Ranma Half Moon chapter 43, Can Ranma get his Groove back?, part 1

Author's note: This episode is before Sailor Moon episode 27, Love for Ami? A Boy who can predict the future.

Reminder: Ranma-ko refers to "girl-type Ranma" and Ranma-kun refers to "boy-type Ranma". However, when Ranma is thinking as a guy the pronoun of "he" is used, and when Ranma is thinking as a girl the pronoun of "she" is used. This is independent of Ranma's outer form, so there will be times where Ranma-ko is referred to as "he" and Ranma-kun is referred to as "she".

Ranma-ko pouts in his room. Am I going insane? A date with Mamoru? He's a guy! However, Mamoru has displayed an unusual ability to fight, so I have an obligation to find the secret of Mamoru's fighting ability.

"Ranma, may I come in?"

"Kasumi! Why sure."

"Now, Ranma, I know that you haven't been on a date before, so I thought I would come by and give you some advice."

Ranma-ko stares at Kasumi in shock. Can she possibly be serious?

"I know that you're nervous right now, but the big secret is that Mamoru-san is probably even more nervous. A man's ego depends a lot on whether or not he can impress a girl, while for us girls, there will always be more gentlemen in line."

"Um, ... errr ..."

"And, you have a special advantage in that you're a tomboy. Since Mamoru already knows this, you don't have to make a big showing or have to try a new look to impress him."

"Kasumi, you do remember that I'm a guy?"

Kasumi giggles. "Of course I do. It's just that you look so cute when you're teased that I couldn't resist."

"Well, thank you for the advice. It will probably be useful, even in this weird situation."

"Oh, Ranma, there you are. Kasumi, may I have a word with our princess here?"

"Of course." Kasumi leaves Ranma's room, smirking to herself.

"Listen up, Ranma. Last time, I helped you dress up for that meeting with that masked guy. This time, you're going on an actual date. You'll need some different strategies."

"Nabiki, I don't have to impress Mamoru. I plan on just wearing my normal clothes."

Nabiki nods. "That's fine. However, you might want to consider another factor. You're probably thinking of wearing the perfume, 'essence of dojo', the smell of people working out? Some guys really like that, but you might consider something less strong on a first date, something fruity, perhaps?"

Ranma-ko turns red.

"It's totally painless." Nabiki stands Ranma-ko up and then sprays a perfume in the air. "Just walk through it."

Ranma walks through the perfume mist, coughing slightly.

"Perfect."

Nabiki leaves Ranma-ko alone.

Ranma-ko sighs. It was getting close to that time. I had better get it over with.

Ranma-ko puts on his shoes in the doorway.

"Ranma, are you really going through with this? Have you forgotten that you're a guy?"

"I thought I already told you, Akane, that this was a fact finding mission."

Soun appears behind Akane. "You know, son, I am very disturbed by this development."

Ranma-ko raises one of his eyebrows. "Just think of this as a fight. This is the 'Anything Goes' dojo, right?"

"These kids today." Soun shakes his head and walks off.

"So, Ranma, I'm going to the store later. Do you need anything? Chocolate? Lingerie? Girl's manga?"

"Well, now that you mention it, can you see if they have any 'Hana Yori Bongo'"?

Akane blinks. "Well, I don't read them myself. But, I'm sure some clerk will be able to help me."

"Great! I'm off!"

Akane watches as Ranma-ko runs off. Since when did Ranma read girl's manga?

...

Artemis stares at Minako's picture. The computer that I installed in the Sailor V game at the Crown Arcade confirmed that Minako had left Japan for England.

I wish Minako had not run away from her responsibilities. Even though some bad things had happened, the earth itself was in danger. However, I know Minako is broken and is probably gone for good.

Artemis yawns. Without Minako I am badly lacking in stimulation. At least tonight I am going to train Ranma more seriously. We are going to meet in the park.

Artemis falls asleep.

...

Ranma-ko arrives at Mamoru's apartment and takes the elevator up to Mamoru's floor. This is fun. Things were pretty primitive when I was with my father on the road prior to the incident at Jusenkyo. I am still not used to Tokyo yet.

Ranma checks herself out in the elevator's mirror to make sure her "look" was okay. Wait, what am I doing?

Here goes nothing. Ranma-ko pushes the buzzer.

Mamoru opens the door. He is not dressed up.

Did Mamoru anticipate that I wasn't going to be dressing up and decide to copy my style?

"Ranma, I'm glad you could make it. Shall we get started?"

"Sure!"

Ranma-ko already has her plan in place. The museum that Mamoru wanted to go to is on the other side of the park with the fountain that me and Naru had fell in and transformed.

However, there is the problem of small talk along the way.

"So, um, Mamoru, the DJ I talked to at the station mentioned that you were friends with the 'F4'?"

Mamoru blushes. "Wow, you've been doing your homework."

"Not really. Just curious. They seemed to be big deals."

"They were. Four sons of the wealthiest business executives and artists in Japan. For better or worse, they decided to hang out with me. I don't know why they did."

Ranma-ko gets a sly look on her face. "Did these guys have girlfriends?"

Mamoru immediately picks up on Ranma-ko's implication. "They all dated girls, but they didn't have steady girlfriends."

"Oh, I see, it was just a guy thing."

"I guess."

Ranma-ko sees the fountain coming up. Time to go for the kill. "It surprised me that you asked me out, even after Akane told you I was engaged."

Mamoru looks perplexed. "Yes, but you said yourself that you didn't consider yourself engaged."

"Also, since I'm sixteen, I thought I might be a little old for you. I know that you're going out with that shrine maiden girl, Hino Rei, who's only fourteen."

"How do you know that?"

"Hey, us girls have our secrets!"

"Well, that's not something I take serious either. That was something that Rei decided by herself. I've been humoring her because I don't want to hurt her feelings."

"Are you sure it doesn't have something to do with Rei being cute and mysterious?"

"Well, maybe."

We are in position. Ranma-ko laughs. "Gee, Mamoru, you're so bad." Ranma-ko slaps Mamoru on the shoulder, but times it so that the slap takes away Mamoru's balance. Mamoru falls into the fountain.

To Be Continued!