Continued from Part 32.
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Ranko 1/2 (_____)
Part 33:
"These aren't accidents"
<Knock, knock>
Nabiki Tendou puts down her calculator on her desk and turns
towards the door.
Nabiki: Come in, Ranko.
Ranko hesitantly complies. As she steps in, Nabiki takes the
headphones of her stereo off and lets them dangle around her neck.
She looks at the still hesitant Ranko.
Ranko: Hi Nabiki. Uh, so... Watcha listening to?
Nabiki smiles at the rather obvious evasion and nods towards the
stereo.
Nabiki: Oldies station. They're playing some Beatles stuff.
She proffers the headset and Ranko puts it on to listen in. She
pales as she hears the lyrics.
...long long time ago.
Your mother should know.
(Ahh-hah)
Your Mother should know.
Nabiki, misinterpreting Ranko's expression, reaches for the volume
control.
Nabiki: Sorry. Too loud?
Ranko: [takes off the headphones] Too appropriate.
Nabiki blinks, puzzled.
Ranko: You see, I wanted to talk with you about something that
Akane and I have planned. [sits down on the bed, pauses] I'm
going to contact my mother.
Nabiki: [thinks a second] I assume you are not talking about
seeing her in boy form again. Otherwise you wouldn't bother to
talk about it.
Ranko: [nods] Yeah. I just got so *tired* of pretending and
Akane helped me make up my mind. I'm going to her house today to
talk to her. Just talk. Akane 'n' me planned how I should
approach the matter and all that, and I really think this could
work...
Nabiki: But?
Ranko: Well... I just get this feeling that it won't be that
easy; that we overlooked something important. I mean, talking to
her will be hard enough, but...
She searches for words to express her foreboding.
Nabiki: [folds her hands and cocks her head] So you wanted an
outside opinion?
Ranko: [sighs] Yeah.
For a while Nabiki just sits and looks at Ranko, biting her lower
lip thoughtfully. She seems to be judging Ranko's possible
reaction to what she has to say, making Ranko even more nervous.
Nabiki: Are you sure you know what you are up against?
Ranko: [puzzled] Why? What do you mean?
Nabiki: Well... Your father may be a good-for-nothing, lying,
freeloading loafer - uh, no offense intended -
Ranko: [snorts] None taken. You forgot "stealing" and
"kidnapping".
Nabiki: [continues] ... but he has got one thing right: Your
mother is out for blood.
Ranko's eyes widen at Nabiki's flat statement. Knowing that
Nabiki would not say so without proof, Ranko eyes her
questioningly, waiting for her explanation.
Nabiki: [crosses her legs and leans forward] Aunt Nodoka has
been coming over quite regularly in the past weeks, and I've
talked to her often on those occasions. She is really a very
sweet woman, if somewhat too traditional for my tastes [pauses]
but she is also a woman who has been hunting down her husband for
fifteen years. When she finds him, she wants only one thing:
revenge.
She points a finger at Ranko.
Nabiki: She is always talking of having to make sure that you
were not "tainted" by your father, and she is basing her plans for
revenge on the assumption that you *were*. She *wants* that
revenge. At this point in time, you could be a veritable saint -
she would find you flawed; a reason to exact her much anticipated
revenge.
Nabiki smirks at Ranko.
Nabiki: And you are *no* saint.
Ranko: Hey!
She pauses, contemplating Nabiki's advice.
Ranko: So... you're saying it's a bad idea?
Nabiki: [lifts a hand] I didn't mean that. I think it is a good
idea, actually. *But*... I wanted you to be prepared when you
reveal yourself - she won't be as happy as you probably expected.
You'll likely have to talk her out of taking that katana of hers
and hunting down your father right there and then.
Ranko: [grinning] Provided I don't join her.
Nabiki: [seriously] Ranko, this might sound like a slapstick
movie, right now, but think about what you're saying - that katana
of hers is more than real enough to kill; and if I'm right, she's
got the inclination to use it. Also, here's something that you
should consider: if she judges you so dishonored or "tainted" that
it would justify going after your father - wouldn't she also
require you to perform seppuku to restore your and the family's
honour?
Ranko stares at her in shock.
~*~
The door to Ranko's and Genma's room shifts open and Ranko enters.
She is awaited by Akane, who eyes her expectantly.
Akane: So. Ready to go?
Ranko: Absolutely! [nods vigorously; to herself] Absolutely -
no matter what.
She seems particularly vehement - as if she had to convince
herself most of all. Akane notices this.
Akane: What did Nabiki say?
Ranko: [looks to the ground thoughtfully] She warned me that mom
might not react well. She may be right about that. [looks up]
But I've still got to try.
Akane: I understand. [lays a hand on her shoulder] Cheer up - I
know it will all work out in the end. But before that can happen,
we must get started.
Ranko: [sighs] I wish I had your faith in the future. But
you're right - any change can only be for the better. So...
[smiles] let's get changed.
~*~
Akane and Ranko are leaving the Tendou home. Ranko is wearing a
pretty dress with a floral print for the occasion - something her
mother would approve of - while Akane is clad in her usual jogging
gear sans the headband. Making their way through Nerima, they
near the Saotome home. Finally they turn into the street that
will lead them directly to Nodoka's house - and freeze.
The whole street is flooded. At least two water mains are broken
- children are playing in the puddles; adults are trying to stop
the flow; water is splashing around everywhere, and the radio shop
is playing Händel.
Ranko: That's...
Akane: Oh dear.
Ranko: [thinks] There is no way I can make it through that
without getting wet - and that's the last thing I want now.
Ranko just stares down the street; Akane rubs her forehead.
Akane: We... We can always take the next street and cut back
through a side alley or something.
She grabs Ranko's elbow and pulls her along to the next parallel
street. Ranko's eyes remain fixed on the watery mess, as long as
it is visible.
Ranko: [thinks] I have a *bad* feeling about this. I wonder if
that was an omen.
When they turn the corner to the next street, Ranko immediately
jumps back, while Akane almost facefaults. Dozens of kids are
playing in the street - and each of them has a "supersoaker"
squirt gun, trying to get everybody else as wet as possible. A
street vendor with a cart is standing in the middle of it, handing
out the toys to everybody who is still "unarmed".
Vendor: Get them while there are still some left! Completely
free! All paid for!
Akane: [shaking off the shock] Hey! What are you doing there?!
Vendor: Want one? They're free! I got paid for the whole lot to
be given away. Take one!
Akane: What kind of- Whoever would do such a thing?
Vendor: Some kindly, wandering martial artist, or so. I don't
care anyway, as long as the money's good.
Akane stares at him angrily, while a look of surprise flashes on
Ranko's face.
Ranko: [thinks] Wha-a-at...?
A suspicion begins to form at the back of her mind.
Ranko: Come, Akane. Let's try the next street in the other
direction
They hurry in the opposite direction, passing the first street and
its flood again. Cautiously they peer around the corner and give
a simultaneous sigh of relief, when the street turns out to be
clear. No water fights, no suspicious fountains, no tank trucks.
They stroll along, more relaxedly now.
Ranko: [thinks] I guess I was wrong. It must have been
coincidence.
Akane: Hey, Ranko, look at the fish.
Akane has stopped before a store front that sells various kinds of
ornamental fish. Several tanks with merchandise are displayed
outside.
Akane: "Teppou" fish? I wonder why they are called that?
Ranko, who has leaned over the tank with Akane, jerks back.
Ranko: Teppou...?!
She throws herself down, ducking low. Akane is just about to ask
her what she is doing, when she is hit in the face by several
streams of water.
Akane: [splutters] Wha- wha- wha- !
Right then an elderly man storms out of the store, sees the tank
and clasps his face.
Proprietor: Oh dear, who set the gunfish out front? They should
be inside; only the koi and ranchu are supposed to be on display.
Somebody could have been drenched.
Akane: [dripping] "Could have been"?
She shakes the water out of her hair and wrings out her clothes as
best as she can, then looks around for Ranko. Ranko has picked
herself up and is brushing off her dress, hoping that it isn't
stained. She turns to Akane.
Ranko: That was too close. Obviously we can't let our guard
down. If we want to make it to mom's house with me in-
The widening of Ranko's eyes is her only warning. This time,
though, Akane is prepared and she dives to the side, just before a
solid stream of water shoots down the street. Akane rolls,
springs upright and turns. What she sees is the flaming red car
of the Nerima Volunteer Firefighter Squad, pumping water that is
ejected at a prodigious rate from the hose, held by a young
firefighter who is looking around, puzzled.
Akane: What the hell are you doing?!
Firefighter: Excuse me, but do you know where the fire is?
Akane: What fire?
Firefighter: We got a call that half the street here was burning
down.
Ranko falls from the sky. Apparently she jumped to a roof, when
the water started flowing. She lands besides and slightly behind
the man with the hose, careful to stay out of his line of fire.
Ranko: Say, don't you think that for a street on fire this place
is somewhat lacking in subtle tell-tale signs? Like, for example,
smoke or running people or, for that matter, *flames*?
Voice: Turn off the hose!
The man with the hose turns at the shout, swinging the stream of
water around.
Ranko: [jumps high] Dowa!
Another man in uniform, apparently a superior to the hose-holder,
appears. It is the captain of the Volunteer Firefighter brigade,
and he is not amused.
Captain: Turn off the hose, I say! Can't you see that there's no
fire at all? Obviously the alert was a crank call. If you ever
want to be professionals, you gotta learn to first find the fire,
*then* pour the water - you don't just douse everything around,
hoping to catch the fire by accident! We're heading back to the
station, you sorry bunch. Let's just hope you perform better when
there's a *real* fire.
The stream from the hose dwindles and dies. It is rolled up, and
the embarassed firefighters file back into their truck and drive
off. With a tired moan, Akane sinks back against a wall.
Akane: I can't believe this. How can so many thing like this
happen one after another?
Ranko is leaning against the wall besides her, her heart still
pounding.
Ranko: Why do I get the feeling that these aren't accidents?
Her sixth sense cuts in, and she instinctively lunges forwards,
turning a cartwheel. Where she was standing just a moment ago,
there is now a large, overturned bowl of soup, the contents
leaking all over the sidewalk.
Voice: Ah, excuses moi, mademoiselles.
Both girls turn to see who has spoken.
Akane: [thinks] It's *him*?!
Ranko: [thinks] I knew it!
It is Genma with a ridiculously obvious, fake handlebar moustache
glued under his nose, a toupee and an ill-fitting waiter's
uniform. He is faking a french accent (badly).
Genma: I am so véry sorry that I deedn't managé- Err, that I
almost drénched you. Let me make réstitutión by présenting you
thees compleméntary bowl of soup.
He whips out another bowl, takes a step towards Ranko and trips.
Genma: Oh dear! I seem to havé treeped.
Ranko merely steps aside with a disgusted expression, letting the
flying bowl pass. Akane catches it deftly out of mid-air. She
quickly feels the fluid with a finger.
Akane: Well, well. Better run back to your kitchen, Garçon -
this soup is stone cold.
Genma: [snootily] Gazpacho soup ees servéd cold. Anyone knows
that.
Ranko pinches the bridge of her nose tiredly.
Ranko: Pop... What the hell are you doing? I only want to see
mom - is that so much to ask? Why do you keep interfering?
Akane: Besides, I don't think Gazpacho soup is french food.
Genma: [pretending innocence] "Pop"? Mais non, mademoiselle.
You must be cónfusing me weeth someone elsé.
<Sploosh!>
Akane sets down a bucket, empty now. Before the two girls now
stands a panda with a ridiculous moustache and a waiter's apron.
Ranko: You were saying, pop?
Genma: [signs] Merde!
Ranko stomps towards him, cracking her knuckles.
<POW!>
Ranko: [Shouts after Genma's dwindling form] And stay out of our
way, you hear me?!
She and Akane resume their walk down the street with renewed
resolve.
Akane: I can't believe it. Your own father!
Ranko: Well, you haven't known him for as long as I have... I
can believe it without problems.
<Splash!>
Ranko barely jumps back from the splash of water that hits the
pavement before her. Falling into a ready stance, she looks up to
where the water came from.
Voice: Rankooo...!
Somebody is sitting on the roof of the low building next to them,
holding an empty, dripping bucket.
Ranko: Aw, man, Ryouga! Not now!
Ryouga: [growling] Oh yes, now, Ranko... Now you pay!
-- End of Part 33
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Continued in Part 34
Sebastian