It started out as a typical day. Doesn't it always? Of course it starts out this way. If I'd started the story by writing "It was an eerie, dark and loathsome day---" you would expect something bad to happen to those involved. Unless you're one of those people that likes to psycho-analyze everything from shapes found in pieces of toast or messages on the back of cereal boxes. I am definitely not that kind of person. Where was I…? (Well, maybe I have my moments…) Oh yes, of course, at the beginning.

It started out as a typical day in Nerima, Japan. I was arguing with my…roommate? I'm not really sure what you'd call her. She's the girl I live with. No, it's nothing funny like that. My dad and I moved in with her family two years ago. My dad drug me through the streets of Japan on a cold and rainy day without so much as a reason. Then as soon as we find some place nice and dry, I come to find out it's the domicile of my promised future wife. Who promised? Not me! Well, I suppose that takes care of any theories on whether this story would prove to sound normal. It sounds a bit different now, seeing as this is the first time I've ever had to tell it.

Anyway, my fiancé...Akane, and I were arguing as usual. I don't know what it is, but it seems we can never get along. That's just about perfect. Now I know the fates are against me. First, I'm stuck without a choice of whom to marry and second of all, she just so happens to be my polar and absolute opposite. I suppose it could be worse. We could be allergic to each other.

The argument. Well, I can't really tell you why we were fighting. I know what caused it, but I still can't make much sense of it. Akane and I were doing some shopping for her older sister Kasumi. She needed some extra things for that night's dinner. Kasumi is the mother figure of the household. She does the cooking and the cleaning…pretty much everything I wouldn't want Akane to touch with a ten foot pole.

That brings us to the reason we both did the shopping. You see, Kasumi only asked me to go. And I could see Akane watching Kasumi start the stew, I could see the wheels turning in her head. She was probably pondering several noxious combinations of ingredients to throw in there. I had to stop her, for my stomach's sake. So I asked her to come along. Now don't you go thinking I'm an insensitive jerk. I'm very sensitive, just ask my stomach. Akane is pretty darn cute when she tries to be domestic, but why disillusion her more? There are some things you just aren't good at, accept what you're good at and move on.

While I was cruising the aisles for the items we needed, I noticed Akane wasn't following me. I turned the cart around in the direction I last saw her. I spied her by the bakery, eyeing a red velvet cake. Her favorite. I was a bit irritated, and a bit flustered, thinking something had happened to her. I rolled over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped. Then she smiled.

"Ranma! Doesn't that look amazing?" She asked excitedly.

"It does, but I think you'd better not…" I replied.

"The extra weight is gonna slow you down in practice." I responded rationally.

She responded not so rationally. "What?!" she glowered with menacing eyes.

It was meant to be constructive criticism. Something that I've found Akane has trouble swallowing sometimes. I was only trying to look out for her as a fellow martial artist. Why couldn't she see that?

"I'm just saying you should watch your figure…"

Ok, so maybe I could have been a little bit nicer about it. It's just that… every time I talk to Akane, something unhinges in my brain.

"Really? Well, why don't you watch this?!" She yelled as she made a few jabs at what she thought was my stomach.

It turned out she was only jabbing at the air surrounding her. As always, I jumped out of the way before she could connect.

"See what I mean about slowing you down?"

Ok, I really should have stopped while I was ahead.

"RANMA!!!! YOU JERK!" She yelled as she tried to slap me, I caught her wrist and spun her away from me.

She charged me again and I caught both of her arms and held them behind her back.

"Geez, Akane…I can't take you anywhere without you making a scene.

" She fumed at me.

"Are you going to calm down and behave like a lady?" I asked.

That was a dumb mistake. I'd already slammed her for her weight. Attacking her femininity at this particular juncture was a guaranteed death sentence. She spun out of my hold and ran for the exit.

"Ranma Saotome, I never want to speak to you ever again!" She called over her shoulder.

Alright, I'll admit it, I am an idiot. But you gotta admit, Akane Tendou is the queen of dramatics.

I checked out and paid for the purchases. Then I followed Akane outside. Little did I know that this whole scene had been closely observed by someone despicable.

I was on my way to catching up with her when some girl interjected.

"Pardon me Sir," She politely began

. I glared at her.

"Are you for real? I'm kinda in a hurry right now." I gestured at the dark haired girl running madly through the streets of Nerima.

I started to run after Akane again, but this girl grabbed my shirt sleeve.

"ARG!What is this? Will you just let go?!" I shrugged her hand off my sleeve and continued my sprint toward the fading figure in the distance.

"Akane!!" I called after her. "Akane, wait!"

Akane did not turn to look at me, in fact she didn't pause at all. She sprinted all the way home and I didn't catch up to her until I reached it. She was waiting for me outside, intently looking at the grass, as though any moment it would spring to life with a hat and cane and sing "Hello My Baby".

"Look," I began, "I didn't mean to upset you back there."

"You never mean to." She said in a slightly sarcastic tone.

"For cryin' out loud! I'm trying to apologize here…"

"Yeah, you're doing one hell of a job." Again with the sarcasm. Silence.

Suddenly, up the path strode the icebreaker and misguided answered prayer. The previously mentioned girl from the grocery store parking lot was approaching us, non-deterred and a bit winded.

"Man---You---Guys are fast!" she exclaimed.

"You ran all the way here? Why are you stalking me?"I asked in irritation.

She seemed offended by that.

"I'm not stalking you! Would you two just give me a few seconds of your time?" She pleaded in desperation.

"I…guess…" I reluctantly conceded.

"Alright then. My name is Gena. I was a student at St. Heberke's and I was a proud member of their Dance Club. To be precise, I am a member of their Ballroom Dance Club. Not many schools around here offer that as a club, and I was so excited to be a part of one. That was until Kodachi Kuno took over. She decided to take some lessons late into the school year to impress some guy…"

I gulped.

"Kodachi Kuno never does anything half-way. To make a long story short, she began barking orders, she was named a star pupil by the instructor. She started taking over practices and when we would not perform up to her standard she used persuasive violence. It got to the point where several of the original students have quit the team. I am one of them. She's devoted all of her time to Ballroom Dancing…and she's even been slacking off with her gymnastics. She used to be the star of the gymnastics team and now some say she's going to give it up to concentrate on dance."

"Heartbreaking…." I interrupted, "but what does that have to do with us?"

Gena paused.

"Well…I've decided to transfer schools, I can't stand being around Kodachi, and if I show my face at that school now, she'll treat me as she treats all traitors. Anyway, I plan on attending Furinkan High School and was wondering if you attend there." She looked down at the grass.

"Yes, we do…" Akane answered.

"I can't believe you're just running away like that." I interrupted.

"If dance is what you love then you can't let anyone or anything stop you. You have to overcome challenges." I instructed.

"Well, I suppose you're right. However, Kodachi's always made things pretty miserable for me there. I thought with a new school I could have a new start."

Gena said reluctantly.

"Ranma…" Akane warned.

"Gena, we'll support you at Furinkan. Don't worry…you'll get along there."

Great Akane. You forgot to mention the overly aggressive guys that attend Furinkan.

"Well," Gena paused. "I was actually kinda wondering something else too…"

"What's that?" Akane asked.

Gena blushed slightly. "I couldn't help but watch you in the grocery store. You both move with such speed! Such passion! Such grace! Such flair! And I was wondering…are you two ballroom dancers too?"

Gena... Wow. Talk about hitting a guy below the belt. Compare me to anything manly…a thief, a car repairman, a football mascot for cryin' out loud! But a ballroom dancer?!

"No...we're martial artists." Akane responded.

I couldn't think of anything to say, I was too busy nursing my injured pride.

"Oh," Gena responded, slightly embarrassed. I glared at her. Good. She should be embarrassed…of all the stupid---

"Well," she continued. "You definitely have the potential to be great!"

She paused again. "Could I ask you a favor?" She was looking directly at Akane this time.

"What's that?" Akane inquired.

"Would you be interested in helping me start a ballroom dancing club at Furinkan? You could also take some lessons to try it out, you know, just to see if you like it." Gena added enthusiastically.

Akane thought for a moment. Then she peered up at me with the most evil, maniacal smile I have ever seen.

I wet myself.

"Sure!" She responded without dropping that horrifying smile. "We'd love to!"