unless there's a mistake I didn't catch, or you
guys have any strong opinion on something that
I oughta change, this goes to RAAC in a week or
two....
SUNDAY NIGHT
"Kinnosuke, sorry to disturb you but I'm in need of your services."
//Hey, that's okay. Just as long-//
"Of course, I'm ready to pay."
//Oh, well then, your wish is my command. Hadn't heard from you in
a while. Where are you at?//
"Lounging about Nerima these days."
//Nerima? Hey, you wouldn't happen to know a Nabiki Tendo, would
ya?//
"I know of one, yes. Why?"
//Next time you see her, send'er my regards.//
"Oh-ho. A possible... interest?"
//Let's just say I admire her work.//
"In-ti-res-ting."
//Right then, to business. What do you need?//
"Tell me what you know about a girl named Akari Unryuu."
//Unryuu... Unryuu... give me a moment to look that up... oh my.//
========================
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
ACT 1
PART 6
No Dance for Me
========================
MONDAY MORNING
Ranma got up, half-asleep, and stepped into the living room. Akane
was already there and didn't look very much awake either.
"So, what is it today?" asked Ranma.
"Sumo day."
"Sumo day?"
"Sumo day."
"I hate sumo day."
*
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
"Oh my."
The morning greeted Akari Unryuu's doorstep with flowers of almost
every color and shape, leaving her awestruck and speechless. She'd
never received flowers before and the sight of the masses of flowers
now made her feel giddy and light-headed.
There was a card.
It was a simple card, with no decorations, and rather small as
well.
It had a simple message.
Good Morning
-Muhoshin Ryo
*
Much later...
"So, they still do this every morning?" asked Ryouga.
Nabiki nodded casually. "Well, ever since they announced they
WOULD go through with the marriage after all, things got ugly.
Although... some of them don't seem to be as enthusiastic as they used
to be."
"Oh? why's that?" wondered Ukyou.
"Probably because Kuno-chan's bunch is bullying the other clubs
into it, I think," said Nabiki.
"Goodness, isn't this dangerous?" wondered Akari.
"I feel sorry for all of'em," said Ukyou.
They watched from atop a wall as Ranma and Akane plowed into a
horde of sumo wrestlers.
"And they're even on a schedule too," said Nabiki.
"Schedule?" asked Ukyou.
"Let's see... for this month, it's the Sumo Squad this morning, and
the Tennis Team this afternoon."
A sumo wrestler entered Low Earth Orbit. Another went to the
second floor via Akane Fist And Kick.
"Hm... Tuesday morning is archery..."
"Archery?!" boggled Ukyou.
"Yeah, archery. Oh, don't worry. They just shoot blunt-end
arrows. More irritating than anything else, really. The afternoon
is... ah..."
A sumo wrestler was thrown through a window into a room, where,
seconds later, an explosion and purple smoke emerged.
"Oh yeah, Chem Club."
"Them too?" asked Ukyou.
"Yup. And Wednesday it's Akane's Stormtroopers."
"Akane's what?" asked Ryouga.
"Well, those guys," answered Nabiki, "just a bunch of students.
Don't belong to any club, and their only goal is to date my sis."
"Why," asked Ukyou, "is the whole school so obsessed with Akane?"
She wouldn't admit it, but she was feeling a little jealousy.
"I have no idea," said Nabiki. "AAAnyways, Wednesday morning is
the Hockey Team, Wednesday afternoon is the Baseball Tea-"
"Okay, okay, we get the idea!" said Ukyou.
"How about Kuno?" wondered Ryouga.
The three of them ducked as a sumo wrestler zoomed through the air.
"Kuno-chan? He's up on Friday mornings, along with the kendo
squad."
The three watched, slightly bored, as Ranma and Akane dismissed the
last of the Sumo horde for the day.
"Hey! Ranma! Akane! Hurry up, you're gonna be late!" yelled
Nabiki.
"See ya later, Nabiki," said Ukyou as she headed out into the
hallway crowd and after Ryouga. "Hey! Ryouga! That's the wrong way!
Wait up!"
And so, life resumed in Furinkan High.
The classes passed in a haze, as usual, but the lunch hour was
another matter entirely.
The guys and the girls, as usual, seperated into their seperate
little zones and talked of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.
And boys.
In particular, Sayuri, Yuka, Manami, Akane, Akari, and Ukyou were
gathered at a table, gossiping in general.
"What's with you, Akari?" wondered Sayuri.
"Hm?"
"You seem... really bubbly today." It was true, and rather
noticable. She'd been smiling and grinning and humming all through
the day.
"Just a nice day, that's all," she said cheerily.
"Ah... right." Sayuri let the matter drop, figuring she'd find out
eventually, either from Akari or Nabiki.
"You know, the spring dance is coming up," said Yuka, "I'm so
excited!"
"Is Daisuke seeing anybody?" asked Sayuri, "I think I'll ask him."
"Ranma asked you to go already, right?" asked Yuka.
"Well, not yet," answered Akane reluctantly.
"Jeez, is he still dense about these things?" wondered Sayuri.
"Guess so," said Yuka.
"How about you, Ukyou?" asked Akari.
"Hm? What about me?"
"Hasn't Ryouga asked you to the dance yet?"
"WHAT?"
"C'mon," said Yuka, "don't tell me you two aren't an item."
"It's not like that!"
"What's wrong with him? He does look cute," said Akari.
"We're just friends, really!"
"Riiight," said Sayuri. "Well, if he's not gonna take you, I hope
he asks me!"
"Sayuri!" yelled Ukyou.
"Well," said Yuka, "Akari's right, he is cute. I wouldn't mind
being with him either."
Meanwhile, somewhere on the boy's side of the lunch zone, Daisuke,
Hiroshi, Ranma, and Ryouga were settled under a tree, digesting and
such.
"You watch that game last night? I tell ya, it was great," said
Daisuke.
"Man, this is the most disgusting sandwich they've ever made," said
Hiroshi, spitting out some of the cafeteria's fine cuisine.
"Akane must've cooked it," said Ranma, then quickly checked to make
sure that she didn't hear that.
"Speaking of Akane," said Hiroshi, "you DID ask her to the dance,
didn't you?"
"The what?"
"The spring dance! You know, the first dance in a LONG time that
Principal Kuno approved?"
"Che, Principal Kuno'd probably have us shave our head or
somethin'."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So you've asked Akane, right?" wondered
Daisuke.
"I... well... no."
Hiroshi said, "You WANT Akane to pound you, then?"
"No! It's just-"
"Ranma's lucky, though," said Daisuke, "he's got someone to ask."
"How about you, Ryouga?" asked Ranma, hoping to get the spotlight
off of himself, "you gonna ask Ucchan?"
Ryouga blinked. He wasn't used to being a focus of attention.
"What?"
"You heard me. Well? C'mon, ask her out."
"Oh, that's right," said Hiroshi, "I forgot that you and Ukyou were
a couple too."
Ryouga choked on a sandwich bit.
"So, when are ya askin' her out, Ryouga?" asked Ranma.
Ryouga spat out some processed tuna, still coughing a bit.
"Surprised nobody else asked her," said Hiroshi.
"Yeah, she's cute!" added in Daisuke.
"She's never hit you with a spatula before," muttered Ryouga.
"If I thought I had a chance, I'd ask her," said Hiroshi.
"You're a lucky guy, Ryouga," said Daisuke, "she's cute and can
cook."
"You two even live together already," said Hiroshi.
"Hey hey, have you two, well, you know," asked Daisuke, elbowing
Ryouga a bit. This wasn't wise.
"IT ISN'T LIKE THAT!!!" yelled Ryouga.
"Hey," said Daisuke in a low voice, with a bit of a sly grin. "If
you're not gonna ask her... can I?"
"NO WAY!" bellowed Ryouga.
Ranma stayed quiet, enjoying the show. He was only too glad to
have Ryouga take the spotlight for once.
"Why not?" wondered Hiroshi. "I thought you two aren't...?" asked
Hiroshi.
"NO! Why'd I want to date her?" wondered Ryouga.
"What?!" exclaimed Hiroshi. "A babe like her? I don't believe
you, man! What's wrong with her?"
"You think she's too ugly? You just aren't attracted to her?
What?" asked Daisuke.
"Yes! NO! ARGH! Stop asking me!" yelled Ryouga.
Unfortunately, Ukyou was nearby, and she heard the bit about being
too ugly. She calmly walked over with a hint of menace in her eyes.
"What's that, Ryouga? You think I'm ugly?"
"Um, no, wait, I didn't mean that!"
"So you think I'm ugly, eh?!." She lifted her spatula from the
sling and twirled it.
"Man, this is like deja-vu," said Ranma. "Only it's happening to
someone else. This is cool."
"I didn't say it!" yelled Ryouga desperately. "No! UGH!"
Normally, the UGH would have been caused by a spatula to the head.
Not today.
"Oh-hohohohohoho! Ryouga-sama! How I've missed you," purred
Kodachi as she latched onto Ryouga and glomped him firmly.
She was, again, in her leotard.
And holding him tightly.
Ryouga promptly sprouted a nosebleed and passed out.
"Ryouga-sama?" she asked.
"What a wimp," muttered Ranma.
"Ranma-sama!" said Kodachi. She sprang from Ryouga, dropping him
to the floor, and soon had Ranma in her arms (and struggling to get
out.)
"Hey! Leggo!"
"RRRRRAAAANMMAAA!!!!"
<Oh no> thought Ranma, "Akane! Wait!"
Akane approached, blue battle aura and all.
"No! Wait! This isn't what it looks like!"
*WHAM*
*
King's Cafe, the lunch hour.
The bar was closed, reserved actually, for a private gathering.
At a long table was seated a large amount of people, roughly 50,
all dressed in semi-formal garb and in a quiet and subdued manner.
Seated at the head of the table was an old man, also in a suit. He
seemed to radiate authority and respect. A few others were of middle
age, but the rest of them were rather young, in their late teens or
early twenties.
King heard vague rumors of the elderly man at the head of the
table. He was a master of some secret school of martial arts, but
beyond that, she did not know. Naturally, she watched from a distance
with great curiosity.
Ryo Muhoshin sat quietly near the end of the table, surrounded by
his siblings and other members of the now defunct UWSMA. He looked at
who was seated at the front of the table and was rather impressed.
There was Sensei Tanaka, who took part in training Ryoko under the
recreational equipment division.
There was Sensei Yamada, who could not only take down several
opponents with kitchenware, but could also use, for example, a wet
fish (and coined the phrase 'Well slap me with a wet fish!'), and
defend himself well.
There was Sensei Morimoto of the gardening division, Sensei
Matsuzushi of the hair care division, and there was Sensei Kobayashi,
a living legend and master of forest survival. Leave him in the
forest, unarmed, and he'll only need to use a clump of dirt and a weed
to bring you down.
There was someone that caught Ryo's eye. A girl. Sitting next to
the sensei of the Janitorial Division. A short haired, fairly
uncomfortable looking GAIJIN girl. She was shifting around uneasily
and was looking generally out of place. He narrowed his eyes. Why,
he wondered, was a barbarian foreigner amongst us? She noticed his
gaze and returned it with an equally hostile glare, then turned away.
There was something familiar about her though. He just couldn't
remember at the moment.
Ah. There was a familiar face in the crowd. Ryo prodded his
memory for a moment, until a name finally emerged.
Kousuke.
Kousuke... Kousuke... oh yes. Him. Ryo broke his leg on a whim
once. Must say 'hello' and 'how's the leg?' sometime. Hahah.
And then there was one of the higher ranking masters, Sensei
Miyaji. He was also the Muhoshin's legal guardian. Of course, the
rather independent nature of them made it somewhat difficult to manage
them. At the worst was Ryo, who despised any interference from 'the
old man'. On the better side was Kyoko, who called him 'grandpapa'.
With an *ahem* and a cough, Miyaji stood up to address everyone.
"Ladies, gentlemen, it's good too see you all looking well," said
Sensei Miyaji, stroking his beard. "This will probably be the last
gathering in a while of what was once a proud and long-lived school of
martial arts..."
The crowd seemed to be saddened at this point.
"... but I an not content to see it die in such an undignified way.
There will be a rebuilding. I've talked with other elder sensei,
we'll see what can be done. Until then, I wish you all the best in
your new lives."
The applause started.
"Oh, I should mention that one of your colleagues, Ami, could not
be here. She sends her regards," he continued, "but the good news is
that she now serves the royal family."
The crowd cheered at this. It was quite an achievement to get that
position.
"Now, let us enjoy our lunch."
The crowd ate, a bit subdued, but still with conversation. People
caught up with what was happening with others, congratulations and
condolences were given, and a generally pleasant time was had by all.
Soon, the luncheon was over, and Ryo strolled to the doors, eager to
avoid the nagging of his former (tor)mentors.
As Ryo and his siblings exited the cafe, he heard an *ahem* behind
him, and turned to see Sensei Miyaji standing behind him.
Kyoko yelled out a loud WAI and glomped the old fellow.
"Sensei-granpa!" she bubbled.
"Oh, hey," muttered Megane.
"Sensei Miyaji! How're you doing nowadays?" asked Ryoko.
Ryo scowled.
Miyaji smiled as he looked over his (legally) foster children.
"I'm doing well for myself, retirement and such you know? I'll visit
you all again right now, but for now..." His tone turned a bit on the
serious and stern side, "Ryo Muhoshin, I need to talk to you young
man, alone."
Ryo looked at his sisters and brother briefly. "Go on home," he
said.
Megane tsked.
Kyoko jumped up and down. "Oooooh, Ryo's in trouuuuuble."
Ryoko looked at her watch. <Hm, by now Ryouga oughta be...> "I'm
gonna go visit Ryouga, be back home later."
They left quickly, leaving Ryo and Sensei Miyaji alone.
"Come, let us walk a bit," said the sensei.
Ryo frowned, but followed. He'd rather not follow the old man, but
one had to show some respect some time.
*
"What a day," muttered Ryouga, trudging home, feeling relieved that
the school day was over.
"No kidding," said Ukyou, who walked along with him. She pulled
him back in the right direction every now and then.
"How dare they ask me if I... ah..."
"Hm? Ask ya what?" queried Ukyou.
"Um, never mind."
"C'mon, tell me!"
"I'd rather not."
"Okay, fine, be that way," muttered Ukyou.
"What do you mean by that?!"
"Pigheaded," said Ukyou. There was a hint of a smile on the edge
of her face, but Ryouga didn't notice it.
"HEY!"
"Just kidding!"
They walked on in silence for a while longer.
"You really don't wanna say? Okay."
"It's just that the guys were asking me, um, who I was gonna ask to
the spring dance," said Ryouga, blushing lightly.
"Oh, ah, that." Ukyou suddenly wished she hadn't asked.
"They were just, well, wondering when I'd, um, ah, ask you to..."
"RYOUGA-SAMA! OH-HOHOHOHO!"
Ryouga froze in horror. <Not AGAIN! Please not Kodachi, please
not Kodachi, please->
It was Kodachi.
"Ryouga, darling, have some roses," said Kodachi, tossing a bouquet
of black roses at him. Ryouga batted it away with ease. He was a
victim of her roses once already, and he didn't care to be one again.
"W-what do you..."
Ukyou sighed. <Somebody buy Ryouga a spine, please.>
"Just came here to remind you, Ryouga-sama, about the spring dance.
We are going, aren't we?"
"WHAT? NO W-"
"A school dance? Ryouga, you were gonna ask me, right?" said Ryoko
as she arrived on the scene.
<Shouldn't these things> wondered Ryouga <be happening to Ranma?>
"And who are you, peasant girl?" sneered Kodachi.
Ryouga would've said something at this point, but he was
momentarily paralyzed, and not too happy either.
"Peasant girl???" Ryoko pulled out her twin iron-weighted yo-yos
and approached Kodachi with extreme malice.
Ukyou, seeing a possible disaster building up, tried to cool things
down. "C'mon, girls, calm down, let's not fight, okay?"
"Oh-ho, so the hack chef has an interest in my Ryouga-sama too?"
Ryoko blinked.
"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!!" yelled Ukyou.
Ryouga finally decided that enough was enough and tried to step in.
"Take this, you wenches!" yelled Kodachi as she tossed a gas
grenade bouquet at them. Ukyou and Ryoko managed to get clear, but
Ryouga didn't see it coming. He was, again, paralyzed by Kodachi.
Then the fighting got underway.
*
Normally, this would be a pleasant day in the park.
Not today. Why? Ryo Muhoshin and Sensei Miyaji were strolling in
it, and that raised the potential for violence quite a bit.
The sensei seemed to be relaxed, but Ryo was dreading the
conversation that was about to take place.
"Ryo."
"Hm?"
*whap*
"Talk properly, boy!"
"Itai... yes, sensei."
"I want to talk to you about a few things."
Ryo frowned.
*WHAP*
"Show some respect for your elders!"
"YES SENSEI!"
"Now... first of all, how are your brother and sisters doing?"
"I see no need to worry about them, sensei," he said cooly.
"I take it that means everything is fine?"
"I suppose, sensei."
"And your sister, Ryoko, she has given up on the boy Hibiki?"
"Yes, sensei," lied Muhoshin.
"Hm. I must talk with her later."
"Of course, sensei."
"Where was I... oh yes, first of all, I'd just like you to know
that I've heard about what you've been up to, and I don't like it."
Ryo remained cautiously silent.
"Our school was founded for the purpose of PROTECTING lives, not
ending them! You are taking everything we've taught you and
tarnishing it."
Ryo winced.
"Muhoshin, I know that the other instructors pushed you by
comparing you to that Hibiki boy all the time, but it was not supposed
to lead to a burning hatred for him."
"Right."
*WHAP*
"Right, Sensei."
"And I heard... I heard you were dealing with the Shadoloo."
Ryo decided to remain silent on this topic.
*WHAP*
"What... was that for..." growled Ryo.
"You had it coming. You know not what you deal with when you deal
with the Shadoloo, boy."
"I think I do."
"Oh, so you think you're better than I?"
"Yes."
"Well then," said Sensei Miyagi, "let's see about that." He pulled
out a twin set of fans.
Ryo adjusted the gloves on his hands and looked at his sensei from
the corner of his eye.
"I've learned a few things," he said, as his fists began glowing
with ki-energy.
*
Ryouga wasn't in a good mood. He was also still paralyzed.
"Oh-hohohohoho! Fighting with toys, little girl?" taunted Kodachi,
to which Ryoko replied by slinging her yo-yo out and breaking
Kodachi's nose with lightning speed.
"You liddle bidth! You shall bay for dat!" sneered Kodachi, while
she held her now bleeding nose.
"Shut up and fight!" Ukyou charged with her spatula, but Kodachi
managed to spring free and whip around wildly with her ribbon.
Ryouga was definitely not in a good mood. <These things> he
thought <happen to Ranma, not me!>
Kodachi snared a park bench and tossed at Ryoko, who dodged easily.
Instead, the bench hit Ryouga.
<All this, because everyone thinks I love somebody...>
Ryoko slung her yo-yos and snared Kodachi by the ankle, then pulled
hard, swinging her around. Unfortunately, Ukyou was in the way.
<Love. Ha. I've had enough of that. It's given me NOTHING but
HURT and DISAPOINTMENT.>
Ukyou shoved Kodachi away, but unfortunately Kodachi's ribbon was
beginning to tangle everyone up...
<Love? Who needs it?! Not me!>
In a surprise attack, Kodachi went for Ryouga's arm, hoping to drag
him off somewhere more private (and comfortable). Ryoko countered by
grabbing the other arm, and Ukyou managed to get a hold of his foot.
Ryouga was beginning to glow, and not entirely from depression
either. He put up with things that the fairer sex did, believing that
girls needed to be treated more gently than boys in general. However,
there was only so much he could take.
He really didn't like being treated like a rope in a 3-way
tug-of-war.
"CUT IT OUT!!!"
The three girls froze from the sudden outburst, as Ryouga overcame
massive chemical poisoning to stand up in a pose of anger and angst.
"Ryouga-sama?" asked Kodachi.
"Ryouga?" asked Ryoko.
"I'm _not_ going to the spring dance with anyone, I'm not dating
anyone, I DON'T want to date anyone, I DON'T NEED ANY OF THIS!!!"
This brought an immediate halt to the squabbling of the ladies.
"Ryouga, you don't mean it..." said Ryoko.
"EVERYONE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Ryouga ran off, very angry,
leaving behind three stunned and silent girls.
*
"You see, Muhoshin, the student has yet to surpass the master."
Ryo mumbled.
"Now, take my advice, boy, first of all, learn from your mistakes,
don't be angry from them."
Ryo groaned.
"Second, get back to your roots and mind your manners."
"That's... three."
*WHAP*
"Ow."
"Don't contradict me. Anyways, fourth, don't hold on to your hate,
Muhoshin, it serves only to hinder you."
"Right..."
*WHAP*
"Right... Sensei."
"And finally, you were trained to be a protector, not a criminal!"
"Yes... Sensei."
"Very well then. I'm going now."
"Sayonara, Sensei."
"And I'll be in touch again, keep that in mind."
"Oh, good."
*WHAP*
"Don't be a smartass, boy."
"Y-yesss, sensei..."
"Oh. And one more thing... I hear you've been taking on Happosai."
Ryo blinked. How'd the Sensei hear of that?
"Don't bother, boy, greater men than you have tried to kill him."
"I nearly succeeded."
"Did you pierce his body with a spear? Drown him in a river? Toss
him in a cave full of explosives?"
"No..."
*THWAP*
"N-no, sensei."
"Then you haven't even come close to the best of efforts. He gets
hurt, oh yes, but he NEVER dies. He is amongst the greatest evils of
Japan today, boy. If you had hurt him, he was probably playing with
you. He does that, you know, finds someone to amuse him and teases
that unfortunate soul for YEARS."
Ryo nodded slowly.
"Now get your act together, boy, Or Else."
Sensei Miyaji walked away, calmly, and fanning himself casually.
Ryo was imbedded in a wall, upside-down, cut, singed, and worn out.
He sighed. Wasn't this sort of thing, he wondered, supposed to stop
once he left the dojo?
When he was sure he was out of sight, Sensei Miyaji started to limp
down the street a little and rub some spots where singe marks were.
He paused, looking at the rooftops. The boy was definitely improving,
and he was afraid that without guidence, he'd become nothing more than
a criminal.
Then he sensed someone.
"Show yourself," he said. The gaijin girl from the luncheon sprung
down from the rooftops. "You are... a student of Sensei Giichi's, are
you not?"
"Yes, sensei," she replied, in a somewhat uneven, British-accented
tongue. Whoever she was, it was very obvious that Japanese was a
second language to her.
"What was your reason for watching us?" he asked evenly.
"I am searching for Hibiki."
"Hibiki?"
"Ryouga Hibiki."
"You?"
The girl nodded.
"And may I ask why?" inquired Miyaji.
"It is of a... personal matter, Sensei. Sorry if I've disturbed
you." Without another word, she sprang away through the rooftops.
"Young people these days," grumbled the Sensei.
*
Ranma and Akane walked out of the house as the sun rose, still
somewhat tired.
"What day is it?" asked Ranma.
"Stormtrooper day."
"Stormtrooper day? That's not so bad."
And so another Wednesday began in Nerima.
Akari, Nabiki, Yuka, Sayuri and Ukyou watched from afar as Ranma
and Akane charged into a horde of miscellaneous students.
"So, Ryouga still hasn't come back?" asked Akari.
"No, but I'm sure he's okay," said Ukyou, although she didn't sound
convinced herself.
"Come on, admit it, you kinda like him," said Sayuri.
"No!"
"Gotta admit, he's got a nice bod," said Nabiki.
The five of them ducked as a student flew by them.
"What's that?!" asked Ukyou.
"Cute butt too," said Yuka, giggling.
"I don't believe you guys!" said Ukyou, but couldn't surpress a
little smile.
"Fine, fine, you don't have a thing for him," said Nabiki in a
sarcastic tone.
"Riiiight," agreed Akari.
They watched in silence as Ranma sweep-kicked a wave of
Stormtroopers away.
"It has been a while since he left, though, hasn't it?" asked Yuka.
"Three days now," said Sayuri.
"Come on, you know how Ryouga is," said Ukyou. "He's probably in
Kyoto by now. Right?"
"It is a possibility," said Nabiki. "The odds are likely."
"And you're not worried?" asked Akari.
"Of course not!" said Ukyou, looking mildly offended. <Ryouga,
where the heck are you, idiot?>
*
Ryoko polished the tables slowly, in lazy circles. Around... and
around...
"Hey, kid, something bothering ya?" asked King.
"I... well..."
"I thought you were on your way home after that big luncheon."
"I guess, well, Ryouga just dumped me, I think." Ryoko slumped in
a chair.
"Jeez, sorry to hear that," said King. She handed Ryoko a tall
glass of cola. "Have a soda on the house."
"Thanks, boss."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No... not really."
"Okay, you say so."
<I don't know why you said what you did> thought Ryoko,< But I'm
not giving up on you that easy, Ryouga.>
*
Meanwhile, somewhere out there....
"Excuse me, can you tell me where the Nerima is?"
"Que?"
"Um.... Donde... esta... Tendo Dojo?"
*
"Ah! What a day!" said Yuka. "I need a break!" She, along with
Sayuri, Ukyou, Akari, and Manami strolled out of the school, tired.
"And next week'll be filled with exams," sighed Sayuri.
"Poker night, tonight?" asked Manami, "maybe we can all study
after?"
"Sounds alright to me," said Ukyou.
"I, ah, can't make it tonight," said Akari.
"What? Why not?" asked Manami.
"Oooh, I bet she's got a hot date!" teased Yuka.
"Well..." squeaked Akari.
"WHAT?" the other girls yelled. "Who? Is he cute? When did you
meet him? Did he beat that sumo pig of yours?" they asked her.
"Oh my, look at the time, I'd better run or I'm gonna be late! See
you later!" Akari ran off.
"Details, we want details!" demanded Yuka.
*
Meanwhile, somewhere else, three shady gentlement were having a
conversation in a cafe somewhere.
"What happened to you?"
"I'd rather not say."
"So, what's the plan?"
"We're all a little low on cash right now, eh?"
"Yeah."
"True."
"Gentlemen, she's a bit on the gullable side, doesn't suspect a
thing, and she's the daughter of a rather wealthy family."
"You're not suggesting..."
"Hey, wait a minute now..."
"Is this hesitation I sense? I know you two are nearly at the end
of your finances."
"But this-"
"C'mon, it's too-"
"This will be a safe operation."
"Wait a-"
"We can't-"
"Care to be homeless and broke?"
The other two remained silent.
"So... are you in?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Alright... but nobody gets hurt, okay?"
"Of course," lied Ryo. "Wait a minute.... oh my."
"What?"
"I'm supposed to be meeting her now. Adieu, gents."
*
Akane walked over to Ranma's room and prodded him until he was
awake.
"Uhm... I'm awake, I'm awake."
"C'mon, get up, we'll be late."
"What day izzit?"
"Kendo."
"Kendo?"
"Kendo."
"I really hate Kendo."
And so, Friday in Furinkan High began, as usual.
"Where is that idiot," muttered Ukyou as she watched Ranma and
Akane dive into a sea of kendo practicioners..
"C'mon, you said that Ryouga could take care of himself," said
Sayuri.
"Yeah, but he's been gone for four days now..."
"You know how he is, he's probably in New York or somewhere else,"
said Sayuri.
"But still, I dunno, I..."
"Hey, you're not actually worried about him, are you?" asked Yuka.
"I bet she is!" teased Sayuri.
"OF course I'm not!" yelled Ukyou.
"Duck," said Nabiki.
The four of them ducked as several kendoists flew past then and
into the classroom behind them.
They lapsed into momentary silence and watched as Ranma hit Kuno
315 times with the tenshin-amaguri-ken technique.
"I'm just worried about him AS A FRIEND!" yelled Ukyou.
"So you are worried about him!" said Sayuri and Yuka.
"So what?" she shot back.
Ranma watched in surprise as Kuno arose from the ground, still
ready to fight. Ever since the accident that landed them in the
hospital, Kuno's endurance seemed to be up.
"Isn't that sweet?" asked Sayuri.
"Touching, really," said Yuka.
"Cut it out guys," grumbled Ukyou.
Akane kicked Kuno in the gut, and Ranma followed with another
barrage of punches. Kuno flew back into a tree, but got up once more,
only slightly worn down.
"I FIGHT ON!" he declared.
"Wow, Kuno-chan's endurance has _improved_," said Nabiki.
"Oh, so you're after Kuno, Nabiki?" asked Ukyou.
"No, not really."
"I heard you were dating that Isamu guy, is that true?" asked Yuka.
"I decline to comment at this time," said Nabiki with a smirk.
"I SHALL SMITE THEE!!!" roared Kuno as he charged at Ranma. A
streak of lightning ran across the sky, and for a moment Ranma thought
he saw an odd purplish aura flicker around his foe.
"How he does that, I'll never know," mused Nabiki.
"Oh jeez, we're gonna be late!" said Yuka, staring at her watch.
"Hey! Ranma! Hurry up!" yelled Nabiki.
"He shall be joining his ancestors in but a moment!" ranted Kuno as
he slashed wildly, demolishing another part of the Furinkan High
walls. His bokken seemed to flicker occasionally with a dark aura
accompanying every swing.
"I'm trying, okay?!?!" Ranma yelled back, springing off a wall and
smashing a knee into Kuno's head. Akane followed up with a kick to
Kuno's gut, which once again, knocked him off of his feet, and finally
knocked him out.
"Jeez," said Ranma, breathing hard, "what's with Kuno?"
"He used to fall down ALOT faster," said Akane.
For the last several weeks, in fact, Tatewaki Kuno had displayed a
remarkable and alarming endurance. Where once he would have been
knocked out easily, he now merely took the hit and fought ever onward.
Basically, he was approaching levels of endurance rivaling Ranma's,
which was high indeed.
The school bell rang.
"Oh great, we're late," muttered Ranma.
*
Great, she sighed to herself, I love this class.
Ukyou sat in economics class, occasionally fidgeting, definitely
bored.
She dealt with economics every day, since she was running the
restaurant, and she strongly felt that sitting through this class was
incredibly redundant.
Ukyou did what every bored student did when this crisis hits them.
She doodled.
She scribbled out spatulas, and okonomiyakis, and every now and
then, a figure with a bandanna with the word "STUPID" written over it.
<Where is that idiot anyways> wondered Ukyou.
"Kuonji."
<Stupid jerk. Doesn't even call to say that he's alright.>
"Ukyou Kuonji."
<Not that *I* care if that idiot gets himself lost in Bangladesh,
or Australia, or... or... whatever!>
"KUONJI!"
Ukyou snapped to attention. "WHAT?! WHAT?!"
"That's it! BUCKET! HALL! NOW!"
[A moment later... ]
"So, what're you out here for?" asked Ranma.
"I, er, wasn't paying attention in class," muttered Ukyou. "And
you two?"
"Late," said Akane.
"Jeez, these are kinda heavy," said Ukyou, lifting up a bucket of
water.
"Ya get used to it," said Ranma, "and besides, it builds strength.
Just look at Akane. I mean, she's strong as a gorilla an-" *WHAP*
"Shut up!" yelled Akane.
"Jeez! What'd I say?"
After a two minute argument, which seemed to Ukyou (and an alarming
number of Furinkan High students) like it was a badly written script
involving the use of the word 'Tomboy' and 'Jerk'(but, noted some
Ranma & Akane observers, lacked that certain nasty edge that their
past arguments had), things settled into an uneasy sort of silence.
Ukyou couldn't stand it.
"Hey, ah, any of you guys heard from Ryouga lately?" she asked.
"Lost boy? He's probably in Australia or somethin'."
"You mean he hasn't been back yet?" asked Akane.
"Nope."
"And the dance is tonight too," said Akane.
"Hm? What's that supposed to mean?" wondered Ukyou.
"He was going to take you to the dance, right?"
"What? NO!"
"C'mon, you want him to, don't ya," teased Ranma.
"Oh shut up."
*
Meanwhile...
"Excuse me, can you tell me where Tokyo is?" asked a somewhat
ragged and exhausted Ryouga.
The store owner blinked and pointed to a spot _behind_ Ryouga, who
turned around to see skyscrapers decorating the skyline.
"Oh, I'm here?!?!"
The storekeeper nodded slowly.
"THAT'S GREAT! Now tell me which way to Nerima?"
The storekeeper pointed south.
"Thanks!"
It would be stating the obvious to say that Ryouga went the wrong
way despite the directions, but it has to be said.
He went the wrong way.
*
Sunset, Nerima...
Ukyou closed up shop a little early, feeling tired for some reason.
She hung up the sign, locked up the doors, then sat down in a chair,
giving off a sigh.
Moments later, a chair flew out of the front door, propelled by a
mighty swing of Ukyou's combat spatula. It hit a lamp pole with a
loud *CLANG* and sagged to the floor. Surprisingly, the chair wasn't
damaged, but instead sprouted a head and some limbs and wobbled off.
The lamp pole was ruined.
"Wow, not a scratch," said Tsubasa as he wobbled down the street.
"AND STAY OUT!!!" yelled Ukyou, and slammed the door shut.
"Just great," she muttered, "one hell of a day, really."
Ukyou changed into her house clothes, a simple t-shirt and shorts,
and promptly became one with the nation, via the miracle of tv.
She had one thing on her mind, or to be accurate, one thing that
she decided was not on her mind.
<Who cares if the dance is tonight. Who cares if I'm missing it.
Who cares if everyone thinks I've got a thing for Ryouga. Not me,
dammit.>
The front doors clattered a bit.
"Ryouga? You there?"
Ukyou went to the front doors and checked, but they were still
locked.
"Just the wind, I guess," she said to nobody in particular.
She wandered back into the residential part of Ucchan's, and paused
as she passed by the attic stairs. Ukyou stood there for a moment,
climbed up the stairs, knocked on the attic door, and peeked in.
Empty.
<Why did I even bother.>
She sighed, not feeling peaceful enough to vegitate in front of the
television, not energetic enough to go out.
Ukyou did the only thing left that she knew might ease.
*
Ryouga, crawling on his hands and knees, exhausted, reached weakly
for the backdoor of Ucchan's.
"I... I made it back..."
He touched the doorknob and pulled.
It was locked.
He tugged on the door.
"IEEE! THIEF! BURGLAR!"
"What the..." stuttered Ryouga.
*WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*
"Owww."
Ukyou stopped swinging madly with her megaspatula and paused to
look at who she was hitting.
"Oh! Ryouga! I'm sorry! C'mon, let's get you in the house."
And so, after several days of being lost, tired, and desperate,
Ryouga finally was dragged back 'home'. Although he wasn't conscious
enough to notice it at the time.
*
Gosunkugi was, for once, happy.
Ever since he got a bit sharper with his magic, he'd been dazzling
his fellow students with minor yet rather nifty magic tricks.
Tonight, for instance, the dance was not illuminated by light
bulbs, but by nice fuzzy glowing spheres cast where light bulbs would
normally be. Needless to say, he gained much respect, quickly.
Tonight, he was dressed fairly well, in a nifty blue suit, white
shirt, and nondescript tie, and his date was in a somewhat elegant
light blue dress. They matched rather well.
And now... and now... they were slow dancing.
This, in Hikaru Gosunkugi's short life, was a major milestone.
Meanwhile, Ranma and Akane were also slow-dancing, but rather
cautiously.
"Watch your feet."
"I am, jerk."
"Slow down, I'm supposed to lead. Tomboy."
"Is that so?"
"Yup."
Some things never change.
And so, amongst the swirl of the crowds, these two couples swayed,
content in their own...
"You stepped on my foot again."
"You got in the way."
... unique way.
The music died down for a brief break, and the couples on the dance
floor of the gym moved to the sides and idly chattered.
"I guess Ryouga isn't coming after all," said Akane.
"Probably in Alaska or somethin'," said Ranma. "Saaaay, you seen
Daisuke or Hiroshi anywhere?"
"Well, I think I saw Hiroshi talking to some girl named Hiroe."
"Hiroshi and Hiroe... hm, sounds catchy."
"What's with the lights?" asked Akane.
"What about'em?"
"Look, a few of them are getting kinda dim."
"Better ask Gosunkugi about it."
Gosunkugi noticed. It started when the couples started dancing
again. There was this... this _area_ where the lights that he cast
briefly faded for some reason, and that area seemed to be moving
around. As Manami held his hand while they sat at a table, Gos stared
out into the crowd, curiosity demanding to find out what was causing
his magic to fade out there.
He stared in shock as that dark area swept by him, with his 'twin'
at the center of it, gliding across the floor, dancing.
Akari swayed in Ryo's arms, surprised to finally find someone that
was good enough to beat her pig, and so much a gentleman too.
Ryo smiled, but not for the obvious reasons.
Oddly enough, neither noticed the dim lights.
Also noticed by none, Tatewaki Kuno prowled along, searching for
his pig-tailed goddess. And the lights around him dimmed too,
although people generally attributed this to him being dim.
*
"Um, sorry about that," said Ukyou, somewhat embarrased.
"S... s'okay, I understand," replied a somewhat battered Ryouga,
who was sprawled on the living room couch. Four days of global travel
and a beating by spatula left him totally exhausted.
Ukyou sat in the lounger, Ryouga continued to melt into the couch.
There was an awkward silence. Ryouga didn't like it. It seemed
that he'd been having to deal with long awkward silences more
nowadays.
"So, um, what'd I miss?" asked Ryouga nervously.
"Hm? Not much, not much. There's some homework you might've
missed. Better ask your classmates about that."
"Yeah."
"There's also that dance tonight," said Ukyou in an
I-don't-really-care tone of voice.
"Dance?"
"School dance."
"Ranma and Akane are there, I guess."
"Yeah."
There was another moment of awkward silence.
"I, ah, I'm sorry I'm late," said Ryouga.
"Late? For what?" wondered Ukyou.
"Er, I mean, lost. Sorry I got lost."
"Oh, okay."
Once more, there was a total absence of noise.
"Well, I didn't want to go anyways," said Ukyou.
"Go?"
"Um, to the Spring Dance."
"Oh."
"How about... how about you?"
"Me?" asked Ryouga, "I can't dance anyways, it wouldn't matter."
"You don't know how to dance?"
"No."
"Not at all?" she asked, surprised.
"Not really," he admitted.
"Aw, at least slow dance. Anyone can do that."
"Actually, I've never even tried. Being lost all the time, I never
really had much time to, well, dance."
"Ooh, so that's why you didn't want to go to the club."
Ryouga nodded.
"And no wonder you didn't win over Akane. Can't dance, can't even
tell her you like her, and you freaked out around her way too much,"
teased Ukyou.
"HEY!"
"Just teasin' ya, lost boy!"
"Hrmph."
"Oh, c'mon, I'll show ya!"
"What?!"
"C'mon, it's fun. Easy too. You've got to know how to dance in
SOME way, Ryouga. How else are ya gonna win over the next lucky girl
you go after?"
"Good point." Ryouga shrugged.
"Hold on, lemme see, I've got a CD around here somewhere... Ah,
here it is! Of course, I don't know half of what they're saying, but
still, the music sounds nice."
Ukyou turned on her CD player and put in a CD. A somewhat slow
tune began to play.
Generally, a nice tune, although Ryouga couldn't understand most of
it.
It was in English.
o/" When the night has come o/"
o/" And the land is dark o/"
o/" And the moon is the only light we'll see o/"
"Sounds kinda old," said Ryouga.
"I think the Americans call it Motown," answered Ukyou.
"Motown?"
"Don't ask. Anyways, here's how it works. Stand up a sec,
willya?"
"Alright, alright." Ryouga got up slowly.
"Okay, now, you put your hands on my hips."
"What?!?!"
o/" No, I won't be afraid o/"
o/" No, I won't be afraid o/"
Ukyou bapped Ryouga on the head. "It's dancing, not groping. Stop
thinkin' perverted thoughts. I'm just teaching you, got it?"
"Oh, ah, aheheh, sorry."
o/" Just as long o/"
o/" as you stand o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
"Now, your hands on my sides..."
Ryouga put his hands on her sides, just above her hips.
"And your dance partner will usually put her hands on your
shoulders like this..."
Ukyou put her hands on his shoulders.
"Now what?" asked Ryouga.
"Just sway a bit."
o/" So darling, darling o/"
o/" Stand, by me, o/"
"Ow!" yelled Ukyou.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
"Slow down a bit, and watch your feet."
"I said I was sorry!"
"Okay, okay, now shut up and relax."
o/" Oh, stand by me o/"
o/" Oh stand o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
"Hey, this isn't hard," said Ryouga.
"See? Easy, huh?"
"Yeah... it is."
Ryouga began to relax, forgetting that he had a rather cute girl in
his arms, and swayed to the music, relaxed.
Ukyou forgot that she was in the arms of a rather attractive young
man, and relaxed, putting her head on his shoulder. Either Ryouga
didn't notice, or didn't mind.
o/" If the sky that we look upon o/"
o/" should tumble and fall o/"
o/" or the mountains should crumble to the sea o/"
o/" I won't cry, I won't cry o/"
o/" no I won't shed a tear o/"
"Wish I could've danced with Akane like this," sighed Ryouga.
"Wish I could've danced with Ranchan like this too," said Ukyou.
They looked at each other briefly, then laughed.
"Pathetic, aren't we?" asked Ukyou.
"Seems like it," said Ryouga.
o/" just as long o/"
o/" as you stand o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
"Hey, Ukyou."
"Hm?"
"Thanks for the dance lesson."
"No problem. S'what friends are for, right?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Just don't ask me to teach ya the Lambada."
"The what?"
"Never mind."
o/" So darling, darling, o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
o/" oh, stand by me o/"
o/" oh stand o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
o/" stand by me o/"
-end part 6-