Chapter 27: Trust
The next day went by as Nodoka did some things around the house, until she heard a knock on the door. As she answered it she was surprised to see the young man known as Ryouga. " Hello Ryouga, shouldn't you be in school?" Ryouga sweat dropped as he had forgotten about that. "Oh um I got out early."
He was amazed that luck was on his side, that he ended up there and figured since he was to take Mrs. Saotome up on her offer. Nodoka smiled at him. " And to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Ryouga laughed a bit as he twiddled his fingers nervously. " I uh well.. you see." Nodoka giggled some at the boys nervous~ness as she ushered him to come inside and have a seat at the dining table.
Ryouga got more nervous as the older woman took him inside and sat him down at at a table, where she set some snacks as she fixed some hot tea as well, before sitting down herself. Nodoka smiled again at him. "Have you decided on what you'd like for saving my Ranka?" Ryouga got all flustered as he sipped some of the tea, before rubbing at the back of his neck. " Well Mrs. Saotome, I.. uh.." Nodoka smiled more as she could clearly tell what he wanted to say. "Oh my Ryouga, are you asking me for permission to go on a date with my daughter?" She smirked a tad at seeing the boys face turn bright red and how he started to stutter. "You have my permission. So when were you thinking of having this date hmm? Saturday would be best, as the week is pretty busy with school." Ryouga nodded frantically. Nodoka giggled a bit more. " Shall I let Ranka know or would you like to tell her?" Ryouga laughed nervously as he munched on a rice cracker. " Well you could." Nodoka smiled back. " I will be sure to let her know then. Just out of curiosity though, it seems like my other daughter Ranko does know you, though you say you don't know her." Ryouga took a minute to think about how he should respond and decided to put the blame on Ranma, any way he could. "Well no but she does seem to hate me, for liking her sister." Nodoka chuckled a tad. " Well she is very protective of her twin sister."
After finishing his tea, he bid his farewell to Nodoka, as he took his leave. Nodoka smiled happily to herself after shutting the door behind her. She couldn't wait to tell Ranka and hoped she wouldn't fight about it. Ranko on the other hand she expected she'd protest about it. Even though at times Ranka would get feisty just like her twin, she was much more obedient.
Before she knew it she was welcoming her girls back from their day at school. She waited till after they had their snack time together to bring up what went on. "Ranka dear, it seems that nice young man Ryouga has decided on what he'd like, and came by to ask of what he wanted in return, for thanks." Ranma-chan tensed up as she was pretty sure of what he was after and was annoyed he had come by. Ranka sweat dropped. " Oh?" Nodoka nodded with a smile on her face. " He wants to go out on a date with you dear, isn't that wonderful? Yes yes I know there's your amazon fiancee but she'll just have to deal with it, as I've said before." She put her hands on Ranka's shoulders with a serious look. " We honor our commitments, don't we dear." Ranka gulped, seeing no way out of it. Ranma-chan on the other hand, couldn't help but protest about it. " She can't go out with him.. he's a pig!" Nodoka shook her head in dismay at how ridiculous Ranko was being. "Ranko! That's not very nice to say, you don't even know him. I know your just acting up, but it's been decided and I've given my permission." Ranma-chan ruffled up her own hair in frustration with her mother. " I'm going go visit the Tendo's for awhile.." She then left before she got too much more angrier.
Nodoka looked upset and started to try to go after her, only to be stopped by Ranka. Ranka shook her head at her. "It's probably better if you let her go visit for awhile." Nodoka sighed as she gave up on trying to pursue her, taking a seat on the couch. She had a feeling Ranko would've protested but hadn't expected it'd be so bad. "Does she.. hate me now?" Ranka shook her head. " Of course not." Nodoka sighed. " Do you hate me?" Ranka shook her head again. " No, of course not." Nodoka wiped a tear from her eye. "Are you against my decision, as well?" Ranka looked thoughtful for a minute. "Not as badly as Ranko is.. but i'm also not jumping for joy, but I know, it's something that needs to be honored. He.. did save me, so it's definitely owed.." Nodoka gave her a hug, thankful that at least one of her daughters had good manners and more like a lady.
As Ranma-chan made her way inside the Tendo's, Kasumi greeted her and like wise before she disappeared around the corner grumbling. Akane at hearing what she thought was Ranma, came downstairs, surprised to see him come around the corner a guy. "I didn't expect to see you again today." He grumbled as he went off to the dojo. " I needed to train." Akane followed after him. " So what's got you so upset?" Ranma grumbled more as he went about to training on the dummy, taking out his anger on it. Akane sweat dropped and watched, keeping her mouth shut at seeing how mad he was.
After awhile he was done and took a seat on the porch. Akane decided she could ask now that he seemed more calm. "Ranma, why are you so mad?" Ranma grumbled annoyed again. " Because.. Ryouga's the one who saved Ranka and that jerk asked my mom for permission to go on a date with her.." Akane's eyes widened some at hearing that. "Oh I see, you neglected to tell me that part.." Ranma huffed some with his arms crossed. " Not like I really wanted to.." Akane could tell the fact that Ryouga had saved his sister greatly bothered him, as well as the fact that he hadn't. Of course she also had to point out the obvious as well. " You really can't be mad with him Ranma, for liking Ranka." Ranma got more annoyed. " Oh yeah, and why not?!" Akane rolled her eyes at him. " Because it's YOUR fault that he likes her. All your taunting and teasing him in your girl form. I'd say it's karma." Ranma hmpfed annoyed. " I didn't think.." Akane cut him off before he could finish. " That's right you didn't." Ranma sighed as he leaned back some. " It's not just that.. just how my mom's all "honor" this and that and fine with it. And damn Ryouga was alone with my mom.." He tightened his fist just thinking about it.
Akane sighed as well. "You can't go up against your mother Ranma and honestly it's just a date. Obviously Ranka didn't have a temper tantrum over it, like you did." Ranma wrinkled up his nose and furrowed his brows at her. " You are so un cute.."
Akane gave him an annoyed look and decided to go on, since he had angered her. " Unlike you she seems to have a bit more sense, since she is all girl, and seems like she listens to your mother, even if she doesn't like what is being asked. I noticed that while we were out together. " Ranma gave her a more annoyed look. " Are you trying to pick a fight with me?!"
Back at the Saotome household, there was a knock on the door. Genma had decided to own up to his promise with Ranka as soon as possible, not wanting to spend another night outside.
Nodoka about growled at seeing it was Genma at the door. "Genma.." She said coldly. Ranka was by her side with her arms crossed at seeing the old man. Genma sweated nervously, not wanting to do this but really had no choice, if he wanted his way back back in to the Tendos. "Nodoka I'm very sorry for what I did.." Nodoka had a death glare going. " Are you?" Genma sweated more as he fibbed a bit. " The devil he brain washed me with a spell." Ranka just shook her head at him, like "tsk tsk". Genma cleared his throat. " I need to talk with you Nodoka." Nodoka un crossed her arms and allowed him to come inside and sit down at the kitchen table. " Then talk and make it quick, as I still have dinner to make." Genma took a seat as he bowed his head to her. " You see during our trip to China, there were these cursed springs.." He cleared his throat again as he got up and went outside to the yard, picking up the near by water bucket and dumping the contents down on top of his head, as his form changed into a panda. Nodoka's eyes widened more at what she was seeing. " Mr.. Panda.." She managed to get out before she fainted from the shock, to which Ranka acted quickly and caught her before she fell. She then carried her over to the couch, where she laid her down.
After that she went back over to the porch that lead outside, putting her hands on her hips with a smirk at Genma. " Nicely done, that'll do for now." She went and put some hot water on for him, going and getting it once it was done and dumping it on top of him. Genma having changed back into a human and had stopped shuddering from fear, was now looking quite red. "It.. need not be boiling." Ranka scoffed at him. " Oh shut up, you're lucky I even got you any hot water. Now you'd better leave, I'll be by in a while and "vouch" for you to get out of your "dog house." Genma bowed his head as he ran off out the front door, wanting to get out before Nodoka woke up, but also very excited that he would be back in the Tendo's good graces.
A few minutes later Nodoka woke up from her fainting spell she had, had. She sat up looking out of it and figured she must've imagined what she had seen, or perhaps even dreamed it. Her mind hadn't processed what she had seen just yet. Ranka gave her a cup of water. " You okay mother?" Nodoka thanked her and took it, taking a sip. " I believe so dear, I don't know what came over me." Ranka would leave it up to her mother on how she would process it and give her some time to, but now the clock was set into motion. Nodoka put her hand to her head, trying to figure out if she was sick. "I should start on dinner.." Then she remembered how Ranko had stormed off and sighed. "Or I should go try to talk to Ranko and get her to come home." Ranka rubbed her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, go take a nice relaxing bath and i'll go and bring Ranko back and then I'll help you with dinner." Nodoka smiled at her sweetly as she patted her on the head, before giving her a concerned look, knowing Ranka was a target and she didn't like her going off by herself anymore at all. Perhaps though they could come to a mutual agreement. "Only if you bring your katana with you and use it if you are danger, then I won't have to worry so much." Ranka gave her a quick smile and nod. " Will do, I'll be back." She gave her mom a quick hug before picking up her katana and fixing on the sash holder to herself, before taking her leave out the front door.
Not too far from the Tendo's but far enough Genma was packing up his camp site as he spotted Ranka, making him pack it all up faster. He skidded over with a big grin on his face, until he spotted the katana sheath by her side and a paled with a look of horror. Ranka gave him a dull look. " Are we doing "this" or not?" Genma sweated nervously as he put on a smile. "Yes of course, but I didn't really get to tell her." Ranka rolled her eyes at him. " I told you, it's good enough for now." She kept talking to only if it was necessary as they made there way to the Tendo's.
Once there she went in with him, where Kasumi greeted them sweetly. Soun towered over Genma as his head started to get gigantic. Ranka greeted him, making him deflate. "I've "forgiven." him." Soun acknowledged her words with a nod. Ranka then disappeared off around the corner. Soun gave Genma a serious look. "You're very lucky Saotome, that she's taken pity on you." Genma sweat dropped at what his friend had said. " I don't get what you mean Tendo, you heard her she's forgiven me and I've apologized for my actions." Soun kept his serious look on him. " Saotome I can tell that is not true. What I will say is you'll regret destroying your bond with her. A father, daughter bond is such joy and your a fool for ruining it." With saying what he had to say, he went back to reading his newspaper.
Ranma had gone back to to training some more and Akane had gone back to watching. Akane was the first one to notice Ranka was there and got up and went over to her all excited at the prospect of having her spar with her. "Hey Ranka, are you here to bring the big baby back home?" Ranma kept at his training. " Hey! I heard that!" Akane stuck her tongue out at him. " Butt out Ranma, it's girls only talk." Ranka sweat dropped at her. "I see that you two are getting along as usual. Well, not exactly the way that you're putting it.. and that's not fair, you can't exactly exclude Ranma out." Akane had a dull look on her face, as she had been hoping Ranka would've had a better attitude about things and sided with her and found herself getting just as annoyed with her as she was with Ranma. " That's right I forgot you're just as bad as "he" is!" Ranka wrinkled up her nose at her. " Well excuse me for not liking you bashing on Ranma." Akane retorted back at her " So I guess you'll always take Ranma's side then!" Ranka gave her a blank look, giving her, her reply.
Ranma stopped his training as he could tell they were getting pretty heated, and tried to shut it down. " Hey calm down Akane." Akane bristled at hearing that and pointed at Ranka. " Why aren't you telling "her" to calm down!" Ranka had her arms crossed with a blank look. " You're the one being the "big mouth" here. I'm not the one yelling.." Ranma sighed. " You are so un cute.. and stubborn as an ox." Akane had heard enough as she slapped him, looking furious. Ranka glared at her and slapped her back, making her stagger back in surprise. "How do YOU like it?" Akane glowered in anger before storming off. Ranma blinked un sure of what to do.
Nabiki stuck her head out from around the corner as she munched on a bag of chips. " Wow, "someone" actually put Akane in her place." Ranka gave her a dull look. " Why haven't YOU?" Nabiki waved her hand about. " Me? That's too much work on my part and well Kasumi is too kind to. Hey, since your here Ranka, I have some outfit's I'd like you to model off for me." Ranka looked annoyed. " Sure, if you pay up what you owe me and Ranma for the whole gymnastic thing." Nabiki sweat dropped and decided to drop it for now. " Maybe next time then."
After she left, they were sitting on the porch of the dojo. Ranma looked a bit annoyed. " So mom told you to come get me, huh." Ranka shook her head. " No, I volunteered to, she was going to come." Ranma sweat dropped at hearing that and then noticed the sheathed katana that his sister had at her side, making him nervous. Ranka gave him a blank look. " Mom made me bring it, it was her condition for letting me go by myself. You know I won't use it on you, or you should know that I would never do that." Ranma sighed and was about to say something until he thought he heard his dad.
Ranka picked up on the fact. " The old man yeah he's out of "the dog house", because he kept his end of the deal. He showed mom his curse, and she fainted, but things are set in motion now." Ranma blinked, looking dumb founded for a few minutes. " He" actually did it.." Ranka nodded her head. " He wanted to get back in that badly." Ranma gave her a concerned and confused look. " So, you actually forgave him?" Ranka hehed. " Hells no, I still hate him very much. You can say you've forgiven but just to save face. Which i'd better do with Akane." She stood up and walked off to the house.
Upstairs in her room Akane was huffing and puffing with her face in her pillow on her bed, until she heard knocking at her door and heard Ranka, prompting her to get up out of bed and open her door. She had a flustered and annoyed look on her face. 'What do YOU want?" Ranka sighed as she rubbed at the back of her head. " To talk." Akane hmpfed as she let her come into her room, before shutting the door behind her and going and sitting on the edge of her bed. Ranka took a seat in at the computer chair at the desk. Akane had her arms crossed. " Well.. I'm listening.." Ranka crossed hers. " I'm sorry but I'm also NOT sorry." Akane almost fell off her bed at hearing that. " What kind of apology is that?!" Ranka leaned back in the chair. " You were out of line. I haven't known my mom very long but I have been slapped by her, to knock some sense into me and at the same time being disciplined." Akane huffed. " How is "this" an apology? You should've taken my side.. we're both girls." Ranka gave her a dull look. " Well you know I am Ranma's other side, so that goes without saying that I'm going to side with him, especially when you get violent like that." Akane grumbled. " Like I said that means you'll "always" take "his" side!" Ranka gave her a stern look. " Listen if I thought he was really in the wrong, I would not agree."
Akane mulled over what was said and decided to throw out the whole Ryouga thing at her. " So you're telling me you're not mad at Ranma, for getting mad about you going on a date with Ryouga?" Ranka looked offended as she leaned back more in the chair. " Hey, this isn't about me.. No I'm not, he's allowed to be mad." Akane retorted back. " Oh but I'm not?!" Ranka wrinkled up her nose at her. " Not when you just lash out and slap people in their faces.." Akane looked frustrated and flustered. " Oh yeah, like you're one to talk!" Ranka gave her an annoyed look back. " I just let you know, that wasn't going to fly. Anyways, if you want to spar it can't be too long, as I can't stay out too long." Akane smiled a tad as she accepted Ranka's apology.
Ranma confronted his father in their room as he was un packing his back pack. " Gee aren't you lucky huh pops, that Ranka 'forgave" YOU." Genma furrowed his brow as he kept un packing. " Oh shut up boy, you have no idea how ruth less she really is.." Now that he thought about it, she was almost as bad as Nodoka when she showed her anger. Ranma rolled his eyes at him. " Haha very funny, she told me what happened, so you can't lie to me." Genma tried again to sway him. " Right, that's why she's got a katana on her, just like your mother, just waiting to do "us" both in!" Ranma gave him an annoyed look. "Speak for yourself."
Back at the dojo Akane was warming herself up. " You ready?" Ranka held up her hand. " Just a minute." She stripped off her tshirt and skirt, to the tank top and shorts she had on under neath. Akane got all flustered. " Ranka!" Ranka blinked at her. " What's your problem?" Akane staggered back some. " I thought we went over this before.. you can't just strip in front of others like that.." Ranka tilted her head back some. " I didn't, I just took off some layers. See I didn't show my bra like the other but we're both girls and it's not like I stripped naked, okay." Akane slapped her hand to her face as she shook her head back and forth. Yep she was definitely like Ranma, even though she wasn't as bad as the last time, it still wasn't perfect. Ranka rolled her eyes at her. " Are we sparring or not?" Akane got all flustered. " Yeah, cmon let's go!" Ranka smirked at her some. " Okay then."
Cut to a few minutes later and being slammed to the ground a few times, Akane's huffing and puffing on the ground as she rubs her sore butt, before getting frustrated. Ranma had stopped arguing with his father at hearing all the yelling and noises coming from the dojo, making him run over there to check what was going on. Akane grumbled as she owwed. " Hey! What happened with going easy on me, huh?!" Ranka fixed her pony tail some as she flicked it back. " Gee Akane, first you complained about NOT going on easy on you, and now you've suddenly changed your mind." Akane looked annoyed and upset at Ranma. Ranma sweat dropped looking nervous and looking off the other way. She huffed and went back to focusing on Ranka. "Can't you not be so ruthless!" Ranka gave her a blank look. " Can't YOU make up your damn mind? Don't ask for something that YOU can't obviously handle…" Akane stomped her foot down on the ground. " Excuse me?!" Ranka glared back at her. " You heard me!" She then tossed the towel so it landed on top of her head. " Don't ask me to spar with you, if you don't know what the hell you want." She hmpfed and picked up her things, going off to the back room to put her other clothes on.
Akane stomped around in anger as she tore the towel off her face. " Uugh Ranma, YOU jerk!" Ranma sweat dropped more. " What'd I do?!" Akane arghhed and stomped off out of the dojo, coming back and splashing Ranma with a bucket of cold water. " You're BOTH jerks!" She then stormed off again. Ranma-chan shook her head back and forth to get some of the water off. " Ugh.. she's so damned un cute…" Ranka came back out and rolled her eyes at the situation. " I don't know about you, but I'm going back." She started walking off after she said good bye to the Tendo's. She was too annoyed to worry about what Ranma was or wasn't going to do.
Ranma-chan managed to catch up to her. " Hey, wait up!" Ranka gave her an annoyed look as she slowed down a bit. Ranma-chan blinked. " What are you mad at me? Um.. because of Ryouga?" Ranka grumbled and looked off straight ahead as she started walking again. "No, I'm mad at Akane.." Ranma-chan sweat dropped feeling stupid now. " Oh.." Ranka sighed. " No I'm not mad at you about that, but I don't really have much a choice about it. Like I didn't with the whole, Shampoo thing.. or.. that horrible hydro room." It sent shivers up her spine just thinking about it.
Nodoka looked up from a book she was reading on the couch, as she heard the front door open and shut and saw a sheepish looking Ranko. Ranma-chan shuffled her feet, feeling bad for getting mad and storming off. " I'm sorry mom.." Nodoka smiled and tear up some as she embraced her. Ranka took off the sheath, putting it away. Nodoka had let go of Ranko and smiled at her other daughter. " Thank you Ranka dear for bringing Ranko back home." Ranka nodded in reply. " So did you decide on what we're making for dinner?" Nodoka smiled and nodded back, as her and Ranka went off into the kitchen, though Nodoka could tell she seemed annoyed and had a feeling why. She put her hands on her hips. " Ranka.. were you and Akane fighting again?" Ranka sweat dropped and wrinkled up her nose. " She's always picking fights first though.." Nodoka shook her head. " Ranka.." Ranma-chan went in to side with her sister. " She does though mom, she picked a fight with me too." Nodoka sighed as she put her hand to her face. "The poor dear.." Ranka and Ranma-chan both sweat dropped at hearing their mother take Akane's side. Nodoka showed Ranka the recipe she had in mind as she started getting everything together for it.
After dinner and tv show, they went upstairs for the night. Ranka went off to take a bath for a bit, while Ranma-chan was relaxing in the room with a manga. After awhile Ranka came in with her hair down and dressed for bed as she went over to her bed, settling in for the night.
Another morning like the other ones, with the same routine. This morning was a lucky one as there was no Kuno around, making it easier to get inside and off to their classroom. Kuno had been busy, with his re educating the science club members who had been led astray. When he had the time he would re direct them, using kendo as the guidance and also carry on about how great Ranka was. Another part of their re education was fixing the field they had dug up, and any other damage their helping Ivory had done. All his ranting about Ranka, as well as the huge pictures he had in his private quarters, as well as the " pigtailed girl." had definitely re educated the way ward science club members. Especially the one's who had been so into Ivory before. Nabiki on occasion would stick her nose in the meetings, with this morning being one of those times, as she was preying on new potential customers.
Back in their classroom, Akane was still pretty huffy towards both the siblings. Sayuri frowned at her friends attitude towards Ranka. " Akane, don't tell me you're fighting with Ranka?" Akane huffed with her arms crossed. "It's Ryouga I feel bad for, going on a date with "her." Sayuri blinked taken a back some. " A date.." Thrista blinked having heard and smirked at Ranka, with an annoyed look as well. " Ooh I see how it is, too busy to give me the time of the day, but.." Ranka sweat dropped looking flustered as she needed to shut her up fast. "Just shut up and we'll do something Sunday okay." Thrista's eyes sparkled as she smiled brightly and made a zipping up motion to her mouth, stating she would " zip it."
Akane at seeing her talk upset her friend, shut up as well. That and Ranma was giving her a "wtf look". His friends couldn't help but see the anger towards the siblings from Akane and were curious. Hiroshi questioned him first. " Hey Ranma, did you and your sister both get in a fight with Akane?" Ranma had an annoyed look on his face. " Yeah, we're both jerks, apparently." Daisuke sweat dropped. "Wow, that's harsh. You'd think that since there both girls, that Akane and Ranka would get along, right?" Hiroshi shook his head. " No way, they don't really seem very similar."
Ukyou had her hand to her face, as she had heard just enough. " Wow so you and Ryouga huh." Ranka grumbled, looking annoyed. "It's complicated, but basically my mom gave him permission.." Ukyou hmmed. "That does sound rough, also seems like you and Ranma huney are on Akane's hate list today." Ranka grumbled again. "She just looks to start fights." Ukyou nodded in agreement. Thrista was too happy and in her own world, as the teacher came in and class started.
The school day went by and soon it was time to leave, with the siblings going off to Dr Tofu's as usual, before heading back to their mothers.
Nodoka looked up from her tea she was having at the table, at seeing her two girls come back from school, greeting them. " Welcome back dears. Ranka, your amazon fiancee has stopped by to see you." Ranka sweat dropped at seeing Shampoo sitting at the table with her mother. "Ah.." Ranma-chan looked annoyed at seeing Shampoo, before she went off upstairs to go get changed really fast. Shampoo had gotten up and in a blur was latched around Ranka, glomping her and giggling. " Airen." Nodoka cleared her throat. " Try to remember you aren't married just yet." Ranka pulled her off of her, going upstairs to go get changed as well, as Ranma-chan came back downstairs.
After Ranka came back downstairs dressed casual as well, they were all sitting at the table, having their snack time. Nodoka took this moment to address things with the amazon. " Now Shampoo I know you are technically engaged to Ranka, but I still want her to find a suitable man, and you will have to deal with that." Ranka looked flustered, where as Ranma-chan was annoyed. Shampoo smiled back at Nodoka. " Shampoo know." Nodoka smiled back. " Well I am very glad that you understand that." Shampoo then glomped onto Ranma-chan, giggling. " Airen." Ranma-chan was flustered and annoyed as she tried to pull her off her. " Knock it off, Shampoo!" Nodoka sweat dropped as she took a sip of her tea. " Hmm I thought you said Ranka was your "airen?" Shampoo having been pulled off by Ranma-chan was back in her own seat and nodded. Nodoka gave her a look. " Then why are you calling Ranko your "airen as well?" Shampoo smirked for a second before going back to smiling, making Ranma-chan nervous. " Because Ranma is Shampoo's "airen" too." Ranka gave Shampoo an annoyed look, really fast. Ranma-chan started laughing. "So she thinks.. and keeps mistaking me for my brother.." Shampoo smirked at Ranma-chan. "Is true, but Ranma is Shampoo's airen. I no think so, he is, is amazon law, when man beat amazon."
Nodoka put a hand to her face. "Oh my.." Ranma-chan was on pins and needles but also angry as hell with Shampoo. Nodoka smiled with her hand to her face still. "It can't be helped as honor is to be up held, but that being said, my son Ranma already has a fiancee, I'm not sure Akane will be so understanding." Ranma-chan was sweating as she got up and excused herself, going upstairs to the bathroom.
Nodoka sipped some more of her tea, before addressing the purple haired girl further about things. She wanted to make it clear to her about Ranka's date. " Well since you say you agree that Ranka is free to date and find a man, then I expect you to leave her and Ryouga alone." Shampoo's eyebrow twitched as she kept a smile on her face, but inside she was not happy at hearing "the lost boy" was going on a date with her claim. Nodoka smiled back with a stern look. "It is only fair, as we almost lost Ranka, but thanks to to Ryouga she was saved." Shampoo furrowed her brows. " What you mean?" Nodoka cleared her throat before going further. " My idiotic husband.. almost sold her off to the devil.." Shampoo glowered in anger, making Ranka nervous. Ranka waved her hands about. " Yeah but it's okay like my mom said." Nodoka nodded as she finished her tea. " Well I should start on dinner, so.." Shampoo cut her off with a big smile. " Mother no need do that, Shampoo will bring dinner." Nodoka blinked as she sat back down. " If you insist.." Shampoo smiled back and nodded. " May I use phone?" Nodoka nodded and pointed her to the direction.
Ranma-chan finally came back downstairs, after splashing her face with cold water and calming herself down, which took a while. Nodoka gave her a concerned look. " Ranko dear are you alright?" Ranma-chan smiled really fast. " Yeah just not feeling too well." Nodoka put a hand to her face. " Do you need some medicine dear? Shampoo has insisted that she will be bringing us dinner tonight, but if you're not feeling well I could make you something else." Ranma-chan took a seat at the table looking flustered, while she was upset with Shampoo, she also was excited about the food. " I'm starting to feel a little better." Shampoo having talked on the phone with Colonge, smiled brightly. " Dinner will be here very soon."
Not much later there was a knock on the door and Shampoo went and answered it, taking the food containers from Colonge and Mousse, thanking her and shutting the door in his face, before setting the containers down on the table and serving up the food.
Outside Mousse tried to protest, only to get whacked in the head by Colonge's staff. " Come along now part timer, you have plenty of more work to do." Mousse groaned and grumbled as he had no choice but to withdraw, with the amazon matriarch breathing down his neck.
Meanwhile Ranma-chan had forgotten her anger as she was too busy enjoying the food. After everyone was done Shampoo cleaned up before Nodoka could, making the older woman a bit flustered. Nodoka put her hand to her face. " Shampoo dear I could've done that." Shampoo shook her head. " Shampoo insist, you relax." Nodoka couldn't hate the girl, she had seemed to change for the better and she had already made herself clear with her. "How much do I owe you for the dinner?" Shampoo smiled and shook her finger at her. " Is free for family." Nodoka sweat dropped. "I suppose you insist that.." Shampoo just giggled back in response. " Since family, Shampoo sleep over." Ranma-chan and Ranka almost fell out of their seats at hearing that. Nodoka smiled back at her. " Perhaps another time, it is a school night after all." Shampoo nodded in reply, not wanting to push her luck with the mother, as she knew how scary she could get. "Another time then, Shampoo go home then." She picked up the containers with the dishes and said good night to them before departing.
After awhile they were all relaxing on the couch watching some shows together. Nodoka couldn't help but wonder in her thoughts, as she recalled how Ranka had said how Genma at meeting her, tried to sell her off to a bunch of guys. She pondered if the moron had done the same to her poor son, wondering how many girls he had perhaps sold him off to. For a minute she wondered if he had sold Ranko off to anyone, but that didn't seem likely with how un lady like she was, which was also his fault. A while longer she sent the girls off upstairs for the night, as she gave them good night hugs.
Once they had gotten all ready for bed, they were working on their homework at the ground table. Ranma-chan groaned at some of the problems. " Man.. that Shampoo is so shadey.." Ranka was writing some things in her notebook. " It was ALL part of her plan." Ranma-chan grumbled. " Like I said "shadey.." Ranka nodded as she kept working. " It's like I said, you're stuck with ALL of them." Ranma-chan put her head down on the table grumbling. Ranka kept writing. " Except Kodachi of course." Ranma-chan lifted her head up at hearing that. " That is a blessing.." She started writing in her notebook. Ranka nodded. "But your stuck with Akane." Ranma-chan kept writing but looked a little flustered. " Yeah I'm stuck with un cute.. tomboy.. I wouldn't mind as much if she wasn't always hitting me and picking fights with me." Ranka nodded. " She's got issues.."
Back at the Cat Cafe, Shampoo had been humming happily to herself the rest of the evening. Colonge smiled at her beaming great grand daughter as they finished up in the kitchen. " It seems everything is going according to your plan, eh child." Shampoo smiled back brightly. " That right great grandmother. Only thing that not is.. stupid Panda man, tried to give Ranka to devil.. and lost boy saved her, so Ranma's mother letting them go on date.." Colonge rubbed at her chin with her hand. " I see, I'll have to take matters into my own hands then. Well at least you've gotten in nicely with the mother now and i'm sure you have a plan for that as well." Shampoo nodded back. " I all done, I be back in a bit." Colonge nodded as Shampoo took left out the back the door, jumping up onto the roof top as she sped across multiple roof tops in a blur until she reached the Tendo's.
At the Tendo's, Genma was snoring soundly in his sleep, that he didn't hear a peep as Shampoo crept in thru the open window. She sneered at the old man sprawled out on the futon, having moved the blankets off himself for the moment, which worked to her advantage. She had brought one of her quack items with her, this time being an intense itching powder poison. Once the package was opened, she worked quickly as she sprinkled it all over Genma, on top of him, making sure it got every where. Once she was done she left the same way she came in a blur, making her way back to the cafe.
Coming back in and going off to the living room where she sat down at the ground table with her great grandmother, helping herself to some of the hot tea on the table. Colonge smiled at her. " Back already? It's nice that you found a guinea pig for the potent itching powder poison, that is said to last weeks or more." She said with a laugh as she sipped her own tea. Shampoo giggled with an evil smirk. " Panda man will regret trying to take Ranka away." Mousse shuddered as he could hear them cackling away.
Akane woke up and got ready before she went downstairs to have breakfast and she greeted everyone. Everyone was giving weird looks to Genma, who was scratching away at himself. Akane ate her breakfast before she tried to addressed him. " Mr Saotome, are you okay?" Nabiki cut in as she finished hers. " Maybe he caught flea's as a panda or something." Kasumi gave her other sister a stern look. " Nabiki.. that's not very nice to say." Soun nodded in agreement. Genma couldn't help but keep scratching at the intense itch. " Nothing to worry about Akane dear.." Akane gave him a confused look. " If you say so.." She made sure she had everything before leaving for school.
As she got over to the school and at seeing Ranma, she pulled him off behind the school, wanting to talk to him alone. Ranma looked annoyed at how she had gone a bout it. "What's so important that you had to drag me off like that, huh?" Akane gave him a concerned look. " Your father he's itching like crazy." Ranma gave her a weird look. " And?" Akane looked around. "Well, I was just thinking about it and how Ranka hates him and then suddenly this morning he's like that." Ranma put his hands on his hips giving her a look. " So what? You think that she snuck in and did that to him? Jeez Akane.. I'll have you know that I'd know if she snuck out. Just because you're mad doesn't mean you can go around blaming whoever you want, don't drag me off to try to blame her again, okay." He took his leave from her, feeling very angry with her.
Cut to gym class and the girls in the locker room about to get changed. Some are already changing but a good amount of them aren't. One of the girls goes over to Ranka. " Ranka.. could you uh please check my locker for me?" Ranka blinked and shrugged her shoulders. " Okay." She went over and did so. " It's pervert free." The girl blushed some. " Thanks Ranka, you're the best." Other girls started begging her to check theirs for them as well. Akane glowered at all the attention she was getting, and tried to step in. " Hey it's okay, I could check everyone's lockers for them. You don't want her doing that, she's a jerk just like Ranma." The group of girls gave her a dull look and there was some coughing and silence. One girl said what the others were thinking. " Are you sure, you're not the one being a jerk Akane?" The other girls then went back to begging Ranka for help, making her flustered.
After most of them had left and gotten changed, after having their lockers checked, it was mainly just Akane and Ranka still getting ready. Ranka wasn't in the mood for her mood. " Jeez Akane, what got up your butt this morning hmm?" Akane retorted back. " YOU did!" Ranka looked flustered for a second, before getting annoyed. "It's not like I asked all of them to come to me.. I wasn't trying to steal your thunder, okay." Akane huffed back. " Will YOU did! They like you more than me! Everyone does! And I'm pretty sure you made Mr. Saotome all itchy!" Ranka blinked at her. " Huh? Oh so just because I hate him, I'm automatically the one to be blamed huh. That's real nice. It's not like I asked for them to all like me.." Akane hmpfed at her before leaving the locker room in a tizzy. Ranka grumbled as she finished changing and left the locker room as well.
The boys side of gym sweated watching how angry Akane was on the girls side, and all the girls keeping their distance from her, no matter what activity they were doing. Hiroshi was the first to speak up. " Hey so, do you think something happened with Akane and your sister, huh Ranma?" Ranma sweat dropped and rubbed at his head. " It's pretty obvious.." Daisuke nodded in agreement, as did all the other guys.
After class ended and the girls were back in the locker room, a lot of them begging Ranka to check their lockers again. Ranka sweat dropped and waved her arms about. " How about you let Akane do that for you this time. She feels like you guys don't like her anymore." Some of the girls then asked Akane to check for them, which made her cheer up some, of course some of them still bothered Ranka to as well. After awhile it was pretty much just her and Ranka in the locker room again and she was starting to feel guilty about picking a fight with her. Especially as she could see if it was Ranma in his girl form, he would've eaten up the attention and boosted back to her about how much better he was, but she hadn't really done that. "I uh.. Ranka, I'm sorry." Ranka gave her an annoyed look as she finished changing and was working on tying her shoes. " You're sorry you had something up your butt, hmm?" Akane felt sheepish for the way she had acted. " Yeah.. and for blaming you about Mr. Saotome.." Ranka hmmed. "Well it is only fair, I do loathe him but no it wasn't me." She thought about it for a second before snapping her fingers. " Shampoo found out what he did the other day though." Akane sweat dropped as she finished pulling her shoes on. " It was probably her then..
They finished up and left the locker room, walking off to the next class together. Ranka sighed at her as she rubbed her head, looking annoyed some. " It's not like I asked them to come crying to me about the perverted old man.. but I also can't blame them.. You just never know when he's gonna pop up. Or that I want all of them asking me to always check their locker's for the boogey man.." Akane tensed up some, feeling the guilt hit her again. " I guess I just got jealous." Ranka nodded. " Well you do, do that "a lot." Akane tried not to get too mad about it, but found it hard not to, feeling like Ranma was throwing something back in her face. Ranka on the other hand acknowledged she was trying. " But it's a good thing that you're owning up to it. It's like I said, I don't like all that attention or want it every gym class, but it's going to happen. So let's take turns and you can do it as much as you want to. I'm more than fine then letting you have more of the glory." Akane smiled some to herself at hearing that. Now that, she couldn't say that Ranka was like Ranma about.
Classes went by as well as lunch, and then it was time for cooking class. None of the girls wanted to partner up with Akane, a lot of them afraid from her going all brute force at gym class. Ranka ended up partnering up with her, and she was a lot more calmer than she had been before. They looked over the recipe for the banana bread and Ranka made sure to correct her when she tried to put the wrong ingredients in. Akane then got to the point of stirring the batter and Ranka showed her that she was stirring it too fast and how to watch it and time it in the oven. Once it was done, Akane beamed with pride that it looked decent. Ranka smiled at her as she took her own out from the oven. " See, it's not that hard and definitely helps when you're not angry." Akane got a little annoyed at hearing that, but was too excited to get too mad. After cleaning up, not soon after the bell chimed and school was done for the day.
Akane thought about sharing some with Ranma but mainly wanted to bring it home and share with everyone. Ranka was thinking the same thing as they both left the class room. Unfortunately Kuno was there and ready to swoop. " Ah Akane Tendo, goddess Ranka, worry not I Tatewaki Kuno will gladly eat your lovely treats." He was going to say more but Shampoo popped out of no where and drop kicked him. " No can have, is mine, stupid." She giggled and glomped onto Ranka. " "That right, other airen." Ranka blushed some. " Well I was going to bring it home for everyone." Kuno bounced back up with a serious look and tears flowing down his face. " Fair ones no! I.." Shampoo drop kicked him again having let go of Ranka for a minute to do so. " Out way, stupid poet man." Akane found herself getting a little jealous. " Hey! What do you think you're doing, Shampoo?!" Shampoo gave her a dull look. " What it look like?" Akane fumed at hearing that, as she could clearly tell how she was set on having not just Ranma but also Ranka as well. While she was busy being angry she hadn't noticed Kuno bounce back up and his spouting nonsense as he had taken her banana bread and started devouring it. Akane at noticing bristled in anger, then took off running off crying.
Ranka felt bad for her, as she handed hers to Shampoo. " Hey Shampoo, could you do me a favor? Since you want some and that means your probably coming over to the house right?" Shampoo giggled and nodded. " That right." Ranka put her head down with a sigh. " Right.. well could you bring that to the house for me, since you're probably going to meet up with Ranma and tell him I'll meet him at the house, okay." Shampoo nodded. " Shampoo will let him know." Ranka smiled at her. " Thanks Shampoo." She went back into the classroom, after punching Kuno out for what he did and went to talk to the teacher.
Shampoo skipped off till she found Ranma outside by the gates. "Aiya, airen!" She glomped onto him, before he pulled her off. "Ranka say she will meet us back at home." Ranma gave her a look. " Why's that?" Shampoo giggled. " We go, so we can have "this" together." She said holding out the banana bread. Ranma sighed. " Okay, let's go."
Elsewhere Akane had stopped running after awhile as she started to wipe away at her tears. Stupid upper class man Kuno, eating her hard work that she wanted to share with everyone at home, now she had nothing. She jumped as she felt something poke her on her back. Ranka blinked at her. " Hey, are you okay?" Akane wiped away more at her tears. "I just.." Ranka gave her a concerned look, before holding out the newly made banana bread to her. " Yeah I know, that glutton ate your hard work, so I made you another one, so you have something at least." She said looking a bit flustered. Akane teared up a bit as she smiled, taking it. " Thank you.. Ranka.." Ranka nodded back. " Well I better go, if I'm too late I'll never hear the end of it. See ya." She said before taking her leave. Akane held the wrapped banana bread to her chest, feeling good and then she felt extra guilty about how nasty she had been towards Ranka. She had been angry with her for not taking her side for one thing and feeling that since they were both girls, she should've. Even though she had stated to her that she would most likely always side with Ranma, she did just now show as a girl that she sided with her.
About half way to the house, she met them in between. Shampoo was glomped onto Ranma-chan. Ranka took back her banana bread from the amazon. Ranma-chan managed to pull Shampoo off from hugging up on her, but not to get her completely off as she had then glomped onto her arm. "Where'd you run off to?" Ranka gave Shampoo a look. " Didn't Shampoo tell you?" Ranma-chan got an annoyed look on her face. " Not really, no.." Ranka gave Shampoo a blank look. " Kuno ate Akane's bread, so I made another one and made sure she had something to bring home." Shampoo nodded. " Yes, that." Ranma-chan gave her a dull look. " Then why didn't you say that?" Shampoo just giggled in response. Ranma-chan rolled her eyes at the purple haired girl clinging onto her arm. "I dunno why you did that, she was fighting with you again, right?" Ranka nodded. " She did, but she got over it and no one deserves having their hard word devoured by Kuno.." Ranma-chan thought about it for a sec. " That's true." They made their way back to the house, where Nodoka greeted them. "Oh hello Shampoo." Shampoo greeted her back with a generous bow.
Ranka set the banana bread down on the table. " We made banana bread in cooking class today, Shampoo wanted to try some, so.." Nodoka couldn't help but giggle some, judging by the reactions and what Ranka had said, she could tell the amazon fiancee had wanted to take it all for herself, but Ranka wanted to share it with everyone. Ranma-chan had gone off upstairs really fast to get changed, as she put up with the girls uniform for just as fast as she could be rid of it.
After both of them had changed into casual clothes, everyone was sitting at the dining room table, having some of the banana bread. Nodoka sipped some of her tea after having some. " That was very good Ranka dear." Shampoo and Ranma-chan nodded in agreement.
Back at the Tendo's, everyone was enjoying the banana bread that Akane had brought home. Soun had tears streaming down his eyes. " It's delicious! My sweet little girl is cured!" Kasumi laughed a tad as she dabbed her mouth with a napkin. " Calm down father. It is delicious Akane." Nabiki nodded as she munched on her slice. Akane smiled, feeling good that she was able to share something with them. "Ah, doesn't Mr. Saotome want some?" Nabiki sipped some of her tea, setting it down with a smirk. " Sure, if he can stop scratching himself long enough."
Cut back to the Saotomes, Nodoka found she was missing an ingredient for dinner and let the girls go off to the store to get it, as they walked Shampoo back home. Since they were at a store, Shampoo did some shopping herself as well, before they all walked her back over to the Cat Cafe. Shampoo came in thru the front door. " Great grandmother I back, I get some ingredients too." Colonge came hopping over on her stick. " Thank you Shampoo dear." She greeted the siblings, as the restaurant wasn't too busy at the moment. Shampoo grabbed Ranma-chan by her arm and pulled her off to the back, where the living quarters were. " Ranma, you come here a minute." Ranma-chan gave her a look. " Why? What're you up to?" Shampoo gave a smirk back as she giggled. " That mean you okay, with lost boy going on date with Ranka?" Ranma-chan furrowed her brow looking annoyed. " Go on.."
While they were talking in the back room, Colonge was chatting it up with Ranka, also carrying thru with the plan her and Shampoo had agreed to the other day. As Shampoo had told her how Ranma's idiotic father had tried to deliver her to the devil and at how upset it had made Shampoo, that she could've lost her "other" airen. They decided to remedy that by marking Ranka, which Colonge was about to carry out as she asked her to help her carry some dishes into the kitchen for her, citing how Mousse was on his break. Ranka shrugged her shoulders and did so, as she carried a bunch of empty dishes off into the kitchen for her. Colonge took a puff on her pipe before thanking her, making it look like she accidentally almost drops her smoking pipe, which is a farce as she makes sure one of the special amazon amber she put in place, comes out and faster than lightning she uses it to burn a mark on Ranka's wrist. Luckily she had already put the dishes down but grimaced at the burn. "Oww.." Colonge acted like it was an accident and blamed her clumsy old hands, as she put her hand under some cold water. " So sorry about that dear."
Ranma-chan and Shampoo came over as Ranma was able to sense something had happened. Colonge put herself to blame and then repeated the act, as she did the same to Ranma. Ranma-chan rubbed at her wrist. " Oww! What the hell did you do that for, you old ghoul?!" Colonge once again blamed herself for being old and clumsy as she put Ranma's hand under some cold water from the sink, like she did with Ranka. Shampoo played along as well. " Bad great grandmother, you need to be more careful." Colonge rubbed at her head and bowed her head. " Oh I know, please take some dim sums on the house." Ranma-chan rubbed at her wrist looking annoyed but couldn't turn down free food, as she took the pay off. Shampoo walked them out to the front door before sending them off.
After they had left, Shampoo smirked at Colonge. " Plan was a success great grandmother." Colonge laughed some. " All it took was a bit of self blame. Now you can rest at ease my child, as they are both marked with the magic amazon tracking amber, which also marks the bearer as amazon property. Now you won't have to worry about the devil getting his mitts on Ranka." Shampoo giggled in reply. " You so smart great grandmother." Colonge chuckled. " I agree, so did you and Ranma have a nice little chat?" Shampoo smirked some. " We did, both of us no want Ryouga going on date with Ranka tomorrow." Colonge smiled back at her. " I see, so you two are going to team up." Shampoo giggled in reply.
Walking back, they were both rubbing at their wrists. Ranma-chan looked annoyed as she did so, as she thought on it, how the last time the old ghoul pulled the accident with the vases on both them. "There's no way this was an accident. She did that on purpose!" Ranka looked at the mark. " It does look weird for a burn mark. Well there's one way to find out." She took her gem that was on her necklace and held her wrist up to it, getting a reaction from the gem as it lit up some. " Yeah I'd say it's some kind of magic mark." Ranma-chan tightened her fist. " Damn sneaky amazons.." She was definitely going to ask Shampoo about what she was up to, when she see's her tomorrow.
Nodoka smiled as she greeted them, as they came back from the store, then she noticed the take out bin. " Well well, did you go and have dinner, some where else?" Ranma-chan sweat dropped and put the metal case down on the table. " No way, of course not! No.. it's just something that Shampoo sent back.." Nodoka smiled and patted Ranko on the head. " I see, thank you for telling me. We'll be sure to have that a long with what I'm making. Ranko be a dear and help me cut these vegetables up, won't you?" Ranma-chan nodded and did as she was asked. Nodoka then had Ranka help her with other things as they all worked on preparing dinner. After she finished cutting up all the vegetables, Ranma-chan asked to be excused to go take a bath, which her mother allowed.
Up in the hot bath, Ranma was trying to scrub away at the mark on his wrist. It made him angrier when he had changed back into a guy that it was still there. After awhile he gave up and relaxed a bit, before finishing up and turning himself back into a girl with a shower off of cold water. Still grumbling as she changed into pajama's, going off into the room, when an idea hit her. She went and got the gem necklace that her sister had made for her and tried to use it to heal her wrist, before putting it away, looking frustrated that it hadn't worked.
Soon after that dinner was ready and everyone was at the table enjoying it, and Ranma was too happy about eating to focus on the mark. After cleaning up after dinner, they all had some green tea ice cream for dessert. Nodoka finished hers and patted her mouth with a napkin, before she addressed Ranka. " Ranka dear, do you have a nice outfit picked out for your date tomorrow?" Ranma-chan tensed up and grumbled to herself at being reminded, but worse that her mother was making it into a huger thing. Ranka sweat dropped, knowing if she said the wrong thing, it would get more attention on her from her mother. " Yes I have a nice outfit all picked out already." Nodoka smiled at her, she decided she could trust Ranka, as she knew she knew how to dress accordingly. She then ushered her upstairs to go take a bath.
After they watched some tv together, before she sent them up to bed. Ranma-chan looked annoyed after getting ready for bed and laying back on her bed, trying to scratch at the mark on her wrist. "Do you really wanna go on a date with Ryouga tomorrow?" Ranka was laying in her own bed, looking thru a magazine. "Not really no, but I'm also not really considering it a date, either. Scratching isn't going to help.." She said referring to the mark. Ranma-chan grumbled as she rubbed at it. " Yeah well, magic didn't help either.. because I tried.." Ranka gave her a dull look. "It's amazonian magic, so it's hard to say if it can be." Ranma-chan got all frustrated at hearing that. " Ugh just great.. it could be some kinda puppet spell or something.." Ranka gave her another look. " If it was, you'd already be doing Shampoo's bidding, don't you think?" Ranma-chan grumbled. " Maybe but.. I don't like it.." Ranka gave her a somewhat annoyed look. " And you think that I do?" Ranma-chan gave her a dull look. " I dunno YOU didn't seem that upset about it." Ranka sighed laying back more. " It's called " keeping my cool." That and I don't think it's a puppet spell." Ranma-chan kept rubbing at it. "It didn't go away.. even with hot water.. so yeah that freaks me out, a lot.." Ranka rubbed at her mark on her wrist some. "It's not going away though, so freaking out isn't going to help. It's probably some kind of "claim" mark." Ranma-chan had an annoyed look on her face. " Right.. and that just makes me feel so much better."
Ranka got up out of her bed, going over to the desk, going thru one of the drawers. She pulled out a red and black marker, then she went over to her siblings bed, taking her by her wrist as she drew over the mark, making a red and black ying yang sign. Then stepped away. "At least now it looks different, right?" Ranma-chan looked flustered but nodded. Ranka put the markers back, before going back over to her bed, and saying good night as she settled under her covers for night.
After getting up and dressed, she went downstairs to have breakfast. Shortly after Ranma-chan was up and at and downstairs eating as well. Nodoka beamed at her daughter, though she wished she would've picked something a bit nicer, she had to at least be thankful that she was wearing a dress, even if she was wearing a hoodie sweat shirt along with it and boots. She decided to try to push a little. " Ranka dear, would you like me to do your hair?" Ranka sweat dropped. " No it's fine." Nodoka smiled with her hand to her face. "Oh how about your make up?" Ranka started to get a little annoyed, but kept a smile on. " I've got lip balm on, that's good enough." Ranma-chan looked back and forth between the two's exchanges, glad that she wasn't being subjected to it. Nodoka sighed as she knew she had to pick her battles with Ranka, even though she didn't have to battle as much as she did with Ranko, she still had to battle, and she knew she had to allow compromise. While she wasn't thrilled at Ranka's over all outfit, she had to be thankful she was wearing a dress and earrings, and not quite lip stick but close enough.
Ryouga had made sure to stay close, and thru some trial and error, finally made his way to his destination, as he knocked on the door. A few minutes later, at seeing Ranka come out, he was caught up in her beauty for a few seconds, before she shook his head about. " Ah um good morning Ranka." Ranka gave him a quick smile. " Good morning Ryouga, I'm surprised you found your way." Ryouga laughed a bit. " Yeah me too, so um where do you want to go?" Ranka blinked at him. " Where do you want to go?" Ryouga found himself laughing nervously for a few seconds. " Oh um let's go to the park!" Ranka shrugged her shoulders. " Okay then." Ryouga started to walk off in the wrong direction, until Ranka dragged him off in the right one. " It's this way.."
Back at the house, Ranma-chan was looking at the time, as she was waiting for Shampoo. Nodoka noticed her looking at the clock. " Do you have somewhere to be hmm, Ranko dear?" Ranma-chan tensed up at realizing her mother had caught on to her actions. " Ah yeah I was going to go on a date too." Nodoka smiled. " Well alright dear, but shouldn't you dress a little more lady like?" Ranma-chan sweat dropped at her chinese outfit. " Oh shoot I don't have time to change, I gotta go." She left as fast as she could after saying good bye to her mom.
At the park, Ranka and Ryouga were sitting on a bench near the pond. Ryouga was twiddling his fingers about nervously. " You uh look really nice today." Ranka was playing with her necklace. " Yeah.. um thanks, it wasn't good enough for my mom's liking though." Ryouga shook his head. " No it's really good!" Ranka moved her feet about back and forth. "Good enough, yeah. I dunno, aren't you weirded out?" Ryouga blinked. " Why would I be?" Ranka gave him a dull look. " You know why, or you should know why, but I'll tell you again. I am a clone of Ranma's girl side, and I have the same memories." Ryouga takes her hand into his. " No, you're different." Ranka looked off some getting flustered. "Not really.. I mean.." Ryouga got flustered as well and a bit frustrated as he let go of her hand. " I mean.. I.. it's Ranma's fault.. but you're so much better than him." Ranka sweat dropped with an annoyed look. " Hey.. don't insult my other half like that." Ryouga wanted to go on but knew by her look it was best to stop talking badly about Ranma. "I uh.. sorry.." Ranka kept swinging her feet about. " It's not just you, ya know.. I don't like anyone bad mouthing Ranma.. I got into a fight with Akane the other day about it, so it's not just you."
Not too far off, Ranma-chan met up with Shampoo. " About time.." Shampoo smiled at Ranma. " Restaurant was a bit busy, but I here." Ranma-chan had her arms crossed. " Good, or I was gonna go off on my own." Shampoo glomped onto her. " But I here now." Ranma-chan sighed as she pulled her off. " Cmon, we're supposed to be working together to break up the stupid date.." Shampoo smiled. "That right, so where they go?" Ranma-chan waved her hand about. " Gimme a second." She used her senses to pick up on her twin, as she could sense she wasn't too far off, which led her and Shampoo to the park, where they finally ended up spotting them and hid not too far off behind some bushes.
Ryouga was laughing nervously and looking around, trying to figure out what to do next. Ranka looked around some, catching onto what he was thinking. " How about some crepes?" Ryouga nodded all dumb founded." Ranka felt a little hot so she took her sweat shirt hoodie jacket off, leaving it draped over the bench, before she went off to the crepe vendor, that was off a ways. Ranma-chan at seeing her chance, moved in while Shampoo kept watch.. Ryouga was too busy being in a daze, as Ranma-chan put on her twins sweatshirt hoodie jacket and took a seat on the bench, even making sure her hair was up in a pony tail like Ranka's was.
Ryouga snapped out of his daze at seeing Ranka was back. " Oh hey, that was quick, so where's the crepes?" Ranma-chan faked a smile. " Oh, it's taking a little while for them to make them." Ryouga smiled back. " Oh I see." Ranma-chan put her hand on his and had a pissy smile on her face. " I hope you're not thinking about trying to kiss me at the end of the date, or you're going to get a black eye.." She said in a dead serious tone. Ryouga shuddered at hearing it, he had heard it from Ranka before and knew she was dead serious. Ranma-chan then gave him a slug to the shoulder. " Okay! I'll be right back with the crepes." She took the sweatshirt jacket hoodie off and took her leave, while Ryouga was in a daze.
Ranka then came back over with the crepes and drinks, sitting back down on the bench, making Ryouga snap out of it. Ryouga blinked. " Wow, that was quick." Ranka handed him one and a drink. " Yep." She handed him hers too for a second, while she put her sweat shirt jacked hoodie back on, feeling cold, before taking it back. Ryouga got all flustered as he aahhed. " Oh I should've paid for the crepes!" Ranka shrugged her shoulders. " It's not a big deal."
Not too far off behind the bushes, Shampoo and Ranma-chan spied. Shampoo smirked at how well Ranma had deceived Ryouga. " You sure told him." Ranma-chan had put her hair back into her signature pigtail. " Heh, I sure did."
Ranka finished eating some of hers, noticing how into his, he was. " It's good huh." Ryouga nodded. " But not as good as your cake.." Ranka looked flustered for a second. "If you say so." After they finished, he was fidgeting. " Ah so, let's go see a movie." Ranka swung her feet about back and forth, looking flustered. "Listen I only agreed to this, because of my mom and I think "this" has been enough for today." Ryouga waved his hands about nervously. " Oh well, um okay but I.. I really like you Ranka!" He took her hands into his. Ranka looked a bit flustered. " Ah yeah.. I get that, but you like Akane." Ryouga tensed up some. " But I really like you.. Ranka." Ranka gave him a bit of an annoyed look, while also being flustered. " Really? But then you can't seem to keep your face out of Akane's boobs, now can you.." She took her hand away from his. "Maybe.. if you could show me some restraint, I might change my mind." Ryouga was bright red in the face as he made embarrassed noises for a few minutes, before straightening up in his seat. "Then.. if I can prove that to you.. you'd.. be.. my.." Ranka has her arms crossed. " Maybe, but yeah prove it by not sticking your lil piggy face into her boobs, okay P-chan." Ryouga nodded. Ranka gave him a smirk before she gave him a playful punch to his shoulder. " Alright then." She got up and took her leave, while Ryouga rubbed at his shoulder in a daze.
Ranma-chan and Shampoo were going to plot further, but didn't have to since there was no kiss. Shampoo had intended to splash him with cold water if things went too far. Ranma-chan beamed with pride. " Heh, she sure told him. There's no way that pervert will stop shoving his face into Akane's chest." Shampoo nodded in agreement, but also would make sure that he would keep doing so.
Now that they were done with their task, Ranma could press her about the mark. "Hey Shampoo, what the hell is up with the mark the old ghoul gave me and Ranka huh?!" Shampoo blinked and tried to play dumb. " What you talking? Great grandmother is very old and very clumsy." Ranma-chan hahed. " Yeah right, like the vase thing that was a set up.. Oh yeah really clumsy for her to burn both of us.." Shampoo looked off the other way a bit nervous. " I no know what you mean." Ranma-chan gave her an annoyed look. " I think you " do know", so go on out with it.." Shampoo smirked at a good chance to rope Ranma in. " Ranma you want to go on date with Shampoo." Ranma-chan grumbled. " If I do.. will you tell me?" Shampoo had a smug smile as she nodded. Ranma-chan sighed. " Fine.. but you better tell the damn truth."
After leaving the park, Ranka checked the time on watch she was wearing. It was too early to go back to the house, she'd never hear the end of it from her mother how she cut "the date" so short. She was thinking about what to do, when she heard a familiar voice from behind her. Sayuri smiled at seeing Ranka and managed to say hi to her. Ranka turned around to see her. " Oh hey Sayuri." Sayuri smiled and couldn't help but blush a bit at seeing how she was dressed. "Small world huh, I was just taking a walk down to the shopping plaza." Ranka took that in, seeing it as something to do for awhile. " If you don't mind, I'd like to tag along with you. We can go our separate ways after we get there though." Sayuri's eyes widened as she shook her head back and forth in disagreement. " No, I don't mind, we don't have to separate." Ranka shrugged her shoulder and walked with her. " Okay." They talked while they were walking next to each other.
Sayuri couldn't believe her luck of running into Ranka. " So what were you doing before we bumped each other?" Ranka rubbed at the back of her head. " My mom made me go on a date. He wanted to go to the movies, but just spending a little time in the park having some food was enough for me. Ugh not to mention my mom wanted me to wear make up and dress better.. " She laughed nervously. " If she had her way, I would've had to gone in a full kimono." Sayuri sweat dropped at what she was hearing. " Jeez that's rough. Well I think your outfit's fine. Hey, how about, we go see a movie then, since you've got time to kill, right?" Ranka smiled a little. " Yeah I definitely do. Yeah, then I can say I did go see a movie."
Meanwhile Shampoo took Ranma-chan back with her to the restaurant, so she could get some hot water for her to change back into a guy. After that she dragged him off outside. " We go see movie, yes." Ranma sweat dropped. " Whatever, if it gets you to tell me about the stupid mark." Shampoo giggled all wrapped around his arm as they made their way to the movie theater.
Unknown to either of the siblings, the both ended up at the same movie theater and at the same movie, just a few rows apart. Sayuri was on cloud nine, at getting to spend time alone with Ranka. She had been hoping they'd see a scary movie, but went to the action mixed movie. They were sharing a bucket of popcorn though and she was happy that Ranka was enjoying the movie.
Further back some rows, Shampoo was enjoying staying latched onto Ranma, even though he was more interested in the movie.
After the movie ended Ranka and Sayuri left before Ranma and Shampoo had, with Sayuri pulling Ranka off with her to the near by department store, where they got looking at the jewelry and other items. After some shopping, they found a photo booth and took some pictures, at Sayuri's delight, before they started walking back. She was beaming at the pictures. Ranka had her own set, as well. " I wouldn't show or tell Akane if I were you, unless you want the "rage machine." Sayuri shook her head. " Why would I want that? I'm definitely not going to show or tell." Ranka kept walking as they talked. " Yeah but next time you should invite her, so she doesn't feel left out, because then she gets jealous and mad." Sayuri put the photos in one of her shopping bags. " Yes, next time I will."
Back in the shopping plaza, having left the movie theater and just walking back to the restaurant, Ranma tried to get it out of her, as the date was over. " So.. what is it?" Shampoo needed to get back, so she cut it shorter than she would've liked to, but she did get a date, so it was only fair. " Is claim mark." She left out the specifics, seeing that she could use that to her advantage later on. Ranma frowned at hearing that, but before he could argue Shampoo gave him a hug before taking her leave.
Down in hell Satan had been plotting about what to do to Ryouga for denying him his delivery of the girl and his blatant disrespect to him. From having a spy watching his little date with Ranka and hearing how he needed to earn her trust, if he wanted her to be his girlfriend. He stroked at his chin as an evil idea came to him. Alley noticed his attitude change. " Master, did you come up with a punishment for that boy?" Satan chuckled from his throne. " Indeed I did. I also had one of my minions get some of his hair, from both forms." After saying that he got up and went off to his workshop and went to work on creating an evil P-chan, shadow clone.
Alley snickered as the creation came to life from the cauldron and some items and a bit of magic. Satan chuckled as he made sure his new creation knew what it needed to do, before he released it to the surface.
At the house Nodoka was finishing up, cleaning around the house, as her two girls came in. She stopped as she greeted them. " How were you're dates hmm?" Both of them faked smiles and said it was good. Nodoka smiled. " Oh well that's wonderful." Ranka nodded before going upstairs to go get changed.
Ranka finished changing, as she heard a noise and sensed something was in the room with her. She tensed up at seeing the window was open, before she homed in on where the noise was coming from, getting closer to her dresser, when she spotted P-chan poking up from a drawer, with a smirk on his face. Ranka blinked a few times, before she got flustered, which then turned to anger as well as she realized he had watched her changed and he was in the panty draw. " Oh I see.. so just because I didn't kiss you, you think you can just waltz in here and do whatever you like huh?!" She grabbed him out from the drawer, shutting it. " You've got some nerve.." She was going to say more, but yelped as the pig bit her hand, making her drop him. Evil P-chan snickered as he disappeared into one of Ranma's dresser's draws, then making his way thru the back up to the panty one.
Nodoka sweat dropped as she heard a lot of noise coming from upstairs. Ranma-chan sweat dropped as well. " I'll.. uh go see what's going on." Nodoka yelled after her as she went upstairs. " If there's a problem, let me know." Ranma-chan entered the room really fast. " Hey, is everything okay up here?" She sweat dropped as she spotted P-chan hop out of one of her dresser drawers, speeding off really fast and jumping off into Ranka's. "What the hell, Ryouga?!" She said as she tightened her fist. Ranka looked really flustered as she heard him rustling around in the drawers again, and more so as he pushed open the top one, poking his head out. "Get outta there!"
Downstairs, all Nodoka could hear was foot steps running back and forth and yelling, which prompted her to speed upstairs to their room. " What is going on?!" She demanded. Evil P-chan had darted out from the dresser and darted at Nodoka, before he disappeared in a blur. Ranka's eyes went wide, at realizing where he had gone. Ranma-chan was angry as hell. Nodoka eeped as she felt something moving around and up into her kimono, making her giggle some at whatever it was. Ranka looked really flustered as she grabbed P-chan as he poked up in between the collar of the kimono. Nodoka looked flustered as well. " Oh my.. is that.. Akane's little pet pig again? Is he what all the noise was about?" Ranka nodded as she tried to keep hold of him but he was kicking her and trying to bite her again. Nodoka put her hand to her mouth. "Oh my, I'll phone the Tendo's and let Akane know, and you two can run him over to her if need be." She took her leave, going off downstairs.
Ranma-chan grabbed P-chan from Ranka, squeezing him like a stress toy. " I'm gonna kill you, you perverted little runt!" Evil P-chan glared daggers at her as he started kicking and squirming about, before biting down on her hand really hard, earning a whack to his head from Ranma. " What the hell, is your problem?!" Ranka sweat dropped as she rubbed at her hand that he had bitten. " Maybe he's mad because he didn't get a kiss." Ranma-chan gave him another whack to the head. " Too damn bad, that doesn't give you the right to be a damned pervert!" She took notice that he had bitten Ranka too. " What is the matter with you?!" She took him and threw him against the wall. Ranka sweat dropped. " I know you want to kill him, but, we're supposed to be bringing him back a live, and Akane will kill YOU, if he's too banged up.." Ranma-chan grumbled as she picked him up and gave him another whack to the head. " Yeah, yeah.."
After hearing that Ranma and Ranka were bringing P-chan back, Akane was waiting by the door all excited and even more so when they actually showed up. She had her arms out. " Aww come here baby." Evil P-chan bit Ranma-chan hand, before leaping off into Akane's chest and her grasp. Ranma-chan grumbled in anger. Evil P-chan glared at both siblings and stuck his tongue out, before pushing his face really deep into her chest, making happy noises. It made both of the them bristle in anger and call him a "pervert" at the same time. Akane was babying the hell out of him. "It's okay baby, you're safe now." She gave Ranma an annoyed look. " Thanks for finding him, but I know YOU were bullying him, Ranma!" Ranma-chan gave her back the same look. " Because he was being a pervert! Like he's doing right now!" Ranka was furious as she turned around and took her leave.
That.. jerk, she should've known better, not even a few hours and he couldn't keep himself away from Akane's boobs. She rolled her eyes in anger, as she kept walking at a fast pace.
Ranma-chan at noticing her sister had left, said goodbye and caught up to her. "Hey, why'd you storm off like that?" Ranka sweat dropped as she realized she had done that. "I just, wanted to get away from the pervert.." Ranma-chan rubbed at the back of her head as she realized how upset her sister was and dropped it as they walked back. She still wanted to kill him though.