Ranma 1/2 Moon Chapter Three - Problems With Math! Akane, do Your Best!
Author's note: Wow, to have over four years go by between chapters one and two of a fan fic! Maybe we should call the first episode the OVA and the subsequent episodes the TV show?
Author's note: Thanks for the comments so far. Am I going somewhere with the odd use of pronouns dealing with Ranma? I think the only meaning is that when Ranma-ko (girl form Ranma, Ranko would be a nickname like Mamoru would call Usagi Usako) is referred to as "she" then Ranma is "in the moment" of being female, even though he is a boy intermittently trapped in a female's body by an ancient Chinese Curse.
Chiba Mamoru wakes up on the floor of his apartment. I must have blacked out again. Why doesn't anything in my life make sense? If I blacked out and fell, why is my shoulder bleeding?
Mamoru wraps up the wound and goes to bed. At least I can see that new doctor in the morning. Doctor Tofu seems to be very good at treating strange ailments and wounds. Also, maybe that cute red head girl might be there? What was her name again? Ranko?
Mamoru sighs. Maybe I should listen to my friend Motoki and not hang out with younger girls. But they seemed so drawn to me.
Maybe this new part-time job will help me get my mind off these problems?
Akane storms off to her room, angry.
"Daddy!" Nabiki rolls her eyes. Shouldn't Akane show her at least some gratitude?
"What is it, daughter?" Soun Tendo says with apprehension. Conversations with Nabiki are usually unpleasant for me.
"Akane is mad just because I hired a math tutor for her."
"Nabiki, can we even afford such a thing? Why don't you tutor her yourself?"
"Because, I have to go to town to continue doing the things that I do that keep the bills paid around here."
Soun raises an eyebrow. "What things?"
"Look, daddy, if I told you and you disapproved and you stopped me, how would the bills get paid?"
Soun looks down, embarrassed. She has me there.
"Excuse me, is anyone here?"
Nabiki smiles. "There he is now. Just tell Akane to give him a chance."
Soun's face twitches. Did Nabiki need to get Akane a guy tutor?
...
Ranma-ko enters the Tendo home. "I'm home." Not a bad day at all. I was able to stretch the family budget much farther that I expected by adding new 'giggly girl' moves to my repertoire.
Ranma-ko takes the groceries to the kitchen.
"You look happy today, Ranma."
"Thanks, Kasumi. I had fun shopping, and there was no hassles with people wanting to fight or date me."
"That sounds nice."
Ranma-ko beams.
"Oh, Ranma, we have a guest over. Someone is tutoring Akane in math."
"That must be a thankless job."
Ranma-ko walks over to the family room where he sees Akane studying with some guy with his back to Ranma. "What's up Akane?"
"Ranma, let me introduce you to my new math tutor. I think he's being a big help so far."
The guy turns around.
"His name is..."
"Chiba Mamoru." Ranma-ko interrupts her.
Akane looks indignant. "And, how do you know Mamoru-sensei, Ranma?"
Ranma-ko giggles. "I bumped into him at a herb store."
Akane sticks her tongue out at Ranma-ko.
Ranma-ko has a sly grin. "Mamoru, you're studying to be a doctor, right?"
Mamoru nods. What is this strange conversation between Akane and Ranma all about?
Akane also gets a sly look in her eyes. "Mamoru, before you fall in love with Ranma, I think I should tell you that Ranma has a secret."
Mamoru raises his eyebrows. "Oh?"
"Ranma is engaged."
A vein bulges on Ranma-ko's forehead. Oh, so Akane wants to play? "I guess I have some more bad news for you, Mamoru. Akane is also engaged."
"Well, I don't consider myself engaged. That just some dumb thing my dad set up. He wants to marry me off to a total macho jerk."
Another vein pops up on Ranma's forehead. Akane zinged me again. "It's the same thing for me as well. Our fathers are best friends and they think alike, so my father is trying to marry me off to a macho bone head."
Mamoru scratches his head. "Do you consider yourself engaged, Ranma?"
Ranma-ko turns up his nose. "Not in the slightest."
Akane smiles cruelly. "Why should she? This is a girl who doesn't even wear skirts. She's a total tomboy."
"Hey, that hurt, considering it's coming from the biggest tom boy in town."
Ranma-ko and Akane get in each other's face. "Beda!" They stick their tongues out at each other in unison.
"Well, I think it's wonderful."
"What?" Akane and Ranma-ko say in unison.
"You two aren't related, but you seem as close as sisters. It's almost like you two are engaged to each other."
Akane and Ranma keel over.
Suddenly, Mamoru sweats and bends over.
Akane notices first. "Mamoru-sensei, are you okay?"
"Bathroom."
Akane and Ranma-ko help Mamoru to the bathroom. Mamoru enters the bathroom alone and closes the door.
Akane and Ranma-ko stand for over a minute looking at each other, dumbfounded.
Finally Soun walks up. "Is everything okay? I hear a commotion."
Akane nods. "Dad, could you check on Mamoru in the bathroom, he might be sick."
Soun nods. He looks in the bathroom. "There's no one there."
"Excuse me." Ranma-ko walks into the bathroom. There are no other exits and no sign of Mamoru.
Soun looks in. "I think this is 'ninja closed room escape' technique. I have read about it before, but this is the first time I have seen it's horror first hand."
Ranma-ko rolls his eyes at Soun. "You just made that up, didn't you?"
Soun looks down. Ranma has me there.
