Subject: [FFML][Fanfic] Rift Asunder Chapter 1 Part 6
From: "Knight_Hawke" <knight_hawke@glblnet.com>
Date: 4/18/1998, 7:19 PM
To: "Fanfic Mailing List" <ffml@fanfic.com>

* * * * * * * * *

 Tapping away at the keyboard of her personal computer. Nabiki went
through her stock quotes again. Checking other areas of the motorcycle
industries with much failure about the 'Road Thunder' that is still parked
outside.
 Humming to herself, she leaned back into her chair, completely
exasperated as she ran her hands through her shortish hair. 'I cannot
believe
this! No-one has any knowledge on that thing.' she angrily thought to
herself,
'.Either that thing is a custom job.or.I don't want to know.' another
thought came to her, namely about the young man that single handedly took
out the old lecher.
 Nabiki smiled lustfully, with substantial warming of her innards, at
the dirt that she dug up on him, but frowned at the same time at the records
she
could not access.
 It was then she heard someone pounding at the main gate, '.I
wonder who it is this time.' she thought disdanefully as she got up to see
who
it is.

* * * * * * * * *

 Ranko and Hawk reached the Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial
Arts in a few minutes, suprising them to the fact that they are so close to
it.
They stopped at the massive main gates, he put down the bags,
"Well.shall I knock or you?" he asked Ranko, who gestured for him to do so,
"Right." He raised his fist to the oaken door and pounded on it heavily
enough
to be heard throughout the neighborhood.
They both winced at the volume, "Think it was too much?" he asked
her again, she just shrugged.
 A moment later, the massive doors creaked on their hindges.
A rather tall girl, with most of her brown hair tied into a tall pony-tail
and wearing a revealing outfit, "Hello? May I help you?"
Ranko bapped Hawk upside the head again in her own bout of
jealousy, "Yes..yes you can, I believe Ryouga here was trying to find this
Dojo."
Gesturing to the slumped bundle on Hawk's shoulders, "And I
believe that we had a challenge for the best in Women's Anything Goes
Martial Arts? Even though it was delayed thanks to almost uncontrollable
circumstances." Ranko said sweetly, with a predatory smile.
 Natsume started, looked the girl down, she indeed looked like the girl
who failed during the last challendge, `Can't be her!! She looks a lot like
her,
but she looks so much more different!' she thought to herself, "Come in!"
she
said as she waved them in.
As they walked past, `Taller, Stronger." she thought to herself as
she felt Ranko's aura, wide eyed and unconsiously shuddered at the thought
of
fighting her.

* * * * * * * * *

 They reached the main living area of the Dojo in just a moment.
Almost everyone is here: Kasumi, Nabiki, `Why is she giving me that look?'
thought Hawk, also Soun, Ranma, and of course, who could forget Genma,
and someone else, who was chowing down at all the food at a frightning pace.
When they entered the room, Genma took notice of Ranko and tried
to bolt.
 Before he could run to far, Ranko and Hawk snagged him just as he
tried jumped over the wall.
"You're not going anywhere Mr. Saotome/Dad." They both said at
the same time.
Genma gaped at the speed that the pair have snagged him while they
laughed while they held his arms.
"There's no need to run, for you have no place to hide." Hawk said,
shugging his shoulders, ".Plus you have a beautiful wife a home right now
that misses you dearly right now." He trailed off as Genma started
struggling
with all his might, but no no avail.
".If you just talk to Mom, she might just forget about the `promise'
that you have made all those years ago." Ranko finished. Genma slumped in
their grip.
"Besides, she's rather proud of Ranma anyway." Hawk trailed off,
leaned in closer to Genma's ear, "You should go back to her, talk with her
and.give her something that she has not had in many years." Leaning back,
he chuckled at Genma's now VERY red, embarassed face.
Hawk looked over to Ranko, who also laughed at her father's
predicament.
 They set Genma down right next to Soun, who snickered at his still
red mug. The pair, Ranko and Hawk, sat down on the other side of the table.
Soun turned to Hawk, "Tell me, what is this `Four Dragon
Elementals' style that you trained in." he stopped at Hawk's raised hand.
"Mr. Tendo.it not just I that have trained in that art." he gestured
to Ranko next to him and Ranma across the table, "Ranko and Ranma here
have also trained in it as well.with their repective Dragon Elemental." Hawk
noted with a hint of pride, evident with his ear to ear grin, "Mine being
the
Fire Element.Ranma is Earth and Ranko is Wind."
 Soun and Genma sat there, jaws agape for a moment. Genma
eventually, but slowly turned to Soun, "Did he just say that all three of
them
trained in `Four Dragon Elemental' style?" pointing at the troop, "I thought
it
was just a legend?" he whispered in Soun ear.
"We did!", they chorused. They face-faulted since they thought they
couldn't her them.
 Soun cocked his eyebrow, "But can you prove that you have studied
it?" he asked.
Hawk snorted, "Heh.we'll do better than that!" He turned to Ranko,
"I was planning on completing the Rite of Power with you, but it looks like
a
good of a time as ever."
Her eyes sparkled, Hawk turned back to the stunned Fathers, "We'll
meet you in the Dojo in approximently one hour, so that you can possibly see
the most magificent part of the ritual." Getting up and stepping back a
little,
"Guys.I was planning on telling you sooner, but." shrugging his shoulders,
"but we actually have the Dragon Elementals within us." he started as all of
them jumped him with questions.
 Hawk looked exasperated for a moment, he yelled at the top of his
lungs, "PLEASE PEOPLE!!!" that silenced them, "*SHEESH*.gimme a sec
to explain OK?!?!"
He looked around to all of them, still silent and some motioning for
him to continue. Rubbing his face, "Alrighty." he looked to both Ranma and
Ranko, "You remember that final ritual that we went through to become
masters of our representive Element?"
The twins nodded, wondering where this is going. Hawk drew a deep
breath, "Becoming Masters of our portion of the Art is not all of it that
the
ritual was for.it possessed us with our Dragon Elemental."
He paused for a moment, deep in thought, his hand up to keep
everyone silent, "That Dragon Elemental is symbiotic with us.meaning it
works WITH us, more likely melding with us,  instead of taking complete
control over our own bodies, giving us their power as we learn to harness
it. It
is one of the reasons why we were `Chosen' before we actually started
trainng.and that training made us capable to even HANDLE the Dragons
within.SO! That means we aren't TRUE masters yet." he smiled, clapping
his hands together, "but I believe I have found a way to tap into that
power."
 Hawk was jumped with questions again with Ranko almost literally
hanging off of his neck.
When Hawk didn't pay attention to most of their barations, they
backed off, except Ranko, who is still hanging off of him.
He looked about the room, "Your questions will have to wait." he
hefted Ranko in his arms, ".until the ritual is in full swing." He walked
out of
the room with Ranko waving to behind him.
 Everyone looked to each other, shrugged and went about their current
business to wait for the appropriate time.
Which is mainly grilling Ranma on why he left, what he did while in
train, how he got 'Chosen'. That last one he answered simply, "I don't
know.We where taught not to question things like that." But the one that
seemed more profound came from Nabiki.
 "I'm curious.That motorbike outside, where did you get that from?"
she asked simply. For some strange reason, everyone stopped drilling into
him,
seemingly like they too are also wondering where. Before he could answer,
Nabiki piped in yet again, ".And another thing, how did you PAY for
something like that?"
 Ranma gulped as he explained things as best as he could.

* * * * * * * * *

 One hour later the whole household went into the Dojo, as soon as
they opened the door, they were bathed in a soft white light.
Upon entering the room, they see Ranko and Hawk sitting down in a
lotus position, heads bowed, each others' hands facing palm to plam in front
of
them.
It is their hands were the light is coming from. The group quietly sat
the one end of dojo, watching in awe of what they are doing.
Even Nabiki, with a video camera, gaped at the sight a little bit.
 Their heads lifted slowly, in unison.
Their eyes are firmly clamped shut. "Feel the Dragon to your soul."
said Hawk in an almost ominous voice, "Feel the Dragon to you. Embrace it
with all of your heart."
When that was said, they rose to their feet, pointing the tips of their
fingers outward. Still not touching each other.
 As soon as they stood, two ghostly looking dragons erupted from
their backs, just below the base of the neck.
"Do not open your eyes, for you cannot see them! See them with your
Heart and Soul!!" Hawk called out, almost screaming for the life of him.
They were almost flung back from each other, but held on tight to
each other, now that their hands linked together.
Ranko's dragon is colored all creamy-white, rearing back, spreading
its two wings wide, causing a small cyclone to whirl about it.
Hawk's is colored a blood-red, also spreading its' eight wings just as
wide, then it erupted into flames, but no heat can be felt from the flames.
It looked like an erupting volcano with its liquid fire.

When the dragons emerged from them, they nearly filled entire the
upper portion of the Dojo, particularly the Fire Element, when they spread
their wings wide, flooring everyone who is watching.
All jaws slakened at the display of the purest power ever known to all
the martial arts, and yet, the dragons themselves are still attached to the
young
masters. Nor did they move a muscle, for fear they would bring the dragons
down upon themselves.
 The dragons roared a deafening bellow and started going in a circle
around the pair, who are still clutching each other's hands came closer
until
they are almost touching chest to chest and started floating into the air.
Spinning as the dragons circled, they reached the rafters, the dragons
stopped circling and shot through the roof, blowing almost the entire thing
off!
Pieces of the roof went everywhere as the dragons flew into the sky,
the young lovers clutching to each other fiercely, neither showing they are
letting go anytime soon.
Both spinning at a slower rate than the dragons above them.
Intertwining the tails of the acsending dragons.
 In a few minutes, the fierce hug turned into a long, breathless kiss, the
red and white light eminating from them turning blindingly bright, still
holding
onto each other in the tender embrace as the floated back down to the
ground,
their dragons now coming down from their place in heaven to take their place
back within their hosts.
 As the dragons withdrew into them, the light died down.
To reveal the hosts still embracing each other in one of the most
tender of scenes, surrounded each in their repective elemental colored
light,
occasionally brightening and mixing with each other.
Then they slumped to the floor onto their knees, disengaging from
their kiss.
Even exhausted from their experience, they still managed to get onto
their feet again a moment later.
They turned to the still gaping group, they gasped as they looked at
them.
 Physically they didn't change much at all.
It was their eyes, Ranko's Baby Blues changed to a lighter shade of
sky-blue and her hair turned a lighter shade of red, almost pink.
Hawk's eyes changed more dramaticly, they changed to a flaming red
and yellow, and his light brown hair changed to a very deep red, almost
black.
They were both grining ear to ear.

* * * * * * * * *

 Akane just reached the Dojo as the dragon's burst skyward.
Twisting their way up, seemingly like a dance.
She yelped as the debris spun toward her from the roof, but none hit.
Akane looked up to see Ryouga, sheilding her from the blast with his
umbrella.
 When the flying pieces of wood finished clattering to the ground,
they both gaped as they looked to the dojo, the trailing dragons from the
dojo,
then to each other and nodded.
They ran into the dojo proper, to the training hall and got floored onto
their butts, by what they see.
 They see Ranko and Hawk floating up into the air, bathed in a mixed
red-white light, embracing each other very tightly, lips locked to each
other.
Ryouga and Akane's neck-hair stood up on end when the wave of
power washed over them when the pair started floating down, when the light
started to increase in magnitude until it was too hard to look into the
sun-bright
light.
 The light died down, Ryouga and Akane managed to look again to
see them turning to the group, still embracing each other.
Akane felt her heart melt as she felt the love eminating from the both
of them when they turned, she put her arm around the nearest opposite sex,
namely Ryouga, not really thinking of who she is holding now.
 A series of gasps snapped Akane out of her reverie, `What could
shock them now?' she thought to herself as she stomped into the dojo,
determined to find out as to what is going on.
She noticed that no-one saw her come in, "HEY! What is going on
here?!?!?" she yelled to no-one in particular.
 Soun, coming out of his shock now, stood up uneasily, "A miracle
daughter.nothing short of a miracle." he said blankly as he stared at the
pair, the others nodded.
Now even more exasperated, "Can ANYONE give me a straight
answer?!?!" yelled Akane.
When no-one answered she stormed out of the now completely
wrecked dojo.
 It is completely silent, save for the birds that chirped happily on the
uncovered support posts for the roof.
The silence,only broken by the groans of one man and one woman as
they slid to the ground, even though they are completely exhausted now, for
they still are in each others arms.
The groans snapped everyone out of it, they spotted the two on the
ground, unconsious but very much alive.
 Genma, even still in shock, "Let's get them to bed." he said, still in
awe at what he just seen, "They must be exhausted from such an
experience."
Everyone looked to him, nodded meekly, moved to break them apart
and take them to bed.

* * * * * * * * *

 Having placed the couple into bed, they moved into the main room,
still silent from the shock they received just a moment earlier.
The only one not totally affected is Kasumi, she quietly served
everyone Green-Tea, sat down and like the others, quietly mulled over the
events that have perspired before them.
 Like the others, Kasumi was left in awe of the sheer amount of
power.and love that came from the both of them.
 Sighing inwardly, `Will I ever find someone who will love me as
greatly.and myself to him?' Kasumi asked to herself.

* * * * * * * * *

 Sometime later, Ranko awoke with a pained groan, everything is sore.
She got up off of the futon and looked around. Seeing that no-one is
there except for the rumpled left side of the bedding.
She lightly shrugged and regretted it as the sore muscles let
themselves known, a lot.
Yawning, she got out of the bed and padded over to the wash room.
 When she looked into the mirror, did a double take.
The person looking back looked much like her, but with different hair
and eye color.
Plus, under closer inspection, she looked like a ravishing young,
ADULT woman, not like the `cute' teenager girl look that she has come to
expect from over the years.
It was like all the baby-fat was burned off of her during the Rite.
Her face a slightly narrower, highlighting her cheekbones, hips not-so
rounded, but still sensual, trim and firm.
Ranko also noticed that her breast size hasn't really changed much,
now that it fits her taller, still slim frame much better than before.
Shrugging her shoulders, she walked into the inner washroom after
stripping the clothes that she has slept in off, heedless of the sign
stating that
the bath is currently occupied.
 She snapped to when she noticed that someone is already lounging in
the tub, with his arms along the side and his head kicked back.
Ranko couldn't see who it was through the steam in the room, but she
could see that his head snapped up when she closed the door.
 "Who's there?" someone painfully groaned out, it was Hawk's voice.
Ignoring her own pain for just a moment and Ranko quietly walked
up behind him, who didn't take any notice as he rubbed the back of his neck
and groaning somemore.
She put her hands over his eyes and said softly, "Guess Who?"
Hawk started for a moment, then relaxed as he remembered her voice,
"Ranko-chan." he breathed, took her hands off of his face and kissed the
palms of each of them, then letting go, "I take it you are sore too?" he
asked
when she climbed into the tub.
She just nodded, "Yeah, that Rite took a lot outta me." she groaned
as she waded over to him, settling in front him, between his knees, using
his
chest as a sort of cushion as he curled his arms around her slender waist.
As he pulled her in, "Don't I know it.Now we are true masters of
the art.our training is now complete." he finished in a Darth-Vader like
tone
and then pecked at the side of her neck.
Humming to the attention, "We can finally get onward with our
lives." she whispered, nuzzling up to Hawk to silence him, "For now I just
want to relax for awhile."
The both of them just sat there, just letting the heat soak their pains
away.

[Author's Note: Uhhh.I think that there's a lemon side story in line for
right
about here now, neh? MOSTLY LIKELY NAHehehehehehe]
* * * * * * * * *

 A padded thumping can be heard throughout the Tendo Household.
 Kasumi ran through the house, at the crack of dawn, to the kitchen.
She tried to calm herself from what she had just seen in the
washroom, sitting down with a drink but not the alchoholic variety, though
she
wished it was.
The scene she witnessed brought a flush to her face everytime she
remembered it.
She sat there for a time, trying to forget.
 As breakfast rolled around, she tried to forget while making it. Failing
miserably, unable to control the almost permenent blush on her face while
serving breakfast and darting out of the room at breakneck speed.
 Everyone, except Ranko and Hawk, looked worriedly to each other
for Kasumi.
Akane, who caught a glance betweem the both of them, wondered
why they didn't look worried but she knows that she can't confront them her
usual way, remembering the ritual they had performed just yesterday.
She got up and walked to the kitchen.
 Akane saw Kasumi leaning against the sink, panting heavily and
trying to cool herself off by way of waving her hand in front of her face.
She spotted Akane coming in the room and quickly turned around.
 "Kasumi?" Akane asked as delicately as possible, "What's wrong?"
Kasumi looked up from the sink, very flushed, "Ummm." was all
that she managed to get out at the time, waving her arms franticly for a
moment, "I just saw something I think that wasn't ment to be seen." Kasumi
stammered out, she waved Akane closer for no-one to hear.
 Akane cocked an eyebrow, mostly to see Kasumi, who's the most
unflappable person she knows, so badly flustered by something, "What's goin'
on?"
 The wild eyed Kasumi looked like she was going to burst as she
wispered into Akane's ear, whose own eyes started to widen as she heard what
is going on with her sister, also blushing just as furiously.

 Akane came out of the kitchen with her own flabbergasted expression
and sat down at the table.
Soun looked to her with one of his rare serious expressions,
"Akane." he called to her.
She looked up, catching a quick glance to Ranko and Hawk, then
back to her father with a quite visible blush, "Hai?"
Soun cocked a questioning eyebrow, "What did you find out about
Kasumi?"
Akane's face glowed red, then put her head into her hand, "Believe
me, Dad.you don't want to know.you REALLY don't want to know."
she said, shaking her head.
Soun and Genma looked to each other, they both shrugged and went
back to devoring Kasumi usually delicious breakfasts.
 Simutainiously, both Ranko and Hawk thanked Kasumi for breakfast
and quickly got up from the table.
It was then Akane noticed Ranko's further changes, `I thought she
looked good at the store." she thought, wide eyed and looked to her other
sister, Nabiki.
 Nabiki just shrugged nonchalantly, watched the two wander off and
wondered how much more yen she could squeeze out of Kuno with pictures of
the `New Pig-Tailed-Girl.'
 She smiled. It was not a Nice smile.

 Hawk and Ranko apeared in the backyard by the Koi pond.
 "Yeeeesh! That was close!" gasped Hawk, with his hands to his
knees.
Ranko nodded, "Yeah..." leaning closer to Hawk's ear, "but I think
we should find a more.private place, neh?" she said cutely.
Hawk nodded as well, "Yeah." looking skyward, then looking down
to Ranko, "Well. weather looks good for now.SO! You up for some
practice?" he called to her with a smile and jumping back a few yards, "I
haven't had a good spar in a couple of years."
She nodded and leapt at him, splitting the air with a playful battle cry.
A wide smile evident on her face when she leapt at him with a flying
punch.

 Soun and Genma started when they heard Ranko's yell.
They looked up from there usual spot at the shogi table and gaped at
what they saw: Ranko and Hawk duking it out with each other, both with a
furiousity and speed that they cannot even pray to match and looking every
bit
of a dance in very high speed.
Both seem to be enjoying it, judging by the mile wide smiles they
have on their faces.
 Natsume and Karume came out of the side hall, looked to where the
sounds of battle are originating.
Even stunned a bit, they watched the fevered dance continue for
many minutes.
Ranko and Hawk, suddenly split from each other to the walls on
either side. They both wiped their brows of a small amount of sweat and then
lept high into the air.

Akane came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands dry of the
morning's dishes, curiousity pulled her out when she heard the battle cry.
She caught sight of the Ranko on the wall leap into the air to meet
Hawk midway.
She watched, wide-eyed at the incredible amount of skill being put on
display.
Akane also noted that Hawk didn't seem to be pulling his punches,
going at it with everything he's got, `Of course.she'd really get him if he
did
that.probably did a few times.' she thought with a smile.
She was interupted from her thoughts when something crashed to the
ground. Hard.
 Akane looked to Hawk's splayed form on the ground, face first into
the dirt, fingers and legs twitching.
She stared agape at him, `Is he.?' then the crazy position he is in
finally got to her as she broke down into laughter.
Hawk suddenly snapped out of it and spun on his hands, legs
outstretched. His legs did catch the intended target, but was blocked as she
skidded across the dirt.
He sat there in the splits, facing Ranko with a wide grin plastered on
his face, "OK! I think that is enough for now!" he called out to Ranko, "I
think
we have a bit of an audience here!" gesturing to the group, who are
currently
picking their jaws up.
 Genma shook his head side to side vigourously as he stood up. He
practically beamed of barely restrained pride, "That's my girl, Tendo!" his
face fell as he slapped both of his hands to his big mouth.
He looked to Soun, not believing what he just said, who looked like
he is thinking the same.
Hawk came up to Genma and slapped him on the shoulder lightly, "I
see not why you are embarassed about being proud of your little girl..even
though she was literally part your son." He said as he gestured to Ranko,
who's towling herself off.
 Genma blinked at Hawk's words for a moment, then barelled over in
laughter.
"I do believe that the boy has a point, Saotome!" Soun said to his old
friend, also chuckling a bit himself, he turned to Hawk, who bowed a little
and
walked off.
Soun furrowed his brow as he looked put to the pond, "But what are
we going to do about the Dojo then? Since Natsume and Karumi are the best in
Women's Anything Goes." he trailed off as Ranko walked up to him, she
over heard what they have said.
She looked to Soun, straight in his eye, "I have not forgotten that.in
fact my pride is still wounded from the memory. " she said tursely, sitting
down between the two men, "But I do not want to badly hurt them over that,
also." turning to Soun, "I believe that since they think of you as their
father." she trailed off a little, thinking, "I think that you should adopt
them
into the family.since they are good kids and.good fighters." She finished
off with a grin.
 Soun stared at her, his eyes deep within his own thoughts, "Do you
know what you just said?" he said a little agrily, "I already have three
unwed
dauhgters and no regular source of income to provide much for them!" he was
practically on the verge of forming the Demon Head(tm).
Ranko winced at the volume of his voice and turned back to him,
steel in her eyes, "But could you bear the thought of sending those two back
into the streets? They love you dearly and will do positively anything for
you!"
she yelled into his face, "And don't talk about money, that is easily
provided." leaning back, regaining her composure, "IF the both of you take
on some students for the Dojo." She finished with a wink, got up and walked
off.
 Both Genma and Soun watched her walk off. Soun sighed, relieved,
"She does have a point, Tendo.We do need to take on some students now,
since we cannot forcibly marry Ranma and Akane now." Genma trailed off,
unable to supress a shudder, remembering the time that Ranko litterally put
him through a wall.
He looked to the sky, looking back, "She definitely right about one
thing.." he chuckled a little, "They are good, grateful kids.could be more
of
an asset to the Dojo than as enemies."
Soun started, he babbled, "But.But.." Words failing him
completely.
Genma slapped him on the back, "But I'm sure we'll all think of
something."
"I can make sure of that." Hawk said, he came back  after cleaning
himself off, dressed in a loosed t-shirt and baggy denim shorts. The two
other
men turned around ,"I too would not like to see them thrown to the streets."
he stopped as Soun jumped to him and clutched at his shirt, "Tell me! How
will you make sure of that?!?!"
 Hawk reached up to Soun's arms and pried him off, painfully, "I have
my ways.ways that not even Nabiki may not know about.but you."
looking to Soun, ".just have to make sure that the adoption of those two are
finalized, then, and ONLY then will I step in to help." he said mysteriously
as he walked off to find Ranko, leaving the two men behind on the porch,
thoroughly confused.
 Nabiki chose this time to walk into the vicinity, "I do think that he is
right, Daddy."
Holding up a sheaf of printouts, "I had to do some major digging on
our `friend' here to find anything." Nabiki stated while flipping through
the
sheets until she found what she was looking for, "The only thing that I
found is
a bank account." raising an intrigued eyebrow, ".and the amount that is in
there is rather.extremely exquisite."
Now looking back at them, "But for anything more about him is
sealed and no-one can get at them unless they have a Federal Search Warrant
from the Diet ITSELF."
Nabiki scanned the sheets again, `But I MUST have him if he is..."
She thought to herself gleefully, almost hugging herself.
 The two men looked at each other, slumped their shoulders as they
gave her everything they have in their pockets, which only amounted to about
10,000 yen.
Nabiki turned away for a moment to quickly count the money, she
tuned back, "Well.since you two have asked so gracefully." putting the
money into her pocket, "You do know that you have just talked to probably
_THE_ richest man in the entire world?"
Laughing at their major face-faults, Nabiki walked away to plan the
conquest of the man of her dreams.

* * * * * * * * *

 Hawk found Ranko in Kasumi's room, the both of them talking,
which quickly halted as he stepped into the room.
He started as they drilled their eyes silently to him,
"Uhhh.Ranko.here you are.." he stammered under their gazes.
The two women started giggling a second after he finished speaking.
"Hey! I was just trying to find Ranko so that we can go to dinner tonight!!"
Hawk exclaimed, but froze as someone seductively wrapped their arms around
him and pulled him out of the room.

 Watching him get pulled out of the room. Ranko turned to the eldest
Tendo woman as soo as the door closed, "What was that all about?" she asked.
 Kasumi just shrugged, not knowing what is going on.
 The both of them continued in their chatter as if nothing went wrong.

 Hawk slowly turned his head to see that it is Nabiki that has her arms
around him, "Why won't you take me out to dinner then?" she said in her most
sultry voice.
He gulped, "Well.I was thinking of talking to." he couldn't finish
as Nabiki planted a kiss onto him.
His mind core-dumped from the feeling of Nabiki soft lips to his own.
Shutdown when she tried to stick her tongue down his throat.
Rebooted when she did pulled her lips away.
When it booted back up, he was sweating heavily, "Uhh. Nabiki.
why did you.ummm.just kiss me for?" Hawk stammered.
She simply smiled, "That is for the man I plan on marrying." she
said she trailed her long fingers from lips to his neck.
Nabiki started as his confused gaze turned very dark, very angry,
"What did you find out, Nabiki?" he grated out as he pushed her into her
room
and closed the door.
 She unwrapped her arms from him, put on a confident smile and sat
down on her bed, "I found out that YOU." pointing her finger at his face,
".are the richest man in the world."
Folding her arms, "I must have you." she stopped as she looked to
Hawk, who is slightly shaking in anger, head down with his hand to his
forehead.
 He lifted his head slowly, "I gave you the benefit of the doubt that
you wouldn't look into my past or my accounts." he snapped his head up
with an incredibly infuriated expression, "but apparently I was wrong to try
and be nice with the likes of a cold-hearted, money grubbing MERCENARY
*BITCH* like you." he growled.
"I would prefer that kind of information will NOT leave this
room.especially to Ranko." he grated out from between his teeth, trying to
get his temper under control.
 She flinched to accusations and to what he called her, but smirked
anyway, "This kind of information will not.for a price of..."
Nabiki started as a sizable wad of large bills loudly smacked against
the wall, partially imbedding itself in said wall, "There's your fucking
price!"
hand now on the doorknob, "Why don't you go and buy something nice."
opening the door.
Looking back to her, "Like a heart!" Hawk roared and exited the
room with a loud slamming of the door, almost taking off of it hindges.
He failed to hear the sniffles coming from the room.

 Ranko and Kasumi heard Hawk yelling and the incredibly loud
doorslam afterwards echo throughout the house.
Ranko darted out of the room and into the hallway. Followed by
Kasumi.
Ranko watched Hawk, with a very visible, very angry aura about him
stomp down the stairs.
She ran after him, trailing after her is Kasumi, who headed into
Nabiki's room.
Ranko ran in front of him, his eyes not visible but she can see that he
is crying by the streams down his face, "Hawk-chan, what's wrong?"
His head slowly lifted, she can now see his angry face completely,
"Well.For starters, I placed an implied trust into Nabiki.and she has
completely betrayed that trust." he sniffed as he wiped his eyes, "But I'll
be
OK in a bit.but we're still up for that date tonight?" he said, weakly
smiling,
deciding to change the subject.
Ranko reluctantly shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah.we're still on for
the date but where's it going to be at though?" she asked him.
Hawk also shrugged his shoulders, "Well.I was thinking of Kyoto's
Sushi resturant." he trailed off as he noticed her startled expression.
"But can you afford it? That place is very expensive." she stopped
when Hawk place a finger on her lips, "Need not worry about it, I can handle
it. Also, what about all of us going to the beach this afternoon for some
Sun
and Fun?" he asked cheerfully.
Obviously trying desperately to forget what transpired earlier.
 Ranko was about to say something, "Yes.that would be a good idea!
Isn't it Saotome?" said Soun, rather cheerful himself, turning to Genma.
"That's right Tendo!"
Both Ranko and Hawk groaned, "I'll see ya later! Gotta pick out what
I'm going to wear for tonight!" she pecked him on the lips and shot up the
stairs, leaving him with the two fathers.
He slumped his shoulders, "Yeah.it is a good idea." he looked up
to see their starry eyes and balked at the sight.
 Realisation hit him, hit him hard, "I take it that Nabiki told you
already?" he asked them.
At their rapid nods, he slapped his hand to his forehead as his chin hit
his chest, "Great.just great."
Looking back up to them, steel in his eyes.
Hawk crossed his arms, "You two will NOT say anything until I tell
everyone about it.before then, you don't want to know.", he growled as he
walked out the front door.
 Both of the men shivered to the tone that Hawk used upon them and
went back to their game of Shogi.

* * * * * * * * *

 Hawk tromped through the streets with an almost visible storm-cloud
over his head.
He eventually came to Uukyo's. Looking up to the sign, he shrugged
and walked into the shop. Uukyo, startled by his entrance, "Welcome to."
she trailed off as she saw Hawk's expression.
He looked up from the floor, "Hi, Uukyo.howzit goin'?" he asked,
looking around the shop, which is amazingly empty right now, "Slow day?"
She nodded, "Yeah.thanks to this heat, no-one wants to go into an
open air shop like mine."
Uukyo shrugged her shoulders, "It happens, sugar..but what about
you? You look like someone has." she stopped when he slumped into one the
stools, Hawk laid his head onto the counter.
Then banging his head onto it,  "Everything that I have carefully
planned has gone out the window, Uukyo.that's what is wrong," with on last
bang on the counter, making a noticable dent in it.
Hawk lifted his head, his expression now dark, "Thanks to the damn
mercenary."
He stopped when he heard a gasp, "Nabiki?? She did this to you??"
she exclaimed.
Hawk nodded slowly, "Yeah." he gulped, "Well.since she found
out about it I might as well tell ya." he flashed a grin at her confused
look,
"Didn'tcha know?"
She shook her head, "What?"
 He took in a deep breath, "Heh.I'm the richest man in the world and
Nabiki also tried to seduce me." he chuckled as he shook his head.
At her angry expression he continued, "But failed.miserably and got
a reckoning from me."
They both laughed when he explained the look on Nabiki's face.
 When they calmed themselves down, "Anyway, Uukyo.hows about
one of those famous super-deluxe okinomiyaki's I keep hearing about?" Hawk
asked the famous Okinomiyaki chef.
Uukyo giggled when his stomach decided to make itself known,
"Coming right up, sugar!" she said as she whipped up his order.
 Taking her time in making this order, since there is no rush this time,
Uukyo paid special attention to this order until the time she put onto
Hawk's
plate, "Here ya go sugar!" she said as she served him his order, "One Super-
Deluxe Okinomiyaki!"
Hawk quickly dug in and ate it with extra gusto.
 He finished the stack of okinomiyaki fairly quickly, "Thanks,
Uukyo."
He looked around to the shop again, an idea came to him, "Hey!
Since you aren't at all busy today." he purposely trailed off to get her
full
attention.
Uukyo turned with a raised eyebrow, "How about you join me, Ranko
and the others to the beach this afternoon?"
Her eyes lit up, "Sure! Where do you want me to meet you guys?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "Where else?" now she is looking
confused, "The Tendo Dojo, where I'm currently staying, waiting until my
new house is built."
 She gasped, hands to her face and eyes very wide, "You're building a
house here?!?! In Nerima???"
He nodded, "That's great!" she beamed. In his best gameshow
announcer voice, "And that's not all!"
Now Uukyo is confused, continuing, but in his normal voice, "I plan
on taking Ranko onto a date later tonight to." he trailed off for effect but
working too well.
"WELL! Tell me, ya jackass!" she yelled as she playfully bapped him
on the shoulder.
Hawk quickly coughed, "To.AskhertoMarryme." He said softly and
too fast for her to catch.
 Uukyo started, "To what?" she asked him, since she didn't hear. "I
said.To Propose to her! To ask her to marry me!!" he exclaimed loudly.
A little ruffled, "No need to yell, Hon." she trailed off as realisation
hit. To say that she squealed is putting it mildly, she practically raised
the roof
when she screamed.
 Unplugging his fingers from his ears, "I take it that you are happy for
me?" he asked sacasticly.
She again playfully bapped him, upside the head, "Of course you
jackass! Why shouldn't I be??" she said, crossing her arms.
He started, "Then hows about a congrats hug." she started this time,
"Don't worry, just a friendly hug between friends. There's nothing wrong
with
that is there?" he finished, opening his arms wide.
 As she moved to give Hawk a hug, "Don't touch my Uukyo-sama!!!"
a cute girl voice dried out.
Startled, Hawk looked around and saw a cute girl's head poking out
of a common house plant, a tall fern to be exact, "TSUBASA!!!" Uukyo
screamed as she hefted her `Mega-Spat', but stopped at Hawk's raised hand.
 "Let me." turning to Tsubasa, "Why won't you let me have a
friendly hug with Uukyo here?" he said to the girl, gesturing to Uukyo.
Tsubasa flared a cute red, "Because she is mine and I won't let
anyone touch her." Tsusbasa charged, but stopped at the gaze that Hawk
gave him, "Heh.she is no-one's but her own.she is free to make her own
choices.."
Taking a deep breath, ".and you have NO right whatsoever to say
anything about it now, do you?" he finished, leaning back into the counter,
taking a drink of his soda from his order.
 Tsubasa glowed a bright red and charged at the interloper..
 Only to get flattened by Uukyo's `Mega-Spat' and sent him flying out
the door, "That was a nice speech, suger. In fact I'm rather flattered by
it, but I
don't think you'll be able to talk down the likes of him." She said, jutting
her
thumb out the door.
Hawk just shrugged, "I try.since I have been taught be another
friend of mine that fighting isn't the only answer to everything." Stating
matter-of-factly as he leaned forward again from the counter, "Now that
noise
is over.What about my `Congratulatory Hug', neh?"
She giggled and hugged him lightly, he did the same.
As he hugged her, that stange feeling came back to him. `It felt
familiar.almost like.RANKO-CHAN!!' He thought as made connected the
two, but shoved it aside for right now, `I'll tell Ranko when I get
home..and
Ranma too.'
 When they completed the hug a moment later, they seperated and
Hawk got up out of the stool, "Welp.I gotta get back to the Dojo..so I'll
meet ya there at about 1 o'clock then?" he asked from the doorway, after
leaving cash at the counter.
She nodded as she picked up the money, "Yep.Ma-ta-ne!" she
called out to him.
"Ma-ta-ne!!" he called back as he ran out the door to the Dojo.

 He took off in the wrong direction, but for good reason.
Hawk has need to get something from the his ship up in orbit.
Namely, the troops' trademark Dragon-Swords. `Maybe we could get
some practice in sometime." he thought as he ran off and leapt onto the
rooftops.

 Hawk got to the Tendo Dojo in near record time, to meet face to face
with a Firery faced Ranko.
Skidding to a halt, Hawk looked up to Ranko's face, `Hell Hath no
Fury." he thought absently.
"What the hell did you say to Nabiki?!?!?" she screamed, almost
landing him onto his rear, "Kasumi found her in TEARS when you left!!" she
is positively fuming now, with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Hawk gulped, "Well.for starters.remember when I told you that
she betrayed an implied trust that I put into her?" She nodded, "She tried
to.seduce me and most-likely blackmail me because of what she found
out." he trailed off as she flared again.
"WHAT?!?! What was it that she found out???" she asked, a little
more calmly this time since she saw his guilty face.
 Hawk moved over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders, "I'll tell
you tonight at dinner, ok? That's when I'll start telling a lot of
my.secrets to
you.I just can't tell ANYBODY about some of the things I know for a
VERY GOOD reason.and Nabiki didn't know about the right buttons to
push when she did push indeed them." he slid his hands off her shoulders,
"I'll go and apologise to her when she is rational enough to hear me
out.alright?" he was practicaly begging.
Ranko slumped her shoulders, "Ok.you will tell me, tonight?"
He started, "Of course! Then you'll have a PERFECT reason why I
am talking then!!" he smiled and ran off.
Watching his fleeing form, `I wonder what's that `perfect' reason he
is talking about?' she thought to herself, she then walked back into the
house.
 Ranko saw Hawk walk up the stairs, deciding to stealthily following
him.
He stopped in front of Nabiki's door pausing for a moment, taking in
a deep breath and then knocked on it.
Another moment later, Ranko saw the door open, heard Hawk say
something, then Kasumi walked past him.

 Hawk knocked on her door, waiting impatiently, he heard some
rustling behind it as Kasumi opened the door.
He could have sworn he saw a scornful look on her face, feeling like
a heel to that look from her, ESPECIALLY from her.
Hawk had good grace enough to look sheepish, "Uhhh.Hi
Kasumi.may I talk to Nabiki.alone?" she nodded and shuffled past him.
 He leaned his head into the door and saw Nabiki furiously wiping her
eyes dry.
Gulping heavily, "Uhh.Hello." he choked as he closed the door,
then ducked as something was thrown at him.
"GET OUT!!!" ducking another item.
"Why's that?" Hawk asked, his temper starting to make itself known.
Fuming, "I have NOTHING to say to you!" Nabiki grated out
between her teeth.
Hawk narrowed his eyes, "Well.I was planning on explaining a few
things to you and apologising.BUT if you going to be that way.then I'll
leave you to pout and cry like a little girl." he motioned over to the
doorknob, but he was stopped by a firm hand on his own.
Turning back a bit, "No.it's ok.I'll listen," turning on a pained
smirk, ".without any price." she trailed off as his angry expression turned
almost neutral.
 Hawk sat down in a chair he spun around, leaning into the back with
his elbows, "OK! Well.I think you already know I don't take to blackmail all
that well," he half-heartedly chuckled and she nodded, "but the thing that
did
get me mad was that you tried to seduce me when I love another." he
stopped as he saw her slump completely, ".and that you betrayed a trust that
I did put onto you.mostly just hoping that you don't expose me for what I
am." throwing his hands into the air, "but it I turned out to be the fool in
trusting someone blindly..I guess I am just that sort of person."
He looked to her, concern eched all over his face, "but I don't think
that is the reason that you cried."
 Nabiki looked up, "Yeah.I never really thought it would hurt
anyone by my own dealings.it has been working for me for a long time.this
is the first time it has ever backfired in my face." she also gave a
half-hearted
laugh, "I don't think we are cut out for this kind of talk, though." she
held
out the wad of bills to him.
"I don't deserve it for."
Hawk held up his hand, "Keep it.just don't try to cross me ok,
Nabiki?"  A smirk gotten to his face as he continued, "Don't make me
angry.you won't like me when I'm angry." he said as small as possible.
She then burst into a gale of laughter, "I remember that show!
Heh.ok." looking at the wad, "This would come in handy for when some of
Ranma's suitors or enemies show up." they both laughed at that.
Then Hawk got serious, "I will say this.That I am sorry for what I
have said earlier and that you are invited to come with us to the beach
later this
afternoon," looking over to the clock, "GAH! 11:30.joy." rubbing his face,
"This has been one thing after another," looking back up to Nabiki, "Think
you can get us a suitable spot there?"
Her brow shot up and put one hand over her heart, "Moi? Sure.go
on.get out of here, I got to get changed."
He bowed gracefully, "Thank you, M'Lady." snapping his fingers,
"OH YEAH! I almost forgot.since that we are on realatively good terms
again." trailing off as he dug into his pocket and brought out a ring case,
looking back to her, her face lighting up, "No, Nabiki.this is not for you,"
He
said, chuckling to her faked pout, "This is for later tonight, when me and
Ranko go out to dinner. "
Hawk opened the black velvet case and handed it to her.
 Her eyes widened very much, and a miracle happened..Nabiki was
left speechless.
She sat there for a moment, just staring at the ring contained therein.
Hawk walked up and gingerly waved his right hand in front of here
eyes.
They blinked.
And Blinked again, her jaw and lips worked wordlessly.
Then she snapped out of it, "I need you to hide it here for awhile.at
least until tonight, since we ARE going to the beach." shrugging his
shoulders.
Nabiki closed the case, then regaining control over her voice again,
"Of course I'll hide it for you."
Hawk bowed again, "Good! Now I have my own business to take
care of, like finding a spot at the beach." he stopped at her raised hand.
"No need for you to do that, I told you that I can easily take care of
that."
He laughed a bit, "So that is how you are under that shell called a
business woman!" he exclaimed, bowing again, "But I'm afraid that I cannot
stay any longer here.I have to face my girl after this." shuddering a bit
and
darting out the door.
 Hawk waved to Nabiki as he closed the door and turned.
To meet nose to nose with Ranko. "BWAH!" He shouted as he held
his heart, "Don't do dat!!"
He looked back up from the floor to Ranko, she does NOT look
amused, "Ummm.what?"
Her eyes flashed, "'WHAT'? Is that all you are going to say?!? Did
you apologize to Nabiki??"
Hawk, looking a bit like a heel, "Yes I did.in fact I think I just made
another friend here." Cracking a smile, "I think I have got to see what not
many people do see." wrong words to say, mebucko.
Ranko's aura flared a bright red, "WHAT?!?!." she reared her arm
back with her fist clentched tight.
"HOLD IT!!" Hawk yelled into her face, startling her, "I didn't mean
THAT?!?! What kinda guy do you think I am, huh??" lowering his voice, "I
ment the person that is behind that cold, business-like shell she always has
up!
Sheesh" rubbing his face with his hand, looking back up, "Forgive me?" he
asked her in his patent `cute' voice, arms out in front of him, head tilted
down
and off to the side.
 She let out a deep breath, "OK!" she drawled out as she hugged him.
When she let go of him, she asked, "So where did you go in such a huff
anyway?"
He rubbed the back of his head, "I walked around a bit, trying to cool
off and I eventually ran into Uuchan's Okinomiyaki, had a bit of a talk with
her of the goings on and I talked her into going to the beach with us."
crossing his arms, "Ya'know what?" he asked her.
"What?" Hawk smirked, "DON"T even say `Exactly' or I'll hurt
you!" Shaking her fist in front of his face for emphisis.
He chuckled a bit and instantly turned serious, "I believe Uukyo is the
last Dragon we're looking for.." he stopped when he heard Ranko take in a
sharp gasp, "Yeah, my thoughts exactly.but it is only a theory right now."
flopping his arms to the side and hanging his head.
"Since I did get the same feeling with her that I got with you."
bringing his head back up and brush a bit of his hair back with his hand, "I
hope that we can prove it or disprove it somehow.OH WELL.I don't
wanna think about it right now, I have a headache." he started when she
kissed him.
"How's your head now?" Ranko asked him.
Laughing, "A bit better now." curling his arm around her.
"Let's go downstairs and get some lunch before we head to the
beach." She said to him, leading him back in.
"How could I say no to that?" he laughed as he put his own arm
around her.

* * * * * * * * *

 The couple came to an already full table, "Gee.no-one's hungry? Is
there?" Hawk deadpanned as he and Ranko squeezed in the tight confines.
While they ate, Hawk noticed that Natsume and Karumi looked a bit
nervous for some reason, but he only need to look next to him, to Ranko, to
find the reason why, "Hey you two!" he called out to them.
That startled them almost a little too much, since the nearly droped
their lunch, "Whoa.calm down! Sheesh! Anyways." the rest of the talking
around them instantly silenced, "You two up to going to the beach later? The
more the merrier!" he ask them cheerfully.
The sisters blinked, "But we don't have any swimsuits." Natsume
said before Karumi can jump to anything, who is pouting cutely.
Hawk opened his mouth, but Akane jumped on it before he did, "I
sure we can loan you something! Right, Kasumi, Nabiki?"
The elder sisters nodded. "I'm sure that I have something in my closet
that they'll like." Nabiki chimed in.
 Hawk looked about the table, "Well.I guess that it is decided then!
You too, Kasumi! Even you need some time off every once in a while!" The
tone in his voice didn't leave any room for argument.
Kasumi nodded and went back into the kitchen.
 "Hurray!!!" Karumi exclaimed with her usual starry eyes.
 Soon, everyone finished up and move on to gather their things to go
to the beach.
Hawk went up the stairs to Ranma and Genma's room.
Natume and Karumi watched him go up the stairs with an underlying
curiousity, but it soon got the better of them as they got up to talk to
him.
They followed him to his room.
He slowly turned to see them following, "Yeeeeeessssss" he said in
his deepest, most ominous voice possible.
 They started a bit, but Natsume spoke up, "You are being so nice to
us.Why?" she asked, matter of factly.
Hawk just spun around and sat at the top of the stairs, "Well.I see
that you two are good kids.and since you two are living here, I just don't
want you two to miss out on the fun!" he beamed.
Natsume just stared at him, "But we have a challendge with
Ranko." she stopped at his raised hand.
"I know about all that.until then, we are all friends here." Hawk
soon stopped when Ranko wrapped her arms around his neck.
"My sediments exactly!" she pecked him on the cheek, "Now you see
why I love him so much??" she ask the pair.
The younger sisters stared at him as he glowed red.
Both Natsume and Karumi burst into giggles and walked past Hawk
and Ranko to get their suits.
 Hawk leaned a little to the side and turned his head to meet with
Ranko's, "You live to embarrass me, don't you?" he deadpanned.
She giggled a bit, "Yeah." she didn't have a chance to finish as he
kissed her full on the lips.
"Shush you!" he said when he finished the kiss, "Did you get your
stuff ready?"
When she shook her head, "Well? Go on and get it done then!"
Ranko got up off of her haunches and turned back into the hallway,
Hawk quickly moved and tweaked one of her butt-cheeks through her jean
shorts, making her squeal, loudly.
She was about to retort, "I owed you that one for embarassing me!"
Hawk called out to her,
Ranko then just glowered at him and walked off, rubbing her hiney.
He lightly chuckled and went to do what he came up here to do.

* * * * * * * * *

 Hawk walked into his room, been bunking with Ranma for the past
while, he spotted Genma squatting on his futon, facial expression very far
away.
Genma didn't notice Hawk as he came into the room.
He just sat there, staring out the window.
 Hawk watched Genma quietly at the door.
This continued for a few minutes until Hawk's patience quickly ran
out, he walked up to Genma's back and tapped him on the shoulder.
Genma turned around with a startled shout, "AHH! Don't do that!" he
said, grasping his chest.
Hawk chuckled a little, then turned a stern look on his face, "Don't
you have to be somewhere about now?"
Genma looked confused.
"Let me rephrase that.you should be over at YOUR house, talking
with your WIFE and making amends with her." he trailed off when Genma
grabbed his shirt and lifted him off the floor in one fluid motion.
 Red Faced, "Are you crazy Boy?!? My wife will have me commit
suicide the first chance she gets!!!", Genma yelled into Hawk's face.
Hawk's expression didn't change, he just reached up and grabbed
Genma's wrists into a grip that was close to crushing them, forcing Genma to
let him go.
He looked down to Genma with a withering glare, who's rubbing his
now tender wrists, "First off: How do you know for SURE that she is going to
do that?"
Genma opened his mouth to answer but didn't get the chance to,
"Second Off: She is VERY proud of Ranma, and Third: She misses the BOTH
of you, though not as much as Ranma right now since she just met him awhile
ago, but that is besides the point."
Drawing in a deep breath, "The point is that you have a chance to
make amends with her and I HIGHLY suggest that you take it. Maybe take her
to dinner or something.preferably someplace nice."
Narrowing his eyes, Genma looked up to him, "You don't have any
right to tell me what I can and cannot do GAIJIN.!" He stopped at Hawk's
own gaze.
"I did hope that you are an _HONORABLE_ man and face your
problems like a _MAN_."
Hawk then went about his previously intended business of gathering
his things for the beach.
 Genma sat there pondering what Hawk said, `He does have a point
when it comes to Ranma.But about me taking her to dinner.'
He thought a little more as he dug into his dogi's few pockets,
digging out only a few coins.
Genma slumped with the few coins in his hand, being out of money is
definitely not a good thing when trying to take the wife out to dinner.
 Hawk turned back around to see Genma slump and eyed the few
coins in his hand, "I take it that you are enteraining the idea of taking
Mrs.
Saotome out to dinner?" he said coyly.
Genma didn't say anything, just nodded his head weakly and putting
his head into his hand, looking to the floor and going deep in thought.
He was interupted from his thoughts when his saw a few large bills
float into his lap.
A little awetruck, Genma looked up to Hawk's smirking face, "If ya
needed money.ask next time, I just might give it to ya.BUT only this time
you will use that money," point to the bills now in Genma's hand, "to taking
your wife out onto a night out on the town."
Genma was speachless, all that he could do was nod thanks as Hawk
walked out of the room with a small backpack over his shoulder and a set of
rollerblades in his left hand.
 Sticking his head back into the door, ".and if I hear that you skipped
out on the bill and leaving your WIFE alone somewhere." Hawk leave it
hang there as fear crept up onto the old man's face.
 Moreso as deep laughter crawled through the door from the hallway.

* * * * * * * * *

 Ranko looked up from the TV to see Hawk coming down the stairs
with a bit of a bounce in his step and whistling a happy tune.
A bit more than curious, "What are you so happy about?" she asked
him, leaning over the couch that is pointed to the television.
Hawk did a light piroette, "Because Ranko-chan.I think I have
helped patch things up with your parents!" he beamed.
When he said that, Ranko's face lit up, "How did you do that?!?!" she
asked him, a little excitedly.
He turned a mock serious, voice in a semi-thick British accent and a
finger in the air, "Because My Dear Ranko-chan.I have convinced your
father to take some intiative and take your mother out on the town. Dinner
and
the whole she-bang!" losing the accent quickly, turning sullen, "Even though
I
had to prove him wrong that his own wife will literally kill him on sight."
he
completed with a shrug.
 Seeing that there is more to go on, "You ready to go?" she asked him,
glancing over to the overhead clock.
He looked up, making mental note that it is only 12 noon,
"Yeah.and with plenty of time to spare." he looked back down to her,
"Care to spar again..this time with the swords?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment, "Yeah.sure why not? I am
getting a little rusty at it anyway." she trailed of when she heard a pained
groan.
Ranko looked Hawk curiously, with his hand to his head, shaking his
head vigourously, "Uhhhh.BAD PUN.where's that damned puncil!!!" He
looked up to Ranko's blank look, "You did register what you just said? I
asked
if you wanted to practice with the swords a bit and you said you are getting
rusty.think about it!"
Her eyes lit up in reconition and groaned herself, "Yuk.didn't think
I could make them THAT bad!", shivering slightly, "Let's just go practice
then." She said, grabbing hold of his hand and dragging him to the still-
thoroughly-wrecked dojo.
 A thought just came to her, "Did you bring our swords?" He simply
smiled as he put his backpack and rollerblades down, then walked over to the
still intact supply room and pulled out a large wooden case that was
precariously hidden in there.
Hawk pulled out two swords, one in a quite narrow sheath, obviously
a sort of ornate rapier, all done up in sky-blue and gold accents all along
the
hilt with an ivory white dragon swirling around it from the bottom of the
hilt to
the slender blade.
The other sword is another thing entirely, a long fairly wide blade,
colored red and gold, without a dragon type figure going around it, it has a
large collection of Dragon-Runes running along the blade and VERY nasty
looking, curved spikes along the hilt.
A pair of finely crafted, completely indestructable, undullable swords,
forged uncountable ages ago.
Hawk handed the smaller, blue-white sword to her, "You might say
that I have." he trailed off with a wide smile, "And I would prefer not to
be
this year's christmas turkey, thank you very much." He said as he pulled his
sword out of its sheath, tossing the sheath to the side of the dojo and then
held
the sword at ready.
 Ranko snorted, "Whiner." she retalitated as she pulled out her own
sword and charged at him with the her sword.

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