The First Date

It is my first date and I'm nervous.

The girl seated across from me smiles at the joke I made and is oddly attentive to our conversation, as if noticing me for the first time. The suit I wear is a little tight around the shoulders, as it has been a while since I wore one and didn't have time to get a replacement. The candlelight reflects in her beautiful eyes and she tilts her head to study me. I return her smile and wonder why she purchased me in the first place.

I had agreed to participate in the bachelor auction as it was for a good cause and all of the Ranma's other enemies had already agreed. Ranma himself had been fought over and eventually won by Kodachi as the rest of the girls simply didn't have her money. Good luck on that one buddy.

My dining companion looks beautiful in a pink dress that compliments her pale beauty and soft, long hair. I watch her as she eats a cherry and wonder why I have never noticed how exotically beautiful she is. When she smiles she's cute beyond words, I wonder if she would mind if I kiss her goodnight at the end of our date?

The restaurant is the most expensive one in town and well worth the expense just to see her enjoying herself so much. I had done everything right, I introduced myself properly to her family, even though I had met them before and brought her roses. The champagne is actually sparkling cider, as we are both underage to drink. The bubbles make her giggle as they tickle her nose and she glances at me again. I feel relaxed and comfortable with her as I tell her about some of my humourous training bloopers. She is a good listener and cracks up at my jokes. Her butchered use of Japanese is kind of cute, along with her accent. At the moment it's hard to believe that this soft, curvy woman is a deadly warrior as she feeds me a bite of her dessert.

We linger over coffee as if reluctant for the date to end, but sadly it must and I retrieve her shawl and my overcoat from the coat check.

I walk her home while she clings to my arm and rests her head softly against my shoulder. I have never before walked like this and smell the sweet jasmine in her hair and match my larger stride with those of my petite companion.

All too soon we reach her apartment door and I pause and wonder if I dare ask for a kiss. She surprised me by taking my face between her small soft hands and pulling me into a sweet kiss, my first! It was a gentle kiss and we shyly and tentatively snaked our arms around each other. I let her when she teased my tongue with her own as I stroked her hair. We finally part and she says "thanks Kuno for too too fun date, I glad I bought you now"

"Thank you also Shampoo. Why did you buy me?" I asked her.

She cocked her head; "you, Mousse and Ryoga have become like friends to us fiancées. After Kodachi bought Ranma we felt bad that no one bid for any of you, so Ukyou buy Ryoga, Akane buy Mousse and I buy you. We all a team" she explained.

"Oh" I said a little disappointed that my first date was a pity date. "I guess I'll see you later"

"Yes" she said. "Oh Kuno, I not say no if you ask for other date" she said with a giggle and shut the door after her. I could only smile at this.