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- SIGNS
" " - Japanese
* * = Thoughts

++++ = Flashback
***** = Another place

************ Ranma's Ignorance *************

Part 2 - Blissful revelations

It was a silent day at the Tendo household. Those who passed by and knew of it's past, would immediately speed up and try to get away. However, this day would never be like the rest. Ranma Saotome, the heir to the Anything goes school of martial arts,... was dead. Nabiki was in her room and going through some of the pictures that she had of Ranma's boy side. Kasumi was even in her room, her eyes puffy red from crying all night. Akane was outside in the dojo sparing with the cement blocks that always gave her a hard time. Soun was too busy crying his eyes out to notice that Genma had long ago, flown the coop. Back in Nabiki's room, the window flew open with a gust of wind, as a letter was carried inside. Walking to the floating letter, she grabbed it and looked at the front *It's to me,....* she then opened up the letter and read it aloud "Dear Nabiki, I'm sure by now that you know I'm 'dead'. If that were true, then you wouldn't get this letter. I need a favor from you... Bring Kasumi and yourself to the abandoned warehouse in the eastern district. Only you and Kasumi. Signed, Ranma" Re-reading the letter in pure surprise, she couldn't help but start crying in joy. She quickly got together a few of the pictures and then ran to Kasumi's room, not even knocking. She barged in and looked at Kasumi's still crying form and smiled "Kasumi-Chan,...."

Kasumi brought her sniffling to a close and looked at Nabiki, who seemed happy "Nabiki,.... what's wrong?"

Blinking slightly, Nabiki smiled again at Kasumi before handing her the letter "I just got this,... it's from Ranma!"

Taking the letter and reading it, Kasumi smiled too and started to laugh slightly "That's just like him.... when should we go?"

Nabiki looked at Kasumi's lack of shock, and couldn't help but shake her head "I think we should go now, and wait for him" Kasumi nodded her head and got up, wiping her eyes as they leave the house.

***** Warehouse *****

Ranma was dancing around the empty storage space, with the freedom and lack of tension that he's never ever experienced before. His punches and kicks were cracking loudly in the air as he snapped every attack. Landing on the ground and looking over at a door that opened, he smiled and mouthed a warm "Welcome" as Nabiki and Kasumi entered through the door and looked at Ranma in surprise.

Nabiki blinked slightly before running up to Ranma and gathering him in a tight hug "Ranma!,..." She started to cry, but quickly banished that emotion and looked up at him, a glare in her eyes "Ranma,... how did you live? The medical team told us you were dead!"

Ranma chuckled slightly and separated himself from her "The medical team you saw, were all of my friends who knew of Genma. I told them about what happened, and they agreed with me that it was time to get out of there. The whole idea with Akane and Ryoga sleeping together, was the perfect way to fake my death."

Kasumi walked up to Ranma, with a sweet smile on her face, and slapped him hard "Ranma-Kun,... you had me and Nabiki worried"

Cringing at Kasumi as she slapped him, he gave a sheepish laugh "Well, I didn't have to invite you here" That got their attention before they sighed and Ranma continued "Anyways, I just wanted to tell you two that I was fine, and I was going to continue on living without that bastard."

Nabiki looked at Ranma in surprise before sighing again "Ranma,... what about Akane"

Ranma's eyes hardened for a second, but didn't get a chance to say anything before another voice answered "Akane seems happy with Ryoga." Ranma chuckled before turning to the shadow that spoke.

He then stepped out into the light as Ranma smiled "Glad you could make it Ono. Have any troubles?"

Shaking his head, Tofu smiled at them "Not at all. Just was hell getting in here without you sensing me"

Ranma smirked and chuckled slightly "Actually,... I knew you were there. You've been there since half way through my Kata"

Shaking his head once again, Tofu chuckled and smiled "I see, so it really is impossible to sneak up on you"

Kasumi smiled sweetly at Tofu and giggled "Hello Dr. Tofu"

Before Nabiki could do anything so that Tofu wouldn't know it was Kasumi, he had turned and looked at her "Well, hello there Kasumi-Chan. How are you this morning?"

Ranma noticed Nabiki's surprised look and then chuckled "Nabiki, I've cured him of that stupid fear of his. It wasn't hard, just had to confront him multiple times with the problem, until he got used to it. Anyways, down to business."

Another voice filled the air the a melody type sound "Ranma-Kun! Where are you?" Ranma grinned like the bird that ate the canary, before he disappeared into the shadows behind him. Tofu chuckled as Nabiki and Kasumi looked around in confusion. Suddenly a girl shouting into the air filled the warehouse with shock "Ah! Damnit Ranma!" A loud laugh filled the air as the girl chased Ranma "Get back here and take your punishment like a man!" Nabiki and Kasumi watched in shock as the girl seemed like a perfect Akane clone, except that she was better built, endowed, strawberry blond hair, and had dark blue eyes. Ranma finally stopped and picked the girl up, carrying her into the light "Mua,.. Ranma-Kun, I hate it when you do that"

Ranma only chuckled before placing her on the ground and looking to the two Tendo's "This is Mai Kinoshita. We've been together for almost two year now"

Mai bowed to everyone present and smiled "Nice to meet you finally. Ranma's told me a lot about you two" Ranma blushed slightly as both Nabiki and Kasumi looked at him suspiciously "Oh, please don't get the wrong idea. It was all good. Otherwise, would you be here meeting me?" She smiled at them before gripping onto Ranma's arm.

Kasumi looked at the two and couldn't help but blush "Ranma-Kun.... what about Akane?"

Tofu cleared his throat before smiling "Actually, like I was saying earlier. Akane seems happy without Ryoga, especially since she is pregnant with his kid"

Nabiki's mouth fell to the ground as she looked at the shocked Kasumi "A-Akane's pregnant?!?"

Ranma nodded gravely before sighing again "She's actually around four months into the pregnancy. I've known about her and Ryoga since the day he showed up. They've been doing IT since then" Ranma didn't even voice any surprise, he was cold and emotionless while speaking.

Mai sighed before pulling on Ranma again, getting him to turn his attention to her "But, that doesn't matter, right? She has Ryoga now, and we can finally be together"

Ranma smiled at her before pulling his arm from her hold, and putting it around her shoulder "Of course. This is the day we've waited for"

Nabiki was the first to speak up "Ranma,... how long have you and.. Mai.. been together?"

Ranma thought to himself before looking up and then chuckling "Around two years, remember? I said it earlier"

Nabiki blushed slightly before banishing it away "So,... you didn't try to make it work from the beginning? You've always had this planned out?"

Ranma thought again for a second, before chuckling one more "I'm a good actor, huh Nabiki? No, I did try making things work at one time. All I got was a headache and a mallet to the head for my troubles."

Mai glared at Ranma, before clearing her throat "You tried to make things work?"

Ranma sighed and looked to Mai, giving her a sad smile "Remember,... when you said that you didn't want me around anymore? That was the night before I had to go to Jusendo"

Nabiki's mind clicked before smirking "I see, so you told Akane you loved her then!"

Mai glared harder at Ranma "You love her?"

Ranma shook his head viciously and warded off any anger in his direction "NO! I said I LOVE _HER_" he blushed slightly before looking away "I was thinking about trying to make it work with Akane, when I came to the conclusion that I couldn't. I love you Mai, not her"

Mai blushed and looked away from him, giving a slight pout at not being able to tease him anymore "I understand..." she then smiled warmly when she looked back to the two Tendo's "Well then, since we're all together, how about we go get something to eat"

Nabiki looked at Kasumi, who was still wearing a shocked look from Akane's information "I guess,... but it will be Ranma's treat. For making us worry like that."

Mai giggled before turning and starting toward the exit "Of course it will, it's his restaurant."

Ranma noticed the small pang of sadness that was in her voice, before he ran over to her "So... does that mean....."

Nodding her head slightly, Mai tried her hardest not to cry "Papa died around three months ago.... he was taking care of a business trip, when a drunk driver hit him head on. The driver left the scene and made no attempt to help him"

Ranma gathered her into a warm and comforting hold before kissing the smaller girls forehead gently "I understand...... so... tell me this. How did I end up owning the place?"

Mai giggled sadly before pulling from Ranma's hold and looking at him "In case you didn't know, papa had grown fond of you during your visits. He knew you treated me well, and never had to worry about us" she looked away from him for a second before smiling wide once more "In the will, he left the restaurant Pia Carrot, to you"

Nabiki's eyes widened before staring at Mai "P-Pia Carrot? THE Pia Carrot?"

Mai brought a finger up to her lip before giving a mocking 'hmm' and then giggling at the incredulous look she was getting from Ranma "Yup, the one and only, Pia Carrot. Papa left it for Ranma to take over, whenever he got away from Genma."

Ranma smiled before sighing with sadness "Man,... and I was looking forward to talking to him again. He was quite the trouble maker" Ranma suddenly laughed before taking Mai by the shoulder and walking toward the exit "You guys comin? Tofu? Kasumi? Nabiki?"

Kasumi finally broke out her dream and smiled "Oh my, that would be enjoyable"

Nabiki sighed before looking from Kasumi, back to Ranma "Fine,... I guess I'll go...."

Ranma smiled before taking the initiative and walking through the exit, and into the bright sunlit streets of Nerima, as they headed toward the infamous Pia Carrot restaurant.

*************** Pia Carrot restaurant ****************

Aoi covered her mouth as Ryouko stifled a slight giggle "If your still tired from your party last night, Aoi, then you can certainly take a rest"

She waved it off slightly, as she once again yawned "It's not a problem, I'm just here to see the new hires.... but since they haven't arrived yet, I think we should hire the next three that appear."

Shaking her head in dismay, Ryouko sighed out "I don't think we can do that. What about their qualifications? What if they aren't what screams out 'We're Pia Carrot!'"

Aoi giggled at Ryouko's impression of a hard working person, before hearing a knock on the door "Quick! Just hire whoever is behind this door!" without waiting for an okay from her boss, Aoi opened the door and smiled at the two who stood there "Welcome to the Pia Carrot family! Your hired"

Ranma looked at the girl before blinking "Is it this easy to get hired in this place?"

Ryouko tried to stop Aoi from saying anything else, but failed miserably as she yelled out "Of course! We can tell just by looking at you, that you will make a fine addition to the Pia Carrot family! Of course, it's not because we're desperate for help or anything" She then went into a nervous rant of laughter, as Ranma and Mai just stared at her.

Shaking her head in dismay, Ryouko stood up and bowed toward Mai "Good evening Mai,... how are you this evening?"

Aoi looked at Ryouko and opened her mouth, before shutting it and turning toward Mai "M-Mai,... Mai Kinoshita?" her eyes started to well up when Mai nodded her head. She then ran out of the room as tears poured from her eyes.

Mai turned toward Aoi in order to comfort her, but was stopped when Ryouko sighed "There's nothing you can do Mai.... she had a crush on your father. His passing did nothing to help it. With that aside, what brings you here?"

Shaking her head in sadness, Mai nodded to Ranma "We're here because we want to work... We want to keep my father's dream alive"

Ryouko smiled at Mai and Ranma before clearing her throat "Of course,.. would you like to help too,.. umm..."

Ranma smiled at her and took a step forward, bowing slightly "Ranma,... and yes, I'm here to help as well"

Nodding her head in understanding, Ryouko smiled "Far be it for me to say otherwise,... congratulations. We have dorms beside the restaurant, so you two may stay there too.... assuming you haven't another place to go"

Giggling to herself, and at Ranma's blushing, Mai smiled again "Of course. We want to fit in here as well, so if you could,... could you keep our relationship on the need to know basis?" Ryouko nodded to her, earning another smile from the smaller girl "Good,... also, there is a dire need for my talking to you... alone." She nodded to Ranma, who in turn, nodded and walked out the door and shut it behind him "First off,.. Ranma has some guests that he wants to entertain for lunch,... assuming that won't be a problem" Seeing Ryouko shake her head, Mai giggled "That brings me to the final piece of news that you must keep to yourself, unless myself or Ranma deem appropriate"

Blinking her eyes in surprise, Ryouko couldn't wait to hear the news "And that is?"

Mai grinned like a bird that ate the canary "Ranma is the new boss of this establishment" giggling at Ryouko's fish out of water impression, Mai continued "As stated in my father's dying testament. Ranma is to take over as head of this business." Bringing a finger to her lips, she sighed "However, Ranma doesn't want the responsibility, since he just got away from a stressing arrangement. So, Ranma wishes for you to remain as the manager, and just let him have a final say in the important matters. Is that okay with you?"

Ryouko had finally got herself under control and nodded toward Mai "Of course it is,... so how should I treat you two then? If he is the boss, I can't be disrespectful to him, and since your the original owner's daughter, it would be rude to treat you without respect."

Bringing her finger to her lips once again, Mai smiled "Just treat us, like you would treat the other workers."

Just then the door slammed open again as a heavily breathing girl stepped in and raised a hand "I.. I... I'm here for... for the interview!" She got herself under control before smiling brightly "The name is Azusa!"

Ryouko looked over to Mai, who nodded in return, before smiling to the girl "Of course,... no need for an interview, you have the job"

The door slammed open again as a boy with black hair stepped in and looked about the room "I'm here about the job?"

Blinking in surprise, Mai shook her head "Sorry.." looking at the piece of paper she picked up "Kouji, we have no need for another worker. We just hired in three new people" Kouji just nodded, and walked out of the building, but not before giving Azusa a glare for making him late.

TO BE CONTINUED_________

Next time, on 'Ranma's Ignorance', Ranma and Mai start their Pia Carrot adventure, but not before a relaxing day at the pool. How does Ranko enter herself into this new storyline? Why does Shinji find himself attractive to the new 'red haired goddess'?