Scarlet Phoenix, Blue Dragon
Chapter 1, The Way That We Were
Author's Notes: Here it is folks, the next chapter. Come on now, I know it's not that good, but Forever Bound will be out soon. Oh and don't kill me, throughout this whole story, nomatter who he has been with, Ranma's one and only love is Akane. Just send all comments and criticism to silverflame_maiden@hotmail.com.
Disclaimers: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ranma leaned back onto his leather chair, an amused expression on his face as he watched Wasuki stamp into the office. The office was filled with light and Ranma couldn't help but notice how ridiculous Wasuki looked at the moment, her face in fury.
"Ranma!! How could you?! How could you just up and leave like that?!" Wasuki whined.
Ranma just gave her a dry grin, "I got bored of you." Wasuki felt tears begin to sting her cheeks and she yelled, "Bored?! Bored? I loved you. I love you." Ranma gave a dry laugh amused at the notion. "Oh, come now, you knew I dated other women while I was with you, this is so much better."
Wasuki burst, "You were WHAT? You jerk! You bastard! You, you...!"
"Come on now, don't hate the player, hate the game." he said reasonably.
Wasuki couldn't take it anymore as she grabbed a near-by ash tray and put it up.
Ranma's grin vanished and he said coldly, "You wouldn't dare throw that, Wasuki. So leave now or do I have to get "security" on you." Wasuki gave one final yell, dropped the ash tray and stomped out of the room. She clearly knew what "security" was.
As Wasuki passed the door, she pushed past a tall dark-haired man just walking in. The man turned his head and looked at Ranma as he arched an eyebrow, "Another one, Ranma. You really should stop before you get killed by either them or their families."
Ranma just waved his hand offhandedly, "They wouldn't dare. Besides, who are you to talk, you are worst then me." Ryoga laughed as he sat down on the chair across from Ranma's.
"Yes, but I do not break their hearts whereas you do. The ones I date know it's a game." Ryoga said. Ranma just shrugged as he examined the crystal ashtray, "They set themselves up to be hurt. It wasn't my fault I was the one to do it. Now let's stop on this and you tell me why your here."
Ryoga laughed again as he pulled out an envelope, "You know me too well, Ranma. Now, their is a party to be thrown at the Gretna Green mansion."
Ranma groaned, "Ryoga, you know, I hate those fancy dinner parties and you do too. So, the question is, why are we going?"
Ryoga smirked, "Maybe because, rumor has it that the famous Scarlet Phoenix would be there."
Ranma's interest peaked and he looked at Ryoga from the corner of his eyes, "You mean the one who's territory we want?"
"One and only," his associate said.
"Do you know who she is yet?" Ranma asked now fully turning at Ryoga.
Ryoga shook his head, "Nope."
"Too mysterious, even the name is stupid." Ranma scoffed as Ryoga laughed.
"Your one to talk, Blue Dragon."
"Well at least Blue Dragon is better then, Piggie," Ranma laughed. Ryoga scowled deeply, "That's Black Pigtarnius." Ranma laughed harder, "Whatever Piggie."
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Akane's manicured red nails tapped on her wooden desk as her blood-red lipstick lips smiled dryly. The large window overlooking the city allowed sunlight to enter the large office shining onto the expensive antiques and even more priceless boss herself. Akane leaned back onto her leather chair and it stretched a little. She idly straightened out her red business Chanel suit. She seemed transfixed at the sun setting over the horizon for a minute before the buzz of her intercom interrupted her trance.
"Yes?" Akane said her voice agitated from being interrupted. Her secretary, Raye Mizuno, just ignored her boss's tone. After all, you don't work for Akane Varshardi without learning to cope.
"Phone call from Mrs. Ono on line 5," she said before hanging up.
Akane smiled one of her rare genuine smiles before picking up the telephone, "Hey, Oneechan, how are you doing?"
"Hello, Akane," Kasumi's motherly cheerful voice rang out and Akane couldn't help but give a warm smile at that.
"How is our little starving actress doing?" Kasumi asked. Akane couldn't help but inwardly flinch but the lie came to her smoothly just as it had before, "Oh you know, living here and there. How are you and Tofu doing?"
"Oh, we're fine. Asako and Mayabi though miss their Auntie and can't stop talking about her?" Kasumi jibed and Akane laughed, one of her real laughs, not the cold ones she gives to everyone else.
"Just tell them that their Auntie 'kane will be home as soon as she can. Now Kasumi, why did you call?" Akane tried to sound serious.
Kasumi pretended innocence which wasn't difficult, "Oh can't an older sister call her little sister without being provoked?"
"Oh usually, unless this certain younger sister happen to know that this certain older sister doesn't call her office phone unless it's important," Akane joked. Kasumi burst out laughing, a magical sound like silver bells.
"Oh, you know me too well, Akane," Kasumi laughed.
"Oneechan, I'm appalled, you have so little faith in me," Akane feigned shock.
Kasumi just giggled a little more before saying, "Well, I called you because I wanted you to know that Tofu and I with the kids are going to visit you. Isn't that wonderful?"
Now very few things could surprise Akane...these were one of those things.
"Akane? Akane?" Kasumi asked worriedly.
Akane tried to sound calm, "Oh, I'm fine, Oneechan, just a little surprised. When are you going to arrive?"
Kasumi smiled through the phone, "In three days."
"Oh, wonderful, Oneechan," Akane said genuinely happy after she had gotten over the surprise.
Before they said goodbye though Kasumi asked, "Akane, did you get any word from Nabiki?"
Akane's eyebrows scrunched and she said, "No Oneechan. Did you expect otherwise?"
Kasumi sighed, "Akane, she's still our sister-"
"Yeah, sister, ditching us like that," Akane said.
"Akane, she was sad and depressed," Kasumi said exasperatedly.
Akane sneered, "We all were, oneechan. Didn't she think we weren't sad, but we didn't ditch our family."
Kasumi sighed again, knowing convincing Akane otherwise was useless so all she said was, "Well, good-bye Akane. See you in three days."
Akane smiled again, "Bye oneechan. Say hi to the kids and Tofu for me." So, with that the two sisters hung up.
Akane was just about to relax again before the sound of her intercom interrupted her.
"Yes, Raye?" Akane asked tiredly.
Raye talked through the intercom, "Miss. Akane, Miss. Hundaris and Miss. Beriki is here."
"Send them in."
The crystal door opened and in walked in Ukyo in a brown suit that fitted her body nicely. Ukyo held onto a sobbing girl and led her towards Akane as both sat down on the two leather chairs across from Akane's desk.
"What's the matter with Wasuki?" Akane asked. Ukyo gave a sigh before saying, "Her executive boyfriend or whatever broke up with her and she found out that he been cheating on her." Wasuki gave a loud sob/wail and Ukyo comforted her as Akane gave her a tissue.
"Oh, come on now Wasuki, it wouldn't have worked out anyways. Him being an executive and you being...well...the other side of the city. Remember, ^No man is worth the aggravation^," Akane sang.
Ukyo joined in, "^That's ancient history...^"
"^Been there, done that^" Wasuki sang.
"There now isn't that better? Men aren't worth your tears," Ukyo said.
"Yeah, Ucchan's right," Akane piped in helpfully.
Wasuki clicked her teeth and whined, "But he was supposed to be the ONE, guys. He was smart, rich, funny, cute...-"
Akane cut in, "Their all the ONE, Suki..."
Ukyo joined in, "...and all smart..."
"...and all rich..."
"...and all funny..."
"...and all cute..."
"Well not all of them," Wasuki said as they laughed.
"Good, now go and rest. Have the day off," Akane suggested and with a nod and gulp, Wasuki departed.
"Now, go get ready for the party later, get the guys and everyone ready, I think the Blue Dragon's going to be there," Akane commanded to Ukyo.
Ukyo turned to Akane and said, "Okay, spill it. What's the matter?"
Akane sighed, "Ucchan, Oneechan's coming here in three days. I want you to get a dump apartment in the poor parts of the streets and get me some gigs at some plays, o.k? I want anyone who might give my identity be temporarily terminated."
"Anything else?" Ukyo asked.
"Oh yeah, and tell the guys not to be so mushy when my nieces come. I know they all love my nieces and Kasumi, but tell them we run a business here and can't afford slouchers. Cancel all my press conferences to and make sure they don't print my picture or mention my name in the papers while oneechan is here."
"Gotcha, seeya at 8:00 for the party, Ne-chan. This time try not to start a fight until after we eat," Ukyo said as she left. Akane just smiled and turned her attention back towards the window onto the now dark city, after the sun has gone down.
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Author's Notes: I would like to point out that even though Ranma has girlfriends, he only loves Akane.