The Insanity Continues

Volume 3 - Anything Goes Martial Arts Dance Contest

Chapter 1 - Grabbing Your Dream Date

Characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Video, ect..., and are 
used without permission. I'm only borrowing them. I'll return them. I 
can't afford the overdue change Nabiki insists on.

This series deals with a married Ranma and Akane, so some sexual 
references and innuendoes will occur.

-----------------------------
Akane's Diary Entry, Monday January 17th.

Hello Diary,

	Today Ranma did something I never expected him to do. He got me a 
white rose and some chocolate for our one week wedding anniversary. To 
say I was shocked at Ranma doing something so sweet is an understatement. 
He instantly got defensive when I asked what he did with my husband, so 
I know it was really him.

	Sorry I didn't write yesterday, it was kind of hectic as Ryoga, 
Akari, Dad, and Ranma's parent were here. Auntie Saotome insisted on 
giving me a cooking lesson. A lesson I wasn't allowed to help with. How 
am I suppose to learn how to cook if I don't practice?

	I'm worried about school tomorrow as Principal Kuno announced he 
has a surprise for us students that we'll just love, which means we're 
going to hate it with a passion. This is just another thing to add to my 
problems there. Ranma and I are still having trouble with some students 
slandering us about me getting pregnant before the wedding. I bet the 
guys doing it are the same ones who kept asking Ranma what I was like in 
bed.

	Still haven't patched things up with Ukyou. I can tell Ukyou is 
feeling guilty about telling the school I'm pregnant. Ranma doesn't want 
to forgive her just yet. He considered Ukyou his best friend and this 
was her third big betrayal. The first was participating in the 
destruction of his mother's house, and the second was when she attacked 
him at the failed wedding attempt. 

	Ranma would've forgiven Ukyou already if she attacked us, but she 
told everyone about one of his secrets instead. Part of the fondation of 
thier relations was that he trusted her enough to tell her his intermost 
secrets, some of those secrets he hasn't even told me. When she went and 
told everyone I was pregnant, which he didn't want anyone to know about, 
Ukyou broke that fondation.

	Ryoga and Akari have moved into Ryoga's house. I saw her drop a 
couple hints that she wants to get married when they were here 
yesterday, but I doubt Ryoga noticed. Of all my friends, I'd only 
encourage these two to get married. Akari would have the same problems 
if she got pregnant now as she would later. All my other friends are in 
school and would end up with a lot of problems if they got pregnant.

	Dad and Ranma's parents went back to Auntie's house last night, so 
it's just me, Ranma, Nabiki, Kasumi, and Mousse here at my home, again.

	I thought the past year and a half was an emotional roller coaster, 
but it has nothing over the past ten days. I'm only now truly adjusting 
to some of the changes. I actually answered to Saotome today. Diary, as 
insane as my life has been so far, I'm sure I'm in for more surprises 
and insanity.

-------------------------------

The second and third year students of Furinkan High were assembled in 
the auditorium. Ranma yawned as he waited for Principal Kuno to announce 
his surprise. Akane sat next to Ranma, ready to wake him if he fell 
asleep. Most of the other students were worried about the announcement.

"Good morning, Furinkan High," Principal Kuno greeted in English. He 
then said in Japanese, "I have wonderful news for you. Now that Ranma 
has settled down, I can hold an event which you'll all love without fear 
of him and his 'friends' ruining it."

Ranma started to pay a little attention as he was being singled out.

"It is now my pleasure to announce that on January Twenty-ninth, 
Furinkan High will host it's first junior/senior prom."

The students were amazed, stupefied, and generally shocked. Principal 
Kuno was actually doing something they would like.

"Part of the prom will be a dance contest. It will factor into your 
physical education grade."

Some students became upset at this.

"To insure that nothing will ruin the prom. If you are involved in a 
fight at anytime during the prom, you will be disqualify from the dance 
contest and will cause you to have a failing grade for this physical 
education assignment."

Some students were happy with this. Some were upset at the possible lack 
of entertainment. Some were scared they wouldn't get a date.

Ranma and Akane became worried, as neither of them had received less 
than an A in gym, and Principal Kuno had functionally written an F down 
for this assignment. They knew there would be a fight and they would end 
up being part of it. Not to mention they didn't know how to dance.

Ukyou didn't know what to make of it. She no longer had someone she 
would want to take to the dance. Who would she go with?

Nabiki looked at Kuno, who was smiling. It didn't take a psychic to know 
what was going through his mind. He would ask her to the prom. After her 
date, Nabiki wasn't absolutely sure she wanted to go out with him again, 
maybe she could use the prom to her advantage.

-------------------------------

The students filed out of the auditorium. All had the prom on their 
mind. More precisely, thinking of who they would go with to the prom.

Hiroshi knew who he wanted to ask. The problem was, at least two dozen 
other students wanted to ask her out too. If he was going to ask her, 
now was the time. "Ukyou!" he shouted.

"Yes?" Ukyou replied. Lost in thought, she wondered what he wanted.

Hiroshi gathered up his courage and spit out his question, "I was 
wondering ifyouwouldgowithmetotheprom?" 

Ukyou blinked. She remembered him being at her restaurant numerous 
times, he was one of Ranma's friends, and he seemed, to her, a nice 
enough guy. Most importantly to her, he didn't wear dresses. "Why not?" 
Ukyou shrugged. "Sure, I'll go to the prom with you."

Hiroshi almost fainted. "That's great! I'll stop by your restaurant 
right after school... to talk."

"Well, it's currently closed, but I guess it wouldn't hurt. See you 
then," Ukyou turned and walked back towards class.

Hiroshi stood there, not believing he not only got a date with her, but 
got a date with her to the prom. The five guys behind him weren't happy. 
They would've promptly beat him to a bloody smear, if they didn't know 
Ranma and Akane were standing behind them.

-------------------------------

It was now lunch, and the cafeteria was extremely noisy as people talked 
about the upcoming prom. The room was packed, as it was raining, and 
friends from different classes wanted to talk to each other.

"Hi," Akane greeted warmly as she sat down next to Sayuri and Yuka.

"Hello, Saotome-chan." Yuka greeted her friendly.

"Hi. I thought you would be eating with your husband," Sayuri said.

"Well, we thought we could use a little time apart. It seems we haven't 
been more than ten feet apart for over a week now."

"You still aren't." Yuka pointed behind Akane. Ranma was sitting with 
Hiroshi and Daisuke two tables down, about seven feet away.

Akane shook her head. "See what I mean? Anyway, what are you two doing 
for the prom?"

"Don't know. No one asked us yet," replied Yuka.

"You're lucky. You know who you're going with," Sayuri said.

"Yeah, but my gym grade is going to take a beating from it," Akane 
replied.

"How so? You and Ranma stand a pretty good chance of winning," Sayuri 
said.

"I have little doubt we could do well in the contest. It's the rule 
against fighting which will be the problem. Somehow, some way, there 
will be a fight, and we will probably be part of it," Akane answered.

"How can there be a fight now?" Yuka asked. "Most fights were over one 
of Ranma's fiancees or between Ranma and you. Now that he married you, 
there shouldn't be a fight." 

"Maybe, but knowing how things happen with Ranma, something will happen 
at the prom, probably a fight, given the rule."

Sayuri and Yuka thought for a moment, and could only nod to Akane's 
assessment.

"Now Yuka, why do you keep on calling me Saotome-chan?" Akane asked.

"It is your name," Yuka replied.

"That, and she's jealous you're married. Quite frankly, so am I," Sayuri 
added.

"You don't really want to be in my shoes."

"Not your shoes. We don't want your interesting life. We just wish we 
had someone who loves us and wants to marry us," Sayuri corrected.

"You saw all I've had to put up with to get this far, and it's not done 
yet. I've had to compete with several woman for his love, and in 
winning, I got pregnant."

"More reason to be jealous," Yuka said. "I'd love to have a child."

"I'm sure you could find a lot of guys willing to get you pregnant. Of 
course, they'd be long gone once you are," Akane smirked. "Besides, 
would you really want to have a child while still in school? I'm not 
sure if I'll finish school now. I'm due a couple weeks after summer 
break." 

Akane leveled her gaze at her friends. "You should be grateful you have 
years remaining of being childish, and having few responsibilities. I 
can no longer do things like I used to, as I have a husband and a baby 
to think of first. I can no longer just go out and do the things as I 
want. I can't even play certain sports now."

"Well, maybe we are better to wait, but we still want love and 
children," Yuka said.

"You may want children, I just want love," Sayuri corrected. "Anyway, 
who do you think will be going out with whom?"

"Let's see," Akane began. "Hiroshi already asked Ukyou."

"Hiroshi and Ukyou?" Yuka snickered. "There's a one time date. Who do 
you think will take your sister."

"Can't say," Akane replied.

"Can't because you don't know or because Nabiki won't let you?" Sayuri 
asked.

"Nabiki won't let me."

"Come on. You can tell us," Yuka pleaded.

"Not a chance. Nabiki is not above petty revenge for something like 
that."

-------------------------------

Nabiki sat in the corner of the cafeteria, otherwise known as Nabiki's 
rainy day office. She already had several requests for her to find dates 
for the prom. This was proving to be a great day for doing business. She 
wasn't surprised to see her next customer.

"H-hello Nabiki," Gosunkugi greeted.

"Hello. I assume you're here in concern of finding you a date for the 
prom?"

"H-hai."

"Fifteen hundred yen, and I'll see what I can do. There may be an 
additional charge for costs."

Gosunkugi sighed.  He pulled out and 
handed Nabiki the money. He then walked away.

 Nabiki pocketed the money.

"I shall have words with you," Kuno said as he approached Nabiki.

"Shall we discuss this business after school? Say about five?" Nabiki 
asked.

Kuno raised an eyebrow to Nabiki's questions.  "Why not discuss this here and now?"

Nabiki noted his tone did not suggest he was about to ask her out. 
"Kuno-chan, I'd like to talk about certain things which would be better 
if we talked somewhere else. Besides, I want an excuse to not be home 
tonight, since Akane is cooking again."

"Very well. I shall pick you up at five then."

-------------------------------

Ranma joined Hiroshi and Daisuke at the lunch table. He set his lunch 
and a cup of water a fair distance from himself. "Hi guys."

"Hi," Hiroshi and Daisuke returned.

"How come you aren't eating with Akane?" Hiroshi asked.

"She thought it'd be nice to talk to our friends." Ranma looked at his 
lunch. "Besides, I don't think she wants to see me while I try to eat 
the lunch she made. We've been avoiding fighting since the wedding, and 
she doesn't want any reasons to start one."

"Ranma and Akane not fighting? Isn't that a sign of the apocalypse?" 
Daisuke joked.

"How bad is it this time?" Hiroshi asked.

"Don't know. She made it while I was training Mousse." Ranma sighed as 
he opened the bento box.

"Rice with gray sauce and... green peppers... I think?" Daisuke 
observed.

Ranma nervously took a bite. His eyes bulged. He grabbed the cup and 
downed the water quickly. His mouth burned even hotter now than before 
he drank the water.

"Spicy?" Hiroshi asked.

Ranma nodded.

Hiroshi took a slice of bread of his sandwich and handed it to Ranma. 
"This will work better."

Ranma grabbed the bread and took a bite. The sensation of heat dying 
down as he chewed. "Thanks."

"No problem. By the way, those aren't green peppers, they're jalapeno 
peppers."

"I knew that. It's the gray sauce that's really, really spicy," Ranma 
corrected. "It's not really bad. But I might be able to learn to breath 
fire with this stuff." He started to eat, alternating bites between his 
lunch and the slice of bread. "So, who are you going to the prom with?" 
Ranma asked Daisuke.

"I'm hoping to ask Shampoo," Daisuke replied.

"Heh, good luck. I doubt she'd go to the prom unless her date has 
defeated her," Ranma said.

"You don't think she'd go on a date?" Daisuke asked.

"On a date, maybe, but to the prom knowing I'm there, not a chance. She 
doesn't want to see me anytime soon. I really suggest you ask someone 
else." 

"I don't know then, maybe Sayuri," Daisuke said.

"She'd be a much better choice. Actually, she's a pretty good choice, 
period," Ranma said.

"What's with the sudden girl advice? You've never really commented on 
girls before," Hiroshi asked.

"Before, if Akane heard me make a comment about a girl, she'd hit me. 
Now, I can give comments because Akane knows exactly how I feel about 
her. She knows there's no reason to be jealous."

"Did you tell her what your 'insults' really mean?" Daisuke asked.

"Yep," Ranma nodded. "She now calls some of my 'insults', flattery."

"And the others?" Daisuke asked.

"Would still hurt her. I may be pointing a weakness for her to correct, 
but she doesn't want to hear them. I've been avoiding saying those."

"Any suggests for my date with Ukyou?" Hiroshi asked.

"I'd rather not talk about her," Ranma replied.

"How long are you going to hold this grudge? Ukyou is your best friend. 
Sure, she betrayed you, but you betrayed her worse. Even if you didn't 
have a choice in doing so. Is it really bad the school knows Akane was 
pregnant before the wedding and that you knew about it?" Hiroshi asked.

"If she didn't, we could've said she got pregnant on the wedding night. 
No one would be able to know the difference."

"But almost everyone suspected she was pregnant. Sure, it would've been 
hard to prove. But to get you married, there had to be more than just 
you finally admitting you love her, or even you having sex with her. 
Besides, Nabiki would have come up with some way of letting us know when 
Akane got pregnant, as she had set up a betting pool."

"Why am I not surprised?" Ranma asked himself.

-------------------------------

The final bell had rung, and school was over. Ranma was talking to 
Hiroshi and Daisuke, while Akane was talking to Sayuri.

"Now's the time to ask her," Hiroshi said.

"I don't know. Maybe I should ask Shampoo first," Daisuke replied.

"You saw Kenshiro after lunch. He went to go ask her and now he's 
bruised and limping," Ranma said.

"I don't know. She's busy talking anyway."

"That's easily fixed." Ranma turned towards Akane and Sayuri. "Yo, 
Akane! Can I see you for a second?"

Akane sighed. "I'll see what he wants. Be right back." She walked over. 
"So, what is it, Ranma?"

"We're trying to build up Daisuke's courage to ask Sayuri to the prom," 
Ranma answered barely above a whisper.

"Oh!" Akane smiled. "Just go over and ask her. I know she'll say yes."

"Really?" Daisuke asked.

"I'm certain."

Daisuke gulped. "All right. Here goes nothing."

Ranma, Akane, and Hiroshi faked a conversation while keeping an eye on 
Daisuke.

"Hi, Sayuri," Daisuke greeted nervously.

"Hi," Sayuri returned. She became nervous, seeing as he was nervous.

"I was wondering... if you would... go with me... to the... prom?"

"Yes... I'd like that." Sayuri smiled innocently and blushed.

"Great."

"Yeah."

They remained silent for several minutes.

"Mind if I walk you home?" Daisuke asked.

"That'd be fine." Sayuri turned to see Akane, Ranma, and Hiroshi had 
been watching. She blushed deeply. "Eh, I'm going home now. I'll see you 
tomorrow, Akane."

"See you then."

"Bye," Daisuke said, which everyone returned in kind.

"I guess I should go talk to my dear, sweet Ucchan now," Hiroshi said 
smiling.

"Call her that, and you'll know how it feels to be hit upside the head 
with her combat spatula," Akane informed. 

"Good safety tip. Thanks." Hiroshi ran out of the classroom.

Ranma put his arm around Akane and they left as well.

"Now I have to find a date. Any suggestions?" Ranma asked.

"Rrrraanma," Akane growled.

"Just joking. How about we go to a dance club to learn how to dance?" 
Ranma asked.

"And how is that going to help us?"

"Simple, we watch others dance and copy their moves. Just think of it as 
watching a martial artist performing a kata and repeat what they do."

"Might work." Akane shrugged. "How about we go Saturday night?"

"I guess. At least we know there'll be some good dancers there."

When they made it outside, they noticed Yuka was just standing there 
with a blank expression on her face.

"Hey, Yuka? Are you all right?" Akane asked.

Yuka nodded.

"I thought you were going home. Why are you still here?"

"Hiro asked me to the prom."

"Hiro? The captain of the soccer team?"

Yuka nodded.

"That's great. You did say yes?"

Yuka nodded.

Akane smiled. "Well, you should hurry home now. You know how your mother 
worries about you."

Yuka nodded and started to walk. She moved to a jog by the time she was 
at the gate. A moment later Ranma and Akane heard Yuka shout for joy 
about a block away.

"She should make it home in record time," Akane commented.

-------------------------------

Ms. Hinako, in her adult form, knocked at the door of the Saotome-Tendo 
home. She appeared to be nervous.

"Hello," Kasumi greeted as she opened the door.

"Hello, Kasumi. I'd like to speak with your father," Ms. Hinako said.

"I'm sorry, but he has sort of moved to the Saotome residence currently. 
I can give him a message if you wish?"

Ms. Hinako became disappointed. "Tell your father, Furinkan High would 
like to know if he would chaperon the school's prom on January 
Twenty-ninth."

"I'm sure he would be glad to help."

"Can we be sure of his help?" Ms. Hinako asked, her voice surprisingly 
pleading.

"I'm pretty sure he'd help."

"Thank you," Ms. Hinako smiled.

Kasumi shut the door. She then went over to the phone and dialed.

"Hello?" Nodoka answered the phone.

"Hi, Auntie. I'd like to talk to Father," Kasumi said.

"Certainly."

"Hello," Soun greeted his daughter.

"Hi, Daddy. The school wants you to chaperon their prom."

"Um, I have plans for that night."

"Oh, you have prior plans? But I haven't told you when it is."

"When is it?"

"January Twenty-ninth."

"Yep. Definitely have plans for that night."

"But I told them you'd help."

"I'm sorry, but I can't break them. Why don't you chaperon the event?"

"Me? Well, I guess I'd could go in your place. But they asked for you."

"As I said, 'I've got plans.' You can go and have fun."

"All right, Father, if you insist. Bye." Kasumi hung up the phone. "My, 
Father is busy all of the sudden."

"Bye," Soun said, hanging up the phone.

"You're as bad as my husband," Nodoka commented.

-------------------------------

Ms. Hinako was smiling since she left the Saotome-Tendo residence. 
Suddenly the chi she had absorbed from some delinquents dissipated, 
returning her to her child from. She then shouted for joy, doing cart 
wheels.

-------------------------------

Dr. Tofu was greeted by a rambunctious, chibi-Ms. Hinako as he entered 
his waiting room. "May I help you?" he asked.

"Ah, yes, doctor," Ms. Hinako said. "Furinkan High wants to know if you 
would chaperon the school's prom on January Twenty-ninth?"

Dr. Tofu thought a second about it. It would mean he couldn't go out 
with Kasumi that Saturday night, but he could still go out the night 
before. "I'd be glad to help."

"Thanks, doc." Ms. Hinako skipped out of the clinic. 

 he thought bitterly, shaking his head. He then 
sighed. 

-------------------------------

Kasumi knocked on Nabiki's door. 

"Who is it?" Nabiki called.

"Kodachi is on the phone for you," Kasumi replied.

Nabiki got up and left her room to get to the phone. She took with her a 
file. Picking up the phone, she said, "Hello, Kodachi."

"Greetings, Nabiki," Kodachi said from the other end of the line. "I 
want you to find me a date for your school's prom."

"May have to ignore your primary criteria, as you'll need to date 
someone from the school."

"You will not! Also, I don't want anyone as womanizing as that Mikado 
guy. He may have been a good kisser, but he wanted to take more 
liberties with me than just my lips. I had to reprimand him. He won't be 
available for dating for some time."

Nabiki grumbled, "Some one who has fought Ranma... preferably has beaten 
him... Ah! We do have one person who matches your primary criteria, he 
has even beaten Ranma once. And he definitely won't attempt to take any 
liberties from you."

"Good. Who is it?"

"His name is Hikaru."

"I don't think I've heard of him. Oh well, if he's defeated Ranma, he 
should be good enough. I shall talk with you later." Kodachi hung up.

Nabiki grinned. She checked off Gosunkugi Hikaru from her list. 

-------------------------------

Kuno sat with Nabiki at the Neko-Hanten eating dinner. Kuno was paying, 
of course. He was showing signs of nervousness.

"All right, Kuno-chan. What did you want to ask me at lunch?" Nabiki 
asked, her cold mask of indifference in place.

"I wish to have all the information you have on that demon... Pantyhose, 
you called it?" Kuno asked, his nervousness disappeared with Nabiki's 
question.

"Listen to me this time. Pantyhose Tarou is as human as our waitress. He 
has trained in martial arts from a very young age and is capable of 
regularly defeating Ranma when he's in his human form. In his Jusenkyo 
curse form, he is even stronger and it took several martial artist, each 
of them better than you, to defeat him. He is quite capable of killing 
you. He might not even care if he killed you. My advice to you as your 
business advisor and as a friend, avoid him."

"I can't sit idly by as the demon roams free."

"Kuno-chan. At the wedding, a sword appeared in your hand when the demon 
showed up. Is that the only means of getting it?"

"Yes."

"If Pantyhose was a demon, would not the sword have appeared?"

"It would."

"But it didn't. He's not a demon."

"He may not be a true demon. But from what I've seen, and your 
description, tells me his soul may be as tainted of one of the foulest 
ones, like he who has taken over your home."

Nabiki shook her head. "Kuno-chan, please listen to me. You don't want 
to fight him. Ranma wipes the floor with you in all your fights. So, 
what chance would you have against the person who can defeat him? Please 
avoid him. If you value your own life, avoid him."

"You are concerned for me?"

"I don't want to see you dead, and if you follow this pointless pursuit, 
you will be."

"For you Nabiki, I shall forgo my pursuit of him. I hope I never have 
reason to regret my choice."

"Good." 

"Now Nabiki, I have another question for you. I ask that I may grace you 
with my company at the forthcoming dance my father is so graciously 
holding?"

"One condition Kuno-chan, whenever I want to tell you something, you 
will listen to me."

"I shall adhere to that condition as you oft bring me sagely advice."

"Excellent." Nabiki's emotionless masked finally slipped as she smiled.

"I hear you procured a date for my sibling so that she may also attend 
the festivities."

"Yes. It's rather hard finding her a date, though, given that her 
primary criteria is someone who has fought Ranma, and preferably beat 
him."

"Such is a hard task, for few have the might that I yield so as to face 
the vile deceiver. But I ask, who is this man you have found for my 
sister?"

"Promise not to tell her what you know of him."

"Why should withhold knowledge to my own flesh and blood?"

"Well, I want her to see her primary criteria isn't very good. While her 
date meets it, he shall fall far short of her expectations."

"I shall agree, unless I feel he may hurt my sister."

"Her date is Gosunkugi Hikaru."

Kuno laughed. "I feel my sister would do well to hold on to him. She 
could learn many things from him."

-------------------------------

Author's notes:

Japanese Junior and Senior High Schools are both three year institutions. 
Not two and four respective as it is in most of the United States.

Japanese schools have two main breaks which are about one month each. 
March to April for end of school year and start of next, and July to 
August for a summer break. (If this is wrong or if you can give me more 
exact information please, tell me.) I suspect there is a winter break 
that would go at least from two weeks before the end of the year to 
January third, due to how the Japanese celebrate New Years (this break 
may be longer or shorter).

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