Yay! Second Chapter! Well, like I said before, this isn't a continuing series, but a bunch of shorts, so this isn't a continuation of the 1st chapter or anything like that. Thanks for the reviews everyone - it's your responses that make me want to continue writing. Hard to believe I've only been writing fanfics for only a few months - I should have started doing this ages ago - I have so much fun with it :) Well, enough about me.... On with the story!
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi is the wonderful creator of the Ranmaverse, not me. I wonder if I could persuade her to loan me Ryoga for a weekend... something about those fangs....
________________________________________________________________
Taking Things A Byte Too Far. The Tendo's Get A Computer!
Soun Tendo came home carrying a large box. After getting over the initial shock of actually seeing him doing something resembling manual labor/work, they watched as he opened the package.
"Hey cool, Mr. Tendo! A computer! Finally gettin' out of the dark ages, huh?"
"Ranma! Dad finally caved in alright - I think he finally got tired of me asking all the time for one, since someone - a sister I won't name - wouldn't share hers..."
"Akane. I told you I'd share, you'd just have to pay a slight user fee, that's all. A girl's got to make a living somehow."
After watching Soun fail several times at getting the computer hooked together, Nabiki took over. After about 2 minutes, the computer was up and running. All of the members of the household gathered around the screen to watch it start up.
"Windows? We already have windows - why do we need more?"
"Daddy. That's the name of the OS."
"OS? Oh my. I'm already lost. I'm afraid all this technology is beyond me. I'll be in the kitchen if anyone needs me."
"Kasumi, aren't you going to try it out? It'll be fun!"
"No, I don't think so Akane. I really have no interest in that kind of thing. I guess I'm just an old fashioned girl."
Kasumi walked off to the kitchen to begin preparing the evening meal. Not that anyone noticed, as they were already entranced by the hypnotic lure of the computer. Everyone with the exception of Nabiki clamored to be the first to try out the new gadget, with Genma being quickly taken out of the running, as Ranma poured a glass of cold water over his head. After all, a panda's paws weren't exactly suited to typing on a keyboard. He countered by pouring water on Ranma.
"Nyah, old man! Like that's gonna do anything! A girl can use the computer just as well as a guy. No wait, I take that back. A computer is naturally a guy's environment, so stand back Akane, and let a natural go first."
"Ranma, you sexist baka! A natural? Give me a break! You couldn't even program the VCR, let alone your alarm clock. I had to do both of those for you, and as I recall, I didn't have any problems..."
"Whatever, Akane. Fine, go first. But don't come crying to me when you get a walrus."
".... That's Virus, Ranma."
"Yeah, well... I was just testing ya, that's all. Now remember, you can't clobber this like you do everything else."
"Grrr, Ranma, grow up. I know it's only a machine. Like I'd want to mallet it when I've got you around for that, anyways. So take the hint, and let me try it out!"
Akane sat down in front of the computer - she had used one before at school, but that was only for typing - she had never had a chance to go on the internet before. She started the internet browser up, and found a search engine that she had heard people mention at school. She sat there for a bit, wondering what to look up. Of course, it was a bit hard to concentrate, what with Ranma looming right over her shoulder.
"Ranma! Do you mind? Can I have a bit of privacy?"
"Privacy? On the Internet? Haha, Akane, and you call me a pervert! Whatcha wanna look at, huh? There's gotta be some site out there for uncute tomboys..."
KERPOW!!
Akane dusted off her mallet before making it disappear. Really, Ranma could be such a jerk sometimes. Okay, now that he was out of commission for a bit, she could finally relax. So... what to type, what to type. Finally she thought she might try to find a Martial Arts based message board – she'd enjoy talking to other people about it, without getting condescended to like she did by Ranma.
At the search box, she typed in "Anything Goes Message Board" and hit the enter key. The first match that came up was a link for a board with that exact name.
"Huh! Not too shabby for my first attempt! This internet surfing thing is pretty easy. Okay, so now I just click on this match, and it'll bring me to the message board. Alright, it's loading up – not bad speed – I'm glad Dad decided on a Cable Modem rather than 56k. I've heard Gosunkugi complaining about 56k lots, so it must be bad. Urk!!"
The page had finished loading, but the message board wasn't exactly what Akane had expected. Rather than an Anything Goes Martial Arts board, she had really gotten an ANYTHING Goes board. Some of the posts on there were extremely extreme, and a few of the ones she glimpsed she didn't think were physically possible.
"Back button! Back button! Oh, Kami, where's the back button! Gah! Phew! That was the most disgusting perverted thing I've ever seen! I can't believe people post stuff like that! Note to self – be really specific when searching for something. Ewww."
Akane typed her search again, this time making sure to add the Martial Arts part of it. She wasn't sure what to expect for results, as the school didn't have an overly large following outside of Nerima. But to her pleasant surprise, there was a message board dedicated to Anything Goes Martial Arts.
"Now, to register so that I can post. Okay, need to pick a nickname. Don't want to use my real name, after all, who knows what kind of people are on here. Better to be safe. Let's see... I know! I'll go by Scarlet! I've always liked that name, not really sure why."
After registering, Akane started reading some of the various posts. She wasn't looking for anything in particular, maybe just someone who had the same desire to learn as she did, or someone willing to teach her some new techniques. It wasn't anything she had ever been able to say outloud, but her dream was to become good enough at the art so that she would be able to stand up to the various people that somehow seemed to crop up ever since Ranma had arrived in Nerima. She had become so used to being the "best" that it was hard for her to accept that she no longer was even a close second.
There weren't too many members signed up to this board, but Akane didn't mind, that way she figured she would be able to get to know them better than if there were hundreds. She noticed that like her, the other people posting were using pen names as well. She decided to read through all the posts before she either replied or made a new topic. After all, she had heard the computer club at school laughing hysterically over people that were new to the internet. Calling them boobs or something along those lines, she wasn't exactly sure.
Reading quickly through the posts, she noticed that there were a handful of regular members, that had made most of the posts. Remarkably, they seemed to have similar lives to Akane, something happening to them all the time. Of course, they all seemed to be able to defend themselves, judging from what they said in their posts. This was what she wanted! Maybe one or more of these people would show her a new technique, or at least allow her to train with them.
She re-read a topic that had caught her eye the first time she had went through the board.
Topic Starter: Pantene
Posts to date: 83
Replies to topic: 2
Please again excuse bad language. Me have tried Babelfish, but too too mess up what mean to say. So Pantene say in so many words what she mean.
Pantene miss catch husband again! Too too good technique of glomping no work on him. Husband no notice Pantene's dress or new hair to please him. Stupid girl ruin date again! Need help to get girl out of way, so Pantene can impress husband like she know he wants. Have tried everything can think of – going to bedroom *blush*, "mistake" bump into on bike, cook yummy ramen noodles, it all have no effect. Pantene getting very frustrated here. So turn to friends on computer to help. Suggest you anything to try? Pantene be too too happy if friends can help.
Reply from: Bandanna Boy
Pantene, I know what you mean. I have the exact same problem. There is a girl that I love, but because of her fiance, curse his name, it seems that I never get a chance to tell her how I feel. Any time that we are alone, I am either too shy to say anything, or I cannot speak at the moment. I know she has feelings for me, although they are not the feelings I want. She only thinks of me as a companion. Even though she tells me her innermost secrets, she does not know it is me, who so wants her love, that she tells them to. How it hurts me to hear what pain her betrothed has caused her. Every time I try to teach him a lesson though, my rage gets the better of me and I lose control. Even when I had a sure fire technique, he somehow managed to use it against me. And to top it off, he never misses a chance to insult me in front of her! Plus there is the fact of my mortifying secret. If it was ever unveiled to her, I would never be able to look her in the face again. She'd hate me, I'm sure.
I'm sorry that this post doesn't really offer you any suggestions, Pantene, I just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one having a hard time with love and the one you are destined to be with.
Reply from: Canard
I too know the sorrow of unrequited love, Pantene and Bandanna. I have loved a girl from my hometown since we were both babes, crawling around our village. But she does not think that I am worthy of her. Ever since she found this miscreant, she thinks that he must be her husband. I know that he is only out for one thing, what with all the girls he strings along! I have tried time and time again to prove myself worthy of her love, but this interfering "husband" of hers constantly gets in the way and destroys my well laid plans. I know they would succeed if he would just leave her along.
I am sure that if we put our ideas together we can come up with a solution for our love problems. We all know that we are the perfect people for our loves to be with, it is just a question of how to go about getting them to see it. I will think hard on any plans, can you two do the same? Post here with any plans.
Akane leaned back in her chair. She really felt for these poor people. They needed some advice and she knew she'd be able to help them out. Even if she was no longer number one in martial arts in Nerima, she knew she was still the advice queen. After all, at school, every one of her friends came to her for advice. And it was always good advice, she was sure of it! Honestly, the stunned looks that her friends gave her after she had told them what they should do said it all. Thinking hard, she began to compose a reply to the post.
Reply from: Scarlet
Well, I'm new to this board, this is my first post, but there was something about this topic that really made me want to help you guys out. Just from reading those short things you talked about, I can tell that you truely deserve the happiness you want with the person you are in love with. I think that they'd have to be blind or total bakas to not realize what great people they have in you! So, I'll try to help each of you with a few suggestions.
Pantene – I think what you need to do is just come out and tell your husband to stop fooling around with this other girl. It's immoral and disgusting. Also, you should approach this chick that's obviously ensnared your man with her claws, and teach her a lesson or two in manners. I'm not condoning violence, of course, but a few bitch slaps are always helpful. ;) Do you have any close family members that you can enlist to help you in any way? Persistence is definitely the key here. The more you pound it into the guys head, the sooner he'll realize that you are the perfect wife for him.
Canard – Let's see... What you need to do is along the same lines. Remind the girl of your history together. Follow her around, do the same things she does, make sure she notices that you share the same interests. Basically, make yourself so available to her presence that she can't help but notice you. That'll be the way to her heart, by overwhelming her. As for this guy, make sure she doesn't have any chances to meet up with him by herself. Always be by her side. If you happen to meet up with him, use every bit of your skill to beat him down. If necessary, use slightly "bad" tactics, like ruses to get him out of the way – you know, set up a false date with him and your love, without her knowing about it – that way when he shows up and she doesn't, perhaps he'll lose interest.
And finally, Bandanna Boy – You poor guy. Any girl would love to be with you, from what I can see. If this girl is telling you her thoughts, then I guarantee that she loves you back. No girl tells a guy anything deep unless she wants to be with him. Let her know how you feel. You say you're too shy? Well, she's probably just as shy – I'm sure she knows how you feel, but doesn't know herself how to let her feelings out in the open. If her fiance is a jerk like you say, she probably wants to get rid of him, but maybe feels a kind of honor holding her to the engagement. What you need to do is display how he is a jerk – anything bad you know on him – tell her! She will only thank you for it. As for this deep dark secret, well nothing can be that bad. If she loves you like I'm sure she does, she will only be happy that you were able to confide in her. No problem is too large for love to conquer.
It's funny – I came here looking for advice on Martial Arts techniques, but felt very drawn to helping you. Hopefully if my advice works out for any of you, you might be willing to help me learn some new tricks. Best of luck to all of you, and be sure to post if any of this was helpful, as I'm sure it will be. Wow, did this ever turn out to be a long first post! Hope you don't mind that I put in my two cents. :)
Akane shut down the computer and smiled. She always enjoyed helping other people out with problems of the heart. She knew all about troubled relationships, what with being engaged to a perverted baka and all. Looking at the clock, she noticed it was just about dinner time. As if on cue, Kasumi called out that it was served. Akane got up from the computer chair and headed to the dining room. She'd check back at the message board tomorrow to see if there were any replies.
"So, Akane, you done with the computer for the evening? Can I have a chance now?"
"Go ahead, Ranma. I'm done for the night. Managed to even do a good deed for some people while I was online. So, can you try not to break the computer while you're using it? I'll need it again tomorrow."
While she was sitting with the occupants of the household eating, there was a general flurry of excitement at 3 computers across Nerima. The users were frantically writing down notes based on the advice given in the reply. Each person had a large grin on their face, and were each sure this was going to be what they needed to succeed.
______________________________________________________________
Well, I figured if Akane is so clueless to Ryoga being P-Chan, there was no way she would have recognized anyone she knew if they were going by a different name. She's pretty naive that way. Read and review please! Next story will be out whenever I can think of one. Hopefully soon.
