Ah, this chapter illustrates my inability to do romance right, and my at the time seething hatred of Kuno Tatewaki. In my defense, life wasn't too good when I wrote chapter 22, the last part of this chapter. Even so, the character bashing was rather extreme.
This chapter is longer because it incorporates 4 of the original chapters, 19-22. The reason for this is that I started an arc in 19 which, originally, generated a wall of flames and indignant replies up until chapter 22, where I resolved it. Not wanting to deal with that again, Here's the whole bunch in one lump sum.
Also, Another of my original notes that should stay intact: MRE, (Meal Ready to Eat, Meal Rejected by Ethiopians.) A military staple that consists of freaze dried or otherwise preserved foods. Generally used if you're in a hurry or on a battlefield where good food isn't available. Generally agreed by military I've talked to as tasting like overly damp cardboard.
Now, On with the show!
Chapter 9, Homecomings and consequences.
Ranma walked into the white dragon for the first time in three days. Vermillion's patrol schedule hadn't magically changed due to her "Singing Career" and she hadn't really had time to stop at the dragon for a good meal, usually just grabbing a MRE and running. She had also been in female form for the entirety of the last three days, as it was rather pointless to change back just to sit in a Cockpit for four hours and then come home and crash.
As Ranma looked around the dragon, she noticed something rather odd. That being three men, each with strangely strong chi signatures, wearing duplicates of Ryoga's old clothes. The three men were busily running from table to table, taking and filling orders.
Shrugging, Ranma walked up to the register, where one of the men was taking orders. "Hey, where's Minmei?"
The man looked up. "Oh, Hello. Welcome to the white dragon. Miss Minmei's coming on shift in about 10 minutes."
Ranma blinked. 'Miss Minmei?' but shrugged it off. "Okay. Can I get a couple extra large orders of Ramen and a glass of Coke?"
The man nodded. "Coming right up. Oh, Miss Minmei says we should know all of our customers by name. Something about having a friendly atmosphere. What's your name?"
Ranma looked dubious, she was wearing a name tag after all but shrugged again. "I'm Ranma Saotome. Lead of Vermilion squadron. Funny, with that pageant thing and Minmei's new CD coming out, I woulda thought everyone'd know me."
"Ranma Saotome? The person who won the Miss Macross Pageant?" The man said, surprised.
Ranma nodded. "Yeah."
The man's face split into a bright smile as he put out a hand. "I'm Brun Hibiki, nice to meet you."
Ranma returned the western gesture of greeting. She never really got the point of it but whatever works right? "Hibiki? Are you related to Ryoga?"
Brun nodded. "He's my cousin."
That explained the rather odd dress of the three men. A moment later, a second man walked up, carrying Ranma's order. "Here you go." He said, setting it on the counter.
Ranma gratefully accepted the meal and walked to a table.
Brun and Reko called Kunda into the back room.
Brun started the conversation. "This job is great!"
Reko nodded. "We get to work with Miss Minmei. Her singing is..."
Kunda nodded and then continued. "Yeah, and that other person from the pageant just walked in, Ranma Saotome, she ordered a lot of food though."
"Really?" Reko asked. "Ranma Saotome too?"
The other two nodded.
"So, is it true that she can turn into a male?" Reko asked.
Brun shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't ask her. I know how to find out though." Saying that, he picked up a kettle full of warm water that had been sitting on the stove.
The other two nodded and they walked back out.
HR.
Ranma enthusiastically attacked her ramen in a corner booth. She was really hungry after those few days of eating nothing but MRE rations. She was rather suddenly interrupted by one of the Waiters, Brun he had introduced himself as, tripping and splashing her with a kettle of hot water.
Ranma resumed his male form and loosened off the straps of his clothes. "Thanks, Most of the time that works the other way around. I like being a warm water magnet."
Brun just looked confused. "That...is really interesting."
Ranma started laughing. ""Interesting," he says. Well, thanks anyways. I finished that back up thing with Minmei today so..."
Ignoring Brun, who was staring at him in fascination, Ranma continued eating his meal.
HR.
Lin Minmei and Rick Hunter walked down a street near the center of Macross city. "Hey Rick?" Minmei said, looking up at her boyfriend.
"Yeah?" Rick said, still walking towards the dragon, where the two were going to get lunch.
"I was wondering. We're apparently really close to earth now and I thought maybe when we get there, you'd fly me home." Minmei asked, hopefully.
Rick pondered for a second. "I think I should head home first. My family'll kill me if I don't. Why don't you ask Ranma or Roy? Ranma lives around there and Roy doesn't really have anywhere to go."
Minmei looked disappointed for a second but then nodded. "Thanks Rick. I think I'll do that."
HR.
Lisa Hayes sat at the window of her quarters, looking out at the small, but steadily growing, earth, now clearly visible. She at once was happy and sad at the sight. The Macross was going back home and she had helped in getting it there; on the other hand, she'd have to deal with her father again and... She banished the last thought from her mind. She did not feel anything for Captain Saotome. nope, not a thing. (1)
HR.
Captain Henry Gloval looked at the massive pile of leave requests on his desk and sighed. It seemed that everyone and his brother wanted to go on leave when the SDF-1 reached earth. Well, the pilots would definitely be approved, so would the infantry and destroid pilots. He was still having reservations about letting the engineers and command staff go.
HR.
Ranma walked down one of the Macross' main streets. His eye twitched as he caught sight of a picture in a window. Turning, he looked right at it and the twitch got worse. "Minmei Album Two, with back ups from Miss Macross, Ranma Saotome." Ranma groaned. The picture showed Minmei, with a Mic in her hand. in the background, Ranma stood, wearing the Chinese dress from the pageant. Ranma had wondered why Minmei had wanted them to pose for that shot.
Minmei saw Ranma walking down the street. "Hey Ranma!" She yelled, running after the pigtailed pilot.
Ranma turned his head and noticed Minmei. "Hi Minmei, what's up?" He was still irritated with the poster he had seen a few minutes ago but Minmei was one of those people that it was hard to stay mad at.
"I was wondering if you could do something for me." Minmei asked, looking at Ranma, pleading.
"If it doesn't involve my girl form, I'll consider it." Ranma said, cautiously.
Minmei smiled. "It doesn't. You see, Rick says he is going to America to see his family when we get back to earth and can't take me home...so I was wondering if you could. You live in Japan right?"
Ranma nodded. "Well, if that's all, I guess that's alright."
Minmei smiled hugely. "Thanks Ranma! I appreciate it. My mother makes this awesome shrimp tempura..."
Ranma grinned. "Well, how could I say no to free food?"
Minmei laughed.
HR.
Ryoga Hibiki frowned down at his request for leave. Captain Gloval had apparently not granted it. He wouldn't be able to go back to Nerima and see Akane...no, he would never be able to see Akane again but at least he could have visited Akari. His shoulders slumped and a vague teal and black depression aura flared around him. "Man, My life sucks." Then he had an idea. "I'll go bug Ranma."
HR.
A Pigtailed Martial Artist/Pilot sneezed violently, startling Minmei.
"Are you getting sick, Ranma?" Minmei asked, concerned.
Ranma shrugged. "I don't usually get sick. Maybe someone's talking about me."
Minmei laughed. "You're superstitious aren't you?"
"Well, with a life like mine, being superstitious is a good idea. It keeps me out of some trouble."
Minmei started giggling hysterically.
HR.
The next two days passed quickly as the Macross approached the earth. It made planet fall in the Atlantic Ocean and the crew prepared for shore leave.
Ranma was packing up all of his stuff. there wasn't really much left, as most of his pack had been full of food supplies packed by Kasumi, but he still had some stuff. A knock at his door interrupted his packing. "Come in!" He called as he put one of his Chinese shirts in the pack.
Minmei walked in."Come on Ranma. Let's go!" Her excitement was evident.
"Just a few minutes Minmei. I gotta get all my stuff." Ranma responded, a slight tone of laughter in his voice. Picking up the pack and zipping it up, Ranma slung it over his shoulder. "Alright, let's go." He said, as he walked for the door. Minmei followed.
HR.
As Ranma and Minmei walked on to the launch deck, Ranma noticed Captain Gloval and Commander Hayes getting onto a transport. "I wonder where they're going." He muttered, apparently loud enough for Commander Hayes to hear.
"We're going to Antarctica base for debriefing Saotome. Not that it's any of your business." Lisa said, laughing slightly.
"Sorry Commander, I didn't mean for you to hear that." Ranma mumbled as he led Minmei to a two-seater VF-1D training aircraft. "C'mon. I requisitioned this for us. It's faster than a normal transport and I can land anywhere.
Minmei grinned. "That's so cool. I've always wanted to ride one of these."
Ranma laughed as he helped Minmei into the trainee cockpit and strapped her in. "We won't be flying that high so you don't need a flight suit. Just don't touch the controls and just talk if you want to. I'm leaving the intercom open." Ranma sealed the Cockpit and hopped into the Trainer one. "You ready Minmei?" He asked, as he powered up the Veritech.
"Yep." Minmei responded, only slightly nervous.
Deciding to spare the civilian the shock of a Cat shot, Ranma switched the Veritech to Guardian mode and used VTOL to get it off the ground. Flying out of the Launch bay, Ranma switched back to fighter and turned up the thrusters for the flight.
Minmei gasped as she saw the deck of the SDF-1 recede beneath her. "This is so cool." She breathed as the Veritech accelerated toward land.
Ranma grinned from his seat in the rear cockpit. "Isn't it though?"
HR.
The Lin family was interrupted during their lunch by a roaring sound coming from the front yard. Mr. Lin looked up. "What the..."
Lin Kyle, who was staying at the Lin family home for the next little while, spoke up. "That sounded like a jet engine."
Mrs. Lin blinked. "A jet engine? Why would." Suddenly a knock came on the door.
HR.
Ranma landed the training Veritech on the street in front of the Lin family home.
"Ranma, are you sure this is legal?" Minmei questioned, doubtfully.
Ranma laughed. "What are they gunna do? Tow me?" He said, as he climbed ut of the cockpit and jumped down to the ground. As he was helping Minmei out of the other cockpit, it started to rain.
"Yep, I'm back on earth alright." she said, annoyed. Pulling on the strings of her flight suit, she scowled at Minmei, who was laughing her head off.
"Sorry Ranma, You said you were a water magnet but..." Minmei trailed off, still laughing faintly.
Ranma just grimaced. "Let's get you inside. Maybe I can get some hot water and an umbrella."
Minmei nodded as she walked up and knocked on the door.
Mrs. Lin opened the door to see two people. There was a rather short redheaded girl wearing some sort of military uniform and... "Minmei!" She hugged her daughter. "The U.N. Spacy said you were dead. Are you alright?"
Mr. Lin and Kyle ran into the living room, hearing Mrs. Lin's shout. "Minmei. You're home!" Mr. Lin said, hugging his daughter. Then the three noticed the short redhead, leaning against the door casually.
"Who's this Minmei? She's cute." Kyle said.
Ranma's eye twitched slightly.
"Oh, that's my friend Ranma. She's a pilot in the RDF." Minmei said, seemingly missing Kyle's last comment.
Kyle grinned. "A pilot?" he walked over and grabbed Ranma's hand. "She's WAY too cute to be a pilot. You've gotta be kidding me."
Ranma's eye twitch got worse. "Let me go." She said, in a tightly controlled voice.
Kyle grinned. "Nah, don't be like that."
Minmei knew what was coming. Her cousin Kyle had always been too pushy with women and in this case... She began to laugh.
"Let me go or I will hurt you." Ranma said, grinding her teeth slightly.
Kyle kept the stupid grin on his face. "Now, come on. Don't be like tha..." He was cut off as Ranma's right foot found his chest and propelled him into the rear wall. Everyone in the room could have sworn that they heard, "I...Fight on..." Before Kyle collapsed into unconsciousness.
Mr. and Mrs. Lin blinked. "Well, yes. Do you want some tea Minmei?" Mrs. Lin asked, causing her husband, Minmei and Ranma to face fault.
"You wouldn't happen to know a girl named Kasumi, would you?" Ranma asked, deadpan.
HR.
As the four still conscious people in the Lin house hold sat down for tea, Ranma spoke up. "Can I please have some hot water?"
Minmei blinked. "Ranma, Do you really want to do that here? It could freak my parents out pretty bad."
Ranma shrugged. "Well, I'd rather go see my family in normal form. Anyways, they're gunna find out if they ever visit you on the SDF-1."
Mr. and Mrs. Lin were confused but Mrs. Lin had brought a kettle of hot water for the strange redheaded girl.
Ranma thanked the older woman before pouring some of the water over her head and resuming his normal form.
The two elder Lins blinked. "Um...how..." Mr. Lin said, confused.
"So that's why she kicked Kyle." Mrs. Lin said, understanding.
Ranma shrugged. "Well, the rain's stopped and I should get going to my own family. I'll pick you up later Minmei."
Minmei nodded as the pigtailed pilot walked out of the Lin house and got into his Veritech. He did not hear the storm of questions directed at Minmei, nor did he hear the family argument about her going back to the Macross.
HR.
Akane sat on her bed, glaring hatefully at the ring on her right ring finger. Why had her father done this to her. Just because Ranma was dead, why had he engaged her to someone else. Especially HIM. Why did she have to marry HIM. She continued glaring at the wedding band on her finger. "Oh, Ranma, Why did you have to go?" A single tear fell from her eye to land on the floor. Sighing, Akane Kuno got up to go and cook some dinner for her husband. Maybe some Miso soup.
Akane was interrupted from her train of thought on how best to poison Tatewaki Kuno by a call of "Akane!" From the front yard of the Tendo house.
'That voice...' She thought. 'It couldn't be...could it?'
She ran to the front door to see some sort of gigantic mecha standing in the center of the front yard, with, "Ranma!" climbing out of the cockpit.
At Akane's shout, Ranma looked over to see her, Smiling, at the front door. Hopping off of the Veritech, he ran to meet her. "Akane! I've missed you so much, I'm sorry I went away for so long. I..." He trailed off as he saw Akane's downcast expression. "What's the matter Akane? Did I do somethin stupid or something?" He asked, worriedly.
Akane's voice came out with a slight tremble. "I...I'm sorry Ranma...I couldn't stop them."
"What do you mean Akane?" Ranma asked, concern in his voice.
Ranma and Akane's tender moment was interrupted by a voice. "Ah! The sorcerer returns. It is too late. I have defeated you. I have married Akane Tendo and when I find the pigtailed girl, I shall have her as well."
Ranma spun to see Tatewaki Kuno, standing with his Bokken in one hand. "What do you mean you're married to Akane?" Ranma said, disbelieving.
Akane sighed. "Daddy made an arrangement with Kuno's father...I couldn't do anything about it. I'm sorry Ranma, but I didn't really want to deal with anything during the last few months, and I thought you were dead, and..." She held up her hand, displaying the wedding ring.
Ranma's eyes widened. "No. No WAY!" His battle aura blazed around him. "I...I fought for too damned long to get back home." His voice cracked. He normally would never be able to say this so clearly and confidently, however seeing Akane slip from his grasp, even if he'd never admitted to wanting to be with her, spurred him on. "I did it all to get back to you Akane..."
Akane began to cry. Kuno exploded in fury. "Foul Sorcerer. You will pay for upsetting the fierce tigress Akane!" he charged at Ranma.
In a fit of rage, Ranma flung a Moko-Takabisha at Kuno, sending him smashing into the Dojo's outer wall. This noise drew the tendos and Ranma's own family out of the house.
Ranma, seeing Mr. Tendo, walked up and grabbed him by the front of the shirt. "Why...why did you..." he stopped, dropping Mr Tendo when he realized what he was doing. Everyone around heard him chanting. "Protect the weak, do not hurt them."
Nodoka, who was at the Tendos with her husband, walked up behind Ranma. "Son, it's not manly to lose control like that."
Ranma spun. "Shut up." the venom in his voice sent everyone back several feet. He looked back to Mr. Tendo. "Can you dissolve the agreement with the Kunos?" he asked, coldly. He was using all of the soul of ice to keep himself under control after his last two outbursts.
Mr. Tendo shook his head. "I'm sorry Ranma. I made a contract and it was notarized. Also, Akane and the Kuno boy are married now so..." The old man trailed off, shaking his head and beginning to wheep copiously.
Ranma nodded, still struggling to keep his emotions under control. "I see. There's nothin for me here anymore. I...I'm going back home to the ship."
Nabiki spoke up. "What ship, Saotome?"
Ranma turned around, figuring that he would tell the Tendos and his parents what he was doing before he left. "I'm a pilot for the RDF. The ship is a battle fortress, the SDF-1." He turned back around, climbing into his Veritech and sealing the Canopy. The Dojo residents watched in astonishment as Ranma expertly piloted the Veritech up into the air and off into the distance. Akane sat on the ground, crying and Kuno still lay unconscious against a wall.
HR.
Ranma flew the VF-1D Veritech, barely aware of the world around him. 'How could they do that to me? Pop, I could expect it from, he's a moron. Mr tendo... How could Mom do this. Why didn't Akane fight it more? Wait, I can't blame Akane. Her father probably started his "Oh, poor me" routine..KUNO. I will come back and kill him one day...'
Ranma's thoughts came to an abrupt end as he realized that he had over flown the Lin household. Turning back, he landed in the front yard, popped the canopy and walked towards the house. Almost at the door, he heard the shouting.
"...But I have to go back!" Minmei's voice, angry and with signs that she had been crying.
"I don't care. You're staying here. It's way too dangerous up there for a civilian." Mr Lin's voice, sounding even more angry, but with a tinge of worry.
Ranma didn't bother knocking, slamming open the door. The shouting match was rudely interrupted. "Ranma?" Minmei said, noticing the blank look on Ranma's face and the tears that had left glistening streaks on his cheeks.
"C'mon Minmei." Ranma said, in an emotionless voice.
Mr. Lin walked up to Ranma. "My daughter isn't going anywhere."
Ranma's emotionless face cracked, revealing a mixture of anger and grief that confused everyone in the room. "Look, the captain ordered me, when he authorized me to take Minmei to see you, to return WITH her onboard and unharmed. If you stop me from completing my orders, I will flatten you."
Mr. Lin backed off, fear evident in his voice. "A...alright. I'm reporting this incident to your superiors though."
Minmei walked out behind Ranma, stunned. 'What was wrong with him?' This was far different from how he usually acted. "Ranma, what's wrong?"
Ranma turned his head and glared at Minmei, before his face softened slightly. "I'm sorry Minmei, Just don't ask, alright?" He continued walking towards the Veritech, quickly followed by Minmei.
HR.
The flight back to the SDF-1 was strangely devoid of speech. Minmei only heard the occasional mutter from Ranma about flight conditions. Trying to start a conversation, she spoke up. "So, how was your visit with your family and girlfriend?" Minmei could have said something less tactful at that moment, but this author can't think of it.
Ranma's back stiffened. "I said, don't talk about it." he snapped, a hint of a snarl in his voice. Minmei shrunk back in her seat, slightly scared now. At least Ranma had gotten her out of that argument with her parents.
HR.
Lisa Hayes and Henry Gloval sat inside the transport, as it made its way back to the Macross.
"I can't believe the UEG would do this!" Lisa said, angrily.
Gloval nodded. "Yes, I don't think we even can do what they ordered us to. We can't even disembark the Civilians."
Lisa nodded. "So, are you going to follow orders?"
Gloval grinned wryly. "Why Commander. That sounds like you're considering mutiny."
Lisa blinked. "You mean you're going to..."
Gloval nodded. "I'm going to send out a signal to any government that will listen. We are going to get those civilians off the ship."
Lisa smiled. "I'm not going to stop you sir." The transport was now approaching the Macross, followed by a VF-1D that was moving like a bullet. It flew right past the transport, crashing down on the landing deck and creating a furrow in the flooring.
"What the hell?" Gloval muttered, noticing the furrow in the deck floor. "That looks like the machine Captain Saotome requisitioned this morning."
"Saotome? I wonder what's got him in such a hurry." Lisa muttered, looking at the pigtailed pilot who had just exited the Veritech and was running for the door.
As the transport landed, Hayes and Gloval got out and walked over to the Veritech, seeing Lin Minmei, still belted into the forward cockpit. Popping it and getting her out, Lisa asked. "Where did Captain Saotome go?"
Minmei shook her head, shakily. The landing had rattled her quite a bit. "I...I don't know. Something that happened in his visit home must have upset him...he...I've never seen him like that."
Lisa and Captain Gloval exchanged troubled glances. "I'm putting him on reprimand for the damage to the bay floor. I don't care what happened to him, this is going too far." Gloval said, looking at the now very large and visible gouge.
Lisa just shrugged. "I'm going to see what's wrong with him. I'll tell him about the reprimand."
HR.
Ranma ran through the corridors and streets of the Macross, not caring where he would end up. Through sheer blind luck, he found himself in front of the Pilot's quarters block. Running inside and up to his room, he slumped on his bed and started to sob. 'Screw Pop's men don't cry bull shit.' He thought, as he curled up on the bed. 'All I went through, all we went through, Herb, those stupid Amazons, I even killed saffron myself for her and...' He buried his head in his pillow and started shaking.
About 5 minutes later, a knock came at his door. "Get lost!" He shouted, throwing a random object at the door. He realized too late that the object he had thrown was a picture of Akane. It shattered as it bounced off of the door and hit the ground.
"Look Saotome, I don't care what's wrong with you. I'm coming in there." Lisa's muffled voice came through the door.
Ranma reluctantly got off of his bed, walked over and unlocked the door, stepping over the shattered frame of the photo.
Lisa backed off in shock as she saw Ranma's face. His eyes were red and puffy, there were clear tear track marks going down the sides of his face and his lip was trembling. "Saotome?"
Ranma just growled. "What do you want, commander?" It was clear to Lisa that Ranma was attempting to get control of himself and she decided not to tell him about Captain Gloval's reprimand yet.
"I just came to see what's wrong. You tore a pretty large hole in the landing bay floor when you landed."
Ranma sighed. "I might as well tell someone. Come on in. Maybe it'll make it easier to deal with."
Lisa walked into Ranma's room, noticing the broken picture of an attractive Blue-black haired girl. there was a crack in the glass right over her smiling face.
She picked the picture up, brushing the shards off of it. "Your girlfriend Saotome?" She asked, studying the picture more closely.
"Not anymore..." Ranma said, trailing off. "Her father arranged a marriage for her while I was gone. She couldn't do anything about it."
Lisa winced. "That..." She trailed off.
"I...I worked so hard just to get back here and see her again." Ranma said, Softly
Lisa put her hand on his shoulder. "If it helps. I understand." Ranma shrugged the hand off of his shoulder roughly.
"Do you? I risked my life dozens of times to save her, and she did the same for me. Even when we wouldn't admit it, we lik... loved each other." Ranma laughed bitterly. "I finally get up the courage to admit it after it's too late."
Lisa shook her head. "Look Saotome. Aren't you the guy who dragged me out of Mars base, practically kicking and screaming?"
Ranma laughed slightly. "Kicking and screaming? Try cursing and swearing." He looked down at the bed. "But that...that was different."
Lisa smacked Ranma in the side of the head, causing him to jerk violently. "How Saotome? How was that different? Now straighten up and move on with your life. After all, that's what I did."
Ranma looked up at Lisa, surprised. "Thanks commander....Lisa, I needed that."
Lisa grinned at Ranma. "Any time Saoto...Ranma. Just don't start doing that again." Lisa walked out of the room, crushing some of the remaining glass from Akane's picture with her foot.
HR.
Ryoga Hibiki walked out into the Launch bay and dropped his jaw. There was a HUGE gash in the deck, with a VF-1D sitting at the end of it. "What the hell?"
One of the technicians ran up to him. "Mr. Hibiki! Captain Saotome came in at high speed and crashed his Veritech. We've been trying to fix the damage for the last two hours."
Ryoga's eye twitched, and for the first time since a few days after he had arrived in Nerima, He screamed "RANMA! This is all your fault!" and meant it.
Growling, Ryoga went searching for Saotome blood.
HR.
Ranma sneezed as he left his room, dropping his Keycard on the ground. Cursing, he picked it up and swiped it through the slot, locking the door. Turning and walking down the hall, he thought of going to apologize to Minmei for how he had been acting recently.
HR.
Minmei had been back for a few hours now and had calmed down from both her family argument and her fear from the return flight. Seeing Ranma entering the dragon, she spoke up. "Hi Ranma... How are you doing?"
Ranma gave Minmei a sheepish look. "I'm sorry for taking you from your family like that. I was just a bit angry. As for the rough landing, I'm really sorry 'bout that."
Minmei smiled. "Aw, don't worry about taking me from my family. Kyle was getting this crazy idea about me taking him back with me. As for the landing... I think I have a way for you to make it up to me."
Ranma gulped.
HR.
Ryoga stomped into the White Dragon, looking for Ranma. He stopped in shock as he found Ranma... and started laughing. "Ranma, what are you doing wearing that?"
Ranma, in female form, frowned at Ryoga as she continued waiting tables. "Me and my big mouth." She muttered, going from table to table. She was wearing one of Minmei's standard waitressing outfits and doing her old Nekohanten routine of balancing orders on both arms and her head. She was a big hit with the customers, including Roy and the Skull, who were sitting in the corner laughing they're heads off.
Ryoga sweat dropped. "I was going to attack you... but I assume this is a bad time?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah, if you attack me now, Minmei'll kill you." Most of her depression over Akane was gone or at least suppressed by the constant activity.
Ryoga gulped. "Minmei, angry with me." he shuddered. Minmei was like Kasumi. If she was angry with you, you were the scum of the earth. "Oh well, Can I get an extra large Ramen and some water?"
Ranma nodded, taking an order form out of her pocket with her plate free left hand and writing the order down with a pencil clenched in her teeth. Spitting the pencil out, she said, "Coming right up."
Minmei grinned from her position at the back of the Restaurant. When Lisa had asked her to keep Ranma busy, she somehow doubted this was what she had meant. It did work though.
HR.
Ryoga stood outside the White dragon, waiting for Ranma to get off shift. After all, he didn't want to blow up the best Ramen restaurant in the city did he?
Ranma walked out of the dragon, still in female form but wearing her RDF uniform. "Man, that was almost as bad as the Ol' Ghoul's training." She muttered, sighing tiredly.
"Ranma!" Ryoga yelled, jumping out of the shadows.
Ranma sighed again. "Not right now, P-chan. I just wanna go to bed."
Ryoga straightened out of his combat stance. "Alright."
Ranma blinked. "Alright? Ryoga are you sick?"
Ryoga shook his head. "I heard what happened with Akane, Ranma. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
Ranma was totally confused now. "You're...what? Ryoga, are you sure you're alright?"
Ryoga sighed. "Ranma, I don't really hate you as much as I say I do. I used you as training. If it wasn't for me, you and Akane might have..." He stopped, looking ashamed. "I owe you for this..."
Ranma gawked. "You don't really hate me? You've been attacking me for three years and you don't really hate me?" Her eye was starting to twitch. "You used me for training?"
Ryoga stepped back, waving his arms frantically. "No, for some of that time I really did hate you. You gave me the curse and I was pissed at you for missing the man to man fight.. And you had Akane." he stopped as he saw Ranma, blue aura glowing around her body, and charging at him.
"RYOGA HIBIKI,. PREPARE TO DIE!"
Ryoga gulped and got into a defensive stance. 'This could hurt a bit.'
HR.
Ranma finished her revenge against Ryoga, panting. He lay, almost unconscious, with bruises all over his body.
"That felt good..." Ranma said, a grin on her face. Turning around she looked at Ryoga. "But it was wrong. I'm sorry for using you to vent, Ryoga."
Ryoga weakly raised a hand. "This wasn't as bad as the Bakusai Tenketsu training." He said, with a chuckling cough.
Ranma began to laugh. "You know what's funny?"
Ryoga shook his head, wincing at the pain.
"Neither of us got her in the end, you know?" Ranma said, only slightly depressed. "And the kicker is, the one who did get her was Kuno."
Ryoga nodded. "Well, we shoulda known. It was Nerima."
The two rivals sat in the middle of the street in front of the White Dragon, leaning against each other and trading small bits of conversation for the next thirty minutes.
After a while, the P.A. went off. "Will Ranma Saotome please report to the bridge. That's Ranma Saotome."
Ranma blinked. "Well, See ya later Ryoga. Do ya need any help getting to the Infirmary?" The badly beaten lost boy just waved in reply.
Ranma walked out of the lift onto the bridge to see Captain Gloval, sitting in his command chair. "Ah, Captain Saotome, can I talk to you in my office?"
Ranma shrugged and followed the Captain into his office. "So, you wanted to see me sir?"
Captain Gloval nodded. "I wanted to talk to you about two things. First of all, did you know that you did several thousand dollars worth of damage to the Launch deck today?"
Ranma scratched the back of his head. "Erm, no?"
Gloval scowled at Ranma. "Captain, this ship takes time to repair. If that had happened in space, one of our catapults would be disabled and it would take us twice as long to launch fighters. I was thinking of throwing you into the brig for that stunt but I decided not to. Do not do that again. Understood?"
Ranma nodded mutely.
"Now for the second thing. Do you still have that contract that you won at the Miss Macross pageant? The one for a movie deal when we got back to earth?"
Ranma blinked. He had forgotten about that contract but he still had it, tucked into the pocket of his flight suit. He pulled it out and handed it to Gloval. "Here sir."
Gloval looked it over, "Now, this request is going to seem odd but..."
HR.
Roy Fokker walked into the White dragon, looking puzzled. The ship's fighter squadrons had been given a few weeks off while the SDF-1 was resupplied and refitted to go back into space. "I wonder what the kid called us here for." He muttered, as he noticed Ranma talking animatedly to Minmei at the front of the room.
Rick hunter shrugged. "You've got me, captain. We don't really have anything else to do though so we may as well find out."
Max sterling, who had come in behind the two Skull pilots with Ben Dixon, broke in. "I heard it has something to do with what he was called down to see the captain about earlier."
Roy shrugged, looking around. The Restaurant was filled with the people of Vermillion and Skull squadrons, as well as a few of the civilians who knew Ranma, Lisa and the main bridge crew and one of the flight deck engineering teams, lead by Ryoga Hibiki.
Ranma walked up to a Mic that had been set up at the front of the restaurant. Remembering a joke he had heard from Nabiki one time, he started speaking. "I suppose you all would like to know why I called you here today." He grinned sheepishly.
Some light laughter rippled through the Restaurant before Lisa yelled, "Get on with it, Ranma."
Ranma grinned nervously. "Well, Captain Gloval asked me to use that Movie recording contract I got at the Miss Macross competition to make a record of what's happened to the SDF-1 since we left earth, sorta as a way to tell all of earth's governments what's happened to us. My only problem is that I don't have a clue how to make a movie. Anyone here want to help?"
The room fell silent for a second and then everyone spoke at once. "I will."
Ranma sweat dropped. "Well, that's good."
Roy spoke up next. "Sure kid, you helped us out enough right?"
Most of the audience nodded in agreement. Ranma grinned. "Well, thanks guys. Let's get started."
HR.
As Ranma left the Dragon after the first planning meeting for the movie, Roy Fokker signaled for the rest of the people to stay.
"Alright. Now, we can get down to it." He said, confusing most of the people in the room. "The kid never said anything about a name for the movie."
The crowd started to murmur and Rick hunter spoke up. "Howbout "Little White Dragon." He suggested, and after getting a few strange looks, gestured around to the rest of the restaurant.
Several people raised hands in agreement but Roy was shaking his head. "No, I don't think so. Any other ideas?"
Ryoga put his hand up. "Wild horse 1?"
Roy blinked. "What?"
Ryoga continued. "Well, Ranma's name translated into English is "Wild horse." and he's the guy who started this, Not to mention that he's the leader of a squadron."
Roy grinned. "Good idea Hibiki. Any objections?"
The crowd cheered loudly. Roy nodded. "Well, I guess that's my answer."
HR.
Ranma walked into the launch bay to take a look at his VF-1R. He wasn't going to fly it in combat for a while and he was missing flying. He stopped cold as he caught sight of the plane. "What the..."
Ranma's Veritech was sitting in it's normal off line spot, looking perfectly normal. The only problem was the squadron flash painted on the tail. Instead of the Blue arrow head and writing of "Vermillion 1," There was a red circle with a picture of a rearing horse in black. The words "Wild Horse 1" Were written in white.
Ranma looked over at Ryoga, working in a repair bay down the line. "Hey Ryoga!" He yelled, sounding slightly aggravated.
Ryoga poked his head out of the repair bay. "Yeah?"
"What's the deal with the new squadron flash on my plane?" Ranma asked, pointing at the design.
Ryoga shrugged. "Captain Fokker asked me to do it. The captain approved the squadron name change so..." He trailed off as he saw Ranma's eye twitch.
"Name change?" Ranma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, all of Vermillion got this flash. Orders from Captain Gloval and Captain Fokker. I think it's based off of that Movie you're supposed to be making. We named it last night."
Ranma groaned. "Alright, thanks Ryoga, but don't do any more work on my plane without asking first okay?"
Ryoga shrugged. "Sure thing Ranma. I gotta get back to work here."
Ranma walked out of the Launch bay, grumbling about Captains, both Naval and Air force.
HR.
Lisa Hayes walked through a corridor, a determined look on her face. 'I'm not going to take no for an answer.' She thought, before sighing. 'I can't believe I'm doing this.' She stopped at the door of one Captain Ranma Saotome and knocked.
"Just a second!" Came a voice from inside. A moment later the door opened to reveal Ranma in a red Chinese shirt and black pants. "Lisa?" He asked, puzzled.
"Erm..Hi Ranma. I know this isn't usually the way this is done, but do you want to come to the dragon for dinner?"
Ranma blinked. "Are you?"
Lisa cut him off. "Yes Ranma. I'm asking you out for dinner. You got a problem with that?" Her tone seemed to be daring him to say yes.
Ranma backed off hastily. "Erm...no. Not really. You just surprised me, that's all." He grinned slightly. "Well, I guess I should expect something like that from a tombo..." he stopped, a slight look of hurt in his eye. "Erm...yeah. Just a minute."
Lisa was just about to swat Ranma in the side of the head for calling her a tomboy when she noticed the look in his eyes. Not commenting, she waited until he had grabbed his wallet off of his bedside table and walked out.
"C'mon. I'm buying at least." Ranma said, as the two RDF officers walked towards the White Dragon.
HR.
Lin Minmei noticed the couple entering the dragon as she waited tables. Brun, Reko and Kunda had had to take the night off for some reason and she was back running the whole place. Walking over to the table that Ranma and Lisa had sat at, she asked. "What can I get you."
Ranma responded. "My usual for me and a medium Ramen for Lisa." He looked over, seeing Lisa's nod.
Minmei took the order, as well as taking note of the first name use by the pigtailed martial artist. The second she turned around, a big grin spread across her face. 'Wait until Sammy and the bridge crew get ahold of this one.'
Ranma and Lisa sat at the table, exchanging small talk. Well, small talk for them. Ranma was talking about the squadron and Lisa was talking about the command staff and what assholes the UEG government were being. They were both nodding and pretending to understand what the other was saying. Finally, the small talk gave way to actual conversation after the meal arrived.
"So, where'd you grow up anyways, Ranma?" Lisa asked, eating some of her Ramen with her chopsticks.
Ranma shrugged. "Here and there. Pops had me all over Japan and China. Especially china."
Lisa laughed at that last comment. "I guess I was the same. Dad kept moving with his Military assignments. I saw most of the U.S. and parts of Europe. I didn't pick up any weird Chinese curses or engagements though."
The couple laughed and talked for the next hour or so, barely noticing they're food. Minmei had forsaken her waitress duties and begun watching them when the three Hibiki brothers had finally returned. The couple seemed not even to notice.
HR.
The next few weeks went by quickly for Ranma and the rest of the crew of the SDF-1. The engineers were repairing battle damage and loading new supplies while the pilots, both Veritech and Destroid, were working with the civilians on the "Wild Horse 1 Project." Due to the fact that it was based almost entirely inside the SDF-1 and Macross city, the film was being produced in record time. It didn't even need actors as almost all of the original people were still onboard. The only actor needed was a replacement for Hiroshi. One of Minmei's waiters volunteered, with the puzzling comment, "It will let me learn more about culture."
The majority of the shooting was done and all that was left before publication was the editing.
As for Ranma, while he was usually busy working on "Wild Horse 1," He and Lisa Hayes had gone on a few more dates and the rumor mill was purring along at full speed about them.
Vermillion's name change sat just fine with the pilots, who thought it was cool being referred to as the "Wild Horses." The only explanation that could be found for this was that Ranma's weird attitude had rubbed off on his wingmen.
HR.
Rick Hunter, who had volunteered to do the editing on the final few scenes of Wild Horse 1, popped the data disk out of the recorder. "It's done!" He yelled, triumphantly. Roy Fokker looked at him oddly.
"Alright Rick, Let's see it." He said, slightly worried about his wingman's sanity.
Rick just grinned and popped the disk back into the recorder again, pressing play. Roy and Rick spent the next two and a half hours watching the movie.
Roy spoke up next. "That was pretty good." Rick nodded.
The two Skull flight pilots walked out of the computer lab, Roy carrying the disk.
HR.
Ranma sat in the front row of the Macross City movie theater, Lisa sitting next to him. "I wonder how this turned out?" He said, reaching for a hand full of popcorn. "I haven't seen it since the edit."
Lisa grinned at him. "You aren't worried are you Ranma? Looking stupid on film?"
Ranma grinned back. "If I worried about looking stupid, I wouldn't have done half of the stuff I did back in Nerima."
The two laughed at this as the film started. They sat through it in silence. The only sound either made was when Lisa started Crying at Hiroshi's death and Ranma's song. Ranma had a hard time keeping emotional control himself there. The soft drink next to him developed a few more ice cubes.
HR.
Ranma and Lisa walked out of the theater, blinking at the sudden brightness. "It was pretty good, huh?" Ranma asked, smirking.
Lisa nodded. "I think my acting was best."
Ranma laughed. "Yeah, I agree." He had gotten a bit smarter since Nerima. "But mine was pretty good, too." But not much.
HR.
At the Tendo Dojo, a crashing sound was heard as an overly persistant kendoist flew through a wall.
"And STAY out this time!" The voice of Akane Kuno echoed from her bedroom. Tatewaki Kuno groaned.
"Ah! My fierce tigress! I am not worthy."
He missed Nabiki glaring at him from the couch. "Kuno Baby. That's another thousand yen."
Kuno growled as he handed Nabiki a wad of bills. He perked up as he saw Akane walking downstairs. "Ah! Akane. You have come to embrace me correct?"
Akane swung a leg out and smashed Kuno in the head. "Shut up you perverted idiot!" Akane was angry... Very angry. This was the fifth time Kuno had tried to sneak into her room this week. She had an idea to get rid of Kuno for a while. "Hey Kuno! Howbout I make some dinner for you?"
Kuno hopped up from his position on the floor. "Really? Oh! I am the luckiest and bravest Samurai in the world! Of course I do deserve it."
Akane grinned. 'He deserves it alright.' She had finally admitted that her cooking was a bit sub-par, and now it was the only thing that kept Kuno away from her. The stupid idiot would eat it every time she made it and, having a much weaker constitution than Ranma, he would be out for about 3 days.
Akane walked into the Lab...er... Kitchen and returned with her most recent creation. She had added a lot of bright colorful ingredients, including this red and orange canister labeled "Raid" In romaji. She wasn't sure what "Raid" meant, but it had that skull and cross bones seal on it so it must be good.
After Kuno's latest experience of Akane brand Chemical weapons, he was out for the next few hours.
Nabiki spoke up from the couch. "Hey Akane. There's a new movie coming on in a few minutes. They say it was made on the SDF-1."
Akane blinked. "Isn't that where Ranma is?" The slight suppressed pain in her voice was still audible even after all of this time.
Nabiki nodded. "He's supposed to be in..." She was cut off as Akane flew to the couch and plopped down next to her "...it."
"What channel is it on?" Akane asked, excitedly. She couldn't merry Ranma, due to her father and Kuno's father's stupid arrangement, but she could still see what he was doing.
"TV Tokyo 10." Nabiki said, flipping through the TV Guide.
Akane grabbed the converter and switched channels.
An older, distinguished looking man wearing an RDF uniform appeared on the screen. He began to speak. "Hello, I am captain Gloval of the SDF-1. We bring you this as a commemoration of the trials that the brave men and women of the SDF-1, both Military and Civilian, went through to get us back home. We thank you for watching."
The screen went black and came up with a scene of a city on an island. There were tall buildings in the background, and three men standing in front of some sort of aircraft in the foreground.
"Ranma!" Akane said, recognizing one of the men. Soun and Genma walked in at this.
"Where's that ungrateful boy of mine." Genma asked, looking around.
"On TV, and shut up about him being ungrateful." Akane snapped, surprising the older people.
Kasumi walked in, noticing the screen and commenting. "Oh My. Ranma-Kun's on Television?"
All of the Tendos and the panda man sat around the TV, watching as the story of the SDF-1 was retold.
"How weak." Genma sneered, as he saw his son, in female form, being carried out of the destroyed cockpit of a VF-1A. Akane's eye began to twitch at this and Kasumi actually generated a small glare.
Soun burst out crying as he saw the scene where Hiroshi died, and everyone else was sniffling. All accept for Genma, who was criticizing Ranma for not controlling his emotions well enough. Akane's eye twitch got worse.
At Mars base, Akane's anger at Genma momentarily switched to his son as she saw Ranma talking to Lisa. She lowered her head in shame, realizing that she had no right to be jealous of Ranma anymore.
At the Miss Macross pageant, everyone was laughing hysterically. Akane had tears in her eyes, for once, not caused by the loss of Ranma. Even Nabiki was giggling like an ordinary school girl.
The movie ended shortly after the Macross had returned to earth. The final scene was one of Ranma's Veritech slamming into the Macross's launch deck. Roy Fokker came on in voice over.
"I don't know what made the kid so mad that day. He never told us. All I know is that shortly after, Engineer Hibiki showed up in Commander Lang's medlab with severe bruising. Well, we're back on earth now. We finally made it. Now all we have to do is find somewhere to let the civilians off. The UEG doesn't seem to want to let us return them home. Well, I'm Captain Roy Fokker of the skull. One of Ranma Saotome's best friends. He's only one of the people who helped to get us home but he and his squadron will be forever immortalized as the "Wild Horses." Man, that sounded cheesy eh kid? Well, I gotta go."
The screen faded to black and the credits rolled. The Tendo family sat, stunned, Absorbing the information in the movie.
"Ranma's a squadron leader?" Akane asked, slightly amazed.
"Never knew he had it in him." Nabiki said, in her usual dry tone.
Kasumi just nodded and said, "Oh My."
Kuno started to recover early from Akane's food, whereupon she smashed him into the floor, Knocking him out again.
HR.
Akane Kuno sat in her room, crying. She had run up here shortly after the end credits of "Wild Horse 1." and hadn't come out yet. Her father had come up, begging her to come out. She had opened the door for a few seconds to allow the passage of a brick and then closed it. Mr. Tendo was now crumpled at the base of the main stairs, nursing a bump on his head.
Kasumi had called her for dinner but Akane had ignored her. Even Nabiki had made an attempt, in her own special way, to get Akane to come out.
All Akane could think about was Ranma. What he had gone through to get back to earth. What he had found when he got back. Her married to Kuno. She winced and looked disgusted at that thought. speaking of Kuno, she could hear his foot steps, coming up the stares. Coming to a decision, Akane began to pack a bag. Throwing in a few of her normal dresses as well as a tooth brush and some other stuff, Akane slung the bag over her shoulder, climbed out her window and down the drainpipe to the ground. 5 seconds later, Kuno walked into her room and noticed that she was gone.
"Akane? Where have you gone?" He said, looking around in puzzlement. Holding his Kendo Bokken high, he yelled. "I shall find you!"
HR.
Akane walked towards the Nerima branch of the Tokyo central transit system. She knew that if she could get there, she could catch a train out to the docks and catch one of the supply transports going to the SDF-1. She was going to see Ranma again, even if she had to run away from home and go Ronin to do it.
walking towards the main train terminal, she was stopped by a voice coming from behind her. "Stop! My fierce Tigress Akane. Do not go!"
Whirling, Akane saw the form of an idiotic Kendoist running towards her. Sniffing, she turned back towards the entrance. She was stopped a moment later by a Bokken slamming into her stomach. "Oof!"
Kuno had a pained and angered expression on his face. "You shall not run to join the sorcerer! I shall fight you myself to stop you."
Akane was surprised. Kuno looked serious. Almost like he usually did in a fight with Ranma. She didn't care. She had to get past him. Charging, Akane was battered by rapid fire sword blows and forced to draw back. "Kuno, Get out of my WAY!" She yelled, a bright red battle aura raging around her.
"I cannot allow you to make such a grievous error as that which you were about to make! My beloved Akane, I shall fight you with the fullness of my strength if it means stopping you from running to the Demon incarnate known as Ranma Saotome." Kuno charged at Akane, swinging his Bokken. He was no match for Ranma but then again, neither was Akane. The two were actually rather equal in martial skill. The battle raged, one side fueled by desperation and the other by 'Love' for the next hour.
Akane was giving as good as she got but it just wasn't cutting it. She could feel her hope of a quick victory fading as Kuno fought. A few seconds later, Akane caught sight of something in one of the small televisions hanging in the train station that stopped her cold. The SDF-1 was shown on screen. It was lifting out of the ocean, water cascading from the sides.
"No." Akane mouthed, looking on in horror. "I'm too late?" Her horrified and pained expression quickly turned to one of anger as she turned back to Kuno. "It's your fault!" she began radiating pure anger chi. It was quickly supplemented with that of her frustration over missing her chance, as well as depression over the loss of Ranma. "It's all... your fault." She spat, her eyes flaring. "I lost him Because of you!" She threw her hands forward and released all of her emotional energy at the target of her wrath with a scream of rage. Kuno never had a chance. He didn't even have time to scream as the blast slammed into him and vaporized his body in two seconds flat. Akane crumpled to the ground and began to cry in the middle of the station, which had cleared out during her battle.
HR.
Ukyo and Shampoo had both felt the awesome power that had been released at the center of Nerima. They were not as good at chi sensing as Ranma, Ryoga or Cologne, but it would take a blind man not to see the immense burst of light that was emitted from the street near the train station. Ukyo arrived first, seeing Akane crumpled on the ground, crying.
"Akane..." She said, shocked. The youngest Tendo...er Kuno had always shown her emotions but Ukyo had hardly ever seen her break down like this. "What's wrong?"
Akane looked up, red rimmed eyes still trailing tears. "It...it's Ranma."
Ukyo looked puzzled. "What about Ranma Honey. He died." Her voice cracked slightly. "A long time ago. Why are you crying now?"
Akane sniffed. "He didn't die Ukyo, He survived. He just left on the SDF-1 and I can't get to him anymore."
Ukyo reeled back. Ranma was on the government's new battle fortress? "We have to go see him!" She said, excitedly.
Akane growled. "We can't. The SDF-1 just launched again. We can't get onto it anymore... It's all Kuno's fault."
Ukyo looked puzzled. True, Akane had a right to hate Kuno but right now she was sounding a lot like Ryoga. "All Kuno's fault?"
Suddenly Shampoo arrived on the scene, having heard the last few minutes of conversation. "What Kitchen Destroyer mean it all stick boy's fault?"
Akane began to sob harder and said, "I would have made it to see Ranma again if Kuno hadn't gotten in the way. I got rid of Kuno but it was too late."
"Got rid of?" The other two women asked, puzzled. Ukyo caught sight of a scorched piece of wood, lying on the ground several feet away from Akane. It was the tip of Kuno's Bokken. The rest was burnt away. "Akane... did you?"
Akane glumly nodded.
Ukyo and Shampoo stepped back from the crying Akane. If she had done THAT to Kuno... Then Ukyo overcame her fear. If Ranma was really gone like Akane said, she wasn't Akane's rival for his love anymore and the other girl looked upset. "It's alright Akane... we'll help you out. Shampoo and me."
The Amazon nodded. "I help cheer Kitchen Destroyer up. There Amazon technique for that."
Akane looked up and the tears stopped flowing for the first time since the Kuno incident. "Th...thank you." She sniffed, hugging Ukyo. The Okanomiyaki sheff just sat there, trying to comfort the other girl.
HR.
Akane trudged back through the door to the Tendo Dojo later on that night. Ukyo and Shampoo had actually been serious about trying to cheer her up and she had had some fun. Unfortunately, every once in a while her mind would come back to Ranma and she would become depressed again. Her usually bright red battle aura was now a sickly greenish color when she manifested it and it reminded her more of Ryoga's than she felt comfortable with.
Kasumi walked up to her as she took off her shoes at the front door. "Oh! Akane. You're home. There's dinner on the table for you..." She trailed off as she saw the bleak look on her younger sister's face. "Akane. What's wrong?"
Akane just muttered something unintelligible before stalking off into the kitchen. Kasumi's face bore a worried expression for a second before she quickly covered it up with her usual cheerful one. 'I'd better go see what's wrong.' She thought, walking into the kitchen. Nabiki, who had heard the exchange in the front hall, followed closely behind.
The two elder Tendo sisters comforted Akane just as the former rivals had. They were shocked that she had almost ran off to the SDF-1 and when Akane told them what she had done to kuno, they smiled at her. Nabiki was the first to speak after that. "Well, good riddance to bad rubbish. I've been trying to get him to stop bugging me for "Pigtailed Goddess" Pictures since Saotome disappeared."
Kasumi nodded. "That Tatewaki was very rude. You did the right thing Akane." She smiled.
Akane's sniffles died down. She wasn't going to see Ranma again, she had to accept that. At least Kuno was out of the way now though.
TO BE CONTINUED.