Chapter Four: Ranma's Plan A
Ranma quickly sat down on a bench in the park and pulled the small book out of the plastic bag.
"Okay" she said to herself looking at the front cover and grimacing at the title slightly, "Time to see what's so great about this stupid book."
Ranma opened the book and read the first chapter title out loud.
"Step one: The way to a man's heart is through his stomach" Ranma looked up confused and then returned to the page reading to herself.
As she read she didn't hear someone sneaking up behind her. Tatewaki Kuno, the very man who plagued Akane and Ranma's existence was standing right behind her. When he saw the book, he recognized it at once and wrapped hisarmsaround her, making her drop the book and grimace even more.
"Oh pigtailed girl" he said enthusiastically, "You have finally at last realized your true feelings my love. How noble and coy of you to research about bridal training in secret. I shall honor you with a kiss" he said puckering his lips and moving closer.
"Get lost you stupid jerk!" Ranma shouted kicking Kuno upwards as she always did in the same situation, "Man" she muttered to herself as he disappeared still shouting her praises, "Is there no place safe from that creep?" Ranma stood up, picked the book off of the ground, and thrust it back into the plastic bag. She sighed and then turned around gazing around her, "Might as well go home."
(Next Scene)
Ranma hurried home at once with the bag tucked under her arm. She slowly opened the front door of the house and peeked in, making sure that no one was looking. Then she came in closing the door quietly behind her. Just as she sighed in relief and reached the stairs, Nabiki appeared from the kitchen.
"Hi there Ranma!" she said.
"Uh. Oh Nabiki" Ranma replied somewhat startled.
"What's going on Ranma?" she asked slyly, "You're a little jumpy."
"Me? Jumpy? Oh no, no, no" Ranma shook her head and stuttered nervously edging her way to the stairs with the bag behind her back, "I just, am going upstairs to go do some reading" she said fast and then dashed up the steps as rapidly as she could, running to her room and shoving the door shut, "That was close" Ranma said wiping her brow, "I would have absolutely died" she said as she held up the bag with disgust, "If Nabiki had seen this."
For the remainder of the afternoon Ranma poured over the contents of the book. When she had gotten to chapter six, she slammed the book shut and sat cross-legged with an expression of thinking.
"Hmm?" Ranma thought, "This book can't be the reason Akane's acting so weird. I mean she is following everything it says, but why would it be the reason for the change in her demeanor? I think" she thought as she placed her right elbow on her kneecap and her right palm on her cheek, "That I am going to have to come up with something else. But first" Ranma looked down at her appearance, "I'd better change back."
(Next Scene)
Ranma quickly showered, happy to be himself again and then wandered into the sitting room. Mr. Saotome and Mr. Tendo were immersed in another game of Shogi while Nabiki sat at the table watching television and munching on snacks.
"Hey" Ranma spoke up, "Where is Akane?"
"She's once more in the kitchen helping Kasumi with dinner" Nabiki replied not even glancing from the TV, "It seems that she has officially started bridal training."
"Isn't that great son?" Soun Tendo said proudly, as Genma Saotome nodded his head in a grunt since at that moment he happened to be in his panda form, "She's finally taken an interest in your future."
"Uh yea" Ranma replied backing off nervously, "Look I am gonna go for a walk before dinner" he said moving away, "I'll be back later" he disappeared in a hurry.
"Well I wonder what is up with him?" Soun said scratching his head as Genma stared at the space where his son had been seconds ago. Finally he just shrugged his shoulders while Nabiki munched on another cookie in silence, casually smiling to herself as if she once more had something up her sleeve.
As Ranma walked he thought good and hard about his next plan. "Okay. I've got to find a way to get Akane good and mad at me. I just have to do something that always makes her mad and then she'll lose her composure and go back to her normal old self" he thought happily, "So first thing how to get her mad? I know!" he suddenly realized taking off at full speed for home, "I knowjust what will work!"
(Next Scene)
He casually slipped through the front door and hurried upstairs to his room. He grabbed the little pink bookfrom the bag once more and then began to rummage in the closet. Finally he found some old wrapping paper and quickly wrapped the book.
"There" he replied proudly with a smug grin, "Now to call Shampoo."
He rushed downstairs, not noticing Nabiki watching him from the corner of the sitting room doorway, walked over to the phone, and dialed her number.
"This will upset Akane for sure," he thought as Shampoo picked up on the other end, "Yo Shampoo. It's Ranma."
"Ranma?" Shampoo replied elated, "You call Shampoo?"
"Yea. Listen. I hope I'm not interrupting you or anything but I was wondering if you could come over tonight. I have a present for you and I really want to give it to you, so if you could."
But before Ranma could finish he heard a squealing of tires and then saw Shampoo burst through the door, flinging her arms wide as he held the telephone stunned to see her. She threw herself in his arms and smiled happily.
"Oh Ranma!" she shouted, "You really do love Shampoo."
"No wait" Ranma said through choked gasps, "Hold on a minute."
"Is someone here?" Kasumi asked as she and Akane came into the hall from the kitchen, "Oh my. Shampoo?"
"Nihao" Shampoo greeted happily still holding onto Ranma tightly.
"Shampoo?" Akane replied, "What are you doing here?"
"Ranma invite Shampoo over" Shampoo said back, "Right Ranma?"
"Uh well" Ranma replied trying to get up but she pushed him back and continued.
"Ranma say he have gift for Shampoo" she said proudly as Nabiki came over with a nod of her head.
"Gift?" Ranma replied in a daze.
"That's right Ranma" Nabiki said, "Remember?"
"Oh yea" Ranma said realizing snapping his head up and finally standing up.
"Ranma are they telling the truth?" Akane asked her hands pressed together.
"Uh yea" he nodded picking the package up and handing it to Shampoo carefully, "Okay. Here you go Shampoo."
"Oh Ranma" she smiled even more elated her eyes shining, and then unwrapping the package in a hurry, "Oh Ranma!" she repeated when she saw the book and it's title, "You do love Shampoo!" she once more wrapped her arms tightly around him, "You really really do love Shampoo!"
"Hey wait a minute" Akane said snatching the book from Shampoo, "This is the same book I bought. Ranma you bought this for Shampoo?" she looked at him with sadness in her eyes as Nabiki crossed her arms and Kasumi sighed.
Ranma on the other hand smiled and thought. "This is it" he grinned, "She'll get so jealous that she'll yell at me for sure. Maybe even pound me into the ground and then the old Akane will come back. Yes Akane" he said out loud with a nod of his head, "I did buy it for Shampoo."
"Oh Ranma" Kasumi replied with a gasp.
"Well" Akane said slowly, "All I've got to say is."
"Yes?" Ranma urged her.
"That's so sweet of you Ranma" she replied cheerfully.
"It wha?" his mouth dropped open in shock.
"How nice of you to get that book for Shampoo. I mean every girl should know about this book. Say Shampoo now that you're here" she replied turning to the Amazon, "How would you like to stay for dinner tonight?"
"But, but" Ranma said confused.
"Are you sure there room?" Shampoo asked following her and Kasumi into the kitchen after Akane handed her back the book.
"Of course" Kasumi said as Akane nodded, "There's always more than enough room for you Shampoo."
"Then Shampoo be delighted" Shampoo agreed with a smile.
Ranma stared at the three of them dumbfounded. Nabiki shook her head with a smile and departed as well to the sitting room. After a few more seconds Ranma shook his own head furiously.
"I'm not giving up that easily Akane," he said clenching his fist, "Shampoo's staying for dinner huh? Well then it's time for me to really make her mad" he dashed upstairs, ready to unfold the next part of his plan.
(Next Scene)
Unfortunately the next part of his plan didn't go so well. All night he was totally attentive to Shampoo and ignored Akane completely. He allowed Shampoo to feed him, made sweet lovey dovey talk with her, and allowed her to even snuggle with him on the porch. But she didn't seem to notice unlike the rest of the family like Soun and Genma who glared at him all evening. All she did was smile. She wasn't fazed in the slightest. Ranma after a stern talk from his father, in which his fatherended soaked from another bucket of water, went to bed frustrated more then ever.
"Man" he thought as he laid his head down, "That should have worked. I guess I'm gonna have to come up with something better. Maybe one girl isn't enough. Perhaps if I act this way to more than one. That's it!" he thought happily, "Tomorrow I am going to be quite the playboy so she won't have no choice but to watch me. Watch out Akane. I'll get you yet" he grinned triumphantly.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile she raised her head slowly and her brown eyes tried to focus. But soon she became weak again and lowered her head once more, shutting her eyes unaware of her surroundings.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! I am back! Now that the other story is done I can finally finish this one. It probably will end up longer than ten chapters. I came up with a lot of new interesting ideas for the end then I had before so you have that to look forward to. One more chapter tonight. You'll probably get two more tomorrow as well!
Next Chapter: Ranma's Plan B
Shampoo didn't work so Ranma is putting out all the stops flirting with almost every girl he comes across. But will it be enough to make his fiancée revert back to her true self? Find out next time!
