A Duet of Pigtails
By Libby Thomas
Based on the characters and storylines of Ranma � by Rumiko Takahashi and Magic Knight Rayearth by CLAMP
Part Four:
Mit Brennender Sorge
So far the day had gone well. A little after Hikaru had left, Satoru had called to let them know that he would not be able to go shopping for Hikaru�s gift with them; Ranma and Ukyo had left about an hour ago. A little while after that, both Tatewaki and Satoru had called to explain that they would be delayed, or in Satoru�s case, further delayed. As Ranma�s 10:00 Self-Defense for Women course came in, Hibiki focused on the situation at hand; namely teaching these otherwise useless hopeless housewives who only had to take the self-defense course for fear of the slightly increasing crime in Tokyo.
The two hours-long class was an exercise of sorts for him, as well. One particular housewife--well, he thought she was, anyway--began to give him an appraising look. Over the years, Ryoga had begun to realize and understand that look--mostly through those troubled teenaged years--but at least was able to control himself from debilitating embarrassment. When it was over, she actually came up to him and thanked him for the course. She apologized in regards to her seeming forwardness, but there was something about Ryoga that reminded her about her husband. After a second, she laughed with a cheerful tone and added that it must have been that stoic devotion to his wife, she said as she notioned to his wedding ring, that was just like her own spouse. Noting that her friends were about to leave, she thanked him again, and expressed her hope that he would teach again soon.
As the last of the students exited the dojo, Ryoga wiped an errant bead of sweat of his brow in relative peace. Ranma�s students were a vast change from the lifestyle that he was accustomed to on the Unryu farm. He could see why Ranma preferred a life of teaching rather than making tons of money in tournaments. This life was simpler, more satisfying. It was a world that perhaps Ryoga might consider as a sideline to the farm. ((After all,)) he thought, ((I don�t think there are many dojos in the Five Lakes area, and no one wants to travel all the way to Tachikawa for training. I think I�ll have to ask Akari her opinion on this one.))
As he picked up a broom, he heard a voice calling to him. �Hail, friend Hibiki,� a calm voice said in Shakespearean tones.
Without looking up, Ryoga continued to sweep and answered, �Hiya, Tatewaki. How goes it?�
Kuno Tatewaki looked at his old friend and gave an appreciative nod for a man who�d once been a bitter rival. �It goes well, for is it not that we should train for this day the students of my brother-in-law Ranma and his dear wife, the beloved Pigtailed girl?� At the moment, he stood in a business suit, carrying a bag that contained, undoubtedly, his kendo clothing. He offered to train Hikaru�s classes for the day while Ranma and Ukyo attended to their part of the plan.
�Um...yeah. Sure,� he said blandly, while inwardly groaning, ((He still doesn�t get it.)) After all these years, Tatewaki had finally found the identity of the woman he thought to be the legendary pigtailed girl--namely, Hikaru. While it was a relative comfort to Ranma, it was bizarre for Hikaru, when first dating Ranma, to wonder why his sister�s fianc�e was paying so much attention to her. Add to the outbreaks of fights between Ranma and Tatewaki over her, and things were rough for a few weeks--the only period that Ranma and Hikaru had difficulties in their flourishing relationship. Nabiki had finally sat Hikaru down one night and explained the whole mess, clearing things up for the redhead. Since then, Hikaru had put up with it with charm and grace, and Tatewaki accepted that Ranma truly did have the heart of the pigtailed girl. Adding to his verbage, he asked, �What do you plan to do today with the class?�
�Oh, that�s quite simple, Ryoga,� another voice commented, as Shidou Satoru entered into the room. �My students will be here in about ten minutes. I thought that it would be interesting to have my sister�s students spar against mine for training purposes, topped off with a match between me and Tatewaki.� Turning to Tatewaki, he commented, �Sorry I had to change it to this afternoon, but I had to tend to a few other last-minute things before I could arrive.�
�Not a problem,� Tatewaki coolly replied, �for it is I that am late as well. A had a trifle of a business meeting that went well over the allotted time frame, so it is fortunate that both of us were tardy to our endeavors, correct?�
Ryoga chuckled at that one; since the two kendo masters had met at the Saotome wedding, they shared a friendship/rivalry that was very much the equal to that of he and Ranma. �Ah...I think I may have to stick around to watch that one. But first, I think I could use a shower. I�ve been training all day, and Kasumi might use some help in the house.� With that, he stepped into the house.
Once in, he passed by the television on the way to the downstairs guestroom. Sure enough, perched in front of the TV, watching her nephew and niece as they slept, was Kasumi. The eldest Tendo daughter had never changed, and though she now lived with her husband Tofu, this was still very much her home, and for the most part, he couldn�t picture the house without her. Sitting there on a pillow, her nephew and niece at her side and her son Hiro on her lap as they watched some sort of monster movie. Noticing him, she whispered, �Oh, hello, Ryoga. The babies, as you can see, are asleep, and Hiro-chan and I are watching one of those monster movies.� With a strange wistfulness in her voice she said, �It reminds me of the old days, for some reason.�
Ryoga didn�t know how to answer that, so he added, �Tatewaki and Satoru have arrived, and�ll be starting their classes in a few minutes. I came in to see if you needed a hand with anything.�
�Oh, that�s very sweet of you!� she said, her smile as sweet as sunny as ever. �But I hadn�t planned on working on anything until an hour from now, when Ranma and Ukyo get home.� Nodding her head towards her child, she added, �Besides, Hiro wanted to me to watch terebi with him, and I love spending time with my son.�
Ryoga stared a little more intently at the screen.
Libby (If ignorance is bliss, then I'm in Nirvana.)
aduetofpigtails@fcmail.com mihoshi@eudoramail.com
Netscape AOL Internet Message address: MihoshiChn
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Wow, Mihoshi can take care of herself, even when she's
clueless or naive; too bad that doesn't work in real life.
But I'll be your knight of justice and save you even though
I'm kind of inept and a little ambivalent. I wish I knew,
are you my pillar? I am glad for your light. Don't need a
reply; we canna hav' yuu replyin' t' each and ev'ry fool who
wouldna comment without the seemin' pressure of peers.
--"Stream of Consciousness to Mihoshi" by Yuin Yang
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A Duet of Pigtails: http://www.bigfoot.com/~a_duet_of_pigtails
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Sailor Moon AX: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/2314/sailormoon_ax/
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