Chapter 1

 

Time Frame: 6 months After the Failed wedding and the Battle of Jusendo.

Scene: Nerima-Tendo Dojo.

“You’re too slow old man!” Ranma yelled as he blocked a punch to his gut.”

“Ha, I’m just getting up to speed boy! I’ll show you who’s slow! Here’s something that I developed in my younger days!” Genma yelled as he disappears from sight.

“Hey where did he go?” Ranma thought to himself while glancing around.

Then he heard a sound and noticed a blurred and hazy image of a person to the right of him. Ranma vaults over the spot and turns while throwing a reverse-crescent kick. It connects and his father grunts with the impact then goes flying towards the dojo wall. On impact his image becomes clear.

“What the hell was that pop!” Ranma yelled.

“That…was a technique called Umi-seken. I developed it on one of the many training journeys with the master.” Genma replied.

“Ya mean panty raids don’t-cha?” he said.

“Boy, that is not the point! It was a useful move I developed to avoid severe danger and harm to myself.” Genma said.

“Oh common pop, admit it, ya made up that move to avoid getting a beatin!” Ranma yelled.

“Well, yes that was one reason,” Genma replied.

“Stupid old man.” Ranma mutters to himself as his father walked up to him and got into a ready stance. “Hey pop, can you teach me that move?” Ranma asked him.

“Son, you need a lot of Ki training in order to pull that one off. How about we go on a training trip this Saturday? I believe summer break starts then, right?” Genma said.

“Yeah it does, and pop that would be great,” Ranma said.

“Oh, and Akane will be coming along to keep you company,” Genma said.

“Akane is coming! No way! She’ll kill us with her cooking!” Ranma yelled.

“Yes boy, I’m sure that Soun will insist that she come and you can take your time trying to get to know each other,” Genma stated.

“Pop, I know Akane won’t want to go! I don’t want her to come either,” Ranma said.

“She will have no choice in the matter, look at the bright side, you could get along better without all of the other girls around. It would be a great opportunity for you two to finally get a few kisses in, to show your mother how manly you are,” Genma said.

“POP!” Ranma yelled while his face turned bright red. Genma just grinned at him and motioned for Ranma to begin the attack.

As Ranma got into position he saw Akane and Nabiki walk in from out of the corner of his eye. Akane was wearing her gi and had that determined expression on her face. Ranma hoped that Akane hadn’t heard his father’s last comment. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that she seemed to not have heard.

“Ranma, I… will you spar with me?” Akane asked firmly. “I need to improve my martial arts skills if I’m going to be able to protect myself in the future.”

Ranma hemmed and hawed while scratching the back of his head in a nervous reaction to Akane’s nearness. “Well…..”

“That’s a Good Idea Boy! You go ahead and help your iinazuki get better in the art. That is how a true fiancée should act.” Genma said as he stepped back and sat down against the wall with Nabiki.

“Ok Akane,” Ranma replied.

“Great, Thanks Ranma!” Akane said as she smiled at him while bouncing on the balls of her feet.

“….Kuaii…,” Ranma thought to himself as he tried not to make it obvious that he was staring at her.

* 20 minutes later *

“Ranma, why do you always have to hop around like that?" Akane yelled, frustrated at her inability to hit her fiancée. "Do you want me to get better or not? This is supposed to be sparring!" She threw another reverse-crescent at Ranma's mid-section with enough force to disembowel a locomotive.

"Aww, common Akane ya know I can't hit girls." Ranma, a smaller, and faster target than a locomotive, flipped over Akane's leg swipe and tapped her on the back of the head. "Besides, Ya'll never improve if ya don't control your temper." Not like a kawaneekunee tomboy like you would ever beat me." Unless of course, he made her really, really---- REALLY mad. Ranma felt a funny tingling at the back of his neck . . .

"Ranma----"

. . .home of the reptilian brain, evolved over millions of years to warn of Cave Bears, Saber Tooth Tigers . . .

"no----"

. . .frantically this tiny bundle of neurons screamed a warning . . .

"BAKA!!!!"

The perfectly timed snap-kick caught him under the point of his chin, lifting him out of his shoes and propelling him out of the doujou and into the sky heading straight towards the Koi-pond.

"You might want to _open_ the doors next time," Nabiki offered, idly examining the splintered remains of what had once been a fine example of sixteenth century woodwork.

"Akane, you really should learn to control your temper. You know money doesn't grow on trees. Now I'll have to think up a way to get that hole in the doujou roof repaired, and it will just have to come out of your tab," Nabiki said.

“Ok, Ok; but that BAKA started it,” Akane replied while pointing in the direction that Ranma went.

Nabiki turnd as she hears a low whining sound just like a plane falling from the sky. Then she saw Ranma hit the pond with a gigantic splash.

“Oh, by the sound and looks of it, Air Ranma is back,” Nabiki drawled as she pointed to the now wet Ranma-chan. This particular comment caused Akane to laugh.

***********************************************

"Why does she always get mad at me?" Onna-Ranma muttered, pulling herself from the Koi-pond. "It ain't like I did nuthin' but tell her the truth." He scowled in the direction of his iinazuke, who was laughing at something Nabiki said, and his breath caught in his chest at the sight of her smiling face.

”But she sure is cute when she smiles, nah, what am I thinking.” Ranma mutters to herself as she walks back into to house and heads for the fuiro. “Why does she always get mad, it ain’t like I did somthin to her. Just told her the truth.”

“Ranma!! Hurry up or we’ll be late for school,” Akane yelled. “Oh, and don’t forget that I want to do some shopping after school!”

“Yeah yeah, I hear ya,” Ranma said as she scrubbed herself and then walked over to the fuiro.

A few minutes later Ranma-kun came out of the bathroom and headed towards to breakfast room. “Hey Oji, leave some for me!” Ranma said as he sat down and started on his meal.

 

Soun walked into the room and sat down at his usual spot at the head of the table. “Genma tells me that you’re going on a training trip Saturday. Akane, you will be going along of course. There will also be a dance this Friday. Ranma will be going as your escort,” he said.

“Dad! Why do I have to go on the trip too? I mean, I wouldn’t mind so much if I learned a new technique but I’ll get stuck with setting up camp and all the work that goes with it!” Akane yelled.

“Akane you are going and that is final,” Soun said sternly.

“And another thing. Why would I want to go to the dance with that pervert?” Akane said out-loud while secretly thinking (Hmm…. Can’t let them know I really want Ranma to take me. I mean, I would be considered very lucky to have such a… a.. handsome, strong, capable…iinazuke on my arm.) While Akane was thinking this she snuck secret peeks at Ranma and hoping that no one would notice that her body temperature was starting to rise. It was producing so much heat that it was effecting her control over her Ki, and was starting to leak out a little bit. Thankfully no one noticed.

Soun then turned to Genma and said “What a wonderful event for a person to get to know their fiancée better, eh Saotome?”

“Yes, Tendo that’s a great idea,” Genma replied.

Ranma hadn’t been paying much attention other than concentrating on feeding his stomach. Finally caught up to the part of the conversation where the dance was mentioned.

“Dance? What Dance?” Ranma said.

“Hey Ranma, You know, the Spring Dance that was announced in school on the P.A. system two weeks ago. You are gong to take Akane to the spring dance this week, right?” Nabiki said.

“EERRRK!” (Cough, cough) “WHAT THAT UNCUTE TOMBOY!” he yelled while pointing at Akane.

“RANMA No Baka!” Akane yelled as she reached into sub-space.

“Eh Heh Heh, now Akane calm down,” Ranma pleaded.

“Calm Down, you want ME to calm down! I’ll show you calm down BAKA!” she yelled.

“Hey, watch were ya swing that thing you could kill someone with that! Whoa! Put that Naginata away ya Uncute Tomboy!” Ranma said as Akane took a few swings that just barley missed his head.

Sound and Genma, who were used to this kind of behavior from the two, sat back and watched the proceedings with slightly amused expressions on there faces while Ranma and Akane weren’t looking in their direction.

“Ah, young love, what a sight to see. It just gladdens my heart to see them get along so well. Although I wish the boy would learn to control his mouth. Eh, Tendo?” Genma said while elbowing his friend in the ribs.

“You’ve got that right Saotome.” Soun said while nodding his head. Then they both returned to watching their children.

“RANMA!!!” Akane yelled as she finally connected with the non-lethal end of the Naginata to Ranma’s backside.

“OWWWWW!!! That Hurt ya know! Now I won’t be able to sit down for a week!”

“Ranma, it’s your own fault! I’m Not a Tomboy, I’m just athletic!” Akane stated while brandishing the Naginata in a threatening manner.

“Oh yeah, you’re so athletic that ya can bench press a car, and that your built like a brick. Ya’ll never catch a husband that way,” he said.

“Ooooohhhhhh! You just wait Ranma; Your Mother is not going to be happy when I tell her that you still haven’t learned to stop insulting me! But she won’t be here until next Friday. And just for that, I won’t help you out when Shan Pu glompes you!” Akane yelled.

Ranma’s eyes widen and he franticly tries to think up an apology to tell her that he was sorry. But before he can say anything Akane hit him again then left the TV room and ran upstairs. “ OW!, Oh man, why do I have ta go and stick my foot in my mouth and say stuff like that?” He turns as he hears a noise behind him. His father has walked up on him and in a move that has been performed hundreds of times while lecturing his son, he puts Ranma on his knees in the seiza position.

“What is it pop?” Ranma asked.

“Ranma my boy, when are you going to learn to control your mouth? If your mother had heard you she would be very angry with you. Do you remember your promise!” Genma said.

“What promise?” Ranma asked while scratching the back of his head in puzzlement.

“Your promise to watch what you say to Akane and not to insult her! You have just broken it!” Genma stated.

“Ah geez, I forgot. I’m sorry pop,” Ranma said.

“That’s good to hear but its not me you should be apologizing to, you should say you’re sorry to your Mother and to Akane! You have to learn to get along with your fiancée if you’re going to take over the doujou boy! You will take the opportunity to get along with Akane at the dance and on this training trip,” Genma said.

“But pop, Every time I try to get along with her somethin goes wrong!” Ranma stated.

“Then try harder boy! It has been two years since we first came here and your mother is getting impatient that you haven’t married Akane yet. If you want to end up married to one of the other girls, just keep doing what you're doing." Genma paused thoughtfully. "Although a lifetime of eating nothing but okonomiyaki sounds a little boring. On the bright side, I understand that Amazon's hardly ever castrate their males once they're beyond breeding age." Also, Kodachi is extremely wealthy, Ah, we could live the rest of our lives in comfort.”

“Geeeyyaaa!” Shudder “No, I ain’t gonna marry any of them! I’d rather marry that tomboy, than Shampoo, Kodachi or Ukyo!” Ranma said loudly.

“Oh, So you finally admit that you like Akane better? And that you’re willing to marry her?” Genma replied while eyeing his son in a sly manor.

“I didn’t say that! I’m only seventeen that’s too young to be married!” Ranma yelled.

“Boy, when I was your age I was already married to your mother for a year!” Genma said.

“Huh? You’ve known mom that long?” Ranma asked him.

“I have known your mother since I was 16 years old. Why, I remember that day that I found your mother practicing her swordsmanship,“ Genma said while staring off into space.

<Flashback>

A young Genma was walking towards his favorite resting spot with a few sacks to tide himself over until lunch. When he saw a young woman with chestnut colored hair of average height and build practicing with her Katana. “Oh my god she is so cute. . .,” Genma thought. I’ve gotta meet her, but what will I say? Geez... I hope I don’t screw up.

<end Flashback>

“Pop, What did you say to her?” Ranma asked his father.

“Well, I think I must have said something to make her mad at me. Ranma, there is a good reason why I’m afraid of your mother when she is carrying that Katana,” Genma stated.

“Ya mean the seppuku contract?” Ranma asked.

“Well that is one of the reasons, but let me continue with my story,” Genma said.

<Resume Flashback>

Genma walked up to the girl and bowed while he said “Hello, My name is Genma Saotome and I couldn’t help noticing how well you handle that blade. Do you practice kendo? And what’s your name?”

“Hello.” The girl replied as she finished up a complex maneuver with the blade and returned it to its scabbard. “My name is Noduka Matsumari, and yes I do study the art of kendo. Why do you ask? If you are interested in learning it, you could come to my family’s doujou. My father would be happy to have another student.”

“Thank you Matsumari-san, I would very much like to learn the art of Kendo, and to get to know you better,” Genma said shyly. Noduka blushed and turned her head to the side while watching Genma from out of the corner of her eye.

“I would like the very much too, Saotome-san,” she said.

<End Flashback>

“I went to your mother’s house and met your grandfather. I trained for many months while I got to know your mother better. Eventually I asked for permission to court your mother. Your grandfather thought that I was a good match for his daughter and 3 months later we were married. At that time, I didn’t know of your mother’s temper. But one day I had a phone call from my other fiancée, and well your mother asked me about it and I said that since your mother was better off than the person I spoke to, it made your mother really mad,” he said.

“What happened pop?” Ranma asked.

“Hold on Ranma, I’m just getting to that part,” Genma said.

<Resume Flashback>

“Who was that on the phone Genma?” Noduka asked him.

“Oh, just my other fiancée, but since your better looking and richer I told her that I’m not going to marry her. Even though you’re a little thin and your food is a bit toxic. . .,” he said.

“GENMA. . . NO. . . Baka!” yelled Noduka. She then proceeded to chase Genma around the yard while performing complex maneuvers with her Katana. On one particular up-swing she managed to remove part of Genma’s sleeve. On the returning stroke the blade bit deep enough to leave a permanent scar.

“Yeeeaaaawwwch!” Genma yelled as he fell to the ground with tears of pain in his eyes.

“NODUKA! That is enough. Look what you have done to your fiancé!” yelled Noduka’s father. “You have to learn to control your temper.”

“Yes, Father,” Noduka whispered.

Genma who at this point had passed out from blood loss heard none of this exchange. He later woke up in the hospital with 62 stitches on his back and further down.

<End Flashback>

“That day your mother lost her temper, she gave me something for me to remember that day by,” Genma said.

“What was it pop?” Ranma asked.

It’s this,” Genma said as he pulled back his dogi and showed Ranma a scar that ran from his shoulder on his back to top of his pants. Then he pulled his top back on and turned to face his son. Ranma was stunned. And he didn’t know what to say to his father, so he just remained silent.

“That is what happened when I went too far in insulting your mother. After that happened, I learned not to insult her. If you want a comparison of temperament, Akane has the same temper as your mother. Your mother has calmed down over the years and is slow to anger. But, when she blows, run for the hills boy and I mean Run! . . . Or you can use the move I specifically invented for when that happens,” Genma said.

“Oh man, why me, is that why I’m attracted to Akane or is it because she don’t go grabbin me like the other girls, and she is nice when I’m not teasing her,” he thought to himself. “What move is that pop?” Ranma asked.

“The Crouching Tiger! It works very well with your mother. And might work with Akane if you can keep from insulting her.” Ranma face faults, then springs back up.

“There is no way I’m gonna do that!” Ranma yelled as he hit his father on the head with his fist.

“Boy you are going to ha. . .,” Genma started to say.

Just then Kasumi comes in from the Kitchen, and clears her throat interrupting what Genma is saying.

“Uncle Saotome, Ranma breakfast is ready. Oh, and Auntie Noduka called. She said that she will be coming on Tuesday this week and is staying until the workmen are finished with the repairs on the house,” Kasumi said.

Ranma runs past Kasumi yelling his thanks over his shoulder as he heads to the bathroom to wash up. As he races upstairs he passes Akane and tries to apologize. “Umm. . .Akane. . .I’m s...s...sorry! For what I said earlier today. I’m really trying to watch what I say, but sometimes my mouth is too fast for my brain to catch up with. Its not really my fault! It’s all Oji’s fault,” Ranma said.

Akane for her part just ignores Ranma until he tries to weasel out of the apology. “Humph!” She says as she turns her head away from him and runs down to breakfast. “OHHHH! I can’t believe that Baka. First he tries to apologize and then tries to lay the blame on someone else. Huh, why can’t he be nicer once in a while? Oh well, Ranma is Ranma I guess.”

Nabiki looks up from her morning paper Akane sits down to eat. “Well, how was your talk with Ranma, Akane? You do know that his mouth is not attached to his brain sometimes,” Nabiki said.

“I know Nabiki, boy do I know. Sometimes I wish. . . I. . . I wish. . .Oh what’s the use. Only a miracle would change it. That, or something really bad. But I don’t want to think about anything bad happening,” Akane said.

“Don’t say that!” Ranma yelled as he sat down at the table and commenced eating. When he finally finishes he notices that everyone is looking at him funny. “What!” he asked them.

“What do you mean by that comment son?” Soun asks as he puts down his teacup.

“Huh? What Comment?” Ranma asked.

“When you said, don’t say that, what did you really mean?” Soun said.

“Oh, well usually when someone says that something bad will happen and then hopes that it won’t, well you know our track record around here! It always does! I mean, I really enjoy piece and quiet like the next person but I can do without the gods and the demons and creepy things. I’m just tired after that last fight; I really don’t want to have to kill anyone. I don’t think I can handle killing again,” he said so quietly that everyone has to strain to hear his last comment.

“Ranma, you didn’t kill him, he was reborn remember?” Akane said softly.

“Yeah Akane, I remember, but its hard to forget,” Ranma replied as he glanced down at his clenched fists.

“Ranma you shouldn’t put yourself down so much about this,” Nabiki told him.

“I’ll try Nabiki, But I. . . ,” Ranma said.

“Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, You better hurry or you’ll be late for school,” Kasumi said.

When all three heard that they took a look at the kitchen clock. “Oh my god. We’re going to be late!” They yelled as they grabbed their bentoes and ran out the door. Ranma barely managed to avoid the water falling from an apartment window.

“Yes! HA HA HA. It missed me. Wahoooooo! Finally I didn’t get wet this time!” Then Ranma took ten steps forward and water came flying out of the window two houses down.

“Dear you shouldn’t throw that out the window”, came a faint voice as Akane and Ranma passed by.

“Aww Maann, Why can’t I go a day without changing! Ranma yelled. He then heard someone giggling and glanced to his left to where Akane was walking beside him. He noticed that she had her hand covering her mouth and her cheeks were flushed with the effort of holding back the laughter. She couldn’t hold it in any longer when she noticed the long-suffering look Ranma gave her. It looked so cute on him/her; Akane broke out into loud peals of laughter while holding her sides.

“What’s so funny?” Ranma asked her.

“The look on your face just now when you got hit with that wash water,” Akane replied between giggles.

“Yeah, I finally avoided the water from one window only to get hit with that,” Ranma said as she gestured over her shoulder towards to house that they just passed.

“Come on Akane, we had better hurry now or I’ll have to spend home room as a girl,” Ranma said.

“Ok, but I get to pound Kuno this time,” Akane replied. With that said, both Akane and Ranma ran at warp speeds to the school grounds.

When they finally arrived, they were not surprised to find that only Kuno stood in front of the gates in a stately pose. Both, Ranma and Akane groaned. “Geeze, Ranma said, ya’d think that stick boy here would get the picture?” Nah, he’s too stupid and clueless for that,” Akane replied as she rushed Kuno before he could perform one of his stupid speeches. All that was heard before he was sent into the stratosphere by one of Akane’s kicks was. “OH Akane Tendo, Come into my embrace and I would date with thee . . .Urk!”

“Nice kick Akane,” Hiroshi commented.

“Yeah, do you think he’ll land in the zoo’s alligator pond or in the lions pit this time?” Questioned Desuki”

“Now boys you know my sources will find out were he lands this time, but if you ask me I think he’ll land in the Gorilla pen this time,” Nabiki said as she walked up behind everyone. Nabiki noticed everyone’s amazed expressions directed at her. “What? Can’t a person express their personal opinion once in a while?” she asked them.

“Yes, but not if it’s you and not if your not charging any money for it this time,” Hiroshi said.

“Oh, don’t mind oneesan she is still a little mad at the Kuno’s for causing some of the damage to the house during the wedding and refusing to pay for the damage,” Akane said.

“Oh, well that’s ok I guess,” Hiroshi said.

Just then the bell rang.
“AAAAA! The bell!” Everyone ran inside to get to their classes.
Ranma and Akane make it into class with a minute to spare. Miss Hinako walked in the door in her child form. She places her material on her desk and turned to the clock on the wall waiting for the signal to begin. BZZZZZZ! “Alright class open your English text books to page 395, today we are going to study English verbs. . .”

“Psst!, Akane, yo Akane!---I forgot my book. Can ya share yours with me,” Ranma asked. Akane quietly scoots over and shares her book with Ranma; she doesn’t want to risk getting drained by Miss Hinako any more than Ranma does.

Ranma, when will you learn not to forget your books especially in Mss H’s class. Every little thing we do wrong and BAM! She sucks out our Ki. (Thinking to herself) I guess that was pretty smart of him to do this, even though his book is missing, I guess everyone expects us to share because we are fiancé’s.

 

The school day passed quickly and it’s time for the students to head home and start their shopping for the school dance. “Ranma, you go on home I’m going to that new store that opened up downtown to pick a dress for the dance,” Akane said to him as they walked home.

“Who ya going with?” Ranma asked.

“You, you Baka,” Akane said in an affectionate tone of voice. “Our parents will be expecting you to take me, and I would really like to go with you.”

“Alright, we’ll go and I’ll tell pop and Kasumi y’all be late. Um.. How late will you be anyways?” Ranma asked her.

“Oh, probably just before 5 o’clock. I will be in time for dinner. Ok?” Akane said.

“Sure, See ya!” Ranma yelled over his shoulder as he hopped up on the fence lining the canal and ran towards home.

*****************************************

Akane couldn’t wait to get to the new store, and buy one of their pretty dresses in the window display. She walked up to the store window and looked at the many dresses on display. With a determined glint in her eyes, Akane walked in to the shop.

“Hello, My name is Yoko how may I help you today?” the sales lady asked.

“Umm. . . I’m looking for a dress for the dance this Friday and I thought I would see what you have in the store. You see my.. . My fiancée is taking me and I would like something to make his eyes pop out of his head. He is always saying that I’m uncute! So, I want something really sexy. Do you have anything like that?” Akane asked shyly.

“Right this way dear,” Yoko said while grabbing 5 dresses of various colors, shapes and sizes off of the racks and walked towards the fitting rooms.

“Here you go dear, one of these will surely nock him dead,” Yoko said as she handed Akane all five dresses to try on.

"Thank you," Akane said as she took the dresses and made her way to the dressing rooms to try them on.

 

**1 hour later**

“Oh, I don’t know which one to pick. I liked the yellow one, and the green one was pretty. But the red one is really nice if a bit daring.” Akane thought as she admired herself in the mirror. She then turned and walked out of the fitting room to ask the sales lady her opinion.

“OH, Oh My…Dear that is the most beautiful dress on you so far! I have the perfect accessories and shoes to go with it too,” Yoko said as she smiled at Akane.

“You really think so?” Akane asked her.

“Yes, dear that is the perfect dress,” Yoko replied.

“Good, Ranma seems to like red a lot, and I think the red really is beautiful on me too. Yup! The red one it is!” Akane said while nodding her head firmly.

“Follow me dear and we’ll go get the jewelry and matching shoes,” Yoko said as she walked to the back of the store and selected a diamond pendent necklace, and diamond tear drop earrings to match. “What size shoes do you wear dear?”

“Seven and a half,” Akane replied.

The sales lady smiled and then walked into the storeroom and brought out two types of shoes. One was a pair of red flats that looked really plain and the other pair had a 2-inch heal and gave a nice curve to the ankle and made Akane’s legs look much longer. In Akane’s opinion her legs were one of her best features. So she pointed to the second pair. Akane tried on the shoes and smiled. Everything is perfect she thought while she made her purchases and started home for dinner.

 

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