Ryoga grumbled in annoyance as he patiently waited at the park. He looked at Ranma and Ukyo, who were standing some steps away from him. Both side by side, leaning on a tree as they glared back at him. Ryoga growled again and asked them again,
"Do I REALLY need to do this, man! What type of punishment is this!"
Ranma rolled his eyes at him and said,
"It's either this way or we are leaving this town.."
Ryoga shifted his look towards Ukyo, as if asking her to help him,
Ukyo shrugged her shoulder and said,
"Well, it's you who told him you are willing to do anything to get his forgiveness!"
"But..!"
Ukyo sighed and said,
"Stop complaining, would you?! If you ask me, this would definitely help you in the future!"
"The help that I don't even need!" Ryoga spat out angrily.
Ukyo shook her head and asked,
"Do you already forget about the last exam? You definitely need some help, pig brain !"
Ryoga growled at her and said bitterly,
"This is all ridiculous! I wasn't supposed to come to this town, I wasn't supposed to study for any higher degree! I was supposed to do my internship at Saotome's company and income with both my hands!! And here I am WAISTING ALL MY TIME!! DAMN IT!"
Ukyo smirked at him in disbelief and asked,
"Seriously Ryoga, your marks were so poor, how could you even think of joining a company when you couldn't even solve the first test papers properly!"
Ryoga grumbled and replied,
"As long as I remember, I did much better than Ranma!"
"Seriously Ryoga! You just got 5 marks more than him! Have some shame and stop acting arrogantly for a second."
"Whatever! I am still ahead of him, if anyone needs tutions it would be him not me!"
Ranma got furious at him and said,
"Stop whining you idiot! Don't talk like you are not earning anything now! If so, you are earning more than any interns would get! Anyways, you know very well Ryoga that I am usually not that bad at my studies.."
Ryoga pulled his one eyebrow up at him,
Ranma sighed and said,
"Maybe not very good; but atleast I always manage to pass! This is the first time I have failed.."
"And now we know why you failed anyway, Ranchan.." Ukyo looked at him and smiled, "So this is what its all about, huh? You were looking for a suitable job for Akane. I must say, you have come up with a brilliant idea..!"
Ranma blushed hearing her say that. He blinked his eyes and said,
"Yeah; but now its all upto Ryoga to convince her. At first when Akio told me that Ryoga need to ask Akane for himself, I thought he was behaving unreasonably ! But after I saw Ryoga's attitude, I think its best for her and now I know why he asked me to do that."
Ukyo nodded and said,
"I told you, honey! Their self-respect is way more higher than any difficult situation they might be facing.. But honey, what Ryoga said is right though, you could have asked her to tutor you instead of him. I mean this would have made things easier, right?"
Ranma sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose to prevent his sudden headache,
"I wish things were easy between us, Ucchan. She knows that I am working for Ryoga and if I had asked her to tutor me, she would have helped me without taking anything back from me.."
"That's true.." Ukyo said smiling, giving Ranma a sweet look, she said, "So you already observed that about her, huh?"
Ranma smirked and shook his head,
"It's hard not to see that.." He looked ahead and noticed Akane and Akio walking towards the park. Before they could reach his side, he gave Ryoga a worried look and said,
"Look, buddy, please don't mess things up anymore. It was really hard for me to convince them to come here to talk to you. Ask her politely and make sure she feels comfortable to accept your request. And if.." His voice changed to a venomous one as he said in a warning tone, "If you mess things up, brother I promise you , we will both leave this town and I will even forget that you are my friend.."
Ryoga gulped hard, he had never seen his friend reacting this dangerously before. It's like he is seeing a completely new side of Ranma. He never felt this pressured before. He knows what Ranma is saying is true. He is actually having the best time of his life here. He is getting everything he has ever wished for and living a life he always dreamt of living. There are lots of things he still needs to experience! But If Ranma decides to leave now then, it means his dream will be short-lived and he will have to go back to living his miserable life with no money. He started to sweat hard when he saw Akane and Akio casually approaching them.
Ranma smiled at them nervously and went beside Akane. He smiled at her and nodded,
"You came.."
Akane smiled back at him and nodded her head. She then looked at Ukyo, who waved back at her with a big smile on her face. Then, she looked at Ryoga and immediately her face faulted. She bites her lips and crosses her arms over her chest and looks at him hard.
Every eye was on Ryoga.
Ranma monitored him with tightly controlled anticipation, Ukyo with nervousness, and Akio stood strongly by Akane's side, his face had a hard expression as if daring him to disrespect Akane again if he had guts.
An explosion of shocking extreme anxiety attacked him all at once. He started sweating hard, his tongue became tight as he lost all his ability to think properly.
Akane broke her silence, she came forward, her eyes unwavering as she looked at him eye to eye and asked him politely,
"So Ryoga, I guess you want to talk to me about something.."
Ryoga gulped as he quickly traded looks with Ranma, who looked ready to pound him. He looked back at Akane and said in a hesitated tone,
"I... I.. Uhhhh.. yeah.. I..aaa"
"What happened to you?" Akane asked, getting confused.
"NOTHING!" Ryoga said out loudly, making all of them frown. He moaned in annoyance and said in a haste,
"Akane, you have to tutor me.."
"Excuse me?!"
"I SAID, BE MY DAMN TUTOR!!" He replied with a demanding tone, as he looked at her hard.
Akane frowned at him and asked,
"So is this how you are asking me?! Anyway, why would I want to do that?"
"BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO!!"
Akane growled at him and said,
"Hey! You can't just force me to do that!"
"WHY! JUST TUTOR ME, DAMN IT!"
"NO! If this is how you are asking me, you can forget about it.."
Akane dismissed talking to him and walked towards Ranma and said,
"Look, Ranma, I appreciate that you want to help me but I can't tutor this arrogant person." she looked back at Ryoga and said with a hint of disappointment, "I would rather continue working at my workplace. I am much more appreciated there.."
"Come on, let's go, Akane." Akio said sternly as he grabbed her hand to make her start walking with him.
"Wait.." Akane looked apologetically at Ranma and Ukyo and said, "I am sorry.. See you guys later than.."
Ranma never felt this devastated before! He helplessly looked down with a sad face, unable to say anything to her. His disappointment was fully evident in his body language.
Akane didn't say anything anymore and started walking out of the park with Akio.
"NO! PLEASE DON'T GO..STOP THERE!!!
Ryoga's sudden cry laced with extreme urgency made them stop. Akane couldn't even turn to look at him as she immediately got attacked by Ryoga's frantic hug. Ryoga quickly bent down on his knees and clutched her legs in a bagging position.
"HEY!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! LEAVE ME!!" Akane said in a shaky tone, still too shocked by his action.
Akio growled angrily and tried to untangle his hand from Akane's leg.
"What the hell! LET HER GO!"
Ranma and Ukyo became so stunned by his action that they stood at their place with wide eyes and open mouths. Akio's angry tone brought Ranma back to reality fast, but before he could do anything, Ryoga acted up quickly which left him in a complete state of shock.
Ryoga hastily looked up at Akane, his eyes in tears as he begged her desperately,
"Please Akane! I am so sorry for hurting ya! I promise I won't do it ever again! I beg you please, please, please, I need your help..!"
"What are you talking about, dummy! Let go of me!"
"No.. No.. No.. If I let you go you will leave without listening to me! I am walking in a thin line, Akane! I need your help so badly!"
"Let go of my leg, Ryoga!"
"No.. first promise me you are going to teach me! This is very important to me , Akane.. If you ... If you don't agree then..then.." he looked at her with desperation as he cried out loudly, "If you don't agree then my parents would force me to marry SHAMPOO!!!"
"Huh!" Akane stopped, surprised.
"Who?!" Akio also took off his arm from him.
"HEY!! STOP IT YOU IDIOT!"
Ranma tried to stop him from further disruption, but Ukyo held him back by pulling his arm.
"Ucchan, I have to stop him..he is.."
"Don't.. Let's just see what he is doing.." Ukyo whispered back to him as she desperately tried to hold back her laughter.
Ryoga sighed and let go of Akane's legs. He still sat bending down on his knees and held her hand on his. He looked at her pitifully and said,
"My parents.. they are forcing me to marry a girl if I fail to do better in my studies.."
"So? They are your parents. Maybe what they are thinking is good for you.." Akane said softly.
"No, no, no, not at all! You don't know Shampoo! She is a complete playgirl, she is a damn casanova.."
"You should see yourself in the mirror first, man!"
Akio said with disgust.
Ryoga growled and said,
"I AM NOT THAT BAD! Ya have no idea how she mistreats me and that's why I came here so that I could be free from her torchers!"
"Then you should talk to your parents about it!" Akane said, feeling slightly concerned for him.
Ryoga noticed her change of tone and decided to take a chance; he faked a tear and said,
"I .. I tried.. But they are not listening to me.. They only said if I excelled in my studies then maybe they would think about it or I would have to marry that evil woman!"
Akio snorted and casually said,
"Maybe you should man up first and stand for yourself.."
This time, Ryoga really got pissed off. He stood up in haste and said,
"MAYBE I AM NOT MANLY ENOUGH TO ARGUE WITH MY PARENTS ABOUT IT!!"
"HEY! WATCH WHAT YA ARE SAYING, DAMN IT!"
Ranma lashed out angrily, unable to hold his anger in check anymore. Akane looked at him with concern which made him pause. He took a deep breath and said with a tightly controlled tone,
"Look, don't say such a thing, Ryoga! His parents are really strict about this and that's why he can not say anything to them."
"So you mean, what he is saying is true?" Akane asked him as she looked at him in the eyes.
He sighs and nodded his head. His voice became heavy, his heart slow. It was feeling as if he was telling all the truth to Akane. He gulped hard and looked at her with a sad face and said with a shaky tone,
"He is totally trapped in this situation, Akane. And the fact that he has zero knowledge of how to run a company is making it more difficult for him. His parents need someone to rely on to run their business, but he is not capable enough to do so. Shampoo and his family know about this weakness and that's why they made his parents arrange a marriage between the two of them. If he can prove to his parents that he is capable of running their company alone, then maybe he could argue with his family.."
"THATS RIGHT!" Ryoga said and nodded quickly. He again held her hand tightly and said,
"When I heard from Ukyo how capable you are , I immediately asked Ranma to ask you for your help! But I think I should have gone to ask you instead. But after what I did with you I was really ashamed to face you. I am really sorry for what I did. I request you, Akane! Please help me! I really really need you.."
Akane looked at his hand and sighed. She took some time and deeply thought about the situation. She then looked up at Ryoga and asked,
"You promise to watch your mouth and behave yourself.."
Ryoga gulped and bowed in front of her,
"I promise.."
Akane looked at Akio, he nodded his head as she said,
"Ok.. I will help you with your studies.."
"REALLY!! YES!! THANK YOU! Thank you so so much!!"
Ryoga cried out happily as he looked at her with a big happy face.
Akane merely smiled at him and turned to see Ranma and found him looking down with a miserable face. Akane slowly walked towards him and said when she reached his side,
"Hey, don't worry, I promise I will help him as much as I can."
Ranma sighed and looked up at her. He nodded his head and said,
"Thanks, Kane! We really appreciate your help.."
"So? When do you want me to start then?"
"JUST HURRY UP AND CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!"
Ranma yelled urgently as he busied himself to fix his own room.
"You are worrying for nothing, man, my room is as clean as sunshine.."
"Yeah yeah.. Not clean as sunshine but clean as your dirty mind.." Ukyo said as she stood by the door and observed both guys struggling to clean their room in haste. She snorted and said, "Seriously, how come you boys manage to mess your rooms so badly! You could have asked Akane to come tomorrow, why did you tell her to come this evening? I also can't stay here today, I have plans!"
"WHAT DID YA SAY?" Ranma came out of his room, his face a mess. He was looking extremely troubled and nervous , he grabbed her shoulder with his trembling hands as he said in panic,
"Please Ucchan, don't leave me now! I was thinking of asking her to come here tomorrow as well, but that dummy blurted out and asked her to come this evening! Can you believe that!"
Ryoga came out from his room and said,
"Hey, I did it because I thought it would make you happy, man!"
"But we are not well prepared to welcome her, damn it! And Ucchan can't attain her as well!!"
Ukyo sighed and calmly said,
"Ranchan, please stop panicking! You are worrying for nothing. She is our friend and I am sure she won't mind seeing some mess here and there.." She giggled and continued saying, "And I am sure you can take care of her. Don't worry honey, just be yourself. You will do just fine.."
Ranma calmed down a bit, but still looked doubtful. He gave a big sigh and said,
"I hope so.."
Bell ringing *
Ranma quickly ran to open the door. He paused for a second, took a deep breath and opened the door. His heart immediately melted upon seeing Akane standing in front of his house door. He never imagined he would be lucky enough to see this day. But here she is, standing with all her glory, with a warm smile on her face, making his heart flutter with joy.
"Hi.." She whispered to him, smiling.
Ranma sighed as a goofy smile came to his lips. He unconsciously leaned his head on the door frame as he stared at her unblinking and said with a big dreamy sigh,
"Hi.."
Akane giggled seeing him reacting like that, she cleared her voice and asked,
"Can I come in?"
Ranma immediately stepped aside and said in haste,
"Oh Jeez, sorry, please come on in, Akane."
Akane nodded and slowly entered his house. She looked around with her eyes,
"Uhh.. Sorry for the mess.."
Akane looked at him and said jokingly,
"This is a very well-managed house I must say. Trust me, I thought it would be more messy judging by two bachelors staying here!"
Ranma smirked as Mr Hiro came to greet them,
"Akane, meet Mr Hiro, he is the one who manages everything for us. He is a lifesaver."
Akane bowed respectfully and said,
"Hello, Mr Hiro. My name is Akane Tendo. I am glad to meet you."
He bowed back to her and said,
"Now I understand why my Mas... I mean Ranma was so excited. He also bought the best quality hot chocolate for you Miss. He said.."
"Mr Hiro, it's ok.. really.." Ranma said hesitatingly, his face bright red with embarrassment.
"Oh! I think I should go make it already.. Thank you for coming, Miss Akane.. If you need anything, please just call me.."
Saying that, Mr Hiro returned to the kitchen as Ryoga came out of his room in a hurry. He smiled at Akane and said,
"Thanks for coming, Akane. Let's go to my room.."
For some reason that statement made her a little uncomfortable. She began to doubt her decision about agreeing to spend time with Ryoga. She bit her lower lip in worry and nodded her head.
"You okay?"
Ranma's whisper tone washed her senses with relief. She looked at him and smiled.
"Yeah I am fine, thanks."
"Let's go.." Ranma smiled and showed her the way.
She became happy that Ranma was following her inside Ryoga's room, her heart felt at ease as she went inside his room with Ranma. But as soon as she saw his room, she stopped at the doorway.
His room was yelling at her about how perverted this person actually is!! He had some posters of women wearing almost nothing hanging on his walls. His room was lit with red lights and she could see in the corner there was a stand with various stacks of expensive alcohol bottles.
"Come inside, Akane. Please be comfortable."
He pulled out his chair for her to sit and to her horror, she saw his underwear on it. Ryoga hastily took it from the chair and threw it on his bed,
"Oops ! Haha, I am sorry, I must have missed this part.."
Akane gulped and looked at Ranma for help. He sighed and said,
"Kane, I think ya better go sit in the living room.."
Akane hastily nodded her head and left the room in haste. He growled at Ryoga and asked him with an angry whispered tone,
"You said you cleaned your room! Is this what you call cleaning!! What is the meaning of these damn posters!!"
"Hey!! I did clean my room! Do you have any idea how many valuable posters I had to remove because of this?!"
"What about the bottles?! And why is there a red light here?" Ranma asked with a tightly controlled tone.
Ryoga scratched his head and said,
"Is there any problem with that? I don't think so.."
Ranma grumbled and muttered,
"You are pathetic, man! Now please come outside.."
Ranma hurriedly went to the living room and saw Akane sitting on in the sofa as Mr Hiro served her some water. He sighed and went to sit beside her.
"Hey.. I am sorry for all that! He is such a dumb person.."
"Ranma, can I tutor him here? I mean I will feel more comfortable if we study at an open place."
Ranma smiled at her and said,
"That's a great idea, Akane! I was thinking about the same.."
"But what about my comfort.." Ryoga walked towards them while complaining about the situation. But when he saw the look that Ranma gave him, he gulped hard and said, "I will be more than comfortable to study here, haha.."
Akane sighed and said,
"Good then, shall we begin please?"
They began their first tuition session quickly. Ranma helped Ryoga to bring all his books and necessities to the living room area. Akane started to note all his previous records and the more she was discovering about his studies, the more she became surprised.
"Say, Ryoga.. How did you even manage to pass your graduation level! Please don't mind , but.. this is so bad. I don't even know where to start from.."
For the first time, Ryoga felt embarrassed by this situation. He started poking on his book and said proudly,
"I didn't have to study! My future is fixed , you know.. Why would I sweat it?"
Akane looked at Ryoga and said,
"Then you should go and marry Shampoo then. Why did you call me for help.."
That stopped him as he started to stutter,
"No!! I.. Uh..I.. want to change myself!"
"Stop babbling, dummy and concentrate! You are lucky that she agreed to help you. Now don't waste your time and learn something.."
Ranma said bitterly and stood up to leave them alone. Akane hastily grabbed his arm and made him sit beside her again and asked,
"And where do you think you are going?"
"Uhh.. I think I should go, so that you can teach him.."
She sternly looked at him and said,
"I know how well you are doing in your studies too, you know.. So don't even dare think of escaping.. I will help you with your studies too.."
"What! But no, Akane! This would put too much pressure on you!"
Ryoga smirked and said,
"See, I told you the same thing, buddy! You definitely need help.."
"Keep quiet, Ryoga! I can't do that! She is here to help you only!"
Akane cleared his voice and declared in a serious tone,
"It's either this or I am leaving, Ranma. Now the choice is yours.."
"But, Kane.."
"Are you bringing your notes ot not?"
Ranma sighed defeatedly as he had no choice but to agree with her. He bought all his notes and books from his room to show Akane. His whole body became red with embarrassment as he started beating himself mentally for not studying hard before.
Akane's face became blue as she saw Ranma's record. Suddenly, her previous job started looking much more appealing than this. She tried her best to restrain her disappointment as she thought to herself,
'Oh Kami, where have I dig myself into..'
A/N: Sorry for the delay guys! I will try my best to post the next chapter soon. This week is our favourite couple's Birthday week, so I had to try my best to post :). Hope you like it.. Please let me know with your reviews. Thank you..
