dear."
"Oh no that's fin-"
"Thanks, Kasumi." Ranma interupted him, dragging him over to the kitchen table to take a seat, a kettle of tea being set before Kasumi returned her attention to the scheming duo.
"So, what brings you two here so peacefully?" she sat down.
"Uh, well..." Ryoga led, making eye contact towards Ranma to take the lead.
"We wanted to do a big surprise for Akane's birthday." Ranma continues, turning a bit bashful. "And we wanted to ask for your help, Kasumi."
Kasumi's expression turned blank, a moment of worry overcoming the pair.
"How wonderful!" she lit up. "I've been wanting to do a big birthday surprise for Akane since we were little girls, and now that I have help that can now become a reality."
The two shared a look before smiling back.This is gonna work perfectly. Suck it, Akane, who's self-absorbed now, hah!.
"Let's go over plans in further detail later tonight, for now we're gonna do something small." Kasumi stood up, prepping cups for the tea.
"Wait, later tonight?" Ranma questioned. "But her birthdays today."
"I know that, silly, but wouldn't it be great to get her guard down? You know she comes home expecting something dramatic but instead gets something quaint and then pow! a few days later we get her with a big ol' surprise. She'll never see it coming!" Kasumi nearly spilled the tea going over her idea.
Ranma laughed. "Wow, Kasumi, I've never seen you so exited before."
"Yeah, I always took you for the mildest Tendo." Ryoga chimed.
Kasumi smiled in her typical calm demeanor. "Well, there is not one person who doesn't have an unexpected side to them. Consider mine this."
The two shared a smile, this was gonna be good.
--
Something smelt fishy, and Akane Tendo was a hungry cat. She could sense something being plotted just by looking at the cake that Kasumi had pulled out after dinner.
"A cake from yours truly," Ranma gave a sly smile. "My big surprise."
Akane looked at Ryoga, Kasumi, and Nibiki, who for once felt like the least likely suspect in what she felt was brewing.
"Oh well, it's a good thing I never expected something big from you anyway, it looks good. Thanks." She smiled.
The 3 shared a look as they distributed the cake among the 5, Ranma placing the plate right in front of her with a smile. She returned it as her stomach turned, she wasn't sure to be excited or scared of what the 3 could be cooking up without her knowledge. Akane shrugged,Whatever, if Kasumi is involved it can't possibly end badly.