Hey There!
Okay, this fic's been posted at my site for a long while, but I never really
posted it here on the list. I've done some "cleaning" up on the thing, so I
hope it makes better sense than what I had before.
Comments and Crit are Deeply appreciated.
Haha! You're silly if you think Ranma 1/2 and everything involved belong to
me. Nah, they belong to the Talented Rumiko Takahashi (We're not Worthy of
your greatness!
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FORGIVENESS, AND FORGETFULNESS
* * * * *
By LizMUN
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Chap. 1
* * * * *
Ukyou's place
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The sun was directly glarring above the small town Nerima, Tokyo. But
unlike the other 364 days the sun repeated this task, this day, it was
different. For some apparent reason a swealtering heat overcame the urban
area, which brought many complaints to the dwellers below. Or were they
complaining of something else.
"Hey Ucchan! How's business?"
The chef looks up from her cooking, suddenly distracted by the young
black-haired, pig-tailed boy that just entered her restaurant. Instead of
giving the lad an impudent glare for distracting her while she worked, she
grins at him.
"Hi Ran-chan! What brings you here?"*Could it be that you've finally
decided.* She looked at him with hopefull eyes.
"Ugh.. Akane felt like cooking today." The pig-tailed boy shuddered. "I
don't know bout you, but I have a thing against food that winks back at ya!"
"RAN-MA!!"
The pig-tailed boy turns, nearly snapping his neck from the quickness. His
eyes wide, as if showing a bit of shock. There, standing at the doorway was
a girl, roughly round his own age, her short-hair sticking out in places.
Her eyes, blazing with anger.
"Eep! Oh... hehe.. Hi Akane!"
"Ranma! I cook you a nice dinner, and I find you here, with Ukyou??"
"What do you want me to do?? Maybe if you didn't cook poison, I wouldn't be
forced to eat anywhere else?" Of course Ranma wished he never said that,
because at that moment....
"RANMA NO BAKA!" Akane stops over to the pig-tailed lad, and flings him out
the door, which was conveniently oppened by a couple of 'regulars' who, upon
reflex, ducked when they saw the object zooming toward them in an ungodly
speed.
Ah yes.. just a typical day in Nerima. So typical, that no one payed any
heed to it. Nor did they pay any heed to the two newcomers that entered the
restaurant.
One of the newcomers was a tall, ridged-looking man. He looked like he was
past middle age, nearly his golden years to be exact. He wore an elegant
black suit, which matched his jovial dark eyes and receeding, grey-streaked
hair. His companion was so opposite, she complimented him. She was an
elegant looking young lady, her chestnut colored hair was tied loosely up in
a bun, leaving strands of hair to loosely fall to her shoulders and to her
cheeks. In addition to this, she had thick, heavy bangs which covered the
eyes of her lowered head. She wore casual, green, every-day kimono, and
entwined her fingers, as if in prayer.
Seeing there was no greeting host or not even a "Please Seat yourslelf"
sign, they were obliged to take a seat in the middle of the room. The man
looks at the young woman, with scrutinizing eyes.
"Ms. Tomaranai, do you think this is wise? We're dealing with commoners
here! Surely we could do with a much more respectable place other than
this."
"Tatsuhito, how better to know the culture than to be within the people.
Anyway.. it is only temporary. Order, please."
"Yes, Ma'am"
Tatsuhito looks up. How vulgar, no waitresses, no servants.. Nothing! For
a man of his status, this would not do.
"Excuse me... service?"
Ukyou looks up and curses her neglegence. She was so busily engrosed on
the argument with Akane and Ranma, she plum forgot about her *paying*
customers. With a grumble, she steps behind the grill, notpad and brush
ready.
"Hiyas Sugars, what can I get for ya?"
*Tsk Tsk* "I'm afraid, that would not do miss. It's 'Hello, how may I serve
you'? None of this 'sugar's' business."
Ukyou gave him a withering glare. She didn't have to take this. If they
didn't like the service, they could leave. Of course she said nothing
because she needed the business. She looks at the man, and sighs. She's
about to answer properly when the young woman interrupts her.
"It's quite alright Tatsuhito, no harm. Miss, two of your specials
please."
"Two..... specials? Anything else, hun?" Ukyou asked, jotting down the
order.
Tatsuhito just glares at her even more. "Hun" was even less appreciated!
Ukyou, in return, wrinkles her nose at him.
"That is all." She smiles, head still hung low. "Thank you."
Ukyou turns back to the grill. There she finds Ranma, knocked unconsiosly
by Akane, who in turn was still screaming at him. *Why does he even put up
with her?* She groans, and shrugs, and commences with the order.
"We are wasting our time here, Ms. Tomaranai. I doubt we'll find a someone
in this.. *scoff* backwards city! The streets are filthy. Forgive me, but I
advise we leave after our meal, provided we live after eating. I just won't
stand to be here any longer!"
"Perhaps you are right, my friend..." She is then cut short, as she see's a
bandana-clad young man, enter.. looking totally confused. "Then again..."
She giggled.
Ryouga looked around this place, in wide-eyed wonder.
"I didn't know Ukyou had a place here in Aomori!"
Ranma, after regaining consiousnes a few minutes earlier, looks at the
visitor that pops in.
"Yo Ryouga! Wasn't expecting you to show up till next week!"
Ryouga blinks. His shock then turned into a seething at Ranma's presence.
He knew now where he was. He was back in Nerima. Now he can fufill his
revenge on Ranma. He arms himself to strike, when a movement catches the
corner of his eye. Spinning around to face a "supposed" opponent, he looks
and see's a elder, dressed in a tux, standing a few inches away from him.
The man's face emotionless, yet Ryouga felt a twinge of hate around the man,
but it disapears quickly. The man bows at Ryouga as a greeting, and
announces his purpose.
"Madam Tomaranai has requested your presence at her table." *One as
yourself is not worthy to be in the same room as Madam Tomaranai.. but if
she wishes, then it is my command to obey.*
"Uh.. I.. uh."
"Ryouga, you Cassanova! Not even two minutes back, and you've got the dames
after ya!" Ranma gives him a wink, but then elbowed in the ribs harshly by
Akane.
Ryouga was begining to glow a fiersome ki. How dare he speak that way.
He's about to lounge an attack when the tux-suited man blocks him.
Tatsuhito stares at Ranma until they make eye-contact. Ranma sat there
immoblilized.
*What the hell is he starring at? Those eyes... Silver eyes I can't look
away.. I ... Zzzzzzzzzzzz.*
Tatsuhito smiles at the sleeping boy. *Serves him right, I say.* He turns
around, and looks at the bandana-clad boy, who was shocked, maybe, a twinge
of approval in his features, from what he just saw. Tatsuhito places a hand
on Ryouga's shoulder, and leads him toward the table.
"Come, Madam Tomaranai awaits."
"Huh.. oh.. yeah.. sure."
Tatsuhito pulls up a chair quietly so that it does not squeek against the
floor, and motions for Ryouga to sit. He then pulls out a chair of his own,
and scoots it in quietly. Ryouga does so, with not quite the same effects.
Tatsuhito just sighs. The boy was hopeless. He turns to Tomaranai, and
nods his head.
"Here is the man you requested to see."
Tomarani smiles, nods her head at the direction of Ryouga, then looks back
to Tatsuhito.
"My friend, was it necessary to do that?"
Ryouga knew what she was talking about, he looks up to see Akane and Ukyou,
trying violently to wake Ramna up, with no avail.
"Yes, I'm afraid I had no other choice. Forgive me."
"It is forgiven." She then turns to Ryouga, who notices this and abandons
his inwardly taunts at Ranma. "So, tell me. What is your name, young man?"
"Uh.. Hibiki, Ryouga Hibiki."
"Pleased to meet you, Hibiki. I am.." She is cut short by the glare of
Tatsuhito's stare. She turns to him, head still low after all this, and
smiles at him, resumes her position, and continues on her conversation. "I
am Ms. Tomarani, Nagai. You've met my aquaintence, Tatsuhito, Jaison.
Please! Order what you like! You are my guest!"
Ryouga didn't know what to make of this. He wasn't used to such kindness
before. He looks down at the table, turning redish from his lack of
knowledge on what to do in such an occasion. He grabs onto a pair of
chop-sticks unconsiously. Dammit! Why'd this have to be so hard! Maybe I
should say something! Maybe.. *snap* eh?
"Seems like we'll have to get you another pair of Chop-sticks, as well."
She grins at him.
Ryouga just turns crimson red at this.
"Maybe.. it is customary for the hostess to order for her guest? Is that
it? Very well. Tatsuhito, please that hostess again. I wish to order another
thing."
"Yes, Madam."
This time, without calling out across the room, Tatsuhito stands up
quietly, and walks toward Ukyou, Ranma, and Akane.
Ukyou sees him comming, and glares at him.
"What did you do to Ran-chan?"
"Nothing serious, he will awaken when we leave. Now, we would like to place
an order." And with that, he spins his heels, and walks back.
Ukyou, restraining from smaking him with her spatula, composes herself,
grabs a brush and note-pad, and walks toward the table, yet again.
"So, hun, what else can I get for ya?"
"No, not for me, but my guest."
Ukyou looks up from her pad, and see's Ryouga, looking down, embarrased
from the attention.
"Prepare for him, your finest! Two of them please. That would be all."
Ukyou just shrugged.
"Two more specials, comming up." With that, Ukyou returns to her grill,
hastly making the order. Sooner they eat, sooner they leave, sooner
Ran-chan returns to the land of the Waking.
"So, tell us, Mr. Hibiki. Tell us a little more about yourself?"
"Now, Now Tatsuhito, there will be plenty of time for that later. I'm
afraid, I am not of a good hostess to your company, Hibiki-san, for I
remember I have other affairs to attend to. Tatsuhito, please pay the fare,
and a little extra, shall our guest want more."
"Yes Madam."
Ryouga stood up, noisily, and kinda awkwardly bowed at Tomaranai-san.
"Uh, Thank you. It was.. uh.. really kind of you to invite me for
lunch."
"Lunch? How quaint! I like it. Well, speak no further of it! We
shall meet again, Hibiki!" Nagai, looks up for the first time since her
aquaintence with him. He is struck in astonishment, as he see those large,
piercing silver eyes, dancing beneath the florescent lights. An unnatural,
uncommonly glow in them. Something.. something in those eyes, he feels a
certain twinge of recognition for something he has yet to know, but is still
all to familiar. It ends quickly as she looks down again. She nods a
farewell, and is led out by Tatsuhito.
True to the promise, Ranma wakes up about this time. Confused, he looks
around.
"How'd I get to Ucchan's? Hey Akane! When'd you get here? Why you guys
looking at me like that? What I do now? Hey.. what's wrong with Ryouga?"
Akane and Ukyou just glanced at each other, and each silenced Ranma in
their own special way. Akane puts away her mallot and drags the unconsious
Ranma by his collar, and heads toward home.
((To be Continued...))
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Ja ne! (Stop this Crazy thing!)
Evil Kasumi
*~"She's really a very sweet girl. She's just a violent maniac!"~*
Visit "The Lost Gallery"...if you can find it. �_~
http://rivendell.fortunecity.com/unreal/483/ranma
**COR's Keeper of the Heituenniichuan**
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