just an idea that came to me while writing Featherbrite's
chapter 11 (the Dirty Pair scene) that i can't fit into an
existing project. this is an idea by gregg sharp, so those
people who feel everything from me sucks can go on to the
next thing - preferably without sending mail towards me
dealing with yet another argument about how worthless i am.
thank you.
are they gone? good. this could make for an
interesting character exposition piece, i think...
"Might as well get this over with." The man sighed,
straightened his shirt, and ran a quick comb through his
hair. He might have been naturally bishonen, but it wasn't
something he took for granted.
A quick Dimension Door, and the man appeared in a swirl of
sakura petals. Which was a pity as he was aiming for oak
leaves. "I am here to challenge... Hello? Hello? Anyone
home?"
A girl with brown hair came out of the house and bowed
politely. "Oh, I'm sorry. Are you here to challenge the
dojo?"
"Uhm. Sort of. Errr. I was lead to believe that the 'best
martial artist in the world' was here, and I wanted to test
a new golem against him or her.."
The girl looked thoughtful. "I don't think so. There's some
good martial artists, but I wouldn't say the best."
"This *is* the Tendo dojo, isn't it?" The man started
rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache coming on.
"Yes, it is," the woman confirmed. "If you're looking to
challenge the dojo, nobody's here right now."
"You are." The man looked her over and seemed to be lost in
thought. "Toma and Kirin both insisted that *this* was the
place for the most virtuous girl in the world *and* the
toughest fighter." The man sighed. "Maybe I should have
tried Juuban..."
"I don't know anyone who would fit either description,"
said the woman after a pause. "Though Ryoga *does* seem
fairly tough. Would you care for some tea, Mr. Challenger?"
He shrugged. "Why not? Maybe I can figure out my next move.
Oh, sorry, I'm Prince Novell Majutsushi of Prester John's
Kingdom."
The woman smiled and waved the man in. "I'm Kasumi Tendo.
Dozo yoroshiku."
"Where is everyone anyway? You said that 'they' weren't
here."
Kasumi led the way into the kitchen, making a gesture to
draw attention to the dinner being prepared. "They just
called a few minutes ago, stating that they had eaten
elsewhere and would be home late." The *last* time this had
happened, they had all apologized. Obviously they hadn't
been that sorry.
"Gave you lots of warning, didn't they?" Novell noticed
that a frown had almost crossed the woman's face.
"Oh, I don't want to talk of my problems."
"Please, go right ahead. Sometimes it helps." Novell took a
seat and regarded the pretty young woman before him. "I
would really like to know."
Kasumi began hesitantly, but found herself relaxing
slightly around this young man and the floodgates unleashed.
She hardly noticed the passage of time until she noted that
the tea had gotten quite cold.
"So your only romantic interest moved away..."
Kasumi started. "Who? I'm not..."
"That Doctor Tofu," said Novell with a wry grin. "I noticed
the way you looked when you spoke of him. Now your sister
and her fiance are ready to inherit the house and dojo and
you're not sure of your future at all."
"Well..." Kasumi winced internally as she realized how
*much* she must have talked.
"I've got an idea. Don't tell anyone, but I'll be back
tomorrow."
----------------------
Kasumi brought another dish to the table, having forgotten
(mainly) the odd fellow who had shown up the previous day.
The usual goings on had already commenced. Genma and Ranma
fighting over every morsel, eating so quickly that it was
doubtful they tasted a thing. Nabiki sat eating one piece at
a time, also as usual. Akane glowering at her iinazuke over
some slight, real or imagined, also as usual. Her father
bawling over how good the pickles were.
The usual scene since the Saotomes had arrived back in
March.
The backyard exploded.
Still not that unusual, it could simply have been Ryoga or
Shampoo. Ukyo was usually more apt to ring the doorbell, one
reason that Soun disliked Ukyo more than any of Ranma's
other playmates. After all, if she were slightly more sane,
then it followed she was a greater threat to Akane's
engagement.
"I am Prince Novell of Prester John's kingdom!" The
tuxedo-clad man announced. "I am here to claim my bride!"
"Not again!" Akane sighed. "Why can't these magical prince
types just leave me alone?"
"I am here because I have heard of a young girl of
unsurpassed beauty and virtue, kind and considerate, gentle
and loving. You are invited to the wedding!" The prince
flipped a card onto the table. "And now I shall take my
bride and bid you farewell!"
"Hold it, pal," Ranma said and rose to his feet, noting
that his father used the opportunity to steal the rest of
his food. "You ain't touching Akane, you got that!"
Prince Novell blinked. "OK."
"You don't listen too good, do ya? Well, I'm..." Ranma
stopped with his mouth open. "'OK'?!"
"A statement of agreement, originating in the English
language I believe." Prince Novell said with a nod.
"Oh my," said Kasumi, just so she could get her trademark
line in during this scene.
"If you're going to stop me from marrying my bride, you
have four days!" Prince Novell agreed. "Hasta La Byebye."
The prince disappeared in a swirl of wedding invitations,
which was (oddly enough) exactly what he was trying for.
"Akane!" Ranma exclaimed melodramatically.
"What?!" Akane asked from her position next to Ranma.
"Huh?! A magical prince out for a bride and he didn't grab
Akane?" Ranma was befuddled.
Soun shrugged and turned back to his soup. "Wasn't that
important, after all, was it?"
Nabiki cleared her throat. "Uhm, excuse me, but have you
noticed if anyone is missing?"
Ranma looked around, followed by everyone else. "Other than
that prince guy, I don't..."
<WHACK!>
Nabiki put the mallet back down. "Saotome, I can see that
you get your rapier-like wit from your father."
"Why, thank you, Nabiki." Genma preened slightly at the
perceived compliment.
Soun was the first to make a connection. "KASUMI! KASUMI!"
Ranma shrugged, turned back to his rice bowl, then made a
connection.
(House - Kasumi) = (Akane + Cooking)
"We gotta find her!" Ranma rose to his feet, alarmed.
========================
ok, here's the basics. it's a typical "magical prince
kidnaps his bride" plotline, but with a merry inversion of
some of the standards.
* Magical prince is out for a bride, and thinks KASUMI
is a wonderful candidate.
* Magical prince isn't an obnoxious world-class martial
artist, but a nice (if somewhat shy) mage with no talent for
physical combat at all. Changing his opponents to wombats is
about as far as he goes in that regard.
* It isn't a kidnapping in the usual sense. As he'd
explain in a later scene to Kasumi, this is a vacation for
her, and this is intended to prove how much the people in
her life care for her.
* After a few days in which Kasumi can relax amongst
this magical kingdom and actually be around people who care
about her, she might not want to be rescued.
* Said magical prince, while he thinks Kasumi may well
be quite an acceptable candidate, is still wanting to find
this incredible girl that Toma and Kirin spoke of. Kasumi,
after all, would deny that it was her.
oh well, just an idea. obv someone who actually *liked* the
char of Kasumi would be best doing this, as a fic dealing
with Kasumi-the-Drug-Addict or Kasumi-the-Psycho wouldn't be
as much fun as a Kasumi-the-Nice-Girl story.
back to FBT.
-----------------------------------------
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