Jack Staik wrote:
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Ranma 1/2: Another Approach
Part 6
By Jack Staik, Bookkeeper-At-Arms
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SYNOPSIS: Ryoga Hibiki has been defeated by Akane Tendo, and
seeks a rematch to prove his worth to challenge Ranma
Saotome. Meanwhile, Nabiki Tendo, seeking to control Ranma
for her own purposes, has run into an unexpected stumbling
block ...
* * * * * * * * * *
Nabiki entered the Clinic quietly. "Hello? Am I early?"
"Ohayo, Nabiki-chan!" Doctor Tofu said from behind her.
"YOW!!" Nabiki cried, almost jumping out of her skin. "Don't
you ever get tired of that trick?"
"No," he said, smiling. "Never do. What brings you by so
early, Nabiki-chan?"
"I wanted to consult with you. I need some medical advice."
Tofu instantly became serious. "Have a seat and tell me
about it."
Nabiki went into a description of her observations of
Ranma's behavior, up to her attempted loveplay of last
night. Tofu, with great professionalism, didn't laugh at the
last part.
"Well, Nabiki," he answered, "I examined him recently - in
both forms - and he seems perfectly normal. Aside from his
hermaphomorphic condition, of course."
Gynomorphic, unless he turns into a hermaphrodite.
"He's not gay. I was sitting on his lap - I saw him when
Akane was walking around naked - he's *not* gay. And I can't
imagine a sixteen-year-old boy resisting that much
temptation. So I figure it's some kind of medical problem."
Tofu chuckled. "In all liklihood, he just hasn't reached
likelihood
that point in his development yet."
"But he's sixteen! You're telling me he hasn't noticed girls
yet??"
Noticed, yes, figured out what do about, no.
"He may have noticed girls, but that doesn't mean he'll jump
at the first one he sees. He may not feel ready to explore
that part of himself."
"So what do I do?" Nabiki asked.
"You're really attracted to him, aren't you?"
<No, you dip, I'm just trying to control him.> Nabiki gave
her best Nervous Fidget (pat.pend.). "I - I -"
"Then I suggest being patient. Don't try to rush things.
When he's ready, he'll notice."
Nabiki nodded. "Hai. Arigato, Tofu-sensei."
"Anytime, Nabiki-chan."
As Nabiki walked home, she thought about what the doctor had
said.
<I'm not attracted to him. He's a year younger than me, he's
uneducated, he's got terrible manners, he's a dumb jock.
Sure, he's cute and nice and strong and fun to be with, but
I'm just trying to maximize my profits. That's all.>
So why did that thought give her that strange hollow feeling
in her stomach?
I find this characterisation of Nabiki to be unbelievable written
this way. It might work better if she starts out snickering to
herself about the idea that she's attracted to him.
"Don't be silly, Imouto-chan. They were sterile - no poison
glands."
the word is "de-venomed", although it would be funny if Akane died
because Nabiki mistook "sterile" for "de-venomed"
"Remember how you learned the Stone-breaking Blow?" Ranma
asked, apparently changing the subject.
"Huh?" Akane cxommented. "Yeah, I remember."
"commented", although that isn't really the right word in
the first place.
"Rememebr how, after you did it right the first time, you
"Remember"
couldn't remeber how you did it?"
"Yeah," Akane replied, smiling at a happy childhood memory.
"Otosan told me that I had to feel the technique, not just
know it, and my -"
Insight hit Akane in the head like an anvil dropped on her
head.
"- and my body would follow," she finished meekly. "It's the
same thing?"
Ranma nodded. "Martial arts isn't just a string of unrelated
tricks - it's an entire method. A true master knows more
than just the moves - he knows how to add, extend, modify,
and adapt. Every move you've ever learned will help you
learn more."
Akane nodded dumbly.
* * * * * * * * * *
(At the Kuno Estate...)
"Hey, Kuno-sempai," Gosunkugi whispered.
"Greetings," Kuno said arrogantly (does he ever do anything
not-arrogantly?). "How did you get here? I didn't hear
Sasuke announce you."
Gosunkugi: Have you ever seen me and Sasuke in the same place?
There's a reason for that, you know.
Ranma shook his head at the thick-headedness of his pupil.
"Because you were issued a challenge for this day and place.
You'll wait a reasonable amount of time, then consider it a
forefit. Since you were present, your honor is intact."
"forfeit"
"'Reasonable' time?" Nabiki commented. "Like waiting three
days in someone's back yard?"
"Hey! With Ryoga's tendency to get lost, that's reasonable!"
Ranma protested.
"Ha!" Akane laughed. "With the Ja Jinku, he'll never lay a
trotter on me!"
"Be careful!" Ranma cautioned. "You just learned it - you
haven't mastered it yet!"
"Even without it, I can beat *him*!" Akane said scornfully.
"He carries a *weapon*! I learned as a kid that weapons
limit responses, and a good martial artist doesn't need
them!"
Really? Who told her that nonsense? Her father, who grabs
a set of samurai armour and a shinai or longbow whenever he gets
seriously ticked?