Ranma Half Moon chapter 19, A Love Letter of Mystery and Promise, part 3

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: The character "Fujinomiya Chitose" (from Goldfish Warning!) is one of the prizes in the UFO catcher game Mamoru plays right before Usagi shows up to have a crying fit. The Chitose doll is right next to the pink goldfish. A Wapiko doll is right below Chitose. The voice actress for Chitose is the same one who did Ayeka in Tenchi Muyo, so an ear piercing laugh would be in character. Also, the pink goldfish panties are also in Usagi's underwear drawer, shown while Usagi is running down her familiar sounding dating etiquette tips.

"The eternal love affair I realize is fate, but I'm taking the long way round. Step by step, one by one; stepping firmly on the road. The rose-colored days pile on top of one another. Love you, love me, please."

"That was our newest number one hit single!" A bland looking television host stands in front of a giant poster. "Now, if you are one of the next ten callers, you can win this beautiful poster of Mio Kuroki."

Ranma-kun shrugs his shoulders. The television set in the store's window continues without his paying attention. There is something strange and unsettling about that song. However, I can't put my finger on it.

I better hurry. Nabiki agreed to help me with makeup, but only if I am punctual. And I won't have much time if I want to get made up and make it out to Juban. Ranma-kun races off.

...

"Yes!" For the last five minutes Makoto had been a flurry of activity, cleaning the classroom. It is bad luck that it was my turn that day to stay after school and clean, but I had finished it in record time.

"Miss Kino?"

A male voice startles Makoto. "Yes, teacher?"

"This girl here says that you hurt her."

Makoto looks to see a girl that she had chastised earlier in the afternoon for bullying another girl. "Sir, I didn't touch this girl. I only told her to stop ..."

"Are you talking back to your teacher, Miss Kino?"

"No."

"Sir?"

The teacher looks at the young girl he is with. It is Hanako, one of Mio Kuroki's lap dogs.

"Please don't throw her out of school. I'm sure she's just having a bad day."

"Oh?"

"I'm sure if she reflects on her actions she'll do much better tomorrow."

The teacher nods. "Miss Kino, I want you to reflect on your actions in this room until five PM."

"Yes, teacher."

Makoto's heart falls. Now I won't be able to make it to Juban until six, and Tuxedo Kamen would have left by that time. And, if he wasn't, I would probably be ten thousandth in line to see him.

Makoto sighs. Being a sailor warrior would have been cool.

...

Naru bumps into Masato Sanjoin at the department store and confronts him about being Tuxedo Kamen.

...

Nabiki looks Ranma-ko over and nods her head meaningfully. "Ranma, if you want this Tuxedo Kamen guy to be impressed, you had better follow the date etiquette rules."

"Hey, that's why I came to you. You know I'm not good on the girly stuff."

Nabiki looks down the back of Ranma's pants. "Rule number one: clean underwear."

"You're the boss."

Nabiki looks in her drawer. "This one will look cute." Nabiki holds up one with a pink goldfish on the front.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen."

"Ran-ma?" Veins bulge out on Nabiki's forehead.

"Okay, okay. Just kidding."

"Here, you can borrow this skirt and blouse as well. It's nice and clean."

"But, what if I run into hot water?"

"Avoid it." Nabiki sniffs around Ranma-ko. "Rule number two: wear a nice, non-offensive fragrance."

"Do I smell bad?"

"No, but you smell like a tom-boy." Nabiki sprays Ranma with a perfume.

"I work out like a tom-boy."

"But, you don't want to smell like one." Nabiki opens Ranma-ko's mouth. "Our last two rules. Brush your teeth and put on a soft pink lipstick. That way you'll have a nice, innocent look."

"Lipstick? Do you think I want to kiss this guy?"

"You said you want to be noticed. Now get to it. You're on a tight schedule."

"Yes."

"And, put the twenty bucks for the lesson on my drawer when you're done."

Ranma cringes. As expected from the financial shark of the Tendo family.

...

Minako races towards the sign-up table. There are only two applications left.

"Got it!" Minako grabs an application and starts filling it out.

Another girl casually walks up and takes the last application behind Minako's back.

Fire blazes in Minako's eyes. The plum part of "Fujinomiya Chitose" in "Goldfish Warning live action musical" is as good as hers!

"AH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"

Minako jumps three feet. "Mio Kuroki, what are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't it be obvious what Mio-chan is doing? Mio-chan is signing up to play Chitose-chan."

Minako stares daggers at Mio. Minako has auditioned three times before against Mio and lost every time. It wasn't fair! And, this was the perfect role for me since I am an elegant and refined blond like Chisote, not like the other major role, the wild and crazy Wapiko. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. I will play that part."

"AH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! Mio-chan can't be beaten in auditions. Minako-chan will have to play Wapiko-chan. Ne?"

Veins bulge out the side of Minako's head. This annoying brat who refers to herself in the third person in kiddie-speak is not going to beat me. "We'll see about that. Beda." Minako sticks out her tongue.

"What does Minako-chan think of Mio-chan's song?"

"I'd think I'd rather stick needles through my ears than listen to it."

"It just made number one. That's great, ne?"

Minako composes herself and finishes filling out the form. "See you next week at the audition. Just bring it."

"Oh, Mio-chan is scared."

Mio-chan finishes filling out the form. "Let Mio-chan buy you ice cream. Mio-chan wants to celebrate. Mio-chan will buy."

Minako rolls her eyes. "Well, if you're buying."

Minako and Mio ride down an escalator. Sanjoin Masato rides up an adjoining escalator. The three pass and look at each other out of the corners of their eyes.

To Be Continued!