Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Tears of Anger ❯ Wanna be Friends? ( Chapter 6 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Tears of Anger
Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi
Sailormoon by Naoko Takeuchi
By Acetalon
Chapter 6:Wanna be Friends?

"Ok Rei, spill it. Why did you call us all here?" Usagi asked
in a low whine. With a great deal of trouble, Rei had been able to
call everyone to her place. It was important, and she tried to get it
through Usagi's pea-sized brain about that.

"You can go without your afternoon snack for once," snapped a
weary Rei who had spent time thinking about her fire reading the whole
day. She looked like she needed a couple hours of sleep, and everyone
could tell. They waited silently for Rei to continue.

"Alright, I did a fire reading-"

"You made me miss my favorite television show just to talk to
us about your FIRE READING?"

"-that might lead to the end of the world, and I wouldn't have
asked you to come if it wasn't important, Usagi! I already told you
that several times on the phone!"

"Alright..." she trailed off meekly.

"In it, I saw three people, inside a building. Two were
talking, the third was just watching the two, smiling. One of the
talking figure lashed out at the other, striking him. He did not move,
just stood there. Yes, he. It looked a great deal like that boy we
saw yesterday, even though I couldn't see details too well, with that
pigtail and red shirt. He stood there, bleeding. The other figure
kept striking him with whips of darkness while he was telling her
something. The person who was watching just laughed. I saw you,
Usagi, run in. You screamed, the boy looked towards you and shouted
something back. After that, I saw nothing more except darkness. I
also believe that that person in the back was a Senshi." That last
part drew a gasp from the group.

"But Rei, how do you know this? It could have been anyone, if
it was a fire reading," protested Minako.

"Yes, it could have been anyone. You yourself say that the
fire readings don't give very detailed pictures," supplied Ami.

"C'mon guys, I think Rei would know if it's a Senshi or not.
I mean, not many people dress the way Senshi do or look the way we do,"
protested Makoto. Everyone else grudgingly accepted this information,
though none wanted to believe that someone in their group would help in
leading to the end of the world.

"Thank you Makoto. Now back to the reading. I don't think it
was any of us. The person was too tall. I wish there was someone
else, but I think it was one of the Outer Senshi. There isn't anyone
else who is a Senshi that might do this."

"But they are the ones who are always doing things to 'ensure
the safety of the future,' there's no way that they would do something
to try and destroy the world."

"Maybe it means one of them will aid the destruction of the
world, but do it while thinking it'll save the future," suggested Ami.

"Lets not jump to conclusions, everyone," said Luna. "I've
known the Outer Senshi, and they wouldn't willingly do anything they
thought would destroy the world."

"Whatever it is, I don't care," said Usagi grumpily. "Once
you guys are done, tell me on the communicator. I'm going home."
Usagi left. The rest of the Senshi agreed that they weren't getting
anywhere and left. Each had their own idea's on what happened. None
knew the real answer, and if they did they would be far more afraid of
what might come to happen.


Ranma opened his eyes blearily. How strange it was for him, no
tomboy kicking him awake, or splashing water on him to wake him up. No
Oyaji to throw him into a pond. No Kasumi calling up to tell everyone
that breakfast was ready. No more enemies crying out for his death,
trying to kill him while he was still asleep. It was something that
he could get used to, which he thought of in satisfaction.

"Except that part about Kasumi's cooking," thought Ranma with a
tinge of regret. He wouldn't get to have any more of her cooking
again. "Oh well, to start anew I guess I have to make some sacrifices.
Now what?"

The sun was just rising. The room wasn't very big, but it
wasn't entirely cramped, so Ranma decided to do some morning exercises
and got busy doing katas. After an hour or so, he looked out the
window. People were just starting to open up businesses, students were
talking with their friends waiting until the last minute to get to
school, and other's who had a day off were just starting their morning
routine of exercising. Showering and changed, Ranma was refreshed and
ready to take on the curves life threw at him. He jumped out the
window, landing in the middle of a bunch of surprised passer-by's and
decided to look at those jobs.


"So, you want a job, do ya? Well, sure if you can handle it.
Construction work is tough stuff. Today's our break, you can start
tomorrow.But aren't you a little young to be doing this kind of stuff?
Shouldn't you be in school?" A big muscular construction worker asked.

"...(In a strange way, the guys right, I should be in school,"
Ranma thought.


"You want a job?" The woman looked him over critically.
"Sure, I'm sure the other girls won't have a problem with that.
Waiting tables shouldn't be that tough for you. You can start
tomorrow. But shouldn't you be in school?"

"...(How did I choose this job anyways? Wait... other girls
not minding? What is she talking about?)" Ranma thought.


"Sure, we could always use more help. But aren't you a little
young to be in a male strip club?"

Ranma wasn't even there to answer he ran away so quickly.
"There's no way I chose that one," he thought panicky, getting as far
away from the place as possible.


Ranma neared the entrance to a dojo. It looked really big,
really showy, and really flashy. "Wonder how good the instructor
is?" Ranma wondered, walking in.

Once inside, he saw great crowds of people all being taught by
one instructor. There were some people lagging behind, trying to catch
up to what everyone else was doing, but the instructor did not notice
with such a large class.

"This place could definitely use some help," Ranma thought
with confidence. The class ended shortly. As the instructor sat down
to rest, though he didn't look winded, Ranma walked up to him.

"May I help you?" the man asked.

"Yeah, I'm looking for a job," Ranma replied.

"Is that so..." the man stared at Ranma. "Forget it, your too
young."

"WHAT!? You're judging me by just my age? Who do you think
you are?

"I'm the master of this dojo, son. That's who I am."

"I'm a master at Anything Goes Martial Arts, I can take you
on!"

"Is that so..." the Dojo master said for the second time, then
shrugged. "Fine, if you can last more than 10 minutes against me I'll
consider hiring you as an assistant. I hope you know just because
you've made up your own style doesn't mean your any good."

"Fine by me then." Ranma stood at the middle of the spacious
matted area. The Dojo master did the same. Most of the people who
had finished their lessons for that day stood back to watch, curious as
to what was going to happen. Ranma and the Dojo master faced each
other, bowed, then the match started with the Dojo master reacting
quickly, aiming for Ranma's head to try ending the match quickly as
possible.


Ranma smiled. With his head still bowed, he went down,
pretending to fall. Instead, he put his hands on the incoming foot,
while in mid-fall, and let it propel him over the bigger man's head.
he twisted his body in the air and landed, facing the mans back. The
man turned around.

"It seems I underestimated you for making up your own school.
No doubt you've learned some basics of other styles. No matter, you
still aren't good enough to be my assistant."

"Less talk, more fighting. I don't have all day."

Ranma sized up the other man. The guy was big. That was
probably the reason he wasn't tired after the lesson. Telling from the
distance he was propelled from the guy's foot he was strong, but not
nearly as strong as Ryouga. Not nearly as fast either, probably.
Ranma went in fast. Ranma readied as the man feinted with his right
fist, then came in hard with his left. Ranma cartwheeled to the side
and swept the guy's leg out from under him. The other man jumped, and
Ranma finished the fight swinging his leg around to trip him again.
As the man was getting up, Ranma maneuvered himself in back of the guy,
and grabbed his arms, putting him in a strangle hold. All under 5
minutes. The Dojo master was surprised and angry.

"So, do I make the cut?" asked Ranma, letting the guy go.

"Get out of here. I don't deal with hotshot martial artists.
You can just find another place for a job.," he growed. Ranma snorted.

"Hah, you wouldn't know a real martial artist if he kicked your
ass. Which one just did." Ranma walked out, disappointed. That place
was all publicity and no real skill. The owner probably knew some
people to help get them popularity. He needed to find a real Dojo,
one that wasn't run by pompous idiots. Several of the girls watched
him go, making a note of what he looked like and what he was wearing.


Hotaru dressed and got ready for the daily exertions.
Kaolinite was by her door, grinning like a cheshire cat.

"What do you want, Kaolinite?" Hotaru asked coldly.

"Why, nothing. Just to wish you good luck today. Maybe you'll
meet that young man who came by yesterday. He probably felt sorry for
you, little girl." She laughed. Hotaru blushed and got angry.

"Mind your own business, Kaolinite, and stay out of mine,"
Hotaru said with a threatening air. The woman wearing a lab coat just
laughed.

"Or what? You'll hurt me? Not likely," She baited. He
walked away, laughing. Hotaru wasn't watching her go. She just wished
that she could do something. Anything to refute that claim.
Indignation about her helplessness burned her from the inside, but
Hotaru had to ignore it. She felt it was embarassing, her learning to
fight! Or was it stand up for herself? Hotaru shook her head and
decided that since it was the weekend she would take a walk. To calm
that burning desire she felt in her. Before she went to school.


Ranma couldn't believe that he was actually going to try for a
job at the local arcade. He looked inside, watching and thinking of
the crap he'd have to do if he did. Deciding against it he walked in
another direction. Walking down the path a little, he heard voices
coming from a nearby alley. Sounded like some people were threatening
someone else. Ranma crept up to the side, listening in and spying.

"Seems you pissed off someone important, freshman."

"Yeah, you are gonna get crap beat outta you."

"Too bad, too. You didn't seem that bad of a guy. At least
for a freakin scrub like you. But someone paid us quite a bit."

"..." The person spoken to didn't answer. He just stood there
surrounded. The little gang had him cornered and there was no escape.

Ranma didn't like the looks of things, so he popped out from
behind the corner and said out loud, "Man, whats with you guys?
Ganging up on that one person? That ain't cool, try taking ME on
instead."

"And you are? No wait, I don't give a damn who you are, just
get out of my face and you'll be able to walk away from this." The
first thug, maybe the leader, moved to face Ranma while the other two
faced the other victim in the alley.

"Hah, yeah right. Today hasn't been very interesting. I need
something to happen. Besides, three against one just isn't very fair."
The other two thugs turned to face Ranma at hearing his words.

The other guy held a thin metal bar, much as if someone would
a bat. The other two WERE holding bats. They came in, swinging their
weapons clumsily and ineffectively, without teamwork. Ranma sized them
up, then groaned in disapointment.

"Man, you guys suck. This isn't won't even be a warm up,"
Ranma complained, weaving in and out while watching them get in each
others way.

"Just wait, pal. We'll get you eventually," huffed one thug
with a bat. He tried again, with a swing to Ranma's ribs. Ranma
grabbed the bat, letting it make a loud cracking sound into his hand.
He wrenched it away, then held it above his head, letting the leader
thug hit the bat with his own weapon. Ranma made a wide sweeping
motion with the bat in his hands, bending low. He stopped, and watched
the three thugs fall to the ground, the back of their legs knocked out
from under them.

"That was damn embarassing, and I hate being embarassed," the
leader thug said, grasping the back of his leg in pain. Ranma
shrugged and put his hands behind his head, whistling and pretending
to ignore them completely. The thugs rushed him, holding their weapons
out ready to bash his head in. Ranma flipped the bat in the air,
threw a jab with his right on one thugs shoulder, kicked the other in
the gut, then waited to hear the sound of a bat connecting to a head.
Looking behind him, none of the three were in a position to attack him.
He turned to the victim in the back.'

"Hey, you alright?" The victim gave a sigh of relief.

"Yeah. Thanks alot for your help. I'd probably be little more
than a stain on that wall if you didn't come by. What's your name?"

"Ranma Saotome. You going to school?" The guy was wearing
clothes similar to the uniforms at Furinkan High.

"Yep. Well Saotome, if there's anything you need, just let me
know." Ranma didn't know of anything he wanted, and he had nothing else
to do. He followed the guy to his school. Who knows, maybe once he
finally had control of his life he'd go back to school. Ranma walked
up to school, thinking one thing.

"Wonder if the principal is as much a weirdo as the one at
Furinkan High."

Checking out the school, Ranma saw Hotaru walk by her
classmates. He heard some of the whispered comments made her way.

"Hey, look. Its the quiet girl. Wonder if she gonna hurt any
more people today?"

"Stay away, she might break your arm."

"That girl's crazy. She's a menace and should be in a mental
hospital."

Ranma wasn't thrilled at hearing such vicious comments about
anyone. He turned to the recently-saved victim who looked to be in the
same grade as Hotaru, the same age as him.

"Hey, what do all these people have against Hotaru? What did
she ever do to them?" The other guy shrugged.

"Dunno, to tell you the truth. What I heard is that she
injured a few students and she never remembers when she does. Whether
that's true or not is debatable, but she's alone, but I never see her
in school." He looked towards her direction and sighed. "I do feel
sorry for her though. Not having any friends is harsh, but I don't
know what to do. I'm too shy myself to go up to ANY girl and talk with
em. Well, see ya. He walked up to the school and disapeared among the
crowds.

Ranma thought of the news, letting it sink in. Hotaru had no
friends? That didn't seem right. She didn't look like the type to
hurt people. Nor did she seem the type to yell at people or become an
Ice Queen. Who was that guy anyways? And why was he being attacked by
three thugs? Whatever, it didn't concern Ranma. Besides, those rumors
did sound incredibly stupid. Ranma walked off, left with his thoughts
since all of the student had entered the school to go to class. Ranma
jumped in a tree and decided to take a nap, not having anything better
to do.


Walking up to the school gates, Hotaru saw out of the corner
of her eye Ranma talking with the new student. Strangely, she almost
thought that Ranma was pointing at her for a few seconds. Could it be
he was asking people about her? Or maybe it was just a coincidence,
that he was pointing at something in her direction? No, it couldn't
be, he was definitely pointing at her. Why?

"Right now he's probably finding out that everyone says I'm a
freak, an outcast," thought Hotaru depressingly. The new guy was
probably telling Ranma the rumors, the lies, and Hotaru would lose
another potential friend. She wasn't stupid, she knew what the others
said about her, and it hurt. Every time there was someone new
she thought she might make friends with, they'd hear the rumors. Then
they would avoid her like everyone else. Hotaru turned one last time
to look out the glass door, watching Ranma jump into a tree and,
apparently take a nap. Take a nap? What was he doing, sleeping in a
tree on school grounds? Didn't he have school to go to himself?
That was her last thought before she forgot about it entirely to throw
herself into her studies.


Far far away, Pluto looked down into the Gates of Time. (I
forgot its name) She stared, hard into the gates, trying to decipher
something.

"Dammit, what was it?" she said to herself. "What did it?
Why did it happen? When?" If anyone else was there, they would ask
her just what was she talking about. What was what? Did what? Why
did what happen?" But no, Pluto was alone, and was left to deal with
her thoughts alone. Pluto seethed. She HAD to find out when it
happened, the boy, when he altered it, and what he did so she could
prevent it. She had tried once already to prevent it without knowing
what the reason was, this time she'd know what she was trying to stop.
Telling the Outers to kill him would certainly make them wary of him,
but it wasn't enough. She'd need...concrete evidence that he was evil.


Hotaru packed her backpack. The school day was over, there was
nothing else left for her to do. Getting up out of her seat, she
quietly left the room. She left the school, about to head off to the
park when she unconsciously looked back towards the tree Ranma had been
napping in. He was still there, out like a light. That surprised
her. Why was he still sleeping, after six hours? Hotaru walked to
base of the tree and called up to him, "Hey, what are you doing up
there?" no response. She tried again, but no response. She threw a
small pebble at him. Still no response. After all that, Hotaru was
wondering just how deep a sleeper Ranma was. She climbed a lower
branch to tap his arm. Ranma's eyes flipped open. He rolled to side
side onto his feet, ready to take on whoever woke him up. Only he
forgot he was in a tree when he woke. He crashed down to the ground.

THUD

"Ite." Ranma got up and dusted himself off. "Huh? What just
happened?" He asked himself. Looking up, he saw Hotaru on the lowest
branch of the tree. She was looking at him, surprised. He got up.

"Hey, Hotaru." he said. He gave her a hand in getting down
from the tree.

"Hello, Ranma." She looked at him. "Why were you sleeping in
that tree?"

"Oh, that." Ranma shrugged. "I was tired. The place I was
staying at isn't nearby, so I thought that place was as good as any.
You go to school here?"

"Yes, This is Mugen Gakuen. Class has ended for today, you
want to walk with me?"

"Sure." Ranma walked alongside Hotaru, again. Hotaru was
silent for a few minutes, then spoke up.

"Were you asking the new student about me?" Ranma's skin
jumped. How did she know that?

"Yeah, I was."

"Why?" Hotaru looked into Ranma's eyes. Ranma spoke without
hesitation, though he was unprepared for the question.

"I wanted to know why the other students were saying those
mean things about you." They stopped in front of a large fountain. "I
wanted to know why they said you were a freak."

"Because, in their thoughts, I am. Because I'm different. To
them, I am dangerous." Hotaru looked out in the distance, trying not
to see Ranma's reaction. It was, however, one of concern.

"Why would they think you are different?"

"One reason, because I have an ability. I can can do something
they can't." Ranma snorted. What kind of a reason was that, to shun
someone because that person can do something they couldn't?

"Feh! THAT'S their reason? What kinda morons are they?
That's a thing that people should be made glad to have, not a reason
to be called a freak."

Hotaru smiled. Ranma was the first person in her age group to
not treat her badly.

"I heard that you need a friend. How about it, you wanna be
friends?" Ranma jumped up on the fountains edge and held his hand out
to Hotaru. She laughed, it had been awhile since she had laughed, and
took his hand. They walked along the edge of the fountain to the park
entrance, hopped down, and left the park.


The crowd of girls sighed. The cute boy who had been sleeping
in the tree was taken by the class outcast. Life wasn't fair.


Makoto stared. There he was, the exact duplicate of her old
sempai, and he was taken! No way! The facial features, the
personality (Or what she thought was his personality, for she couldn't
tell much about it from just looking), the body, all of it was a
reminiscense of her old sempai, and he was with another girl.
Unbenknownst to her, she was repeating the same thoughts as a whole
bunch of other girls that day. Life wasn't fair. With determination
in her eyes, she decided to follow the two. To see, or hope, that they
weren't more than friends.


Pluto watched him from the shadows with an eye that missed no
detail, a gaze that made ice look warm.


Ranma and Hotaru walked around town, talking about their past
misfortunes, mostly Ranma's.

"Then I found out my old man had engaged me to my friend from
childhood who I had always thought was a boy!" he exclaimed.

"Wow, didn't your father tell you she was a girl?"

"Nope, she looked and acted exactly like a boy. I was too
little at the time to tell the difference. Then, about a year ago, she
came by to kill me."

"Why did she do that?"

"The old man tricked me. He enaged me to her, then he asked me
which I liked more, her or okanomyaki. I said okanomyaki, and he
bolted, taking me and her father's food cart."

"Thats terrible! But why did you say you liked food more than
your friend?" Ranma sweatdropped.

"Well, I didn't know she was a girl and I was hungry..." Ranma
gave up on his lame response and Hotaru giggled. Ranma continued his
story.

"Yeah well, when I saw her trying to kill me, I told her I
didn't know about the engagement, and complimented her. THAT was a big
mistake, because now she really wants to be my fiancee." Hotaru sighed
in envy.

"You must have had an exciting life," She said. "Much more
interesting than anything I've seen."

"Yeah its been interesting." Ranma thought about some of the
times he'd felt extreme depression, the feeling that he'd never be the
same as before, like the time he was hit with the moxibustion
technique or the phoenix pill. Hell, even when he first met Herb and
was splashed with water from the magic ladle. "But not all of it was
exciting. There was a lot I could have done without." Ranma realized
he was talking about himself a great deal and wasn't giving Hotaru a
chance to talk about herself. "How about you?"

"Hmm? What about me?"

"Has anything exciting ever happened to you?"

"Oh, nothing quite so strange as whats been happening to you."

"Aww, c'mon Hotaru, there's gotta be something out of the
ordinary thats happened to you."

"Well..."

"Yes?"

"Its not something that has really happened to me, but I do
have the ability to heal people."

"You mean your a doctor?" It was Hotaru's turn to sweat a
little.

"Um, not quite. But its something like that. It's
instantaneous, but only works on minor injuries.."

"Wow, neat. That ability could have really helped in my
training." Ranma thought back to the most painful moments in his life:
the chestnut fist training, the bees at speed training, the beatings
Akane gave him, and the poisoned food made by Akane. That last thought
made Ranma shudder. "Anyway, thats pretty useful."

"You really think so? So far all it's gotten me is
indifference. Its the reason I'm different." Ranma stopped walking.

"What? For being able to heal people? Thats really stupid."
Hotaru looked at Ranma in surprise. He thought being able to heal
people was stupid? "People saying things like you broke a kids leg
or that your dangerous because you can heal someone. They're just
idiots. I thought they were afraid because they didn't know what your
ability was." Hotaru relaxed and they kept walking.

"Ranma, I know this is a strange question, but why be friends
with me and not someone else?" He looked at her with a questioning
glance.

"Why not? Your a nice person. You're also the first person I
met in Juuban."

"If you listened to those people at my school you heard them
say things about me. Most people listen to them, but why not you?" She
asked insistently. Ranma shrugged.

"I've learned to get to know someone before making any
judgements. There were many people at my city that many people
would've been afraid of, but once you get to know them they aren't as
bad as you might think. Although, they aren't entirely angels as it
is. Besides," Ranma sighed. "I'm not entirely normal myself. I
got an ability too." Hotaru perked up at that. He had something to
hide from everyone too?

"Really? What is it?" Ranma cursed inwardly, hoping she
wouldn't ask that. Instead of transforming to his girl form(which
he was originally referring to), he held his hand up and made it glow.
A a light . Hotaru looked at it in interest.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Its Ki."

"Ki?"

"Kinda like spirit energy. Or life energy. Go ahead, touch
it. It won't hurt you." Ranma's assurance led Hotaru to touch the
glow.

"It's...strange to touch. I feel more satisfied, more
decisive." Ranma just waited, letting her touch it. He really didn't
know that it would do that, but it was a plus. Guess it just meant
his confidence was infectious. "Is is all it can do?"

"Its got more than one use. I can use it to attack people,
make myself stronger, and other things. I'm still finding uses for
it." Ranma let the glow die out and dropped his hand. Ranma looked
up in the sky to see that the sun was dying out, lying low. "Oh, its
getting late. Want me to walk you home again? Hotaru nodded.

"Thanks Ranma."

"Hey, no prob. Your going to have to lead, though, since I
don't know where your house it." Together, for the second time, they
walked side-by-side to Hotaru's house.


Makoto studied the couple from the shadows. So far so good.
Nothing was between them. No kissing, no hugging, and no holding
hands. Maybe they were just friends. She desperately hoped so.

"This is so boring," she complained to herself. "Why not just
head back now, since I've seen that they aren't a couple?" Even as she
asked herself these questions, she kept following them. She HAD to
make sure, because she didn't want to start chasing another girl's man.
Makoto looked at her watch. "6:00, I'll follow them for another hour
max, then go home."


Usagi had just finished a day of playing at the arcade. Minako
followed her out the sliding doors. They stretched.

"Wow, that was fun. Lets do that again later," Usagi said in
that annoyingly cheery voice.

"Sure Usagi, but not anytime soon. I have midterm exams coming
up, and I'm sure you do too." Minako looked to see Usagi's expression,
but she seemed to not be paying anymore attention. Scanning the rows
of sweets in a nearby candy shop, she started shouting excitedly.

"Look, over here! There's some of my favorite chocolate in
here! Lets go buy something!" Minako sweated a little. They had just
spent all their money in the arcade. She didn't HAVE any to use on
candy.

"Usagi, isn't it nearly dinnertime?" Minako asked, trying to
divert Usagi's attention. Usagi nearly shrieked in surprise when she
looked at her watch.

"AHHH, MOM'S GONNA KILL ME!" She shouted and ran off. Minako
just shook her head. She decided to head home too until she saw Makoto
crouching low, staring intently at something. Minako immediately knew
what was up, Makoto was chasing boys.

"How could she, without telling me!" thought an irate Minako.
"She's probably on the tail of a real hottie. She would never stalk
him if it wasn't." Minako decided to follow Makoto until she could get
close enough to Makoto's target without either of them, Makoto and the
target, finding her out. She acted normally, walking down the street
as if she meant to go home, until she came near Makoto. She then
proceeded to sneak forward slowly and hope Makoto wouldn't look back.


Haruka and Michiru to the street as they drove by. They
recognized the two Inner Senshi. Though they had no clue as to why
they were skulking around like a couple of thieves.

"Whatever it is, it doesn't conern us. Most likely chasing a
boy or something," Michiru said. Haruka just hmmphed and put the
pedal to the metal.


Makoto coughed as she got a deep breath of dust. The speeding
car had just zoomed right by her.

"Hey! You trying to kill me or something?!" She shouted to the
disapearing form of the car. She then realized that as she was yelling
at the car, she'd lost track of Ranma and Hotaru. "Noooo..." she
moaned. She slumped over. Now she'd never know if they were steady or
not.


Seeing Makoto slump, Minako guessed that whoever it was that
Makoto was after had just gotten away, like a fly escaping a spider's
web. She decided to go cheer Makoto up.

"Hey Makoto. What're you doin out here?" asked Minako,
feigning surprise at seeing her.

"Oh, Mina." Makoto leaned on Minako's shoulder in defeat
while mumbling about the catch of her life escaping her grasp. Minako
just nodded.

"You can give me the details later. Its getting late." Minako
hinted.

"Yeah, your right. See you tomorrow." Makoto left.

"Must remember to get all the details tomorrow," thought Minako
absently as she walked home, went to her bed, and fell asleep.

Authors Notes: Lets see... to start off, I know I made Ranma a bit too
judgmental. Makoto a bit too boy-hungry. I think I might have had
Ranma tell a bit much about himself. Yadda Yadda. This isn't as good
as I hoped, but its all I could come up with, getting sick on and off.
As always, C&C welcome.

Ac