Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ Herbie's Drive Through Nerma ❯ Confessions of a Teenage Martial Artist, trouble before the challange ( Chapter 9 )

I forgot to mention that Soap and Shower are of my creations and that they're twin middle aged Amazons with short hair and an outfit similar to Mousse, but Soap wears the white one while Shower wears a black one (Yin and Yang, get it?)

Also, one other thing: The Herbie in this fic looks like the Herbie from "Herbie Goes Bananas."

*************************************************************** *********

Two weeks. That's what Cologne gave Ranma, Akane, and Herbie. With that challenge that Cologne made, all three had two weeks to practice racing and if they win, Shampoo and the Amazons will leave them alone. However, if they were to loose, then Ranma must abandon all engagements and go with Shampoo. Needless to say, Soun didn't take it well.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! MY DAUGHTER MUST PARTICIPATE IN A DANGERIOUS RACE!"

Ok, he just didn't take it period. A few days after that outburst, at the table eating were the usual crew, minus Genma for obvious reasons, and Mousse was there too, because he felt like it wasn't right to stay with the Amazons right now.

"Soun, calm down." Nodoka said. "I'm sure Ranma and Herbie will do their best to keep her safe."

"Not a problem Mr. Tendo." Ranma said. "Uh… not that I care or anything." Ranma said trying to cover it up.

"Oh? So you don't care what happens to me, huh Ranma?" Akane said sounding a bit angry.

"No… I mean… yes… I mean, uh…" Ranma was trying to say something, when Nabiki interrupted.

"Oh, I forgot to pick up my manga in all this mess." Nabiki said. "Would you guys do it for me?"

"Not a problem." Akane said. Nabiki and Mousse smiled.

"What are you two up to?" Ranma suspiciously asked.

"Huh?" Mousse asked. "Nothing Saotomae."

"Quit being paranoid of Mousse, Ranma." Nabiki said in defense of her friend.

"You kinda can't help it when he's been tryin' to kill ya since he arrived." Ranma stated, but already, Mousse and Nabiki were thinking about their plan.

FLASHBACK

While Ranma and Akane were doing their daily training in the dojo, and letting out stress about the newest challenge they had to face, Nabiki, Mousse, and Herbie were gathered around each other and talking.

"This is bad." Mousse stated.

"They've been in plenty of challenges before." Nabiki said. "They always come out on top."

(Have they ever been in an auto race?) Herbie beeped.

"Go-karts." Nabiki stated.

(Its similar, but not the same.) Herbie beeped. (The speed isn't as controlled as they are in a go-kart track. You have other drivers, your own car, and the track itself to worry about.)

"You haven't seen us in our last Go-Kart race have you?" Mousse asked.

(Don't tell me…) Herbie beeped.

"Yep." Mousse said. "Much like most of the battles you witnessed or participated in. I even used a jet engine."

"Welcome to Nerma Herbie." Nabiki said. "The epicenter of chaos."

(Still… it's not the same.) Herbie beeped. (As chaotic as I can picture it, you still have a lot more to worry about when in an auto race.)

"Which is why we're here." Nabiki said. "If Ranma and Akane keep being so damn stubborn, then they will loose focus or even stop participating until the other sees their point."

(Guys…) Herbie tried to beep, but Mousse interrupted.

"We need a way for them to admit how they feel about each other so that won't happen." Mousse said. "But how?"

(Guys…) Herbie beeped.

"Trick them into going to a romantic dinner?" Nabiki asked.

(Guys…) Herbie beeped, but was starting to get annoyed.

"Nah. They'd wreck the restaurant the minute Ranma opens his mouth." Mousse said. "Love potion?"

"You honestly think they'd be happy with that after the number of love related items they've had?" Nabiki stated.

"Good point." Mousse said.

(GUYS!) Herbie loudly beeped, startling Nabiki and Mousse, but causing Ranma and Akane to see what was going on.

"Everything ok?" Ranma asked.

"We heard Herbie beeped. What's going on?"

(Nothing! Nothing at all.) Herbie beeped.

"Yeah, we're just talking and Herbie was trying to say something." Mousse said.

"Business matters." Nabiki said.

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight." Both Ranma and Akane said skeptically, and went back to the dojo.

"Ok, Herbie. What is it?" Nabiki asked once Ranma and Akane were out of an ear shot.

(Guys, can anybody help it that I have a mind of my own?) Herbie beeped.

"No, not that it's a bad thing." Nabiki said, remembering talking to him days before.

"Yes, but what does…" Mousse started to say, but then it dawned on the duo. "Actually… no, we can't help that we have no control over what you do, right Nabiki?"

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight." Nabiki said, understanding what Herbie had planed. "You're your own driver."

*END FLASHBACK*

"Well, I'm done." Akane said. "Ready when you are Ranma."

"Alright, I'm almost done." Ranma said as he shoveled his food into his mouth.

"Son, remember your manners." Nodoka said.

"Sorry mom." Ranma said. "Being on the road with Genma wasn't exactly easy. Other than the stuff I told you, he'd try to steal my food and make me take it back before he could eat it. He called it apart of my training."

"I see." Nodoka said. "I still wonder why I haven't divorced from that man."

"D-divorce?" Ranma stuttered.

"Don't tell me you still care for the baka." Nabiki stated.

"But… he's the only family I known for a long time." Ranma said. "Granted, he's put me through hell, but I don't want to know how I would have turned out if I didn't go on that training trip."

"What do you mean?" Akane said.

"It's just that… as long as I was on the road, I've missed having a mother." Ranma stated. "I always wished I had a complete family. A mother and a father. During the training, we would always encounter a family and I would see their children with pure joy and at times, I wished I was in their place. But… I guess I can't have that, can I?"

"Ranma…" Nodoka and Akane said at the same time.

"C'mon Akane, lets get that manga." Ranma said as he left. He had to get the hell out of there. As his back was turned, Nodoka looked at him with tears in her eyes.

*************************************************************** *********

"Ranma, that wasn't a nice thing to say to your mom." Akane said as they stepped out the door.

"I know Akane… but its just… if you had a chance to have your mom back in your family alive again, would you?" Ranma asked. This caused Akane to sadly think for a moment.

"You… you have a point Ranma." Akane said.

"Aw jeez." Ranma said realizing what he's done. "I'm sorry Akane, I didn't mean to…"

"Ranma, you're right." Akane said. "My mom will always be in my heart, but if I could, I'd have my complete family again. I can see why you're distressed at what your mom said." Both of them, just before getting into Herbie stared at each other for a moment, but then snapped out of it. "Come on Ranma, the bookstore's going to close." Ranma then got in the driver's side and Akane on the passenger side and were off to the book store…

*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH*

…or so they thought as Herbie did a standing start wheelie and was off to who knows where.

"HERBIE! WAIT! STOP!" They both said, but to no avail.

"I should have known! I bet he, Mousse and Nabiki thought of this when we heard Herbie beeped." Akane said. "Where do you think he's taking us?"

"I have no clue, but it looks like we're going outside of Nerma." Ranma said. Sure enough, moments later, Herbie found a spot off the road that was actually above Nerma and had a great view of the city. After Herbie stopped, Ranma and Akane tried to get out, but couldn't.

"Well… it looks like we're stuck here." Ranma said.

"Yep." Akane said. "Maybe he'll let us out or take us home if we talk."

"Like I have anything to talk to you about you stupid tom…"

*WHAM*

Upon saying that, Herbie forced the back of Ranma's seat to push against him so hard, he hit the steering wheel.

"Oh? Like I'd talk to you, you macho j…WHOA!"

And upon saying that, Herbie forced Akane's seat to tip near Ranma, causing her to fall onto his chest. Looking at each other and blushing, Akane quickly got up and regained her composure.

"Looks like Herb won't let you get your two yen in you stubborn mule." Ranma said trying to gain the upper hand.

"Oh really? Better to be a mule than a pervert." Akane said. Herbie, having enough…

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

…pulls the back of their seats down and leaves them down.

"You too?" Ranma asked.

"Yep." Akane said. "When did you?"

"After I dropped off Kodachi. You?" Ranma asked.

"While I was getting groceries a few days ago." Akane replied.

"I guess this means we're both saying something we shouldn't." Ranma said.

"Ok, we get it! We'll be civil!" They said in unison as Herbie readjusted their seats. Ranma then sighed.

"What are you thinking about?" Akane asked.

"Everything." Ranma said. "The whole fiancée mess, the engagement, the rivals, you. Everything. Don't get me wrong, I love to fight sometimes and I consider Ukyo a good friend, but sometimes, I just wish for almost all of it to stop."

"Almost all of it?" Akane asked.

"There is one thing from this whole mess I'm in I do like." Ranma said. But then he had to think about what he wanted to say. "Akane, do you know why I say the things I do to you?"

"It's because you don't like me very much." Akane replied sadly.

"WHAT?! What gave you that idea you idi… uh… let me rephrase." Ranma said. "What gave you that idea?"

"Gee, when was the last time you called Ukyo twice as ugly as an ox." Akane angrily said. Ranma then really had to think about what he's about to say.

"No, it's not that." Ranma said. "It's being forced to get married. I don't want to right now; I want to at least graduate high school. I want to teach a dojo, but not all of what pops taught me, and I'm worried that if I got married now, I'll screw up ether that or a relationship with the girl I'm in love with."

"Ranma, don't say that." Akane said. "I may say things to you that are mean too, but from a few days after I got to know you a little better, you are a kind and caring person. You rarely think about your self and any girl you want to marry would be lucky to have you as a husband."

"So, would you feel that way a few years from now?" Ranma asked, recognizing an opening when he saw one.

"Yes, I'd… what?!" Akane said after getting the message.

"Akane, you're the girl that I'm in love with." Ranma said. "The reason I say the things to you that I do is because I… I… God, away from the chaos, I can admit I'm in love with you, but I can't admit that I'm… I'm…"

"Scared?" Akane asked.

"Yes, that's it." Ranma said. "After you hit me with the table, I thought you didn't like me at all, but the time I started to know you better, I thought we could be at least friends and if I said anything about being more than friends, it would end the friendship and I didn't want that."

"Ranma…" Akane said, but couldn't think of anything else for she was shocked that Ranma felt the same way she did.

"Well, now that it's out in the open, I'd understand if you didn't feel the same way, but I just had to say it." Ranma said. "I had enough of the mess; I just want it to end one way or the other." Akane then had tears in her eyes. "Aw man, Akane don't cry, I'm sorry."

"You big dummy." Akane said. "You should have told me how you felt because… because… I… I... I love you too." Akane said. Ranma then let the realization hit him.

"Y-you do?" He asked.

"Yes, I have been for a while now." Akane said. "At first, I thought you were an insensitive jerk, but then I got to know the real you and you are the best thing that has happened to me."

"That's how I feel about you Akane." Ranma said. The two then just sat there.

"So, what do you…?" Akane didn't finish because Ranma kissed Akane on the lips. But then, Ranma thought he heard something.

"Akane, stay here." Ranma said. "I'm going to open Herbie's roof. I think I heard something." Ranma then opened Herbie's roof and looked around and then heard…

"RANMA DARLING!"

Sure enough, Kodachi jumped from her hiding place and threw some powder into the air. Herbie, sensing the trouble, threw it into reverse and high tailed it back to the Tendo Dojo.

"RANMA! COME BACK MY DARLING! COME BACK!" Kodachi yelled as she saw Herbie drive off with Ranma and Akane inside. "Grrrrrrrrrrrr… that wretched demon car! I'll get both it and that peasant too for taking my Ranma! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

*************************************************************** *********

A few minutes later at the Tendo Dojo, Nabiki and Mousse saw a returning Herbie with Ranma and Akane inside.

"Herbie? What are you doing back here this soon?" Nabiki asked.

(Kodachi showed up.) Herbie beeped. (She had some powder, so I had to get out of there!) Mousse then looked inside and saw that Ranma and Akane were as still as statues.

"But I don't think you got them out in time." Mousse said.

(Oh crud.) Herbie beeped.

"You got that right." Nabiki said. "Lets take them to Dr. Tofu, quick."

A few minutes later, Dr. Tofu had examined Ranma and Akane and his look was not that of a happy man.

"Apparently, whatever Kodachi used was very strong." Dr. Tofu said. "They'll be stuck that way for a while."

"How long?" Nabiki asked.

"Three weeks." Dr. Tofu said.

"WHAT?!" Both Mousse and Nabiki said at the same time.

"But they race in almost a week against Shampoo!" Mousse said.

"We better tell Herbie." Nabiki said.

"Herbie?" Tofu asked.

"He's a good friend of ours." Mousse said. "He's right outside." Tofu then followed Mousse and Nabiki outside and he saw the little car waiting for everybody.

"Herbie, this is Dr. Tofu." Nabiki said. "Dr. Tofu, meet Herbie." Tofu then looked at Nabiki as if she lost her mind.

(Nice to meet you Dr. Tofu.) Herbie beeped. (How are my friends doing?) Tofu then did a double take.

"W-Where's the driver?" He asked.

(That's me.) Herbie happily beeped. (But right now, I would like to know how my friends are.)

"Dr. Tofu, Herbie is his own driver. He has something one of the elders calls `Inner life.'" Mousse said.

"Inner life?" Tofu said. "I remember my teacher talking to me about it, but I just never saw it for my self… uh, that is until now."

(Guys? My friends, your family?) Herbie beeped.

"Right." Mousse said.

"What did he say?" Tofu asked.

"He wants to know how Ranma and Akane are." Nabiki said.

"Well… they're stuck like that for three weeks." Dr. Tofu said.

(WHAT?!) Herbie beeped. (But the race! It's almost in a week!)

"I know. What are we going to do?" Nabiki asked. Then Herbie got an idea.

(Why don't you and Mousse race for them?) Herbie asked.

"WHAT?!" Both of them said.