Ranma Half Moon Chapter Thirteen - Akane and Makoto, a Friendship Between Girls, part 1
Author's note: This episode fits in around the same time frame as Sailor Moon episode 18, The Sorrowful French Doll. However, this episode doesn't have much to do with the Sailor Moon episode.
Author's note: Senpai means senior, elder or predecessor. It is often used to mean mentor. In the dub for Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, they made (in my opinion) a huge assumption by translating this word as "old boyfriend". When Makoto (Lita) swoons over some random guy, she usually says that the guy reminds her of her senpai, but there is no concrete evidence that this senpai was male or female.
Author's note: A bento is a boxed lunch, usually wrapped in a cloth.
"Coming!" Nabiki opens the door of the dojo and almost has to take a step back from the imposing presence of the young girl in front of her.
The girl looks down nervously. "Ex-excuse me, I heard that this was a very good dojo."
Nabiki smiles. "You've come to the right place. Tendo Nabiki. I sort of run the finances around here. My younger sister Akane can show you around."
The younger girl nervously bows. "Kino Makoto."
"Akane!"
"What is it Nabiki?" Akane calls from far off. "I'm practicing."
"A customer!"
Almost instantly Akane appears. "How do you do? Tendo Akane."
"Akane, this is Kino Makoto. Please show her the training hall."
Akane waves Makoto forwards. "Have you studied martial arts before?"
"Yes, but I also study cooking a lot."
Akane turns red. "I can't cook. My older sister Kasumi does that, thankfully."
Makoto blushes. "I cook so people won't see me as just a tomboy."
"I wouldn't think of you as a tomboy."
"Really?" Makoto blushes harder.
Akane shows Makoto the training hall.
"This is really nice!"
"Thanks. Would you like to spar a little?"
"Sure."
"Okay, I'll take it easy with you." Akane gets a worried look on her face. I couldn't hit Ranma or Rei. Will I go zero for three?
"Ready?"
Makoto nods.
Akane sizes up Makoto. Makoto is tall and lanky. She looks very athletic, but her bosoms seem very large for someone in such good shape. "Here I come!"
Akane throws strikes and kicks at Makoto. Each one lands, but none of them seem to do any real damage.
"Awesome. I need to learn how to attack, so I don't have to sit back and absorb punishment for half the fight."
Akane is breathing hard. "No problem, anything goes martial arts can definitely give you a useful offensive arsenal."
Makoto smiles. "When can I start?"
"I can give you your first lesson tomorrow morning. You can talk to Nabiki about the financial stuff."
Makoto nods. "I will."
Akane notices that the sparring has made a part of Makoto's school uniform, the handkerchief around her neck, crooked. She straightens it out for Makoto. "Let's get you fixed up."
Makoto almost spaces out. "If-if-if you like I can bring lunch tomorrow."
Akane smiles. "That would be great!"
Makoto imagines sparkles and flowers around Akane. Will I finally have a girl who she could call 'senpai?'
...
Ranma-kun sits down in front of the Sailor V game. The day has been slow for gathering intelligence about Rei and Usagi, but there is something comforting about this game.
Unknown to Ranma-kun, a camera inside the game snaps his picture when he signs his high score "S. R."
...
Both Akane and Makoto hold practice swords facing each other.
"I find that sword fighting is really good for focusing on offense. It gets you to be aware of your opponent's stance, balance and breathing. You can use this awareness in a normal fight to pick your offensive move."
Makoto nods. She intensely concentrates.
"Now come at me."
Makoto charges Akane, but Akane avoids her thrusts.
"I was vulnerable in that stance to a sideways slash from the right. Once you understand that, you should be able to hit me at will."
Makoto nods, excitedly.
Akane looks at the wall. "Oops. Time's up for the day. We could do tomorrow morning as well."
"That would be cool. Would you like lunch now?"
Akane smiles. "Wow, you really brought a bento. Do you want to eat it outside?"
Makoto blushes. "I noticed a place behind the tree that's behind your pond."
Akane scratches her head. She had never noticed a place like that before.
Akane grabs a blanket and walks behind the pond. The space was there.
"I made a lot because I thought we would be hungry." Makoto undoes the cloth from around the bento and distributes the five sections of bento around the blanket.
"This is amazing! You must really like to cook."
Makoto blushes. "Oh, I'm really nothing special." Secretly Makoto prepares to check out which item Akane is going to eat first. I lost a lot of sleep wondering which one Akane would choose. I hope I picked the right one.
"Let's eat!" Akane breaks a pair of chopsticks and grabs a dumpling.
Makoto smiles in satisfaction.
"Oh, tomorrow is Furinkan High School's festival. My sister Kasumi will donate some of her cooking. You should check it out."
"Really? Would that be okay?"
"Sure, we get all sorts of visitors on festival day. If anyone asks, you can say that you're my younger sister."
Makoto's eyes start tearing up when she hears the words "younger sister".
...
At night, inside the dark Crown Arcade, the two dark figures examine the picture of Ranma.
The smaller dark figure points to the picture. "The computer has analyzed the picture. It is of Saotome Ranma, age 16, Furinkan High."
The larger dark figure nods. "I know what I need to do."
To be continued!
