Magical Interludes: December's End
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi
Chapter 7: Tests - Part II
Kodachi slowly slides down the rooftop toward Akane Tendo's
room. The darkness was perfect for a night assault; she smiles as
she plans her simple strategy: beat up on Akane Tendo until she
agrees to give up her darling Ranma. Ranma would then come to
his senses and agree to marry her as they were destined to do. She
takes a peek into Akane's room and goes ballistic as she sees Ranma
and Akane on the floor kissing!
**********************
Ayuki, Midori, and Keiko sit at a table drinking some tea (Ryoga
also sits at the table, but has fainted after being kissed by Ayuki for
winning her a stuffed shark). Keiko looks at her watch.
Keiko: "That makes thirty minutes... are you sure he's not dead?"
Midori: "I think I saw him take a breath... that's kind of pathetic,
you know."
Ayuki: "Yeah, but its a cute kind of pathetic."
Keiko: "You mean something like mass murderers' groupies?"
Ayuki: "Keiko!"
Midori: "Well, all you did was peck him on the cheek and he
spurted blood ten feet away. You'd think he'd have run out
of blood by now."
Ayuki: "I'll build up his resistance."
Keiko and Midori: "Oh? How?"
Midori and Keiko look at Ayuki with wicked eyes and all three start
to giggle uncontrollably. They all take another sip of tea once they
calm down.
Midori: "Keiko..."
Keiko: "Yeah, Midori?"
Midori: "Maybe tomorrow night we could take over for Uk-chan?"
Keiko: "But she doesn't want to attend the festival..."
Midori: "I was thinking of asking daddy and mums to take her out."
Keiko: "OK, if they agree."
Ayuki: "I'll help too."
Keiko: "Are you sure you don't want to start building up
resistance?"
All three girls look at each other and start laughing again.
**********************
Kodachi bursts through the window set to punish Akane Tendo for
her transgression with Ranma. Both sense her coming and they roll
off to one side. Kodachi jumps onto Ranma's body and embraces
him.
Kodachi: "My darling Ranma, I'll save you from the mind-warping
effect of Akane Tendo's kisses. My own lips will bring you
back to sanity!"
Ranma: "Stop it, Kodachi!"
Ranma attempts to pry himself from Kodachi's grasp as he avoids
her lips, but can't get enough leverage without touching her chest.
Akane whacks Kodachi off.
Akane: "You heard him. Now get lost!"
Kodachi jams a bouquet of black roses into Akane's face. Expecting
it to explode, Akane holds her breath and moves out of the way of
the resulting cloud of knockout gas. Ranma draws Akane into his
embrace.
Kodachi: "Darling Ranma, I know that you truly love me... fight off
this perversion that she has brought to you and admit your
love for me."
Ranma: "Kodachi, I don't love you. I never loved you. I never
will. Please leave Akane and me alone."
Kodachi: "Darling Ranma, No!"
Kodachi runs crying out the window. Akane looks around the room.
Akane: "What a mess she made."
Ranma: "We could just leave it and get back to what we were
doing..."
Akane: "We're cleaning up my room now, Ranma."
After they finish cleaning up, Akane takes a quick glance at the
clock.
Akane: "Ranma, its 8:00!"
Ranma: "Hmmm? So?"
Akane: "I'll never finish studying with you here... out! Out!"
Akane gathers Ranma's books and notes and shoves them into his
hands, then shoves him out the door. She gives him a quick kiss
that threatens to become a lingering one, but she remembers herself
and retreats back into her room, closing the door behind her.
**********************
The three girls meet Kasumi as promised at the first aid booth and
they start their way home. As they leave the fair they pass the
"crafts" section where a small booth with the words "fortune telling"
is prominently displayed. The lady inside calls out to them.
Kasumi: "Yes?"
Teller: "How would you like your fortune told? Free of charge!"
Kasumi: "Thank you, but we should be getting home."
Teller: "Just a quick fortune, young lady... I can tell already that
yours will be good."
Kasumi: "Oh my, really?"
Keiko: "Try it, auntie... I'd like to see."
The teller spreads out a set of hanafuda cards, face sides down, onto
the table in front of her.
Teller: "Just take as many cards as you like, and arrange them as
you like, and I'll be able to tell your future."
Kasumi hesitatingly picks out three cards and places them in front
of the fortune teller in a single row.
Teller: "Well, the first card will tell where you've come from..."
[flips over the first card - cherry blossom and poem] "full
bloom of spring... an official declaration of love? An
engagement or wedding..."
The girls look at the teller with surprise on their faces.
Teller: "The second card tells of what will come..." [flips over the
second card - plum and bird] "the first flower of the year...
new life... a baby. Yes, a baby..."
The girls gazes turn to Kasumi as she suddenly blushes.
Teller: "The last card will tell us when..." [flips over the third card
- chrysanthemum] "September."
The fortune teller looks up at Kasumi with a smile on her face.
Teller: "That's the reading. A baby to arrive in September."
Kasumi: "Will it be a boy, or girl?"
Teller: [suddenly crotchety] "What do I look like, an ultrasound
machine? Thank you, and good-night."
Keiko: "Oh, can I go next?"
Teller: "Sorry, no more readings tonight. Come back tomorrow.
Tell your friends about me. Good-bye."
The fortune teller gathers the cards and places them back in their
holder, shooing the group away. Kasumi walks with a bemused
expression on her face, her hand resting lightly on her stomach.
Keiko has a slightly annoyed expression on her face as the group
heads back to the dojo.
Keiko: "I wonder if she could do that for the stock market..."
**********************
Ryoga enters the room he had been sharing with Ranma since he
had returned to the dojo. He was a bit nervous about it because he'd
just gone out on a date with Ayuki, and they hadn't said anything to
each other the previous night. Ranma is studying some notes while
lying on the floor.
Ryoga: "Ranma..."
Ranma: "Yeah?"
Ryoga: "Are you, um... OK with me going out with Ayuki?"
Ranma: "Its none of my business."
Ryoga breathes a sigh of relief.
Ranma: "But if you even think of two-timing her..."
Ryoga: "I... what? How could you even think that I'd do such a
thing?"
Ranma: "You did it. Didn't you wonder why Akane never married
you when I married Ukyou and had Midori? It wasn't
because of you standing her up... she understood that. Its
because you kept chasing after any girl that said she liked
you."
Ryoga couldn't respond to what Ranma is saying.
Ranma: "I promised Ayuki that I wouldn't interfere. But I won't lie
to her either. If I see you cheating, I'll tell her. And I
don't need to tell you how good a fighter she is... or how
close she is to Midori and Keiko."
Ranma turns back to his studying. Ryoga spreads out his futon and
lies back, disturbed at the change in Ranma and wondering if he
really was a two-timer.
**********************
Keiko: "What do you think they'll make us do tomorrow at school?"
Midori: "How about we set a trap for that weirdo, Kuno?"
Ayuki: "Like what?"
The three girls lie on their futons in silence.
Midori: "OK, I got an idea. But we'll need some plastic wrap,
petroleum jelly, a couple of 'slippery when wet' signs..."
**********************
Captain: "Ah, Muramoto. I wanted to congratulate you on solving
that prowler case. I can assure you that our superiors
appreciate the... discrete way you've handled things, given
the identity of the perpetrator."
Inspector: "Thank you, sir. Tonight I'll deliver the restraining
order. Hopefully everything will continue to be resolved
quietly. I..."
Captain: "What is it, Muramoto?"
Inspector: "Sir, may I speak openly?"
Captain: "Of course, of course."
Inspector: "Sir, I do not believe that this case will be resolved
quietly. According to my investigations, this 'Kodachi
Kuno' is a highly obsessive individual. Relying on a piece
of paper might not be the wisest course of action.
Personally, I'd recommend mandatory psychiatric
counseling or electroshock therapy."
Captain: "You're still young, Muramoto... what, only twenty-two?"
Inspector: "Twenty, sir."
Captain: "Really, and just made inspector, too... listen to some
advice from an old policeman: these things have a flow of
their own. Keep your eyes open and act only when
necessary when dealing with the powerful families; acting
prematurely could cost you the chrysanthemum shield... or
your life. Do you understand?"
Inspector: "Yes, sir... I understand."
Captain: [looking around] "Muramoto, can I speak to you
privately?"
Inspector: "Of course, Captain."
****************************End Chapter 7, Part II