Disclaimer: I do not own these characters; they are the property of their respective owners

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters; they are the property of their respective owners. Please don't sue,

I can't afford to spare a dime.

This is a Ranma 1/2 + Tenchi-Muyo fic.

Graceful Falling

Ch. 3

Faulty Judgements

"Whew, we're almost there right?........right Mihoshi?"

Ranma looked around him for the blond girl, fearing that she had succumbed to her seemingly tragic sense of direction. Fortunately, he spotted her a little ways on the path he had just stepped off of. Looking down at her, he couldn't

help but notice the way the rays of the sun seemed to be caught up in her hair

and how their climbing had brought about a healthy sheen to her skin. After a

few seconds of staring, he started when he realized that she answered him.

"Huh?" he asked

"I think we're close, I'm not sure though, usually I just crash into it."

"Oh.........ok" he replied, gazing into her eyes.

"Um......is there something on my face?" Mihoshi asked.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well, you were staring at me for a while, that's all."

"Oh, well you know, he he he." *stupid!, stupid!, stupid!, you already have four

fiancées! You don't need anymore, dammit!

"Are you ok, Ranma? You seem to be distracted."

"Yeah I'm fine, just thinking about how ...I'm gonna explain where I was today."

"ok"

*Why can't I just treat her like all the other girls I know, I don't have this

much of a problem with them*

With just another glance at Mihoshi, Ranma got his answer. He was nervous and

enticed by her because she wasn't after him for her own reasons. She was just

a beautiful girl that he happened to be helping out. Looking into her eyes, he

didn't see the calculations or rage he had come to associate with women. Instead

he saw a kind of innocence, without a hint of beguilement. It was new to him. And in that moment a part of him wanted to protect that innocence above all things.

"So, who exactly do you know at this shrine?"

"Oh, my partner and I are staying there with friends."

"Partner?"

"Yep, Kiyone is the best partner on the force!"

"Oh...you mean partner on the job!"

"Well yeah, what did you think I meant?"

"Uhh......I really don't know," Ranma replied, scratching his head.

They continue walking, chatting about trivial things, neither really wanting

to spoil the lightness of the mood. All too soon, just as the sun is dipping over the horizon, they spot a house a little ways off.

"Is that it, Mihoshi?"

"Oh yeah! Thank you so much!" Mihoshi exclaims, hugging him.

"Heh Heh, no problem, but why are you thanking me now?, I haven't gotten you home yet."

"Oh you're coming too?"

"Of course I am! I've brought you this far, I might as well see you to the door, besides, I'm probably gonna need to ask the Kami for help when I get back home," Ranma replied smirking.

*Giggles* "Yeah, you're right, well let's go, I'm starving! Maybe you could eat here too!"

"That would be nice."

"Well come on then!"

Mihoshi grabs Ranma's wrist and runs off towards the house, Ranma dangling behind her.

************

NERIMA:

"Where is that baka?, I'm going to kill him!"

************

MASAKI SHRINE:

'Wow Sasami! This is really good!', Kiyone exclaimed,'I really have

your cooking.'

'Thank you, Kiyone, but I didn't cook my best this time. I was too

worried about Mihoshi.'

'Don't worry about it Sasami, as soon as morning comes, I'm going to

go with Ryoko to help look for her.' said Tenchi.

'What, you don't think I did a good job looking for her myself?' asked

Ryoko frowning.

'No, that's not it, it's just that two pairs of eyes are better than

one, and I want to help. Besides,... it'd give us some time alone,

so we could talk.'

The sound of crickets could be heard as several people suddenly became

very quiet. Looking back and forth between a nervous Tenchi and a per-

plexed Ryoko, they said the very first thing that came to mind.

'WHAT!!??!!'

This was spoken vehementallly by almost everyone in the room, excluding

Sasami, who just sat there confused, and Tenchi, who was praying that

things wouldn't get too out of hand.

Ryoko's thoughts were racing,* Talk? Alone? Why? Could he....?Maybe he..?

Is he trying to.....?*

As usual, her musings were interrupted by a certain tempermental princess.

'Lord Tenchi, what are you talking about? Alone to talk about what?'

'Well Aeka, I've been thinking, I really haven't had a chance to get to

know any of you. I am hardly ever able to talk privately with either of

you.'

*So that's why he wants to spend time with me*

'Well, I can understand that Lord Tenchi, but why would you wish to

spend your time with her?' she asked gesturing condescendingly at

Ryoko, 'You already know everything there is to know about her, she

is a crass, vulgar, beastly criminal!'

'Grrrrrr, is that right princess? Well I'll show you beastly! and Ryoko

prepared to do just that, forming her chi sword in her hands, when she

was interrupted yet again, but this time by a different source.

'Well then, it would seem that you don't know Ryoko at all Aeka, or have

you forgotten all the times she has rescued you? Please refrain from

making such sweeping statements about Ryoko in the future, if you wish

to continue living here.'* I hope she backs down, I'd hate to have to

enforce this*

Fight forgotten, both combatents, turn to face the object of their rivalry.

'L..Lord Tenchi!?'

'Huh?'

'If these fights are going to continue, than this problem is never

going to go away', he explained, ' We have to mature enough to look

deal with our problems, this case being our feelings, head on. I'm

sorry if I sound harsh, but I would really like an end to these fights,

and to know how to deal with our feelings.'

'Uh....ok, Lord Tenchi, you are right in this.' Aeka consented head

bowed.

'T....Tenchi?', Ryoko asked, gazing down at the man she loved.

'Yes Ryoko?' he answered morosely * Here it comes*

'Do you promise to give me a chance?'

'Of course!'

'Then.....ok.'

The two share a stare that seems to last an eternity to those around

them, they hold each others' gaze for so long that Aeka momentarily

forgets the concession she had just made. Readying herself, she places

a log between the two, blocking their vision.

'What you'd do that for?'

'You were drooling over my Lord Tenchi!'

'I was not, and even if I was, why shouldn't I?'

'You...You...hussy!'

'At least I'm not a stuck-up prude!'

'You two stop it! You just finished saying you wouldn't fight, can't you

even try?'

'But Tenchiiiiii!'

'But Lord Tenchi!'

Tenchi, disgusted, walks out of the liveing room, going up to his room.

The two girls were going to chase after him, when there was a knock on

the door.

'I'll get it!' announced Sasami, bounding towards the door.

Opening the door, 'Can I help yo......Mihoshi!'

The chipper young girl leaped into Mihoshi's arms, nearly knocking her

over, 'I was so worried! Where were you?'

By this time, most of the inhabitants of the shrine, were crowded around

the door. They quickly moved out of the way when they saw Mihoshi and

Sasami coming inside. That was when their eyes widened. Standing beside

Mihoshi was a guy. A decidedly handsome guy, wearing a red-chinese

shirt, with a pair of black pants. His black, windswept hair was tied

up into a ponytail, and he walked with the air of a fighter. At the

moment however, he was standing there shuffling his feet, alternately

looking around and blushing.

'And who are you?'

'Ah..My name's Ranma Saotome, sorry about this.'

**************

Next Time:

*Splash*

'BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM A GENIUS!'

'How did this happen?'

*sigh* 'Well, It all started at this place called Jusenkyo.'

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Well, that's chapter 3. About Tenchi's

sudden growth, I've always felt that

Tenchi was rather blind about exactly

how much he's been hurting 'his girls'.

I just thought that if he found out, he

would take steps to remedy this.how long

he can keep them both happy before

he has to makes a choice is a question

that only the women can answer. Once again

e-mail me with C&C&ideas. NO FLAMES! Until

next time. Ja Ne.

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