Ranma Half Moon chapter 18, A Love Letter of Mystery and Promise, part 2
Author's note: This episode fits in around the same time frame as Sailor Moon episode 19, Tuxedo Kamen's Love Letter.
Author's note: I now have a fiction press site for non-fanfiction stuff. If you want to check it out, do a search for "resop" at the "fictionpress" website. My story is called "A Dream of Roses". It is about a group of blossoming young girls who are giving it their all for an opportunity to shine brightly as professional wrestlers in Japan.
Author's note: Referring to yourself in the first person with the "chan" suffix can either be cute if the person is third grade or younger or sickeningly cute if the person is in Junior High School. A sample translation might be "Mary-chan looks cute today," would read as "Itty bitty Mary looks cutesy-wootsy."
Author's note: As far as I know, Idol Singer Monthly is only a magazine that I made up for plot purposes. On the other hand, there are many idol magazines in Japan, I just don't know all of their names. I used Idol Singer Monthly as a plot device in another one of my fan-fics: Yu Yu Hakusho Re Pure.
Author's note: Could Morimoto's fish store have some connection to a certain 'chef of iron'?
Akane and Ranma-kun walk to school.
"Wow, Makoto really had a crazy story this morning in practice."
Ranma looks at Akane sideways. "Really?"
"Yeah, she said that she received a love letter from Tuxedo Kamen, and that he wanted to meet her at a department store tonight."
Ranma-kun turns bright red. What was going on? Why would Tuxedo Kamen, a fighter who seems to be serious to the point of being pompous, be chasing after a Junior High School girl? That would make him no better than Mamoru. "Was it actually addressed to her?"
Akane nods. "It was sort of cute, with lots of flowery words."
Ranma-kun nods. Sounds like Tuxedo Kamen all right. I had better get to the bottom of this! "So, which department store?"
Akane giggles. "What's going on Ranma, are you forgetting that you're a boy?"
"Just curious."
"It's at the MS department store in Juban. Do you want Nabiki to give you tips on how to get made up?"
"Are you going to go?"
Akane sticks her tongue out. "Tuxedo Kamen is a guy. He might be in the news fighting monsters, but he's still a guy."
...
Minako Aino walks to school with Artemis on her shoulder.
"Minako, do you really think that love letter was from Tuxedo Kamen?"
"I don't know. I do know from the news reports that he helps the other Sailor Warriors. Maybe, he wants to bring me into the fold?"
Artemis shakes his head. "Minako, we've been over this before. You need to operate away from the other warriors for now. That way the enemy cannot wipe all of us out at the same time."
Minako nods. "I know. My fate is to be the shadow warrior. But, who knows? Maybe Tuxedo Kamen found out about me and wants to meet me for strategic reasons?"
Artemis gives Minako a cross look. "Is that what you're really thinking?"
"Okay, maybe he's a hot guy?"
Artemis gives Minako a look that is more cross. "Mi-na-ko?"
"Okay, okay, I read in Idol Singer Monthly about a super hot audition and I can pick up an application for at the MS department store after school today."
Artemis sighs. "It's okay. I don't want to interfere with your dream of being an idol singer. Just don't start making up a bunch of transparent fibs when you need to do something."
Minako smiles. "Thanks, Artemis."
...
Ranma-kun stays awake in class with difficulty. Dad is such a moron! Why would he have me to do a sleep deprivation drill before a school day? Besides, I am now even more curious about this love letter business after hearing from many of my guy friends that their younger sisters had received the same letter.
The school teacher wrote on the wall with his back to class. "So if x = 2y + 1 then the slope ..."
Ranma-kun nods off. His math teacher's monotonous voice was too much for him.
Ranma-ko is in a department store. There is a large group of girls, all wearing cute outfits. Ranma-ko looks down to see that she is still wearing her Chinese peasant shirt and pants.
"Tuxedo Kamen!" The group of girls flock around Tuxedo Kamen.
"Come on, you know I like them cute and fashionable."
"This sucks!"
Ranma-kun hears laughter. He wakes up and stares right at the teacher.
"Yes, it does suck. You shouldn't doze off in class. Go stand in the hall."
"Yes, teacher."
Ranma-kun fills up a bucket of water and stands in the hall, holding the bucket.
"How, boring." Ranma-kun nods and dozes off, fortunately having enough skill to keep the bucket from spilling, even in his sleep.
Ranma-ko is in the same department store as before, wearing a fashionable dress and sensible makeup. She admires herself in one of the many mirrors in the store. She hears something stir behind her, and turns around to see Tuxedo Kamen, this time with only two girls hanging off of him.
"Is that the best you can do?"
Infuriated, Ranma-kun wakes up. He doesn't spill a drop of the water.
"This sounds like a job for Nabiki!"
...
Morimoto's Fish Store was Artemis' favorite place to go. I know I should look for clues on the Dark Kingdom's next move, but an army moves on its stomach!
Artemis approaches the back door. He tries to look reverent and humble. Soon, Mister Morimoto opened the back door.
"Oh, it's my favorite cat. How are you today?"
Artemis sits back on his hind legs and rubs the side of his face with his paw. "Meow."
"Cute, cute! Here's a piece of fish that I won't be able to use today." Morimoto tossed the piece of fish to Artemis.
It is as good as always. "Meow!"
"Oh, mister cat, you might want to share today." Morimoto points to a beautiful, white, exotic-looking female cat down the alley.
Artemis blushes.
"Here you go!" Morimoto throws another scrap to Artemis.
Artemis catches the scrap with his paw and carries it over to the mysterious female cat.
"Here you go."
The other cat blushes, then nods, grabs the scrap and runs away.
Artemis sits down on his hind legs. Why did this cat seem so nostalgic?
...
Mio Kuroki walks down the hallway of her Junior High School. She is the most popular girl in school because of her having a hit single. Two female admirers flank her.
"So, Mio, did you get the love letter?"
"Hanako, Mio-chan gets love letters every day. Ne?"
This answer does not put Hanako off. "The love letter from Tuxedo Kamen."
"Who is that? Mio-chan does not know Tuxedo Kamen. Ne?"
Sasara interrupts. "He's this guy who helps the Sailor Warriors fight monsters."
Mio's eyes narrow behind her round glasses.
The three approach two students at a locker.
"So, Makoto, will you go to the department store? That Tuxedo Kamen guy sounds dreamy."
Makoto nods. "Yeah, but I want to see if I can get in the Sailor Warriors. Fighting monsters looks so cool."
Mio's ears prick. I sense Makoto is not an ordinary girl!
To be continued!
