Here's the first part of V&R-5 for those who are interested.
C&C appreciated.
Visits and Revelations, Part Va:
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Duels at the Dojo.
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Shampoo smiled at Nodoka and waved her hand to somehow indicate that
she wanted everyone to listen. The buzz of conversation died down for a
second as those gathered in the room puzzled over Shampoo's intent. Shampoo
spoke:
"Mother-in-Law, since Ranma is a martial artist above all else. Would
you be interested in seeing us show our skill?"
Nodoka wondered at the offer a second, then let her curiosity guide her as
she hesitantly replied:
"Well.... I wouldn't mind a friendly demonstration..."
Nodoka watched the girls look each other over, taking note of Akane's
grim expression, Shampoo's bouyant confidence, Ukyou's calm control and the
perceptible malevolence radiating from Kodachi. Off to the side Soun was
sobbing to himself while Nabiki was muttering something not being able to
arrange an audience and Ranko was lying flat on the floor, a beaten
expression on her face. Kasumi started clearing away the table:
"Has everyone had enough for now? Should I bring out some snacks?"
Everyone in the room started slightly and indicated to Kasumi that they were
alright at the moment, 'Panda-San' poked his head in again and showed Kasumi
a sign:
"I'd like some snacks!"
Nodoka thought about moving to help Kasumi, but as she started forward
Kodachi came over to her:
"Dearest Mother-in-Law, for our little... demonstration. Don't you agree
that a general melee would offer the widest scope for the displaying of our
skills, and that the winner is obviously the one best suited to be
Ranma-Sama's loving wife."
Nodoka stared at Kodachi in amazement, uncertain of how to respond to this.
Tendo Soun had no such uncertainty, microphone in hand he made his opinion
known:
"Yes! A general melee where Akane can show the greatness of the
Anything-Goes school of martial arts. And we can have Akane marry Ranma
right after she wins!"
Shampoo blinked at the statements by Kodachi and Soun, then turned to Nodoka,
a confident and deadly smile on her face:
"Not quite what Shampoo intended... but if mother-in-law willing, Shampoo
have no objections."
Ukyou shrugged her shoulders:
"It's a silly idea, but if Ran-Chan is the prize... I'm in."
Akane didn't say anything, being occupied with throwing her father back
into the pond.
Ranko remained seated and debated with herself, surely seppekku wasn't that
painful.
Nabiki leaned over to Kasumi and whispered:
"Father must be feeling really desperate. He's making a bigger fool of
himself than usual."
Kasumi smiled slightly and continued clearing away the remains of the meal.
Nodoka stared at the chaos that had erupted with Kodachi's...
challenge. Something had to be done. Drawing herself up Nodoka called for
quiet, on her third call the racket began to die down as the girls slowly
lowered their weapons and faced Nodoka. Nodoka sighed:
"Finally."
Looking over her audience Nodoka had doubts that they would listen to her
but felt compelled to speak her piece:
"Akane, Ukyou, Shampoo, Kodachi... I cannot make Ranma the prize of any
fight. He will marry whoever he chooses and while I can advise him, in the
end it's a decision that he has to make. Alone. My son is not a prize you
can win by fighting one another."
Nodoka tried to gauge how her speech was being received, Akane looked angry
but thoughtful while Ukyou was nodding in apparent agreement. Shampoo stood
impassively, no sign of her feelings on her face. Kodachi stood with a baton
in hand and seemed more interested in Akane's back than Nodoka's words.
Nodoka decided that they were listening to her as much as they ever listened
to anyone, as to whether or not they understood what she was saying... there
were things beyond anyone's power. Nodoka took a deep breath and continued:
"You all have a lot in common. You shouldn't let your rivalry for Ranma stop
you being friends."
All 4 girls started in surprise and, in varying ways, showed their disdain
for the idea, though Akane & Ukyou did exchange quick looks, and the
argument about the "skill exhibition" was soon back in full swing.
Nodoka leaned back against the wall and rubbed her head, things were
beyond her control and she had no idea of how keep these girls in check.
They were all so, so stubborn and inflexible. Off to one side Nabiki
stretched and noted the increasingly angry exchanges between the iinazuke,
and the threatening moves that came closer and closer to becoming real
attacks. Nabiki shook her head, if this fight broke out in the dining room
it would be a nuisance to repair the damage and they might damage the TV,
which would stop her watching the financial News for a while. As Kodachi
started spinning around her ribbon, generating a strong wind and
forcing the others to step back a fraction, Nabiki stood up and shouted:
"ENOUGH! I'll organise your 'exhibition'! For FREE! Now save your energy
for the 'exhibitions'!"
Silence descended on the dining room as all faces turned towards
Nabiki. Nabiki gave everyone in the room one of her best no nonsense glares
and then struck a dramatic pose:
"The demonstrations will be a series of 1 on 1 fights, each of you will face
your rivals once each in single combat. You will have 3 fights each and
will have a chance to show your skill against each of your opponents. The
fights will be until the Umpire declares a winner. Any questions?"
Akane stepped forward:
"How are you going to handle... disagreements Umpire Nabiki Oneesan?"
Nabiki stared at her little sister:
"Me? Get near you lot when you're fighting? Don't be silly Akane-chan.",
Nabiki points at Ranko (who still has her head in her hands and doesn't
appear to be paying any attention to what is going on):
"Ranko-Chan is going to be the Umpire."
Hearing her name mentioned Ranko looks up from her "meditations":
"What's going on.... Why is everyone looking at me?"
Akane groans and goes over to Ranko and starts explaining matters to her,
Nabiki intercepts the other 3 girls before they can follow Akane and takes
them a short distance away:
"OK you 3, I'm setting out the order of the fights now, would any of you be
interested in having a say in this... the more Yen you offer me the more
clearly I'll hear you."
Nabiki smiles as Ukyou, Kodachi and Shampoo start bidding against one
another.
Ranko stared at Akane in dismay as Akane ran through Nabiki's plan
for the demonstrations.
"You're Joking! You fight one another? And you want me to be in the
middle!?"
Akane glared at Ranko and stood over the still seated girl:
"Why not? No one will be *TRYING* to hit you."
Ranko shakes her head:
"That's supposed to reassure me?"
Nodoka comes over to stand besides Akane:
"Akane-Chan, while I'm sure Ranko would do a good job, isn't it your fathers
place to supervise this contest?"
Akane and Ranko look up at Nodoka, then switch their gazes to Tendo Soun.
Soun puffs out his chest and strikes a noble pose, an image of a rising sun
appearing behind him:
"As the head of the Tendo Dojo I would be remiss in my duties if I did not
take this opportunity to supervise the demonstration of skill that these
girls have generously agreed to stage for us."
Akane and Ranko have shocked expressions on their face, Nodoka beams at
Soun:
"So wonderfully put Tendo-San. I am sure that you'll do a wonderful job and
keep the girls from getting carried away."
Soun smiles, then he thinks. Ranma's iinazuke, carried away. Pictures begin
to flash through his mind, we see Shampoo come through a wall sword and mace
in hand, we see Ukyou leaping over Genma her spatula sweeping down to crush
him, we see Kodachi fighting Ranko batons blurring in front of her and
finally we see Akane glowing blue with anger as Soun heads for the pond.
Soun stands and walks around behind Ranko:
"But alas Saotome-san, it is also my duty to see that Ranko-Chan here is not
denied opportunities to practice HER skills. She shall be the umpire, while
I observe and stand ready to aid her."
Akane looks from her father to Ranko and shakes her head, muttering to
herself:
"Good. Ranma should be part of this."
Nodoka focusses on Soun and misses Akane's mutterings (Ranko didn't, she went
white when Akane mentioned her real name):
"But Tendo-San, Ranko-Chan is..."
Ranko breathes in deeply and stands up between Nodoka and Soun, interrupting
them:
"I'll umpire.", looks at Soun with a dark expression, "I'm sure I'll learn
a lot."
Soun nods at Ranko, unable to hide his relief at her words. Nodoka stares at
Ranko:
"Are you sure about this?"
Ranko hesitates, then looks Nodoka in the eye:
"I'm sure. I at least have to try and stop my... friends from hurting one
another."
Nodoka and Ranko exchange a long look, then Nodoka turns away:
"Very well then. I'll take some cushions to the dojo for those of us who
wish to watch."
Nodoka picks up some cushions and heads for the dojo with Soun. Akane moves
to stand beside Ranko:
"You have to stop us hurting one another?"
Ranko stiffens a fraction and then faces Akane, a depressed look on her face:
"Since Mother came... I.. I...", Ranko pauses for a second and swallows,
"You, Ukyou and Shampoo are all my friends... but I... I.."
With that Ranko suddenly spins around and walks slowly away from Akane.
Akane watches Ranko's back move away and finds her eyes suddenly watering:
"Baka", she whispers, "We all know the cost... ".
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David M. Bateson |
| "Funny Games, Strange Cartoons, Confusing
| Computers and too many Books! No
major@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au | wonder you're weird."
| - My Sister.
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