Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or KISS
"" Speaking
>> Thoughts
# Sound Effects
( ) Author sees a chance for a joke or comment and takes it
Chapter Two: Anything for my babyIt was a quiet day in Nerima as the one and only, (Much to the disappointment of his fiancées.) Ranma Saotome was walking through the mall. It had been about three months since he'd formed a friendship with the ice queen herself, Nabiki Tendo. Most people wouldn't because they were afraid of her, but Ranma got to see a side that those kids at school never saw. A side she claimed she only showed in front of her big sister Kasumi. But he enjoyed being her friend and she enjoyed being his.
The reason he was at the mall today was important. It was Nabiki's birthday. So he spent most of his day walking around the mall getting her some presents. He found a copy of KISS Gold, which had over forty songs of KISS so he snatched that up. Then he bought her some perfume he knew she liked, as well as some manga she liked reading.
However, he still felt he needed to get her something else. For the life of him he couldn't figure out what. He continued to think about this as he paused in front of a dress shop. He looked up and saw the most beautiful dress he'd seen in a long time on a mannequin in the front window.
The dress was made of black silk, and ended around the knees. It hugged a girl's body just right, showing off her curves. The neckline curved down showing off just a hint of cleavage to be sexy, but not too much to be revealing. It had a strap around the neck and the back was left completely open. It looked breathtaking, and Ranma knew it would look stunning on Nabiki.
The problem was finding one in her size. Ranma contemplated this for several minutes before sighing. He knew what he had to do. He lifted a cold bottle of water he'd bought earlier and poured some over his head triggering his curse. Then he walked into the store, not realizing he was being watched.
"May I help you?" asked a Saleswoman.
"Yes. I'd like to try on that dress you have in the front window." Ranma said politely.
"That's one of our most popular items." The saleswoman responded as she got one in Ranma's size.
Ranma then went into the changing room to try it on, still not realizing that whoever was watching him earlier was now in the dress shop.
It took a couple of minutes of struggle, but Ranma finally had the dress on and stepped out to see how it looked. He looked in the huge mirror next to the changing rooms and smiled. It looked great on him/her so it would look fabulous on Nabiki. He quietly thanked the gods that he lost a bet with her a couple weeks ago and was forced to wear her school uniform for the day. It might have been embarrassing, but at least he learned they wore the same size.
>I could just imagine what mom would say if she could see me now.> Ranma thought with a chuckle.
"Ranma, why are you trying on a dress? That isn't very manly." Nodoka's voice said.
>That's exactly what she'd,…!> thought Ranma as he realized two things.
One was that the voice of his mother, wasn't in his head. Second, his mother was standing behind him in the mirror fingering the Saotome honor blade.
"Mom!" said Ranma as he turned around looking nervous. "W…what're you doing here?"
"I was running a few errands when I saw you enter this store." Nodoka said looking at what her son/daughter was wearing.
"I can explain!" said a scared Ranma.
"Please do." Nodoka responded.
Ranma explained about how it was a present for Nabiki and he just wanted to make sure it fit right. He just hoped she didn't ask how he knew how they wore the same size.
>My son/daughter is trying on a dress he plans to buy for his/her friend.> thought Nodoka. >I guess that's manly.>
"That's very sweet of you Ranma." Nodoka said with a smile. "It is a lovely dress."
"I thought so too." Ranma said relaxing as he realized he wouldn't be on the business end of the honor blade.
"Oh my. If it's Nabiki's birthday, perhaps I should get her something as well." Nodoka said thoughtfully as she looked back into the store. "Ranma, could I ask your help for a moment?"
"Sure mom." Ranma said as he realized what she meant.
Now he wished she had used the blade.
One hour later, and several tried on dresses and other things, Ranma and his mom left the store with their purchases. Ranma was ever the gentleman helping his mother carry her bags as well as his/her own.
They chatted while they walked home to the Tendo Dojo. Ranma was happy his mother had returned from her trip. She'd left a few weeks ago to care for a sick relative and had just gotten back to town. He really missed her as she did him.
When they reached the Tendo household, Ranma went in first and announced he was home. Before he could say anything else, Akane appeared.
"Where have you been all day?" demanded the youngest Tendo. "You were with your hussies weren't you!"
"Akane,…" said Ranma as he/she decided to have some fun with her. "…you're absolutely correct. I spent the last two hours in the company of a very beautiful lady."
"I KNEW IT!" screamed Akane as the gruesome twosome (aka Genma Saotome and Soun Tendo.) appeared at the threat of the unity of the schools.
"WAAAAHHHHH!" cried Soun. "My baby is betrayed!"
"Boy!" said Genma sounding determined. "How dare you cheat on Akane!"
"Who says I did?" asked Ranma as Nodoka entered behind him. "I happen to think my mom is a very beautiful lady."
"How nice of you to say so Ranma." Nodoka said pleasantly as her face turned to a scowl. "Hello husband."
"He…hello Nodoka." Genma said nervously.
Soun and Akane froze at that as Ranma and Nodoka went to the living room. Nodoka left her bags with Ranma and went to see what Kasumi was doing. As Ranma sat at the table with the bags around him, Akane and the gruesome twosome entered the room. Akane sat down to watch the TV, while the gruesome twosome went back to their shogi game. (Do those two ever do anything else? Marriage plots aside.)
"Ranma, what's in the bags?" asked Akane curious.
"Nabiki's presents." Ranma said nonchalantly. "Have you seen her?"
"Why are you buying my sister presents you pervert?" yelled Akane as the father's turned their attention away from the game again.
"Boy! What are you doing?" yelled Genma finding his spine again. "You should be buying presents for your fiancée. Not her sister!"
"I agree." Soun said. "You have no reason to buy her gifts."
"No reason?" said Ranma confused as he realized something. "Oh my god! Don't tell me you don't realize what day this is?"
"What's that got to do anything with it pervert?" yelled Akane. "Today is a day like any other day!"
"You're wrong on that count." The voice of the middle Tendo sister said from the doorway to the living room.
They all looked and saw Nabiki leaning against the doorway dressed in her usual T-shirt and shorts. Ranma wasted no time taking her the gifts he bought.
"Happy birthday Nabs!" said Ranma smiling as the other three idiots in the room froze.
It was so obvious that they'd forgotten.
"For me?" said Nabiki in shock, like she wasn't used to getting presents.
"Yep." Ranma said.
"Thank you Ranma!" said Nabiki said giving him/her a big hug. "I thought only Kasumi remembered."
"Hey!" said Ranma. "I never forget my friends."
The two of them went upstairs to Nabiki's room, leaving the three idiots downstairs. Once in her room, Nabiki looked at the presents and squealed in delight at each one. When she saw the dress, her eyes bugged out.
"Ranma. This is beautiful!" She said happily as she saw the price tag. "Holy crap! How could you afford this?"
"My mom gave me a bankcard a few months ago." Ranma said. "I was surprised to see how much there actually was in there the first time I used it."
"How much?" asked Nabiki as Ranma told her. "Holy shit! That's a lot of money!"
"I know." Ranma said. "I never knew mom had that much before."
"Me either." Nabiki said. "But thanks again for the presents."
"No problem." Ranma said. "So, what are we doing to celebrate your birthday?"
"Uh, I don't really think we're doing anything other then Kasumi making me a cake like she does every year." Nabiki said thinking about it.
"What!" said Ranma. "That's not the way to celebrate a birthday."
"It's the way I do." Nabiki muttered sadly.
"Not anymore." Ranma said confidently. "After dinner you are gonna put on your new dress, and we're gonna paint the town red!"
"Huh!" said Nabiki confused. "We're gonna what?"
"We are going to go out tonight and we are going to party." Ranma said. "I want no objections."
"O…Okay." Nabiki said still in shock. "I'll get ready after dinner."
"Good. Now I'd better go." Ranma said heading for the door.
"Why's that?" asked Nabiki curiously.
"Because I'm going out tonight and I haven't a thing to wear." Ranma said making her laugh. >She looks so pretty when she laughs.>
"So, how's seven o'clock for you?" asked Ranma.
"Seven's good." Nabiki said.
"Great. It's a date. See you then." Ranma said as he/she left the room leaving Nabiki in shock at his/her words.
>Date!> Nabiki thought. >I'm…going on a date…with Ranma!>
As she thought about it, a big smile grew across her face.
To be continued…Author's Notes: Chapter Two is said and done. Next is Chapter Three, which will contain the entire night out between Ranma and Nabiki. It's Chapter Three: Rock And Roll All Nite. See-ya then. Ciao.
