Retro's thoughts: Ok, Ok, Ok. There is a very good reason as to why the ring doesn't turn Ranma invisible. I can't tell that you or else it will give the story away. Don't worry everything will be explained sometime. For right now keep on wondering why it doesn't turn him invisible. TRUST ME THERE'S TRULY A GOOD REASON.
Chapter 5
Ryouga sat staring at the ceiling of Ucchans second story. He sighed and hung his head. He looked around the area laying his eyes upon his hand. He moved his hand around gripping and flexing it on and off. He moved his hand up to his cheek where he had a small scar forming. He let his hand drop and propped his head against the wall sighing again.
He felt a lot better after about 7 hours of being unconscious. Martial Arts really helped his daily life a lot. Then why did you lose to Ranma? His mind continually asked him that question ever since Ranma defeated him in combat with close to no effort. Am I really that bad? Ryouga looked around the dark room and saw his packed case and his umbrella slung onto it. He could see some traces of blood on his case. My blood of course, he thought grimacing. He walked and picked up his gear and opened the door quietly. I'm going to get out of here once and for all, he thought, I've lost all reason to come here if Ranma can defeat me that easily. What about Akane? The question had drummed through his head ever since he woke up thirty minutes ago.
Ryouga slammed his fist against the wall and hung his head low. I must see her one last time before I leave forever, he thought. Ryouga dropped his arm to the sliding door and opened it quietly. He heard low voices coming from downstairs, but he couldn't make out any words. He recognized the voices very well though. He slipped into the bathroom and ran the cold water in the furo.
Ryouga whispered to himself, "Someday Ranma we will fight again and I WILL win". Ryouga brought his hand up and screamed. "BAKUSAI TENKETSU!" Ryouga punched a hole in the wall and quickly jumped into the furo. Jumping out he jumped through the hole and into the Nerima streets. Destination: Tendo Dojo.
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Ranma had been talking to Ukyou after they moved Ryouga upstairs into her room. Ranma had felt horrible ever since the incident. He had almost killed his friend; enemy, yes but still a friend. He sipped his tea slowly. He had stopped shaking the cup awhile ago.
"It's okay Ranma. You just weren't thinking; it happens a lot to people." Ukyou had tried to be comforting after Ranma had told her he sincerely didn't want any harm to come to Ryouga. "Besides he's upstairs resting calmly. I'm sure he'll be up and ready for another match by tomorrow." Ukyou took another sip of tea. Ryouga could never match Ranma's speed or strength from yesterday, she thought.
Ranma nodded staring into space when he heard a crash upstairs and an all too familiar war cry. Ranma sat strait up, as did Ukyou looking upstairs. Ranma reacted first sprinting to the stairs. "Ryouga!" Ranma called to him from the foot of the stairs, but got no answer. Ranma raced upstairs followed closely by Ukyou. Ranma reached the top of the stairs and looked at the hole in the bathroom wall.
Ranma knelt down, picked up Ryouga's clothes, and looked at the overflowing furo. He stuck his hand in the water and nodded. He looked back out to the hole and leaned against the wall shaking his head at the floor chuckling.
"WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?" Ukyou screamed and looked around motioning her hands at the redecoration of her wall. "HE DECIMATED MY BATHROOM."
Ranma simply stared out at Nerima and smiled. At least my friend is feeling better, he thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Panda Genma sweeped the walk leading to the front door of the Tendo house and grumbled loudly about chores without lunch. He wasn't aloud lunch until he swept the walkway. He was about to go on sweeping another portion when he saw a little black piglet with a yellow bandana tied around its neck. Panda Genma picked up the pig and inspected it intently. A smile creeping across his face Panda Genma rushed to the kitchen pig in hand.
Kasumi was slicing vegetables for dinner when Panda Genma rushed into the kitchen and dropped the pig on the table and stuck a knife in the table next to the pig's head. Panda Genma growled at the pig and amazingly, the he got the idea. The Panda licked his lips and pointed to the pig holding up a sign.
'Let's have pig for dinner' the sign said as the Panda stared back at the pig still licking his lips.
"Isn't that Akane's pet pig?" Kasumi asked with her inquisitive look on her face. Akane had just been walking by the kitchen when she heard her name and peaked in to see what was up.
"Did you say my na.." Akane looked at the Panda holding a knife while the other hand held down her P-Chan. Akane slapped the knife out of Panda Genma's hand and it hit the wall behind Kasumi.
"Oh my!" Kasumi held her hand to her chest but went back to cutting vegetables.
"What do you think your doing Mr. Saotome?" Akane said holding P-Chan close to her bosom. Panda Genma whimpered and ducked out of the kitchen behind Akane before she could do anything else.
Panda Genma went back to sweeping the porch while his stomach grumbled in both hunger and anger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma walked down the street back to his cheery self; or else, he would have liked to. He walked down the street with his hands in his pockets, hunched over, and pondering the many things on his mind.
What will they do when I come home? Ranma recalled this morning when he spazzed out on all of them. I think I should wait a little longer before I go home. Ranma looked at the sun 3/4 across the sky. Must be around 4:00 I guess, he thought. Ranma chose to walk to the Nekohanten.
Ranma opened the door to the Nekohanten and greeted a happy Shampoo. He was surprised; she hadn't come over to the house in about three days. Maybe she had gotten over him.
"Nihao airen*." Shampoo waved to him from behind the cooking counter and bounded over to Ranma.
Guess not.
Ranma smiled at Shampoo as she literally "bounced" to Ranma. He took the nearest seat and picked up a menu. He wasn't surprised when he saw that 90% of the menu was Ramen. Guess the place hasn't changed since I worked here, he thought. Ranma remembered Cologne keeping him in his girl form and making him train and work hard for the pill that would change him back. Ranma smiled at that thought.
Shampoo whipped out a pad of paper and a pen and began to take down his order. Ramen of course. Shampoo smiled and bounded to the kitchen. Ranma sat thinking while he waited for his food to be delivered to his table. Ranma played with his ring as he pondered it over. Moose would certainly be a problem and Kuno maybe even the principal. He couldn't let anyone else suffer like Ryouga. He would have to see to it that every precaution was made and taken.
Shampoo walked out of the kitchen and brought the ramen back to Ranma. "Here you go." She wiped the front of her smock; instead of getting back to work, Shampoo took a seat next to Ranma, and began to watch him eat. Ranma took a couple of noodle bites before he started laughing.
"I can't eat with you doing that Shampoo." Ranma said dropping his chopsticks on the table and pointing at Shampoo's face.
"Shampoo just watch Airen eat late lunch." Shampoo said giggling and locking her death grip onto Ranma's chest. Ranma let out a gasp of air and pried Shampoo off him. Looking at the clock on the wall Ranma got up and scooted his chair under the table. "Shampoo sorry she no do it again."
Ranma chuckled, "It's not that Shampoo it's just that I have to get back home". Ranma was walking out the door when he looked back and walked back in. He stepped close to her and her heart began to beat faster and faster. She could feel his breath as he put a hand on her shoulder and leaned closer to her.
"Oh, and Shampoo can you do me a favor?" Ranma asked barely a whisper. Shampoo stared up into his eyes and nodded curtly. She closed her eyes and began to lean forward. Ranma put both his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. "Whoa let me finish. About Moose.."
"Moose no bother us he in kitchen." Shampoo leaned forward again and was pushed back again by Ranma's strong hands.
"Please let me finish. I want you to keep Moose busy. Make him do over time or extra work or something." Ranma looked strait into her eyes; he was dead serious.
Shampoo scrunched her face and then her eyes went wide as her hand shot up to her mouth. "You mean you...and me...here? Now?" Shampoo looked around seeing if it could be possible to in the store right here and now and Moose in the kitchen.
This time it was Ranma's turn to scrunch his face up. Ranma wasn't putting two and two together until it dawned on him. Ranma went a deep crimson as he flailed his arms and looked around to see if anyone heard clamping his hands over Shampoo's mouth. "I don't mean that." Ranma said in a coarse whisper still looking around especially in the direction of the kitchen. "I just don't want him coming around the Tendo house and bothering me okay."
Shampoo nodded as Ranma let his hands off her face. She closed her eyes and hung her head. "Shampoo understand." She said with a little disappointment in her voice, "You want to do it with Pervert-Girl."
Ranma jumped and slapped his hand over Shampoo's mouth shhhing her very loudly so two patrons looked over at the two. Ranma sent a scowl that said "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" The patrons turned their heads, fixed them squarely on their meal, and continued to eat as they sweated profusely.
"That's not it Shampoo. I just don't want to come into a confrontation right now with Moose or anyone else. Consider it me taking a vacation." Ranma said admiring his own excuse for not wanting people around him. I just don't want another Ryouga accident on my hands, he thought.
"Shampoo give him extra cleaning and cooking for Airen's vacation." Shampoo smiled and bounded off to the kitchen to tell Moose the good news. Ranma quickly slipped out of the restaurant. Ranma could here a loud WHAT emanate from the building he just left. Ranma smiled and headed towards the Kuno estate to ask a certain Kodachi Kuno for a favor.
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Akane sat at her desk trying to do her homework. She couldn't focus because her mind was still remembering Ranma this morning. He went crazy over that one ring, but I wonder why. It was a nice ring and all but, it wasn't something to spaz out over. Maybe that's why he looked so distraught last night, she thought.
Akane let out a sigh and closed her book wanting to go take a nice long relaxing bath. Akane opened the door to the bathroom and slipped out of her clothes. She turned on the hot water to the furo and when the level of water was at normal height Akane hopped in. She leaned a damp towel as a pillow against the marble furo and leaned against it closing her eyes. Ahhhh, she thought, very relaxing indeed.
Akane was just about to fall asleep when she heard a commotion come from downstairs and she moaned aloud. How come every time I relax something has to go wrong, she thought. She got out of the furo, put a towel around her, and stuck on some pink slippers. She opened the door to see Nabiki rushing to her room, crying? Ranma also headed to his room with his fists clenched and a mean glare in his eye not directed to anyone as he slammed the door behind him.
Akane watched Kasumi come upstairs to watch the two angered teens close the doors behind them. Akane watched too and looked back at Kasumi. "What happened?" Akane mouthed to Kasumi not wanting to direct attention.
Kasumi pointed to Akane who was dripping water all over the hallway. "I'll let you finish first, then come downstairs." Kasumi said with a forced smile on her face as she headed back downstairs.
Akane walked back into the bathroom and emptied the water out of the furo. She dried off and slipped her clothes back on as she went downstairs. Akane saw the remnants of half-eaten dinner on the table which was Kasumi was clearing.
Kasumi brought out some tea to talk things over with. She set down the tea and poured some for herself and Akane. She took a sip and began to tell what happened earlier while Akane was studying and in the furo.
(A couple minutes earlier)
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Ranma walked into the house and closed the door behind him. He slipped off his shoes and slipped into the kitchen hungry for dinner. Kasumi smiled at him. "Don't worry Ranma dinner will be ready in a few moments." "Here," Kasumi handed Ranma some tea and said", take this to the dining table please".
Ranma took the drinks to the dining room and set it on the table. Nabiki was just finishing scribbling in her account book when she looked up and took some tea from Ranma.
"Whatcha doin?" Ranma asked trying to strike up a conversation. Ranma took a sip of tea and set it back on his plate.
"Nothing you would understand." Nabiki said going over the damages to the house Ranma and Genma had caused last week while practicing. She took a sip of tea while Kasumi brought out some dinner for them to eat.
Kasumi was about to go call Akane for dinner when she heard Ranma from behind her. "Nabiki why do you always have to be a hanus bitch all of the time." Kasumi turned around and put her hand over her mouth
"Oh my!"
"Maybe I wouldn't be if you and your father didn't screw around so much tearing this house apart so I have to pay for it." Nabiki shot a glare at Ranma for the insult.
Ranma just glared right back at her. "I didn't know it angered you so much because I thought you LIKE embezzling money out of people. Tell me Nabiki do you have any friends whatsoever. It seems everyone you encounter you bribe or blackmail. No wonder everyone is afraid of you at school. No wonder no one LIKES you at school."
Nabiki's eyes showed pure hatred at Ranma. She knew it was the truth. Only Kuno usually struck up a conversation with her, and that was only when he wanted information from her. Naturally, she would charge him an arm and a leg for any information.
"Well EXCUSE ME, but it seems that it's the only flow of money into this house." Nabiki said standing up and pointing to the inside of the kitchen meaning the house.
Ranma stood up as well with more menace than Nabiki and pointed at her. "I would gladly work to keep this place from falling apart if someone only asked me to. I would rather work for the money than accept your dirty money. Face it Nabiki you would sell out your family if you would get a quick yen out of it."
Nabiki wound back and slapped Ranma hard across the face. Tears were flowing freely from her eyes. She turned around and rushed upstairs crying with her hands at her face trying to wipe away the endless tears. Her impegnatrable mask had been broken by a conversation with Ranma. Ranma growled and clenched his fists as he followed Nabiki up the stairs. Kasumi followed behind Ranma to make sure Ranma wasn't going to actually strike Nabiki.
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Akane stared dumbfounded at Kasumi's story. How could Ranma say such things, she thought, although all of it is true? She took another sip of her tea and thanked Kasumi. She walked upstairs to go ask Ranma if he was ok. She stood right outside his door when she stopped and looked down at P-Chan snuggling against her leg.
"I think your right P-Chan, let's leave Ranma to himself." Akane spoke in a hushed baby voice as she picked up P-Chan and brought him to her room.
She changed into her Pajamas and hopped into bed with P-Chan right behind her. Akane was worried about Ranma's well being and stared longingly at the door pondering whether she should check on him or not. She decided against it and turned off the light to go to bed.
Ranma paced his room slowly back and forth playing with the ring on his finger. That BITCH, he thought clenching his teeth, I'll show her never to slap me and get away with it. She'll pay dearly. Ranma paced the room thinking of ways he could hit Nabiki where it hurts. Ranma had stopped. Then he smiled and pounded his fist into his palm. That's it, he thought, without Kuno she would lose her biggest customer and her only "friend". Ranma smirked at the word. He was right she had no friends. He read the walls on the bathroom stalls; he knew what was going on. Almost every dirty message on the walls were about Nabiki. Not even Kuno liked her that much, but he saw the way she looked at him sometimes. With him gone, she would be ruined.
Ranma stopped and realized at what he had just thought and shook his head. I'm just tired, he thought, I'll get some rest. Ranma stood looking down on his ring ready to take it off but never did so. I'll just wear it to bed, he thought, no harm done doing that is there?
Ranma took off his pants and shirt, slipped on his beater, and prepared for bed. He lied down on his sou* and drew the covers over his head as he slept. Ranma slept soundly as the Ring took another part of him that night.
Nihao Airen is Chinese for hello husband simply put
Sou - bed
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Retro's thoughts: I probably should have said this the first thing I did. I don't own any of the Ranma characters those belong to Rumiko Takahashi and all her splendor.
Chapter 5
Ryouga sat staring at the ceiling of Ucchans second story. He sighed and hung his head. He looked around the area laying his eyes upon his hand. He moved his hand around gripping and flexing it on and off. He moved his hand up to his cheek where he had a small scar forming. He let his hand drop and propped his head against the wall sighing again.
He felt a lot better after about 7 hours of being unconscious. Martial Arts really helped his daily life a lot. Then why did you lose to Ranma? His mind continually asked him that question ever since Ranma defeated him in combat with close to no effort. Am I really that bad? Ryouga looked around the dark room and saw his packed case and his umbrella slung onto it. He could see some traces of blood on his case. My blood of course, he thought grimacing. He walked and picked up his gear and opened the door quietly. I'm going to get out of here once and for all, he thought, I've lost all reason to come here if Ranma can defeat me that easily. What about Akane? The question had drummed through his head ever since he woke up thirty minutes ago.
Ryouga slammed his fist against the wall and hung his head low. I must see her one last time before I leave forever, he thought. Ryouga dropped his arm to the sliding door and opened it quietly. He heard low voices coming from downstairs, but he couldn't make out any words. He recognized the voices very well though. He slipped into the bathroom and ran the cold water in the furo.
Ryouga whispered to himself, "Someday Ranma we will fight again and I WILL win". Ryouga brought his hand up and screamed. "BAKUSAI TENKETSU!" Ryouga punched a hole in the wall and quickly jumped into the furo. Jumping out he jumped through the hole and into the Nerima streets. Destination: Tendo Dojo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma had been talking to Ukyou after they moved Ryouga upstairs into her room. Ranma had felt horrible ever since the incident. He had almost killed his friend; enemy, yes but still a friend. He sipped his tea slowly. He had stopped shaking the cup awhile ago.
"It's okay Ranma. You just weren't thinking; it happens a lot to people." Ukyou had tried to be comforting after Ranma had told her he sincerely didn't want any harm to come to Ryouga. "Besides he's upstairs resting calmly. I'm sure he'll be up and ready for another match by tomorrow." Ukyou took another sip of tea. Ryouga could never match Ranma's speed or strength from yesterday, she thought.
Ranma nodded staring into space when he heard a crash upstairs and an all too familiar war cry. Ranma sat strait up, as did Ukyou looking upstairs. Ranma reacted first sprinting to the stairs. "Ryouga!" Ranma called to him from the foot of the stairs, but got no answer. Ranma raced upstairs followed closely by Ukyou. Ranma reached the top of the stairs and looked at the hole in the bathroom wall.
Ranma knelt down, picked up Ryouga's clothes, and looked at the overflowing furo. He stuck his hand in the water and nodded. He looked back out to the hole and leaned against the wall shaking his head at the floor chuckling.
"WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?" Ukyou screamed and looked around motioning her hands at the redecoration of her wall. "HE DECIMATED MY BATHROOM."
Ranma simply stared out at Nerima and smiled. At least my friend is feeling better, he thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Panda Genma sweeped the walk leading to the front door of the Tendo house and grumbled loudly about chores without lunch. He wasn't aloud lunch until he swept the walkway. He was about to go on sweeping another portion when he saw a little black piglet with a yellow bandana tied around its neck. Panda Genma picked up the pig and inspected it intently. A smile creeping across his face Panda Genma rushed to the kitchen pig in hand.
Kasumi was slicing vegetables for dinner when Panda Genma rushed into the kitchen and dropped the pig on the table and stuck a knife in the table next to the pig's head. Panda Genma growled at the pig and amazingly, the he got the idea. The Panda licked his lips and pointed to the pig holding up a sign.
'Let's have pig for dinner' the sign said as the Panda stared back at the pig still licking his lips.
"Isn't that Akane's pet pig?" Kasumi asked with her inquisitive look on her face. Akane had just been walking by the kitchen when she heard her name and peaked in to see what was up.
"Did you say my na.." Akane looked at the Panda holding a knife while the other hand held down her P-Chan. Akane slapped the knife out of Panda Genma's hand and it hit the wall behind Kasumi.
"Oh my!" Kasumi held her hand to her chest but went back to cutting vegetables.
"What do you think your doing Mr. Saotome?" Akane said holding P-Chan close to her bosom. Panda Genma whimpered and ducked out of the kitchen behind Akane before she could do anything else.
Panda Genma went back to sweeping the porch while his stomach grumbled in both hunger and anger.
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Ranma walked down the street back to his cheery self; or else, he would have liked to. He walked down the street with his hands in his pockets, hunched over, and pondering the many things on his mind.
What will they do when I come home? Ranma recalled this morning when he spazzed out on all of them. I think I should wait a little longer before I go home. Ranma looked at the sun 3/4 across the sky. Must be around 4:00 I guess, he thought. Ranma chose to walk to the Nekohanten.
Ranma opened the door to the Nekohanten and greeted a happy Shampoo. He was surprised; she hadn't come over to the house in about three days. Maybe she had gotten over him.
"Nihao airen*." Shampoo waved to him from behind the cooking counter and bounded over to Ranma.
Guess not.
Ranma smiled at Shampoo as she literally "bounced" to Ranma. He took the nearest seat and picked up a menu. He wasn't surprised when he saw that 90% of the menu was Ramen. Guess the place hasn't changed since I worked here, he thought. Ranma remembered Cologne keeping him in his girl form and making him train and work hard for the pill that would change him back. Ranma smiled at that thought.
Shampoo whipped out a pad of paper and a pen and began to take down his order. Ramen of course. Shampoo smiled and bounded to the kitchen. Ranma sat thinking while he waited for his food to be delivered to his table. Ranma played with his ring as he pondered it over. Moose would certainly be a problem and Kuno maybe even the principal. He couldn't let anyone else suffer like Ryouga. He would have to see to it that every precaution was made and taken.
Shampoo walked out of the kitchen and brought the ramen back to Ranma. "Here you go." She wiped the front of her smock; instead of getting back to work, Shampoo took a seat next to Ranma, and began to watch him eat. Ranma took a couple of noodle bites before he started laughing.
"I can't eat with you doing that Shampoo." Ranma said dropping his chopsticks on the table and pointing at Shampoo's face.
"Shampoo just watch Airen eat late lunch." Shampoo said giggling and locking her death grip onto Ranma's chest. Ranma let out a gasp of air and pried Shampoo off him. Looking at the clock on the wall Ranma got up and scooted his chair under the table. "Shampoo sorry she no do it again."
Ranma chuckled, "It's not that Shampoo it's just that I have to get back home". Ranma was walking out the door when he looked back and walked back in. He stepped close to her and her heart began to beat faster and faster. She could feel his breath as he put a hand on her shoulder and leaned closer to her.
"Oh, and Shampoo can you do me a favor?" Ranma asked barely a whisper. Shampoo stared up into his eyes and nodded curtly. She closed her eyes and began to lean forward. Ranma put both his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. "Whoa let me finish. About Moose.."
"Moose no bother us he in kitchen." Shampoo leaned forward again and was pushed back again by Ranma's strong hands.
"Please let me finish. I want you to keep Moose busy. Make him do over time or extra work or something." Ranma looked strait into her eyes; he was dead serious.
Shampoo scrunched her face and then her eyes went wide as her hand shot up to her mouth. "You mean you...and me...here? Now?" Shampoo looked around seeing if it could be possible to in the store right here and now and Moose in the kitchen.
This time it was Ranma's turn to scrunch his face up. Ranma wasn't putting two and two together until it dawned on him. Ranma went a deep crimson as he flailed his arms and looked around to see if anyone heard clamping his hands over Shampoo's mouth. "I don't mean that." Ranma said in a coarse whisper still looking around especially in the direction of the kitchen. "I just don't want him coming around the Tendo house and bothering me okay."
Shampoo nodded as Ranma let his hands off her face. She closed her eyes and hung her head. "Shampoo understand." She said with a little disappointment in her voice, "You want to do it with Pervert-Girl."
Ranma jumped and slapped his hand over Shampoo's mouth shhhing her very loudly so two patrons looked over at the two. Ranma sent a scowl that said "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!" The patrons turned their heads, fixed them squarely on their meal, and continued to eat as they sweated profusely.
"That's not it Shampoo. I just don't want to come into a confrontation right now with Moose or anyone else. Consider it me taking a vacation." Ranma said admiring his own excuse for not wanting people around him. I just don't want another Ryouga accident on my hands, he thought.
"Shampoo give him extra cleaning and cooking for Airen's vacation." Shampoo smiled and bounded off to the kitchen to tell Moose the good news. Ranma quickly slipped out of the restaurant. Ranma could here a loud WHAT emanate from the building he just left. Ranma smiled and headed towards the Kuno estate to ask a certain Kodachi Kuno for a favor.
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Akane sat at her desk trying to do her homework. She couldn't focus because her mind was still remembering Ranma this morning. He went crazy over that one ring, but I wonder why. It was a nice ring and all but, it wasn't something to spaz out over. Maybe that's why he looked so distraught last night, she thought.
Akane let out a sigh and closed her book wanting to go take a nice long relaxing bath. Akane opened the door to the bathroom and slipped out of her clothes. She turned on the hot water to the furo and when the level of water was at normal height Akane hopped in. She leaned a damp towel as a pillow against the marble furo and leaned against it closing her eyes. Ahhhh, she thought, very relaxing indeed.
Akane was just about to fall asleep when she heard a commotion come from downstairs and she moaned aloud. How come every time I relax something has to go wrong, she thought. She got out of the furo, put a towel around her, and stuck on some pink slippers. She opened the door to see Nabiki rushing to her room, crying? Ranma also headed to his room with his fists clenched and a mean glare in his eye not directed to anyone as he slammed the door behind him.
Akane watched Kasumi come upstairs to watch the two angered teens close the doors behind them. Akane watched too and looked back at Kasumi. "What happened?" Akane mouthed to Kasumi not wanting to direct attention.
Kasumi pointed to Akane who was dripping water all over the hallway. "I'll let you finish first, then come downstairs." Kasumi said with a forced smile on her face as she headed back downstairs.
Akane walked back into the bathroom and emptied the water out of the furo. She dried off and slipped her clothes back on as she went downstairs. Akane saw the remnants of half-eaten dinner on the table which was Kasumi was clearing.
Kasumi brought out some tea to talk things over with. She set down the tea and poured some for herself and Akane. She took a sip and began to tell what happened earlier while Akane was studying and in the furo.
(A couple minutes earlier)
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Ranma walked into the house and closed the door behind him. He slipped off his shoes and slipped into the kitchen hungry for dinner. Kasumi smiled at him. "Don't worry Ranma dinner will be ready in a few moments." "Here," Kasumi handed Ranma some tea and said", take this to the dining table please".
Ranma took the drinks to the dining room and set it on the table. Nabiki was just finishing scribbling in her account book when she looked up and took some tea from Ranma.
"Whatcha doin?" Ranma asked trying to strike up a conversation. Ranma took a sip of tea and set it back on his plate.
"Nothing you would understand." Nabiki said going over the damages to the house Ranma and Genma had caused last week while practicing. She took a sip of tea while Kasumi brought out some dinner for them to eat.
Kasumi was about to go call Akane for dinner when she heard Ranma from behind her. "Nabiki why do you always have to be a hanus bitch all of the time." Kasumi turned around and put her hand over her mouth
"Oh my!"
"Maybe I wouldn't be if you and your father didn't screw around so much tearing this house apart so I have to pay for it." Nabiki shot a glare at Ranma for the insult.
Ranma just glared right back at her. "I didn't know it angered you so much because I thought you LIKE embezzling money out of people. Tell me Nabiki do you have any friends whatsoever. It seems everyone you encounter you bribe or blackmail. No wonder everyone is afraid of you at school. No wonder no one LIKES you at school."
Nabiki's eyes showed pure hatred at Ranma. She knew it was the truth. Only Kuno usually struck up a conversation with her, and that was only when he wanted information from her. Naturally, she would charge him an arm and a leg for any information.
"Well EXCUSE ME, but it seems that it's the only flow of money into this house." Nabiki said standing up and pointing to the inside of the kitchen meaning the house.
Ranma stood up as well with more menace than Nabiki and pointed at her. "I would gladly work to keep this place from falling apart if someone only asked me to. I would rather work for the money than accept your dirty money. Face it Nabiki you would sell out your family if you would get a quick yen out of it."
Nabiki wound back and slapped Ranma hard across the face. Tears were flowing freely from her eyes. She turned around and rushed upstairs crying with her hands at her face trying to wipe away the endless tears. Her impegnatrable mask had been broken by a conversation with Ranma. Ranma growled and clenched his fists as he followed Nabiki up the stairs. Kasumi followed behind Ranma to make sure Ranma wasn't going to actually strike Nabiki.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akane stared dumbfounded at Kasumi's story. How could Ranma say such things, she thought, although all of it is true? She took another sip of her tea and thanked Kasumi. She walked upstairs to go ask Ranma if he was ok. She stood right outside his door when she stopped and looked down at P-Chan snuggling against her leg.
"I think your right P-Chan, let's leave Ranma to himself." Akane spoke in a hushed baby voice as she picked up P-Chan and brought him to her room.
She changed into her Pajamas and hopped into bed with P-Chan right behind her. Akane was worried about Ranma's well being and stared longingly at the door pondering whether she should check on him or not. She decided against it and turned off the light to go to bed.
Ranma paced his room slowly back and forth playing with the ring on his finger. That BITCH, he thought clenching his teeth, I'll show her never to slap me and get away with it. She'll pay dearly. Ranma paced the room thinking of ways he could hit Nabiki where it hurts. Ranma had stopped. Then he smiled and pounded his fist into his palm. That's it, he thought, without Kuno she would lose her biggest customer and her only "friend". Ranma smirked at the word. He was right she had no friends. He read the walls on the bathroom stalls; he knew what was going on. Almost every dirty message on the walls were about Nabiki. Not even Kuno liked her that much, but he saw the way she looked at him sometimes. With him gone, she would be ruined.
Ranma stopped and realized at what he had just thought and shook his head. I'm just tired, he thought, I'll get some rest. Ranma stood looking down on his ring ready to take it off but never did so. I'll just wear it to bed, he thought, no harm done doing that is there?
Ranma took off his pants and shirt, slipped on his beater, and prepared for bed. He lied down on his sou* and drew the covers over his head as he slept. Ranma slept soundly as the Ring took another part of him that night.
Nihao Airen is Chinese for hello husband simply put
Sou - bed
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Retro's thoughts: I probably should have said this the first thing I did. I don't own any of the Ranma characters those belong to Rumiko Takahashi and all her splendor.