A Kiss to the Victor August 18, 1999
A Ranma 1/2 fanfic by Hound & Cabbit Productions (David "Fido" Lindquist [fido@rma.edu] and June "KaraOhki" Geraci [karaohki@snet.net])
Ranma 1/2 was created by Rumiko Takahashi. We're just borrowing her characters for a little while.
CHAPTER TWO
As the residents of the Tendo home woke the next morning, none of them would have believed that Akane was already up. She hadn't slept well at all the night before. The reason for that was due to the mess the tryouts had become after Ranma butted in.
*I can't believe that idiot!!* Akane thought as she paced the length of her bedroom. *He turned the play upside down just so he can win a trip to China!*
*I know he'd use the trip to find a cure,* she thought, then let out a sigh. *But why does he have to ruin my chance to play Juliet to do it?!?*
Suddenly questions arose in her mind. Questions that she'd rather not have thought of. Feeling a little unsteady, Akane sat down on the bed.
*Will Ranma come back once he's cured? Will I ever see him again?*
She shook her head violently, as if to make the thought go away.
*Why would I even want that pervert back? All he has ever done is cause me problems.*
The thoughts of what her life was like before she met Ranma drifted through Akane's mind. Kuno's advances. The morning battles at Furinkan High. The whispers about what kind of monster she would have for a boyfriend if she lost. Though she never would admit it, that thought alone terrified her.
Then there was the way her friends would look at her after they talked about their dates, a look of pity for her plight which only served to make her more angry and lonely.
Ranma's arrival had changed all that. The morning battles stopped. Kuno still annoyed her, but Ranma was there to keep him out of her hair. Instead of pity, her friends were actually jealous because she had such a handsome fiance.
The next thought almost caught in her throat.
She didn't feel alone anymore.
Thoughts of him gone suddenly didn't sound so good.
*I'm not going to think about it. What's important now is the play. If we win, and Ranma goes to China, maybe...*
Akane gulped at the next thought.
*Maybe I can go with him.*
Akane wasn't ready for the torrent of emotions that exploded within her. Anger. Fear. Longing. Desire?
*I can't look at him this morning. I'll give myself away. W-what would he do if he found out?*
Akane then took a deep breath and stood up. *Maybe* she thought *I should just stay out of his way for now. I think I'll wait for Nabiki this morning and walk with her.*
--------------------
Ranma walked to the corner and looked back at the Tendo home. Ever since he'd arrived in Nerima, he and Akane had walked to school together, even if she was furious at him. It felt funny leaving without her, but Kasumi had told him to...
Ranma kept looking at Akane's empty place as he ate his breakfast. He was nearly finished, and she still hadn't come down.
"Kasumi, where's Akane?" he asked.
Kasumi turned around and looked at him.
"Akane needed a few more minutes to get an assignment done," she said, an uncertain and worried expression on her face. "She'll be down later. Perhaps you should leave without her."
"Well, I don't..." he started to reply.
"Besides," she interrupted. "if you leave early, it'll give you a chance to read some more about the play."
Soun, who had been listening to the conversation, lowered his newspaper and spoke.
"You do want to learn more about the play so you can do your best for my daughter, don't you?"
"Why would I want to--" Ranma started to reply.
Suddenly Soun's head grew to ten times its normal size and a forked tongue came out of his mouth.
"YOU DO WANT TO DO YOUR BEST FOR YOUR FIANCEE, DON'T YOU?!" he roared.
"O-of course," Ranma stammered out as he shied away from the Demon-Head attack.
"Then go ahead and leave early so you can get a copy of the play," Soun said, returning to normal. "I'm sure she will meet you there."
"But why would I do that when I already got a copy right here?" Ranma replied pulling out the copy that Kasumi gave him.
Soun stared at Ranma as if his future son-in-law had just handed him a million yen.
Genma, who was eating beside his son, also stared at him.
"What's the matter, Pop? I grow an extra head or something?"
Ignoring Ranma's comment, Genma stood up and walked over to his friend and embraced him.
"Our houses will be united soon!"
"Jeeze, it's just a play," Ranma muttered. He got up, and Kasumi handed him his lunch.
*I'd better get out of here before they start measuring me for a tuxedo.*
As his thoughts drifted back to the events, he realized that Kasumi had looked rather...odd. Like she wasn't her normal self.
*Oh man,* he thought. *I hope she ain't coming down with something. That would mean that Akane would have to cook!* Images of dishes filled with various lethal- looking foods assailed his mind. His stomach involuntarily contracted, and he felt a little queasy.
*Hmm...if she is sick, maybe I should offer to help her...* The image flashed through his mind of asking Akane to help with dinner. The NEXT image was of himself flying through space, courtesy of Akane Air.
*Maybe I'll just eat out tonight,* he thought.
Ranma sighed, and then pulled the book Kasumi had given him out of his pocket.
*Oh well, as long as she's not here, I can read some more.*
Ranma opened the book of Romeo and Juliet and started reading. Walking along, Ranma became immersed in the words of the book. He never saw the water coming until it was too late. Then he was soaking wet, female, and furious.
"What the hell??" Ranma shouted.
"HEHEHE!...Look at you! Why don't you give up playing Romeo and try for Juliet!" Happousai called out. "You most definitely have the body for it!"
Ranma spun just in time to see the little panty thief with an now empty bucket in his hand. Almost by reflex, she clobbered him with a kick, sending him up into the sky.
"Stupid pervert," she muttered.
Making sure that no one else was around, Ranma resumed her reading and once again headed for school. *You know, this stuff isn't bad,* she thought, as she turned the corner.
"OOF!"
Ranma had run into something solid. No, not something, someone. Slowly Ranma peeked over her book to see who it was she hit.
"Ah, my pigtailed goddess," the someone said. "Fate has truly smiled on me this day."
"Oh no," she grumbled. "Not him."
Tatewaki Kuno just smiled at her.
"So I see you too have an interest in the bard. Even though I am destined to be sweet Akane's Romeo, I would gladly practice my lines with you."
Before Ranma could back away, Kuno wrapped his arms around her.
"Let us start with the farewell kiss," he proclaimed.
Five minutes later...
Ranma rubbed her knuckles and looked at the heap that used to be Tatewaki Kuno.
*That guy just can't get a clue, can he?*
Realizing that the kendoist wasn't going to be getting up any time soon, Ranma resumed her walk to school.
-----------------------------
Akane waited a few minutes after Ranma left before she came out of her room and walked over to Nabiki's door.
As they came downstairs together, the first thing they heard was a lot of thumping. Genma and Soun were doing a strange sort of dance, waving little fans around, and singing at the top of their lungs. The girls tiptoed past them, took their lunches from the kitchen, and left the house.
"They've finally cracked," remarked Akane.
After they left, Genma immediately went over to the phone. Grinning madly, he started to dial a special number, a phone number that he and Soun had been saving for just this moment. A few rings later, a man's voice answered. "Shijun temple. May we help you?"
"Yes," Genma replied. "We need a priest."
-----------------------------
The first person to come across Kuno was Gosunkugi. He looked carefully at the damage and concluded that Ranma had been there.
*He must be just ahead!* he thought, pulling a pigtailed voodoo doll and a spike out of his pocket. *Now's my chance!*
Gosunkugi ran as fast as he could in the direction of Furinkan High, hoping to catch up to Ranma before he got there. Soon, he caught sight of female Ranma walking casually down the sidewalk, reading a book.
Moving with unusual care he slowly and quietly caught up with her. With sweaty hands, Gosunkugi crept up behind her. *It's almost over.*
He raised his arm in preparation to strike his unsuspecting victim in the back. The only problem was that his victim wasn't unsuspecting.
"Don't even think about it," Ranma growled.
Hikaru Gosunkugi backed up as Ranma turned to face him. He froze under the furious gaze. *She looks even madder than yesterday!* he thought.
Now faced with an opponent that he couldn't escape, fight or even beg not to hurt him, Gosunkugi did the only thing possible. He fainted.
------------------------
Some distance behind them, Akane and Nabiki were inspecting Kuno's unconscious form.
"Ranma did this, I'm sure of it."
"Well, Kuno-baby most likely had it coming."
A short time later, they came across Gosunkugi's body.
"Not a mark on him. I wonder..."
Akane couldn't help but grin.
"I'll bet Ranma scared him to death."
Nabiki smirked. "That wouldn't take much effort."
Gosunkugi took that moment to open his eyes and mumble.
"I'm not dead."
Akane then bent down and gently shook his shoulder. "Hey Hikaru?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
The collapsed boy sat up with such speed that both Akane and Nabiki jumped back in surprise.
"S...SHE TOUCHED ME AND TALKED TO ME!!" he declared.
The voodoo priest's face lit up. He could NOT believe it. Akane had... she had... shown concern for him! Unfortunately, his fragile body couldn't take the strain, so Gos promptly fainted again.
Akane and Nabiki's eyes met across his still figure.
"Well," Nabiki finally said "let's go. We're going to be late for school."
Akane turned to her sister.
"We can't just leave him here, Nabiki!"
Nabiki looked at her sister as well.
"Do YOU want to carry him to the nurse's office?"
"Umm...well...," Akane stammered. She then glanced down at her wrist. "Oh boy, look at the time. Let's go, Nabiki, before we're late! We'll just tell the school nurse where to find him when we get there."
With that said, the two girls ran down the sidewalk as fast as they could go.
----------------------
As a now male Ranma waited in class, he continued to think about the play. He hadn't finished reading it yet, but there already was one scene he was going to have a problem with.
*Aw man, I have to kiss Akane.*
The thought went through his head, causing him to ask himself a question.
*Now why is this a bad thing?*
It took him a little while to figure out the answer.
*I don't want my and Akane's first kiss to be on stage, in front of the whole school! She's gonna hate it.* Then he thought sadly: *so will I.*
He sat there for a few minutes and mulled the problem over in his mind before he came up with the answer.
*I can tell her that we won't do the kissing scene. She'll agree with me then we can...*
Ranma's thoughts were interrupted when Akane, Yuka and Sayuri ran in, somewhat out of breath.
Akane saw Ranma watching her. She glared at him angrily, then went to her desk.
*What's wrong with her?* he wondered. *She's the one who was late!*
----------------------
Akane's day was already starting to go downhill. All morning, the only subject her friends wanted to talk about was who would play Romeo. What had angered her the most concerned their most frequently asked question: "Do you think Ranma will get the role?" Every time one of them asked, her reply was the same: "I don't care!" However, she couldn't decide if that was the truth, or if she was making that response out of habit.
As Akane sat at her desk and waited for the next teacher to arrive, she started to review what had happened earlier that morning. When she had asked Kasumi to lie for her, the eldest Tendo daughter had given her a very upset look.
"Why do you want me to tell him that?" she said. "You finished your homework last night."
"I know that, Sis," Akane responded. She thought about lying to her then dismissed it. The few times she had done that made her feel horrible. "I have some things to think about, and I can't do it while he is hanging around me."
Letting out a sigh, Kasumi closed her eyes.
"All right," she said, "but I don't think it's proper."
"Thanks Sis!"
After seeing the aftermath of Ranma's walk to school, Akane was glad that he'd left on his own. It had allowed her time to get a grip on her emotions. She now had them under control. At least she did until her friends started harassing her about the play...and him. Now she became more determined not to have anything to do with him for the simple reason that it would feed the rumor mill. She'd even ignored him when he attempted to apologize for his part in messing up the audition.
She knew that she wasn't giving him a chance to make it up to her, but she was still afraid that he would see through her pretense of indifference to him. *Besides,* she thought, *he deserves to be miserable for what he did at the tryouts!*
---------------
*Man,* Ranma thought as he glanced at Akane. *If she gets any colder I'll freeze solid.*
She hadn't so much as looked at him all day. At first he'd hoped she would calm down by lunch. but as that time approached, the hope had died a slow death.
*I wish I knew what to say to her. She has never been this mad before!*
The fact that she actually WAS this mad at him wasn't doing anything for his own mental well-being. He was starting to get a little depressed, which he found most unnerving.
It was then that a thought occurred to him. *Maybe I should give up being in the play? I mean, if she is this upset that I'm trying out, how mad will she be when I win?*
Ranma shook his head. He didn't like the thought of losing his chance to go to China. Oddly enough, he realized that he hated the thought of Kuno, Gosunkugi, or Happosai winning the role even more. As soon as he thought about them getting the role, an image of Akane kissing each of them ran through his mind.
*Unuh! No way any of them are...* he angrily thought, then stopped when out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Akane sitting ramrod straight in her seat. The anger he felt drained away then he sighed.
*I won't like it, but if Akane wants me out of the play...I'll do it.* Then he gasped, and sat up straight.
*Hey! If she does and our school wins, maybe Akane will take me with her...Hmm.*
Even though that cheered him up a little, Ranma felt that it wouldn't be much of a consolation prize.
---------------
Akane couldn't believe it. Though they couldn't bring it up during class (for which Akane was eternally grateful,) it seemed that every other free moment was wasted because all her friends wanted to talk about the play.
By the end of the day, Akane had no more patience for the subject. All she wanted to do was go home and hide in her room.
*What is it with everyone?!* she thought as she headed for home. *Every question they asked was the same! Do you think Ranma will win? Wouldn't it be romantic if he did?*
"Romantic? That idiot couldn't even find the word in the dictionary!"
Akane gasped when she realized she had spoken aloud. She looked around to see if anyone was nearby, and, to her chagrin, discovered Ranma standing on the fence above her.
"So, you're still mad at me," he said.
Akane looked at him. A brief expression of shock crossed her face before it was smothered by an angry glare.
"Why shouldn't I be?" she spat out. "You're making a mess out of this production. It's supposed to be a SERIOUS play, not a farce!"
"I know that, Akane. I read it."
"Y...you read it?" she stammered. She felt--what? Joy? Warmth? Happiness? The emotions from that morning returned with the force of a tidal wave. She felt a tear roll down her cheek.
"Akane?" he asked.
"I...I've got to go!" she said, and started running away from him as fast as she could.
"Akane!"
She kept going, blinded by her tears. Suddenly, Ranma appeared in front of her. How had he done that?
"Akane," he said. "I don't like it when you get this upset. Do you want me out of the play?"
Akane just stood there in silence. She couldn't believe her ears. Ranma was actually concerned about the way she felt? The warm feeling was coming back, even stronger than before. However, it was soon followed by a feeling of guilt.
"I don't care," she replied, angrily wiping the tears from her eyes. "If you want to be in the play, go ahead and try out."
"Good," he said, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Because I want to play Romeo, and I want you to play Juliet."
Akane's eyes bulged out as she just stared at him.
"R-Ranma? Y-you know what Romeo and Juliet are to each other, right?"
"Yes, I do," he replied solemnly, "but I just want to get one thing straight. I ain't doing the kissing scene."
Suddenly, Ranma saw a familiar look on Akane's face. He also felt the tension in her shoulders jump dramatically but he ignored it.
"That's because..."
"What makes you think I'd even CONSIDER kissing you, you pervert!"
WHAM!!
The next thing Ranma knew, he was sailing through the air. He completed his remark, even though he was too far up for Akane to hear.
"...I don't want our first real kiss to be part of a play."
"Idiot!" Akane screamed, as she watched Ranma disappear over the horizon.
---------------
The next few days fell into a surprisingly predictable pattern. Ranma and Akane would walk to school. During that walk, Ranma would get attacked by Kuno, Happosai, and Gosunkugi. After he beat them, they would go to class for the morning, where at some point at least one of his rivals would make another attempt on him.
At lunch, the two would sit together and talk about the play. Though it was rather awkward, with Ranma trying to avoid any reference to the kissing scenes, they actually found that it was nice knowing that they could talk about something that didn't involve martial arts or fiancees.
The afternoon classes would almost be a repeat of the morning routine. The only difference being the opponent.
But what they considered the best part of the day was when they walked home. As they walked, one of them would start reciting a scene from the play, then the other would respond. This would go on until they neared the dojo. Both of them realized that this wouldn't be a good thing to do in front of their fathers.
The rest of the time they would spend separately, going about their normal routine. Throughout all this, neither one of them realized that something was missing. They hadn't argued once during the entire time they were together.
---------------
The official rehearsals were not as simple. First off, the director announced that they would only be doing two scenes: the balcony scene and the final death scene. Though Kuno, Happosai and Gosunkugi weren't disappointed at this, Ranma and Akane were.
Then came the actual rehearsal. It didn't take long for the director to figure out that he could not have all of the Romeos together at rehearsals. They could not be on the same stage without trying to kill one another. After the set had to be rebuilt twice, he got an idea.
They would hold closed and locked rehearsals with himself, Akane, and each of the Romeos. The director, however, wasn't prepared for Akane's reaction.
"You want me in a locked room with those perverts?"
The words had barely left her lips before she regretted them. Ranma was looking at her, and it was obvious that he was hurt. She was trying to think of a way to apologize when Kuno swept her up into a hug.
"A chance to be alone with thee, Akane Tendo! Our rehearsal shall be glorious!"
Almost instantly, Kuno found himself on his back. Ranma stood over him, looking so angry that Kuno actually felt a tiny bit of fear.
"Get this straight, Kuno. This is a REHERSAL. It isn't a license to grope her whenever you feel like it."
Ranma cracked his knuckles.
"And if I hear that you did try to do it..."
He didn't need to complete his sentence.
Kuno got off the floor, dusted off his clothes, and glared at Ranma.
"Saotome, you may be assured that I will be a gentleman. I suggest that when it is your turn, you do the same."
The response Ranma gave wasn't what any of them expected.
"What me and my fiancee do is our business. Not yours."
The whole auditorium fell silent. Happosai and Gosunkugi both stared at Ranma. Happi smirked as he did, while Gos had an expression that bordered on true horror. Akane blushed then glared at Ranma. The director and the stagehands just stood looking at the others in confusion. But the most visible reaction came from Kuno.
His whole face turned red with rage, and his body quivered slightly. Ranma, on the other hand, didn't move at all. He just stood there with his head bowed silghtly. Kuno was about to attack when the director stepped in.
"Now, let's calm down and begin the rehearsals, shall we?"
The kendoist glared at Ranma a few seconds more before he turned around and walked off. As the others moved off to get ready, Akane walked towards Ranma but before she could say anything, he spoke.
"Sorry about that" he said. "I guess I just got tired of him grabbing you all the time."
"Th-that's okay Ranma," she replied.
Happosai's rehearsal took exactly fifteen seconds. He glomped Akane, she sent him through the roof, and the director yelled "Next!"
Hikaru Gosunkugi's took two hours, most of which was occupied by him shouting 'She talked to me!' every time Akane would say a line.
The last two, however, went smoother. Kuno was good, and he knew it. He did most of his lines by memory and was always on cue, but as the director watched them, he knew something was missing.
*There's no chemistry there--nothing to say that they are a couple.*
Kuno, of course, thought differently. He smirked at Ranma as he came out of rehearsal.
*I have this role. Saotome cannot be anything but incompetent.*
Then it was Ranma's turn.
By this time Akane was rather tired. She didn't think she would be able to do another rehearsal.
Ranma wasn't perfect like Kuno, but as the director coached him along he began to get the feel of the role.
As he improved, Akane's interest returned.
After they recited a few lines, the director backed away and allowed them to continue on their own.
*That's it,* he thought. *If they can do that in front of an audience, we're sure to win.*
Happosai never showed up for any more rehearsals. Akane hoped that meant he wouldn't show up for the play, either. Gosunkugi...he never did improve. Kuno and Ranma continued to compete hard for the role until, finally, the day of the play arrived.
---------------
Ranma quickly stepped out of the bath. He had to hurry if he wanted to get to the school in time to get ready for the play. Throwing on his clothes, Ranma bolted out the bathroom door.
WHACK!
The force of the blow pitched Ranma forward. Before he could regain his balance, he felt a finger poke the back of his neck. Slowly, Ranma's eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep. Just before he completely passed out, he heard his attacker's voice: "Sorry boy, but I'm gonna be the one to kiss Akane!"
"H-happosai..." Ranma muttered as the darkness took him.
Ranma awoke to darkness. When he tried to move, nothing happened. It took him a few minutes to realize that he was encased in something heavy and hard that would barely budge. It was then that he noticed he was buried. Then he remembered what had happened in the bath.
*Happosai...*
He started to struggle as an image of the little pervert ran through his mind.
"Happosai..."
The dirt over and around him shifted slightly while the memory of Happosai trying to get him to wear a bra came back to haunt him. Then he stopped cold as the next vision went through his head.
The vision of Happosai kissing Akane.
"HAPPOSAI!!!!!"
The ground above Ranma erupted with the force of a volcano as he leapt out of the pit he was buried in and landed on its edge.
The young martial artist glanced down just long enough to see that he was encased in concrete and wrapped in chains. It didn't matter, though. All that mattered was him getting to the play and making sure that little creep wish he had never crawled out from under the rock that gave birth to him.
Realizing he was in the back yard of the dojo, Ranma began to hop in the direction of the school.
---------------
*He's not here. Where are you, Ranma?*
Akane paced back and forth in front of the stage door. A part of her was trying to determine if she was furious because he wasn't there or relieved that she wouldn't have to perform with him.
*I knew we should have walked together. Something must have happened.*
She waited a few minutes more, then turned towards the stage door.
*I'd better go get ready* she thought.
Before she went inside, Akane cast one look behind her.
"Please hurry, Ranma" she whispered.
---------------------
Walking down the street, Hiroshi and Daisuke were talking about their favorite subject.
"I tell you that after Akane, Ranma is the prettiest girl in Nerima."
"Perhaps," Hiroshi replied, "but that girl that was chasing Ranma. You know, the one that works at that Chinese restaurant-- Champagne? Shalimar? Chanteuse? Anyway, I think she is up there in the beauty department."
"Yeah she is," his friend responded, "but she scares the crap out of me."
He was about to say more when he heard Hiroshi say:
"Now, there's something you don't see every day."
Daisuke followed his friend's gaze until he saw a jumping block of concrete and chains moving quickly down the street.
"Isn't that Ranma's head sticking out of the top?"
"Looks like it to me."
"Oh."
They stared at it for a second more, then started walking again.
"So, why does she scare you?" Hiroshi asked.
----------------------
As Akane watched the various performances, her concern for her missing fiancee grew. *Where is that idiot?*
While she waited, Akane began to watch the scene being performed on stage. It was from an American drama where a young woman had just learned of the death of her fiancee in a car crash. Akane became totally wrapped up in the scene.
Suddenly, the thought struck her. *Could Ranma have been hit by a car?* Her mind conjured up images of a bloody and broken Ranma lying in the street.
Then she shook the image out of her head and replaced it with one of a car wrapped like a horseshoe around a totally unharmed Ranma.
*That's probably what would happen...*
Her thoughts were interrupted when a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind.
"Ranma?!?"
"Nay, fair Akane! Doubtless he truly fears me, for he has not come to meet the challenge. Fate has decreed that I shall be your Romeo!"
Akane twisted out of Kuno's arms and planted a fist in his face.
"What did fate tell you about THAT, upperclassman Kuno?"
"Bit tellb be that u re stiwl wunder the sorwerer's spwell," he replied while holding his nose. Kuno never got the chance to finish his speech as Akane punted him out of the building. She breathed a sigh of relief, but it was very short-lived.
"Julie-baby!"
Akane held out both hands to ward off Happosai, just as the wall behind him exploded. A cement-encased Ranma came through the hole and squashed the panty thief. The landing caused the cement and chains, weakened by the trip there, to break. They fell down around him, piling at his feet and conveniently on top of Happosai.
Ranma removed himself from the pile and started to brush himself off.
"Ranma!!" Akane shouted. "What happened?"
"The pervert tried to bury me in the backyard of the dojo," he replied, jerking a thumb at the rubble where Happosai was buried, then snorted. "Heh, like that would stop me!"
"You almost didn't make it," Akane said.
"Well," Ranma said, "let's get ready. Meet me outside the dressing rooms when you get done."
"Okay," she replied.
---------------
Ranma was late getting to the meeting place.
"What happened?" Akane asked.
"Gos tried to blow me up!"
"Well, come on!" she replied irritably. "We're going to be late!"
By the time they made it backstage it was almost showtime. Unfortunately, when they got into the wings Kuno and Happosai were ready and waiting.
"Remember, Saotome. The last one standing is the true Romeo," Kuno stated flatly. "I shall be that one."
"Julie-baby, it's going to be me!" grinned Happosai, waving a bottle of sake at her.
Akane saw Ranma just smile and then crack his knuckles.
"Akane, You'd better get up to the balcony," he said absently while he glared at the other two Romeos. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Ranma?" she said. "You sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! Nobody is going to take this trip from me. Nobody."
Akane was about to protest, but the director grabbed her arm.
"Thirty seconds until curtain!" he yelled. "Come on, Akane, you've got to get in the balcony."
Giving Ranma one last look, she reluctantly obeyed the director.
Once she was gone, Ranma's smile dropped and in a whisper, he said: "Let's do it."
Then the battle was joined.
---------------
As the curtain opened, Akane took a deep breath to calm herself.
*This is it!* she thought. *I just hope everything else goes okay.*
"O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?"
Akane ignored the cheers from the crowd and the director's explanation given over the loudspeakers. Her attention was placed directly on the side entrance. She could see the cloud of dust that had formed around the three Romeos' battle. Oddly enough, she found herself rooting for Ranma.
------------------------------------
Ranma jumped up and landed on the railing. He took a quick glance at the tangled heap of Kuno, Gosunkugi, and Happosai that lay on the stage to make sure that they wouldn't interfere. He then opened his mouth to speak, but the director interrupted.
"The true Romeo has proven himself! He has found his way to his love's side!"
Ranma turned to the director and glared at him.
"Shaddup, willya?"
*Stupid director* Ranma thought. *I ain't her...*
"Oh Romeo!" said Akane.
The martial artist turned just in time to see the look on Akane's face. Ever since the tryout, he had never truly admitted that she could be cute. He had said it and thought it, but a part of him never believed it. Until that moment. All the doubts he had about her beauty died when he looked into her eyes. Then it hit him. *She is cute,* he thought, as he gazed at her. *The cutest girl I've ever seen.*
He just stood there in silence taking in her beauty.
Her face was the same as it had always been, but he realized that her eyes were different. They were full of emotion. Not the normal anger that usually occupied them, but joy.
*I could look at her forever,* he thought. *Especially if she keeps looking at me that way.*
Ranma would have stayed there all night if not for Kuno's yelling out: "HA! I bet the buffoon doesn't even know the lines!!!"
Akane and Ranma smiled at each other. Then Ranma began to recite his lines.
"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks..."
Starting with those words, Ranma and Akane began their performance. As they continued, the two of them became lost in their respective roles. They did each line with a passion seldom seen anywhere short of the Broadway stage. It was as if they were not Ranma and Akane but Romeo and Juliet reincarnated.
In the audience, two girls whispered to each other.
"It's so real. I don't think they're acting."
Her friend nodded, and whispered "shh!." Then her full attention went back to the stage.
"Oh, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?" asked Ranma/Romeo.
"What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?" was Akane/Juliet's reply.
They stared at each other in silence. The emotion of their performance filled the theater. Almost every member of the audience was sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting in anticipation for what they knew would happen next.
Then Ranma extended his hand.
"Shake?" he said.
THUMP!!
The both of them were startled by the sound of the entire audience falling out of their seats. As they recovered, a voice screamed out.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING, SON!?!"
Ranma and Akane turned to see Soun, dressed in black, jump up to the balcony. Then they noticed that Genma panda was with him.
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO KISS HER!!"
"DAD!?!" Akane yelped out in surprise.
The panda held up a sign saying;
[Yeah! So get with it boy!]
"No!" Ranma replied defiantly. "I won't kiss her!"
"Why not!," Soun replied. "The families are in agreement!"
Ranma glared at Akane's father.
"I'm not kissing her," he said in a tone of voice that spoke volumes about his resolve.
Then Ranma heard laughter from the stage. Kuno, Happosai, and Gosunkugi were all beneath the balcony.
"If Romeo cannot kiss Juliet, he needs to be replaced."
Ranma immediately leaped over the railing and attacked Kuno. Happosai took the opportunity to jump onto the balcony, but Akane kicked him through the roof, and he sailed away into the evening air.
---------------------------
Akane watched as the two fought.
*With Happi gone, it's down to Ranma and Kuno* she thought. While a small part of her was rooting for Ranma, the rest wasn't happy with either choice.
"Like that is much of a choice!" she whispered. "That's it, I'm not kissing either one of those idiots!"
Just as she stepped forward to tell them her decision, her foot bumped into something. She looked down and noticed a roll of duct tape on the floor. The idea struck her immediately.
*Of course!* she thought as she bent down and picked up the tape. *I'll put tape over the winner's mouth and kiss it!* She stood up and tore a small piece of the roll, then stuck it on her sleeve.
"Perfect," she whispered and smiled evilly. Unfortunately, she was so involved with her plan, she didn't notice the figure sneaking up behind her.
------------------------------
*What an opportunity* thought Gos. He crept onto the balcony and up behind Akane. She was watching the battle intently, and didn't notice when he shoved a cloth soaked with chloroform over her nose and mouth.
Ranma chose that moment to look up. He saw Akane collapse.
"Hey!"
"An opening!" Kuno used Ranma's distraction to land a blow.
"I don't have TIME for this!"
Ranma's next blow sent Kuno flying into the audience. Students scattered as he landed in the seats. Ranma leapt onto the balcony. As he advanced, Gosunkugi pulled a backscratcher out of his pocket and put it to Akane's throat.
"Come a step closer and Juliet dies!"
Gosunkugi realized he had made a mistake when Ranma just appeared in front of him.
*I...I never saw him move!*
Before Gos could react, the backscratcher was plucked out of his hand.
"Put her down! Now!" Ranma hissed. Gos immediately complied. As soon as Akane was on the floor, Ranma grabbed Gos by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"The only reason you are still breathing is because I don't beat on people who can't defend themselves," Ranma said in a voice low enough for only Gos to hear, "but if you ever threaten her life again, You. Will. Hurt. Clear?"
The expression on Gos' face told Ranma that he understood.
"Now get out of my sight." Ranma let go of his would-be rival, and watched him stagger off the stage.
*Well* Ranma thought, *at least he didn't wet himself.*
With that done, he turned his attention to Akane. He carefully lifted Akane into his arms and descended from the balcony.
"Hey, wake up!" he said. "We still have a play to finish!"
But as the curtain descended, she didn't move at all.
---------------
Ranma knelt on the floor, fanning an unconscious Akane.
*Why won't she wake up?*
He suddenly found himself shoved out of the way as a couple of stagehands dragged a coffin on stage.
"What the HECK are you doing?" he yelled out as they placed Akane in the coffin.
The voice of the director came from the wings.
"We have to work with this, Ranma. As long as Akane is out cold, we can throw some Sleeping Beauty into this. You kiss her to wake her up."
Ranma froze.
"I WHAT?!?"
Before the director could say another word, Ranma grabbed his shirt.
"What is it with all this kissing?"
The director pointed to his side. "It was his idea."
A short, round man stood in the wings, but he wasn't alone. Genma stood on one side of him, and Soun on the other, both grinning widely.
"Yeah," Ranma muttered, "and I wonder WHO gave him the idea."
"You no kiss girl," the judge yelled out. "You no win contest!"
Before Ranma could object, the curtain opened, and the director grabbed the mike.
"Juliet sleeps...only the kiss of her true love can awaken her."
Ranma stood by the coffin and stared down at Akane.
*Damn,* he thought as he knelt down. *Do I really want to win like this?*
"Go on, kiss her!!" he heard his father's voice call out.
Ranma looked at Akane's serene, sleeping face. He tried to move closer but found that he couldn't do it.
*I..I can't do it* he thought. *Not to win a contest. I'm...*
His thought was interrupted by Soun's voice.
"DO YOU HATE MY DAUGHTER THAT MUCH?"
"Damn it! If I didn't care, this wouldn't be so HARD!" he replied immediately.
Ranma nearly jumped out of his skin when Akane tugged on his pigtail.
"A-Akane?" he whispered. "How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough. Just think about China, Ranma, and you can do it. I'll make it easy for you."
He watched her close her eyes and pucker her lips. A part of him wanted to deny everything he said. To insult her and get pummeled. But he just knelt there, his face a mask of confusion.
Then Akane opened her eyes and saw his hesitation. He saw as a look of sadness crossed her face.
"Can't you just pretend?"
For Ranma, it was as if he had been slapped.
*Pretend. That's what I've been doing all this time* he thought as he gazed at Akane. Pretending not to care about her. Pretending he didn't like her. Pretending that...she wasn't cute. It was at that point that Ranma realized that he couldn't pretend anymore.
"No, I can't.." Ranma whispered as he leaned towards her lips. "Not anymore."
-----------------
Akane watched the confusion play on Ranma's face.
*Ha! It's working perfectly! Now I'll just put the tape over his mouth and kiss him!* she thought. *Let's see how that idiot like that!*
As she began to lift her hands though, she noticed that his expression had changed. The confusion was gone and had been replaced with what looked like a mix of enlightenment, determination and...affection? Suddenly Akane's heart started to pound in her chest. The only coherent thought before his lips met hers was:
*WHAT?!?*
Next chapter:The aftermath.
Comments welcome! (David "Fido" Lindquist [fido@rma.edu] and June "KaraOhki" Geraci [karaohki@snet.net])