[Ranma][FanFic] Meeting Later - Chapter 2

[Trent O'Donoghue]

Meeting Later - Chapter 2.

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the
wonderful Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in
North America). This work is strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of
fans. No copyright infringement is intended.

Meeting Later is originally a story by Tom Wrensch, personally
one of my favourite authors. Tom has given me the honour of continuing
this series but the idea and first chapter are all his work. To view
more of his work, which I personally recommend, his web site is
http://www.geocities.com/twrensch

After he finished his bento, Ranma sat watching the girl before
him talking about her old school between bites of her lunch. He
answered occasionally but was content to let her do most of the
talking. It was... nice. Good, even. To have an actual friend who
seemed to enjoy most of the things he did. All his supposed friends
were either after him for something or just not on the same level.

Akane watched Ranma while describing some differences between
Furinkan & Bokuto High. She knew he was paying complete attention to
her, while only just paying attention to the conversation. The cynic
in her said what he was thinking about, but after his previous
behaviour she didn't think that was it. Why did those blue grey eyes
and gentle smile seem to evoke a trust in her that she had never felt
about another boy, was it just he was already engaged to others? And
so was she for the moment.

For a few moments they just sat silently looking at each other
under the tree. Neither the sunlight of the beautiful day nor the
noise of the full student body having lunch in all directions didn't
intrude. The slightly nasally boy's voice unfortunately did.

"Hey Red."

Ranma glanced at the student before facing Akane again. "Go away,
Toko".

Akane appraised the lightly built boy. Slightly shorter than
herself, with short brown hair and eyes, wearing a rumpled uniform. He
almost reminded her of a boy from her school, but he stood with
confidence, almost over confidence, like he had nothing to fear here.

"Ahh come on Red, introduce your new fiancee".

Akane noticed a group of four other boys in the background,
obviously watching them with interest. She recognised at least two of
them from her new class.

Ranma shifted with obvious distaste "Akane Tendo meet Toko
Ashuma, Toko meet Akane. Akane is a friend of my family's".

Toko turned and bowed to Akane "My condolences". The group of
watchers began sniggering at this.

Akane's anger flared "Why? The Tendo Family has always been happy
and honoured to call the Saotomes' friends. Why do I need your
condolences?"

"You mean you don't know? Hahahaa, you don't know about the
freak..."

"She knows". Ranma's voice was short and sharp.

"Ahh, so another lesbian, eh?"

Akane was on her feet, mallet in hand before Toko could blink.
Her under arm swing would have hooked him over the school ground but
was stopped an inch from Toko's terrified face. Akane's eyes followed
the hand on her mallet up the arm, to Ranma's face.

"He ain't worth it." He said simply before nodding in the
direction of Toko's friends. Three held video cameras trained on them.
"Go away Toko, Akane's had a rough week, she don't need any of your,
or Ohata's, crap".

Toko finally found his voice "Yeah, I'll let you two get back to
your girl talk". He quickly walked back to his buddies.

Although Ranma made no response at the comment, Akane could feel
him bristle at the insult. "Hey Toko, I may only have known Ranma one
day, but it's obvious, even with his curse, he's ten times the man
you'll ever be". A couple of claps of support came from nearby groups,
with glares for the leaving boys.

The answer Toko gave wasn't heard by the pair but got another
laugh from his group of buddies as they left.

Akane looked over at Ranma who just sat passively watching the
group depart. He was still tense and she could feel the control in his
battle aura. "Do they always do that?"

His eyes came around to look at her, and slowly she he could see
the tension bleeding away. "Normally I just flat out ignore them, they
ain't worth it. None of them are martial artists so I can't challenge
'em, and they try to bring charges against me every time they can.
They all follow Jiro Ohata, a rich boy in the next grade. We... had a
disagreement when I came here and he's been out to get me ever since".
A single chuckle passed through him like a private joke, but it was
accompanied with a brief pained look that Akane knew it wouldn't be
that funny. "Ohato has a restraining order against me coming within
fifty meters at school & two hundred meters outside. He used to use it
to try and herd me around the school, but some of the teachers got fed
up and forced him to pick a place for his lunch".

"Sounds like a real jerk"

Ranma just nodded his agreement before taking a slightly deeper
breath "Hey Akane, thanks for what you said about me to Toko, I...
thanks." He could only watch Akane's smile growing before turning his
gaze down to his feet.

Akane's smile grew even more at his shyness, but before she could
answer the bell rang for the return to classes.

******

Akane was looking around the neighbourhood as she and Ranma
walked towards the local shopping mall to meet with Aunty Saotome. She
glanced up at Ranma who was walking on the yard fences. His shoulders
were still slumped as they had been since lunch. She had to say she
was impressed by the grace he had, never missing a step, even when it
didn't seem that he was watching where he was going.

"Ranma, can I ask you something"

Broken from his thoughts, he dropped to the sidewalk beside her
without breaking stride. "Sure, What's up?"

"I just wanted to know why those boys in class were making cat
noises". Although he never even twitched when the boys in class did it
she would swear he froze for an instant before continuing.

"I... have a problem with c-cats".

"Oh, what kind of problem?"

Before she could get an answer a purple blur struck Ranma with
astonishing force, grinding him face first into the pavement, even as
a large object caught her across the chest. Akane flung the bicycle
away from her and gazed in wonder at the purple haired woman, in a
dress that may have been just paint, lying across Ranma, using her
hands to pry open his lips into a smile. "Nihao Airen! Happy to see
wife?"

Halfway through his unintelligible reply Shampoo's head snapped
around, her eyes darting over Akane, appraising her like an opponent.
"Who this, Airen? Stupid Panda Father no sell you again?"

Prying his mouth from her grip, Ranma managed to answer, "Get off
me and I'll tell ya". Shuffling from under her he managed to get free
and up. After quickly rubbing the tire tracks on the back of his
head, he made introductions, gesturing with his hands. "Akane,
Shampoo. Shampoo, Akane Tendo. She's a family friend who will be
staying with my family for a while. And no, she isn't another fiance".

Akane saw Shampoo tense for combat the moment Ranma said where
she was staying, but she didn't react more than shifting her stance to
something slightly more stable. She didn't want to provoke this
strange girl.

"Mother in Law let another woman stay with Airen, and not let
wife?"

"Shampoo, you know Mom doesn't recognise your claim, especially
after all the walls you broke. Akane is just a friend, and she's
staying in the guest room."

Shampoo's face was suspicious before it split in a feral smile
"She fighter, yes? We have little match?"

Shampoo brought her arms up into a ready stance as Akane slid her
foot back and tensed her arms, "Any time you're ready".

"No! Akane's still recovering from a bad week, you can fight
later. And no kiss of death."

Akane was livid, how dare Ranma interfere in a challenge. But the
anger was derailed by the glace he gave her when he mentioned the kiss
of death. She remembered his tale of being chased by Shampoo intent on
killing him, half way across Asia. She relaxed her stance as Shampoo
did the same.

"Akane live here now, be in tournament, yes? We fight then."
Picking up her bike and mounting it she turned with another grin, "You
make sure you all better for tournament, Shampoo no want to hear
excuse of you too weak when beat you".

Akane clenched her fist as she watched the bicycle burn up the
road before turning out of sight. She turned a glare on Ranma for an
explanation.

Ranma winced at the glare, "Look, Shampoo is really good, she is
supposed to be the best of her generation from her village. She don't
play nice and she don't play fair. Even if you do beat her, she'll
start that kiss of death crap, it just ain't worth it." He could see
in her eyes that she would hold off but there would be a fight between
them, he just hoped Akane was good enough to not get hurt. A sudden
smirk came to his face, "Besides, if you fought now, we wouldn't get
to spar tonight".

Akane saw the grin and couldn't hold her anger "Fine, I'll let it
go for now, we need to meet Aunty soon anyway". As they walked down
the street she remember something Shampoo said. "So what's this
tournament?"

"The Juban district open martial arts tournament, it was started
last year by Sakura Shishimi's father. Sakura had let Pop borrow some
'All you can eat' gold card for all the restaurants her father owns,
on the condition that he or I win the tournament. He of course used it
almost constantly for two weeks and was so fat he was lucky to make
the finals, so I had ta win it. Actually it was pretty funny, since no
one knew of my curse I ended up fighting and winning in both the men's
and women's divisions."

"You won both?"

"Yup."

Akane could see the confidant aura he was projecting. "Really?
Well don't feel too bad when I thrash you tonight".

"Oh yeah?"

Akane put on a reasonable imitation of Ranma's voice "Yup."

The light, teasing banter continued well into the mall.

******

"Ranma, why don't you take these groceries home while Akane and I
buy her new uniform?"

Akane almost giggled at the relief on Ranma's face. He had been
carrying the shopping bags and looking like a man on death row,
heading for a lethal injection of boredom, as he followed the his
Mother and Akane towards the clothing stores.

"Sure thing, Mom." With a lightning quick glance towards Akane he
was gone, fleeing the mall, surprising several shoppers as he passed
them.

As soon as he vanished, the two women continued towards into one
of the shops "You'll have to excuse my son, he doesn't like shopping
very much. Tell me, what did you think of your new school?"

"Oh fine, it seems great. And aside from missing my friends, I
think I'll really enjoy it there."

Nodoka's brow creased lightly at something in Akane's tone,
"But?"

Akane was silent for a few moments before continuing. "I'm not
sure, but I think I'm causing Ranma problems with other people."

Nodoka nodded as she began to flick through a rack of school
dresses for an appropriate size. "Any problems in particular?"

Akane noted the resigned tone in her voice and decided it would
be best to tell it all. "I think a couple of the boys started teasing
him this afternoon to make him look bad in front of me. The looks the
others and the teacher were giving them was as if they had heard it
before but not recently and they didn't like it"

Akane watched the older woman blink back some tears before
gathering her voice. "Which was it, calling him 'Red' or the cat
noises?"

"One of them was calling him 'Red' during lunch time, but that
didn't seem to annoy him that much. But during the afternoon classes a
few boys were making cat noises, I asked him and he said he had a
problem with cats but didn't get to say any more."

Spotting a couple of chairs against one wall, Nodoka led Akane to
sit before continuing. She had a handkerchief in her hand ready for
the tears that had already started, and got worse as the story went
on. "When Ranma was young, my husband put him through a monstrous
training exercise in the hopes of teaching him a very powerful
technique. The technique is banned because few survive and those that
do suffer for the rest of their lives, but my idiot husband taught it
to an eight year old boy."

Akane held Nodoka's hand in her own until she calmed enough to
continue. "Because of this training he is terrified of cats. We have
taken him to a host of psychologists in the hopes of getting him over
it, but in some ways they just made it worse. You see when he can't
escape the cats, his mind breaks and he thinks he *is* a cat. He gets
down on all fours, moving like a cat and even sounds like one. It's
still him deep down, but he doesn't think like a man, he treats people
like a cat would if it trusted or liked the same people." A smile came
to her lips, "I'm the only one he'll actually go to when he's in the
Nekoken. I remember the first time he jumped through the window into
the house and made himself comfortable on my lap, it was.... nice as
he just sat there and purred."

"Some of the boys at school found out and used it to annoy him. I
suggested he go to another school but he refused. I think he sees that
leaving would be losing to them. The teachers have been very good by
suspending people who bring cats or water guns to school but they
can't stop the boys from picking on him."

Nodoka's face took on a serious expression. "Akane, one of the
reasons I was happy to have you move in was to hopefully become a
friend to my son. He doesn't have close friends and the girls pursuing
him don't really try to understand him as a friend."

Akane nodded, "I noticed that no one really talked to him at the
school even though he seemed liked by many, especially the girls. Some
of them seem to think I'm moving in on him."

Nodoka seemed to brighten at this but it quickly faded. "I
wouldn't be too worried about them, my son's ability to attract
admirers is only matched by his ability to find trouble. But, they are
just more things on a long list that drive those that may be friends
away, his curse or the cat fist is bad enough but we've had days where
martial artists show up trying to earn a name by beating him, he has
had spirits hunting him, or even monsters rampaging through."

"Aunty Saotome, I will try my best to be a friend to your son."
The formality in her voice was rewarded by a smile and a hug from the
older woman. "I've had my share of insanity and spirits so I can deal
with that...besides, Ranma is the first boy I've ever met I didn't
have to beat up for being a pervert."

Nodoka stood to continue shopping. "Oh yes, Kasumi said you had
your own problems, what were they about?"

"Well, the biggest problem started with an idiot called Tatewaki
Kuno making a proclamation to the school..."

*****

Ukyo Kuonji was hard at work on the evening rush in her
restaurant. Ucchan's Okonomiyaki echoed with the noise of children's
laughter. Ukyo looked over at her head waitress Konatsu, amazing a
children's birthday party with magic and tricks from his Kimono. She
watched the three adults with the party, wondering what they would do
if was revealed their beautiful dark haired waitress was a
cross-dressing guy.

The tone of the sizzling Okonomiyaki batter changed fractionally
and her arms automatically moving in to flip and begin adding
toppings. Her eyes watched without seeing as one was finished, the
batter was poured for the next. Her mind was free to fluttered from
thought to thought - business decisions, future plans, past memories,
how hard it would be to make a Okonomiyaki out of a certain purple
pussy cat, fat panda or black piglet, if any of her workers deserved a
pay rise, dreams of her pigtailed future husband, and how to convince
said pigtailed future husband to hang around more.

"Sorry, sorry, I know I'm late, I'm sorry."

A blur accompanied the voice as it shot through the restaurant
and out the back. Moments latter a young woman, dressed in a kimono
similar to Konatsu's, came back in still apologising. She had long
black hair tired up in intricate arching bows on either side of her
head. Her blue eyes raced around the room before meeting the brown
eyes of Ukyo.

"It's okay Junko, you're only a few minutes late sugar."

A sudden sad frown crossed Junko's face before she quickly
stepped up and hugged her boss, "How are you holding up?"

Ukyo turned in the hug back to the grilling food, flicking her
long brown ponytail back behind her back. Her voice was exasperated,
like she was resigned to listening to something she knew she wouldn't
care about. "What is rumoured to have happened this time?"

Junko's eyes reflected curiosity as see stared at her boss. "You
haven't heard? Oh no, now I have to tell you."

The tone hadn't left Ukyo's voice "Start at the beginning".

"Right, I was talking with Gendo, yeah I know you said I
shouldn't bother with him but, anyway blah blah blah...."

Ukyo half listened to the voice droning on, meandering along a
vague story.

"blah blah blah new fiance blah living with Ranma blah".

"What?!" Ukyo noticed everyone in the restaurant looking straight
at her "Ah, sorry please continue your meals." She grabbed the smaller
girl and drew her head in "Repeat the last bits you were saying."

Junko's eyes un-focused as she tried to remember where in her
story she was up to.

After a few moments Ukyo ran out of patience. "New fiancee?"

"Oh right, apparently Ranma brought a new fiancee to the school
today, she's living with him, and she's his martial arts student, and
she vowed to the school to sleep with him."

Added to the stress of running her business, this was more than
enough to blow Ukyo's top. The blue aura sprung around her as she
began muttering, "I'm gunna kill him, and her, and Genma, and Gendo,
and ... "

She took several deep breaths. 'Focus. Remember last time'. She
had heard Ranma was sleeping with every girl in school before, but
that was just a blatant exaggerated rumour and her temper had cost her
big points with Ranma's Mother. Although why Ranma was hugging all the
boys in the school whenever they sneezed she still didn't know.

"Start serving Junko, I'll stop by Ranma's after the dinner
rush."

*****

Ranma looked over at Akane as his mother removed the empty plates
from the table, she had been quite ever since she and his mother got
home. "Hey Akane, you all right? If you're not up to sparring I can
always beat you tomorrow."

Anger clouded her vision until she saw that grin and couldn't
hold it. With a wide smile she stood "Oh no, it wouldn't do to keep
you waiting for your defeat."

Nodoka re-entered the room with a slight smile on her lips.
"Akane, your gi is clean and in your room. Try not to injure
yourselves, it is a school night."

Nodoka watched with a thoughtful smile while the pair dashed
upstairs to get changed. With a silent prayer, she turned to get some
tea to drink while she watched. Her memory brought up an image of her
husband fighting in a tournament when they were courting. She always
did like to watch him fight back then, and now attended any fight she
knew her son was going in.

As she sat on chair on the back porch, her son in his dark brown
gi dropped from the roof to the grass of the smallish back yard and
began warming up. She was happy to see how excited Ranma was just
about something as simple as sparring. It was probably because he was
against a new opponent who wasn't out to kill him, just someone who
wanted to better themselves in the martial arts.

A few minutes later Akane bounded out of the house in her
off-yellow gi. She looked around the yard noting it was mostly empty
but for a small garden bed and two thick trees, which had already lost
their leaves for the coming winter. The two stood a couple meters
apart and bowed. Akane didn't waste any time, crossing the distance
and opening with a kick, before moving into an aggressive routine.

Akane knew that with the help of her Father and Grandfather, she
was good, very good. But with the way Ranma only needed to block one
attack in her first seven routines she knew she was outmatched. She
had wanted someone a little better to train with, but maybe not this
much better. Strengthening her focus she dove into the combat trying
every feint and trick the Tendo School had. A few more blocks, but if
anything he was dodging more flamboyantly with that stupid grin.
After several minutes she felt her anger rising. "Hey, you going to
attack or just dodge all night?"

Akane studied his face. Where the grin had been there was now ...
discomfort? dislike? The light in his eyes dimmed like he was going to
do something he really didn't want to. He began to launch a few feeble
attacks towards her. They looked all right but he was aiming into her
blocks and with virtually no power. It was in the middle of a back
flip that she realised what it was - He didn't want to hurt her. He
thought she was some weak girl. 'Grrr, I'll show him!'

Waiting for another basic kick she used one of Grandfather's
moves. A lightning quick wrist flick flipped him face down in the
dirt, hard. Diving on top she pinned his arms and midsection down in a
complex leverage lock, one leg shooting out against the trunk of the
tree beside them as bracing. Then she stressed the lock and waited
for him to surrender from the stress.

Ranma was still trying to find out what the hell had happened.
Pulling his face out of the grass, he twisted to look up at Akane's
straining face. His shoulder was screaming for release. For all his
strength advantage she had him pinned. He knew in a real fight he
could use at least one advanced move to knock her off, but he wouldn't
cheat like that in sparring. He knew he'd have to give in soon. This
is what he got for not respecting his opponent. Looking up to
surrender he got his inspiration.

"Damn you're cute."

Akane was straining to hold the strength of her pin when he said
it, her mind instantly locked up. She briefly acknowledged a cry of
"An opening!" before she flew off to land several yards away.

Regaining her thoughts, she flipped to her feet to face Ranma,
several yards away. "That was a dirty trick, Ranma."

Still stretching his arms and rolling his shoulder, he shrugged
"Heh, Anything Goes."

His expression turned serious and he watched her for a few
seconds, "I'll admit it Akane. That is the closest I've come to a
defeat in a very long time, ya got some real good moves Akane." His
grin came back full force "But you're gunna have to do better to
surprise me next time."

Taking a new ready stance, she smiled tightly. "You haven't seen
all I've got yet, Ranma."

"What, you gunna walk in on me bathing again?"

With the shock on her face, Ranma's smirk widened further and he
rushed in. Though he was only tapping and giving hard, quick shoves,
Akane found herself almost continuously on the defensive. His aerial
style was exhilarating to fight against. Over the next few minutes she
got in two more of Grandfather's wrist flicks to put him down, but he
sprang away too quick for her to take advantage. A third attempted he
jumped with and landed on his feet. A body check and Akane was
toppling.

She found herself in a similar predicament to the one she had had
Ranma in, although Ranma wasn't using his strength to stretch her into
submission. Thinking fast, she started with his counter, gazing over
at the far fence.

"Hi Shampoo."

Ranma's grip didn't lessen but he did look over where she was
gazing, slight panic on his face. It was enough for her to spring a
knee into the ground to roll them over. Suddenly Ranma was gone, and
she continued to roll onto her back. As quickly as he was gone he was
back and a moment later her knees were locked together by his ankles
and he was poised above her, pinning her forearms to the ground with
his hands, arms extended, out to the sides.

"Give up?"

Akane struggled for a few moments before realising the futility,
brushing her thoughts over her advanced techniques before struggling
again, racking her mind for some comment that would work on him. Only
'Meow' came to mind, and quite frankly she'd rather kiss Kuno again
than use such a low blow... 'Bingo!'

Ranma saw the look of defeat in her eyes, and then an odd play of
disgust flickered past followed by an instant of elation. Still
wondering at the disgust, he was caught as her head shot forward and
he felt her lips on his right cheek. His mind locked.

Akane felt his strength vanish on the kiss and was about to cry
'An opening', when she felt the danger. Flipping both her and Ranma
into the air she dodged the three razor sharp spatulas sinking into
the ground where she had just been pinned.

"RANNNMMMMAAAA!!!!"

Akane regained her footing and focused on the girl landing in the
yard. Her long brown hair was tied with a white ribbon into a ponytail
flowing down her back. She wore tight dark slacks, a rich blue tunic
and a bandolier of more spatulas. In one hand she held three more
spatulas ready to throw and the other held a huge spatula. Above all
else, she was angry, very angry.

Akane's mind managed to match the girl before her with the
description of the Okonomiyaki chef fighting style Ranma mentioned the
night before. Which made her the fiancee of the man she just kissed.
'Oops' didn't seem to cover it.

Before Ukyo could get any further Nodoka's calm voice
interrupted. "Ukyo dear, what brings you here tonight?"

Ukyo looked in disbelief at the woman sitting calmly on the porch
holding a teacup. Ukyo wanted to hit someone, she wanted to yell at
someone, but with only months until the meeting she couldn't afford to
hurt her chances any more. Focusing her anger, she forced a smile to
her lips. "Why hello Mrs Saotome, I had decided to drop by to see my
fiance and found another woman kissing him. Perhaps you could explain
why?"

Nodoka nodded her approval to Ukyo's calm request, though her
eyes twinkled as she read Ukyo's restrained fury.

"Ukyo, meet Akane Tendo of the Tendo School of Anything Goes
Martial Arts. Akane meet Ukyo Kuonji, one of Ranma's fiancee's."

Akane suddenly found her feet very interesting under the burning
gaze of the vengeful fiancee.

"Ah hey Ucchan, how's it..." His voice failed as the withering
stair focused on him. "It was just sparring, it didn't mean anything."
Ranma knew he hadn't helped when Akane winced.

"Perhaps we can discus this over tea. You two dust yourselves off
while Ukyo helps me get some tea." Nodoka stood and gestured for Ukyo
to enter the house waiting to follow the young woman in.

As they brushed the grass off themselves, Akane could hear Ranma
almost chanting under his breath "bad bad bad."

"Um, sorry, I wasn't thinking about it as a kiss, just a
counter."

"Yeah, I know, like I said Anything Goes. It's just the way my
life goes that I end up in bad situations like this."

The two of them entered and knelt at the table, as Ukyo and
Nodoka returned from the kitchen with a tray of fresh tea.

After a few quite minutes of silent drinking, Ukyo began, "I
actually came around to find out why there is a rumour saying that
Ranma has another fiancee, one who is living here and has vowed she
will sleep with him."

"What?!" "Huh!?"

Nodoka shook her head at the reactions. "As you can see Ukyo
dear, Ranma and Akane don't know anything of this supposed vow. Akane
is a friend of the family who is staying with us, in the guest room,
and will be until at least the New Year. At least you seem to be in
control unlike the last time when the rumours you heard turned out to
be false."

She ignored the reproach in Nodoka's voice "So Akane is here
until the meeting on Ranma's Birthday?"

"Somewhere around there, possibly earlier."

This prickled Akane's memory about something Ranma had said the
night before. "Can I ask what this meeting is? Ranma said something
about it last night when we went out, and Ukyo seems to think it's
important." Akane voice almost failed to finished the statement as
Ukyo's withering glare returned in force at them 'going out'.

Ranma spoke up. He was looking down at his tea, some shame on his
face. "Well, I told you last night that Pop engaged me to Ucchan and
stole the dowry, and to Sakura for free food, and my actions leave me
a small part responsible for Shampoo's honour in her people. Well, Mom
found out there are apparently two other engagements. They haven't
shown up yet so Mom decided on my eighteenth birthday every one can
stake their claim, then Mom and I will decide which is the most valid
and let the others beat up my father.

Nodoka's voice was very even. "Ranma, I have been in further
contact with the family of one of the fiancees, and they are
interested in holding to the agreement." Seeing Ranma groan and bend
down, starting to gently bang his head on the table, and Ukyo's
furious expression, she steeled herself to continue. "This fiancee's
claim is the oldest, even over yours Ukyo. She should be in attendance
in January."

Ukyo was having a horrid day. Yet another supplier to her
business was bought out by Shishimi, finding out there was a fourth
contesting fiancee, a new girl living with her future husband, the
same new girl kissing that same future husband, that same girl now
gently patting her future husband on the back.... "Quit touching my
Ranchan!"

*Bang*.

Ukyo instantly regretted trying to squash Akane's arm with the
giant spatula. Akane had yanked her arm clear, and Ranma was squashed
into the floor taking a chunk of table shaped like his pigtailed head
with it. Ukyo looked shamefaced at her future mother in law, who was
shaking her head.

"Ukyo dear, please calm down. Akane is a friend of Ranma's who was
sympathising with him...."

Ukyo wasn't taking this. "Akane has been here less than two days,
and been with my fiance on one date, shared a lunch, and been found
rolling around in the back yard kissing, when the hell should I get
upset!?!. When they're found naked together!?"

As Akane leaned Ranma back into a sitting position, he began to
catch up, unfortunately not quite enough "Hey, that was an accident!
The towels just fell as Kasumi walked in."

Ukyo left furious to stunned, Akane was redder than her name, and
Nodoka was again proved that her son needed little of the abundant
help he normally got to get into deep trouble. Seizing the opportunity
to speak Nodoka attempted to head off Ukyo's anger. "Ukyo, you know
the situations my son sometimes finds himself in. Perhaps if he kissed
you the way Akane did him to break out of the hold Ranma had on her,
you could see this is just a misunderstanding?"

Ukyo's eyes lit up at the opportunity to kiss Ranma. She had
found in distinctly unfair when his mother had announced that until
his eighteenth birthday, she had made Ranma swear on his family honour
not to accept or initiate any form of intimacies with any fiancee. She
knew it was to stop Shampoo and Sakura from their continued attempts
to bed him, but she still would have liked a bit of snuggling with the
big lug. She'd show him what he was missing out on!

Ranma was obviously self-conscious as he, red faced, moved around
the table to beside Ukyo. As he moved in to kiss her on the cheek,
Ukyo took advantaged and tilted her head to his lips. With Ranma's
inexperience at kissing, he locked up stock-still. He didn't even feel
Ukyo's tongue forcing it's way through his lips. He suddenly found his
lips and face slammed hard into the wall.

"That's not how I kissed him!!"

Ukyo was trying to be angry with the angry girl in front of her,
but found she couldn't help but smirk at the memory of the stolen
kiss. As her smirk was obviously flaming the anger in Akane, she left
it where it was. She turned her gaze to Ranma's mother expecting the
Saotome frown of disappointment to be directed at Akane for once, but
she didn't know how to deal with the appraising look her future mother
in law was giving the girl.

Nodoka had been hopeful at Ranma's fleeting glance at Akane when
she had asked him to kiss Ukyo was some guilt reaction. But this
reaction from Akane was a pleasant surprise. She had known Akane was a
very physical girl from her visits to see her and her family over the
years that Ranma was on his training trip, so she wasn't surprised at
the physical nature of her reaction. But such a jealous reaction was
very pleasing. Feeling Ukyo's gaze, she decided to calm this
situation.

"As you can see Ukyo, Akane's kiss was just as innocent as she
proclaimed. I believe that the two of them have yet to do their
homework, so perhaps if you drop by later in the week?"

Ukyo obviously didn't like being dismissed like this since she
knew Nodoka knew Monday was the least busy of her nights for her shop
and wouldn't be able to come around till next week. Forcing her best
smile to her lips she made quick bows to those around the table
starting with Nodoka "Oh, I understand, have a good evening, nice to
meet you Akane. I'm sure we'll see each other again real soon. Ranchan
Honey, be sure to stop by the shop during the week, I'll make your
favourite."

Nodoka quickly ushered Ukyo out while Akane dragged Ranma off for
homework.

******

Akane could just hear Aunties voice as she came down the stairs
for breakfast. She idly scratched an itch from the new school uniform
as she entered the room.

Ranma was winding his shoulder through its axis while his other
hand held pressure to it. His mother looked on disapprovingly.

"Fine, I'll go see the Doc on the way to school. I had to see him
after school anyway."

Akane suddenly realised she had stretched that shoulder when she
had him pinned the night before.

Before she had a chance to say anything Ranma spotted the guilt
on her face. "No ah, it's okay, it was popped out of it's socket last
week. It ain't your fault, I figured it was healed."

He let out the breath he was holding as most of the guilt left
her face, but could still see a little in her eyes.

"Well, hurry up and eat, and we can see this doctor on the way
to school."

As they sat down Ranma began to grin, "One fast breakfast,
begin."

Nodoka pointedly looked away. Out of all the training techniques
Genma still used with their son, the speed eating and the food
fighting was one she found most disgusting. She had hoped that with
Genma staying with the Akane's family she could reclaim breakfast to
normal polite eating like she had dinner and lunch.

Akane watched as Ranma's chopsticks began dancing around the
plates with impressive speed. With a grin she started with techniques
she hadn't used in months.

Nodoka turned to look when she heard Ranma cough with too much
food in his mouth. To her amazement all the food except that on her
plate and a little on Ranma's plate was gone. Ranma was looking bug
eyed at the empty plates and Akane, who was demurely wiping her mouth
with a napkin.

Akane was trying desperately to not laugh at Ranma with his
checks puffed out full of food, chopsticks holding a fish sausage, in
bug eyed shock at being one upped. "Ah, that was delicious. Hurry up
and finish so we can go, Ranma."

Ranma loudly swallowed what was in his mouth. "How the heck do
you do that, no one eats that fast?"

Akane was grinning from ear to ear "La Belle France School of
Martial Arts Dining, I warned you I had more moves you hadn't seen.
Ready to go?"

"Yeah, I...I'll get my bag."

*****

Akane walked along the sidewalk while Ranma led the way from the
fence towards the Doctors clinic. Akane was too amused with Ranma
trying to figure out what had happened to interrupt him with
questions. She was giggling silently at the motions his hands flowed
through moves in front of him, trying to figure out what had happened.

Ranma hopped down from the fence and led the way into the large
clinic. "Here we are." As he was in front, he didn't see Akane
stiffen as she read the names of the Doctors off the plaques by the
wall.

A stunning woman in her early twenties with long dark hair in
intricate plats was doing paperwork at a small desk in the reception
and waiting area. "Good Morning Ranma, how are you?"

"Hi Sena, I'm great, Doc in? Oh, this is Akane Tendo. She's
staying with Mom and me for a while, Akane this is Sena Ono".

Akane was stunned, suddenly having the answer to the question of
where Doctor Tofu Ono had gone.

Sena was a bit nervous at Ranma's friend. First she walked in
wearing a scowl, then a forced smile, now she was pale and blank.
Picking up the phone receiver she smiled at the girl, "Hi Akane. Yes
Ranma, my brother's in, let me page him."

Akane's mind finally caught up. 'Brother! He's not married! Then
why did he leave?'

Sena spoke into the phone while watching Akane, as a brilliant
smile crossed her face before going back to the original scowl. 'Odd
girl.'

Ranma was of course oblivious, as he stood waiting.

"Hello Ranma what can I... H-Hello Akane, how are you? I haven't
seen you in such a long time."

Even Ranma could pick Tofu's nervous tone and turned to Akane to
see her with arms crossed, fingers of one hand drumming her elbow, and
a dark look staring up at the taller doctor.

"I suppose you're wondering why I had to leave?"

"That would be a start. No word, not a letter, nothing. You just
vanished."

"I... Mother was sick and needed me closer to home, and...."

Akane voice was rising and Ranma slinked back out of her vision
not wanting any of her anger directed towards him. "You still could
have left a note. I was crushed, and Kasumi was worse. She was
convinced you left because of her."

Sena broke in at this. She was preparing to anyway as she was
always protective of her family, especially since their Mother had
passed on months before. But when she saw her brother glasses fog when
Akane spoke of her sister she put Akane's family name and the stories
her brother had said together. Her anger quickly turned on her
brother. "Wait! This is the sister of the legendary Kasumi Tendo? You
were moping around here for months after coming here, nearly passing
out whenever the name Kasumi came up, whining along saying how she
couldn't have liked the idiot you became whenever she was around you.
Now I find she liked you so much she was hurt when you left. You are
in such big trouble, big brother."

Sena gave her brother one more dark glare before taking Akane's
arm. "Akane, let's have a quick chat."

Ranma and Tofu watched the two head out into one of the
examination rooms. Ranma turned to face the Doctor. "Heh, I remember
you saying something about knowing the other family that does Anything
Goes now. Sorry."

The older man continued to look at the door the girls had left
through for several minutes before sighing and turning back. "Don't
be, I deserved it. And I think Sena's been possessed by the spirit of
my mother the way she's been trying to get me married off. Oh well,
what did you come for?"

"Oh yeah, I strained my shoulder again while sparing."

Tofu chuckled slightly while prodding his shoulder. "With Akane?"

"Yeah, she's pretty good. Hey, you ever hear of a school of
martial arts dinINNGG..."

As quick as the pain came it vanished. Tofu looked thoughtful as
he rotated the joint, "No, can't say I have, new opponent?"

There was a slight reddening of his face as he quietly admitted
his defeat. "Akane beat mEEEE... at the breakfast table this morning".

This had Tofu chuckling, as he finished with Ranma's shoulder, "I
didn't think Ranma Saotome lost to anyone? Could the mighty one have
met his match?"

"Hey, Ranma Saotome don't lose, she just surprised me today,
I'll win tomorrow."

"Is that a challenge Ranma? You may be the better for now in
sparring but you'll have a hard time beating me at the breakfast
table."

Ranma turned to Akane and Sena, before posing to beseech the
heavens. "I swear I'll beat you at breakfast before the end of the
week." Large waves crashed against the rocky point he was suddenly
on.

Sena's voice carried amusement, "Sorry to interrupt your posing
Ranma, but you do have school today."

"Oh yeah, let's go Akane."

Doctor Tofu called after the pair. "Ranma, I have your pay here,
do you want it now?"

"Nah. I was thinking about asking, but I got Gym today, so I
can't just carry it all day. I'll be past by on the way home. Thanks
anyway Doc."

As the two of them ran towards the school Akane looked up at
Ranma. "Hey Ranma, what was Doctor Tofu going to pay you for?"

"Huh, oh he taught me how to give massages and I earn some money
giving them on Sundays."

Akane thought for a moment "Is it hard?"

"Not really, do you wanna learn how?"

"It's just I could use some money for things and would feel more
comfortable if I paid my way a bit."

"We'll talk to the Doc after school."

(To be continued)

Special thanks to MWhaleK and Sakurabana for proof reading and
advising.

Thank you for reading,

Trent O'Donoghue.
odono...@today.com.au