Growing Up Quickly
Part I
All characters and principle events are copyrighted to their respective
owners (Ms. Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty Film/Viz Communications). The
events, as depicted in this story, are copyrighted by Aaron Komar. This
story may be freely distributed, unaltered. If you wish to add to, or
borrow from, this story continuity, please contact me at arkomar@hotmail.com
before doing so.
Thanks to Bryan Neef, Chris Lehman, Gareth Larson and David Frahm for
suggestions and advice in the writing of this story.
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During Ranma’s martial cheerleading match, Akane displayed what true love
could do when the two of them worked together to defeat Mariko. When
confronted by his peers about his relationship with Akane; Ranma quickly
denied his feelings for her. After the match many of the students started
to spread rumors about their relationship. Rumors of this nature are
believed to last for 75 days.
Ranma's mother; Nodoka; visited the Tendo household a few days after Ranma‘s
match. It was revealed that Genma was allowed to take Ranma on a training
mission on one condition. If Ranma failed to return as man among men then
both father and son would be honor bound to commit Seppuku with Nodoka
acting as the mediator of wrongs by beheading the dishonored. Fearing that
his curse from Jusenkyo would break the terms of the contract, Ranma "hid"
from his mother in female guise as Ranko Tendo, a cousin who was visiting
the Tendo's for the weekend with her pet panda.
A week later, Shampoo had found a mystical brooch called the reversal jewel
that strengthened one's love or hatred depending how it was worn by the
individual. Shampoo accidentally wore it so that her hatred for Ranma was
intensified. Feeling spurned by the sudden change in Shampoo's demeanor,
Ranma did all he could to regain her affections. Cologne attempted to
manipulate the situation in order to trap Ranma in order to fulfill his
obligation to marry Shampoo. Eventually Akane came into possession of the
jewel when Mousse stole from Cologne out of jealousy. Cologne’s plans were
ruined when Akane embraced Ranma and expressed her feelings in front of
their friends and classmates. Cologne discovered that Akane was wearing the
jewel. After the jewel was removed, Akane became angered with all of the
selfish demands that Ranma was making of her after she had expressed herself
in this manner.
Our story takes place one month after Ranma's martial cheerleading match.
Rumors are still being spread after Ranma and Akane’s public display during
the match. Life is about to change rapidly for everyone…
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Chapter 1
Akane's Challenge
The day started rather quietly at Furinkan High. Lunchtime was always the
most unpredictable time of the day and today was no exception.
" So, I hear that you and Akane have been busy again Ranma."
"What do you mean by that Kyoto?"
"Well, I heard that the two of you were making out in the P.E. equipment
room again.”
"It ain't True."
"I’ve also heard that you get tired of being the man, so you change into a
girl so that she can have a chance."
" IT AIN‘T TRUE!”
"So, what's Akane like in bed? Is she violent or does she purr like a
kitten?"
"You sex-obsessed neurotics, I've told you before and I'm telling you again,
IT AIN'T TRUE!!," shouted Ranma, slamming his hands on the desktop.
Kyoto put his hand on Ranma’s shoulder trying to calm him down. "There's
nothing to get upset about. We all know how you feel about Akane."
"I'm glad that you finally understand."
"Yeah, we all saw how you expressed your love for Akane in your challenge
against Mariko."
"IT AIN'T TRUE! IT AIN'T TRUE! IT AIN'T TRUE! IT AIN'T TRUE! IT AIN'T
TRUE!.”
"Hey, the boys are talking about you again Akane," commented Atsuki.
"How can you put up with him all of the time?"
"Akane, why do you keep trying to see if he loves you?"
"What do you mean, Atsuki?," growled Akane.
"Your engagement to Ranma is such a joke. You keep trying to show him that
you love him, but he keeps using you and the engagement only when it’s
convenient for him,” retorted Kumiko.
"He’s not the only one Akane, you do the same thing to Ranma out of
retaliation. We all saw you go on a date with Ryoga at the boat rentals the
same time that Ranma and Ukyo were conveniently there," noted Atsuki.
"That has nothing to do with this Atsuki!"
"You aren’t honoring your part of the engagement Akane when you
intentionally try to hurt the other person like that,” retorted Atsuki.
“I don’t think you can find the courage to tell him truth,” countered
Kumiko.
Akane quietly ate her food ignoring the girls criticism. Akane paid little
attention as the school day continued. She found herself walking aimlessly
home staring at the ground still pondering her friends words at the end of
the day. She knew Kumiko’s challenge of her courage was untrue when she
realized that she did love Ranma shortly after Nabiki became his fiancée.
"I’ve tried showing him how I’ve felt lately but why can't I tell him? Is
it because I’m afraid that he will insult me? Or is it because I’m afraid
he’ll think it’s a joke? Or is it because I’m always in his way?”
"Hey, Akane wait up. What's wrong Akane?," asked Ranma, crouching on the
fence panel nearest to her. "Why did you leave without me?"
Akane clenched her fist hitting the fence hard. Ranma tried to rebalance
himself on the falling panel preparing to jump to a more secure panel. His
descent only quickened with a audible splash.
"WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?!?!?!”
***
Akane silently sat in her room, having skipped dinner that evening after the
events that had happened at school.
"Hey Akane, what's wrong?," asked Ranma, as he walked by her door.
"GO AWAY!!”
"C’mon tell me what's wrong?”
"Ranma, why do you think I helped you in your fight against Mariko?"
"Because you’re a macho chick who continually keeps butting into my fights."
"RANMA, YOU JERK!!,” screamed Akane, clenching her fists and hitting him as
hard as she could. Ranma dropped to his knees gasping for air.
"You idiot, I stepped because I love you," she sobbed, dropping to her
knees. "I realized that when you were engaged to Nabiki. Since then I have
tried to show you by baking the Sakura Mocchi and helping you in your fight
against Mariko. Cologne had captured Mousse and I, fearing that we would
interfere with Shampoo’s attempt to trap you with the reversal jewel.
Mousse leapt at me while we were held captive. He placed the jewel on my
lap before he untied me. I chose to wear it because I finally got a chance
to tell you how I felt about you!”
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"Because everyone at school thinks we use the engagement only when it‘s
convenient, Ranma. I want to know if you love me.”
"Ranma, do you love me," asked Akane, her crying becoming more hysterical.
"DO YOU LOVE ME?”
Ranma silently stared at the floor. Akane’s crying became more hysterical
as she waited for his answer. "I challenge you," bawled Akane.
"After all of that you want to fight me?"
"No, I challenge you to make love to me. If you love me you will accept."
"And if I refuse?”
"Then I will tell Nodoka that you are not a man among men," replied Akane.
"I will tell her how you’ve used your cursed form dishonorably."
"That‘s not fair, that‘s when I‘m trying to win a challenge."
"Are you going to accept or not?"
Akane rested her head on his shoulder waiting for an answer when Ranma
wrapped his arms around her. "I accept," he replied. She smiled before
kissing him passionately.
***
The daylight slowly crept into the room as Ranma rubbed the sleep from his
eyes. "Where am I?," when he saw Akane lying next to him with her arms
around him loosely. "Why is Akane here and why is she na…"
Ranma felt a sudden pull on the back of his head. "Where do you think you
are going," teased Akane, pulling him closer.
"I have to go training with father.”
"Let the old fool wait and stay with me for awhile," she said drawing
herself closer to him.
***
The afternoon gym class started with the boys continuing their gymnastics
unit while the girls continued their softball unit. Ranma watched Akane
while he waited for his turn.
"Just like that macho chick, she just couldn't tell me that. Like always
she had to over do it. I'm still in training, why couldn't she have waited
a little longer to tell me."
"She is kinda cute. I never thought she could be that affectionate either.
Kasumi was right, she really is a nice girl. I wonder if she is still mad
at me because I didn’t tell her…"
"SAOTOME. EARTH TO RANMA SAOTOME," interrupted the gym teacher. "It's your
turn. Start paying attention."
"Sorry."
"Yeah, we don't want to keep you from staring at Akane," shouted Kyoto.
"So what if I was," muttered Ranma loudly.
"I told you he liked her. I knew he protested too much at lunch yesterday."
"This is not the time to be discussing this,” shouted the teacher. “Do it
after school. Saotome, it's your turn."
"Yes sir.”
***
Ranma and Akane silently went to their rooms and got to work on their
schoolwork when they got home. Both ate their meals quietly when dinner
came, leaving the table separately when they finished.
Akane sat quietly at her desk when Ranma knocked on her door. "Hey Akane,
I…um… need to talk to you about last night."
"What about last night?," she growled.
"Not here," replied Ranma, motioning towards Nabiki's room. "Meet me in the
dojo in 5 minutes."
***
Ranma patted the floor by the doorway that led out into the garden, as Akane
walked into the dojo. He put his arm around her drawing her close so she
was resting her head on his shoulder.
"Akane, I’ve realized that I … um … c…c…cared about you when Ryoga
challenged me with the Shishihokodan. I’ve been trained to hide my feelings
so they wouldn't be exploited by an opponent. I'm…sorry that I didn't tell
you sooner. "
"I'm…sorry, too. I’ve always hid my feelings since my mother died out of
fear that I'd lose someone I loved again."
"An opening," declared Ranma, kissing her passionately on the lips.
"Pervert," she declared jokingly, pushing him away. "Tomboy," he teased,
before continuing hteir passionate moment.
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Chapter 2
Consequences
A few weeks had passed, when Ranma ran through the front door. "I'm ho…,"
stopped Ranma, noticing Kasumi standing in the doorway with her arms
crossed.
"Ranma, we need to talk. Please follow me."
Ranma nervously followed her to Akane's room. "I had to take Akane to the
doctor's today," started Kasumi. "They did some tests and…"
"Ranma, I'm pregnant," interrupted Akane.
"Anyway, Akane told me what happened three weeks ago after we left the
doctor's office. I understand how you both feel, but you both need to find
a more appropriate way to express yourselves. You both cannot act so
impulsively. Both of you are going to have much to discuss about this
matter. Now I am going to finish making dinner. If you need to talk to me,
remember all you need to do is ask."
"This is all your fault," they shouted simultaneously, after Kasumi had
left.
"This isn’t my fault. You were the one who issued the challenge," accused
Ranma.
"This wouldn't have happened if you had refused the challenge," countered
Akane, reaching for her boken, abruptly cupping her hands in her lap. "I'm…
sorry, I thought this was the only way I could get you to show me that you
loved me."
"So who else knows?”
"Only Kasumi, myself and you. I've already told Kasumi that I'm going to
have the baby."
"WHAT?!?!? If you have the baby before we’re married it will bring dishonor
to both of us."
"I know that, but it would be just as dishonorable to run away from this
responsibility. To get rid of the baby would not change what happened three
weeks ago and I would be using another person to meet my selfish needs. I
won’t do it because I’m tired of being used by others. I see no dishonor in
taking this responsibility."
"So what are we going to do?”
“Why don‘t we ask Kasumi for help after dinner?”
"Okay."
***
"Have you decided what you are going to do?," inquired Kasumi, after she had
finished cleaning up from dinner.
"We need help deciding on what to do next," replied Akane.
"I know how important personal honor is to both of you. So, you should move
the wedding up as soon as you can to salvage some of your honor before
announcing the pregnancy. The wedding should be in two weeks at the
earliest but no later than a month. You both know that you are to clear up
all outstanding relationships before then."
"Who should we tell first?"
Everyone sat quietly for a long time contemplating that question. "I think
we should tell Ryoga as soon as possible," muttered Ranma.
"Why should we tell Ryoga?," asked Akane.
"I…just think it would be a good idea," responded Ranma shyly.
“This is going to be difficult. I think that you should talk to Nodoka
before telling anyone else."
"ARE YOU NUTS!?!?!?," shouted Ranma
"She will give you the chance to explain the situation without attacking you
for no reason," countered Kasumi. "She can also give you advice that I
can‘t."
"Such as?," inquired Ranma.
"Let‘s just say she can give you parental advice that I can‘t. You think
Nodoka is blissfully unaware but she is a very honorable person…and very
dangerous if angered," concluded Kasumi.
"No kidding," shuddered Ranma.
"So, it's agreed upon, we talk to Nodoka first," stated Akane.
"I will call her tomorrow and arrange for a time for you to meet with her,"
said Kasumi. “It would be best for the two of you to get started on your
schoolwork now. That way you can get some sleep so you can be to school on
time for once.”
***
"I've never seen you so shocked before," teased Akane, as she and Ranma were
walking home from school the next day. "Are you okay? You haven‘t said a
word since we left school."
"What the …um…teacher was talking about ….um… in class today, I …um… did
that to you?," stuttered Ranma, twiddling his fingers nervously.
"What did you think we were doing?," giggled Akane.
"This is the first time that I’ve learned about this. Why are you laughing
at me?”
“You seriously didn't know any of that did you?"
"We never talked about it at any of my old schools because pop was always
focused on my training."
"You would only learn that from him if it would improve your martial arts.”
Ranma remained motionless, his face still flushed red with embarrassment.
"I'm not making fun of you, I just think this is cute. C'mon, let's go
home," said Akane grabbing his hand and kissing him on the cheek.
As they continued walking, they passed Nabiki talking with Kuno. They
barely noticed her handing Kuno something. He furiously unsheathed his
katana and charged towards the couple. Nabiki felt a warm wetness on her
cheek as she watched Kuno run towards them.
"SAOTOME, PREPARE YOURSELF!!"
"Hey Kuno, what's up," asked Ranma, dodging Kuno's downward slash.
"Silence defiler of women. First, you defile my pig-tailed goddess and now
Akane Tendo," retorted Kuno, slashing wildly to his right.
Ranma ducked quickly, hitting Kuno in the abdomen with the kachuu tenshin
amagurikin. Ranma grabbed Kuno by his shirt as he dropped to his knees
gasping for air.
"What's this all about Kuno?"
"How could you defile Akane in this manner," demanded Kuno, tears streaming
down his face as he handed Ranma 5 pictures.
“You are so excitable Kuno baby. Why can’t…”
"NABIKI, YOU BITCH!!," screamed Akane, slapping her in the face.
***
“I talked to Nodoka while you were at school today.” stated Kasumi. Ranma
and Akane sat silently without responding. “She invited you over tomorrow
morning.”
Everyone glanced suddenly at the door way when the saw Nabiki enter and bow
remorsefully. “Akane I’m…sorry about what happened earlier. I sold Kuno
the pictures hoping that he would finally accept the truth and leave you
alone. I didn‘t expect him to draw a katana and attack you in this manner.
I destroyed the negatives when I returned home. I'm sorry, I thought I was
helping you settle your affairs when all I did was make them worse.”
“I’m sorry I hit you Nabiki. Our relationship is no longer anyone’s
business. I would appreciate it if you did not share it with everyone.”
“Because of the problems I have caused, I would like the opportunity to
atone for my actions by buying what you need for the baby. It is only fair
that the money earned from hurting you should be used to help you."
“I’ll believe that when I see it. By the way, what happened to your
cheek?,” asked Ranma.
“Selling the pictures was always a fun way to tease the two of you. I got
this cut when Kuno unsheathed his katana. It is a reminder that your
relationship is no longer a joke. Therefore, I think it would be best if
you and Ranma invited who you wanted to attend the wedding. I'm afraid if I
invited anyone it would ruin your wedding," replied Nabiki contritely.
“Well now that this has been solved, I could use some help fixing dinner,”
stated Kasumi.
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