Part Two - Partners

Chapter 7 - Hikaru’s Plea

Six months had passed since Soun Tendo’s death. Akane had not returned to Nerima. Ranma continued to run the school by himself. He did not have any problems since he had some practice when Soun was ill. However, he could see how different it was now. At least when Soun was alive, Ranma was still able to consult him on administrative affairs. Now he was on his own. Still, he refused to give up. He was determined that he could run the school by himself, and declared to himself that he did not need Akane.

However, that was all about to change.

"The overall income of the school system this month went by thirty-five percent," announced Nabiki one early morning at a meeting. "We were able to exceed our monthly average income once again. I would also like to point out that it has done nothing but increase for the past three months. Hopefully, it will continue."

Ranma nodded thoughtfully. "Well, if this keeps up, we might have a bigger budget than last year’s. We can hire new teachers and have smaller classes."

Michiko said, "I have a better idea. Ranma, I was able to purchase this lot at Utsunomiya. I had been planning to build a mall there. There’s a perfect spot where you can open a new school."

"A fifth branch for the School of Anything Goes Martial Arts…" Ranma slowly smiled. "I like that."

Nabiki told them, "I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with that idea."

Michiko turned to her. "Why? It’s a wonderful opportunity to expand your school."

"Yes, I know, but not all parties are here to agree."

Ranma frowned. "What are you talking about?"

His wife leaned back on her seat. "She means Akane."

"What about Akane?"

"Ranma, you can’t build a school without Akane’s approval." Nabiki went on to explain. "What you’re about to do is enter an agreement with another party, and you can’t do that without Akane."

Michiko nodded slowly. "She does have a point, Ranma."

"So much for expansion." Ranma sighed. "Maybe I should just hire teachers."

Nabiki shook her head. "Sorry to pop your balloon, Saotome, but you can’t hire teachers without Akane. You can’t touch the budget. As far as I know, everything has to have her approval."

Ranma let out a snort. "That’s ridiculous!"

"Hardly. This school is based on a partnership, Ranma. Why do you think it’s called Tendo-Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts?"

Michiko said, "Well, why won’t you consent to it, Nabiki? You’re a Tendo."

"Yes, but I wasn’t the one who Daddy left in charge of the school."

Ranma demanded, "Well, how am I suppose to run this school when Akane refuses to be my partner?"

Nabiki let out a lopsided, almost sly grin. "Well, that’s not my fault now, is it?"

He got frustrated. "Well, what the hell was I suppose to do, Nabiki? Bribe her?"

She shrugged. "Maybe. Look, Saotome, the point is you are not authorized to make any major decisions without my sister. Unless you don’t want this school to last, you might as well talk her into running the dojo with you."

***

Ranma ended the meeting. It was time for his afternoon class. He headed back to the dojo where he saw Ryoga Hibiki sitting outside.

Ever since Soun died, Ryoga had been helping Ranma handle the classes. It was a big relief for him. Classes had been difficult to manage since there were more and more students enrolling. He did not exactly have a partner, so when Ryoga offered to help, Ranma could not refuse.

"Hey, Ryoga," he greeted. "What are you doing out here? The dojo’s open."

Ryoga replied in a solemn voice, "I know. I thought I’d just sit out here."

Ranma raised an eyebrow. Something was wrong. Last night Ryoga called him and said that he could not attend the morning classes since he had to take his wife Ukyou to the doctor. Ranma figured it was nothing to get rattled about, but perhaps it was worst than he thought.

"So how did the visit with the doctor go?" asked Ranma. "Is Ukyou okay?"

"Ukyou’s fine." Ryoga stood up. "Ranma, I gotta quit this job and help Ukyou full time at the restaurant."

Ranma became alarmed. "Why? I thought you said that Ukyou’s fine."

"She is. She’s just pregnant."

"You’re kidding, right?"

"I wish I was. This is our fifth baby. Could you believe that?"

"No, but hey! Congratulations!"

"Thanks." Ryoga’s face was still sullen.

"You don’t look very happy."

"I am. I’m just shocked. We weren’t exactly expecting this one, you know." Ryoga shook his head. "I was just here thinking that my eldest son Naoki will be fifteen by the time the baby is born. Then when it’s time for my youngest to go to college, Ukyou and I will be in our fifties."

"I know." Ranma shook his head. "But I do envy you, Ryoga. You’re about to have five children."

Ryoga regarded his friend for a moment. "Ranma, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I’m just…" He waved his hand. "Aw, forget it! It’s nothing."

"Would you like to talk to about it?"

"What’s to talk about? You are about to have your fifth baby. Here I am thirty six years old, and I don’t even have one."

He frowned. "What’s the problem?"

"Michiko. She doesn’t want to have a child."

Ryoga was perplexed. "Why?"

"She said that it’s bad timing to have one now. Our careers are going great, and she doesn’t want to ruin them."

"Can’t you guys reach some kind of a compromise?"

"I don’t know. We haven’t exactly tried. Every time I bring it up, she closes the subject immediately."

"That’s rough."

"Tell me about it. In bed, we’re in the middle of doing it, and suddenly she gets up and gets her diaphragm. I feel like I’m being suffocated."

"I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was that bad."

"Oh, yeah. I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but yeah, it is."

"You two need to talk about this. Maybe you should try counseling or something?"

"You think so?"

"Sure, why not?"

Ranma actually smiled. "Thanks, Ryoga."

Ryoga patted him on the back. "No problem."

He changed the subject. "So, are you gonna stay and teach this afternoon?"

"Yeah. I’ll stay for the rest of the week. Is that alright?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Ranma was still smiling as he said this, but inside he was disturbed. The problem is I have to find a replacement, and a damn good one, too.

The classes ended at four that afternoon. Ryoga and Ranma dismissed their student. As Ranma was closing up the dojo, Ryoga was leaving. On his way out, he met a young man.

"Good afternoon, sensei."

Ryoga barely even looked at him. "Sorry. The school is closed for today."

"That’s okay. I’m not here for a lesson. I just want to talk to Soatome-sensei." Ryoga heard the young man say as he passed by.

Ryoga turned around and stared at him. "You look familiar."

The young man smiled. "Oh, I’m Hikaru Sato."

He finally recognized him. "Oh, yeah! You are Akane’s son. How are you?"

"Fine."

"How’s your mom?"

"She’s alright."

Ryoga nodded. Then he looked behind him and saw Ranma coming from the dojo. "Hey, Ranma! Hurry up! You’ve got a visitor."

Ranma arrived and joined them. His face lit up when he saw Hikaru. "Oh, hey! You’re Hikaru, right?"

The younger man nodded. "That’s right."

"I never could forget a face. What can I do for you?"

Hikaru said, "I wanted to talk to you. It’s about my mom."

Silence followed until Ryoga said, "Well, I better go, Ranma. I’ll see you tomorrow."

"Sure thing, pal." As Ranma watched him leave, he called out, "Say hello to Ukyou for me!"

"I will!" Ryoga yelled back.

As soon as Ryoga was gone, Ranma turned to Hikaru. "Why don’t we take a walk?"

They started to walk around the neighborhood. Ranma watched the younger man from the corner of his eye. They were practically of the same height. However, because of several years of training, Ranma was more muscular. However, he can tell from Hikaru’s body build that the younger man had a good chance of becoming an excellent martial artist.

"How’s school going for you?" asked Ranma.

"It’s alright," replied Hikaru.

"School out for the day?"

"I skipped my last two classes."

"I hope your mom doesn’t hear about this one."

He shrugged. "School can get boring." Then he turned to Ranma. "Besides, I had to talk to you, Saotome-sensei."

Ranma nodded. "Okay. You said that you wanted talk about your mom. Is she alright?"

"She’s fine. She’s just…" Hikaru trailed off. "Saotome-sensei, my mom’s in real trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Financial trouble. It all started three years ago when Dad went out of business. Times were tough. Then Dad died. Lucky for us, he left us some savings, but it wasn’t enough. We had entirely depended on that and on what our school was making. The bills just kept piling up. Last month, I went home for the first time in months. I found out that our school went out of business. Mom sold the house, and she moved into an apartment. The only savings she has left is the money from the house, and I doubt that’s gonna last her." Hikaru turned to him with desperate eyes. "Saotome-sensei, you gotta do something."

"Me?" Ranma was surprised. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to talk to her into taking up the partnership with you."

He held up his hands. "Hey, now wait a sec! I’m the last person you should ask for help, Hikaru."

"But, why? Don’t you want to help my mom?"

"It’s not that I don’t want to help her. Your mom and I just don’t see things eye to eye. She’s not really that thrilled to run the dojo with me. It’ll take a lot of work to convince her to work with me."

Hikaru looked at him in the eye. "Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Willing to work with my mom?"

Ranma was caught off guard. "Well…"

"You don’t want to work with her either?"

He shook his head. "No, it’s not that. I’m sure that your mom would make a good business partner, but there’s a lot of things to consider, Hikaru."

"Like what?"

Ranma let out a sigh. "It’s hard to explain."

"Look, I don’t understand what the problem is between you and my mom. But please think about talking to her. I mean you might not realize it now, but you’re actually gonna help yourself if you help her."

***

"I’m going to Takasaki," Ranma told Michiko during dinner.

Michiko frowned. "What for?"

"I’ve got to convince Akane into taking the partnership with me."

Her eyebrow raised. "Is this really necessary?"

"Of course it is, Michiko. I have to talk to her, and it’s important that I do. She is entitled to half of the school system. I mean without her, I really can’t run the school. We can’t expand. Everything must have her consent. You heard Nabiki. Besides, I need her to take over some classes at the dojo."

"Are you sure that’s all you need her for?"

Ranma’s eyebrows narrowed. "What’s that suppose to mean?"

"Excuse me, Ranma, but I don’t like the idea of my husband running to his former lover."

He rolled his eyes and explained, "Look, the purpose of this trip is just purely business. What happened between Akane and me is all over. It’s all in the past. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

Ranma watched her face go firm. "You’re angry."

"Just do what you have to do, Ranma." She stood up and quietly stormed out if the room.

***

Another day of job hunting went by. Akane had no luck finding a job, and she trudged back home with a heavy heart. I’ll try again tomorrow. Maybe things will look better.

Akane was so depressed that she when she went up to her apartment, she did not even notice that Ranma was standing at the top of the stairs.

"Akane."

When Akane saw him, she was shocked. She was not expecting to see him here. Then anger began to fill her. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ranma watched her as she went past him, and then he followed her. "Well, nice to see you, too, Akane." His voice was filled with sarcasm.

Finally, she arrived at her apartment. Before she entered, however, she turned to him. "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk."

Akane unlocked her door. "There’s nothing to talk about."

As Akane went inside, she tried to close the door behind her. Unfortunately for her, Ranma quickly blocked it. He came in and closed the door behind him.

Ranma looked around. Akane’s place was a small, studio type apartment. It was completely furnished, but he could tell that much of the furniture was too large for the apartment, and it seemed too crowded.

"Nice place, " he told her. "I bet it’s quite a change moving from a house."

Akane stood before him with her arms crossed. "If you came here to insult me, Ranma, I suggest you leave."

Ranma sighed. "Alright. Alright. I’m sorry. Look, I came here to ask you to reconsider taking the partnership with me."

"I already told you, Ranma. I’m not interested in running the school with you."

"Akane—’’

"I mean it, Ranma. My decision still goes. I’m not changing my mind."

"How could you not change your mind? Look around you. This apartment ain’t even as big as the tea room at the Tendo house. I can’t believe that you actually live in this rabbit hole!"

Akane turned livid. "Ranma, I told you…"

He cut her off. "Shut up, Akane. Let me finish. You’ve got a much better life there in Nerima. You’ve got a house! You’ve got a dojo! You need to move out here and start your new life there. And, whether I like to admit it or not, I need you as my business partner. I can’t run the school without you because everything must have your consent. Plus, I need a damn good teacher." He paused. "Look, it’s obvious that neither of us can’t do without the other. I need a business partner. You need money, which I know you don’t have much."

Akane’s eyes went wide with horror. "Who told you that?"

"Hikaru. He came by and talked to me." Ranma saw her face looking very disturbed. "Don’t get mad at the boy, Akane. He’s a nice kid, and he obviously loves his mom very much. You’re lucky to have a son like that."

Akane stared at him, speechless.

Ranma sighed and then spoke in a more gentle voice. "Listen, I’ll be staying at this hotel." He dropped the card on the coffee table. "Here’s the number. If you change your mind, call me tonight. I’ll be catching the nine a.m. train tomorrow, so if you want to come home with me to sign the papers, fine. I’ll wait for you at the station."

He left without another word.

***

Hours after Ranma left, Akane sat alone in her apartment thinking of his visit. He does have a point. I do have a better life in Nerima…but what about the partnership? How can it be successful if I don’t trust him?

The phone rang and interrupted her thoughts. She got up and answered it.

"Hello."

"Hello, Akane. It’s me, your dear sister."

Akane recognized the voice at once. "Oh…hi, Nabiki. What’s up?"

"I think I should be the one asking that. How did Ranma’s visit go?"

"Oh…that. My answer is still no, Nabiki."

"Akane…how could you be so stupid?" Nabiki’s sweet voice suddenly turned vicious.

"Nabiki!"

"Now, listen up, Akane! Damn your pride! You know that you have a better chance here in Nerima! You may not realize this but the school can’t function without you. You need the school just as the school needs you. I’ll be damned if that school falls apart. If that happens, it’ll be your fault! You better take this partnership with Ranma or else!"

"Or else what?" Akane challenged.

"Or else I’m going to tell him your little secret!"

Akane gasped. "You wouldn’t dare! My own sister blackmailing me!"

"Oh, I would, Akane. I would!" Nabiki went on. "You’ve always talked about how Ranma treated you badly. Well, I’ve got news for you, sis. You’re no better than he is. I’m not afraid to tell him the truth. So, if I were you, I’d tell him right now that you changed your mind."

"Nabiki, that’s not fair."

"Life never is, Akane. Goodbye, little sister. I hope I’ll see you in Nerima tomorrow."

***

On the following morning, Ranma was standing alone at the train station, looking very tired. He had waited all night for Akane’s phone call, but there was nothing. He checked his watch. It was ten minutes to nine. I’ll wait for her out here until the train comes. I’ll give her one more chance.

At exactly nine o’clock, the train heading for Nerima pulled up. The passengers started to climb aboard, but Ranma stayed where he was. Five minutes passed, but there was still no sign of her.

Finally, the conductor came up to him. "Sir, we’ll be leaving now. Are you going to board the train?"

"Huh? Oh…yeah."

As he climbed up the steps, he couldn’t help but feel depressed. Well, so much for the school. I wonder what’s gonna happen now.

"Ranma!"

Ranma paused. Did someone just call me?

"Ranma!"

He turned to the direction of the voice. Suddenly, he saw a familiar woman making her way towards him. His face lit up.

"Akane!"

Quickly, Ranma stepped down to meet her. When they came up to each other face to face, he saw a tiny suitcase in hand. "Akane?"

"I changed my mind," she explained. "I’m coming with you to sign those papers."

Ranma let out a sigh of relief. "You made a wise decision."

"Yeah, but…" She gave him an awkward look. "It won’t be easy."

Ranma had to agree. The past had hurt them both, but there was nothing they can ever do to bring it back. All they could do was move on.

"I know, Akane, but we’ll pull through. Do you remember that business proposal we agreed on at Kuno’s office?"

"Yes."

"I’m still willing to go for it if you are. We’ll work together for a year; and then once we become the official owners of the dojo, we break off the partnership. Afterwards, we can do whatever we damn please. What do you say, Akane? Is that a deal?"

Akane nodded. "It’s a deal."

They sealed it with a firm handshake.

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