New Days: Half-Baked Plans [Episode 9085]

Akane watched Ranma pace go and forth in deep thought.  At least she guessed it was deep thought; the expression wasn't one Ranma used often.  From the outside, it looked just like he was constipated.

"So, you found some way to wiggle out of it?" asked the Tendo girl impatiently.

"Shhh... Akane... give me a minute there... I'm sure I'll find something...."

Akane shook her head.  As if a tree could grow on barren soil.

"Why don't you simply tell Nabiki you don't want of her?  Without her, there won't be any marriage!"

"Owww, come on, Akane, I can't do that to your sister!  Even if it's artificial, she's in love with me, I can't hurt her feelings like that...."

"Ranma, you dummy!  You said it, her feelings were created by the pill!  So, why would it matter if you crush them!  She'll have forgotten all of that by tomorrow, and won't be any the worse for wear!"

"Hu?  You're sure about that?"

"Of course!  Do you remember the time you fell in love with Cologne?"

"Urk!  No!!!  And I don't want to even think about it!"

"So Nabiki should be all right, you don't have to worry."

"Yeah, but... " hesitated Ranma, frowning, "... I'm not sure that would work.  You know, your sister can be quite hard to shake off once she put her sight on something... just telling her wouldn't be enough... and my mom wouldn't be happy that I tried to stop the wedding...."

"Then, WHAT are you going to do?" she asked anew, glaring at her fiancé.

"I'm sure there's a way... it have to come from Nabiki, so that I don't get blamed for it... what could made her give up on the wedding...."

Ranma stopped, eyes round, and he slapped a fist in his palm.  "Of course!  I know!  Why didn't I think of this sooner!"

"What is it?"

"Jealousy!" proudly responded Ranma.  "If I got Nabiki mad at me, like yo...... my other fiancées get all the time, she won't want any longer to marry me... at least until tomorrow, and then I'll be free!"

Akane blinked.  That could work, but Nabiki was far from stupid, even in her enamored state; she may still see through it.

"And how are you going to do that?" she inquired.

"Well, that's easy, I'll just have Nabiki find me in a compromising position with a girl and-"

*SLAP!*

"YOU PERVERT!"

"OW!  Why didja do that for?!" yelled Ranma, rubbing his red cheek.

"You're just planning on getting a nookie with some tramp, you jerk!"

"Argh!  Pretending!  Just pretending, ya uncute tomboy!  Solely to get Nabiki offa my case!"

Akane closed her fist and grinded her teeth, still upset.  "And who's gonna be the 'lucky girl', you lech?"

"Well, you." he retorted flatly.

"Hu?"  This evaporated Akane's anger like a snowball in Hell.  "Wha... who... ME?!" she stuttered, turning beet red.

"Akane, I'm a little on a short schedule there.  So, if you really don't want me to marry your sister, then you'll have to help me."

"That's crazy!  If it's our fathers or your mother that caught us instead of Nabiki, then WE'd be the one married instead!"

"We'll just have to make sure it's Nabiki who walk on us.  Akane, I don't have the time to search for some girl that'd agree to such a trick, and you wouldn't allow it anyway.  I could ask Ucchan or Shampoo, but I doubt they'll stop at 'pretending'; they'd rather try to take advantage of it.  So, unless you want me to marry Nabiki...."