Ranma 1/2 is the property of the wonderful Rumiko Takahashi. All rights reserved.

*****Ranma Romance*****
*Tatewaki's True Love*

I will always think of him as Ranko. Or Ranma-chan. It does not matter, they are one and the same. A red-haired, pony-tailed angel. While I love him in either form, I loved his girl form first. I play dumb. I don’t let on.

But I really love that cretin, Saotome Ranma.

People would think ill of me if they knew. But could any mortal truely resist him? Or her. She is an unparalleled goddess, he is an omnipotent god. Fine in form, and with a spirit like fire. I envy him as much as I love him.

I know everyone thinks I am a fool for supposedly not knowing. But it is I that is making a fool of them. It is they who keep their feelings so hidden, so cleaverly hidden. But I see it in the eyes of the girls when otoko-Ranma walks by. I see it in they eyes of the boys when onna-Ranma walks by. They love him well. They love her well. But I love him better.

What of Tendou Akane, you may ask? While just as beautiful and elegant as osage no onna, she somehow can't compare to the pig-tailed one. My love for her is unchanged, but it has been surpassed. I don't let on, as to not let on that my first...my second love is ended.

That brings me to Tendou Nabiki. My first love. We harbor secret feelings for eachother. I have seen in her eyes many times reflecting the emotions I feel for her. Her cunning mind, her supple body. The flash of victory in her eyes when she gets more and more yen.

Maybe I am truely no better than the others who worship Ranma, then. But I do prefer Ranma anyhow.

Ah, the lovely onna-Ranma, the strong otoko-Ranma. I don't generally have leanings for those of my own gender, but with his strength and speed...I vow to best him before I confess my love, as to prove myself worthy. Maybe he will understand, maybe he will love me back...Or maybe not. He cares for my darling Tendou Akane.

His love for Akane proves yet another problem. If both of my true loves are to marry, then what ever shall I do? I cannot defeat either of them. I don't understand why. I used to think I was much more skilled than that. But looking into their eyes...I cannot bare to hurt either of them.

Being as it is late, I shall retire till the morrow, then I shall think on this some more. Oh, how my heart aches.

***

The next day at school, I see my two greatest loves in an argument. I sigh inwardly. If I were to be completely honest with myself, if I was not able to have either of them, I would prefer that they were with eachother more than anyone else. But they fight off their affections for eachother more than they fight my affection.

I put on my angry face and whip my bokken out. I get ready for my next act. All my life in an act these days. "Saotome you cretin! What have you done to the precious Tendou Akane now?!" The acting classes I had taken helped wonders. But I still didn't feel any better about it.

"Aw, man! Kunou!" Ranma groans. A smile almost tugs at my lips. "I don't have time for this!" I jump at him, sword above my head for a downward strike. I know he will easily defeat me, as he always does. Looking into those two blue pools that are his eyes, I will him to win. "Okay, you asked for it!"

It seems Ranma is already been in a bad mood. Akane growls, disgusted. She turns around and storms off. I watch her momentarily, the gental sway of her hips as she walks in an effortless, graceful, and unconscious dance.

"What have you done to disgrace the fair and lovely Akane this time, you cad?!" I holler. I yell to distract myself. Drooling at school, even over Akane-kun, was not a good thing.

"Kunou, I don't know what the hell your problem is. Why do you bother us every morning?" We fight on. He dodges my carefully placed strikes, carefully placed as not to harm him. He throws a punch and knocks me into the wall. I decide to play dead. It works.

"Oh, shit. Kunou?" Ranma actually sounds worried. I let him carry me to the nurses office. I love the feel of his strong arms around me. I play sick in the nurses office while Tendou Nabiki talks to my still form and mops my forehead. This is fun every time.

***

At lunch, I eat alone. I don't much feel like being social at the moment. I hear a noise and look up. I am mildly surprised at the sight that greets my eyes, but I don't let the surprise show. Akane is pushing Ranma in my direction, yelling at him. Something about apologizing.

I play dumb again. Goody. This is fun.

"Ah, here to launch a surprise attack against me!" I say, addressing Ranma. I get out my bokken and wield it in a menacing manner. "Come no further!"

"Ku...Kunou," Akane gasps out. The effort it is taking to push Ranma along iss apparently winding her. "R...Ranma has something he want's to say to you."

Ranma mutters something under his breath, something along the lines of, 'Its *you* that wants me to say it.' Akane elbows him, bumping him closer to me.

"Kunou-sempai...I'm sorry for hurting you so bad earlier," he mumbles, seeming very interested in the ground. "Hmmph. Apology accepted," I say. I sigh, too quite to hear, mearly an exhalation of breath. This is the part that I really hate. "Will you now release to me the pig-tailed girl and Tendou Akane?"

Ranma's interest in the ground suddenly vanishes. He looks up and glares. "Dammit, Kunou! I came here to say I was sorry and all you can do is be a jerk! Well, I've had enough! You won't get an apology for this one!" he says and hits me so hard that this time I don't have to pretend to blank out.

***

I wake up looking into Nabiki's worried eyes. As soon as she sees I am awake, she wipes the look off her face and acts like she isn't doing anything.

"Kunou-chan, you've really gotta work on your technique," she says.

I know, Nabiki-chan. I know.

Authors Notes:
I used to think I hated Kunou's character, but after writting (and rewritting ^_^;;) this story, I realized I'm actually fond of the little bugger. I wonder what honestly goes through his mind. No one could really be that dense...Could they?

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