Haruka Tenoh was crouching on her garage's floor, carefully inspecting the oil-smeared bike engine in front of her. Every now and then, she would use a screwdriver to fix something in the depths of the machine.
"Harukaaa!"
Haruka smirked, as she recognized the voice even before the blonde, twin-ponytailed schoolgirl named Usagi Tsukino came around the corner and entered the garage.
"Hey there, Dumpling Head!" Haruka said with a smirk as she wiped a bit of grease off her face.
"Michiru told me you'd be here," Usagi said while rummaging through the bag she was carrying. "Here, you've got to take a look at this. Mamoru got them from a friend this weekend, because he had too many, and we still have many to spare, so I thought, maybe you and Michiru would be interested... whoops!"
"Careful there!" Haruka said when she saw how the Senshi Disguise Pen was falling out of her friend's bag.
Usagi winced. "Sorry, I guess I'm a tad excited about this..." She picked up the Disguise Pen from the floor and put it on Haruka's workbench, which was standing next to her.
Then she drew a pair of tickets from her bag. "Here, what do you think?"
Haruka took a look at them. 'Three Lights on Stage' was written in big, red letters. According to the tickets, they were loge tickets for the next concert of the famous music band.
"Well, I can't say I'm really a fan of them... but Michiru certainly seems to like their music. Thanks, Usagi. So, is there any reason you thought of us first?"
"Well, I already gave two to Rei and Yuiichiro. Ami said she wasn't interested, and Minako is grounded for that evening, unfortunately. Makoto told me she'd love to go, but she didn't have anybody to go there with... Well, and the next persons that came in mind were you and Michiru." Usagi then looked at Haruka's bike curiously. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm just making a few experiments with the engine. I'm trying to make it run a bit smoother, so I may make my bike go a bit faster."
"Even faster than it does now?" Usagi asked in awe. "Haruka, you'll get yourself hurt one day if you fall off that thing! Do you really need to go faster?"
"Well, not necessarily, but... I just love tinkering on my bike, see, and this just gives me a reason to do so."
Usagi shook her head. "You're weird sometimes, Haruka! I know of nobody who is so obsessed with mechanics as you."
Haruka grinned. "You know, you should have met Ranma."
"Ranma? Who's that?" Usagi frowned. "Haruka! Are you cheating on Michiru?"
"Hey, it's not like that! Ranma is an old buddy I met when I was your age. He and his father were travelling martial artists, and during the time they stayed in Juuban, we became friends. Ranma taught me a few of the kicks I use as Sailor Uranus. But I also tried to interest him in engines and mechanics, and he seemed very intrigued. Sadly, I never got to see him again after he and his father left for their journey to China... we still write each other, though."
"You never told me about that friend, Haruka," Usagi said. "Is he a nice guy?"
Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Why? Don't you have your Mamoru?"
"Harukaaa! I don't mean it like that! I mean, if he's a martial artist, maybe we have finally found a boyfriend for Makoto."
Haruka chuckled. "Sorry, you won't be able to play matchmaker this time. From what he wrote me, he's already engaged to a girl in Nerima."
"Awww, bummer! Oh well, I've gotta go! My family will already be waiting with lunch, so I better hurry!"
Haruka smirked. "You never miss a meal, eh, Dumpling Head?"
Usagi grinned. "Never! All right, see ya, Haruka!" And she sped off.
Haruka focussed back on her bike's engine. Some time later, she could hear the phone from within the house. Shortly afterwards, she heard Michiru's voice calling: "Haruka, there's somebody on the phone for you! A guy called Ranma!"
Surprised, Haruka wiped her greasy hands with a piece of cloth and wanted to go inside... when she noticed the Disguise Pen, still lying on her workbench.
She groaned. "Damn, Usagi, you really forget everything around you when you're hungry! Oh well, I'll just have to give it back to you the next time we meet..." And she put it in her pocket.
Back in the house, she hurried to the phone. "Hello?"
"Yo, Haruka!" a cheerful, male voice could be heard at the other hand. "What's up?"
The racer smiled. "Ranma, I didn't hear your voice in ages! What kept you from calling?"
"Ah, you know, the usual, fiancees keep bugging me, rivals keep attacking me..."
Haruka snickered. "Sounds like you live a busy life, Ranma. You know, it's funny, I just recalled the old times, back when you were still in Juuban. But say, is there a reason for your call?"
"Actually, there is," Ranma said. "Listen up, there's something I wanna show you... I don't wanna talk to you about it on the phone. But could we meet on the weekend so I can show it to you? It really would be important."
"All right, so what could be so important that you want to talk with your old buddy Haruka about it instead with your fiancee, your family or one of your friends who live in Nerima?"
She almost heard how Ranma winced. "There aren't too many people I can trust to keep this a secret. And this is something from your area of expertise, so I thought we might meet... on Saturday, perhaps?"
"Okay, now you got me curious!" She looked at the concert tickets. 'Well, the concert's this weekend, but it's on Sunday... so I could still meet Ranma on Saturday.'
"Saturday sounds fine. Where shall we meet?"
"How about at your place?" Ranma suggested.
Haruka shrugged. "Sounds fine with me. Eleven o' clock?"
"Okay, great! Thanks, Haruka! See you then!" And he hang up.
Michiru came up behind her love and gave her a hug. "So that's this 'Ranma' you told me about?"
"Yeah, he's a great guy... he asked me if he could come over this Saturday, he wanted to show me something, I believe."
"Aww, so you won't spend the day with me?" Michiru asked with a pout.
Haruka grinned. "Do not fret, I have planned something grand for you! Guess where we are going on Sunday?" And she showed her girlfriend the tickets.
Michiru gasped. "Haruka! But... but it's so hard to get any tickets, how did you...? Oh, come here, you!"
And when the turquoise-haired girl smothered her with kisses, Haruka grinned and thought to herself: 'Usagi, I really owe you big for this one...'
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(Posted Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:03)
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