Phoenix: Reignited Edition Vol. I (Ranma 1/2)

1.08: A Fool's Errand

"Morning, Ranko!" Mei waved cheerfully, not expecting a wave in response as Ranma's hands were currently full of knife and potato.

Ranma swallowed hard, and Mei could tell her mind was somewhere else. Ranko. Even my name is a lie, Ranma thought to herself. I can't let them find out. I can't undo the fact I lied to them, and I didn't know it at the time, but I think I can trust them, and they deserved the truth. Hana and Yui called out their good mornings as well as Mei entered the kitchen and set about her daily tasks.

"Aw, crap!" Mei stuck her head out from the walk-in cooler. "We're out of orange juice." She frowned in slight embarrassment; she should have noticed that they were running low during the previous day's setup, but she had been distracted by the new hire's continued training.

Hana pulled up the sleeve of her ever-present black leather jacket and looked at her watch. "Well, we're just about ready, with plenty of time to spare. Wanna run up to the corner store and pick up a little bit to get us through until the next delivery? Grab some cash out of the till."

Ranma, having finished setting up the prep area, looked around for something else to do. Everything had gone so much faster than the day before with the benefit of experience and an early start, and all the tasks she'd been trained to handle were already finished. Mei tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey, Ranko, feel like a walk? You've been stuck here nonstop for days. We don't want you thinking you're just another piece of kitchen equipment."

Ranma shrugged. She honestly was quite fine to stay inside; after the previous two months of her life, she was grateful to be anywhere that she could feel like she belonged and was safe. "Sure, I guess." Following the blue-haired girl, Ranma exited through the steel back door in the kitchen, passing the dumpster in the alley and starting down a side street. She was grateful that the route didn't seem to pass the dojo where she'd suffered her humiliating defeat a few short days before. At least the bruise on her face was almost gone, but she'd not yet re-braided her hair to keep the yellowing splotch around her right eye hidden.

"So, what do you think of everything so far? Settling in okay?" Mei nudged her companion gently on the arm as they walked. "Any questions or anything?"

Ranma blushed a bit, and it made the sore spot on her right cheek ache slightly. "Honestly, I don't know what to think. All of you have been so nice to me, and I'm not sure I'm worth all this attention."

Mei shook her head. "Of course you are, and anyone that told you otherwise is clearly lying."

Ranma wasn't really sure how to respond, so she didn't, and Mei continued. "Look, I know it's hard. When you've always been on your own, sometimes it's hard to take kindness at face value. When I first got here... gods, I don't know how Mama put up with me. I was rude and angry all the time. All I could think about was getting the next fix. I was so used to being let down by everyone that I couldn't imagine somebody genuinely caring about me. Assuming they didn't was easier; if people didn't care about me, then it didn't matter if I hurt them to get what I needed. I don't know what they saw in me, honestly. Even I was pretty sure I was beyond saving."

Ranma nodded in sympathy. "You seem to be doing okay now though."

Mei blushed a little. "Yeah, I guess I am. It's still hard sometimes. For me, I always wanted to use most when I was depressed, so the best way to keep from being tempted is to try to be happy all the time, even when I have to fake it to get through the rough parts. Some days, that's easier than others. But I remember that even when I didn't deserve it, Mama and the other girls didn't give up on me, and I can't let them down now by giving up on myself."