The Diamond Sutra - A
Ranma 1/2 Fanfic By Ashoka Roque
Warnings, disclaimers etc - see Chapter One.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Two: Distractions
By lunchtime in Japan, the Tendo living room was becoming a total disaster, with catering brochures and fabric swatches strewn everywhere.
"We need to get Akane-chan working on the bridal party," said Soan, looking up from an issue of Super Happy Modern Japanese Bride. "I am assuming that Ranma will have that Ryouga fellow as his best man."
"Well, Tendo-kun, it is important for a young man to have his friends with him at his wedding!"
"I'll say," replied Soan, "Remember when you got married to Nodoka?"
"How could I ever forget!"
"BA-WA-HA-HA-HA!!" Both men laughed in unison, heads tilted back and arms around each others' shoulders, sharing their private joke.
_______________________________________
Ryouga pulled the black Mazda RX-7 onto the road, the engine purring with anticipation.
"Can you believe Tofu-sensei owns a car like this?" said Ranma.
"I know," agreed Ryouga, "While you were getting directions, Akane-chan told me the whole story. Tofu-sensei is looking for a practical car, but the dealer talks him into a test-drive of a more expensive one, 'just for fun'. Of course, Kasumi-chan sees him driving it, and tells him how sporty and sophisticated it makes him look. Tofu-sensei almost wrecks the car a dozen times on the way back to the dealership, then buys it on the spot with cash."
Both boys shook their heads. People sure did stupid things when they were in love.
Ryouga maneuvered the car onto the highway, deftly working the clutch and stick-shift. "Hey, Ryouga-kun," said Ranma, "you really do know how to handle this thing! I'm impressed!"
"Didn't I tell you I was good?" replied Ryouga, grinning.
"Yeah, but this time you weren't lying - - left turn here - left!! No, your OTHER left!"
After a few false starts, the boys finally settled into a workable routine. With Ryouga as driver, and Ranma as navigator, they were soon on the gentle mountain road leading to Karuwizara.
The trees were at the peak of autumn, and cascades of red, brown and gold washed across the road as they drove. Every so often the car would rake through piles of leaves, swirling lazy spirals of color in its wake.
When not busy giving directions at every potential diversion, Ranma watched with growing fascination as Ryouga expertly worked the car. His feet on the gas and clutch, right hand on the wheel, and left hand on the stick-shift between himself and Ranma. As Ryouga changed gears to deal with a sharp grade in the mountain road, Ranma watched the other boy's hand pumping the stick-shift, just inches away from his own thigh. Blushing slightly, Ranma looked out the window and focused on shifting his own thoughts away from where they were going.
_________________________________________
The softball field behind Furinkan High was awash with activity that afternoon. The groundskeeper refreshed the chalk lines between bases, completing the diamond that would be the center of the afternoon's competition. The school band warmed up on the far side of the bleachers.
Akane was in the locker room. She was playing shortstop this year - her favorite position. As she looked through her locker for her back-up glove, in walked the team's star hitter, Kuonji Ukyo.
"Hey, Akane-chan! Ready for the big game?"
"You know it, Ukyo-chan!!" Akane bent down to tie her shoes. When she looked back up, Ukyo was changing out of her standard blue outfit into the team's purple and gold home-game uniform.
"'Kane-chan, hook me in the back, would you?" Ukyo turned her back to Akane so that the other girl to do the fasteners on her sports bra.
My, Ukyo is certainly in good shape. And Ranma's right, she's much cuter than me. She can even cook well. Akane had always admired the other girl, who somehow managed to be tough while maintaining her femininity. People called Akane a tomboy, but nobody ever called Ukyo that. Even though she looks so cute in those boy's clothes she always wears, thought Akane, blushing.
______________________________________________
The black sports car flew down the road. After directing Ryouga through a potentially trip-killing three way intersection, Ranma said, "I've been thinking a lot about what Ti-sensei said. You know, that we turn into what we turn into for a specific reason."
Ryouga listened, silently. The last time he had tried to start this conversation, they had ended up almost killing each other as a result.
"I'm not sure what those reasons might be," Ranma continued, "but I do know that we will find them more quickly by working together - like we are right now, doing a favor for Tofu-sensei. I propose we call off the hostilities, at least until we have some answers."
Ryouga was unsure how to respond to Ranma's offered truce. He'd been thinking something similar, especially after the letter from Ti Xiu. He originally hated Ranma for a number of reasons that, looking back, seemed rather trivial. But his obsession with Ranma had often been the only thing that kept him going when he was lost and alone. Later, he decided he despised Ranma because of rivalry for Akane's affection, but he knew that wasn't really true. Akane was just another way to get at Ranma, and maybe represented the stability Ryouga's life lacked. And while it was very difficult to trust Ranma, he had been different over the last few days - still teasing Ryouga sometimes, but without the usual insensitive edge to his words.
The car radio had been softly playing an English-language oldies station out of Tokyo. For the last hour, the familiar sounds of Elvis, Frank Sinatra and others had been the backdrop for the boys' discussion. Ranma heard the announcer say something about "...the Beatles..."
"Oh, wait..." said Ryouga, thankful for the distraction, "I kindda like this song." He reached down to turn up the car's radio.
A couple of simple guitar notes played, followed by a few drumbeats. To Ranma's utter astonishment, Ryouga flung his mouth wide open and began singing with the radio:
Ask da girl
what she want it to be
She say "Bay-bee, can dju see?"
I wannabe famous, a staw of the screem
But you can do sum-sing in bee-twee...
"Ryouga...you have a really nice voice. And I didn't know you could speak English so well!"
"Well, uh..." stammered Ryouga, a small blush beginning across the top of his cheekbones, "I had to learn a little of everything. I've been lost in so many places..."
"Don't be embarrassed," said Ranma, "Seems like being lost has taught you quite a bit. Your English sounds almost perfect- just like in the movies!"
The blush above Ryouga's cheekbones marched across the bridge of his nose to meet in the center. I can't believe Ranma is complementing me so much - and he sounds really sincere for a change! Uncomfortable with the alien feelings of happiness that were assaulting him, Ryouga stalled for time, desperately trying to think of an appropriate response.
"Here comes the chorus, Ranma. Let's sing it together!"
Both boys belted out the song at the top of their lungs, making up in volume what they lacked in musical ability:
Bay-bee you
can dhu-rye-vah my caw!
Yes, I'm gon-na be a staw!
Bay-bee you can dhu-rye-vah my caw, and may-bee I rrruv you!!
Bee-beep, mm bee-beep, YEAH!
Ryouga pumped the car's horn in time with the 'beeps' in the chorus, causing both boys to laugh energetically. Unfortunately for an infrequent driver like Ryouga, the road chose that moment to make a sharp curve to the right
____________________________________________
Continued in Chapter Three: A Long Hike
C&C Welcome - ashoro@excite.com