A New Challenge
-Chiba Hiro
*Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½ or any of its content, it all belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Media.*
Chapter 2: Decisions
"Is this for real? And are you sure this is addressed to me and not somebody else?" Ranma asked Cologne, and convincing himself that this was too good to be true.
"Well, is there any other Ranma Saotome that people from China may be addressing? Of course it's for you!" Cologne exclaimed.
"Then, does this mean that I can be cured for good?" Ranma asked.
"I do not know. The letter said that you will only be able to cure yourself once you have proved to them that you are capable of being a Jusenkyo guardian." Cologne said.
"I don't know. If I were to accept this job offer, being a Jusenkyo guardian would be pretty boring. Nothing ever happens in Jusenkyo anyway." Ranma said.
"Well, this job is only for the fittest, and may I remind you that seventy-percent of all the visitors Jusenkyo receives each year happen to be martial artists. This job may not be so boring, wouldn't you say?" Cologne said.
"I guess, but it's probably all gonna be the run-of-the-mill martial artists, and you know how I hate going against people who are weak." Ranma sounded sure.
"Beware of what you say around Jusenkyo waters. Not everyone, or everything is as weak as you imagine it would be." Cologne warned in a superior tone.
"Are you trying to get rid of me? 'Cause it seems like everyone is in a hurry to see out the door." Ranma grumbled.
"Maybe we just want to see you succeed." Cologne suggested.
"Either that, or you just want me to be cured, come back as a whole man, and then marry Shampoo, don't you?" Ranma suspected.
"Son-in-law, you catch on very quickly." Cologne said sarcastically.
"I knew it! If anything good comes from you, I know right away that there's some ulterior motive behind your generous act! Ha! I'm smarter that you think, and if you think that you can fool me after all this time, you'll be surprised to know that I'm not falling for your games, you witch!" Ranma boasted.
"Oh, you think you know me that well, do you?" Cologne's tone deepened and she continued talking in a menacing tone. "A three-hundred year old Amazon like me that has experienced more than a hundred lives and it is more than you ever experienced in eighteen years alone, now you think you know me?"
Ranma backed up into a corner of the Nekohanten, and prepared for Cologne's wrath. "I'm sorry! Did I say that I knew everything about you? What I meant to say was that over the span of two years, I know from experience that this is what you usually do when you want me to do something, and I know that some of it has to benefit you in some way!" Ranma exclaimed in terror.
Cologne's voice returned to normal, and the mood around them lifted. "Well that is much better." Cologne sighed in relief.
Cologne glanced at the clock to see what time it was.
"Oh, dear me, time seems to have slipped us by, I'm afraid it's time to wrap up!" Cologne exclaimed, and hopped toward the kitchen, but stopped before she went in. "By the way, you will be expecting a visit by me, and I will submit your answer within a week, so be prepared." Cologne said, and disappeared into the kitchen.
Ranma glanced at the clock. "What the hell! It's already ten? Damn, I'm gonna get pounded for this if I'm out too late!" Ranma exclaimed, and dashed towards the door, but bumped into Shampoo as she walked in.
"Ow!" Shampoo shouted out, and fell to the floor. Shampoo looked up at Ranma, and straightened up.
"Uh, why is Ranma here?" Shampoo asked.
Ranma froze, and tried to look away from her piercing glance. "Um, I was...uh, getting a bite to eat, that's all! Uh, I gotta go now!" Ranma exclaimed, and dusted Shampoo off.
"Well, you don't seem to have any serious injuries, okay, I'm leaving now!" Ranma shouted, and was instantly three blocks down the road.
... ... ...
The next morning, Ranma got dressed faster, and was almost at the door, when Akane, Soun, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Genma blocked his path.
"Hey, would you let me go! We're gonna be late to school!" Ranma shouted.
"Son, we need to know now. Why did you come home late last night, and explain why you didn't show up for dinner." Genma demanded.
"Uh, whatever could you be talking about? I was out late last night looking for jobs just like you said, Pops! Now let me go through!" Ranma exclaimed.
"Not so fast. If you really were out looking for jobs so late at night, then where did you go to eat?" Genma asked.
"Uh, I stopped by the Nekohanten and grabbed a quick bite to eat, that's all." Ranma said, and tried to act like he was annoyed by the lectures.
"Then tell me this. If you 'really' got a quick bite to eat at the Nekohanten, then why did you arrive late last night?" Akane inquired, and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Um, I...I got myself a job!" Ranma blurted out.
They were shocked to hear this news. "And, did you get a job at the Nekohanten?" Soun shouted rather than asked.
"No." Ranma said.
"Then where?" Genma asked.
"Look, I don't have time to stand here and tell you everything! I'll tell you when I get back from school, okay!" Ranma fumed, and pushed past his dad and stormed out the door with Akane following behind.
... ... ...
"Say it already, Ranma. You had an affair with Shampoo, didn't you." Akane broke the silence as they were both (Ranma was walking on top of the fence as usual) walking to school.
"Okay I'll say it. I didn't have an affair with Shampoo. Are you happy now?" Ranma said with an annoyed tone, and continued walking down the fence.
"Hey! You have to give me an appropriate explanation!" Akane shouted after.
"Why should I lie? I told you already, I didn't go to the Nekohanten, eat, and make out with Shampoo. I merely dropped by after I was tired from all the job searching, and I ate there, and had a conversation with the Old Ghoul, and bumped into Shampoo on my way out, that's all. Now would you please get off my case!" Ranma explained with a bored tone.
"Hey! Don't you use that tone of voice on me! I know you all too well!" Akane ignored his reasonable explanation, and argued back.
"Oh yeah, what do you know?" Ranma tested.
"Um, you're a self-centered, cocky, dimwitted, stupid, insane, lustful, perverted, cross dressing, moron, blunt, and full of yourself!" Akane recited.
"Well, didn't you just name my bad qualities." Ranma said sarcastically. "I'm glad that you know me so well...stupid, blockheaded tomboy." Ranma muttered almost to himself, and ignored Akane's remarks the entire time they walked to school, during lunch, and after school while walking.
... ... ...
Ranma entered the house, and was unexpectedly greeted by Cologne.
"Ahh! Old Ghoul, what are you doing here so soon?" Ranma asked.
"I'm glad that you always give me a heartfelt welcome when I arrive." Cologne commented sarcastically, and gestured for Ranma to talk with her privately.
Just as they were starting the conversation, Akane walked through the doors, and walked in on their huddled conversation.
"Um, am I interrupting something?" Akane asked awkwardly.
"Yeah, now buzz off!" Ranma ordered, and Akane walked right past him, and went toward the stairs, but stopped short from them to listen to their conversation.
"Now, what are you doing here?" Ranma asked.
"I'm sorry that I came here so soon, but it's just that I had a good reason." Cologne remarked.
"Stop joking around!" Ranma fumed, and they lowered their voices down so that no one within earshot could hear them.
"What?" Ranma exclaimed. "You mean that they want my answer now!" Ranma shouted.
"Settle down, Ranma. I said that I would come in a few days after I took you to our restaurant, but it seems that there has been a change in the schedule. The Jusenkyo chairmen, and Elders want your answer right now." Cologne said.
"What? You mean I have to reply right away? I thought you said that I had almost a week or two?" Ranma said.
"Yes, but your assistance is required as of this moment. It seems to me that one day is enough to think over your reply. So what will it be?" Cologne asked.
Ranma paused to think for a moment, but Akane interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes, Ranma. What is your reply? And what is it that you're replying to?" Akane inquired, and her aura shot out like flames as she glared at Ranma.
"Precisely." Soun said as he, Genma, and Kasumi entered the conversation.
"Jeez, can't a guy have personal conversation without people having to snoop around?" Ranma commented.
"We could leave you alone, but you're talking much too loud to be having a personal conversation." Akane said.
"Tell us what it is that you are replying to! And don't make us wait too long!" Soun demanded.
Ranma paused to think for a bit.
More than ten minutes passed, and Ranma was looking down at his feet as he was trying to come up with an answer.
Everyone grew impatient, and Genma, Akane, and Soun's auras flared up as their patience deteriorated.
"Ranma, do you really need to take the whole hour just to think of an answer!" Genma broke the immense silence, and Ranma looked up at them.
As he met their gazes, his eyes shone that his decision had been made, and there was no turning back.
Ranma turned to Cologne, and bowed his head low.
"I'll do whatever it takes." he replied.
... ... ...
A/N: Well, that's my second chapter for this story guys! Hope you guys enjoyed it! Please rate, comment, and review this story. Again, if you find anything grammatically incorrect in this story, please disregard them and let me handle it! I can't stress it enough to you guys, so just leave it to me! Furthermore, my school's on break now, so I'll be free to post more chapters over the next two weeks! So just look forward to it. Thanks!