It was lunch time, and since the weather was nice, the children were allowed to eat their lunches outside. However, throughout the day, Scarlett had become increasingly paranoid, and often found herself looking back twice in search of Ryoga. She looked around and found a large a tree with sturdy branches. She narrowed her eyes and looked around.
"Here goes..." She muttered cautiously.
She took a few steps back and ran before jumping and hugging the tree. She took another glance around and nodded to herself, and, much like a squirrel, began to climb the tree until she found a branch that was surrounded by thick leaves, and she was sure would conceal her greatly. She sighed of relief and pulled out her lunch. She opened it and was delighted to see all of her favorite foods contained inside the tiny box.
Scarlett clapped her hands together. "Itadakimasu..." She muttered quietly. She picked up an octopus puff and nibbled on it, savoring the flavor.
"Boo!" She heard.
Scarlett shrieked and fell out of the tree, dropping her lunch. She braced herself for impact with the ground, but instead found herself being caught. She opened her eyes, one after the other and was surprised to see that her rescuer was none other than Hibiki himself. She looked down to see that they were still on the tree, on the lowest branch.
"Hey are you OK?" He asked.
Scarlett nodded, holding onto him somewhat, in fear that he would drop her. "Hai..." She frowned. "That was mean!" She snapped.
This caused Ryoga to laugh wholeheartedly. "But it was funny!"
Scarlett pouted. "I don't like you...you're mean..." She muttered.
Ryoga grinned and pinched her cheek. "Thank you." Scarlett glared, massaging her cheek to soothe the pain he had just caused. He grinned. "Man, messing with you is gonna be fun." He jumped off the branch and set her down. "I wonder what I'll be able to do to you..." He looked to the side and suddenly his cheeks became very warm and very pink.
Scarlett blinked and followed his gaze. There she saw a girl with short green hair. She blinked a few more times as she began to process what was happening. "Who is that...? She's pretty, do you like her?" She asked. She got no response from the fanged boy. 'He's completely in a trance... an opportunity!' She looked at her fallen lunch and sighed. 'Maybe Oniichan will share with me...' Quietly, Scarlett began to slink away from the older boy.
Ryoga blinked, snapping back into reality and grabbed her by the back of the shirt. "Wait a second!" Scarlett hung her head in dispair and looked back at him. "Help me be her friend, and I'll give you a break from time to time."
This caught Scarlett's attention, and she narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Promise?"
Ryoga nodded. "I promise." Secretly he had crossed his fingers behind his back.
Scarlett smiled widely. "OK!" She hugged his arm, causing him to look at her oddly. "I've seen my mama do things like this whenever she wants Papa to look good in front of important people! Just follow my lead, OK?" She chirped. Ryoga nodded unsurely.
Scarlett had it all figured out. She would speak maturely and confidently, and wow the girl with her charm. Not only would Ryoga look good by association, Scarlett would gain a new friend too. It was a win-win if you ask her.
That's what she thought, until she and Ryoga actually started walking towards the girl. Soon, Scarlett found herself slowly losing her confidence, and felt herself wanting to turn back. This wasn't a good idea. She wanted to turn around. She had to!
Only she was already there. Ryoga cleared his throat and caught the girl's attention. The girl stood up from playing with chalk and looked at them.
Scarlett's eye twitched and she hesitated, hiding behind Ryoga somewhat. "Uh..." She shook her head. "Excuse me... I'm new here. My friend says you're very nice... Can we all be friends, maybe...?" Yep... all her confidence was beginning to slowly going down the drain. "I-I'm sure you'd like to be friends with him too! He was nice enough to help me around!" She was beginning to sound a little too eager. "I'm Scarlett! It's nice to meet you."
The girl let out a mocking laugh. "Wow, how lame! I can't believe you had to have someone guide you around school!" She looked at Ryoga. "I feel sorry for you."
Suddenly Scarlett felt like an anvil had been dropped on her head. She felt her chest tightened and she quickly ran back to her tree, climbed up, and proceeded to cry into her hands.
The girl raised an eyebrow and looked up at Ryoga. "I'm Akari. I think it was pretty pathetic the way that girl was so clingy to you."
Ryoga frowned. "That may be true, but that's not a very nice thing to say."
Scarlett sobbed quietly into her palms. No one seemed to like her in this school. It was really disheartening. "Oi! Lechan, why are you crying?" She looked down and saw Ranma looking up at her from below. "Are you stuck? Don't worry, I'm coming!" He jumped onto the branches with relative ease until he was on the same one as her.
Scarlett hugged her big brother tightly. "Oniichan I don't like it here! Everyone keeps being mean to me!" She wailed.
This caused an unhumanly growl to emmit from Ranma's throat. He looked out to get a better view of the grassy fields. "WHO IS BEING MEAN TO MY LITTLE SISTER, SCARLETT?!" Scarlett sweatdropped as suddenly all eyes were on her and her older brother. "SPEAK NOW OR WE'LL ALL HAVE A PROBLEM!"
Akari glanced and looked at Ranma. "Wow, she has a cute brother." She frowned. "I bet she was adopted."
Ryoga bit his lip. "That's not a nice thing to say." He muttered. His main focus was the raging Saotome. 'I am so dead...' He muttered.
Ranma had heard Akari's little comment and quickly jumped down the tree. "You!" He ran to her. "You're the one who's been picking on my baby sister aren't you! What's the big idea?! She's not adopted!"
Scarlett quickly climbed up the tree in order to hide herself even more. "Oniichan is doing more harm than good..." She muttered to herself.
Akari folded her arms. "So what if I did? It's pathetic the way she clings onto people like Ryoga-kun."
Ryoga glared. "She only clings when she's feeling shy or scared! She feels safe around Ryoga, so she probably hid behnd him while trying to be your friend, because that's what kind of girl she is!"
Akari smirked. "Ryoga-kun agreed that she was a loser."
Ryoga's eyes widened and then closed tightly. 'Yep. So dead.'
"What?! You're supposed to be our friend, how could you say something so mean?!"
Ryoga thought quickly and said the first thing on his mind. "I didn't mean it! And I told her that it's not nice to say something like that!" He noticed Scarlett crawling down to hide behind her brother. Ranma looked at Scarlett, silently asking for confirmation. Ryoga stared at her anxiously. Scarlett sniffled a little but nodded none the less, causing Ryoga to exhale a breath he didn't know he was holding and smile.
Ranma glared at Akari. "He's off the hook but you're definitely not." He growled.
Akari smirked. "Whatever." She glanced at Scarlett as she walked past her. "Later, pathetic girl." Scarlett held onto the back of her brother's shirt and hid behind even more.
Ryoga sighed. 'So much for that...' He thought.
Ranma glared her way. "YOU ARE SO LUCKY THAT YOU'RE A GIRL!" He snapped loudly. He turned to face his little sister and spotted her tears. Immediately his anger drained away and he hugged her. "It'd ok Lechan."
Scarlett hugged him and nodded. "Hai..." She glanced at Ryoga. He mouthed for her to meet him on the roof and walked away. Scarlett paled. She was in trouble. "Oniichan, excuse me..." She parted from him reluctantly and walked after Ryoga.
Ryoga glanced at her and blinked. "Calm down, don't be so scared.
Easy for you to say... She thought. "Hai..."
"I want to say thank you for helping me out and..." He murmured the last part.
"Huh?"
He glared at her. "I said I was sorry, OK?!" He barked.
Scarlett nodded, flinching. "OK! S-so you're not gonna pick on me right?"
Ryoga smirked, regaining his composure rather quickly. "I never said that." He folded his arms. "But I did promise that I'd give you a break every once in a while... I might as well do it today."
Scarlett nodded, smiling gratefully. "Good...My eyes are starting to hurt from crying to much..." She muttered.
Ryoga stared at her for a few seconds, causing her to blush uncomfortably and look down at her feet while fiddling with her skirt. He raised an eyebrow. "You're pretty shy aren't you?" He asked. Scarlett merely nodded. Ryoga smirked. "That's what I thought." She looked up at him and was startled when he pressed his lips against her cheek.
She let out a high pitched shriek. "W-w-what was that for?!" She demanded, holding her cheek. Her face was an impossible shade of red.
"I'm gonna tease you like that. Your reaction was priceless! It was almost as great as when I pick on you!" He laughed.
Scarlett glared. "M-My big brother will get mad if you do that!"
Ryoga looked at her. Her blush somehow made her angry blue eyes appear larger than they already were. He smirked and leaned downwards. Her pouting lips were not helping her in her quest to be intimidating. Ryoga whispered into her ear. "Or is this what you prefer?" He smirked and quickly pecked her on the lips.
Scarlett's eyes widen as she covered her mouth and backed up. Th-that was...! She shook her head and ran away.
They were in class now, but Scarlett couldn't seem to force herself to focus on the notes she was supposed to be taking. She gently brushed her lips with her fingers.
My first kiss was taken from Ryoga... She closed her eyes tightly. Daddy is gonna be so mad... I wasn't supposed to kiss until I was at least sixteen! She glanced in Ryoga's direction. He was taking notes, notes but was obviously not absorbing the information given. Scarlett looked at her paper. Blank. He doesn't even care! That jerk... She sighed and decided it was best to distract herself. She was eight, almost nine. She was too young to be concerned about kissing and boys...right?
Ryoga was smirking in his mind as he took his notes. Step one, check.
Scarlett solved the math questions on the worksheet given to her absentmindedly. He's not going to get to me... I'll ignore him. He'll get bored sooner or later, and he'll leabe me alone. No boy is going to get into the head of Saotome Scarlett!
Soon Ryoga had been called to be dismissed. As he got up, he secretly slid Scarlett his homework before leaving.
Scarlett looked at the worksheet. It was covered in erase marks. Geez, he can't even solve these easy questons? She thought, sweatdropping. She shook her head and started to do the homework, being sure to copy his handwriting based on his name. Hmph. Being bullied and teased by someone like this...unbelievable.
Scarlett hummed a tune as she walked home with her big brother, holding his hand and swinging it a little. Ranma smiled at his little sister's happy mood. He quickly became serious though.
"Did anyone else pick on you?"
Scarlett shook her head. "No. There wasone person, but after you yelled he became kind of...nice?" She sounded like she was questioning herself, but thankfully her brother didn't notice.
"Who was it?"
Scarlett sweatdropped. "He never told me his name." She lied smoothly.
Ranma frowned. "Let's go find him then!" He began to drag her along.
"Oniichan he went home. If he's being nice to me now and my big brother comes after him, he'll be mean again. Oniichan please drop it." She pleaded.
Ranma let Scarlett go and put his hands on his hips. "Fine. But if he slips up even once he's getting a whole lot of," He punched and kick the air rapidly. "That."
Scarlett shook her head, but was none the less amazed. "Show off." Ranma grinned. Scarlett's eyes suddenly became excited and cheerful. "Oniichan piggy back ride?" She asked randomly.
Ranma chuckled and helped her onto her back. "Gotta do what I gotta do. Besides, I gotta make sure that Ryoga or someone doesn't try to steal you from me and Pops or else they will really get it."
Scarlett smiled and hugged her brother. "Trust me. Ryoga won't steal me from you! It's impossible!" She grinned. "You're my favorite big brother!"
Ranma nodded. "I'm your only brother but that is good to hear." He laughed and continued onwards towards their home. However they were suddenly tackled down.
"Pinky-chan, Ran-chan!" They toppled over like dominos. They groaned and looked behind them to see a young girl, Scarlett's age, with light blue hair, and intriguing purple eyes.
Scarlett's eyes lit up. "Hikaru-kun!" She squealed.
"Hey Hika-chan." Ranma chirped.
Hikaru hugged them both. "I miss you guys. I don't like being in different schools from you two." She pouted. "It's sooooo boring."
Scarlett frowned. "Same. But at least we can play with each other after school!" She chirped.
Hikaru sighed. "Yeah, I know." She smiled. "We can play tomorrow right? I have to go home. The teachers are nuts this year. Who assigns homework on the first day? We have so much homework, it feels like I'm doing enough for two people!"
Scarlett looked at her bag, which contained the homework for both her and Ryoga. She felt a small blush appear, and she touched her cheek, hoping neither would notice. "I know how that feels. I have a lot of homework too. Anyway, we need to go now. See you tomorrow!" They waved goodbye and Scarlett quickly jumped onto Ranma's back, and he walked away.
"Scarlett yoou feel warm, do you have a fever?"
Scarlett shook her head. "No."
You guys are gonna think this is going by fast, but trust me, these are...introduction chapters, I guess you could say. It'll go by fast but then you'll understand. Also, I hope you guys like the cover I drew! Spent forever cleaning it up on Photoshop!