Author's Intro: Well, this chapter may span a couple days, simply because I kinda already said I was going to do the shopping thing in this chapter, and I might as well because I plan on typing it up today anyway. So now third-Person stuff is a regular thing rather than happening only occasionally in my written draft. It's just that I didn't really go that far until a certain event, and now I'm going back and turning everything I ever wanted to give dialog too into a third-person thing. So here ya go, we're going to resolve the other fiancés (or start to, anyway) and go shopping all in the same chapter. Make sure you are secured in the coaster, and please keep your hands and arms inside at all times.
Ver.: 2.0
Update: A line regarding the "Pretty Womanhood" incident.
May 28th, 2003: Well, we decided to tell Ukyo first, she didn't exactly burst into tears or anything, but she did look very shocked, that is, before she passed out. Then she woke up at Dr. Tofu's and she said she had the "oddest dream", then we told her it was true and she wanted to here the whole story. It wasn't as much anger as it was simple disbelief. Then Shampoo, apparently there was some kind of leak because she found out before we even got there. The good news was she was taking it quite well, I mean, for her. From what Mouse told us, she was locked in her room, crying her eyes out, in a very deep state of depression. I knew Shampoo would be the most unpredictable, and I now I'm glad I was more right about that than I thought. Ryouga knows now also, and threatened he'd kill me if I mistreated her at all, or broke the "deal" I had with her not to fight. Ryouga had apparently already asked Ukyo to the Senior Dance, which explains why Ukyo was perhaps a little more willing to move on once she believed it was even happening. We sent Ryouga out to deal with Kuno and his sister, along with some other people, and yeah Ryouga furiously apologized to Akane about the P-Chan thing, after she slapped him really hard, anyway. So I'd say it's been quite an eventful day, but more successful than I'd imagined it'd be. Tomorrow, I'll be going to the mall with Akane, and in girl-mode, to buy a her a dress for the Senior Dance, along with Nabiki and Kasumi who'll be helping out as "experts", since both of them had already graduated. Nabiki is also planning on getting her own, since alumni are also allowed to go to the dance, but I don't know who she's going with, and she wont tell me. Nabiki knows a lot of people who are still in the school, it could be one of them because she still has a vast network in the school even after having graduated. Actually, she's always there during lunch time, sharing gossip all the time with all the friends she still has in there. She must have some people she knows who let her in or something, I don't know. Well, enough trying to figure out Nabiki's network, I think I'll just this up for the day.
Dear Diary,
Today there is so much that happened, and I don't think I could cover all the specifics. Basically, almost everyone who would have a problem with the marriage, except for me, that is, has been dealt with. Currently, I am being sort of dealt with, I mean tomorrow we're going to the mall and stuff, then the day after that we're going to an amusement part, courtesy of our parents. There setting us up on a few dates before the actual dance, which surprise surprise they didn't know about but got really excited when we mentioned it. I've been also seeing Nabiki around school more lately, I think she's up to something. She graduated just last year, but she probably knows some people in the school who let her be in there during lunch time in order to keep her contacts. On the note that I've seen her around more, I mean, not just lunch time, she's been talking, and trying to be rather discrete about it, especially when myself or Ranma are around. I think she's plotting something, but I don't know what it is yet. Nabiki also plans to go to the dance, since she apparently has a date and Alumni are allowed to go. Kasumi only went once, and has never gone again, and doesn't really plan to, especially considering that she has too many chores to do every day. It makes me feel sorry for her really, but it's what she likes to do, or is at least used to doing, plus she doesn't really have any boyfriends, although Dr. Tofu would be the closest thing she has and it would be closer if he didn't go half-blind every time she came over. Anyway, things are looking pretty much up right now, it's just a bit weird and all, and by the way I've forgiven Ryouga, after punishing him, I mean.
May 29th, 2003:
"So this is a clothing store?" Ranma asked.
"You've never been to one?!" Nabiki half asked, half exclaimed (as if you can't tell by the ?!).
"Well, not a real one."
"Didn't she…you know when she was…" Akane whispered to Nabiki.
"I don't think he/she/whoever remembers…" Nabiki whispered back, then asked Ranma, "So what do you think?"
"Lots of uh…clothes. Wow! That looks really cute! I wonder if it would fit on me?" Ranma said, pointing to some clothes.
"Uh…that's a girl's shirt, Ranma." Nabiki pointed out.
"Yeah, and that's the beauty of being able to transform into a girl!"
"Since when has that been a 'beauteous' experience for you?" Nabiki asked.
"Since just now. Oh look at that one!"
"Great, my fiancé if about to become a cross-dresser!"
"Technically, he's not-" Kasumi started to say.
"Whatever, I guess his girl-half just turns out to be a clothing-freak."
"This may yet prove the theory that a girl's obsession with clothing is, in fact, somehow a genetic trait." Nabiki said, "I should post this on one of the research web sites."
"I think Akane is missing some genes, then." Ranma pointed out, returning with a pile of clothes, "Might explain why she's such a tomboy."
"The deal, Ranma, the deal."
"Don't take that as a provocation, mind you, just an observation."
"Just because it isn't a provocation, doesn't mean it wont provoke me."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Aren't we here to find a dress for Akane?" Kasumi noted.
"Yeah, let's head over to where they are." Ranma said.
"Now I wont even try on anything that's skimpy so don't attempt to pick something like that out for me." Akane told Ranma.
"Hey, I wasn't planning on it, if it looks nice on you, I don't care how much or how little material it's made of," Ranma said, "How's that for being sensitive?"
"Well, it's a good start. And don't try to hard, because that just isn't you. And if I'm going to like you, I think it should be for who you are or something deep like that."
"Yeah, well I am perfectly capable of being sensitive and considerate of you, I've just been too busy fighting and teasing you all the time to get to it."
"Uh, ladies, we're here." Nabiki said.
"Wow! This might take a little time." Ranma said, looking at the long rack of dresses.
"I'm not going to try on ALL of them, baka!"
"Hey, the deal, the deal."
"Don't take that as a provocation, it's just an observation."
"I think you already know how you replied when I said that to you, so you just consider your own words, and I'll consider mine."
"Well, let's start browsing now."
So the browsing began, each girl went through the racks, picking out favorites, they all got together at the end and Akane picked her favorites from each group, including her own.
Ranma didn't pick ANYTHING that was at all skimpy. In fact, a lot of them were so overly conservative that Akane was certain that Ranma was either making this into a joke, or assuming too much. It was most likely the former. Still, she liked a few of the ones Ranma picked out and chose those to take with her to the dressing rooms.
Nabiki had a little more variety with her choices, and a few of them were choices for herself. Akane liked some, and a few of them were even a little skimpy, maybe she was just trying to prove Ranma wrong about her not picking something like that, but she was sure she liked them because there were skimpier ones she didn't pick for that very reason.
Finally, there was Kasumi, who seemed to know the most about what Akane would like, and the majority of the thing that Akane picked were from Kasumi's selection. So, with a pile of potential dresses, Akane went into the dressing room.
So started the third and final stage of the dress-choosing process, the look-in-the-mirror and critique circle. A few dresses she just had to look in the mirror in the dressing room to tell she didn't like the way they looked on her, but a few she kinda liked so she went out to show the others to get a thumbs-up or thumbs down. It was a really effective process, and Ranma did finally offer some honest comments, at least most of the time, there was an occasion joke or tease, but he always finished with what s/he actually thought, which was something she was thankful for.
Finally, she only had four choices left. So she went out and in with each of the remaining selections, and Nabiki used her digital camera to take photos so that the "judges" could deliberate on each of them without having a change of clothes every time they want to see a particular one again.
This HAD to be the most complicated and precise way of choosing a dress for the Senior Dance that Akane had ever been involved in. Nabiki's own first dress for the dance didn't have this organized a decision process. Still, she had to appreciate it since she really didn't have that much of a fashion-sense.
At least they decided on one particular dress that happened to be Akane's favorite, and Ranma's too, apparently. It was sleeveless and only show the tiniest amount of cleavage. It was one of Kasumi's picks.
As far as cost went, her father gave her WAY too much money, but Ranma didn't really mind because she didn't bring enough money to buy all the clothes she found. In the end, there was still enough money left to go to the Ice Cream Shop afterwards by demand of Ranma.
Author's conclusion: The next chapter will include the journal entries for the 29th, and a guest entry as well. I might also include a third-person part about the amusement park trip. I plan on writing one or two "entries" per day, so keep looking here regularly because it's going to be updated regularly (I hope, anyway).
Ver.: 2.0
Update: A line regarding the "Pretty Womanhood" incident.
May 28th, 2003: Well, we decided to tell Ukyo first, she didn't exactly burst into tears or anything, but she did look very shocked, that is, before she passed out. Then she woke up at Dr. Tofu's and she said she had the "oddest dream", then we told her it was true and she wanted to here the whole story. It wasn't as much anger as it was simple disbelief. Then Shampoo, apparently there was some kind of leak because she found out before we even got there. The good news was she was taking it quite well, I mean, for her. From what Mouse told us, she was locked in her room, crying her eyes out, in a very deep state of depression. I knew Shampoo would be the most unpredictable, and I now I'm glad I was more right about that than I thought. Ryouga knows now also, and threatened he'd kill me if I mistreated her at all, or broke the "deal" I had with her not to fight. Ryouga had apparently already asked Ukyo to the Senior Dance, which explains why Ukyo was perhaps a little more willing to move on once she believed it was even happening. We sent Ryouga out to deal with Kuno and his sister, along with some other people, and yeah Ryouga furiously apologized to Akane about the P-Chan thing, after she slapped him really hard, anyway. So I'd say it's been quite an eventful day, but more successful than I'd imagined it'd be. Tomorrow, I'll be going to the mall with Akane, and in girl-mode, to buy a her a dress for the Senior Dance, along with Nabiki and Kasumi who'll be helping out as "experts", since both of them had already graduated. Nabiki is also planning on getting her own, since alumni are also allowed to go to the dance, but I don't know who she's going with, and she wont tell me. Nabiki knows a lot of people who are still in the school, it could be one of them because she still has a vast network in the school even after having graduated. Actually, she's always there during lunch time, sharing gossip all the time with all the friends she still has in there. She must have some people she knows who let her in or something, I don't know. Well, enough trying to figure out Nabiki's network, I think I'll just this up for the day.
Dear Diary,
Today there is so much that happened, and I don't think I could cover all the specifics. Basically, almost everyone who would have a problem with the marriage, except for me, that is, has been dealt with. Currently, I am being sort of dealt with, I mean tomorrow we're going to the mall and stuff, then the day after that we're going to an amusement part, courtesy of our parents. There setting us up on a few dates before the actual dance, which surprise surprise they didn't know about but got really excited when we mentioned it. I've been also seeing Nabiki around school more lately, I think she's up to something. She graduated just last year, but she probably knows some people in the school who let her be in there during lunch time in order to keep her contacts. On the note that I've seen her around more, I mean, not just lunch time, she's been talking, and trying to be rather discrete about it, especially when myself or Ranma are around. I think she's plotting something, but I don't know what it is yet. Nabiki also plans to go to the dance, since she apparently has a date and Alumni are allowed to go. Kasumi only went once, and has never gone again, and doesn't really plan to, especially considering that she has too many chores to do every day. It makes me feel sorry for her really, but it's what she likes to do, or is at least used to doing, plus she doesn't really have any boyfriends, although Dr. Tofu would be the closest thing she has and it would be closer if he didn't go half-blind every time she came over. Anyway, things are looking pretty much up right now, it's just a bit weird and all, and by the way I've forgiven Ryouga, after punishing him, I mean.
May 29th, 2003:
"So this is a clothing store?" Ranma asked.
"You've never been to one?!" Nabiki half asked, half exclaimed (as if you can't tell by the ?!).
"Well, not a real one."
"Didn't she…you know when she was…" Akane whispered to Nabiki.
"I don't think he/she/whoever remembers…" Nabiki whispered back, then asked Ranma, "So what do you think?"
"Lots of uh…clothes. Wow! That looks really cute! I wonder if it would fit on me?" Ranma said, pointing to some clothes.
"Uh…that's a girl's shirt, Ranma." Nabiki pointed out.
"Yeah, and that's the beauty of being able to transform into a girl!"
"Since when has that been a 'beauteous' experience for you?" Nabiki asked.
"Since just now. Oh look at that one!"
"Great, my fiancé if about to become a cross-dresser!"
"Technically, he's not-" Kasumi started to say.
"Whatever, I guess his girl-half just turns out to be a clothing-freak."
"This may yet prove the theory that a girl's obsession with clothing is, in fact, somehow a genetic trait." Nabiki said, "I should post this on one of the research web sites."
"I think Akane is missing some genes, then." Ranma pointed out, returning with a pile of clothes, "Might explain why she's such a tomboy."
"The deal, Ranma, the deal."
"Don't take that as a provocation, mind you, just an observation."
"Just because it isn't a provocation, doesn't mean it wont provoke me."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Aren't we here to find a dress for Akane?" Kasumi noted.
"Yeah, let's head over to where they are." Ranma said.
"Now I wont even try on anything that's skimpy so don't attempt to pick something like that out for me." Akane told Ranma.
"Hey, I wasn't planning on it, if it looks nice on you, I don't care how much or how little material it's made of," Ranma said, "How's that for being sensitive?"
"Well, it's a good start. And don't try to hard, because that just isn't you. And if I'm going to like you, I think it should be for who you are or something deep like that."
"Yeah, well I am perfectly capable of being sensitive and considerate of you, I've just been too busy fighting and teasing you all the time to get to it."
"Uh, ladies, we're here." Nabiki said.
"Wow! This might take a little time." Ranma said, looking at the long rack of dresses.
"I'm not going to try on ALL of them, baka!"
"Hey, the deal, the deal."
"Don't take that as a provocation, it's just an observation."
"I think you already know how you replied when I said that to you, so you just consider your own words, and I'll consider mine."
"Well, let's start browsing now."
So the browsing began, each girl went through the racks, picking out favorites, they all got together at the end and Akane picked her favorites from each group, including her own.
Ranma didn't pick ANYTHING that was at all skimpy. In fact, a lot of them were so overly conservative that Akane was certain that Ranma was either making this into a joke, or assuming too much. It was most likely the former. Still, she liked a few of the ones Ranma picked out and chose those to take with her to the dressing rooms.
Nabiki had a little more variety with her choices, and a few of them were choices for herself. Akane liked some, and a few of them were even a little skimpy, maybe she was just trying to prove Ranma wrong about her not picking something like that, but she was sure she liked them because there were skimpier ones she didn't pick for that very reason.
Finally, there was Kasumi, who seemed to know the most about what Akane would like, and the majority of the thing that Akane picked were from Kasumi's selection. So, with a pile of potential dresses, Akane went into the dressing room.
So started the third and final stage of the dress-choosing process, the look-in-the-mirror and critique circle. A few dresses she just had to look in the mirror in the dressing room to tell she didn't like the way they looked on her, but a few she kinda liked so she went out to show the others to get a thumbs-up or thumbs down. It was a really effective process, and Ranma did finally offer some honest comments, at least most of the time, there was an occasion joke or tease, but he always finished with what s/he actually thought, which was something she was thankful for.
Finally, she only had four choices left. So she went out and in with each of the remaining selections, and Nabiki used her digital camera to take photos so that the "judges" could deliberate on each of them without having a change of clothes every time they want to see a particular one again.
This HAD to be the most complicated and precise way of choosing a dress for the Senior Dance that Akane had ever been involved in. Nabiki's own first dress for the dance didn't have this organized a decision process. Still, she had to appreciate it since she really didn't have that much of a fashion-sense.
At least they decided on one particular dress that happened to be Akane's favorite, and Ranma's too, apparently. It was sleeveless and only show the tiniest amount of cleavage. It was one of Kasumi's picks.
As far as cost went, her father gave her WAY too much money, but Ranma didn't really mind because she didn't bring enough money to buy all the clothes she found. In the end, there was still enough money left to go to the Ice Cream Shop afterwards by demand of Ranma.
Author's conclusion: The next chapter will include the journal entries for the 29th, and a guest entry as well. I might also include a third-person part about the amusement park trip. I plan on writing one or two "entries" per day, so keep looking here regularly because it's going to be updated regularly (I hope, anyway).