Starting a new school week didn't appeal to the new couple. Even though they were in school for only one day last week, having all eyes turned in their direction became annoying by the end of the day. Walking thru the stone entrance, they were immediately bombarded by people's gazes. Some still in disbelief and others of disapproval, as though they were saying 'He/she could've done better than him/her.'
One of the people looking was Ukyo and her eyes told a tale of longing. A longing for Ranma to kiss her and for him to say he loved her. But she has an inkling that it won't happen as she watched them be together. And yet, there was a slight feeling of happiness mixed in, knowing her childhood friend has found love. She realizes she'll have to deal with them sooner or later, but for now she'll remain in the background, fighting within herself to find her true feelings. She ducked into the school before they saw her.
Another pair of eyes was watching them as well. They were focused on Ranma more than anything. They weren't filled with disbelief or disapproval, but with anger. The eyes belonged to one Tatewaki Kuno and he went out to meet his rival.
"Halt!" he ordered, stopping in front of the couple.
"And what shall we attribute this morning's greeting to?" asked the boy, mocking the older teenager's way of talking.
Pulling out his wooden sword, he holds it an inch from Ranma's chest. "How dare you treat my sister that way. Do you realize how humiliated she was to be bound and gagged?" responded Kuno.
"Why don't you tell us then," replied the younger teen.
"I won't give you the satisfaction," answered the older boy with a sneer.
"Instead," started Tatewaki, lifting his bokken over his head, "I will give you a taste of my blade!"
Then he swung down with all his might.
Ranma reacted by clapping his hands together, catching the sword mid-swing and stopping it's movement.
"Your sister got what she deserved. She tried to use some of that paralyzing powder she likes on Akane, but luckily it backfired on her," the boy pointed out, "So, if you want to blame somebody, blame her not me."
Snapping the wooden sword in two and leaving one half on the ground, the couple walked around the upperclassman and continued towards the front doors. Not one to take the breaking of his sword lightly, Kuno charged forward ready to pummel his rival. Ranma sidestepped out of the way, while sticking out his foot. The older boy tripped and fell right on his face.
Lifting his head off the ground, he shouts, "I'll get you for that, Saotome!"
"Go ahead!" the boy called back, entering the school.
------------------------------------------------------------
It had started to rain by the time school let out. Ranma; now in his cursed form; and Akane ran straight home. They only stopped once, standing under the bridge they pass to and from school everyday to catch their breath.
Entering the Tendo residence, the couple was soaking wet. Kasumi was there waiting with warm towels at the ready. They thanked her and started drying themselves off. Shortly after them Nabiki walked in, dry as a bone.
"The weatherman said it was going to rain today, you two should've brought an umbrella with you like I did," she said in a flat, matter-of-fact tone of voice, shaking the umbrella.
"He said it was only a thirty percent chance. It didn't seem like it was going to rain," replied her younger sister.
"Better safe than sorry," said the older of the two, sage-like. Handing the umbrella to the oldest sister, Nabiki headed for her room.
------------------------------------------------------------
A warm bath and a change of clothes and Ranma was back in his uncursed body. Standing in the upstairs hallway, the boy was questioning himself about whether he should ask or not. Concluding that he might be better off if he did, he knocked on Nabiki's door.
"Yes?" she said from inside.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
She replied, "Enter at your own risk."
Shutting the door behind him, the teenager then sat on the floor, while she sat at her desk.
She started the conversation, "If this is about the photo, don't worry I haven't sold it yet."
"This isn't about the picture," he tells her.
"Then, what is it about?" she wondered.
He came right out and said, "I asked Akane out on a date for Friday night."
"Why are you telling this to me?" she asked, a little confused.
"I need your help," answered Ranma.
"Exactly why do you need my help?" wondered the middle sister, giving him a quizical look.
"I want this date to be perfect. No interruptions, no destruction of somebody else's property and things like that," he explained.
"So you want a normal date then?" she asked.
"Yes," agreed the boy, looking down at the carpet.
"Okay, I'll help you out," replied Nabiki.
A little shocked at how easy that was, he then asks, "How much is it going to cost me?"
"First one's on me," said the girl, smiling and giving him a wink, "After all, what's a future sister-in-law for?"
"Thanks," responded Ranma.
"Don't mention it. Really, if word gets out about this act of kindness, my reputation is shot," she told him in a flat tone of voice.
Even though he knew she was being serious, he couldn't help but laugh at her comment.
Then he got down to business, "Nobody else can know about the date. It has to remain a secret."
"Then you shouldn't have told me," she pointed out.
"I know, but without your help the whole thing would be a disaster waiting to happen," he replied.
"So what do you want me to do?" she asked.
"I need help booking a reservation for a nice, romantic place, but the thing is I don't know which one to choose," answered the boy.
"Leave it to me. I'll book the reservation and let you know where it is by Friday," responded Nabiki.
He thanked her again and continued, "The other thing is making sure no unexpected visitors show up. We don't have to worry about Ryoga anymore. It's Shampoo and Kodachi that's the problem."
"What about Ukyo? Wouldn't she be a problem as well?" asked the girl.
"I planned on talking with her sometime this week," he replied, "She needs to know how I feel towards her."
"Shampoo is the least of the two to worry about, since she waitresses at the Nekohanten at night. Now, unless Kodachi frequents the fancy restaurants every night, you wouldn't see her at all. I'll call a few friends to see if they can keep tabs on both girls to make sure your date goes well," said the middle sister, calculating a response, "The same thing could be said about Kodachi as well as her brother, Tatewaki. They probably stay at home and think of ways to get the person they want for themselves."
Their attention is diverted by a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" asked Nabiki.
"Can I come in?" replied Akane.
"Sure," answered her sister.
"Nabiki, I- oh, hi Ranma," said the youngest sibling, realizing the two girls weren't alone as she shut the door behind her.
He said hello back.
"What did you want?" wondered the older sister.
"I've got the money you wanted for the picture," she responded, pulling the money from her pocket.
The middle Tendo daughter traded the photo for the five thousand yen.
"You didn't make copies of it, I hope," asked the younger of the two girls.
"No, I didn't make copies," she assured her, fingering the money, making sure it was all there.
Turning her attention to her boyfriend, the girl asks, "What are you doing in here?"
"We're just talking, that's all," he tells her. He added, "I think we're done anyway," and stands up.
"Yeah, we're finished talking," agreed Nabiki.
The couple say their goodbyes and leave her room.
Walking down the hall, Akane asks, "What were you two talking about?"
"Not much," he replied, trying to avoid the topic.
"Come on, tell me," she insisted.
"Nothing that important, just some homework I needed help with," lied the boy.
"Oh, if that's all, I see you downstairs. There's something I need to do in my room first," answered the girl, kissing him on the cheek.
She entered her room, while he walked down the stairs and into the common room.
------------------------------------------------------------
Shutting and locking her door, Akane placed the photo on her desk and pulled out the parcel Prince Tshugo had given her. She has been reluctant to open it because of the memories it brings back. Finally opening the package, she was determined to get over the thoughts the stuff he purchased for her gives her.
On top of everything was the pair of white gloves she had on for that one dinner she had with the Prince. Underneath was the blue dress she wore for that same dinner. She unfolded the dress and draped it over her body.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she thought, 'Maybe I'll wear this for our date. Ranma hasn't seen it and it's fairly nice.'
Placing the dress on her bed, she reached for another item in the package. The next thing she pulled out was the white sash to go along with the dress. She put it with the dress and continued with the parcel. The last item was the silk nightgown she wore while in the coma-like state the Lazarus potion put her in after her death. She lifted the nightgown up and noticed two things fall out from inside it.
Putting the gown on the bed, she bent down and picked up what fell. One of the two items was a note, the other looked like some sort of leather belt with golden fasteners.
'I don't remember him buying this,' she said to herself, looking back and forth from the belt to the note.
She opened the note and read it. She immediately dropped the belt a few sentences into the message.
'No, it can't be,' she thought, her eyes wide with shock, looking at the belt as it laid on the floor.
She reread the note to be sure.
It said, "Akane, I hope you will enjoy these gifts. If you haven't figured it out yet, the leather belt came from your discarded battle armor. Don't be alarmed, first I wish to tell you the loyalty spell that was cast on your armor is broken. Even if you put the belt on now it will not work. However, the other spells that were cast on it are still there. After the unexpected turn of events that resulted in your death, I had the armorist take the destroyed armor and fashion together the belt before you. I thought you might be able to put the belt to good use, seeing that you are allowed to fight in your homeland. Please, do not think of ill of me, I am sorry for the way these things turned out. I only wish the best for you and your fiance. Sincerely, Prince Makiu Tshugo."
Looking down at the belt again, she repeated the phrase, "Put the belt to good use."
Picking it back up, she thought to herself, 'It couldn't hurt to try it on.'
She wrapped it around her waist and used the golden buttons it had to fasten it in place. After fastening the last button, Akane felt a rush of power sweep over her entire body. Every inch of her being felt infused with an energy she had only felt once before, the first time she had worn the armor back in Nyajan.
"Whoa," she said, amazed at the feeling the belt gave her.
The flood of fighting information she received nearly overwhelmed her. She unfastened the belt and the feeling disappeared.
'Okay, it only works when I wear it,' she thought. Her eyes lit up as she continued her thought, 'That gives me an idea.'
Putting the belt on the bed, she returned her attention to the dress.
'I can't wait until Friday to show this off,' she told herself, lifting the dress up again, 'And that belt could give me the edge I needed to beat Shampoo.'