When lunchtime rolled around another rumor had started to spread. This one stated that Ranma Saotome had lost to Tatewaki Kuno on purpose.
Some of the students asked the upperclassman if it was true, but he promptly denied it by saying, "Ranma Saotome lost to my superior skills. He couldn't withstand the power that is the Blue Thunder. Saotome is the one most likely to have started this rumor, in hopes of repairing his damaged pride."
Not knowing if they should believe him or not, the students asked the other participant of the fight whether the rumor was true or false.
Every time he was asked, the boy would reply, "Yeah, I let him win."
Inclined to believe Ranma more than Kuno, the rumor continued on it's journey through the school.
After showing her ring to what seemed every girl in the student body, Akane was finally able to spend some time with her friends, Sayuri and Yuka. Both Ranma and Akane thought it was best to spend lunchtime apart from one another today.
"What is it you wanted to ask us?" wondered Yuka, as all three girls sat down at a table.
"I was going to ask if either one of you wanted to be the Maid of Honor at my wedding," said Akane, sounding a little hesitant.
"What about your sisters? Did you ask them?" asked Sayuri.
"I did. They both declined," replied the girl, adding, "So?"
Her two friends huddled together, whispering to one another and giving a nod or a head shake periodically.
Returning their attention to Akane, Sayuri spoke up first, "We would love to, but seeing as we can't both be your Maid of Honor, we think it would be better if you asked someone else."
"Oh," said Akane, her voice low and dejected.
Yuka quickly added, "We don't want you to feel like you're playing favorites by having one of us be your Maid of Honor while the other couldn't. Maybe you could ask someone else, a mutual friend of your's and Ranma's, like Ukyo."
"Ukyo?" repeated Akane.
"Yeah," agreed Sayuri, "Why not ask her?"
"I guess I could talk to Ranma about it," said the girl, still sounding hesitant.
She tried to sound cheerful when she asked her friends, "Would both of you like to be my bridesmaids, I still need them."
Sayuri and Yuka respond with a simultaneous, "Okay."
"Alright, I'll let know what day you're going to need to be fitted for dresses. It should be in the next week or two," said Akane, a little happier now as she and her friends began eating their lunch.
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Of course, Ranma wasn't having any better luck with his two friends, Daisuke and Hiroshi either. The two boys huddled together like Sayuri and Yuka did when their friend asked them if one of them wanted to be his Best Man at the wedding. Turning their attention to him, they didn't give an answer right away.
Fed up with their silence, the boy asks, "Well?"
"Um... we're honored you thought to ask us about being your Best Man, " started Hiroshi.
Daisuke continued the train of thought, "But we both agree that being Best Man is a huge responsibility, one we're not ready for."
Before Ranma could respond, Hiroshi adds, "We want you to know we are willing to help out in any way we can, just not as Best Man."
The boy says, "Thanks, I guess the wedding is in need of some ushers to help people to their seats."
"We could do that," replied Daisuke.
"Okay sure," agreed Hiroshi, accompanying his answer with a nod.
"Thanks," repeated Ranma, adding, "I'll let you guys know when you're going to need to be fitted for suits, how's that sound?"
"Alright," said both boys, one after the other.
"But that still leaves me without a Best Man, who should I ask?" wondered Ranma.
"How about Ryoga?" responded Daisuke.
"Yeah, isn't Ryoga one of your friends too?" asked Hiroshi.
"Hmm... I'll see what Akane thinks before I ask him," said the boy, opening his lunch bag, "Now let's eat, I'm starved."
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Finishing their lunch with plenty of time left in the lunch period, Akane and her friends did what most of the girls do during lunch: they talked about other girls and who they were going steady with. One would tell the other two what they had heard rumor-wise among the other girls in the school.
Akane was listening to a rather juicy piece of gossip where one girl was followed home by a boy before he got the nerve to ask her out, when she notice Ukyo walk by.
"Excuse me for a minute," she said to her friends, who acknowledged her leaving before returning to their conversation.
She hurried to catch up to her friend.
Stepping beside her former rival, she asked, "Can we talk?"
"Hi, Akane. Sure, about what?" replied the other girl.
The two of them sat down at an unoccupied table.
Immediately Akane asked, "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, why do you ask?" answered Ukyo, asking her own question.
"I mean with Ranma's choice to be with me, how are you?" wondered the girl.
"I told you guys I'm okay with it, really," responded the okonomiyaki chef, smiling.
"I'm only asking because I'm worried about you. During my date with Ranma I kept seeing you look over at him," said Akane.
"Oh, you saw that, did you?" realized Ukyo, lowering her gaze.
"I did and I want you to know if you ever need someone to talk to I'd be glad to lend you an ear, I know what you're going through," she assured her friend.
"How do you know what I'm going through?" wondered her formal rival.
"You've met Dr. Tofu, right?" asked the girl.
"Yeah, I know who he is," said Ukyo.
"Well, before Ranma had shown up with the arranged marriage, I had a crush on him. Except he had a crush on my older sister, Kasumi. I had to deal with the mixed emotions, being happy for her, while at the same time I was sad for myself. I eventually got over him and began looking for someone else to fall in love with. I guess it was around that time I started falling for Ranma," explained Akane.
"Oh, I see," replied the girl's friend.
"So if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you," repeated the girl.
"Thanks," said Ukyo, smiling again.
Changing the subject, Akane asked, "How are things going with Ryoga?"
"Slowly," chuckled the okonomiyaki chef, "He's too busy blushing and stuttering to do anything."
Laughing a little, the girl with short hair said, "He's like that. You might have to start things off before he opens up. Try giving him a hug or a kiss and see if that helps."
"I'll think about it," replied the long haired girl.
Before Akane could ask Ukyo if she wanted to be her Maid of Honor, the lunch bell rang.
"See you later," said Ukyo, standing up.
"Okay, see you," agreed Akane, returning to her friends.
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At the end of the day the entire student body knew two things: that Kuno's victory was false and Akane's ring was real.
Both her and Ranma talked about what their friends said to them as they walked home. He agreed with asking Ukyo to be Maid of Honor and she agreed with asking Ryoga to be Best Man.
Arriving at the Tendo household, the two teenagers deposited their bags in their rooms. Ranma waited downstairs for Akane to change out of her school uniform. Before leaving they told Kasumi they were going out and that they'd be back in an hour or two. Walking side by side down the street, the couple made their way to Uchan's.
Sliding the door open, the two teens inadvertently walked into the middle of a conversation: "This is the third time in a week you've been here, Ryoga. Why is that?" Ukyo asked her only customer at the time.
"I... I... l-l-like th-the f-f-f-food, I-I gu-guess," answered the beet-red teen, his eyes looking down at the bar, twirling his tea cup in his hand.
Smiling at him, the okonomiyaki chef turned her attention to the newly arrived customers, "Welcome,.. hi, you guys."
Ryoga also looked over at who had come thru the door, "H-hello."
The teenagers returned the greetings.
"What can I get for you?" wondered Ukyo, picking up her pitcher of batter.
"Nothing, we just wanted to ask both of you something," replied Ranma.
"Sure, what about?" asked his female friend.
Glancing at each other first, Akane said, "We thought about it a little and we both agree, we want both of you to be a part of our wedding."
"Okay," answered the okonomiyaki chef, "What do you want me to do, cater your reception?"
"No, nothing like that," said the boy.
"I want you to be my Maid of Honor," added the girl with blue-black hair.
Ranma quickly included, "And I want Ryoga to be my Best Man."
Ukyo's response was to drop the spatula she had in her hand onto the floor with a clatter.
As she bent down to pick it up, the lost boy phrased it best, "Wow."
Straightening up, Ukyo asked, "I'm flattered you thought to ask me, but what about your other friends?"
"They both agreed I should ask you," replied Akane.
"Same here, my friends said I should ask Ryoga as well," added Ranma, before his former rival could ask the same question.
"I guess I could do it," said Ryoga, no longer blushing.
"Thank you," said the two teenagers.
Sounding hesitant, the okonomiyaki chef couldn't bring herself to agree, "I don't know."
"Come on, it'll mean a lot to us if you say yes," the boy assured her.
"Yeah, please say you'll do it," pleaded the girl with short hair.
"Alright, if it means that much to you I'll do it then," agreed Ukyo, smiling along with the rest of the group.
The couple thanked her for going along with the choice as well and then Akane explained, "We'll let you know the date for getting fitted for your outfits will be."
The other two teen respond with nods and say, "Okay."
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Meanwhile; unbeknownst to them; a pair of eyes have been watching them thru the window for the last few minutes. The eyes belong to the purple-haired amazon named Shampoo and a look of despair is present on her face. She couldn't hear exactly what was being said, but it didn't matter to her. Just seeing her 'husband' with 'the other girl' together was enough to make her sad.
'Ranma,' she says to herself, letting out a sigh.
She knows she can't confront him due to the deal she made with Akane, but right now she couldn't care less about the agreement. She just wanted to hold him again, even if it means breaking her vow. She also wants to get revenge on Akane for beating her in the fight, but at the moment she doesn't know how to go about getting her revenge.
Shampoo turns and walks away, returning her attention to the delivery her great-grandmother set her out on. For now she'll stay away while contemplating on a plan to get back at her rival and hopefully drive Ranma into her arms.
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Heading for the door, Ranma and Akane say their goodbyes.
"See you tomorrow at school," Ukyo said to their retreating backs, before returning her gaze to Ryoga, who hasn't touched the okonomiyaki she gave him.
"Goodbye," said Ryoga, returning the teen's gesture.
"I think there's another reason you're here, besides the food," started Ukyo, poking the lost boy's forehead with her spatula, smiling at him again.
"Huh? Uh...uh," stuttered Ryoga.
It didn't take him long to start blushing again.
"N-n-no, it-it's th-the f-f-f-food," he replies as Ranma shuts the sliding door behind him and the couple leave them alone.
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Making their way home, the two teenagers were hoping for a quiet evening at home.
"I guess everything is set now," said Akane, holding hands with Ranma as they walked down the street.
"Yeah," he agreed, "All that is left is for us to go through with the wedding."
"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" she asked, sounding apprehensive.
"No, are you?" he replied, asking his own question.
"No," she told him, adding, "But I am afraid something bad is going to happen."
"I've got that nagging feeling too, but it's most likely coming from what happened last time," explained the boy.
"You're probably right," the girl agreed.
"There's nothing to worry about, you'll see. Everything will go off without a hitch and before you know it, we'll be married," he assured her.
"I hope so," she responded, putting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arm around his.
'So do I,' thought the boy as the teenagers reach the front door of the Tendo home.
Upon entering, the couple is confronted by Nabiki, who had just come down the stairs.
"Oh, Ranma before I forget again, here," she said, handing him a piece of paper folded into the shape of a long rectangle.
"Who's it from?" asked Akane.
Ranma reads the front of the note aloud, "To my darling pig-tailed goddess."
The two teens look at each other and they both flatly say, "Kuno."
Opening the letter, the boy continues to read it out loud; "Dear Fire-Haired Beauty, I; Tatewaki Kuno; request an audience with you at the site of our first meeting, by the pool of Furinkan High. I wish to see your radiance at the desired time of Five-thirty p.m. I shall be waiting for you. Signed, Your Loving Hero, Tatewaki Kuno."
One question came to Ranma's mind, "Why did he give this to you, Nabiki?"
"He said he gave it to me because since he defeated you in fair combat he no longer wanted to have anything to do with you," replied the middle sister.
"Are you going to go?" asked the younger of the two girls.
"This is a chance to get Kuno out of our hair for good. I've got to take it," he answered.
"Then you better hurry, it's Five o'clock now," Nabiki reminds him.
He thanked her and headed for the bathroom. A minute later, he zips past them and out the door all the while in his cursed form.
"I'll be back later," she called to the two sisters.
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Standing by the school's pool, the cursed form of Ranma Saotome waited for Tatewaki Kuno to show up.
With her hands in her pockets, she says to herself, 'He's late.'
Sensing someone behind her, she quickly ducks under a pair of arms wanting to wrap themselves around her. Moving away, she looked behind her and saw it was Kuno in his kendo uniform with his sword at his side who was trying to grab her.
"What are you doing?" she asked flatly, her eyes half closed.
"I was only trying to recreate the moment we met, my dear," he replied.
"Well don't," snapped Ranma.
"Why did you want to see me?" wondered the redhead.
"You must have felt the spell Saotome had put on you as it was lifted from your body. We can finally be together," explained the upperclassman, taking a step forward.
She took a step back and said, "I didn't feel anything."
"Nevertheless, allow me to hold you in my warm embrace," responded Kuno, taking another step forward.
This time Ranma didn't move.
"Isn't there something you want to say to me?" asked the older boy.
"Yes," she replied, "I don't want to see you again."
Not missing a beat, he says, "Surely you jest, I know you want me. I remember all the things we've done together, you love me I know it."
Inching closer to Kuno, the girls tells him, "Perhaps I'm not making myself clear."
She grabs the front of his kendo uniform and she throws him into the pool with a splash.
"I never want to see you again!" she yells at him.
Breaking the surface of the water, the upperclassman swam to the side and pulled himself out.
"This doesn't make any sense. I freed you from Saotome's control and this is how you repay me?" said the wet teenager, sounding confused and angry, water dripping from his sleeves and pants.
"You're right, I'm sorry," apologized Ranma, looking down at the ground, hands behind her back.
"That's better. Now come here, I wish to hold you," ordered Kuno.
"What about Akane?" asked the girl in a demanding tone, looking up at him.
"Akane Tendo is out of my life. Let that despicable wretch Saotome have her. It's you I want, my dear. You and only you, so come and let me hold you," explained the older teen, slashing away at the air with his hand as if he was tossing aside a dirty rag.
Slowly, she inched closer to him. Allowing herself to be held, the girl fell into his wet and cold embrace.
"See, I knew you wanted me," said Kuno, wrapping his arms around her.
"Yes, I do want you," agreed the girl, putting her hands on his chest.
Once again, she grabbed the front of his kendo uniform, water coming from the knots of clothing she had in her hands and said, "I want you...," and then as she threw him into the pool again, she continued to say, "To leave me alone!"
Breaking the surface of the pool a second time, the confused teen watched as the girl turned around and walked away.
"Goodbye!" she said in a huff, leaving him there.
'Even my pig-tailed goddess is rejecting me. Why is this happening to me?' thought Kuno, as he tried to get a handle on the situation.
Swimming to the pool's side again, he continued to think, 'Both lovely ladies have left me. This can't be right, I know they love me. Perhaps Saotome's evil spell wasn't lifted as I first thought. Maybe just defeating him won't do the trick. What if I have to force him to release them. That way he'd have no choice but to do as I say. But to achieve this I will have to come up with a new strategy.'
The upperclassman climbed out of the pool once more and headed home, poised to think of a new way to free Saotome's prisoners, a trail of water following him in his wake.