The usual disclaimer - I don't own Ranma 1/2

Chapter 13 – The Note

The next morning she woke and stretched lazily. Reaching over to turn on her desk lamp, she contemplated what to wear today. She wanted to hike up to the mountain to their favorite spot so she would need sensible clothes. No skirts or uncomfortable shoes, instead she chose cute but comfy shorts and a knit top. While she was checking her appearance in her mirror she noticed a sheet of paper on her floor beside the door. Picking it up, she recognized Ranma's handwriting.

Akane,

I'm very sorry that I have to do this to you. I can't spend the day with you today. Something happened and forced me to change our plans. I hope you still have a happy birthday. I'm sorry. I ruined another birthday. Please believe me, I love you and don't want do this. I promise to explain everything tonight.

Your Idiot

She felt like burrowing back under the covers of her bed and pretending it was a bad dream. She huffed and pouted for a full hour before crushing the letter into a ball and throwing it in the trash. I am not spending my seventeenth birthday moping in my room. She grabbed her purse and stormed out of her room, stomping down the stairs to the phone and called Yuka. She knew her friend would be indignant on her behalf and maybe they could find a way to chase away her sadness.

00000

Yuka hung up the phone and immediately picked it up again placing calls to her other friends. It was up to them again this year to make Akane's birthday fun. She wanted to kill Ranma for ruining it once more this year. What in the world could have been more important than spending the day with his fiancé? She arranged for everyone to come to her place first then they would go get Akane with a plan in place to keep her mind off of Ranma's latest mistake. Akane hadn't given her any details; she had just said that Ranma couldn't spend the day with her and she didn't want to be alone.

Once everyone arrived she sat them all down in her living room. Pacing back and forth in front of them, "We need ideas for things to do today that won't remind her of that idiot. For some unknown reason he abandoned her on her birthday and ladies the next time we see him, we are going to give him hell."

Sayuri raised her hand. Yuka rolled her eyes at her friend, "We aren't in school."

Makoto leaned over and whispered to Shikako, "Sure seems like it."

Sayuri took a deep breath, "Did they break up?"

"No and she will probably forgive him yet again, so for now our focus is on her and making her happy today." Yuka stopped in front of the girls, "What are we going to do today?"

"Ice cream, that always make me feel better!"

"Lunch at a fun restaurant."

"Shopping! We get her to buy herself something to make Ranma regret leaving her today."

Yuka beamed, "That is perfect. All of it. We start with shopping," Nodding to the others, "Let's go get her."

00000

Akane tried to wait patiently for her friends to arrive at her house. After she got off the phone with Yuka she had retrieved the note that Ranma left for her. Rereading it over and over, she still couldn't think of what was so important and why he didn't tell her. Whatever it was, he hadn't been willing to take her with him. Beginning to fume, she thought that it probably had something to do with one of the other girls. That was how it always used to be. He would disappear to try and fix something before she could find out or see something. It never helped; she always found out and today would be no different.

Although in the note he did say he would explain everything when he got home tonight. Could it have something to do with the reason he was so angry with his father? She was going to drive herself crazy trying to think about it. She needed to do something distracting.

Kasumi watched her sister from the top of the stairs. She wasn't sure what was going on but Akane was definitely upset and she hadn't seen Ranma all morning. In fact, Nabiki hadn't made an appearance yet either. Crossing quietly to Nabiki's room she knocked on the door, only opening it slowly when she got no answer. Her sister's bed was made and the room was dark. Flipping the switch she saw no sign of her enterprising sister and left the room. What could Nabiki be up to now?

Akane heard a knock at the front accompanied by Yuka's voice and bolted for the door. "I'll be back later," She yelled to anyone who might be interested. Stepping into her shoes and opening the door, she closed it quickly behind her. She plastered a smile on her face but it didn't look like any of her friends were buying it. "What are we doing today girls?"

"First up is shopping. You are going to buy something special." Yuka smiled slyly at her and pulled her out the gate.

They drug her to a department store, standing in front of a clothing section targeted to young women; her friend took measure of the choices. "We are going to find you an outfit that will make that jerk regret he stood you up today," Yuke announced.

"But…"

"No buts," Sayuri pointed her finger in Akane's face. "And don't even think about starting to forgive him. He knew today was supposed to be romantic."

Akane wasn't so sure that Ranma knew that, being as he was so socially inept when it came to romance. She let a soft sigh escape her lips; she had hoped for a movie marathon or maybe going to the amusement park in the area. Unfortunately it seemed her friends were out for revenge. She watched the four of them grabbing items while Yuka went to reserve a changing room.

By the time they were ready for her they each had three or four outfits for her to try on. This is going to take a while. She was shoved into the changing room and Makoto handed her the first one to put on and closed the door.

"You have to come out and show us each outfit."

"The shirt on this one isn't going to cover my stomach completely!" Akane grimaced as she held the shirt, still on the hanger, against her.

"That's the point. You need to have a few sexy outfits to drive him crazy with."

Akane flush remembering that Ranma liked her shortest skirt, but her friends would never understand the reason he did. She always lamented her lack of curves, how could a guy like Ranma like her figure over Shampoo's generous shape. To discover that Ranma could be distracted by her larger muscles made her feel powerful. Why am I thinking like this? I am mad at him. She pulled her clothes off and put on the first top and shorts. The shorts were really small and a little too tight in the butt. Like Akane predicted the shirt left her mid-drift showing.

"Are you about done in there?" Sayuri was getting impatient. Turning to Yuka she whispered, "She isn't going to go through with this. Maybe we shouldn't have started with one of Makoto's choices." They had all noticed that their friend had started favoring skimpier clothes since Hiroshi had asked out a couple other girls. Yuka and Daisuke were dating exclusively but Hiroshi wouldn't commit to only one girl.

Akane stepped out of the changing room with a frown on her face. "This isn't comfortable at all." She saw Makoto narrow her eyes at her, "I mean it is too tight across my stomach and look if I bend at all it makes me look funny." It was true; if she were to sit down at all some of her belly fat would fold over the top of the short. She didn't feel attractive or sexy in it.

Yuka piped up and saved her from further hurting Makoto's feelings, "I bet she would look better in the red shirt you picked out Makoto. Give her that outfit next." Yuka stood and retrieved the next selection from her friend and handed it to Akane.

The red one was better and so she was spared from hurting Makoto's feelings again. Ultimately she settled on a short baby blue skirt with a white V-neck shirt with little blue and yellow flowers along the neckline and thankfully it covered her stomach. Sayuri caught her looking at some Chinese style dresses and pulled her away.

"No you are looking at those and thinking about how they would match Ranma's favorite shirts. We are out to make him jealous, not happy."

"I wasn't thinking that. They look pretty and are silky. I am mad at him…. Remember?" She thought maybe she wore far too much cotton. She thought about the times Ranma had put one of his shirts on her to protect her modesty and she had liked the feel of the silk against her skin. As she strolled to the checkout the pajamas section caught her eye. She could really use a new pair, her others were getting pretty old and besides, ever since Ranma had pointed out that her favorite yellow ones had pig faces on them that looked like P-Chan she was having trouble wearing them.

Yuka and Saiyuri watched their friend detour to the lingerie section and stood gaping at her. Looking at each other both raised their eyebrows in question. Yuka moved to follow and the others weren't far behind.

Yuka cleared her throat, "Um…Akane, are you buying lingerie?"

Akane rolled her eyes and sighed, "I just need a new pair of pajamas. Mine are old. Besides some cooler ones would be nice for the summer."

Shikako held up a lacy number, "How about this one?" She was grinning from ear to ear.

Akane blushed profusely, "Um… no. I need something I can actually wear around the house." She wandered over to a rack with some satin sets hanging on it. Lifting one up, she saw they were shorts with a little ruffle at the bottom and a sleeves shirt. The shirt had little ruffles around the arm holes that matched the shorts. "These are cute!" holding them up with a smile.

The others nodded their agreement. Akane scanned the color selections and chose a yellow set. She really liked the way she looked in yellow and pink. She figured since she was kind of replacing the yellow cotton set then picking yellow for this set made sense.

The others had also found a few new items and chatted about where to have lunch while they waited in line. From behind her, Akane heard a familiar voice.

"Akane, is that you dear?"

Turning around, she was now face to face with Nodoka Saotome, Ranma's mother. Akane was confused; she had been told that his mother was helping a friend who was dying of an unknown illness on the island of Okinawa. Genma had shown Ranma postcards and given him phone messages from her. It always struck Akane as being odd that she always called while he was at school. She should know that he wouldn't be around to talk but then again she did always seem to be a bit dim. What kind of mother would actually let her son be taken on a training journey that lasted over ten years? Not to mention the fact she had been willing to kill them should Ranma fail to become a man among men.

"Hello Mrs. Saotome," She heard a couple of her friend's surprised gasps around her. They had never met the woman but Akane had shared her appall about how she let her son go with Genma all those years. Her friends had also heard about some of the ridiculous things his father had done to him in the name of training. They had all seen the result of the Cat Fu training at school shortly after Ranma came to Nerima.

"Oh Akane dear, remember you must call me Auntie Saotome at least. Someday I am sure you will call me mother." She smiled so sweetly at Akane that for a moment she forgot that this was the same woman who used to carry a katana with her, "You girls out doing a little shopping?"

Yuka smiled back, "We are cheering up Akane since Ranma missed her birthday today."

Akane gave Yuka a sharp look and shook her head at her. "He couldn't help missing it of course."

"Well of course he couldn't dear. I am sure he wishes he was here but he is doing it for you, I am sure of it." Nodoka paid for her own purchase and returned to the girls, "Happy Birthday. What is next for you today?"

She seemed to know where Ranma was, now Akane wanted to talk to her a little more, "Well, we were about to find a place to eat lunch. Would you like to join us?"

"Oh that sounds wonderful," Clasping her hands together she smiled now more broadly than before, "I have been so lonely without my family. In fact I have a marvelous idea; you can all come to my house for lunch. I haven't had the opportunity to cook for anyone since the repairs were finished."

Akane couldn't help but return the woman exuberant smile and neither could any of the other girls. Akane explained to her friends, "Mrs. Saotome is an excellent cook. I am sure we will have a great meal with her." Akane was pleased to be able to spend more time with the woman who would be her mother-in-law someday but she was definitely confused. How long has she been back and why hasn't she come to visit Ranma at our house?

With their purchases in tow the group followed Nodoka to her home on the opposite side of Nerima from the Tendo's place. Nodoka kept up a steady stream of chatter while on the way, telling Akane how proud she was of her son asking how she was doing after returning from Jusenkyo.

"I would have visited you dear but I understood that you needed lots of rest to recover. Ranma fighting to save you shows how much he truly loves you even if, like most brave men, he cannot say it or show it."

The girls looks at Akane with confusion, Sayuri spoke first, "I thought Ranma had told you he loved you?"

Nodoka spun around causing her bag to smack Yuka's nearly knocking her down, "He has told you? How wonderful? Are you planning to get married immediately when he gets back?"

"Um… well… Yes he told me that he loves me, after he saved me in China. And no we are not planning to get married immediately when he gets back." Akane's confusion continued. Why would Ranma being gone for one day mean we have to get married?

Shikako leaned over and whispered, "Is she always like this?"

Akane nodded and offered her friend a weak smile. Looking forward again she saw that they had arrived at their destination. Nodoka directed them to sit at the table while she prepared tea in the kitchen.

Yuka leaned in and the rest of them responded in kind. "What's the deal Akane? I thought you said she was out of town."

"That's what Ranma's father told us."

"Do you think he knows that she is back?" Sayuri asked her.

"I don't think so. Something seems off though and I want to find out what it may be."

Makoto perked up and clapped, "Ooh so we are like detectives today. How fun!"

Yuka grinned, "We will follow your lead Akane. Girls don't give away anything unless Akane does. Okay?"

They all agreed and Sayuri gave Yuka a smirk and a quick salute. They returned to casual conversation about plans for the day as Ranma's mother returned to the table. Setting the tea set in the middle she poured five cups of tea then settled into her own spot.

"Akane dear, do you think Ranma is doing well?"

"Um… yes Auntie Saotome I think he is doing great." Akane took a deep breath and tried to think of the best way to ask her question. Maybe direct is best. "Do you know where Ranma is right now?"

"Oh right now? I am not sure but I can tell you where he has most recently been. I got my last postcard a week ago." She stood and left the room again.

"What does she mean postcards?" Akane was more confused than before.

Yuka patted her arm, "I think you are about to find out."

She returned to the room carrying what was obviously a very old shoebox. "I kept them all in here. Ranma takes the time to write me once a week and tell me of his journeys. Before when he was traveling with his father to train his marital arts I didn't receive as many updates. Then of course after Jusenkyo I stopped hearing all together." Turning to Akane's friends, "Akane knows the rest of that story. I finally found out he was staying with her family and that my precious son was engaged to this lovely young girl."

Akane blushed at the praise, "Yes Auntie I remember." She remembered all right, they spent most of the time trying to hide Ranma from his mother by saying that he was her female cousin Ranko who had a pet Panda. "I was very relieved when you were not mad about the curse."

"I am so glad he is going to rid of that awful curse. All these weeks in China, away from you, searching for a cure must be so hard for him. My husband's silly curse will be gone soon too I am sure. They must be getting close to finding something that will help." She calmly sipped her tea. "Well girls I should go see about making lunch for us. I don't want to make you wait long, do you mind if it is a simple meal?"

"Of course not…"

"Not at all…"

"Anything is great…"

Akane was please with her friends' enthusiastic responses. "Auntie, may I read some of your postcards while you make lunch?"

"Of course you can. I am sure you will enjoy the nice things your fiancé tells me."

As soon as she left the room the girls pounce on the box. Upon opening the lid they found dozens of postcards. Akane picked one up to read it.

Mother, Jusenkyo is not the right place to find a cure. We are traveling in northern China now, following a clue given to us by a kindly monk. Please do not fret for me. I must do this in order to be a good fiancé for my beautiful Akane and to carry on the legacy of the Anything Goes School.

Love,

Your son Ranma.

Yuka frowned, "That doesn't sound like something Ranma would write. I mean no offense Akane, but Ranma isn't really eloquent… at all."

"No offense taken. I do homework almost every night with Ranma. This is definitely not his handwriting either." Akane stared at the postcard for a long time. Something else seemed wrong but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Sayuri reached into the box and pulled out another one, "Um… guys… This one is postmarked from Japan, not China."

They all began to pull out postcards one at a time and set them on the table. Sure enough each one had the same Japanese postmark but described a different area of China they were traveling in. Akane was getting angry as she was getting a clear picture of what was going on. "Not one of these is from China and I am pretty sure that this is Ranma's father's handwriting."

"Do you think Ranma knows?"

"Absolutely not, he misses his mother and I know he was hurt that she wasn't at our house when we got back from China." Akane's face was grim as she leaned forward to whisper once again, "His father seems to still be afraid of his wife. What dear Uncle Genma has done this time is going too far."

Yuka was a little shocked by the malicious glare in Akane's eyes. "What are you going to do?"

"Something will come to me. I think telling her out right will hurt her too much or she simply won't believe me." Akane pondered her options while her friends whispered among themselves.

Yuka drew her out of her thoughts, "Hey Akane, do you really think that she wouldn't believe you?"

"Maybe, she could decide I am still recovering from my ordeal at the curse springs," She put air quotes around ordeal as she spoke. "I think if she found out on her own it would be better."

"Are you going to tell Ranma?"

"I am going to have to."

"This is really strange Akane."

"Welcome to my world."

Nodoka returned with sandwiches, a platter of fruit and some cookies. "I am so glad I made these cookies yesterday, now I have someone to share them with. I occasionally make cookies in case Ranma returns home."

Sayuri smiled sweetly at the older woman, "I am sure you will see him soon Mrs. Saotome."

"Do you really think so dear? I hope so. I very much miss him." She was seated next to Akane and reached over to pat her hand. "Now that you are well and able to leave the home, I hope you will visit as much as you like. I think we should continue to get to know each other."

"I would like that Auntie Saotome."

Chatter turned other topics as they ate their lunch. Nodoka wanted to know all about school and how the girls were doing in their classes. She was excited when Yuka told her about how Akane and her had made a pretty good cake in Home Ec. the day before. "I am glad to hear your cooking skills are improving."

Shikako nearly choked on her food but managed to recover quickly and smile, "Almost swallowed wrong, excuse me."

Nodoka looked at her with concern and Yuka quickly patted her on the back, "She'll be fine."

Shikako nodded in agreement and took another drink of her tea while Akane raised on eyebrow at her.

"Thank you for lunch Auntie Saotome." All the other girls chimed in their thanks as well. "You should let me return the favor and join my family for dinner tomorrow. I am very sorry I did not invite you to my birthday dinner."

"Think nothing of it. I hope one year I am able to cook Ranma a birthday dinner." Sighing heavily she became lost in thought for a moment before focusing back on Akane and smiling, "I would love to see your family again Akane. What time should I arrive?"

"Um… we usually eat around 6 o'clock." Akane laughed, "I heard that Ranma's birth was blessed by cherry blossoms. I know it is a tall tale but it is a cute story."

"Perfect, I will definitely be there but Akane, and that isn't a tall tale. Cherry blossoms were blooming when Ranma was born." She smiled dreamily at the memory, "I told my husband that the boy was surely blessed by the gods."

"That's odd. Ranma told me his birthday was January first."

"He was probably just teasing you. He was born April 15th." Laughing at Akane she hugged the girl tightly, "I am sure you girls want to get back to your day. Thank you for keep me company for a while." She smiled as the girls help clear the table and clean the dishes. "You are all wonderful young ladies." Turning to Akane, "I hope you are not angry with Ranma for being gone so long, it is something you will have to get used to once you are a martial artist wife."

Akane cringed but tried to smile, "Since I practice martial arts too I am sure we will enjoy training together."

"I am sure he will encourage you to improve your skills but Ranma will require dangerous and intense training. Nothing else would be expected of a great martial artist such as him."

"Let's go Akane," Yuka all but drag her friend out the door knowing she would love to insist she was a great martial artist too.

"Bye bye girls. Have fun today."

They all waved in return. When they were far enough away Sayuri started laughing out loud. "My god that woman is dense." Turning to Akane, "And when did you start channeling Nabiki? If I were her, I would kill my husband for tricking me like that."

Akane smiled evilly, "Genma will probably find a way to get out of it but I am going to make sure Ranma doesn't get blamed at all." Although after yesterday Akane wasn't sure that Ranma finding out while his father was around would be a good idea. She needed to find a way to tell him before he encountered his mother and she was curious to find out why he lied to her about his birthday.

0000000000

AN: Hope you liked the first installment of the birthday weekend. Next we will see how Ranma starts his day. R&R as you like.