Phoenix Ignited: Reignited Edition (Ranma 1/2)

3.01: Discovery

"Mei, I need you to take a deep breath. Sit down?" Ranko pulled her legs up under the skirt of her borrowed yellow dress, sitting up on her bed and patting the edge of it in invitation.

Mei closed the door to the little apartment above the Phoenix behind her, darting the few steps to the edge of the bed and pouncing on it. She waved a glossy black card in the air. "Ranko! There was a guy and he was looking for you and he wants to see... He saw you and he wants to see you and he likes you and he... oh my gods!"

Groaning, Ranko lowered her forehead into her left hand. Her right still clutched her sore abdomen, bracing her ribs that still ached from her spar with Akane earlier that afternoon. "Mei, honey... You... you do know I don't like guys, right? Like, I have a girlfriend and everything."

At least I hope so, Ranko thought, biting her lip. If I didn't set her up for a beating bad enough that she leaves me over it. She has everything she needs to win, and hopefully Pop's rusty since he hasn't trained with me in a few months. It all comes down to whether or not she figures out what I was trying to show her. Fuck, I should have just told her. I'm an idiot. Thank the gods I'll never run a dojo, because I'm an absolute shit teacher, and I might have just gotten Akane's ass kicked because of it.

"It's not like that, blockhead!" Mei reached for a pillow to throw at her sister, but Ranko snatched it away before she could. "He's a scout, I think, or maybe an agent!"

Wincing from the effort to reach for the pillow, Ranko slumped back onto her side, curling her body up around the giant pink teddy bear that occupied the bed with her and hugging it against her torso. I feel like such an idiot cuddling this thing, but it's a lot more comfortable than the pillows. Squeezing it like this just makes it not hurt as much, that's all. Not like I like it or nothin'.

"An agent?! What, is the Public Security Intelligence Agency after me now?! What the heck did I do?!" Ranko swallowed hard. Is it because I faked my way into getting an identification card? Or is it... something else? I mean, I guess spies would probably love to figure out how a buff dude just transformed into a cute little redhead all of a sudden. Talk about a good disguise. But how would they even know who I am?

Mei rolled her eyes, grabbing Ranko's ankle hard with both hands and shaking her leg. "No, you idiot! A talent scout! Like, somebody who looks for singers and stuff!" She waved the black business card in Ranko's face again. "This guy, he was at the Christmas show. He said he video taped part of it, and he's watched it a couple of times now, and wanted to come back to see what you're like on a more... regular night, I guess, like when it wasn't as big of a production? I don't know!"

"Say what?!" Ranko sat up straighter on her bed, bracing her ribs with her hand again. Her enormous stuffed teddy bear fell to the floor, and she paid it no notice. "What did he want with me?!"

Ranko's sister bounced on the mattress excitedly, her pigtails flopping over her shoulders. "Ranko, they wanna see more of you, because they think they might wanna work with you! Like, this guy apparently has, like, his own agency!" She looked down at the shiny calling card in her hand. "Tashima Talent Agency. There's an address in Shibuya. I wonder if they, like, help people make their own songs and stuff!"

The songstress chuckled dismissively. "Fat chance of that! It's a nice thought, though." Maybe one day, she hoped silently. Man, wouldn't that throw Akane for a loop? Her taking over the dojo... and me... a pop star? Who'd ever have imagined it?