Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah, I know, I don't own them.buh..

Author's Note:

So, I'm back!

Crowd cheers.

Sorry, sorry and again sorry that it took me so long to update, I've just been really busy. I promise...

Crowd turns away.

Hey wait! I haven't even finished! And I mean it this time!

I, Ameko, promise hereby to update this story frequently until it is done.

There, satisfied? By the way, if it's been too long, read the previous chappies again!

Okay, enough babble from me, let's get on with the STORY!


Cupid Inc.
CHAPTER 5 Showing Initiative

"Jeesh, this job is going to be harder than I thought!"

Mayami was pacing along her office. Since it was only 2 meters wide, she couldn't really do much pacing. "But now I've accepted the job, I have to finish it. Damn, if only I hadn't been so stupid to accomplish Phase 1 before consulting with Madam."

She kicked her desk and instantly regretted it as sharp pain shot through her foot. "If I back out now, Ranma and Akane are destined to be unhappy for the rest of their lives."

Because that was how it worked at Cupid Inc. When a Cupid's hired, he or she gets his or her own colour orb. Like a fingerprint. After planting it in a client's head, you make him or her your own, so to speak. And nobody can take the job over, because they got a different orb. Not many jobs failed at Cupid Inc., how would you like it if someone's unhappiness is resting on your shoulders?

"Okay!" Mayami stopped pacing and sat down behind her desk, "New plan. Manipulating Ranma will be difficult, he has too strong a will. I'll just have to go through Akane!"

She smiled and turned on a small device that was on her desk. Searching. the screen read. Found! The screen shifted to a map of Nerima. A small pink dot on it. In really tiny writing it read: Akane. "Gotcha! Now all I have to do wait until the two were alone together." In the mean time, I'd better brush up my techniques.

Mayami opened a drawer and pulled out a thick volume. In gold lettering it read: 'Cupid for Dummies'. She opened it and started at the first chapter: "How to approach a client"...

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"Bye Akane! See you tomorrow!"

Akane waved at her friends and started walking home. It had been a long time since she'd done that alone. Ranma hadn't been home yet this morning. When she had come down for breakfast her father had hugged her so hard that she hadn't realised it until it was time to leave for school.

"Where's Ranma?" she'd asked.

Nabiki had looked up and answered: "He isn't here. Wasn't this morning." She'd gone back to reading and mumbled to herself: "His bed's unslept too."

Akane had turned red and quickly left. Ranma didn't come home, after I kicked him through the roof. I hope he's okay. Usually when that happens he shows up in a couple of hours. She was pulled out of her thoughts by a familiar voice.

"Akane Tendo, you have come to enlighten me with your presence! Come into my arms!"

Akane let out an aggravated growl. Unknowingly, she'd taken the long way home, which goes past the Kuno Residence.

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"Honey? Will you take out the trash before you leave?"

"Okay, dear!" Mr. Mumoshi picked up the trash with his spare hand and walked through the front door. He walked down the front lawn and dumped the trash outside the fence. He was about to turn left to work, when he noticed the pile of clothes beneath a tree.

"What's this?" he mumbled.

He moved in for a closer look. Suddenly, the pile moved and Mr. Mumoshi jumped back in shock. From within the pile, a black figure wrestled its way out. Mr. Mumoshi pushed his glasses up his nose and primed his eyes at the black figure. That figure had now successfully worked his way out and Mr. Mumoshi realised what it was. Before him stood a little black piglet. It looked a bit lost. When he saw Mr. Mumoshi, his eyes widened and he quickly ran away, very frightened.

Mr. Mumoshi picked up the pile of clothes, looked one last time in the direction the piglet had ran at and walked back into the house to tell his wife the weird tale.

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It was already evening when Akane finally got some time for herself. She went into the dojo and started a kata. Normally this would have calmed her down a bit, but her mind drifted. Ranma's still not home yet. She was getting worried and she didn't like it. Why should I be worried? That baka deserved it, and he can take care of himself perfectly. She wasn't convincing herself though.

Nobody else seemed to miss him all day. They all act like nothing's wrong. Then again she had to admit that it wasn't such a shocker if Ranma didn't show up for school. With his life and everything that came with it, it was hard to believe he even went to school in the first place. Akane sat down on the wooden floor and rested her head in her hands. I hope he's okay. He's never been away this long after I pounded him out.

Suddenly she jumped up and went into a fighting stance. Something had cracked outside. Everyone's out, so who are you?

Quietly, but still on her guard, she moved to the doors. She opened one a little and peeked through it into the dark night. Something moved in the bushes next to the dojo. Akane shouted and jumped to attack. That's when she saw who was in the bushes. She broke off her jump and shouted:

"P-Chan! Where have you been? Come here, cutie!"

The black piglet came running happily out of the bushes and jumped into Akane's inviting arms.

"You look hungry. Let's go inside and I'll find something to eat for you!"

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Along the river a red-haired girl with a pigtail was walking, supporting herself on a stick. She looked beaten, and longing for a goodnight sleep. "Such a tomboy," she mumbled.

I was all the way out of Nerima. I saw the school fly by in a blink! And when I finally landed, it wasn't over. Stupid c... c... cats.

She sat down against the fence and closed her eyes. She was longing for her futon, back home. Then she noticed the sign in front of her and she realised where she was. She quickly got up and walked into the restaurant. Behind the counter, a girl with brown hair and wearing boys clothes, looked up and asked surprised: "Ranchan? I haven't seen you in a while."

Then she saw the desert look in Ranma-chan's eyes. "You're hungry, right sugar? Sit down and I'll make one of my more special okonomiyaki!"

Ranma-chan smiled thankfully and sat down. "Thanks Ucchan. I haven't eaten since yesterday evening. And you know I need food every so often."

Ukyo smiled back and laughed. "Without food, you're not such a big Martial Artist, are you?"

Ranma-chan smirked at her comment, but didn't reply. Wouldn't want to miss out on a free meal. She looked around a bit while Ukyo prepared her okonomiyaki. It wasn't so crowded, just a few people having dinner.

"Hey, Ucchan, it's pretty quiet around here, how come?"

Ukyo looked up from her work. "Oh, that'll have something to do with a visit from Ryoga."

Ranma-chan looked confused. 'What can Pig-Boy do that scares away your customers?'

Ukyo blushed, cleared her throat and tried to say in a casual manner, while focusing on her okonomiyaki: "How's about jumpin' on my counter and claim his never-ending love for me?"

Ranma-chan, who had been leaning on the counter, felt her arms slip away and fell off her chair. When she reappeared, she said, laughing: "Okay, that's pretty weird, but isn't that just entertainment?"

Ukyo now laughed at the memory, "Well, he kinda suddenly realised what he'd done, and was in such a hurry to leave that he blew up my front door with his Bakusai Tenketsu."

Ranma-chan looked around at the entrance, which looked perfectly fine. Ukyo saw her looking and said: "You'd be amazed at how fast the repairmen work in this town. They're probably used to wreckage by now."

Ranma-chan smiled. Then she realised she was still a girl. "Hey, Ucchan! Mind if I use your bathroom? I kind of want to be a guy again."

Ukyo looked up and smiled. 'Sure Ranchan, just up the stairs and to your right.'

Ranma-chan thanked her and headed for the stairs. Upstairs in the bathroom, she stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water. She felt her body transform back into a guy. When Ranma stepped out of the shower and dried off a bit, he felt relieved.It always felt good to be a guy again. Then his stomach let out a groan. Better see if Ucchan's ready with my food!

He glanced in the mirror, to see if he looked as bad as Ukyo had said, but decided she was overreacting.

I don't look that bad. I've looked far worse than this. Still, I just wanna find my futon and sleep 12 hours straight!

He sighed at that thought and then quickly ran downstairs to eat.

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"Open up! Here comes another one!"

Akane held a spoonful of her own brewing in front of P-Chan's mouth. The little piglet backed away, turning green.

"Come on, cutie! It can't be that bad."

Akane put the spoon in her own mouth and tasted her food. Immediately she grabbed a glass of water and poured it into her mouth.

O, man, my mouth's on fire! Maybe I shouldn't have used so much horseradish and vinegar. Why can I never make something that tastes good!

"You don't have to eat this, P-Chan," she said. Akane picked up the plate and walked into the kitchen. While she was doing the dishes, she suddenly heard a noise upstairs. Not again! Who could that be?

She creeped upstairs and waited till she heard the noise again. It came from her room. That's it, whoever's in there, is in big trouble!

She quietly sneaked to her room, tiptoe. Then she slammed the door open, figuring it would probably startle whoever was in her room enough so she could take him or her on.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my room?"

Akane was stunned when she saw Ranma sitting on her desk, also looking stunned. "Er...," was all he managed to get out.

Akane folded her arms and tapped her foot. You'd better talk fast, buddy!

'Er... I don't have my housekey, since you..."Akane gave him a glare, suggesting he didn't finish that sentence, "Okay, I don't have my housekey and your window was the only one unlocked, so...'

"Aha," Akane said.

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"Finally! What took him so long?"

Mayami was, as expected, also in Akane's room. "Now let's do some magic... if it works that is."

She snapped her fingers and desolved into the pink orb. Akane, here I come!

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What more does she want me to say? I'll better go quickly, before she punches me again.

Ranma stepped off the desk and said: "Well, I'd better go then."

When Akane didn't answer, he walked to the door. Fine, be mad. Like I care.

He was almost out of the room, when suddenly, Akane stretched her arm out in front of him. "Don't... go..." she whispered.

Ranma instantly panicked, "Wh...What?"

He nearly jumped back when Akane threw her arms around his neck and asked: "Won't you stay with me?"

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Okay, whoops again. was the only thought that sprang to Mayami's mind.

I planned to make her more assertive, not sultry. Oh, well, I guess it doesn't matter as long as they get along better.

So she just sat back to enjoy the show.

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Akane looked him right in the eye, batting her eyelashes and trying to look as attractive as possible. What? What is she asking me? What's wrong with her? And me?

Ranma felt his cheeks flare, "Um... do you think that's wise?"

Akane looked at him confused, "Don't you want to? Is it me?"

He quickly recovered, "No! It isn't, but you're not... well... you! And I really like to go to bed! I haven't slept in like 2 days!"

She looked disappointed. What's with her and me staying here? Then he saw a strange pink glow in her eyes. Something's really wrong here.

"I'm going now!" he said quickly as he unfolded her arms from around his neck. Then there was a naughty glint in her eyes. She moved towards him and pushed him against the door. Now what?

"Well, if you want to go to bed, you should go," she said slowly, giving him a look he'd never seen from her before, "But then you must allow me to give you a goodnight kiss."

Without waiting for the answer, she moved her head closer to his. WHAT? In Ranma's head, about a dozen alarmbells were ringing. Akane saw him recoil, so she asked with a hurt expression: "You don't mind, do you?"

Before he could even think, from somewhere in his mind he heard a small tink, like something switched on and he heard himself answer softly:"No."

WHAT? WHAT? What the heck am I saying?

Akane smiled and closed her eyes as she moved in for the kiss.


A/N:

I think this is a good place to stop, a nice cliffie!

I will be updating soon, as I have promised it..and I have the most of the chapters already finished. But you see, the problem is, I wrote it on my laptop. Which doesn't have internet. Then there is the computer that has internet, but the floppydrive doesn't work. So I have to copy type EVERYTHING! And I sometimes get a little bored, so sorry!

But this was a nice long one, right? With a good ending?

Do you know the answer to those questions?

Then please review!

Till next time,

Ameko