Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ A Fighter's tournment ❯ AFTChXV ( Chapter 15 )

Scene: Fight

After Ranma's team won, he was headed over to Mai. Who was talking to some one at the time. "Mai, what happened to make you so angry with Chin?" Yuri asked. Mai was about to tell Yuri off when she noticed Ranma standing next the Sakazaki girl with a look of concern on his face. Mai sighed and nodded. She then told the story.

"It happened 5 months ago at Master Jubei's house. I thought I was the only one there at the time. Master Jubei was out with some friends or so I thought. I was wrong. It seemed Master Jubei had returned and he had invited Chin over for some drinks and talking of the old times. I had just completed a hard day's training when they saw me heading to the furo. I did not see them. So there I was relaxing in the furo when I caught those two peeking. When I caught them they groped me and stole my favorite pair of underwear and they got away. I caught up to Master Jubei. I didn't catch up to Chin until our match just now." Mai explained what happened with a lot of anger in her voice.

The ladies could sympathize with Mai and understood her anger with the two perverts. A lot of the girls promised a severe beating for the both of them later.

One by one the fighters left. Even Yuri left when King and the others wanted to do some shopping in the city.

Mai wanted to talk to Ranma so she motioned for him to follow her and so he did.

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Private dressing room

After Ranma and Mai stepped into the room Mai closed the door. Unnoticed to Ranma Mai also locked the door. Mai gestured for Ranma to sit. Ranma sat down wondering what Mai wanted to talk about. Most probably about the date.

Mai began to talk. "Do you remember that kiss we shared in the park, Ranma?"

"How could I forget, Mai?"

"Well Andy saw the kiss and..." Mai told Ranma what happened with her and Andy after the kiss. Ranma was surprised. What Ranma was surprised about was the fact that Andy didn't want to kill him. You must remember if Ranma did anything with the girls he used to know several of his rivals would try and kill him.

Ranma asked the important question. "So how do you feel about this Mai?"

"Relieved to tell you the truth. Andy and I know now that we are close friends." Mai paused. Her voice turned sultry. "I also want to get to know you better."

Before Ranma could ask Mai explained further. "Ranma I want to see if we can become more than friends since Andy and I have already defined our relationship. Don't worry, I am not on the rebound. Since we first met, the meetings off and on during the training for the tournament, and our date last night I wanted to see if we can have a relationship.

"To tell you the truth I expected you to say yes for my proposal since most men would want me as their girlfriend or lover. But you didn't. You even helped me with my problems. Do you think we could try and get to know each other a lot better?"

Ranma remained silent for a while as he tried to digest what Mai said. This is reasonable as this is his first opportunity to have a real relationship, which could blossom into so much more. "Well..." He paused to make sure that he could come up with the proper words to explain what he is feeling.

Mai waited patiently for his reply. It would take some work to help Ranma get over his intimacy problems but he is definitely appearing to be a person who would be well worth it in the end.

He cleared his throat. "Um...I think that..."

A knock on the door interrupted the martial artist, much to Mai's dismay. "I'll be right back. Just wait here?" The kunoichi smiled and nodded. Ranma opened the door to reveal his teammate Mignon.

"There you are! We've gotta go for a big dinner to celebrate our first win at the tournament!" She grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the dresser room.

"GAAAAHH!!! Let go of my arm before you tear it off already!! OW!!!!"

Mai stood there as Mignon and Ranma became nothing more than tiny figures in the distance. She calmly thought to herself that there will be another time to get Ranma's response. She also made a mental note to herself to give Mignon an extra can of whoopass should her team face the Generations Team.

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Scene: NESTs HQ

Currently, the standings are as follows:

Team Japan, Team Iori, the Boss Team, the Fatal Fury Team, the Women's Team and the Generations Team have came out with a victory in Round One.

The Ikari Warriors, the NESTS Team, the Hero Team, Team Korea, the Psycho Soldiers Team and the Kyokugen Karate Team hope to bounce back from the defeat and do better in Round Two.

So who would be the next team to taste the power of Anything Goes?

"The computer is getting ready to generate the next set of matches," said Zero.

Igniz sat back in his large comfy throne. 'So who would be the next team to act as our guinea pig against the wild card?'

The next team to face the Generations Team is...

Scene: Back to the fights

As Mignon dragged Ranma off Mai cursed under her breath. She decided to take a shower, change her clothes, and hurry to the bar where the celebration is taking place.

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"MIGNON!!! Please let go of my arm before you tear it off!!!"

Mignon hearing Ranma's shouts did so and mumbled a quick apology to her teammate. They hurried to the bar where the celebration was going on.

Opening the doors to the bar the two stepped in where the fighters where drinking and talking about the fights. Mignon decided to leave and headed directly to where the food was.

Ranma was left alone and went to get him something to drink.

Ranma grabbed a cola from the bartender and threaded his way through to the table where Rock and Chae were seated. He nodded to them and sat down at the table. A minute later Mignon with a huge plateful of food and cola joined them.

"Here's to our first win, guys." Rock raised his whiskey and Chae raised her drink. Both Mignon and Ranma raised their sodas and nodded. "Was it just me or did you get some strange feelings from our match the Kyokugen Karate Team?"

Ranma nodded in agreement. He had a strange feeling about the match. Ever since he learned that the team he was on would fight last.

"Ever since I saw the matchups and saw that we were fighting last."

"What do you mean Ranma?" Mignon asked.

"I'm not to sure if NESTS chose the Kyokugen Karate Team for us to face on purpose but us fighting in the last match gave them the time to set up equipment to analyze my fighting style." Ranma answered. "They definitely set up the time for our match."

"If NESTS is really fixing our matches who do you think we will fight next?" Chae asked.

"Since winning teams usually fight winning teams that narrows the field down to five." Mignon commented. "I would have to say The Boss Team."

"To obvious a choice and we would know for sure." Rock disagreed. Ranma nodded in agreement with Rock. "I would say Team Iori." Ranma said. Ranma knew a little of the history between Iori and Rock. Especially Rock getting a major beating from the Yagami. "Of course it could be Team Japan as well since I did shut up Kusanagi."

"Right on both counts, Ran." Rock agreed. Rock and the others chuckled a bit. "I think it would be Iori's team. NESTS would know what happened between Eiji, Iori, and Billy."

"We just have to play a waiting game for them." Chae sighed. The others did not like to wait either but knew they had no choice.

Everyone at the table lifted their drinks and took a sip.

Ranma was sipping his cola and looking at the crowd when he noticed Mai. Mai noticed Ranma looking at her and indicated the door. Ranma nodded just a bit which Mai noticed.

"Well, I'm going to go guys. I have a feeling NESTS is going to surprise all of us tomorrow so I'm going back to the hotel." Ranma finished off his soda and stood up. "I'll see you guys in the morning."

Rock, Mignon, and Chae nodded and told Ranma goodnight. They had not noticed Mai in the crowd or their silent conversation.

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Once outside the bar Mai and Ranma met up to talk. They knew they could not talk here without someone seeing them so Mai suggested the isolated area in the park where they had shared the kiss.

Ranma agreed with a little hesitation that Mai caught.

'Those girls really did a number on Ranma.' Mai thought.

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Both Mai and Ranma were talking of unimportant things when they finally reached the spot where they had kissed the night before. Ranma knew what Mai wanted. She wanted an answer to her question if it was possible of them having relationship that could promise them so much more.

"You want an answer to your question which Mignon interrupted before I could I answer right?" Ranma asked.

"Right. Ranma you do not have to answer right now. There is no pressure." Mai replied. 'It will take some work to help Ranma get over his problems but he is a man that is worth it. I saw his nervousness when I suggested this as a quiet place to talk. Those girls really hurt him a lot.'

'Mai is not pressuring me or anything about this but can I do this? Can I have a relationship that could be so much more in the future? And what about me being a were snow cheetah? How would she take that?' Ranma's questions were making him lean to answer no.

He forgot one thing. Strike Claw.

Ranma calm down. There is nothing wrong with you having a relationship with Mai. This is a great chance for you to have a normal relationship with a beautiful woman. And Mai seems to be a woman who has an open mind so I think she would take you being a Were Snow Cheetah rather well.

'You think so Strike Claw?'

Yes I do Ranma. If you let what happened in Nerima influence you will never have a chance of having a relationship with a woman like Mai. My vote is go for it. You and Mai have a chance to have something special.

'Thank you Strike Claw.'

Mai was waiting patiently for his answer. She knew he had to make this decision on his own and without any pressure from her. She saw Ranma's eyes focus on her after thinking hard about their chances for a relationship. Mai knew she had a chance with a very special man and she was not going to waste it. There was something about Ranma that made Mai feel warm.

Ranma saw Mai's beautiful brown eyes and knew he had made the right decision.

"Mai, the answer is yes." Ranma's answer brought a brilliant smile from Mai.

"Thank you Ranma for giving me a chance. Especially with what happened to you in the past." Mai said. Mai knew with this action she was taking a big chance.

The gorgeous girl stepped up to Ranma and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned her face up and passionately kissed Ranma. Ranma's hands went around her waist bringing her closer as he returned her kiss. The kiss ended when both needed a breath of fresh air.

"Usually the man says this to the woman but we will go as fast as you want to Ranma." Mai said. Ranma knew that Mai had learned from her mistakes with Andy and that meant he could learn from his mistakes with his former fiancées.

Ranma's thank you surprised Mai. He lowered his head and gave Mai such a kiss that she felt she was close to heaven. When the kiss was done both had separated and had large smiles on their faces.

The new couple knew that their relationship was too new to do anything else for the night so it was good night for both of them.

End of Chapter.