Thank you for you reviews! I didn't expect any! And yes, my problem with paragraphing, thanks for pointing it out, I noticed it too when I looked it up in the list (hehe, wanted to see my first story in action!) ...hope this reads better! Wouldn't want you guys to quit reading now would we? Anything for the readers!
I also changed the first chapter into neater paragraphs... otherwise it may turn of people who begin to read. I know I do.
As for pairings other than Ranma and Akane, I haven't really decided yet...but then again, why would Nabiki be the only one with that particulair magazine?
Now on with the next chapter!
Cupid Inc.
CHAPTER 2 The Attack
On top of a building stood a young woman in a white robe. She was fairly tall, with wavy auburn hair resting on her shoulders. Her keen blue eyes were gazing at the scene that took place below her, on the other side of the river. She just stood there and watched the boy and the girl shout at each other. They were arguing again. The fight ended in the boy being kicked into the sky by the girl. The girl turned around and walked along the river.
She turned around on the top of the building, the fabric of her white robe ruffled. She smiled and snapped her fingers. Out of nowhere, a chart appeared. She grabbed it and began to flick through the papers. After a while she smiled and snapped her fingers twice. The woman disappeared and in her place floated a little pink orb of light. It took off at high speed in the girl's direction.
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"That... that... JERK!"
A schoolbag smashed into a telephone pole, where it left a small dent. Akane picked up the bag and started walking again, still steaming with anger.
Why did he always had to be such a jerk? Kasumi had once tried to soothe her after a fight by telling her Ranma called her names because of his own lack of self-confidence. Recalling that now, Akane snorted. If anyone had too much confidence, it was Ranma. The boy seemed to ooze arrogance with everything he did.
She stopped and picked up a rock from the ground. She looked at it for a moment, trying to imagine it was his head, then threw it in the river with undeserved force. Akane looked up at the fence. Her imagination brought forth an image of Ranma, walking on top of it and shouting: 'Uncute, so way not feminine in every way, big headed tomboy with killer-foodskills!'
She felt a surge of anger coming over her. I'm never gonna look at him again. Something she had vowed to do many times, but this time she was serious. She had had enough. Akane took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm herself a bit, staring hard at the ground. She just didn't understand. Ranma was always so friendly with Shampoo and Ukyo, even with the girls at school! Yet with her he always seemed to be looking for an argument. In the distance, a bell tolled and with a start Akane was shaken out of her thoughts and glanced down at her watch. She'd better get going, if she wanted to be home in time for dinner. Still a bit angry, Akane did a few steps, but then suddenly stopped when she saw that there was something in front of her.
It was a bright pink ball of... what exactly? As Akane peered at the object to try and figure out what it was, she took a small step back as she realized that it was heading her way at high speed.
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Meanwhile, Ranma was soaring through the sky again. What got her panties in a twist this time? He replayed the argument back in his head, but nothing really stood out. It'll be the usual then. Why is she always taking it so hard? You would think that she would be used to it by now. He looked down and saw that he was heading towards Nekohanten. Wow, Akane's really pissed this time, I didn't come this far yesterday.
But then Ranma got worried. Oh, no, now I'm going to have to deal with Shampoo again.. When is she going to understand that I'm not going to marry her?
He braced himself for the landing, crashed through the roof and landed in a seat. In front of him was a steaming bowl of ramen. Apparantly, Shampoo had been expecting him. And as he looked up, he saw Shampoo standing next to his table beaming at him happily.
"Airen come to take Shampoo on date now, yes?" She leaned forward to give him a big and probably breath-taking glomp, when Ranma pushed her aside and headed for the exit, apologizing as he went, "Sorry, I haven't got time for this, I got other stuff to do."
Shampoo looked hurt. "Airen doesn't want free ramen?"
Ranma stopped in his tracks at the word 'free'. He'd never pass on a free meal. He was torn for a moment. Free meal, and be with Shampoo, or no free meal, but also no killer-hug Amazone.
He decided that he could always drop by Ucchan's for a free meal, so he said, rushing out of the restaurant: "I'll have to take a raincheck on that. Bye!"
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The pink orb flew right at her, stopped at just a few inches from her face and went a little back. Akane looked at it in fright. Now that it was close enough, she could see it was glowing and pulsating, like the thing had a heartbeat. It seemed to regard her for a moment, then made a full circle around her, as if it was trying to make sure it had the right person. It came to a full stop in front of her face again.
What on earth is that?
Just when her instinct to run kicked in, the pink orb flew forward and entered Akane's head just above her nose. She let out a terrified scream, before everything went black.
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Ranma was walking alongside the river, heading home and mulling some things over; not something he usually did. Today, it concerned the same thing it did most of the time.
I'd really wish Akane would be nicer to me, like the other are. Not in denial, like Shampoo, or crazy like Kodachi, but more like Ukyo. At least they don't hit me all the time. He jumped up and landed on the fence. He folded his arms behind his head and started walking again.Most of the time, I'm not even doing anything wrong. Okay, I tease her a lot, so?
But the moment he thought that, he knew it wasn't true. Most of the time he didn't want to insult her, but the words just come out. It just seemed like he had a gift for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. 'Foot-in-mouth-syndrome', he personally called it. They would be taking nicely about something and then the syndrome would kick in and he would say just the thing that would piss her off.
And then she's mad again, pulls out her mallet and sends me flying into space.
Suddenly he was pulled out of his thoughts by a scream. He instantly recognized the voice. That was Akane!
Ranma started to run in the direction of the scream. He turned a corner and saw her, lying on the ground. Quickly, he got over to her and dropped down next to her. She was unconscious, yet it seemed as she was just sleeping peacefully, due to her steady breathing.
What happened? Did someone attack her or something?
He looked around, but there was no one in sight, nor anything to indicate that any sort of fighting had occured. Looking back down at the sleeping girl, Ranma shook her gently, trying to wake her up, but she didn't respond. There was nothing else he could do then. He collected her in his arms, jumped up and started to make his way to Dr. Tofu.
Hold on, Akane, Dr. Tofu will help you.
He was too concerned to notice the pink orb leaving Akane's head and flying away.
A/N:
Okay another chapter done! Got anything good to mention? Love it, like it, hate it, burn it on a fire in the backyard? REVIEW and let it all out... share it with the group!
I'll update pretty often, as I already have the beginning of the story finished...and after that, well, we'll just have to see where it takes us!
Till next time,
Ameko
