unless there's something here you guys think
I oughta fix, this goes to RAAC in a week or two.
C&C mucho appreciated, even negative.
-rpm
----------------------------------------------
tpoh-7
========================
The Pursuit Of Happiness
Act 1
Part 7
Every Day Is A Winding Road
or
To Socialize With The More Pleasant Circles of Nerima
=====================================================
Dinner time.
One of the most important and vital times of the day, especially if
you're in the Saotome household and have five people and one voracious
panda to feed.
Kasumi dug through the cabinets and shelves, but they were, for
today's dinner, lacking in neccessary ingredients.
Were Genma there, he'd certainly call it an emergency situation.
He wasn't there, but he would be in a moment.
Well, there was just one thing to be done, in that case.
"Father, I'll be out for a little while."
"Oh?"
"Just to the market, we're out of some supplies."
*
*RING!*
"Hello?"
//Um, is Manami there?//
"Yeah, this is Manami."
//Hi! This is Sayuri! What are you up to?//
"Not too much, but you caught me on my way out..."
//Oh? Where're you going?//
"It's nothing really, just out with a friend..."
//Out... as in... going out?
"No! It's just a small thing."
//Oh. I see.... hm. Well, I'm just calling to ask you if you're
going to be with us in the study group today?//
"Oh no, that's today?"
//You didn't forget, did you?//
"Er... well..."
//You did.//
"Well... yeah..."
//So... you can't come?//
"*sigh* I completely forgot. I'm gonna be out all day."
//Oooh reeeally... ?
"Um, yeah."
//So you ARE going on a date! *giggle*//
"No! It's not a date! He's just a friend! We're just having a
small picnic. That's all."
//That's all? All day... it *is* with a boy, right?//
"Yeah..."
//You're spending the day with a guy. Tell us the details later?//
"HEY!"
//Well, if you don't want to...//
"*sigh* We'll see."
//*Giggle!* So, who are you going with? Is it Gosunkugi?//
"..."
//Hello?//
"Why are you so nosey, anyway?"
//I'm just... curious how it is to have a boyfriend...//
"He's _not_ my boyfriend!"
//Oops. Sorry. *sigh* I wish you could make it tonight, I think
they're going to be playing cards tonight. It could be fun!//
"Hm, I don't know..."
//Come with us, please? Everyone will be there! Ranma and Akane
are coming. Hiroshi, Daisuke, Yuka, Akari, Ukyou and Ryouga will be
there too.//
"R-Ryouga? Oh, well... that sounds nice, but I don't know about
tonight. It really depends on what Hikaru-kun wants to do..."
//Oh.//
"Look, we'll see, okay? I'll ask him if he wants to go."
//Alright! Hope to see you there!//
"Yeah, we'll see. Look, I gotta run. I'll talk to you later,
right?"
//Okay! And keep us posted, okay?//
"Sayuri!"
//*Giggle*//
"Well, see you later! Ja!"
*CLICK*
A few minutes later...
"Hey! Gos-kun!"
Hikaru Gosunkugi blinked. He was in his room, and didn't expect
anyone yelling to his window. Gos cautiously poked his head out the
window, and was greeted by the sight of...
"M-Manami!"
Understand, the concept of Hikaru Gosunkugi WITH a girl was
something fairly alien to him, and the rest of Nerima as well.
"Hi! C'mon, s'great weather today! Let's go!"
"Go? Um, go where?"
*
Ryouga-chan sighed.
Some days, he (now a she) found out, Ukyou could be a real mean
lady.
Today was a good example.
"Ryouga! To the left!" yelled Ukyo.
He turned left.
Ryouga looked down at her waitress outfit and sighed in disgust.
Ukyo was the one that suggested it, since, after all, customers liked
pretty waitresses, not bumbling lost waiters. Ryouga did refuse, but
then Ukyo reminded him it was HER place he had been staying at, and at
NO expense at all, and basically saddled him with enough guilt to sink
a small boat. It was entirely unpleasant to him, now a her, the way
that the men would look at her. Ryouga just wanted to scream out "I'M
A GUY!" but it just wouldn't do under these circumstances.
"You went past it! Take a few steps back!"
He took a few steps back.
Mercifully, Ucchan's had shorter hours nowadays, partially because
Ukyo wanted more time off, and partially because she could afford it
now that Nabiki was her investment broker.
"No, no, no! Ya went too far! Go forward again!"
Ryouga grumbled something about pushy women and took a few steps
forward. She checked her watch. There were two minutes, two minutes
left until closing. Ryouga couldn't wait.
"Excuse me, Miss? That's my order," a rather refined voice said.
"Eh? Oh, here ya go." Ryouga unceremoniously dumped a plateload
of Okonomiyaki at a table and started to walk off. Her hand was
grabbed.
"Miss, allow me to thank you for your service."
"What are y*MMPFH*"
Ukyo looked up from her grill, wondering if Ryouga was finally done
delivering that order yet. "Hey, Ryouga, didja... a.... oh boy."
And thus, Ryouga Hibiki once again met Midako Sanzenin, although
this time under wildly different and (at least to Ryouga) unpleasant
circumstances.
"GETOFFFAME!" *WHAM*
And so, on this day, Ukyo got a new skylight too.
"Oh well, it was closing time anyways. C'mon, lost girl, I need to
get some stuff at the market."
"AT LEAST GIMMIE SOME HOT WATER FIRST! And STOP LAUGHING!!!"
*
To sleep, perchance to dream, unless a sibling is in the room...
"Onii-san."
Ryo was comfortably unconscious in a fairly small roll-up blanket
on the floor. It wasn't grand living, but it was wasn't expensive
either.
"Onii-san!"
There was this noise, however that was bugging him...
"ONII-SAN!"
And it just wouldn't go away...
"OOOOOONIIIIIIIII-SAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!"
"WHAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"We're outta breakfast stuff," pouted Kyoko, standing next to him.
Ryo looked at his youngest sister, a blank expresson on his face.
"And...?"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANT BREAKFAAAAAAAAAAST!!!"
Ryo winced from the decibel level. "Fine, fine..."
A moment later, a side door that shouldn't have been there opened
up, and Ryo slipped away quietly from a nondescript apartment house.
*
"Isn't it poker night tonight?" asked Ryouga.
"Yup, that and a study group, s'gonna be at Ranchan's tonight."
Ukyo hmmed and looked around the aisles, pushing a cart full of
groceries.
"Who's in?"
"Hm... me, Ranchan, Akane, Yuka, Hiroshi, maybe some others."
"Sounds nice."
"Gonna come?"
Ryouga shrugged. "Not much else to do."
"Hey, grab some of those waffles, will ya?"
"Hm?"
Ukyo bapped him jokingly. "You. Waffles. There." She pointed to
a direction. "I'll be there in a sec, just wait for me, okay?"
"Oh, ah, right!" Ryouga scratched his head, grinned, and walked
off.
Ukyo bapped him again. "THAT way."
"Oh... ah, sorry."
Ryouga walked off, in the -correct- direction this time, and sure
enough, saw a freezer bin full of waffles. He reached down, grabbed a
box... and felt someone's hand as well.
Ryouga looked up, and scowled.
Ryo looked up, and scowled.
"Leggo," said Ryo through clenched teeth, "of my Eggo."
"No," replied Ryouga, through equally clenched teeth, "you let
go... of MY Eggo."
"I said," repeated Ryo, "Leggo of _my_ Eggo."
*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*wham*
*BOOM*
Ukyo pushed her cart full of groceries over to Ryouga, who was for
some reason on the floor, dazed, and badly beaten.
"Hey, what happened to you?" she asked.
He mumbled something incomprehensible and tossed up a crused box of
Eggos.
"Aw, Ryouga! Why'd you get a crushed box? Jeez." She tossed the
box aside and grabbed a new one. Amazingly, she didn't notice the
Gosunkugi-shaped, or, to the more sharp-of-vision, the Ryo-shaped hole
in the roof.
*
And so, Hikaru Gosunkugi, for the first time in his life, was
having what could be described as a lunch picnic date. Of course, if
one asked the girl, it WASN'T a date, but still, Hikaru would take
what he could get. He was that kind of guy. There he was, with a
cute girl, sitting under a nice, shady tree... and... and they'd been
just sitting there, shy about everything... eating, glancing at each
other occasionally.
He sighed. It was a totally alien experience.
"Something wrong, Gos-kun?"
"Well, it's just that I... er..."
There was a small dot on the horizon, getting bigger.
He wanted to say it, he WANTED to say it, but he just couldn't get
the words out.
"Gos-kun?" asked Manami curiously.
{GAH! IT'S NOW OR NEVER!} "Manami, I L-"
*WHAM*
Manami shrieked. Gosunkugi stared.
Gosunkugi's 'evil twin' slowly and agonizingly pulled himself from
out of the tree.
"Damn that Hibiki," he muttered. Ryo carelessly got up,
accidentally stepping all over Gosunkugi's lunch. Gosunkugi's nerve
was shattered, the moment was ruined. "Oh. Hello, Gosunkugi.
Goodbye, Gosunkugi."
And for Gosunkugi, moments like those were few and rare.
Ryo brushed himself off and began to walk away.
"H-hold... it... right... t-there."
Manami's eyes were wide in surprise.
Ryo slowly turned around, impatience showing on his face.
Gosunkugi sounded... astonishingly... angry.
"Yesss?" hissed Ryo.
Gos gave Manami a serious look. "You'd b-better get away, Manami."
"Gos?" she squeaked.
Ryo narrowed his eyes. So the mouse wanted to fight, hm? He
raised a gloved fist, and charged it with ki energy.
Gosunkugi concentrated, and swirls of blue began to surround him.
Manami backed away a safe distance and watched.
"T-this wa-was a truely happy day for me... then YOU RUINED IT!"
stammered Gosunkugi. "DAMN YOU!" Purely by instinct, he pointed flung
his arms forward. A fireball suddenly zoomed down from the heavens
and slammed into Ryo, exloploding with a burst of red, throwing up
clouds, dust, and debris, shaking the earth.
Gosunkugi stared at his arms in amazement. "I... I did it!"
From a distance, Manami stared, surprised. She knew Gosunkugi was
a magician, but she never knew he was THAT powerful.
"I DID IT!!!" Gosunkugi raised his fist in the air, feeling the
rush of triumph.
*cough*cough* "You pathetic copy of me *cough* I'll KILL YOU!"
Gos staggered back, in shock, as an angry, coughing, and totally
unscathed Ryo emerged from the crater.
Ryo narrowed his eyes and approached Gosunkugi. He didn't have his
umbrella with him, but he felt that in this case, he wouldn't need it.
"DIE!" Ryo charged at Gosunkugi, fists burning with energy.
<OhmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodGETMEOUTTAHERE!> thought Gosunkugi.
*POOF*
Ryo skidded to a halt.
He looked around.
"COWARD!!!" he roared. Ryo heard a small -poof- and a tiny 'eep',
and turned around to see an utterly confused Gosunkugi.
"GOTCHA!" Ryo swung a fist...
*POOF*
... and Gosunkugi was gone. Again.
Meanwhile, a few feet away, Gosunkugi reappered in a puff of smoke.
This whole teleportation thing was alarmingly new to him. He looked
around, confused, and saw that Ryo was surprised too. Gosunkugi took
advantage of the moment and concentrated again...
*KABOOOM*
Despite the clear sky, a lightning bolt struck, making yet another
crater in the ground. Ryo once again climbed out of a deep hole in
the ground, shaken but otherwise unscathed, and charged at Gosunkugi,
who again *POOF*ed away... it settled into a pattern of *KABOOM* 'grr'
-charge- *POOF* 'eh?' *KABOOM* etc etc etc...
"STAND YOUR GROUND, COWARD!"
*POOF*
"DAMN YOU!!!"
*KABOOM*
Manani, from a fairly safe distance, watched all this and sighed.
"Grrr..."
"Eep!"
*POOF*
"STAND AND FIGHT!!!"
*ZAPPP*
So much for a nice, quiet day. But at least Gosunkugi was showing
that he got -alot- better at magic than before. An amazing
improvement, really.
Suddenly, it felt... drafty.
"Why hello there!" said a 2-foot troll, waving around some panties.
HER panties.
"EEEEP! PERVERT!" Manami screamed, scrambling away.
Gosunkugi and Ryo paused in their 'battle' and looked at what was
causing the commotion, and that's when Happosai decided to bolt once
more.
"See ya, boys!" he yelled as several objects hit the ground.
Gosunkugi rushed towards Manami, asking "A-are you alright?"
In shock from her close encounter with the Perverted Kind, she
nodded. "Y-yeah... I think, um, I need to go home, now."
Ryo stood his ground, but looked at the retreating form of
Happosai. Indecision gripped him. The hunter within him wanted to
pursue Happosai, just for the thrill of it. The voice of reason
reminded him that he didn't have his umbrella, and would probbably be
beaten senseless... that is, if what his sensei told him was true.
Then he wondered what that hissing noise was.
No... wait... he remembered that sound, it was the sound of bomb
fuses.
*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*BOOM*
Gosunkugi blinked and turned around, but all he saw was a large
cloud of smoke. He didn't see the small dot that was flying away into
the neighborhood.
"What w-was that?" he wondered out loud.
*
Ryo Muhoshin landed with a -thud- against a concrete sidewall along
a sidewalk, a few blocks down the road. As he sat (crumpled,
actually) there, the world spun around his head, and his body
registered sore spots everywhere. It wasn't a good day so far. In
fact, it was turing out to be one hell of a bad day.
He got up, swaying unsteadily as he did so, and slowly brushed
himself off. The next person, he growled in his mind, that fouled
this once fine day would be hurt.
Badly.
He took a few deep breaths, blinked once, and then turned around
the corner, where he ran right into someone carrying a grocery bag.
Its contents burst out and splattered out on him.
Internally, Ryo was screaming.
Someone would have to be hurt.
"Oh my," said Kasumi.
*
Later that evening...
It was another round of poker at the Tendo Dojo, as Ranma, Akane,
Ukyo, Akari, Hiroshi, Daisuke, Yuka and Sayuri looked at the cards
dealt to them. In the background, a slight wailing was heard.
Yuka and Sayuri were fairly content, each having a pair.
Daisuke almost had a straight flush, but was missing one card.
Hiroshi almost had a straight, was short two cards.
Ukyo had a full house.
Ryogua had junk, but he was loathe to admit it, and so technically
was 'bluffing' while actually being just stubborn.
Akane had a full house. The irony was lost on her.
Ranma had a royal straight flush. Of course, he didn't know it.
"Aaah, I'm out, I got junk." Ranma tossed his cards aside in
disgust.
"And to think he actually beat the gambler king," muttered Ryouga.
"Once in a lifetime thing, I'm sure," added Ukyo.
"Probably," agreed Akane.
"Veeeeery funny, guys," growled Ranma.
"Hey, what's that awful sound?" asked Hiroshi.
"It's just Mr. Tendo," muttered Ranma. "Upset over something
again."
Genma stepped into the room. "Son, you've got a job to do."
"Not now, pop, I'm-"
"Kasumi is missing."
The room was suddenly silent. Everyone was fairly surprised.
Nothing ever happened to Kasumi. The sun rose, the sun set, there
were four seasons, and nothing bad ever happened to Kasumi. Well,
there was one incident involving demonic possession, but it was
actually a rather wimpy demon, and Kasumi came out of it totally
unhurt.
"Son, go out and look for her."
"We'll help too," said Akane. Everyone else in the room nodded
in agreement.
Thirty minutes later....
Ryouga stood under a streetlamp, feeling totally, utterly,
absolutely stupid. Sure, it was a nice, big, moment with everyone
volunteering to help, but he REALLY didn't think about it when HE ran
off into the night like an idiot hero.
And he, of course, got lost.
"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW!?!?!?!"
Ryouga sighed and leapt to a rooftop. He hoped that maybe he'd see
a familiar landmark, and start using that as a guide on where to go.
To his surprise, he saw Kasumi, walking down a dark street, at a
somewhat leisurely pace, pausing to look behind her, then walking
onward, carrying a few bags. Her shirt seemed to be stained with a
few dark splotches... to Ryouga they might've been a deep color of
red.
Then, like a shark emerging from the water, Ryo emerged from the
shadows, walking a few feet behind Kasumi and closing in fast. <How
dare he attack a helpless woman!> Ryouga sprang into action, jumped
off of the rooftop, and landed right between the two. "Kasumi, get
behind me!"
Kasumi tried to say something, but Ryouga, in his haste to pummel
Ryo, ignored it. "Muhoshin, how DARE YOU!"
"How... dare... I... _what_?" Ryo took a step back, and fixed a
menacing glare at Ryouga.
Ryouga took a few swings and kicks at Ryo, who did nothing but step
back or dodge, with an angry glare aimed at Ryouga all the time.
"HOW DARE YOU HURT KASUMI!!!" yelled Ryouga, zooming in with a
flying kick.
*
A few minutes later...
Akane and Ukyo met in the park, both looking worried and tired.
"No luck, huh?" asked Ukyo.
Akane shook her head slowly. There was a grim determination in her
manner. "I _will_ find her, I will..."
Suddenly, in the distance, the sound of a streetlamp crashing
shattered the quiet of the night.
"C'mon, it was this way!" yelled Akane. The two ran towards the
sound, where they found Kasumi behind Ryouga, her hand on his
shoulder, as another figure strolled into the night.
"Kasumi!" Akane ran to her sister and hugged her tightly. "We
were so worried about you!"
Ukyo looked at Ryouga in disbelief. "-You- found her?"
Ryouga frowned. "What's so surprising about that?" he protested.
"Well, without a compass you wouldn't be able to find your own a-"
"Akane, I'm okay, really!" Kasumi hugged her little sister to
reassure her. "I just took a little longer than I thought."
"Feh, foul-mouthed unappreciative cross-dresser," muttered Ryouga.
"What was that?" asked Ukyo, raising her spatula.
"Nothing."
"Why's your shirt all stained?" asked Akane as she looked over
Kasumi with worry.
"What did he do to you?" asked Ryouga, anger in his voice.
"Who?" asked Akane and Ukyo.
"Ryo! He was just here! I bet he did someth-"
"Mr. Muhoshin?" said Kasumi, "he payed for the groceries."
"-ing really terrible. What?"
"Well, I told him he didn't have to, since I was the one that ran
into him, but he insisted." The others stared at Kasumi as she
continued, "and then I just had to try and get those stains out of his
shirt. After all, it was my fault. So we went to his apartment
nearby and-"
"You went to his apartment?!?! What did he do to you?!" yelled
Akane.
"I met his family and he offered dinner, but I didn't think it was
appropriate to, really. His family was really nice. Such funny
neighbors too," she said with a giggle and a smile.
"He... offered you dinner?"
"And then I noticed he seemed to be hurt quite a bit, so I bandaged
him a little."
"You HELPED him?" asked Ryouga in disbelief.
"Well, he was hurt," justified Kasumi. "And then he offered to
walk me back."
The three looked at Kasumi as if expecting more. "And..?"
"And?" asked Kasumi. She blinked with much confusion.
"That's... all?" asked Ryouga.
Kasumi nodded. "Oh my, I really am late, aren't I. I hope father
isn't too upset."
*
Ryo Muhoshin walked home, slowly, whistling. Miss Tendo was quite
a surprise. The expression on his sisters faces was priceless. Even
Megane smiled a little in her presence. She was so... so... motherly.
Very much, in fact, like their own mother. Ryo frowned momentarily.
He didn't like to think back to when their parents... left. But
still, it was nice to be taken care of again, something they all
hadn't experienced in a long time.
Leave it to that idiot Hibiki to spoil the end of a nice evening.
A few minutes later, he stood in front of his apartment, mulling
over what to do next.
He wondered if he should bother going in the quiet way, but decided
against it. He was too tired for that, and it was already evening.
The neighbors, dreadful things that they were, should hopefully be
asleep. He crept through unfamiliar territory (the front door) and
made his way slowly to his room.
*
Once again, all was well in the Tendo Dojo. The elder Saotome and
Tendo resumed their eternal shogi match while Kasumi cleaned up the
post-dinner wreckage and everyone else was in the living room dealing
out cards.
"Hey, guys, don't you think it's kinda suspicous what Ryo did?"
asked Ukyo. "Think he's up to something?"
"Hope not," answered Ranma.
"At least Kasumi's alright," said Akane.
"I don't like it," said Ryouga, "he's up to something."
"Oh well... another exciting night in Nerima," sighed Ukyou.
"C'mon, Ranchan, deal out the cards."
Meanwhile, Kasumi went over to talk with Soun and Gemna, but nobody
noticed.
"Father, there's someone that wants to..."
*
TWO DAYS LATER...
This had caught Ranma entirely by surprise.
The Saotome/Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts had apparently
gained a new student. One that was carrying around some ridiculously
large hair-styling equipment. The ridiculous size of the weaponry was
emphasized by her short stature and the fact that she was only twelve
years old.
Twelve year old girls, in Ranma's opinion, shouldn't be carrying
around five foot tall razors.
And even more importantly, he thought, he shouldn't be having to
participate in 'babysitting' the child. After all, he may be the one
to 'inherit' the dojo, but it wasn't his _yet_. The job should've
fallen primarily to his dad and Mr. Tendo. When asked about it, he
was simply told, as he expected, "it's part of your training, boy!"
It made him feel a little better that Akane would be there, if only
just to watch.
Of course, part of the worry was about her swinging around that
ridiculous blade of hers around recklessly. That fear was immediately
eased when he was told that she was not going to be allowed to use
weapons in her training, which was how Anything Goes usually went
anyways. As to why, they simply told her that her brother made the
request, and stressed it strongly.
And so it came to this, a fine afternoon, with Mr. Saotome, Mr.
Tendo, Ranma, and the bubbly little girl with the shiny big razor.
"Pop, she got any martial arts training?" he asked.
"Only with weapons. Without them, she is untrained..."
Suddenly, Kyoko rushed forward, grabbed Ranma by the hand, and
flung him out the door and into the pond.
"...except in a little judo," finished Genma.
A sputtering, bewildered Ranma-chan rose from the pond, while Kyoko
looked at her curiously. She tugged Soun's wrist and asked, "Um...
who's that lady? An'wha'happened to Ranma-sensei?"
"That's... ah..." said Soun, unsure of how he should answer that
particular question. Usually, the Saotomes wanted to curses kept a
secret. "That's Ranko, Akane's cousin!"
"Ooooh. Hihi Ranko-san!"
"She... shall be your sensei as well," said Genma, patting her on
the shoulder. That was a mistake.
"Hey old man," snarled Ranma-chan, "what's the big idea not telling
me about ACK-"
*SPLASH*
And now there was an irate girl and a panda in the pond. Off to
the side, Akane couldn't help but laugh at the two great martial
artists that had just been flung across the backyard.
"It ain't funny!" protested Ranma-chan, slowly getting out of the
pond.
"Oh, don't be such a crybaby, Ranma," Akane shot back.
Kyoko blinked. "Wai! Cute panda! Can I play with it?" She raced
towards it happily and put it in a surprisingly effective headlock.
It took a little convincing by Akane to get her to release 'Mr.
Panda', and they had a little talk about when it is and isn't okay to
throw people.
After 'Ranko' and 'Mr. Panda' headed upstairs to take a bath, and
Mr. Saotome and son returned, they drilled her through the basic
stances of kempo for several hours. She wasn't bad, and seemed to be
a quick learner. Despite the occasional toss into the
pond/wall/ceiling/floor, she was liked by them all. It was hard to
stay mad at a 12 year old girl that was on a perpetual happy-mood.
After practice was done, Akane took it upon herself to take care of
their guest, offering her drinks and snacks as they rested in the
dojo.
"Thank you for the hospitality, oneechan," said Kyoko happily.
"So, how do you like it here?" asked Akane. "Having fun?"
"Mm-hm!"
"My dad isn't being too tough on you, is he?" asked Akane jokingly.
Kyoko giggled. "He's funny."
"Is he alot like your dad?" wondered Akane. A girl with her
personality surely must have had fun-loving parents... although it
failed to explain why her older brother was a jerk.
"Daddy? He's... gone," said the little girl, her mood slipping a
bit lower than full bubbly happiness. She was still smiling, it was
just tainted with the smallest trace of melancholy.
"Oh... I'm sorry." Akane looked at her, shocked. It was amazing
that the girl was so... bubbly... considering a tragedy like that.
"Mommy too," she added, her smile fading a little more. "They left
a long time ago, I don't remember much."
Akane found herself at a loss for words, not really knowing what to
say to the girl. Instead, she gave her a hug. "So... who watched
over you when your parents left?" she asked.
"Hm..." Kyoko seemed to be putting some serious thought into the
question. "Um... Sensei Miyaji... he was kinda like a daddy..." said
she, looking as if she was thinking things over, "oh, oniisan too."
"Ryo?" asked Akane.
"Mm-hm."
"Isn't he... mean sometimes?"
Kyoko blinked. "Um... he yells alot, but he always helps me."
Now that they were on the topic of _him_, Akane decided to ask what
was worrying her.
"Was your brother... did he yell at Kasumi?"
"Oh no, he was nice," said Kyoko, "we all were."
"Why was he so nice?" wondered Akane. "I mean, he's usually..."
"You think he's mean, ne?" asked Kyoko bluntly.
Akane was thrown off by the bluntness of the statement. "Well, er,
I mean..."
"That's okay, he knows. He's not nice to people."
"And you're not bothered by that?" wondered Akane.
She shrugged. "That's the way he is."
"So... why was he nice?"
"Hm? Oh, well Ryo an'Ryoko an'Megane say she's alot like mommy."
"Like... your mom?
Kyoko nodded. "Ryo and Ryoko and Megane really miss her."
"I... I'm sorry. I didn't know..."
Kyoko frowned. "It's okay."
"I know how you feel, with your mother gone. Mine's gone too."
"Oh." Kyoko ummed for a moment, looking a little worried, then
tapped Akane on the shoulder.
"Hm?"
"Need a hug?" asked Kyoko.
Akane smiled, wondering how in the world this little girl turned
out to be so... so... unlike her brother. "Sure, thanks."
They hugged briefly, enjoying a little bit of sisterly affection.
"Ryoko always felt better after a hug," said Kyoko. "Do you?"
Akane nodded. "Thanks."
"Any time."
"So, you'll make sure Ryo treats Kasumi nice, right?" asked Akane,
patting Kyoko on the back.
"Well," she replied uncertainly, "Ryo hasn't been mean to her like
he is to everyone else... but I'll make sure!"
"Thanks, Kyoko-chan."
Kyoko looked around, as if making sure nobody else was around, then
whispered, "ya wanna know a secret?"
"A secret?"
Kyoko nodded, giggling.
"Um... sure."
"Don't tell anyone I told you, okay?" she whispered.
"Okay," whispered Akane, playing along with whatever Kyoko was
doing.
"Ryo thinks you're reeeealy noisy."
Akane blinked.
"NOISY?! What does he mean, noisy?!"
"Um," said Kyoko, "well... um... RANMA YOU JERK! HOW DARE YOU
RANMA! RANMA, EAT MY COOKING! RANMA-"
"I get the idea, I get the idea! Shhh!" Akane looked around
nervously, trying to make sure nobody heard.
"Hey! Somebody callin'me?!" yelled Ranma from the house.
"No! Nothing here!" lied Akane.
A moment later, Kasumi walked in and asked, "Akane, have you seen
my butcher's knife? I can't seem to find it."
"Um... I think I put it in the bottom cabinet," replied Akane.
"Are you cooking?" asked Kyoko curiously.
"Why yes, I am," said Kasumi.
"Can I help? Pleeeeease?" asked Kyoko, hopping around the eldest
Tendo daughter. "Pleasepleasepleaseplease?"
Kasumi laughed and patted Kyoko on the head. "Well, if you're
careful and do everything I say, okay?"
"Okaaay!"
*
Dinner was ready, but it seemed that Mr. Tendo and Saotome had
stepped out to the store to buy something. Kasumi reasoned that it
shouldn't take them too long (especially when Dinner was awaiting
them) and decided to wait until they came back before starting. Also,
it wouldn't do to start before the guests arrived either.
This left Kyoko in a state of utter boredom. She was quite fond of
Kasumi, but not fond enough to sit there and watch her do dishes. She
was, however, fond enough of her to give it a try. After one minute,
she decided that it just wasn't going to work and set out to wander
about the Tendo home.
"Aaaugh, stupid homework." Ranma quickly erased the mathematical
calculations he had tried, adding in a little tenshin amaguriken speed
to it unconsciously. A second later, he crumpled up the paper (now
with a hole in it) and tossed it in the (quickly filling) wastebasket.
The smell of dinner distracted him, and he decided to try working on
the material on a full stomach. After all, his father seemed to make
less stupid mistakes when he was fed.
A few minutes later, Ranma returned to his room bitterly
unfulfilled. The old man had stepped out, delaying dinner, and that
left him with nothing but a drink and a small bag of chips.
He was surprised to see Kyoko sitting at the desk when he
re-entered his room and scribbling something on a paper. "Hey, kid,
what're you doing up here?"
"Bored," she said, simply.
"Oh." He thought on this for a moment. Normally, if he was bored,
he'd ask somebody to spar. Given Kyoko's irritating habit of throwing
him (or anyone, actually) into the pond, however, that was not an
option.
Kyoko turned the page in Ranma's text book.
"What're you doing?" he asked.
"Equations."
"Um... oh." Well, that was odd, wasn't it? What kind of little
kid does... wait a minute. Equations? "Hey, what equations?"
"These," she said, pointing to the book.
Ranma's jaw dropped. His ego was feeling a bit embarrased.
Kyoko had just done his homework.
And the assignments for the next week.
They also seemed to be right.
"No... no way," muttered Ranma.
"Hm?"
"Nothin," he muttered, flipping to the back of the book. He looked
at the answers. He looked at Kyoko's work.
It was right. Perfectly.
"Hey, how'd you..."
Kyoko shrugged. "S'easy."
"Um..." For a brief moment, pride battled neccessity. Necessity
won (improving its record to 138 wins and 1027 losses lifetime
record).
"Hey," he said, feeling somewhat embarrased, "can ya explain
something t'me? Like this problem here..."
*
Dinner at the Tendo home was slightly crowded, considering the size
of their table. In addition to the usual six people, three more were
seated. It could have been worse, though, considering one was
missing.
"Oh my," said Kasumi. "Where's Megane-kun?"
"Could it be he forgot?" wondered Ryoko.
Ryo sighed. "I don't think he'll coming. Miss Kasumi," he said,
sounding much more civil than most people were used to hearing, "I'm
afraid my brother won't be showing up. I apologize for his rude
behaviour."
"That's okay, no need to apologize, Muhoshin-san."
"Thank you, you're entirely too kind." He took his place at
the crowded table and smiled (an actual pleasant smile, something
few people had ever seen on his face). "Ah, thank you for this
magnificent feast."
"You're too kind," added Ryoko.
"I helped!" squeaked Kyoko.
"Thank you, everyone," said a smiling Kasumi. "Now let's start,
shall we?"
"Ah, Miss Kasumi?" asked Ryo a bit apprehensively.
"Yes, Muhoshin-san?"
"Is a panda normally at the dinner table?"
"Don't mind Mr. Panda," said Kasumi, soothing Ryo's concern, "he's
usually no trouble."
"Ah. I see."
*
Considering the circumstances, the dinner went alarmingly well.
There was no property damage, no bruises, and no-one yelled the name
of a rather silly-sounding special attack.
Kyoko, in fact, had prepared the following equasion beforehand:
O + Sr +Sa (T>M\675-{w`~G-56} D)
================================ = R + (Pd = 78 x N)
Gk + Mt + Pa + As (23)
Or, in terms better suited for those who aren't genius
12-year-olds, Ryo gets the stuffing beaten out of him after
causing a great deal of property damage and numerous injuries.
Either way was fine by her. She had been looking forward to seeing
Oniisan hit people, and had wanted to join in the fun as well. On the
other hand, dinner was fun, as she liked the sensei. And the other
sensei. And the other Tendos.
She also discovered that she liked repeating this fact on the way
home, mostly because of the interesting effect it had on Oniisan's
face.
"Sensei Ranma is the best fighter in the world! No-one can beat
him!"
Oooooh, that was a good one! Oniisan looked like he had just eaten
a goldfish!
She had also discovered a new need.
"When are we gonna get a panda? Huh? Huh?"
"Gag the dear child, Ryoko. Before I do something we all regret."
"I wanna panda!"
"Hey, I wasn't the one who let her have coffee after the meal.
Besides, maybe there's something in the idea."
"Sensei Ranma knows everythin' about fighting..."
"You want US...sorry, you want ME... to buy her a.....have you
been drinking?"
"Not a panda, stupid..."
"Wanna panda!"
"...I mean a pet of some sort."
"That has got to be the most idiotic..."
"I guess you're right. The neighbors would never stand for it."
Silence.
"It would irritate them, wouldn't it."
"They'd hate it."
"Panda, Oniisan?"
"Pipe down. Hmm... maybe something big....with huge teeth and a
habit for eating people other that it's owners...."
"A pit bull?"
"I said other than it's owners."
"Oh."
"Panda?"
"Never any duct tape around when you need it."
-end part 7-
phone bit written by 'Mihoshi'
end bit written by Mike Loader