Ranma Vs Meushi Seinen

Chapter 4

Alin did not come down from Akane's room, even when Kasumi called her for dinner. Akane went up to check on the wavy haired girl, but she wanted to be alone for awhile. The blue haired girl was not convinced that Alin wanted to be alone; however she did tell her that if Alin ever wanted a company she was here.

Alin was lying on the floor, looking up at the white ceiling of Akane's room. Hands behind her head, she kept thinking and thinking and became perplexed than ever.

She wondered. 'Of all the times I was running away, the old frosty cow couldn't keep up with me. When I beat him, I'm going to pummeled him,' she thought, although she wished that, it was futile as she was beaten by the master. And Hakkai's sudden appearance, made her even more confused.

"Hakkai," she whispered.

He was partly the cause she was running away. It was all business to him. No matter how much her mind told her that, she was always fluttery and odd around him. She always wanted to feel that ever since she left her home. She took a stuff toy frog from Akane's pile of stuff toys, and hugged it with all her might. She liked frogs so much.

"Are you done making out with the Kaeru?" said a voice from the window.

(Kaeru Frog)

She was out of her stupor and sat up. She looked up and saw Ranma, sitting at the window. "Oh, Ranma… it's you," she said dissapointedly.

Ranma raised an eyebrow at her. "Expecting someone else?" he asked.

Alin realized her mistake and shook her head frantically. "Iie – iie, you're just the person I wanted to talk to," she lied while laughing meekly, the stuff frog still in her arms.

"Really?" Ranma said surprised. "What about?"

"Um….um….," Alin was speechless; she did not want to say it to the ponytail boy. She thought of the firs thing that came in her mind.

"How's Akane-kun?" she asked loudly and laughed.

"Akane-kun? She's fine… why?" he looked at her baffled.

"Nothing... just want to make sure," she said blankly.

"Um…. Yeah, besides I got something to ask you?" he said and Alin looked straight at him. "About Hakkai-san?" Then Alin suddenly got all flustered.

"I do not like him!" she yelled. Ranma almost slipped off the window.

"Okay… okay…I wasn't going to asked whether you like him or not," Ranma said incredulously. Alin was shocked for awhile and then she was blushing profusely. She just blurted her secret out. Then Ranma continued talking. "Now that what you just said answered a part of my question." She was about to make a snippy remark when Ranma just asked out of the blue. "How old is he?"

"What?" she looked at him oddly, like he had grown a second head.

"I ask you, how old is he?" he repeated.

"Same age as you, me and Akane," she told him. Ranma's eyes turned saucers. "What? That can't be, he looks older than me, almost the same as Kasumi nee-chan, like… like…"

"A guy who just entered a college," Alin finished for him. "I know, but I assure you he's the same age as you are, Ranma," she said reassuringly.

"And he's the secretary of your tribe?" Ranma was really in disbelief.

"Unbelievable, isn't it?" Ranma nodded. "Well… he's way smarter than any of us. He knows what to do in any situation and problems. He's test results in school are way higher than any of the students, nobody can get close to his score. You can say he's a genius," Alin told him. Ranma just frowned at the information.

"If he's the genius and all then tell me, why isn't he the leader?" he asked.

Alin felt something in her mind set off. It was like a revelation hit her. "You're right, Ranma. Why didn't I think of it before?" she said frustratingly. She formed a fist and struck it down on the floor, causing a loud thunderous bang throughout the house that surely attracted everyone in there. She stood up and was about to throw a tantrum all over the room when she heard a laugh. She knew who was laughing.

"What's so funny?" she asked in barking voice.

Ranma was holding back his laughter, his hands holding his stomach. Then he stopped and pant, tired from the laughing. "You look just like Akane when she's angry about something," he told her.

Alin relaxed a bit but glared at Ranma. She then smiled mischievously. "Something like you always bothering her and accusing her of things she didn't even do or know."

Ranma was taken aback by such accusation. "Hey it's not my fault, she's the one who is daft. She only thinks its my fault because she doesn't even listen to me before going all mad at me." Ranma jumped off the window and stood in front of Alin, glaring fiercely at her. "That's why she is daft, a total daft girl, and not to mention uncute and unsexy…"

"So I'm daft huh?" said a voice from the threshold.

"Yes…….ummmmm," Ranma was really starting to sweat now. Alin smirked cheerily at his expression and step out of his view. He clearly dreaded to say the things he said just now. He was sweating profusely and his face showed fear. There he saw, Akane crossing her arms and her face was flushing red. He did not know what to do except.

"He…he…hey Akane-chan," he said smoothly.

Then Akane started react violently. It was like the fastest moment in life Alin has ever since. In just a blink of an eye, Akane swiftly strode to Ranma and landed a very powerful punch to Ranma's cheek that send the ponytail boy flying through the window and into the sky. Not to mention Akane yelling 'Ranma no Baka!'

Alin grinned to herself. 'Good for them.'

As promise, Hakkai did show up as expected and Alin did her best to avoid him. The Tendos showed their hospitality well to the young man. Alin only said hi to him and briskly went to another place of the house. Of course, everyone was confused by her actions then they knew what the problem was and acted in her favor.

Alin also knew that eventually she and Hakkai were going to have a talk.

"Hiiiyah!" Ranma shouted, as he delivered a side kick to Hakkai, which the brown haired just simply blocked the move with his hand. It was just training but Ranma wanted to turn this into a real fight. Unfortunately, Hakkai simply would not fight back as he just block, avoid and read all of Ranma's moves. Soun and Genma were watching by the side while Akane abandon the training to search for Alin, who was missing. The blue haired thought it was indeed amusing to see Alin now.

She found her in Ranma's room, near the window where you could see the dojo. Akane smiled and made her way to Alin.

Alin was so deep in thought while listening to the noises in the dojo. She put her hands and elbows on the window sill, put her head on them and watched the dojo roof gloomily. She did not notice Akane's presence next to her doing the same thing like her.

"So what you've been doing?" Akane's voice startled Alin and she nearly jumped from the surprise.

"You scared me there," said Alin gasping for breath, her hand to her chest.

Akane's face turned anxious. "Oh sorry, I just wanted to see you," she said honestly. "Are you alright?" the blue haired girl asked, looking at Alin's face for any sign of uneasiness. Akane saw it.

"Yeah… I'm fine," she said half heartedly.

"Usotsuke… something its trouble you…. Is it Hakkai-kun?" Akane asked caringly, she really did.

(usotsuke liar)

"What? How did you know?... I mean no, I don't know what you're talking about? I'm fine really," she said confusingly. Her mind was in a mess that she blurted the wrong words.

"Ever since Hakkai arrived, you've been like confuse and strange, and extra strange when you're around him…. Care to tell me what the problem is?" Akane sat down on a nearby chair. It was creaky and frail so when she sat, it was unsteady.

"What is there to tell?" Alin said back, leaning against the wall.

"I am here and listening," Akane said simply and smiled sweetly. Alin frowned at the look that Akane gave but shot back with a cheery grin.

"Alright…. Well where do I start?" Alin put her finger to her chin and looked down on the floor. It was sort of like her thinking manner.

"How about… when you two first met?" Akane suggested and Alin nodded.

"We were ten years old, I was the adventurous girl in the town and he was the quiet boy, didn't talk too much and everyone hardly knew about his life. I already got a crush on him back then, call it small adolescence and every girl had the same crush on him and they were way prettier than me." Alin grimaced at the thought of being unpretty.

"But you are pretty," Akane exclaimed. Alin rolled her eyes. "Yeah right," she said sarcastically. Akane was about to reply back when Alin continued her story.

"Anyway, moving on, we got to know each other very well when our parents sent us to the Tribe's summer camp and we became partners in a project of taking care of animals."

"What animal did you take care?" Akane asked, though not a relevant topic.

Alin suddenly perked up and squealed. "Frogs…. They're so cute, makes me want to kiss them, hug them, kiss them some more and hug them some more…" Alin rambled on.

Akane rolled her eyes again. 'What do I bother asking?' she thought.

"And when they jump and made that croaking noise, it was like the best thing ever happen…" Alin got cut off by Akane's faked coughing. She realized she had been rambling. She laughed and muttered an apology.

"Anyway where was i… oh yeah… and we suddenly became close friends. He help me a lot and understand my… quirkiness if you want to call it that way, and I got to know him better. It seems he dislikes a lot of company, and really wants to be alone. He likes that way but he admitted being in a company of me… he likes it and my crush sort of turn into something more at that point but I never act on it because I don't know if he likes me the way I like him."

Akane felt pity for the girl of same age as her. 'Looks like she doesn't know,' she said in her mind.

"Then years went by, we both got recruited into the tribe at age thirteen, he got to be a secretary two years later, although he was busy we still talk to each other and do things together. Then this whole problem started and he came to me to find someone strong enough to beat the master. At first I chose him but he reclined saying it had to be someone else… I lost hope on him that day, feels like he rejected me, reject my love for him." Tears bean pouring out of her eyes, but she was not sobbing. She wiped them off quickly with her hands.

"I ran not because of my mission to find someone, but from him too… maybe… things would be better if we are friends…yeah that some people are meant to be friends," she said all those with such courage, controlling her tears while talking was not easy.

Akane ran to her and enveloped the petite girl in a hug. "Daijouga… everything would be fine… I promise," Akane said truthfully.

Alin felt surprised by what the blue haired girl said. She returned the hug and whispered 'arigato' to Akane.

Later the two girls talked more just about everything. Alin could not help but find it amusing when Akane complaining about Ranma then worrying about him then complaining again, pointing out every bad thing he did in the past. She wished maybe one day these two would come together.

While the girls were talking, Hakkai and Ranma just finished their training. Hakkai sighed heavily and dabbed his face with a face towel. Ranma did the same. Hakkai turned to Ranma. "You're good and might be just enough to beat the master," he said.

Ranma narrowed his eyes at Hakkai. "What do you mean 'just enough'? I can beat any strong opponents that come to the Anything Goes Style dojo and challenge me," Ranma said cockily.

"I'm impressed at your determination but be careful of that attitude of yours, its going to take you down one day," Hakkai advised though Ranma was not listening.

"I'm going to take a bath…matane," with that Ranma left, leaving Hakkai alone in the dojo.

(matane see you later)

"Interesting person," Hakkai leered. "But is he strong enough?"

Ranma finished his bath and was about to enter his room that he shared with his father, when he stopped just in front of the door. He heard voices in it, two girls.

'Akane and Alin? What are they doing in there?' he thought and cringed that he could not get an afternoon nap. He always take a nap after training but the girl's presence made that difficult.

He then decided to eavesdrop on them, thinking what was so important that the girls talked about that they have to do it in his room.

"Akane… you're so naughty," Alin teased about Akane guilty pleasures of eating chocolate, but Ranma heard it differently, his mind was on R rated thoughts. His nose almost bled from hearing it.

"Hey stop that already," said Akane, slapping the Alin's leg in annoyance. Ranma thought they were doing something really weird in there; his mind was confused right now. His curiosity piqued at the fact what were they doing and why doing it in his room.

His thoughts were interrupted when Hakkai said his name. "Ranma… what are you doing?" Ranma jumped at Hakkai's voice. Hakkai turned around and put his finer to his lips, wanting Hakkai to be quiet.

"They're doing something in there," he said, pointing his finger at his room.

"You're eavesdropping on them," Hakkai said.

"What is it look like I'm doing?" he looked disbelievingly at the short haired man.

"It's really perverted of you to do this," said Hakkai worried.

"Hey, if there's such thing as perverted in this house, is that annoying short old lecher who had nothing better to do than stealing women's panties," said Ranma indignantly and loudly. He turned back to the door not noticing the door already slid open. "Are? Why is it so quiet all of a sudden?" he turned to the door and only noticing there it was already open and met Akane's murderous eyes. He laughed meekly.

"Ranma no Hentai!" Akane gave him an uppercut that sent him through the roof, more repair bills for Soun and flew into the sky in such a ceremonious manner and lost in as a small dot.

Hakkai smirked pleasantly. "You are such a misunderstood person, Saotome Ranma," he said and laughed. Then his eyes met Alin's. She was behind Akane, who was panting and still seething with anger. Their gazed was a sign that they should talk…

Akane and Ranma went out to the groceries to buy some tofu and vegetables for dinner. That left Alin at home with Kasumi, Soun, Genma and to her nervy surprise Hakkai, who was still there. Kasumi was busy with cooking and the two old man were playing 'shougi' with Hakkai watch on, amused at the two old man's humorous behavior.

(shougi Japanese chess)

Alin quickly locked herself up in her room, away from Hakkai and hopefully she would not find her in Akane's room. "I hope Tendo-san and Saotome-san keep him busy until he's off," said Alin to herself. She sat on the middle of Akane's bed, legs drawn closer to her chest and hugging herself.

She jumped when she heard a knock on the door.

"Alin-kun, there's watermelons downstairs, come down and eat, please," said Kasumi from the other side of the door.

"Hai… be right there," she replied.

Alin made her way down and into the living room. When she entered, her eyes traveled to Hakkai, who was smiling and watching the funny antics of Soun and Genma, who had become a panda all of a sudden. Alin giggled when she saw the two adults. Soun was arguing at Genma, who just shrugged and acted like he did not know anything.

"Stop playing with the ball! Did you or did you not cheat? I saw you move two times!" Soun was practically red in the face, veins throbbing on his temple. Genma just looked at his bestfriend with that innocent panda gaze and just shrugged. He then played with the ball as though he was real panda.

Alin and Hakkai laughed watching them, then Kasumi came in with the slices of watermelon and they ate. Luna came in too and Alin fed him as well.

Then Hakkai approached Alin, who was petting Luna. "Can we talk?" he asked.

Alin looked up and became nervous; she merely nodded and stood up, following him to the gardens.

The evening sun shone orange light all over Nerima. Alin and Hakkai watched on as they sat by the tree. There was an awkward silence between them. Alin did not know what to say and thoughts of her whole life went through her mind, and her mind was messed up.

'Think Alin, think, think! What to say? This is the guy you fell head over heels with since you were eight, what to say? I know! I love you… no…no…no, too straight forward, my head is killing me…. Argh…. If only Akane is here…. Argh!'

She closed her eyes, and grasped her hair with her hands in frustration, and suddenly blurted out the words. "Argh!"

"What's the matter Alin-kun?" Hakkai asked quickly, feeling worried.

Alin then realized what she has done and blushed out of embarrassment. 'Great job, idiot. The first thing you did was embarrassed yourself,' she thought exasperatedly to herself.

"It's alright, Alin," said Hakkai caringly, then they looked at each other. "You don't have to talk anything, I'm the one here who needs to explain things before it gets complicated," he added. Alin nodded and leaned back against the tree, staring at the evening sky. Hakkai turned to look at his surroundings.

"Let me begin from the start, when Meishu-sama died and the master took over her control of the tribe. He was already targeting you from the start," Alin snorted at this fact, then was shocked of what Hakkai said next, "knowing you have the potential of being a leader even at our age. He wants to marry you because of that."

Alin almost muttered a cursed word but she kept on listening, hoping for something than this.

"I really thought you could defeat him," he said honestly.

Alin didn't seem surprise at all. She raised her brows. "You told me that a hundred times before," she said, smirking.

"Yeah," he said softly and looked back at her. "It was a horrifying surprise when you were defeated…. And then you were bound to get married to Master Meushi, you were rebelling him and fighting him so you didn't get married. I have to help you someway… so I went to the old library and checked up on some old tradition rules concerning the tribe."

"That's where you found a way to solve my problems," Alin said, she was feeling weird right now.

"Hai… and you ran away after that," he said gloomily.

Alin suddenly perked up. "How did you know I ran away?"

"You didn't leave a single note or letter to your family so I knew you ran… why?" when he asked, Alin suddenly tensed and scared. She was almost sure that Hakkai was mad but when she saw those caring beautiful eyes of his, she softened.

"I-i-I….," she stuttered then narrowed her eyes. "Does it matter, I just want to find someone who can defeat Master Meushi quickly," she said as a matte-of-factly.

Hakkai smiled in understanding. "After you ran, Master Meushi went on a hunt for you and I join him hoping I could find you," he continued hiss story.

"And he almost caught up with me but he as always slow on the uptake, I could not believe I ran ahead of the hunt," she said, grimace.

"He was too tired when we were in the middle of China and ordered a single search party for you and I volunteered," he said.

"You volunteered?" she didn't know why she was feeling sad but she was sad right now.

"I volunteered or else he would have someone else who you don't want to meet at all," he said but still Alin felt sad, then he added. "And because I want to meet you."

"Really?" she said, surprised.

"Hai,"

"Why?"

"Because…"

"Hoi!" a loud voice from the house, cut Hakkai off of whatever he wanted to say. They turned to the house and saw Ranma waving at them from the threshold. "What are you doing?" he asked, though not knowing that he just interrupted something very important.

"Nothing…. Just talking," Alin answered back, she was relieved to see Ranma but was disappointed that she did not get to know Hakkai's answer.

"Okay… oi, Hakkai-san, another round of training," Ranma requested.

"Um… sure," said Hakkai. He turned to Alin. "Sorry, but I have…" he was cut off by Alin.

"It's okay, I need to talk to Akane, anyway, matane," she said and then stood up and walked up to the house, leaving Hakkai wondering about what could happen if he told her the truth if Ranma did not interrupt them. Alin too thought of the same thing.

Ranma and Hakkai went for another round of training as everyone looked on. It went on till night time. Hakkai went home but not before saying a special goodbye to Alin.

"Alin-kun," he called her.

"Hai," she turned around as everyone stepped out of the dojo.

He leaned in to her and kissed the petite girl's left cheek. "Goodbye," he said and then went out of the dojo and into the dark streets of Nerima.

"Goodbye," she said softly and her hand held her cheek, and blushed furiously. Her mind was now in unity and she somehow can think more clearly than ever.

'Maybe he does like me…. Must tell Akane!' she thought.

Alin ran to the house, feeling butterflies fluttering in her stomach from just that simple kiss.

A/N to Alin: The last part is kind off nostalgic don't you think? I was having a last minute writer's block and then it was kind off sudden thing to come out of my head. I think you're sexy, Alin and trust me, you're still Alin the way I like, no matter if people call you ugly or beautiful. I haven't done any correction so I'm going to post another one, in the mean time here it is CHP4.