Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I don't own Ranma ½? Honestly, no. Legally, yes. Any lawyers that have a problem with this disclaimer can put a sock in it.

burns hand on aondehafka's review Yowch. shakes hand in pain I guess I deserved that. The cackling wasn't really called for. evil smile But the effect of the Amazon's special lemon-poppyseed curried rice isn't a love potion. Never was. You'll find out what it is later.

Here we go! Yuka's point 'o view.

This was not good.

"Well, mom- er- nothing happened that I can think of. . ."

"Nothing?" There's a dark coloring in her eyes that blatantly warns me to stop lying. It's really hard for anyone to believe that there isn't something going on in Nerima unusual. I randomly grasp for something that happened during school.

"I helped Akane bake some cookies in Home Ec. Ranma actually only had to stay in the infirmirary for an hour."

"Only an hour? That's a record."

"You're telling me." I snap my fingers. "Ranma and Akane stopped by to take back D-chan. Turns out Genma either found him on the street or stole him. They said he belongs to some Chinese girl. Would you believe that D-chan was a hot duck!"

"Never." Mom shakes her head. Hiding a grin, she added, "Did he show you how to get down?"

"Not funny," I say despite the smile forming on my face.

"Did they say who the girl was?"

"No. They didn't, now that you mention it." I shake my head. Why'd he come back only to disappear again?

I slipped into the lapping waves of thought just before mom brought me back to shore. She's my lighthouse, you know?

"Anything else?"

No, Mom. I was just approached and serenaded posing as a girl named Xian Pu to a guy who I purposely hid a pair of glasses because I liked the attention. And then he showed up and delivered our ramen but didn't recognize me. Yeah, that would go over real well.

"Well, at school they're having a dance where the girls ask the guys this weekend."

"Got anyone in mind?"

A certain young Cat Café waiter.

"No."

"Hiroshi? Daisuke?" When mom puts her mind to it, she can really-

"NO!"

"Kuno's boy?"

"Not for all the cherry blossoms on the tree out back."

"What about one of the other martial artists?"

"I'd be risking my life to ask any of them. Ranma's likely to be asked by all of his fiancées, probably at once. His rival, Ryouga the wandering soul, wouldn't show up."

"You don't know that!"

"Right. And he only has eyes for Akane, anyway."

"What about that cute-"

"He's got someone."

"And Kinnosuke?"

"What? The guy who wouldn't even pay for himself once during our date? No. I lost 40,000 yen on that freeloader."

"It looks like you're on your own, then."

I bristle, unexpectedly. I'll do it! Even if I have to ask gulp Kuno.

"Or is there someone I don't know about?"

"No. There's no-one else."

"The delivery boy was cute."

"What!"

"I'd say he was 20 percent tip cute." Uh-oh. "Mm-hm. Yup definitely 20 percent tip."

"MOM!"

"You don't think so?" It's getting awfully warm in here.

"Maybe." She doesn't have to look so smug about it.

"Why don't you ask him?"

"B-b-b-because! He- he wouldn't be interested!" In anyone but Xian Pu.

"Why not?"

Those roses are awfully pretty. I should really put them in some water. Standing to put the roses in a vase, I can hear Mom behind me.

"Why not, kiddo?"

My shoulders sag ever so slightly. "He has a girlfriend."

"Sorry. Tough break."

Boy, she doesn't know the half of it. Of course in Nerima, most people don't know the half of it.

"Yeah."

I pause as I feel her hand on my shoulder. "But this weekend, I forbid you to come home until you go to the dance."

"Thank you!"

It's a pretty afternoon to look at the cherry blossoms from my balcony.

I think I'll ask Daisuke when I get to school. I mean, what's the harm? It's not Gosunkugi. I'd have to be on some sort of medication to date a voodoo priest. (He is a priest, right? Not that I care.) I don't think I'm picky, but sheesh. And Kuno, Kami forgive me- was I seriously considering Kuno? Next thing you know, I'll go up to Mikado Sanzien's house and ask him for an autograph.

Or for him to be my date to the dance. The ice crawls up my spine... I guess it's the wind.

The robe's flapping in the back yard. Blossoms falling bounce off of it. What are we going to do with it now? How am I going to get it back to him? It has to belong to Mystery Man. I wonder if he lives at the Cat Café.

I wonder if the manager could give the robe to him.

Maybe I should just leave it on the doorstep of the Café on my way to school.

Yeah.

I really should have left all the roses in the vase, but I couldn't help taking one upstairs with me.

I only grabbed it to give my fingers something to do. It's sort of fun to twirl it around my fingers, watching the red and green blur. I used to be a baton twirler when I was younger. I think Kodachi was actually in my class. You know, before she started going- well- crazy isn't the word I want to use. Eccentric isn't it either.

Hey! Who's that!

There's someone sitting in my tree!

"This is private property! What are you doing in my back-"

Will we find out who's in the tree? Will Mousse ever get back his glasses? And what does Kho-Lon's special little treat do, anyway?

If you want to know, or have an inkling, drop me a line! Remember, chances of inspiration being enhanced sooner are multiplied by each review!