Pan leaned on the railing of the elevated walkway above the main street of Juuban. People were all bustling about, going to eateries, arcades, discos, or whatever suited their fancy. Pan watched the people going by and sighed. Almost all of the people had a partner. Almost all of them had a significant other. Many also had family.
Funny, Pan
thought. I’m one of the most
powerful people in the world, and right now I’d trade all that power to be
normal. Just to be one of those happy
girls out there with their boyfriends, husbands, or kids. I haven’t had a date in I don’t know how
long, and now, thanks to Amazon law, I have to find someone that can beat me
before I can marry them. I could just
throw all that to the wayside, but father and grandfather drilled so much honor
into me, I couldn’t do it. I was the
one that made the stupid mistake of taking that stupid challenge without
knowing what it was about. If I had
known, we could have just avoided the whole thing. I could have just told them I didn’t want Ranma anymore and that
would have been that. Then I would be
free to date any poor shmuck I wanted.
She looked
down and saw one of the arcade employees sweeping. That guy’s seriously cute, but he doesn’t have any power at
all. I would date him if I didn’t have
the Amazon thing. She watched as a
girl ran up to him. He swept her up in
his arms and kissed her passionately. So
much for THAT idea. Her shoulders
sank down. Men are like parking
lots: The good ones are either taken,
or handicapped. Take Ranma, he’s
got everything I want in a man, but he’s so much in love with Akane. I couldn’t break that up if I wanted to.
Now
there’s this whole superhero thing. I
like taking dad’s costume and doing good, but now we’ve stumbled onto something
bigger. We’ve got Moon Princesses
running around acting like total klutzes.
We have evil generals that turn people into demons. And we’ve got Ranma and me. Three forces battling over Juuban. Geez, and I thought that android thing was
bad. Well at least the Sailors are on
our side, but I’m just afraid of the power they can muster. I mean, look what they did to Ranma. First they turned him into a monster demon
thing, that was bad enough; but no, they had to give him all of his skill and
power enough to take down a Super Saiya-Jin Two!
Pan let out another sigh. If only I could find someone for myself, someone that’s nice and strong, someone with a big heart and at least enough power to defeat me. Pan smiled to herself. Maybe I could just find an ideal partner and throw the fight. She shook her head. Nope, can’t do that. The book said it had to be FULL combat. It looks like I’m going to be an old maid. It’s ironic: I spent so much time hooking everyone else up that I forgot to take care of myself.
Pan sensed something that snapped her out of her self pity. She looked up to see a young man dressed in black with a pigtail. What’s Ranma doing here, and when did he get THAT outfit? She squinted her eyes to focus in. No. That’s not Ranma. Oh well, easy mistake. See some guy with a load of power and a pigtail; you assume it’s Ranma.
Pan stiffened up and stood bolt upright. WAITAMINUTE!!! BACK UP! Blah, blah, blah… ‘LOAD OF POWER!’ BINGO!
Pan took a quick look up north and south and saw no one looking at her. She shot straight up into the air and landed on the nearest rooftop. She started bounding on the rooftops to try and catch up with the boy in the street. She found him and dropped down in an alleyway forward in the direction he was walking.
Now how to approach him. Pan thought. Should I try to lay on the charm or should I just challenge him? She took a quick look down the walk. He’ll be here any minute.
She pondered a second. Should I just go out and challenge him,
and when he wins glomp him? Nah, that
never worked for Shampoo. Maybe if I
prostrate myself and confess undying love?
Naaaahh, that never worked for Kuno, Mousse, Tsubasa, etc. Man, I’ve got to think of something! She finally decided her course of action and
awaited his arrival. Just have to
make sure this one isn’t attached…
The boy came within a meter of where Pan was and she jumped out. She landed directly in front of him and he almost fell over backwards. She held a clipboard in one hand and a pencil in the other. “Hello!” She said in the sweetest voice she could. “I’m conducting a survey among young men in the area. What is your name?”
The boy quickly regained his balance and scratched his head, not really knowing what was going on. “Masaki Tenchi.”
Pan quickly scribbled the name
down. Better get some other important
info.
“What’s your phone number?”
Tenchi got a confused look on his face. “555-555-2343”
“Are you married?”
“No.”
Pan’s hopes started soaring. “Are you dating anyone?”
The boy thought for a split second. Well not any ONE. “No.”
Pan was giddy with anticipation. Now for the clincher. “Do you have martial arts training?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect!” Pan tucked the piece of paper away in her jeans and threw away the pen and clipboard. She dropped into a stance. “Let’s fight!”
The boy threw up his hands and started to step back. “Hey! That’s really not called for! I’m sure we can talk this out peacefully!”
Pan smiled. “We’ll talk after we’re done.” And maybe some other stuff too! “Kiai!” She leapt forward and punched him…knocking him out in one punch. She stood back up in shock. “NOOOO!!!” She dropped to her knees and started trying to shake him back awake. “Come on! Your not supposed to lose like that! You’re supposed to beat me!” She started to slap him to try to wake him. “Come on! Wake up and beat me!!!”
“What exactly are you doing, young lady?”
Pan turned around to see an elderly gentleman that looked a little like the boy she was trying to awaken. “Uh…I’m just uh….well, you see…” She scratched her head. “I sorta need him to defeat me.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
Pan got a sheepish grin on her face. “So I can…well…date him.”
The man started laughing. “That’s defiantly a different way of picking up someone I’ve ever seen. It’s almost like a caveman, but backwards.”
Pan stood up in front of him. “It’s not funny! I’m serious!”
The man just started to laugh harder. He finally composed himself after a bit. “I’m sorry, but Tenchi already has his share of women.”
Not another one. Pan’s shoulders fell. “How many does he have?”
The man counted on his fingers. “Five so far.”
Pan slapped her head. “That’s one more than the last boy I chased. How many of them are actually a fiancées?”
The man thought for a second. “One really, but that was only a suggestion. He is really free to choose who he wants to marry.”
Pan started to do a little jig in the street. “Then there’s still a chance!”
The man started laughing again.
Pan was getting angry from embarrassment and the whole situation in general. “Don’t laugh at me!!!” She threw a punch at him that made the one that she hit Tenchi with pale in comparison.
The man simply caught the punch with one hand. “I think that the girls would be very put out if Tenchi were to marry someone other than one of them. They’ve all been through a lot together.” He walked over and helped an awakening Tenchi back to his feet. “Don’t worry, little firecracker. Someone will come along for you. You just have to be patient.”
Pan just shook her head. “Not the way my life has been going.”
The man handed her a card. “Why don’t you come to our shrine sometime. You could pray for someone there.”
He turned around and left Pan standing there on the sidewalk. She looked at the card: ‘Masaki Katsuhito’. Oh well. She slowly paced back into the alley. She looked down at her clenched fist. She punched one of the brick walls. It fell easily to reveal a very startled man on the toilet. “Sorry!” She quickly ran down the alley. Yup, still got it…
Elsewhere, Akane and Ranma were on their way back to Goten’s dojo. Akane turned to Ranma. “Do you think she’s ready?”
Ranma was walking along the top of the fences with his arms crossed behind his head. “Yeah, she’s ready. Question is: Is Goten ready?”
Akane shook her head. “I don’t think anything would prepare him. He just needs to face this as much as she does.”
Ranma shrugged. “I did my part. I’m clearing out as soon as it kicks off.”
Akane turned back to him. “Come on! You have to make sure it works out!”
Ranma raised an eyebrow at her. “Since when did this become my problem? This was all you and Pan’s idea!”
Akane raised her eyebrows in an, ‘oh yeah’ expression. “Well, don’t you want to see the fruits of your labors?”
Ranma shook his head. “I’d rather see the fruits on my plate at the restaurant. I’m hungry!”
Akane rolled her eyes. “I swear! There isn’t a romantic bone in your body!”
Ranma gave Akane a cocky grin. “I had one, but I broke it in training.”
Akane narrowed her eyes at him. “Baka.”
Ranma gave her a Cheshire cat grin. “‘But you love me!’” He said in a mocking tone.
Akane clenched a fist. “Come down here so I can hurt you.”
“Make me!” Akane hopped up on the fence and began throwing punches at Ranma. He easily evaded them. “You’re getting better, Akane. You almost laid a finger on me.”
“Grrr!”
Ranma continued dodging the blows without breaking conversation. “Why aren’t you hanging with the Broad Squad today?”
Akane stopped to catch her breath. She wiped some sweat off her brow. “They all went to a hot spring. Besides, I wouldn’t miss this for the world!”
Ranma shook his head. “I would.”
Akane grabbed his hand and hauled him down to the street, and then down the street. “Come on! We have to make sure everything is set up!”
“Okay! Okay! Will you let me put my shoulder back in socket after we get there?”
Akane gave his arm a playful tug. “Seems to still be attached…buuut I could remedy that if you would like…” She smiled a sly grin.
They entered the dojo. All was prepared; they just needed the last player to show.
Goten pushed the door open and looked around. “Pan! Ranma! Akane! Anybody here?” He yelled.
Ranma and Akane came down the stairs from the living area. Ranma cracked his knuckles. “Yo, Goten! You ready to spar?”
Goten popped his neck. “Sure. I’ve been helping Yamucha set up that new dojo all day, but I think I still have plenty left for you.”
Ranma lowered his head like a snake ready to strike. “You sure? Pan’s been having trouble keeping up of late. You think you’re up to it?”
Goten grinned. “I’ve got plenty.”
Ranma dropped into a stance. “Bring it on!”
Goten charged and threw a punch into Ranma’s face. Ranma faded out an instant before hit landed. Ranma appeared behind him and tried a hammer blow. Goten pulled the same speed fade, and the battle was on. They went back and forth, trading punches and kicks. Goten was amazed at how much stronger and faster Ranma had gotten in the past few days. “You look like you’re about ready to take on a Super Saiya-Jin.”
“I think I’m already there.” Ranma threw another punch.
“Arrogance will be your undoing, Saotome.” Goten blocked the punch and kicked in return.
“You too, Son.” The pair traded a few more blows. “Changing the subject…I was just wondering what you think about Maron.” Ranma threw a few chestnut fist punches.
Goten managed to block half of them. “Why do you ask?” Goten did a furious multiple kick with his leg.
Ranma vaulted over his head. “Well you’re always running off when she shows up. Do you hate her?” Ranma went for a leg sweep from behind.
The sweep knocked Goten down, but he rolled back to his feet and launched a new offensive. “Of course I don’t hate her!”
Ranma dodged all the blows and managed to tag Goten in the gut. “Then why do you keep taking off?” Ranma tried a roundhouse to Goten’s back.
Goten rolled away from it and back to his feet. “Well, I don’t want to get married. You, of all people should understand that!” Goten dropped into a defensive stance waiting for Ranma to make the next move.
Ranma dropped into an even stance and began to circle Goten looking for an opening. “Yeah, but your not bound by any contract, arrangement, or law. Why don’t you just face her?”
Goten just turned himself to match Ranma’s movements. “It’s complicated.”
Ranma stopped. “Why do you run?”
“Yes. Why do you run?”
Goten spun around trying to find the source of the voice. “Maron? Where are you?”
“Why do you keep running?”
“Because I’d lose my freedom.”
“I wouldn’t make you do anything you don’t want to. You could always say no.”
Goten’s shoulders dropped. “No I couldn’t.”
Maron materialized in front of Goten, fading in like she had just stepped out of a dark doorway. “Why couldn’t you?”
Goten looked up at her. “Because of the way you’re looking at me now.”
Maron froze for a second. “What?”
Goten lowered his head again. “I knew if I saw you again, and you looked at me with those beautiful eyes again, I wouldn’t be able to say no. All the rest of my life would be yours because…I…I still love you…and I could never say no to you.”
Tears formed in Maron’s eyes. “You mean that?”
Goten nodded.
Maron closed the distance between them and hugged him. “I love you too!”
Goten hugged her back. “I’ll keep my promise to you.”
Maron looked up at him, crying openly. “You mean it!”
“Yes.” He lowered his head, and they kissed.
Ranma grabbed a teary-eyed Akane by the arm and hauled her out the front door. “Okay, Akane, show’s over. You can stop staring at them like it one of those chick flicks you always watch.”
Akane nodded and allowed him to take her outside. Once they were outside she wrapped her arms around him. “But wasn’t that romantic?”
Ranma rolled his eyes. “It was fine until all the mushy stuff at the end.”
Akane slugged him in the shoulder. “Shut up and kiss me, you dolt.”
Ranma rubbed his shoulder. “Do I hafta?”
Akane grabbed his chin and hauled his face down for a kiss, paralysis ensued. “Baka.” She heard and frustrated sigh come from the side. Akane turned to see Pan walking up. She saw the down look on the other girl’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Pan walked over and plopped herself down on one of the steps to the dojo. She rested her head dejectedly on her hands. “Another one slipped through my fingers.”
Akane sat down beside her and patted her on the back. Ranma was still standing there dazed. “What happened this time?”
Pan started rubbing her temples. “Akane, can I ask you something?”
Akane blinked. “Sure.”
“Why do boys my age that have any power at all have multiple girlfriends?”
Ranma and Akane both facefaulted.