Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Ranma 1/2 or Love Hina.
Pre-Read by: Zenapax
The Girls' Newest Rival: Meeting the Others
After class was over, Ranma shows Shinobu around. Akane would have been there too, but promised her friends that they'd all go to the movies. He takes her to the market, the park, the mall and a few other places. With dinner a few hours away, he decides to take her to Ucchan for a light snack. When they goes inside, he sees Ukyo reading a magazine.
"Hi there," Ranma says, waving his hand to her. She turns her head and is delighted to see him.
"Ranma-honey! It's so nice to see you. Come in. Come in. Have a seat." She puts the magazine underneath grill and places him to sit in front of her. Once he sits down, she notices that Shinobu is sitting next to him. It takes her a while before she can recognize her from school. "Hey! You're the new school in class, aren't you? Shinobu Maehara?"
"Yes. Yes. You're...hmmm...Kuonji, right?"
"Yes. Ukyo Kuonji." She turns back to Ranma. "So, what are you doing with her anyway?"
"I'm just showing her around."
"Why?!" She gives a little hint of jealousy in her voice for hanging around another girl.
"I kind of have to. Akane can't do it because she's at the movies with her friends and she is staying with us."
"She's what?!" Ukyo accidentally puts too much batter on the grill. "She's staying with you? Alone in that house?"
"HUH...yeah. Why do you ask?"
"You're not doing anything with her...are you?" Ranma gives her a harsh look.
"What are you talking about? I'm not doing anything with anyone."
"OK." Ukyo gives out a sigh of relief. "So, what would you two like?"
"I'll have the pork," Ranma says.
"I'll take the combination beef and seafood," Shinobu tells her. Ukyo quickly makes the okonomiyaki and serves it to her customers in a few minutes. While they're eating Ukyo stares at Shinobu.
'I don't like this. Ranma would never show anyone around town. Even if he was forced into the situation. It's not like him to do this. I wonder what's going on between the two? I better keep my eyes out on her for now on.' Once they finish, Shinobu tries to pay for the bill, but Ukyo tells her it's on the house. "So, I'll see you two later?"
"Yeah. Bye Ukyo." With a hand wave, off they go. They decide to go straight home, upon Shinobu's request so she can start on her homework early. On the way there, they hear a bell loudly ringing. Shinobu turns to see a girl on a bike holding a heating box of some sort, on top of Ranma's head.
"I find you now, Ranma. You date Shampoo now. Is yes?" With his strength, he gets up with Shampoo and her bike still on top of his head. He grabs the bike and sets it down on the ground
"Not now Shampoo! I'm kind of busy at the moment," he says, rubbing his head.
"Busy?!" Before she can speak again, she sees Shinobu next to him.
"Ranma! Are you OK?"
"I'm fine." The two of them notice Shampoo's furious look.
"Ranma! Who is she?!" Pointing at the girl.
"Me? I'm Shinobu Maehara." She bows to her. "And your name?"
"I'm Shampoo." Giving her a sinister smile.
"What are you doing here Shampoo?" Ranma ask.
"Well, I'm on my way to a deliver and..." She looks at her watch and is in shock to see what time it is. "Oh no. I be late for deliver. That not good for business." She steps back on her bike and starts to pedal away. "See you later Ranma." Biking off, she thinks 'Shampoo don't like that Shinobu girl. Something is wrong about her .' They watch as she turns a corner before walking again.
"So, how did you meet her?"
"It's kind of a long story."
"Well, is she one of the other girls you're engaged to?"
"In a way." Shinobu is confused.
"What do you mean 'in a way'?" Ranma immediately thinks of a explanation, then realizes she doesn't know his secret.
"It's kind of a long story." Shinobu gives him a funny look, which he doesn't notice. Just a block before getting home, Shinobu notices something on the floor. She bends down to pick it up, showing Ranma. He gets a sudden chill down his spine, seeing a black rose petal in her hand. Within seconds, thousands more fall around them. Shinobu turns around and sees a girl, twirling her ribbon and holding a plate of cookies. With an annoying laugh, jumps towards them and lands on her feet, next to Ranma.
"Hello, Ranma darling."
"Kodachi! What are you doing here?" She shows him the plate of cookies.
"I was baking these cookies when I thought of you, so I wanted to personal give these to you myself." With a cheerily smile and a creepy giggle, she notices Shinobu. "Oh. And who is this girl your with? Is she Akane's cousin?"
"Me? *sweatdrop* No. I'm..." Before she can explain, Ranma blocks her path of sight towards one another.
"She's an transfer student who is staying with Akane and I." Kodachi looks surprised.
"She's...She's...staying with you? Under the same roof?" He nods. "No! No! It's bad enough that Akane is under the same roof as you my darling. But another girl?! I can't..." Not wanting to listen anymore, Ranma grabs Shinobu by the wrist, closes the gate behind them and runs in the house.
"So," Shinobu says, trying to catch her breath. "Is that another of your many fiancées you have?"
"More or less. She thinks were engaged." She gives off a puzzled look.
"You must live a busy life then." She looks at the floor. "I guess we won't hang out together much?"
"We can hang out any time you want, Shinobu."
"We can?"
"Sure. Just make sure I'm not training and keep your guard up when we go out."
"My guard up?"
"Yeah. It's like, where ever I go, trouble follows me."
"Sure. I do." With a thumbs up, Shinobu goes to her room to study and Ranma takes a nap in the living room.
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