Ryouga strode down the road, satisfied with the result of the hectic day. Finally, he had gotten rid of Swan. That girl had cost him an entire day, which could have been used spending time with his beloved Akane.
After several minutes of brooding on the wasted day, the loss of the expensive gifts he had bought for Akane, being chased by a woman who looked as though she could pick him and squeeze him in two, falling unconscious in the middle of the street and being pursued by a hysterical schizophrenic who wanted to eat him for breakfast, he stopped walking and looked around.
"Hmm… Is it just me, or does this place look very familiar…?" he murmured to himself, frowning as he a gazed around at a pretty lane lined with sakura trees.
After a moment, he sighed, sinking into a black hole of depression.
"I'M LOST AGAIN?!"
It was nearly six in the evening the next day by the time Ryouga found his way to the Tendo Dojo. He thrust open the door, exhausted, grumpy and dirty, with only the little flare of hope that he would be able to see Akane keeping him on his feet. Staggering through the house, he discovered the occupants of the house gathered at the dinner table for their evening meal.
"Why, welcome, Ryouga! It's a surprise to see you here!" Kasumi said as he stumbled into the room.
"Well, well, well, long time no see, P-Chan," Ranma quipped thickly, through a mouthful of oden.
Ryouga glared at Ranma, and was about to snap back when Akane interrupted.
"Ryouga! When did you get back from Osaka?" she asked, smiling at him.
He turned his gaze to her, feeling the heat rush to his face.
"Um… just now?" he replied awkwardly, blushing strongly.
"If he went to Osaka, then I s'pose we'll all be expecting souvenirs from Paris," Ranma added, sneering.
"Shut up, Ranma!" Akane snapped.
But Ryouga didn't hear a thing Ranma had said. He was staring, in shock, at the person sitting next to Kasumi, his jaw hanging about his knees.
"Catching flies, Ryouga-kun?" Swan snickered. "Close your mouth, nobody wants to see your orifice."
He stood there, momentarily, unable to move or make a sound, before pointing frantically in her direction. "What's SHE doing here?!"
Swan curled her lip at him. "I should ask the very same for you, riff-raff…"
"Oh, do you mean Blade here? I found her being attacked by another woman, so I helped her out." Akane said, gesturing towards Swan.
"Even though I could have EASILY beaten that bitch myself," Swan replied scathingly, to which Akane looked extremely taken aback at her rudeness.
Ryouga raised his eyebrows, confused. "Blade?"
"Yes! Obviously!" Swan snapped. "Are you, like, stupid or what?"
"But your name is Swan! Sue Mary!" Ryouga cried.
Swan rose from her spot at the table, marched over to him and grabbed his collar roughly.
"You bastard," she hissed. "Call me that stupid girly name one more time and I'll kill you and bury your remains. GOT IT?!"
Everyone stared at her, apparently too stunned to speak. Ryouga looked at her fiercely.
"What the hell is your problem? First you were acting sexy, then tragic, then cute, now all tough—"
Swan shoved him roughly to the ground, and folded her arms in the most un-girly way she could. From the floor, Ryouga was now able to see the dramatic change in her taste of clothes. She was wearing a large black biker jacket adorned with large rusty chains attached at both ends to the front pockets, and artfully ripped faded jeans with a gold belt and knee-high brown spike-studded boots. Protruding from the shoulders of the jacket were two large blades curving back, matching the black blade-tipped fingerless gloves she wore. About her neck was a spiked collar, and hanging from her belt was what looked like a dagger. She was wearing black lipstick and eye shadow with her hair cut short and spiked up, giving her a very gothic appearance.
"Don't mess with me, unless you want to die young." Swan snarled. And with that, she dramatically walked out of the room and slammed the door.
"She's even uncuter than Akane," Ranma murmured, to which Akane slapped him across the back of the head.