Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the wonderful Romiko Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in North America). This work is strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of fans. No copyright infringement is intended. The Ultimate Challenge by RJ "Ah, you are so UNCUTE!" "YOU’RE JERK!" "TOMBOY!" "FREAK!" Nabiki listen to the nonstop name calling from down stairs. Ranma and Akane were at it again and who knows why. She stood up and was about to yell at both of them to shut up when the familiar sound of a large mallet smacking a head was heard. "Never mind." She said. A couple minutes later Nabiki heard footsteps and angry mumbling. "Must be Ranma." She thought. She waited till the footsteps were close to her room. "Ranma is that you?" "Yea." "Could you come in here please." "Sure." Ranma opened the door and saw Nabiki looking in her ledger. This was not a good sign. "Ranma you know you’re way behind on your payments." "Yeah, I just haven’t…" Nabiki cut him off, "You know I was listening to your fight with Akane. How did it start this time?" "Oh she asked me to try her cooking. I said I would like to live to tomorrow and…" "No need to continue." She said holding her hand up. "Tell you what, how would you like a chance to get rid of all unpaid debts?" Ranma looked at Nabiki not trusting her one bit. "How would I do that?" "A simple little bet." "I’m listening." "I bet you that for one week that you can’t insult Akane. Not her looks, her cooking her anything." "But what about she asks for my opinion?" "You can give your opinion, but it can’t be an insult. Basically to not fight with Akane." "Okay, but she gets mad when the others hang on me and everything else." "Well, the others are up to you but if something comes from your mouth that insults her you lose." "Okay, what do you get if I lose?" "If you lose then I own you for a week. That means pictures and selling you off for dates, ect. Or whatever I want and if you win then all your debt will disappear." "Can you put this in writing?" "What, Ranma you don’t trust me?" Ranma just stepped back and gave Nabiki a look. "Very well Ranma, I will have it written up by tomorrow morning. The bet will start then when you sign. Shake?" "Okay, you got your self a bet." Ranma said taking her hand and giving it a firm hand shake. Ranma turned started towards the door. "You’re going down Saotome." "We’ll see Tendo." The next morning Nabiki knocked on Ranma’s door. He was already up and waiting. "Are you ready to go down?" "Not on your life." Nabiki held out a pen and Ranma took it. "Akane is not to know, but everyone else will." Nabiki said. Ranma looked through the contract and started to sign his name when he stopped. "Hold on one second." Ranma walked to the hall and yelled, "Hey Akane!" "What?" she hollered back, sticking her head out of her room. "Just wanted to tell you that you’re a uncute tomboy." "You’re such a JERK RANMA!" She yelled back slamming her door closed. Ranma smile and went back to signing the piece of paper. He finished his signature and looked up at Nabiki. "Had to do it one last time." He smiled. "By the way, Akane is cooking tonight." Nabiki evilly said. "DUH!" Akane walked on the street as Ranma walked on the fence as usual. He hadn’t said two words to her all morning, except for the uncute tomboy remark. Something was up and it bothered her. During school was the same way, it was almost if he was avoiding her. Maybe Nabiki will know. "Nabiki," Akane said sitting down next to her older sister. "Yes?" "Do you know what’s up with Ranma?" "Why what do you mean?" "Well he hardly spoken to me today, not even a insult. Is he sick, angry with me, what?" "Oh I don’t know Akane, maybe he doesn’t want to fight with you. Doesn’t that make sense, he is your fiancee’." "No, I don’t think so, he always finds some way to insult me." "Well, I doubt it will last." "You think?" "Hey, I’ll bet on it." "Dad?" "Yes, Nabiki?" Soun asked looking up from his game with Genma. "Have you seen Ranma?" "Uh, yes he had to run to the store. Said he be back in fifteen minutes." "Okay. I’ll be upstairs, call me when dinner is ready." "Al right." Ranma jumped from rooftop to rooftop hurrying to get home. With a quick stop at Ucchan’s, he ate to put something in his stomach. Then a hop, skip and jump to the store for some heartburn medicine. "To stop heart burn before you eat." Ranma read from the package, "Take two tablets. Okay three it is." Ranma popped the tiny pills in his mouth and swallowed. Now he was ready for Akane’s cooking. "I’m home!" He yelled kicking his shoes off at the door. "Just in time for dinner." Akane yelled back. "Please give me strength." He said underneath his breath. Ranma took his normal seat at the table next to his father. He looked at all the panicking faces that scream AKANE IS COOKING! Kasumi walked in carrying a plate, followed by Akane. Kasumi sat down and Akane began dishing out what ever she made. Everyone stared at the brown stuff sitting in front of them. No one moved. "Well isn’t anyone going to eat." Akane said getting annoyed. Ranma signed and picked up his chop sticks. "Here goes nothing." He said to himself. He took a bit of the dish and began chewing. Nodded his head and took another bit. Everyone else figured it had to be somewhat decent if Ranma was eating, but of course it wasn’t. Everyone even Kasumi made a face when trying Akane’s dish. This was killing Nabiki, the only way she going to win this bet was to get Ranma to open his mouth and talk. "So what do think about Akane’s cooking Ranma?" She asked with smirk. Ranma took another bit and chewed the food. He needed time to think of a non insulting answer. Akane was anxiously awaiting his answer. "Well, It’s not bad, but one suggestion." "Here it comes." Nabiki thought. "I don’t mind spicy food, but next time I suggest a little least cayenne pepper, for those whodon’t like it." ????? That’s all anyone body could say. Nabiki was flabbergasted. He did it. He didn’t insult her cooking. Maybe this wasn’t as easy a bet as she originally thought. "You mean it Ranma?" Akane asked. "Yea." Much later that night, when everyone was asleep, Ranma was vomiting in the bathroom. "One day down, six more to go." Three days later Ranma jumped up and attacked his father, like he did every morning before breakfast. However he was being far more vocal then usual. "Come on pop! What’s the matter getting to old?" "You wish boy!" Genma got in a nice hit. "Old fart!" "Ha! Not even close!" "Baldy!" Ranma kicked his father, but Genma blocked." "Ranma you’re acting like a girl with all the name calling!" That when Genma knocked Ranma into the pond. SPLASH!!! "Oh just great!" A female Ranma yelled getting out of the water. "Oh my, Ranma seems to need to release some steam." Kasumi pleasantly stated. "I believe your right." Soun replied. "You have no idea." Nabiki said. "Ever since I made that bet with him. I can’t believe he has lasted this long." "He might do it, Nabiki." Kasumi said placing a plate on the table. "The other day I walked into the dojo to tell him he had a phone call and he was practicing his katas. It was almost if he was in a trance. He kept mumbling something about being uncute and tomboyish." "I knew it, he’s ready to burst. I just need one good thing that I know he will slip up on." "Now Nabiki, that’s not fair." "Hey all fair in love and war, why not bets that will increase my wallet." "You will not interfere." Kasumi said rather sternly. "Oh, don’t worry, I will do nothing but what the gods provide me." "What does that mean?" "There’s dance coming up." "So?" "So, I won’t have to tip the scales, Akane will do it for me." "Nabiki?" "Honestly Kasumi, I’ll play nice." Nabiki sweetly smiled. The next night. Nabiki looked at the mound of dresses thrown throughout the room. Akane stood in front of the mirror in horrible bright lime green dress. It looked like it came from an 80’s punk what-a-be closet. The one shoulder was strapless, yet the other one had this huge ruffle. There was lime green lacing covering the chest with a hot pink bow in the back. The shirt came to her knees but had three layers of ruffles that suck out like a tutu, which the under chiffon that made it stick out was also hot pink. "Nabiki, this is ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. Where do you get it and why am I trying it on?" "Oh it’s just for fun. I think maybe you should go ask Ranma what he thinks." "No I don’t think so." Akane said slipping out of the dress. "I know what he will say." "I know, I know, that’s why!!!" Nabiki thought. "Maybe something a little less bright." "Here, try this one." Nabiki throw a navy blue satin dress at her. Akane slipped into it and looked at herself. "Well much better then the last, but it makes me look like a cow. And what is up with this ruffles on the hips and sleeves?" "No, no I think it gives it character. Let’ss go ask Ranma, see what he thinks." "Nabiki?" "Come on. Come on, aren’t your curious in what he would say?" "Err… kind of." "Well then lets go." Nabiki said pushing Akane out the door. Down stairs Soun and Genma played their board game, as Ranma sat at the table doing some home work and snacking on some potato chips. His back was turned away from the doorway and didn’t see Akane. "Hey Ranma, what do you think of this dress? Does it make me look fat?" Ranma almost choked on the potato chip he was chewing. He didn’t turn around right away, he needed time to think. Suddenly, Genma and Soun were right next to him. "Okay son, this is the ultimate challenge. When a girl asks you the dreaded "do I look fat question. All you have to say is "No way, you look great." Soun said low so Akane wouldn’t hear. "You never tell a women if an outfit doesn’t look anything but perfect." "Are you listing boy? We are your elders, we know these thing." Genma said. "Will you two back off!" Ranma yelled. He took a deep breath and turned around. He made sure not to let his face change. The first thing he thought of "YIKES!" but no, he will do this, he will win this bet. "Umm…" "Well." she said, starting to get impatient. "Come on boy, just say it. No, you don’t look fat at all." Genma whispered. Ranma looked at Nabiki who had this smirk on her face. She was behind this, he knew it. "Well, it’s an okay dress, but I don’t think…." "You don’t think what?" She said placing her hands on her hips. "Here it comes!" Nabiki shouted in her head with excitement. "I don’t think that dress flatters your figure. You have much nicer dresses that show off your figure more, but the color looks nice." "Really?" A huge smile crossed Akane’s face when she heard his answer. "Yea, really." Akane turned around and started to go back up stairs, but before she left the room she turned around and smiled. "Thanks, I’ll go try on a different one." Akane disappeared into the hall. Nabiki walked over to Ranma, who was currently being congratulated by Soun and Genma. Her eyes were stone cold, but Ranma smirk didn’t change. "Don’t think you’ve won yet." She said pointing her figure at him. "Oh Nabiki, are we getting a little nervous that I might be able to pull this off?" "We’ll see, you still have two days left." Nabiki turned at walked out of the room. "I’m going to do it!" He yelled, but there was no response from the second Tendo sister. "AHHH! I can’t believe that stubborn stupid jerk!" Nabiki yelled in her room, slamming things down on her desk. "Great, now I’m sound like Akane when she’s angry with Ranma. It was strange, it was almost peaceful in the house ever since the bet started. Akane and Ranma hadn’t been in a fight in days, there was no damage to the main house, the dojo being excluded. In a way she hoped Ranma could pull this off, and then maybe keep it up. Then again she could of sworn Akane missed getting insulted by him. She was starting to pick small fights, but Ranma didn’t fall into the trap. There were a few time that he came close, but he just slapped his mouth closed and walked away mumbling something. Two days, two whole days and he was going to do it. "Good." she said to herself. "AIYAH! Ranma go on date with Shampoo!" "AHH! Shampoo let go will ya!" Shampoo tackled Ranma and now had a firm grip on him. "Shampoo never let go till Ranma marry Shampoo." "Get off of me!" Ranma yelled pulling her hands away from him. "Ranma what wrong?" she asked with inquisitive eyes. "Nothing, but I wish you wouldn’t go grabbing me like that." "Ranma no like?" "No! Ranma no like." "Ranma you act strange, is tomboy Akane annoying you? I fix!" She started to get up with a fighters look in her eyes. "No, she is not. And don’t call her that!" Ranma yelled walking away from Shampoo. "Only I can call her that." He said to himself. Shampoo watched as Ranma walked away from her. Something was up and she didn’t like it. "SHAMPOO!!" Mousse yelled running up to her. "Hmm…Maybe ramen will make Ranma feel better." "Shampoo?" Mouse asked. "Mouse why you bother me, go away." She turned around and walked home. Ranma sat on the rooftop thinking. He like it up here, it was peaceful and when the sky’s clear the stars are great to get lost in. He sitting Indian style looking at a peace of paper. Akane watched him for a second before making her presence know. "Ranma?" "Huh? Oh hey Akane." She sat down next to him. "Is something wrong?" "No. Why do you ask?" "Well, no reason really, it’s just that in the past week you have been acting a little strange." "No, nothing is really wrong, except…" "Except what?" Ranma handed Akane the piece of paper he was staring at a few seconds ago. Akane took it and saw that it was a flyer for the school’s dance tomorrow. "Yeah so?" "Well I decided who I want to take, but how do I tell the others. I mean I don’t want to be mean and blow them off." "Well you can tell them that you have decided to attend the dance with said person, and that you will a hold a spot on each of their dance cards." "You think that will work." "I don’t know, but you can try." "Yea, I guess your right." Both of them sat in silence. Akane watched Ranma out of the corner of her eye. Well apparently he wasn’t going to ask her if he needed advice to blow her off in a nice way. But she looked forward to dance with him, be it only one dance." "Akane?" "Hmm?" "I was wondering…." "Yes?" "I was wondering if you’ll be my date for the dance?" Akane was shocked. She just looked at him and couldn’t get the words out. "I mean if you already have a date that’s fine, I guess I can ask Ukyo or Shampoo." "He asked me first? He asked me first!" Akane thought. "Ranma, I would like that." "Like what? You going to the dance with me, or me going with Ukyo or Shampoo?" "I would like to go to the dance with you." "Really? Cool!" "Well, it’s getting late, I’m going to go inside." "Okay, good night." "Good night." Akane stood up and walked away with a huge smile on her face. The dance went great. Everyone was having a good time, except for Ukyo, Shampoo, Kodachi, Ryoga, Mousse and Kuno. That was because Ranma asked Akane to the dance. Sure he promised each of the girls a dance, but they wanted more. Ranma look handsome as always, wearing a dress red Chinese shirt with his dress black pants. Akane was in a little black number with spaghetti straps and high heel shoes. She looked great. When Ranma dance with Ukyo and Shampoo, Akane danced with Ryoga and Mouse. Ryoga almost had a heart attack. If was funny though because when she was dancing with him, Ranma didn’t take his eyes off of them. Things didn’t go to great when he danced with Kodachi.. She tried her paralyzing powder on him, but it backfired and she ended up paralyzed. Kuno was no better. He babbled on and on about how she should date him and rid herself of the rouge Ranma. Ranma and Akane walked home under the clear night sky. They were still laughing and talking about the night they just shared. In the background the clock tower struck twelve. "Wow, I can’t believe it’s past twelve already." Akane said. "Is it?" "Yea, didn’t you hear the chimes?" "No I guess I didn’t." Ranma began laughing to himself. "What? What’s so funny?" "Oh it’s nothing." "Come on tell me." "I won." "What?" "I had bet with Nabiki and I won." "What was the bet?" Ranma stopped in front of the gates leading into the Tendo’s yard. He looked at Akane, she really looked beautiful, even after all the dancing she did. "Well are you going to tell me or not? "Okay, but promise you won’t get mad." "Okay, fine, whatever." "Okay Nabiki made a bet with me that I couldn’t go a week with out insulting you." "What! That’s why you’ve been acting nice to me!" "Huh, yea, sort of." "So you’ve been lying to me all week!" Ranma throw up his hands in defense. "No, no…" "You have! "Hey you promised not to get mad." Akane’s battle aura started to flare. "Now, just listen. At first it was just a bet, just a way to bet Nabiki, but as the week went on I…. I kinda like not fighting with me." He said the last part low. Akane’s battle aura faded, "Really?" "Yeah, I had a really great time tonight." "Yeah I did to." "I would like more of these nights. Akane, I know we were thrown into this engagement thing. With all the things that happen to me, and even you. I mean how many times have you been kidnapped, 20? Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I want to be with you, if you’ll have me?" Ranma looked up at Akane. All she did was look at him. She didn’t know what say. This was Ranma, who never showed any of his feeling except for anger or pride. He was staring at her now. "Fine, saying nothing answers my question." He hung his head and began to turn around. "Ranma wait!" Akane ran up to Ranma and kissed him. Ranma stood there letting what was happening register in his mind. After he realized this wasn’t a dream he wrapped his arms around her and kissed back. "Is that a yes?" "Hmmm, a maybe." "That will do." He said as he kissed her again. Nabiki watched Ranma and Akane through her binoculars and her listen through her long distance listening device. She smile and took out her ledger. In all the spots that said Ranma owed money she marked with a paid sticker. "That Ranma, was a freebie." The end. Authors note: Hey all, yes I know a very cute happy ending, but I like a happy ending. Hope you like it.
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