Finally she decided upon a course of action. She stood up and tossed the towel near her bath things. Then, poking her head out of her door to make sure nobody was in the hallway, she jumped out of her room and padded quickly over to Akane's room. She knocked on the door. "Yes? Who is it?" came Akane's voice from inside, sending a jolt of relief into Ranma-chan. "It's me! I've....got to ask you a favor." Ranma-chan could hear a drawer being opened, then a zipper being unzipped. It took Akane a long five seconds to formulate a reply. "What kind of favor?" came the answer at last. Ranma-chan could hear some rustling of clothing, louder this time, from inside the room. "I don't wanna talk about it in the hallway. Could I come inside, please?" "Ranma, I'm changing right now and I really don't think..." came Akane's voice again, this time with a hint of exasperation - as if Ranma- chan hadn't taken the hint to go away. "Akane....I'm down to my underwear in the hallway and if somebody should come up and see me like this I'll simply *die*!! Akane, please let me in!" pleaded Ranma-chan. Already she could hear some voices from the foot of the stairs. They sounded like they were going to come up. The door cracked open a bit and Akane peered out...then without a second thought she reached out and pulled Ranma-chan into her room, shutting the door behind her and locking it. Ranma-chan, a little nervous and understandably *exposed*, made her way over to Akane's window and made sure that the curtains were drawn tight. Then she turned to regard her saviour. "Ranma....why're you not wearing any clothes?" said Akane as she began to strap a bra on. "Well...you see...I....I had a shower and I thought I had clean and good-smelling clothes upstairs I could wear since the clothes we took to the beach now smell....and I need some clothes right away, Akane, and it's important," said Ranma-chan in one breath. She exhaled at the end of her sentence and looked at Akane guiltily. "You can borrow that coverall and that pink shirt...you know, the one that says `China' on it in English letters? That ought to still fit you, shouldn't it? Especially around the hips and chest." Akane managed to bite back a snide remark about *that* particular garment. "But...." began Ranma-chan uncertainly. "But what? You're not planning on going somewhere today, are you?" "Actually...I am. I'm going out with someone." Ranma-chan immediately regretted saying that. Now Akane was going to demand an explanation! "Oh. Well, I guess I could lend you a pair of shorts and a T- shirt..." said Akane as she finished pulling her shirt on and she turned to her drawer. "But...but we're going to this new restaurant. I'll stand out in casual clothing. Don't you have anything...more..I dunno...formal? For girls?" "Hey, wait a minute. Who exactly are you going out with anyhow? Who is he...or she?" said Akane, turning back to Ranma-chan with interest in her eyes now. "It sure ain't Ukyo," said Ranma-chan, dodging around the question. "Now who's the one being the pervert? Tell me, Ranma...!" Akane deftly tackled Ranma-chan again verbally. "I...don't see why it should be any of your business, Akane." Akane stood up and grabbed Ranma-chan's arms from behind. Then she began to shove the slightly smaller red-haired girl towards the door. "Hey, what are you doing? Let me go!" cried Ranma-chan, squirming anxiously. "Since it's none of my business, you don't have a reason to be here and I'm sure you'd much rather be out in the hallways *half-naked* than be in here picking out your stuff for your *big date*." The raven-haired girl opened her door and began to shove Ranma-chan out into the hallway. Ranma-chan squealed in terror and threw herself on Akane, holding tightly to the other girl with one hand, the other hand self- consciously pulling her panties up...for they had accidently slipped. "Akane, don't be so mean! I'm practically naked, you know!!" cried Ranma-chan. Akane pried herself off Ranma-chan and began to turn her around, to push her out of her room. "So what? You've run around with less before and because you won't tell me who you're going out with..." "Okay, okay! I'll tell you already! Just let me back in and close the door, okay? Please?" whined Ranma-chan, her arms on either side of the door jamb and her head turned to regard Akane plaintively. Akane seemed to consider for a moment, then she released pressure on Ranma-chan and let her fall back inside. The door shut a moment later and a slim hand snaked out to turn the latch and lock it. "Now then. Who is it?" said Akane as she picked up a comb and began to do her hair while sitting on her bed. Ranma-chan squirmed nervously beside her, her legs crossed under her. "Hiroshi," blurted Ranma-chan finally. She felt that her face was as red as her hair. "So then, what's the big deal? He's your friend after all, right?" "Yeah, but he's gonna pay for everything! I mean, since when has he done that for me? Or for anyone? We're seeing a movie, then we're going to that restaurant...it's called `Kobayashi Gardens' or something like that..." "KOBAYASHI GARDENS!? Do you *know* how expensive that place is??" Akane exclaimed in surprise. "Umm....no?" said Ranma-chan, sweating a bit now. Kobayashi Gardens? Expensive? Something was seriously wrong here. "Five out of five stars for service, atmosphere and food! That place is also packed every night....and the *two* of you are going to eat there?" "Umm...yeah, I guess so," grumbled Ranma-chan, trying to salvage her pride now by feigning indifference. So what if Hiroshi wanted to spend money on good food? It was not HER money. "Well....seems like he got you hook, line and sinker." "What do you mean?" Ranma-chan looked at Akane quizzically. "Did he offer to pay for everything?" "Yes." "Was he talking pretty fast and acting quite nervous?" "Yes." "Then that settles it! You....are going to have a date with Hiroshi! Congratulations!" said Akane. She giggled at the stunned look on Ranma-chan's face. "A date?! I...I mean....how?" "Fast-talk sure does wonders for a guy, you know? Anyhow, let's get something on you." Akane pulled a long sweater on - it reached down to her knees and it had a design of a clock on it - then she opened her closet and began to poke around inside. "What a change of heart you've had, Akane. One minute you're ready to toss me out on my butt, the next you're helping me out. I'll never figure you out, you know?" complained Ranma-chan as she walked up beside Akane, her thoughts still swirling from Akane's revelation. A date?! With Hiroshi?! "I wasn't really going to throw you out...it was a joke. Sort of. Here, try this one on." Akane produced a pale blue dress with a low- cut bust and handed it to Ranma-chan. "What's this?" asked Ranma-chan, pointing a finger at the dress, momentarily forgetting her troubles. "A dress." "I KNOW it's a dress, but why're you giving it to me? Don't you have something like a pair of pants and a nice looking dress shirt?" "You said you wanted formal wear, Ranma." "Yeah, I did, but not THIS formal!" Ranma-chan shook her head. "A dress. Is that all you've got?" "I've got more dresses, if you want. In nine different colors, and six different styles." "No, no, no! That's not what I meant. Look, don't you have stuff like what Nabiki wears?" "If you want to wear Nabiki's clothes, then go ask her yourself." "And get charged an arm and a leg? Uh-uh," said Ranma-chan. She sighed in exasperation, looked around helplessly for a full minute, then she nodded curtly. "I guess I'm stuck with the dress. Help me on with it, will ya?" "Oh, no. Not just THIS dress. Try other dresses too!" said Akane gleefully. Over the course of the next half hour Akane played `dress-up' with Ranma-chan, until a veritable pile of discarded clothing - dresses amongst others - lay on the bed. Inwardly Ranma-chan wondered where in heck Akane managed to get her vast array of clothing from, considering that her allowance was a pittance at best. Eventually both girls settled on a dark blue dress - not too revealing but not too prudish. Akane added the final touch as she zipped up the back of Ranma-chan's dress. She stood back and dusted her hands off. "There!" she said, "I hope it fits you okay!" Ranma-chan felt the unfamiliar sensation of wearing something that chafed a bit at her skin and made her feel like something on display, but she could not deny that she did look her best. The bust covered a fair amount of her chest, there were no sleeves and there was a slight slit up the sides to expose a teasing bit of leg. She posed here and there in front of Akane's mirror, the other girl peering over her shoulder to see if there was anything she had missed. Ranma-chan tossed her hair over her shoulder onto her back and began to play with it, arranging strands here and there. "By the way, why'd you undo your pigtail?" asked Akane. "Just felt like it. That's all," said Ranma-chan, on the defensive again. Akane nodded then she walked over to another drawer and pulled it open. "And now...for the jewelry!" she said happily. "OH NO! No jewelry for me, Akane!" said Ranma-chan adamantly. "But you have to! It's just....part of the dress! Here...try this necklace and this bracelet! It simply wouldn't be without you without the jewelry, trust me!" Akane's eyes were flushed with excitement and she was smiling - no, grinning. Apparently she did enjoy tinkering with various combinations of clothing and accessories...and Ranma-chan was her guinea pig, so to speak; to squeak in protest everytime Akane replaced the current bracelet with another one, and to cringe in horror as Akane tried out different necklaces. They felt more like collars than items of jewelry. Finally, after a bit of wrangling on Akane's part, Ranma-chan agreed to wear the bracelet but not the necklace. The bracelet was a gold-colored band, twisted in an intricate pattern to span three inches from the beginning of Ranma-chan's wrist up her forearm. Tentatively Ranma-chan opened Akane's door and walked out, feeling just a tad foolish in her loaned dress...right until Ranma ascended the stairway and stopped dead in his tracks. He cleared his throat. "Well?" said Ranma-chan, her face already reddening. "......" said Ranma, a hand on his chin and his eyes roaming up and down Ranma-chan and her dress. "Aren't you going to say anything??" "Hey, I'm not one for dresses, okay? I'm a guy!" said Ranma defensively, but the look in his eyes betrayed his words. He DID like the dress...and the way it fit on Ranma-chan. "And what about me? Aren't I a guy too?" asked Ranma-chan softly. "Not lookin' like that, you don't. H-hey. Wh...what did you do to your hair? Where's the pigtail?" said Ranma, desperate to change the subject. "I...decided not to wear it. It's kinda different but..." "You...you just don't look right without it. Here....use this hairtie," said Ranma as he reached into his pocket and produced the item in question, which Ranma-chan took. "You know, I just kinda felt like letting my hair down for a bit. That's all," said Ranma-chan, snapping her hair tie into its final loop, completing her pigtail, "So...what're your thoughts on...my...I mean, on the d-dress?" "Umm...say, why're you wearing a bracelet?" Ranma-chan sighed and threw her arms in the air. "Akane forced it on me. I had to take it....or else. You know. Standard Operating Procedure number one. Do as Akane says or else." "Yeah. Too bad I'm not one for Standard Operating Procedures, huh?" "Hah, that's for sure. I was just about to quote Standard Operating Procedure number two. Ignore everything above," said Ranma-chan with a sly grin. "Yeah, then how come you're wearing a dress and a bracelet? Isn't it just a friendly outing?" "Umm....I don't know." Suddenly, Ranma-chan's face was serious. "Say...do you think I'm...I'm..." "So, Ranma. How do you like my dress?" Ranma looked away from Ranma-chan, to see Akane standing there watching both of them. Akane was wearing her long sweater, not her dress, and he was about to say so when Akane held a hand up. "Sorry, should have said *my* dress on *her*. She's wearing it because she has this big date tonight and she had absolutely nothing to wear!" She grinned conspiratorially at Ranma, "Well, what do you think of it?" "Ummm.....well, I like it!" said Ranma helplessly. "You do?" said Ranma-chan half-wonderingly, with just a touch of worry, "Tell me the truth. I...I look good in this dress? How come?" "Uh...because it looks good on you, that's all! You look perfect for it, I guess." "Oh, so my dress looks good only on her, is that it?" said Akane dangerously as she eyed Ranma. Ranma felt himself on the horns of a dilemma, a lose-lose situation. "Akane, NOTHING looks good on you!" said Ranma, and he was immediately clubbed over the railing with a well-placed swipe from Akane's mallet. Ranma-chan could have sworn he had a resigned look on his face just before the mallet struck...but, perhaps it was only her imagination. "Well now. Why don't you run along for your big date?" said Akane as she peeked over the railing to see where Ranma was. Ranma, as quick as always, was nowhere to be seen. "What is it with you, Akane? It's not REALLY a date. I think," said Ranma-chan as she began to walk down the stairs. Akane followed close behind. "Yeah, sure. That's what YOU think, Ranma." "Akane, don't rub it in. I don't know what's gotten into me...but now I'm thinking that I shouldn't have agreed to...to go out with Hiroshi." "What's happening? The Great Ranma Saotome getting cold feet all of a sudden?" teased Akane. "Akane, I'm serious! I have a kinda bad feeling about this...this date-thingamajig. It just...scares me, I guess. I mean, it scares the hell out of me to find out that I'm here, wearing a dress, a bracelet and I'm about to go on a date with a guy who is just a friend! I don't know, Akane. Is what I'm doing right? Is it just me or am I turning into someone else whom I don't even know the first thing about?" Ranma- chan sighed and sat down on one of the stairs. Akane considered Ranma-chan's words. This was a side of Ranma she had never seen before, and it frightened her to see the usually confident Ranma-chan looking so scared and confused - even if she didn't quite understand what Ranma-chan was saying. She sat next to Ranma-chan and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Ranma. I shouldn't have forced you to wear that dress and bracelet. I guess I was just trying to see if you'd look good in them, that's all. Girls do that, you know." Akane paused, then she stood up, "Come back upstairs. I think I do have a pair of pants or something that doesn't look like a dress or a skirt. Why don't you try them on?" "Akane...you've only just finished telling me that all you had in formal wear were dresses...in six different colours and nine different styles," mumbled Ranma-chan. "That's nine different colours, six different styles," said Akane, looking uncomfortable now. What had seemed to be a white lie was turning out to be much more. Honestly, she just wanted to see how Ranma-chan would look in those dresses, that's all...she hadn't meant anything bad by that, had she? "Whatever." Ranma-chan sighed and waved a hand in the air dismissively, "Forget it. I'll stick with this outfit. Took me long enough to get into it, it'll probably take me longer to get out of it and into new duds." Ranma-chan stood up and began to walk down the stairs, but Akane caught her by the hand. "Look, if you don't want to go out with Hiroshi, then don't. Just stay in, and tell him that you got sick. I'll vouch for you, and I'll get Ranma to vouch for you too!" she said in earnest. Ranma-chan shook her head. "No, Akane. I can't do that. He's already waiting for me...and if I don't show up, his feelings will be hurt. I mean, not that I like him like *that* or anything, but how would you feel if somebody you really liked promised to show up but never did? And any number of excuses just won't cut it. It would still be a rejection, and that's what he's going to remember after all is said and done. Short of a terminal disease or something drastic, I don't think I can back out of this one." "Okay. I-if you think you can pull it off, Ranma," said Akane, letting Ranma-chan go. "Yeah, wish me luck. Hope I don't screw everything up." Ranma-chan paused by the shoe rack, "I'm kinda remembering what I did earlier today. Agreeing to go out with Hiroshi, that is. If I hadn't been only thinking of free food and things like that, I...I might have seen that he was asking me out on a date. But I don't know what I might have said to him even if I had known it was a request for a date. Might hurt his feelings, you know?" "Why're you so concerned about hurting his feelings? If I had been in your place, *I* would have said no." Akane put her hands on her hips. "Yeah, but you're not me. He's not your friend, Akane." She sighed despairingly, "Why is it that my friends are starting to seem like they're not the same anymore?" "Because of you, Ranma. You're the new girl in school. At least, that's what they think." "I know. I wasn't asking for an answer, you know." Ranma-chan selected a pair of dress slippers and put them on, then she opened the door. "They call that `rhetoric'," said Akane in an attempt to keep the conversation afloat. "I know that, Akane," said Ranma-chan as she walked out the door. "Well...good luck, I guess." Akane folded her arms behind her back. "Yeah. See you later." The door shut behind Ranma-chan. Akane heard the tap-tap of slippers as the other girl walked down the stone path leading to the gate; she heard the creak of the wooden gates, and then...silence. "What the heck was she doing in that get-up anyhow?" Akane yelped in fright and whirled around, to see Ranma standing right behind her. "D-don't do that, you idiot!" she complained as she took a playful swipe at Ranma with a fist. "Do what?" Ranma dodged the strike with ease. "Don't scare me like that!" "So? So what if I had scared you?" said Ranma with feigned innocence in his voice. His eyes betrayed his amusement, twinkling as they were. "Hmph. Idiot." Akane turned to look out the window. "I hope she'll be alright," she said after a while. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. Hiroshi's a nice guy. He won't try anything stupid," said Ranma reassuringly. "I hope not." Another pause. The seconds seemed to crawl by. "Hey, that program's on again," said Ranma, glancing at the clock and walking away. "What program?" said Akane as she turned to follow Ranma, her interest suddenly piqued. "You don't know? Come on, let's watch it. Could be fun." "Okay. Lead away," said Akane as she followed Ranma, Ranma- chan already forgotten. * * * In a few minutes, after leaping over a few buildings to save time, Ranma-chan arrived at the spot. Edging around the corner of a building, she spied Hiroshi waiting outside the theatre, pacing around nervously. Deciding not to keep the poor guy waiting too long she rounded the corner and strolled as casually as she could to Hiroshi. Hiroshi's jaw just *dropped* as he stared at the stunningly beautiful red-head who was to be his date. He quickly glanced down at his new dress shirt, his brand new pants (just ironed) and his dress shoes - he still felt rather dull and drab compared to Ranko and a thought insinuated itself into his mind; would she be pleased with his appearance? Would she?? Ranma-chan saw the beginnings of panic on Hiroshi's face as he looked at himself, then at her, and back again. Moving quickly she waved to him as she walked. "Hiroshi-i!" she called. She reached his side in a matter of moments and she put her hands together behind her back. "R-Ranko," he stammered back. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. Did you get the tickets?" "Y-yeah. I have them both in my pocket, right here!" he said, patting the breast pocket of his shirt, and drawing Ranma-chan's attention to it. "Is that a new shirt?" she asked, bending forward slightly to look at it closely, "It looks really good on you, you know?" "Thanks, Ranko. Yeah, I got it over at the men's clothier in the mall," said Hiroshi, resisting the urge to tell her how much he had spent on it. One thing a girl didn't like was to have her date talk about how much he had spent on this-and-that and so forth - he knew *that* much about dating, at least. "Well, shall we wait in line, then?" said Ranma-chan, relieved that the ice had been broken as quickly as it had been. After the two had found their place in line, she turned around to survey the place. It looked like a good area, free of trash and full of neon lights flashing. As an indication of its popularity, people thronged the streets. Couples out dating, families out for a night on the town, lone men and women out for a walk downtown, teenagers marauding here and there in groups - if anything could be said about Nerimean night life, tonight was a prime example of it. Her nose pricked up at the scent of...cologne. She turned around and sniffed the air. It seemed to be coming from Hiroshi, and it smelt quite pleasant - if a bit on the sharp and fresh side. She blinked in surprise. Hiroshi...wearing cologne? To her knowledge Hiroshi had never worn cologne, therefore the cologne he was wearing was either borrowed from Daisuke (who used cologne) or, more likely, Hiroshi had bought a bottle for himself. But Hiroshi didn't know the first thing about buying cologne... "Say, Hiroshi...what kind of cologne are you using?" she asked, quickly adding, "It smells nice." "Oh...er...it's CK something. I forgot the exact number or whatever, but I have a bottle at home." thought Ranma-chan in momentary concern, but then the line began to move and it banished her thoughts away. Soon Ranma-chan and Hiroshi had found a spot in the theatre for themselves, somewhere off to the left. The lights dimmed...then the show began. It took the better part of an hour before Ranma-chan began to yawn in boredom. she thought to herself as she folded her arms across her ample chest and scouted the theatre and its occupants. Without much effort she could count at least nine or ten couples making out; apparently they had realized that kissing and petting were infinitely more interesting than any movie in existence. She craned her head to look behind her...and she immediately saw that Hiroshi had somehow moved his left arm so that it rested behind her, mere inches from her shoulders. thought Ranma- chan as she quickly returned her attention to the screen. It seemed that *someone* had the very same ideas as those around the two of them! At least, that was how it looked on the surface. She quickly began to consider her options, and she found them very slim indeed. Ranma-chan could almost feel Hiroshi's arm inching towards her, ready to creep onto her shoulders.... she told herself, But there still lingered a sense of foreboding, of something about to happen in the next few minutes that would decide the outcome of her night. She couldn't stand it any longer and she got up. Hiroshi froze in position and looked guiltily at her. "Wha...what's wrong, Ranko?" stammered Hiroshi, acutely aware of where his arm was. "I'm going to the washroom. Be back in a sec," lied Ranma-chan. She quickly left her aisle and walked away to the washroom as quickly as she could, feeling Hiroshi's eyes track her every step of the way. Squinting a bit at the bright lights outside she pushed the washroom door open and stepped inside. She stared at herself in the mirror and rubbed her face with one hand. Whatever had possessed her to dress in this getup anyhow? It was just an outing with a friend, for crying out loud! At least, that was what she would like to believe. Ranma-chan sighed, regretting everything. She felt worn, tired and confused. Ranma-chan leaned against a nearby wall and folded her arms. She knew everything that she felt to be wrong in her life went further back than this so-called date with Hiroshi. She didn't know, or remember, when it had started but she knew that she had recently been trying to adapt herself to her new body. mused Ranma-chan, staring up at the ceiling. The female clothing, the serious and half-serious passes at Ranma, her growing association with Akane. But in the end, did it all work? She remembered, earlier today, when Ryoga got out of the bath...and she had felt a twinge of pleasure run through her. Erotic pleasure. Perhaps it did work. But what had it cost her? What price feminine habits and desires to match her female body? Had she been trying to adjust to her body because she had wanted to...or had it been because she had no choice? Had she even been thinking about her future at all? , she mused. When life presented one with a lemon, one made lemonade...or so the saying went. But what the saying left out was the *size* of the lemon presented! And lemonade was still bitter unless sugar was added in correct proportion. She also realized that just as she had begun adapting to her new body, people had begun adapting to her. Even Kasumi, arguably the most level-headed of everyone, had begun referring to her as a `she'. She had overheard it when Kasumi had been talking to Nabiki. Yet, most of all, both Ranma and Akane were looking at her differently. They had both begun to accept her for the way she was, not the way she had been. Was that a good thing? It had been reassuring in a way, since there had been nobody to pity or alienate her. There also hadn't been anybody to sympathize with her, nobody whom she could find a common ground with and that had probably been one of the reasons why she had been struggling so desperately to adapt. For the first time in her life, through her actions, she had felt that she was finally finding a place for herself in the social fabric of Nerima. she thought to herself, feeling the years and memories rush in to fill the empty space in her thoughts. thought Ranma-chan in shock, her eyes widening to mirror her emotions. Was she really intending to stay a *girl* for the rest of her life? What about Akane? A sudden thought struck her as she thought about Akane. The answer was obvious and it forced its way into Ranma-chan's mind brutally, rubbing her face into harsh reality as it were. The mere thought of it was too much to bear, and Ranma-chan shook her head to clear her thoughts of it. Ranma-chan left the washroom and made her way back to her seat, noting that Hiroshi's arm was no longer where it had been, and she plopped down to a few tense minutes of silence where neither boy nor girl looked at one another. "Did I miss anything of the movie?" asked Ranma-chan in a small voice at last, breaking the ice. "Not much, really," said Hiroshi, a note of relief evident in his voice. Then he proceeded to elaborate on what Ranma-chan had missed, his hands moving animatedly. Ranma-chan, understanding that this was necessary to soothe Hiroshi's feelings, nodded assent all the way. And as she did so she began to think about her date with Hiroshi. She didn't love him, that was for sure, but she liked him as a friend. Only that and nothing more. But what did Hiroshi think of *her*? She wondered if he thought that she loved him just because she was out on a date with him and nobody else. And it was obvious that he had put a lot of painstaking detail into the preparation of the date, right down to the just-ironed pants, new shoes, dress shirt and cologne. And all that detail in the date was going to go to waste by the end of this night. There would be a big chunk taken out of Hiroshi's wallet, courtesy of the date and upcoming restaurant bill, and Hiroshi would have nothing to show for it but a bittersweet memory of his first, failed date. Knowing Hiroshi's sense of emotional insecurity as well as she did, she knew...just *knew* that he was going to be devastated when he came around the next time to ask her out on a date...and received a `no' for an answer. She mentally smacked herself. She was thinking far, far too ahead in the future. It was probably better to stay focused on the present for the time being, and let the future unfold as it may. The movie ended a few minutes later and the two of them left the theatre, going with the flow of the crowd. Ranma-chan stretched her arms, enjoying the sensation. "Tired?" asked Hiroshi somewhat timidly. "No, just a little cramped by the seat, that's all," replied Ranma- chan as she dropped her arms. "Are you tired?" she asked in turn. "Me? No. Still going, and going, and going..." said Hiroshi, imitating the Energizer bunny. Ranma-chan chuckled. They stood at the edge of the pavement, waiting for the mass of people and cars to clear before they crossed the street. "So...did you like the movie?" asked Hiroshi, who seemed to be studying an interesting neon sign just to his right. "It was...o-kay, I guess," replied Ranma-chan cautiously. She *knew* that he didn't like the movie. It was from the way he was acting, coupled with her knowledge of his habits and quirks. "You thought so? Oh. Yeah, it was...okay," replied Hiroshi just as cautiously. "That movie sucked!" Both Ranma-chan and Hiroshi turned around to look at the speaker, surprised. But it had only been someone's date, expressing out loud her feelings about the film to her boyfriend. Hiroshi turned red from embarrassment. "Those shoes look good on you, you know?" offered Ranma-chan, glancing at him briefly. The traffic jam was beginning to clear up and soon it would be time to move. "T-thanks," said Hiroshi, glancing at her then turning his attention back to the street. Neither said anything for a while. "That movie sucked, huh?" said Ranma-chan, frowning thoughtfully. "Yeah. Big time." Hiroshi began to smile too. Then, as if drawing from a reserve of courage within him, he held his arm out invitingly. Hesitating for just a second, Ranma-chan slowly curled both hands in the crook of his arm and held on. She could almost see the sigh of relief issuing from Hiroshi. Then they crossed the street together and began to walk with the flow of the crowd. They passed stores festooned with neon signs, open tables filled with various merchandise available for sale, under the glow of the numerous street lamps which lit the way. A tour bus was parked by the side of the street and a number of tourists were being shown the sights and sounds of downtown Nerima by a tour guide. Rounding a corner and dodging a bicyclist, the two of them crossed a street and walked a little ways. "There it is," said Hiroshi as he stopped and pointed. Ranma-chan looked up. The beautifully wrought iron and brass sign in front of them read `Kobayashi Gardens'. There was a little path made of stones, flanked on either side by an extremely well-kept lawn and intermittently-placed lanterns fashioned from decorated rice paper and hanging from poles set in the earth with a small circular border of carefully raked white pebbles around each lantern pole. A kidney shaped area of pebbles sat off to the left of the little path, the pebbles being concentrically-raked around a moss covered boulder in the middle...bringing Zen into the garden in a masterful manner. The path ended at a fair-sized waiting area, which was filled with people standing or sitting by the reception desk by the entrance. "Isn't it going to be a long wait, Hiroshi?" asked Ranma-chan, looking around her surroundings with a sense of wonder. "No, no! I've had seats reserved for the two of us!" "R-really?" "Yes, really! It shouldn't be a problem to get in...not after I've paid that reservation fee," replied Hiroshi, who too was admiring the restaurant. "Oh...you shouldn't have!" said Ranma-chan, "I don't mind waiting to get in, you know." "But...uh..." said Hiroshi, at a loss of what to say in reply. "Thanks for reserving anyway, Hiroshi. I appreciate it," added Ranma-chan, unwilling to voice out loud her concerns. "Uh...no problem." thought Ranma-chan. She walked past a beautiful pond with crystal clear water and numerous dancing koi in it, complete with a miniature waterfall. A sense of dread struck her and she suddenly felt guilty about taking advantage of Hiroshi like this. She decided to find out if Hiroshi had the money for an expensive-looking restaurant such as this one. "Hey, Hiroshi...do you..." began Ranma-chan, but she stopped short. "Yes, Ranko?" said Hiroshi, already opening his wallet to fish out a reservation card. "Never mind," said Ranma-chan. If she had asked him if he had the money to spend, and knowing Hiroshi, he would only spend all the more to prove to her that he DID have the money. She sighed in exasperation. "Please remove your shoes," said the hostess, "And follow me." Ranma-chan removed her shoes and placed them carefully in the scented pine shoe-holder, then she stepped onto the lush, red carpet spreading out before her. "Wow, this carpet really feels great!" she exclaimed in amazement, rubbing her toes into it and savoring the sensation. If the exterior of the restaurant had been any indicator of how well-decorated the inside was, it had been quite an understatement. Rice-paper lanterns hung from the wood ceiling in strategic spots, lighting the travel paths. Expensive-looking engravings and paintings graced were scattered tastefully here and there. The subtle hint of fried salmon steak in pepper oil mingled with the aroma of sizzling steak topped with chopped garlic and the tantalizing smell of tempura in soy sauce. A well stocked bar was set in right angles to a corner, staffed by a female bartender. The overall atmosphere was mellow, and smooth and Ranma-chan felt as if she could relax and let all her troubles vanish. The hostess opened a sliding door to a booth and both Ranma-chan and Hiroshi entered. After leaving two menus, the hostess encouraged them to look through and select what they wanted, then she slid the door shut and quietly slipped away. The booth was no less impressive than the rest of the restaurant. A wood table, with a space hollowed out in the floor beneath it, was set in the middle and two comfortable-looking cushions awaited them on either side of the table. A water-colour painting of a lush forest and a mist-enshrouded mountain range hung directly on the wall directly opposite the sliding door. "Well, what do you think of this place so far?" asked Hiroshi. "It's...it's almost like a palace, or something, you know?" exclaimed Ranma-chan in wonder. "It is pretty well laid out, and everything is of the highest quality. I heard that it's owned by some rich businessman living here in Tokyo." "No kiddin'," she said before she picked up her menu and opened it with a flip. It didn't take her very long to realize that prices started high - she caught herself looking for traces of snow - and went on to exorbitant. thought Ranma-chan as she scanned through the menu, She flipped back to the first page of the menu again. she thought sardonically. She glanced up and watched in morbid fascination as Hiroshi started from the top of the menu and read downwards, his expression going from hopeful to wide- eyed shock. He glanced up at Ranma-chan, who quickly hid her face behind the menu. thought Ranma-chan. "Hmm...th-this `Jumbo Shrimp' platter looks quite good," blurted Hiroshi. thought Ranma-chan sarcastically. She sighed and stared sightlessly at the menu. This was definitely ruining Hiroshi. There was no doubt about it. And she was a part of it, enjoying things at his expense. Worse yet, she had to admit to herself that she didn't really like him *that* way enough to even be here with him, on the date. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and lowered the menu a bit. Hiroshi was still `perusing' the menu in that agitated way of his, looking somewhat comical. She would have laughed but she knew better. By now, she was getting the feeling that this restaurant was frequented by older people with *much* more money to spend. Hiroshi was simply out of his league, far from the haven of cheap fast food and Kraft Dinners. She reached a decision. It was a quick, and efficient method of saving their bacon in the face of such overwhelming prices. She had to do it *right now*, before the hostess came back, before Hiroshi dug himself a deeper hole. She dropped her menu and groaned terribly. "Ranko? What's wrong?" asked Hiroshi, half-getting up in fright. "I...I think my headaches and tummy aches just got worse," supplied Ranma-chan in her best imitation of what was known as a `deathly-ill whisper'. She gritted her teeth and held a hand to her head. "You had a headache and a stomach ache but you didn't tell me??" "They weren't bad at all when...when the date started but they must have gotten worse....I don't know why, but they *hurt* now!" "Is anything the matter?" came the hostess' voice. "I'm...I'm afraid we have to leave as my girlfriend isn't feeling so well," said Hiroshi in a surprisingly calm voice. thought Ranma-chan darkly, a little annoyed that he was taking advantage of the situation, then she remembered that she had forgotten to moan. She did so. Convincingly. "That is no problem, sir. If you will excuse me I will usher in the next in line." "Wait a minute. Since we didn't order anything, is the reservation fee refundable?" pleaded Hiroshi. Ranma- chan was tempted to voice her thoughts out loud but she already knew that her joke was going to be lost on him. Hiroshi didn't know Nabiki as he wasn't a part of the merry troupe in the Tendo Household. He didn't belong. "I'm sorry, sir, but it's not refundable in the event that a guest cancels his or her reservation," rattled off the hostess predictably, "But if you wish we can issue you a receipt for company purposes." "No, that's okay. She isn't feeling too well and I've got to get her back home as soon as possible," said Hiroshi, an arm around Ranma- chan's shoulders. The way he said `she' seemed to imply that she was already his girlfriend. That and the urgency of his `obligation' to get her home as quickly as possible. He was magnifying threat here, expanding it beyond a migraine and a case of indigestion. Ranma-chan didn't like that but under the scrutiny of the hostess and the many guests milling around outside the restaurant, she had to keep the act up, even leaning into Hiroshi once in a while. The minutes seemed like hours as she kept the act up, groaning and rubbing her head once in a while, until they reached the Tendo Dojo. She leaned against the gatepost and looked at him with an expression of gratitude. "Thanks for walking me home, Hiroshi. I'm...I'm feeling a little bit better now but I think I ought to go lie down." "Are you sure you're alright?" said Hiroshi, a note of concern in his voice. "Positive." Ranma-chan smiled, "Thanks." "Umm...sure. Anytime. I'll...I'll probably see you tomorrow? If you're feeling better by then?" "Yeah, I guess. Well...good night, Hiroshi. Take care," said Ranma-chan as she opened the gates and stepped inside. "Goodnight Ranko," said Hiroshi, flashing her a smile, "Hope you get better." She smiled at him and shut the gates. She took a few steps forward and stopped; she heaved a huge sigh of relief. Shaking her head to clear it she walked into the house and took her shoes off. "Oh, Ranko. Home already?" asked Kasumi as she walked by with a bundle of laundry under one arm. "Yeah. The date kinda got cut short. Is there anything to eat?" "Yes. I've saved some food for you. Oh, here's some clean laundry of yours," said Kasumi as she handed Ranma-chan some clothing, "It just came out of the dryer." "Thanks Kasumi," beamed Ranma-chan, practically itching to get out of the dress. She padded upstairs and walked into Akane's room. Slipping out of her dress and laying it on Akane's bed, she put on a pair of boxers and a sleeveless shirt. Then she went downstairs. After grabbing a big bowl and filling it with fried rice, she padded over to the living room and plopped down on the couch beside Ranma. He had been watching TV by himself but now...he was watching Ranma-chan devour her food. "Hungry already? And people say *I* have a bottomless pit for a stomach," said Ranma. "You do. And you're watching it in action," mumbled Ranma- chan, her mouth flecked with rice specks and bits of chopped up beef, "Man, I'm starving!" "But...you've just ate at that Kobayashi Gardens restaurant, didn't you?" "Mmmm." "Did you or didn't you?" "Mmmm...well...mmmff...." stalled Ranma-chan as she stuffed more rice into her mouth. "Okay. We'll get to that later. How did the date go?" "Why the...mmf...HECK are you being so nosy for?!" said Ranma-chan angrily between mouthfuls. "Because it's my business to know. You're me, or have you forgotten that?" By now Ranma had sensed something wrong and he was looking at his female counterpart, the TV forgotten. "Sure....I'm *you* alright. It's just that I was on a date with a guy...which is something that *we* wouldn't normally do unless it was to get something I needed out of him!" "Wha...? D-don't tell me that...that you...you and him..." stammered Ranma, who got a quick smack upside the head - courtesy of Ranma-chan. "Get your mind outta the gutter, you!" cried Ranma-chan hotly as she withdrew her hand, "I did no such thing!" "But..." "We went to the movies, then to that restaurant, then he walked me home. Period. End of date." Ranma-chan emphasized that with a curt chopping motion of her spoon. "And talking about restaurants, didn't you eat anything at all on the date?" "No, I didn't eat anything at all on the date," mimicked Ranma- chan, waving her spoon in little circles in the air while rolling her eyes, "That's why I'm grabbing something to eat right now, thank you very much." She slapped the empty bowl on the coffee table and sprawled out on the couch, a hand supporting her chin as she stared at the TV. Ranma reddened and looked away. The way Ranma-chan was positioned one could look right down her shirt *and* right up her boxers at the same time. Then he remembered what he was about to ask her. "You didn't eat anything? Why?" "Because the place was too expensive. It was on a scale that even Nabiki would have to stand up and applaud at." Ranma grimaced. "That bad, huh?" "So...I just faked that I was sick and Hiroshi took me home. I might not show up at school tomorrow. If Hiroshi asks about me, tell him that I'm still sick. If he hints at you about pulling a few strings and getting him set up with me on another date, just stall or take off." "Sounds like you don't want to have to date *him* again," Ranma said half-jokingly, "So who's next? Daisuke?" She glared at him. "Shut up," she gritted through clenched teeth, "You don't even know what you're talking about." "Hey, calm down, willya? I mean, what the heck did Hiroshi do to make you so mad?" "I'm not angry at him, if that's what you think." Ranma-chan lapsed into silence and drew into herself defensively. "I shouldn't have even gone on the date. Maybe Akane was right. I shoulda stood him up." "Woah, woah, woah. This is HIROSHI we're talking about here," said Ranma, "The guy with the heart of glass?" "Only when it comes to women." "Yeah, true, but you're a girl...at least, you look like one, I guess..." "I don't `look' like one. I *am* a girl." Ranma-chan sighed. "Look, I'll tell you up front. The reason why I don't want to see or...or `date' Hiroshi again is because I *am* a girl." "Say again?" said Ranma, cocking his head quizzically. Ranma- chan heaved a sigh of exasperation. "Why don't I tell you tomorrow morning, huh? Right now I'm kinda sick and tired of the whole thing." She got up to leave but was restrained by Ranma's hand on her arm. "You're not going anywhere until you tell me about the date, and explain to me why you're so angry about *something* which I, being the thick-headed idiot I am, cannot comprehend. Also, tell me why you don't wanna see Hiroshi *ever* again. What did he do to you?!" Ranma's face was flushed. His fingers dug in deep into Ranma-chan's arm, leaving white circles where the tips of his fingers touched her soft skin. "Oww! Not so hard!" cried Ranma-chan, jerking her arm away from Ranma and rubbing the bruised spots, "What're you trying to do? Kill me?" "Don't you change the subject," said Ranma as he got up from the couch and stood before her, blocking off her path of retreat. Ranma- chan stared helplessly at Ranma, then she shrugged her shoulders, curled up on the couch, and looked away from him. "The date with Hiroshi was just...just like a confirmation of everything I've been so afraid of," said Ranma-chan quietly as she twirled the tip of her pigtail with a finger, "And the funny thing is I knew the risks and still jumped into it anyhow." "You've lost me again. How does..." "Hear me out!" snapped Ranma-chan, "Do you want to hear this or not?" "Sorry. Go on." Ranma-chan glared at him for a moment longer, then she dropped her gaze and heaved another sigh. "I...I just kinda realized that I can never be `just friends' with Hiroshi. Or Daisuke. Or the rest of the guys. I mean, I knew it before all this happened, but it only sunk in after this date with Hiroshi," said Ranma-chan in a small voice. "Oh, I see." "No, you don't. Do you know what it's like to have a friend treat you like you're someone else? I mean, I KNEW what he was gonna do and how he was gonna act and everything. At least, I knew what he WOULD HAVE done if I wasn't...a girl." Ranma-chan folded her arms. "He was the same, but he tried to act different. He tried to be someone else...just for me, and now that's driving me nuts." "You mean, because you're a girl...he tried to act differently?" "Isn't that what I've just said? Yes. The friends I know are not my friends anymore...and the thing is, I'm still THEIR friend even if they don't realize it, even if they stare at my ass or my breasts and wonder how good in bed I would be!" Ranma-chan slapped a hand on her face and slowly moved it down with fingers extended, as if pulling a mask off her face. She sighed and leaned back, looking up at Ranma. "What if I just...you know...talked to them? Not go on dates or stuff like that, or act cute for free treats. Talk to them like a friend. Will they see me as just a friend?" she asked in a soft voice, "Tell me the truth. What do you think?" Ranma's expression was grim. "Yeah, I was kinda expecting that," said Ranma-chan in a tired voice, "I shouldn't have gone out on a date with him." "He would have curled up someplace and died if you hadn't showed up." Ranma sat down on the edge of the couch and laid a comforting hand on Ranma-chan's shoulder. "Hell, *I* feel like curling up somewhere and dying! I mean, he was acting so different...and dressed so different..." "Come on, stop it already. Don't kid yourself that you can still remain `just friends' with the guys. I mean, you know that all the guys talk about are girls...you know, how cute they are and all that." "I know." Ranma-chan's voice sounded testy, as if on the edge. "They see you as a girl and..." "Ranma, I *know*. Stop rubbing it in, willya? It was a blast when there was free food and treats, but after all that's done..." she trailed off meaningfully. Almost absently she began to trace a circle on Ranma's thigh with her index finger. "What am I going to do?" "Don't go on dates anymore." Ranma slowly slid his hand down her arm. "Don't encourage them." "Yeah. Besides, Sayuri's got the hots for Hiroshi." Ranma-chan played with her pigtail, twirling it over and over in her fingers. "Who am I to butt into a budding romance?" "How do you know that? Hiroshi always thought that..." "No, it's not her. It's Sayuri, trust me." Ranma-chan put a hand on Ranma's arm and pulled herself up to a sitting position. "I'm going to bed. Catch you later." "Yeah." There was almost a note of regret in Ranma's voice, but perhaps she imagined it. Ranma-chan smiled at him, held his gaze for as long as she could, then she walked away. She went up the stairs and into her room. Shutting the door behind her, she let out a sigh and threw herself onto her futon. She lay there with her arms out before her, her arms off to the side, and she savoured the coolness and softness of the fabric against her body. It welcomed her, soothed her, and embraced her in its comfort. It was some time later when she woke up, not knowing why she did. She glanced over at the futon beside her - it was empty, an indication that Ranma had probably fallen asleep in the living room. , thought Ranma-chan as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. She glanced out the windows. It was dark outside, much darker than when she had come home after the date. And it was quiet too - except for the ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere in the house. It beat out a steady, but creepy rhythm, a stark contrast to the night's silence. She jumped. Was that an owl's hoot she had heard? The darkness seemed to move with a life of its own. She never had any difficulty falling asleep before, but with the absence of anybody in the room it was increasingly difficult to go back to sleep. She tried, of course, but without the feeling of anybody *with* her...combined with the half-remembered childhood fear of the dark she had inadvertently awakened... At last, she couldn't stand it any longer and she snatched up her pillow. Leaving her room, she quickly made her way over to Akane's. She pushed the door open and relief flooded her when she saw Akane's sleeping form in her bed. Stifling a yawn she padded over to the bed and plumped her pillow beside the other girl's. She lay down slowly, so as not to awaken Akane, and she drew in the comforter around herself as well. Akane mumbled something and tossed, but otherwise did nothing. Now, with a presence beside her in lieu of Ranma, her fears were allayed. On impulse she turned over to face Akane. Through the moonlight she could just make out the other girl's features, calm in gentle sleep. "Akane...what should I *do*?" she whispered, reaching out with a hand to touch Akane's face, "This is all so weird to me, and sometimes it's quite painful, but I have no choice. I can't be anybody else but a female Ranma." She sighed and withdrew her hand. Akane shifted and moved, but did not awaken. "What should I do?" she whispered softly to herself. She found herself nodding off, and she did nothing to resist it. Sleep stole over her like the cool night wind blowing the curtains aside. The wind ruffled the mobile hanging from Akane's ceiling, rustling some papers on her desk and playing a strange but wonderful melody on the wind chime. A million, million stars dotted the velvet sky of the night, pinpoints of light against the darkened heavens. The crescent moon cast its soft radiance down upon the sleeping world, keeping watch until the dawn of a new day. -WD A proud participant in the Revenge's End Saga VISIT THE LAIR AT: -------======================================== http://members.tripod.com/~WebDragon/index.html -------======================================== WORK IN PROGRESS : Nullifier 122, Part 4