A/N: As promised, the next addition to the story. My excitement and determination was compounded 100 fold when seeing all the hits on my story in a days time so thanks for your continued support. Similarly, (not at all) ummm... none of these characters are mine... :)
Ladies Ball
Chapter 5
Ranichan
Suddenly, it was time. The moment so many had been waiting for was upon them and the excitement that hung in the air was a tangible fog making the women frenzied.
Nabiki took her place at a podium on the stage dressed in business attire in a black suit complete with a short black skirt. She carried herself in a nonchalant manner, never alluding to her excitement for the coming events.
"Good evening, ladies. Before we get on with the auction, just a short procedural summary. You've all been given numbers. When the gentleman of your choice is announced, you raise your number accompanied with your bid. It's anything goes here at the Tendo dojo, all are welcome to bid; however, you are only allowed to bid on one participant, meaning only that once you've won a bid, you are not allowed to bid on another. I thank you in advance for your generosity and it is with my pleasure that we begin the auction.
We'll start with a seasoned martial artist, one who has been the master of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts for decades. Talented and skilled, standing at a towering two feet, four inches, I present to you, Happosai!" Nabiki announced with relish.
Happosai began confidently strutting down the catwalk, his chest pushed out to give the illusion of a very masculine figure.
"We'll start the bidding at 100 yen."
"B-But? NABIKI! Surely you can get more for me than that!" Happosai whined, his eyes growing large with tears.
"Okay, fifty. Fifty yen anyone?"
"One hundred yen." came the sultry voice of a young woman seated in the back of the dojo.
"Oohh la la! I think we may have a winner!" Happosai cried excitedly.
"One hundred going once, going twice, SOLD to the angry mob in the back!" and with a bang, Happosai was escorted off the stage by Kasumi to the woman who had bidden.
Upon being released to the winner, Happosai was inclined to say "Oh baby!" until the angry mob surrounding the bidder began to stomp him to that of road kill.
"Why you, lecher, going around stealing womens' underwear!" yelled the bidder as she planted her foot on his neck.
"If we could take that outside, that would be great..." Nabiki drawled. "Hmm... got more for him than I thought, I guess. I was willing to give that one away for free," she thought. "Now, I bring you a master of the mysterious. Gifted in the field of magic, I bring you, Gosunkugi!"
Gosunkugi took to the stage shakily, nervous to behold the audience. "Let's start the bidding at... 500 yen."
Crickets could be heard. Women, once eager for the auction, yawned at the mediocre offerings so early in the event.
"One thousand yen."
Eager to close the bidding and get on to the action, Nabiki closed to bid. "Sold to... Mrs. Hikura."
"MOM!" Gosunkugi cried as he was escorted by his mothers side.
"Moving right along, we have in the line up a legendary creature. I present to you... GHOST CAT!"
Mao Mo Lin looked around, searching for the perfect specimen to be his beloved bride.
"Ooooh! Christophe, Christophe, oh my dear, Christophe! Two thousand yen! Two thousand!" Azusa bid running up to the stage.
"Sold! Now please, get off the stage." Nabiki added, shaking her head. "Tsubasa, get out here." Nabiki continued unenthusiastically, she should have put the freaks at the back of the line up and her cash cows in the front.
Tsubasa entered the stage, dressed in a white dress with pink ribbons, needless to say, he caught no one's attention. Well, maybe not no one's.
"My BRIDE! MY BELOVED BRIDE!" Mao Mo Lin gasped clawing at the air before him in hopes of holding his beloved... bride, Tsubasa. "BE MINE!"
"I'M A GUY!" Tsubasa yelled, lifting his frilly white dress to reveal very manly boxers adorned with yellow ducklings.
"I'll take her! One thousand yen!" Mao Mo Lin insisted as he broke free of Azuka's grip to fondle Tsubasa.
"Sold." Nabiki yawned.
xxx
On and on it went and slowly, the number of men awaiting to be sold in the small hallway between the Tendo dojo and the house decreased.
Sentaro went for 3,000 yen to his quietly poised wife, Satsuki.
Kirin went for 7,000 yen to his girlfriend Raichi after she beat a local in bidding.
Shinnosuke went for 2,000 to one of Akane's friends.
Panty Hose Tarou elicited a nice bid of 11,000 yen when three highschoolers put their money together to beat some creepy middle-aged woman. (Poor Panty Hose...)
"A very good friend of mine and healer to us all, Dr. Tofu Ono. We'll start the bidding at 5,000 yen. Do I hear 5,000?"
"5,000," Kasumi smiled from the side of the stage.
"6,000," Cologne bid.
Kasumi shot a glance toward the Chinese matriarch. "7,000."
"What? We could trade ancient cures! 8,000," Cologne reasoned.
"10,000," Kasumi yelled, her usual kind facade faltering.
"Do I hear 11,000? 11,000? 10,000 going once, going twice, SOLD to my lovely sister, Kasumi," Nabiki banged her gavel and Kasumi escorted Tofu off the stage.
Before he was announced, Genma stumbled onto the stage, and shot a very surly glance out into the audience, smiling wryly. He began hamming it up before all the women, making macho poses and blowing kisses.
"... Genma. We'll start the bidding at 1,000 yen," Nabiki shook her head and rolled her eyes. When no bids were made, Genma's pride attacked, she pulled a bucket from nowhere and doused him with water.
Before their eyes, he transformed into a furry panda, equipped with a sign that read, "What'd ya do that for?".
"1,000 yen! My son has always wanted a panda!" came a very excited, very familiar voice from the back.
"Sold! To the lady in the back."
"Oh, how Yotaro has missed you!" she chuckled happily.
"Now, ladies, please be gentle, we can do this in an orderly fashion... what you've all been waiting for... the dapper, the cunning, the perfect picture of masculinity! My father, Soun Tendo!" Nabiki flourished.
"Oh, Nabiki, really you're too kind!" Soun cried... literally.
"Suck it up, Daddy, and look pretty. We'll start the bidding at 3,000 yen!"
"Why was I only one thousand yen?" Genma's sign read.
"3,000 yen!" called Hinako in a very child-like form.
"Because I can sell him for 3,000 yen without turning him into a panda, SOLD." and with the bang of her gavel, Soun was escorted, or supported by Kasumi who led/carried him to Hinako.
xxx
From behind stage, Hiroshi bid his friends goodbye, "Looks like I'm next guys. I'll see you on the other side..." he sang wistfully as he gave Daisuke and Ranma Hi-Fives.
"Average schoolboy, Hiroshi!" came Nabiki's introduction.
As Hiroshi departed, it was evident to Ranma that only a few more participants before he, himself, would be put on the chopping block. All that remained was Daisuke, Kuno, Ryoga, Mousse, Sasuke, Copy Cat Ken and Mikado, and somewhere after Kuno, it would be his turn to be sacrificed. Luckily, however, he knew who would greet him on the other side, but fortunately, he also knew who would win him on the otherside. He was thankful to have Akane, not as the lesser of ... 3 evils, but as a friend and accomplice.
Hiroshi was auctioned for 2,000 yen to Yuka and Sayuri bought Daisuke for a matching bid of 2,000 yen. No doubt, they would be double dating tomorrow.
"Ahh, it is my turn! Alas, I will watch and see whose love for me is greater: Akane Tendo or the lovely pig-tailed girl? Whoever wins me tonight, whoever's determination does not quit before I am theirs, that is who I shall choose. The decision is no longer mine, but their's. But how can I cast aside the other when determination and fervor is not the issue disputed but money! Alas, a paradox. I am back to square one," Kuno recited as his delusions led him to the stage.
Ranma, shook his head knowingly, a small grin playing at his face, little did he know, Akane would never bid on Kuno because Akane was bidding on him and for some reason, this bit of knowledge made butterflies in his stomach flutter excitedly.
"3,000."
"4,000."
"5,000." was heard behind stage.
"Halt, halt! You are neither Akane Tendo or the pig-tailed girl," Kuno interrupted the bidding war that was currently erupting between Mariko and none other than Nabiki. She had stepped down as auctioneer with Kasumi as her proxy, already they were at 12,000 yen, breaking the former record of 11,000 yen for Tarou. "Where are you Akane Tendo, do not be afraid to show your love for me! Manifest your love, pig-tailed girl!" Kuno commanded. "Where are my loves? I see neither!"
"Huh?" Ranma spat, suddenly interested in what was going on, on-stage. "Where's Akane?" he gasped as he looked out into the audience, coursing over familiar faces. One in particular, was not present. "AKANE!" he cried. Without her there, not only would he be fed to the lions, but he'd lose the chance to spend the day with her, something he had been increasingly looking forward to.
"Oh my, sold to my sister Nabiki for a large sum of 14,000 yen," Kasumi announced, her usual composure intact.
Nabiki resumed her place at the podium and waited until all was quiet.
Behind stage, the suspense was killing Ranma.
"And now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you a martial artist skilled in many different techniques, but don't be fooled, ladies. He is also quite the looker and he loves long, passionate walks with those whom he cares for which is why I ask for you to keep your wits about you as you bid on our next eligible bachelor. I present to you, please, keep your seats, Ranma Saotome!" Nabiki announced.
xxx
Akane had been struggling for about an hour. Yelling had done nothing but made her hoarse since she couldn't get past the gag in her mouth.
"Ohhh, she'll pay for this..." Akane mused angrily. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes preparing herself for what she was about to do. It called for deep concentration and focusing her fury into her "attack". Once she found that concentration, she exhaled, pushing her strength outward, against her bonds.
She roared in exertion as the bonds broke away, falling to the ground like ribbons in the wind. She jumped to her feet, ripping away her gag angrily. Suddenly, a single thought crossed her mind, "Ranma!" she gasped and her anger gave way to panic. "Oh no, what if-"
xxx
Back in the dojo, the frenzy Nabiki was gambling on came to be.
"24,000 yen!" Ukyo waged.
"24,500 yen!" Lin Lin and Ran Ran bid in unison. "Anything for sister!"
"25,000 yen! Stop you bidding!" Shampoo yelled as she shot deathly glares at the twins.
"27,000 yen! Oh hohohohhohohoho!" the masked bidder cackled.
"Uhh 30,000 yen!" Ukyo bellowed.
"35,000 yen!" came the masked bidder.
"37,000 yen." Shampoo clamored. "Aiya, is almost at limit! Lin Lin, Ran Ran, you give me you money, we share!" she ordered.
"Anything for sister!" they cried, in the gap between the transaction, the bidding had already jumped to 50,000 yen. Between them all, they had 65,000 yen to offer.
"55,000 yen!" Shampoo declared.
"60!" Ukyo cringed, she had hit her limit at 45,000 yen. She would have to give up Ranma.
"75,000 yen," the masked bidder sang. No matter what the others said, she managed to out bid them by leaps and bounds.
"75,000? Going once..." Nabiki hesitated looking around slowly.
"Shampoo, as much as i hate to do this, if we pool our money, we can last longer and SHARE Ranchan!" Ukyo cried in desperation.
"Is deal! 80,000 yen!" Shampoo called.
"100,000 yen." the masked bidder yawned, fanning herself carelessly.
"Okay. Maybe not." Ukyo gulped. "105,000 yen!"
"125,000 yen," the masked bidder announced, careful to enunciate each syllable.
Yen signs glowed in Nabiki's eyes. This was going better than she hoped. She knew she could never make back all the money she invested in the dojo, but this was still money she'd be receiving in lump some. The possibilities were endless. "125,000 going once. 125,000 going twice-"
On stage, Ranma was visibly nervous. Sweat poured down his face, and tears threatened to spring free from his eyes. He had already bitten his nails down to nubs in anticipation. It was uglier than he thought. At first, Kaori, Ukyo, Shampoo, Lin Lin, Ran Ran, some locals, and Kodachi in a flimsy disguise had been bidding on him but when the price became too steep, it was a screaming match between his fiancees, Kodachi and those annoying twins. Akane was nowhere to be found. Until-
"250,000 yen." Akane breathed.
Silence hung over the room as everyone craned their neck to see her in her beautiful black dress, ever so slightly out of breath.
When it looked as though Kodachi were about to speak, Akane interrupted. "CAN IT, YOU!" she growled as she launched a shoe at Kodachi's face, knocking away her mask.
"250,000 going once."
"I have been upstairs for the last hour struggling in the bonds you put me in just so I couldn't get down here!"
"250,000 going twice."
"I OUGHT TO KILL YOU! Do you know how much trouble I went through in this new dress? And how hard it will be for me to get all those stupid black rose petals out of my room? WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Akane yelled as she advanced on Kodachi.
"SOLD! Ranma to my sister, Akane, for 250,000 yen."
"Do you even realize- wha?" Akane stopped, mid sentence as a relieved Ranma was delivered to her.
"You won, Akane!" Kasumi giggled as she handed Ranma off to Akane.
"Where have you been?" Ranma cried.
"Did you not listen to what I just said? Really, it's your stupid fault!" Akane countered.
"And let's hear it for the happy couple... moving right along," Nabiki continued.
xxx
After much dispute, Ryoga was bought by Ukyo for 12,000 yen when Akari realized she could not afford to go any higher with only her pig farmer salary. :)
Shampoo was forced to buy Mousse by Cologne for 4,000 yen with the phrase, "Come on, it's a steal! A free day of work at the Neko Hanten!"
Sasuke surprisingly went for a whopping 3,000 yen when Kodachi figured she may have some use for him, after all.
Copy Cat Ken, with the gimmick that he can be anyone was brought by some old man looking for a lost love for 3,000 yen.
Lastly, Mikado was purchased by a young schoolgirl for 2,000 yen, whose lips he was denied of taking.
As the guests exited the dojo, many were left unsatisfied with their purchases, others, interested to see what the day would bring.
"Oh, Shampoo, you saved me! You really want to spend the day with me?" Mousse asked wistfully his hands clamped hopefully over hers.
"You no touch me!" she ordered, pulling her hands away.
"What exactly are we doing tomorrow?" Ryoga asked.
"Same thing we do everyday, Ryoga, try to split up Ranma and Akane!" Ukyo shook her head as if dealing with an infant and dragged him away from the dojo.
"Good night to all and good luck with your days! This has been a Nabiki Tendo original!" Nabiki called over the sea of heads exiting the dojo as they disappeared into the night.
"Akane? Thanks for coming through," Ranma said as best he could as his face was currently trapped under Akane's Ole Faithful.
"You're welcome," Akane muttered through gritted teeth, her mallet disappearing as quickly as it came. She tugged at her dress, pulling at any sections that had wrinkled through the course of the evening.
"And uh... you look... nice," Ranma admitted, rubbing his jaw.
"Thanks, Ranma... I guess I'll see you tomorrow," she sighed, trying to appear nonchalant.
"Yea... I guess so," Ranma smiled, his back to her. He retreated to his room, pondering what tomorrow would bring.
xxx
A/N: Sorry it got cheesy/cliche at the end. And I know it was kind of boring to read some parts which is why I tried to summarize the auction rather than write it all out. I hope you recognized some of the characters and all and, you know, enjoyed the chapter :)
I'm currently trying to figure the best way to go about the next chapter. Should I make one chapter and show how each "date" overlaps. or should I make minichapters with each major pairings dates?
Either way, I'll only be illustrating the major dates but ahh well. I hope you enjoyed and will review. I hope to update by the end of this week if free time permits.
We'll see! Until then, sayanara!
