How long had it been since he'd been there? Months? Years?
Whatever it had been, it was way too long.
His previous attempts at claiming the love of his life, Ukyou Kuonji, had all been thwarted by that idiot, Ranma Saotome. This, time, however, things would be different. If there was one thing that was always on his side, it was the element of surprise. Using the element of surprise, he would sneak up on Ranma, pummel him like a man and take what was rightfully his. True, it wasn't the most elaborate...or even intelligent of plans. But when you're in love, sometimes those things just get in the way.
He couldn't see very well from his vantage point, but he could see well enough. He spotted Ukyou in her boys uniform walking to Furinkan High School. There was someone else there, walking besides her...from the way they were talking, they were going together. He couldn't see the other figure too well, but it was clearly a guy. And from the style of hair and how tall the guy was...there was no question. It was the accursed Ranma!
He laughed. It was perfect! He didn't even have to wait long for Ranma to show up and make his move. So, Ranma was trying to horn in on HIS girl again, hmm? He was going to show that pigtailed jerk. One good shot was all it was going to take. Just a little closer...closer...NOW!
-WHAM!-
----+----
"Jeez, Ryouga, what's your problem?" said Ukyou.
Ryouga rubbed his head where he was struck. "I'm not sure, but I think that light pole just attacked me." He stared down at the broken light pole with a confused look on his face.
Ukyou nodded her head, thinking she figured out what was going on. "Look, Ryouga, I know you're nervous about taking the equivalency test, but that's no reason to try faking injuries and hallucinations to try to get out of it. Now come on! We can't be late for this." She started back on her way.
"But I swear that light pole just jumped out at me and...oh, forget it! Wait up!"
----+----
Ryouga? Who was this Ryouga character?
Whoever it was, he could sure take a hit. His disguise was completely ruined in his sneak attack, yet the guy barely even flinched. If this Ryouga guy was trying to move in on Ukyou, he would have to be taken care of as well. But with his strength...he would have to be further studied to find out what his weaknesses were.
He climbed out of his ruined disguise and stood defiantly in the face of his new, potential enemy. Well...as defiantly as a guy could in a long, pink, frilly dress. It didn't matter what it would take...Tsubasa would not be denied this time.
-
Dreamweaver Studios Presents
Ranma½
And the Beat Goes On
"The Truth Is Out There"
-
Wearily, Ranma opened his eyes, cursing the sun for interrupting a perfect night's sleep. It had been a long time since he had to worry about school, with everything he had been through. But their fathers had been adamant that he, Akane and Nabiki return to school that day. Screw it. He was so tired, he felt like he could sleep for the rest of the week, so he rolled over and closed his eyes again.
After a few moments, something felt wrong. He looked up and over to his father's sleeping spot. He wasn't there. Usually, this was the time he'd be yelling about Ranma being a lazy, good-for-nothing, toss him out into the backyard and begin their daily sparring match. Of course, it wasn't unusual for Genma to show his laziness and sleep in, but that wasn't the case. Since he wasn't sleeping, nor was he yelling for Ranma to get out of bed, something had to be going on. Now that he thought about it, the closer the dojo got to being repaired, the stranger his father and Mr. Tendo acted. He smelled a wedding plot.
With a yawn, he stood to his feet, scratched a few places unmentionable and started downstairs. School would be starting soon and it wouldn't do for him to go without having breakfast first. At the very least, it would give him the chance to confer with Akane about his suspicions. It wasn't that he minded getting married anymore and he was sure Akane felt the same way. He just wanted it to happen on his own terms. He didn't want it imposed upon him and, again, he was sure Akane felt similarly.
Having reached downstairs, he grunted a good morning greeting to Nabiki, who was at the table, already dressed for school. Once again, his father was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Mr. Tendo. That made him even more suspicious. He shook his head clear, it was something to think about when he was fully awake and had Akane with him to help figure a way out of the impending mess.
Ranma slid the door open to the bathroom and strode in, finding his fiancée already inside, clad only in a towel. She turned to him and smiled warmly, "Good morning Ranma."
He let out a sigh of relief. "Heh, I'm gonna have to get used to this. Usually, this is the point where you'd boot me out callin' me a pervert and stuff."
Akane blushed, "Well, I suppose I'd be a hypocrite if I were to call you a pervert anymore."
Ranma went to the sink and turned on the hot water tap to freshen himself up. "So, are ya ready to get back to school?"
"Yeah," she answered. "After everything that's happened, it'd be good to get back to doing something resembling normal."
"What do you suppose your friends are gonna say once they find out what happened to you?"
Akane paused. "...You know, I think I'm going to keep this a secret. I don't think they'd react favorably to me if they found out that I'm half demon."
"That's gonna be hard to keep a secret," he said, totally missing the pun. "I mean, what're ya gonna do about...that?"
"Kasumi and Nabiki both made it through without anyone finding out. I think I'll be able to also. Though, I may need your help making sure it doesn't present a problem."
"Help?" he repeated. "What kinda help we talkin' about?" She flashed a predatory grin at him. "Oh...figures..."
----+----+----+----+----
Ukyou paced up and down the hallway. She couldn't help it, she was that nervous. She gave Ryouga all the help she could in studying for the test. All that was left was for him to pass. Everything hinged on whether or not he would be admitted into school. She had to do everything she could to make him more attractive in Akane's eyes and schooling was a very important part of that.
If he could pull this off, everything else should fall right into place. They can help each other with homework, with the operations of the restaurant and in planning their next move in regards to Ranma and Akane. Who knows, maybe with a little more education under his belt, Ryouga would be able to come up with a plan or two himself...something that didn't involve putting Ranma in the hospital for a few weeks.
Yes, if everything went the way she was planning, the future would be bright indeed. If only that moron can pass that test. She stopped pacing and looked at the closed door that lead to the testing room. It shouldn't be too much longer now. The regular school day was going to start in a half hour.
Slowly, the door crept open, revealing the bandanna-clad martial artist, staring intently at a piece of paper. Impatiently, Ukyou asked, "So how'd it go?"
He turned the paper over for her to see. It was a one-hundred question test, of which, he only missed seven. Which gave him a score of ninety-three...which meant, "I passed!"
Ukyou squealed and gave him a hug, "You did it! I guess you're not such a dummy after all!"
"Gee, thanks," Ryouga deadpanned.
"So, when are they going to register you?"
"In two days."
"Alright! Come on! Let's go celebrate!"
"Don't you need to go to class soon yourself?"
Ukyou shrugged his concerns off, "Missing one day won't hurt anything." As they walked out of the building, with her arm around his neck, a girl saw them. That one person was all it took for the newest, hot rumor to begin circulating around Furinkan.
----+----
"You really think they're up to something," Akane asked, walking briskly down the sidewalk.
"I'd be surprised if they weren't," said Ranma, who walked on the narrow top of the fence next to said sidewalk. "I mean, they did see us in the front yard before they told us that story. After hearing us say we love each other, you don't really think they would go about things normally without tryin' to get us married off as soon as possible, do ya?"
"Even with what happened with Arame afterwards? You don't think they forgot about that?"
"Feh, doubtful."
They came upon the front gate of the school and Akane stopped just before going in. She put her hand to her chin, thinking deeply. With no more fence to walk on, Ranma dropped down to ground level and kept going. "Say, Ranma..."
He stopped and turned back to her. "What is it?"
"Would it be so bad? You know, getting married now?"
Ranma paused. "...I dunno...I mean, I definitely won't mind getting' married to ya, that's for sure. But now? Especially on their say so? I dunno about you, but I'd rather get married on my own terms."
Akane smiled and nodded, "I like the idea of getting married when WE'RE ready a lot better. Besides, we still have school to finish and everything. There's no need to rush into things." She leaned into him and gave him a hug, "After all, we have the rest of our lives together."
After a moment in the embrace, they suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Looking around, they found nearly the entire student body of Furinkan High staring at them with their mouths hanging open. "What?" went Ranma defensively. "Can't an engaged couple share a hug every now and then?"
Suddenly, everybody started cheering. FINALLY, after all this time, Ranma and Akane have made it clear that they loved each other! And it was about time too! Of course, the extra attention made them wish they could crawl under a rock and hide. Out of the large crowd, their friends, Hiroshi, Daisuke, Saiyuri and Yuka appeared and surrounded them.
"Way to go, man! You finally got the girl!" exclaimed Hiroshi. He patted Ranma on the back vigorously.
"Eh, thanks?" said Ranma.
"Yeah," added Yuka. "I mean, we all knew you two loved each other for quite some time. We were just wondering how much longer it would take for the two of you to admit it to each other."
The questions began, "So, how'd he do it?" asked Saiyuri. "How did he finally say it?"
How to answer that without the need for embarrassing details? "Well, something...er...came up..." Akane blushed deeply, "Let's just say it left me very disturbed; so much so that I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. But Ranma was strong for the both of us. He held me in his arms, protectively and...well, after that, the words just came out naturally."
Saiyuri and Yuka blushed. "Wow," Saiyuri said in awe, "that's so romantic."
"Yeah," agreed Yuka. "I didn't even know he had it in him."
Of course, Daisuke had other questions on his mind, "So, have you two done it yet?"
"WHAT?" said Ranma.
Hiroshi grinned, "Sure! After a scene like that, you two had to have."
Ranma turned beet red, "T-that's none of your business!"
Yuka raised an eyebrow. No denials? Hmm..."Tell me, Akane...was he any good?"
Saiyuri and Akane looked at her in shock. "Not you too?" asked Akane.
Yuka shrugged, "Just thought I'd ask."
"FIEND! CHARLATAN! KNAVE! MISCREANT!"
Ranma slapped his forehead. "Gee, I wonder who that was?" he asked sarcastically. As Kuno made his way through the crowd, Ranma and Akane's friends suddenly disappeared back into it. They must've undergone some sort of ninja training while they were absent.
Kuno stood before them, crackling with electricity. Looked like Arame's gift to him stayed, even though she was gone. "So, fowl sorcerer, your evil spell has finally been completed, has it? It is my fault. Had I put you under heel where you belong from the get go, you couldn't have been able to take hold of her heart with your dark magic." He looked at Akane, "I am sorry, dearest Akane Tendo. I have been lax in my duties, but no more. For you, I shall crush this scoundrel!"
"And now we're back to me being the one with the evil mind control," Ranma laughed.
"PREPARE YOURSELF, RANMA SAOTOME!" Kuno raged, as he charged his foe.
-PUNT-
Ranma and Akane watched as the poetic kendoist sailed over the horizon. Strange, though...they weren't the ones who did it. So who? "Uh oh," went Ranma. In the spot where Kuno used to occupy, Ukyou and Ryouga stood. Neither looked happy. "Er...hey guys! Heh, nice day, huh?" Dammit. They had spent so much time worrying about Akane's change and what their fathers were plotting, they completely forgot about all of the other suitors after them.
Faster than anyone could blink, Ryouga had Ranma by the scruff of the neck and Ukyou had a similar hold on Akane. "Damn you, Ranma, what was that you just did to Akane?" Ryouga demanded.
"Erm...hug?"
Ryouga looked like he just took a hard blow to the body. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN HUG! YOU TWO DON'T HUG!"
"What is the meaning of this?" went Ukyou. "Don't...don't tell me you two..."
Akane nodded. "Yes, we did. We love each other and we've finally stopped pretending otherwise."
"You two aren't really under any spells or anything like that are you?" Akane shook her head. Ukyou and Ryouga looked at Ranma and he shook his head as well.
That was it. The fight was finished. They lost. With one last, angry look, Ryouga looked at Ranma, Ukyou looked at Akane, and said, "You win. But you'd better take good care of him/her. Otherwise, I'LL KILL YOU!" They grabbed the engaged couple with both hands, did a quick spin to gather momentum and tossed Ranma and Akane away, in roughly the same direction Kuno was punted.
Suddenly, the desire to celebrate Ryouga's acceptance to Furinkan High had gone away. With their heads low and their shoulders drooped, Ukyou and Ryouga headed back home.
After some distance, Ranma and Akane suffered the inevitable effects of gravity. They came down on some poor, unsuspecting person's house. They were upside down with their heads stuck in the roof.
"You know, they took that a lot better than I thought they would," Ranma commented.
Akane struggled to get free, "Ugh...you know, I don't think I've ever been on this end of one of these before."
"Don't feel too good, does it?"
----+----+----+----+----
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