Teacher
Part 3
The day draws near...
Ryoga stood on the opposite corner of the small yard panting heavily as
he watched his opponent carefully. He charged forward and kicked off the
ground in a flying side kick aimed at the man's head. It missed and Ryoga
gently landed against the wall of the small home and kicked off again
landing on the ground across from the much larger form of Ryo.
"Good, remember Ryoga, never let your passion for the battle overtake
you. You must be mindful of other people and their property when fighting
in a crowd, but not at the expense of the battle itself!" Ryo punched
Ryoga in the chest sending the boy across the yard.
"Yes sensei." grumbled Ryoga as he stood rubbing the mark, it was a
gentle punch but he had still felt it.
"How is young Ranma anyway? You haven't complained about him beating you
in a while." said Ryo as he sat down on the porch.
"Huh? Oh, I get to it first sometimes now, so I guess it's not as bad,
he's still fast though." muttered Ryoga bitterly. "I'm supposed to meet
him for a fight in a week, we should settle things there at last."
Ryo smiled, Ryoga had really come along over the last four years, he was
strong, fast, and powerful. Still not a match for his manga counterpart,
but Ryo imagined that would change very soon, he would probably be even
better by the time he faced Ranma in their first real battle.
Torako walked into the yard quietly and snorted. "I think it's stupid,
fighting over a few pieces of bread."
"That's not what this is about! He doesn't respect me at all! He's a
jerk!" cried Ryoga angrily as he made a fist and shook it into the air.
"I don't respect you, does that make me a jerk Ryoga-kun?" asked the
girl quietly as she lie on the porch next to her father and held her head
up with her hands patiently waiting for the answer.
"Stop that Ko-neko." said Ryo calmly.
Torako glanced over at her father and stood lazily before walking away
without a word. Ryoga just looked confused.
Ryo watched her walk gracefully away, it was strange really. Her
demeanor had changed completely over the years. She was very mature now,
in more ways than one, and fiercely independent, her mannerism reminded
him more of Nabiki than Akane now. Her heart was still in the fight
though, money never concerned her. That's probably why she never drifted
away from Akane's friendship. It was like she grew from a kitten into an
adult tigress now, Ryo knew it would happen, but he hadn't expected such
a drastic change in her personality. Her child like innocence had been
replaced by cool and calculating ruthlessness. Despite the harshness of
the description she was still a good person though.
Akane frowned as Torako snuck up behind her carefully. "Don't even try
it."
"Well, I can't blame you for getting upset, but I did have to try
Akane-chan." said the girl curtly as she stood up straight.
Akane smiled, "Tora-chan, you know I would never get upset with you."
When Torako tried to sneak up on her that way she looked exactly like she
did when she was little, it was funny seeing a grown girl acting that
way.
"Yea, whatever." said the girl as she moved ahead of her friend and
casually strolled down the street. "Morning Tofu-sensei." she purred as
she passed the young doctor.
"Good morning Tofu-sensei!" chimed Akane as she passed.
"Kasumi isn't with you this morning?" asked the doctor sounding a bit
worried.
"She said she had a few things to take care of back at the house, she'll
be along soon." said Akane cheerfully.
"Tora-chan! Wait up!" called Akane as she broke into a run. Torako was
already attracting a swarm of boys around her as she neared the middle
school. Akane snorted angrily as she caught up with her and realized she
was surrounded by the lecherous boys as well.
"I was waiting for you Akane-chan, don't be so worrisome." said the girl
placidly.
"Well, don't run ahead of me that way!" said Akane curtly.
"Whatever, look here come the other two girls." said Torako with sly
smile.
Yuka and Sayuri approached the pair happily. "Where have you two been?
Your never this late." said Yura with a smile.
"I bet Akane was ogling Tofu or something." said Sayuri with a serious
looking nod.
"Please! He's just a friend of the family, besides, he's got a thing for
Kasumi that's so bad it's pathetic." said Akane with a giggle.
"Yes, but he is rather cute." said Torako with a shrug.
The other three girls gasped in unison. "Tora-chan, how unlike you!"
cried Yuka in shock.
"Well, I am a woman aren't I?" asked the girl in annoyance. "I didn't
say I liked him, I just said he's cuter than the pig farm." Torako jerked
her thumb over to a large column of cat calling boys by the doors of the
school.
The four girls walked by the group and all of them fell deathly silent.
Torako gave them a dark look and a sly smile as she passed. "At least
they know their places."
Various cries of "Did you see how she smiled at me?" and "No way ass
master she was looking at me!" floated into the hall from outside. The
girls all glanced back giving the doorway a sour look. Torako simply
smiled and continued down the hallway as if nothing had happened.
"I think it's creepy how she always has that satisfied looking smile
every where she goes." said Yura glancing at the girl's back. "I'm not
even looking at her and I can tell she's got it now."
"That's just how she is." replied Akane with a shrug.
"I think even Ryoga-kun could beat some sense into those pigs." said
Torako absently as she leaned against the lockers as the other girls
retrieved their things.
Yura looked surprised again, this time Akane and Sayuri joined in. "Who
is 'Ryoga-Kun?" the three of them squealed in unison.
"Some guy my father has been training, he's kind of cute. Kinda like
lunch is cute." said Torako looking thoughtful.
"So you like this guy?" asked Akane with a huge smile.
"Not sure. He's pretty weak compared to me, I could bat him around like
it was nothing." replied Torako.
"Who isn't weak compared to you Tora-chan?" said Sayuri calmly.
"I'm not weak!" said Akane absently.
"Well, I mean besides you, no boy in existence could ever beat you
Tora-chan! Your great!" Cried Yuka cheerfully.
"Akane-chan and Tora-chan! Supergirls!" said Sayuri as she laughed and
raised her fist.
"Yea, Supergirls." said Torako quietly. "Ryoga, you'd better get
stronger, You may be my only hope." she thought as she glared at a the
wall opposite her.
Ryo stood in the courtyard to Furinkan high school and frowned as the
students filled in for the first day of class. He had been promoted to
Dean and now lorded over all he surveyed with an Iron fist. He stood well
above the heads of the students with a large scowl etched across his face
as they passed under him, he seemed like the statue of an angry god
waiting to destroy the puny mortals beneath him. A small smile crossed
his face as he noticed Nabiki Tendo waltz towards him eyeing the student
body carefully. She was nervous he knew, but it didn't show much. She
smiled slightly and walked over to him standing tall up to the massive
form of her 'Uncle'.
"Always calm and collected, even against surprising odds, I like that
Tendo." he said with a small smile.
"Careful, your losing some of your menace to the freshmen, they might
not respect you." said Nabiki curtly.
"They will, if only because I'm so much bigger than everyone else. There
might be a few hot shot martial artist or freedom fighting geeks to deal
with at first; but as a whole, just my presence has kept the delinquency
level at this school to absolute zero; even while I was only teaching."
said Ryo with a mild frown.
Almost in answer to his challenge a group walked through the gates of
the school wearing shades, one of the boys had a Bukoten and the girl was
twirling a short chain in her hand. The leader appeared to be wearing a
leather jacket. A huge grin appeared on the teacher's face as he stalked
towards them snapping his knuckles, "I love freshmen."
Nabiki simply turned to watch with a smug grin, "Well, this should be
interesting."
"We don't allow weapons on school grounds, unless you are a member of
the kendo club you'd better hand it over now; you too little girl."
snarled Ryo as he easily overshadowed the three freshman.
They stood there and gawked at him in awe. "Well? How bout it kid?"
The boy with the leather jacket shook so bad his shades fell off his
face revealing the terrified stare he was giving Ryo. "What there's no
fight in you people this year?" said Ryo sounding a little disappointed.
"Good day good sir, tell me where in these hallowed halls is the place
of learning for your nobility?" said a new voice.
"Eh?" Ryo turned around in confusion to find a new boy standing in front
of him. He was dressed in a boy's school uniform and staring undaunted
directly into his face.
"Who the, wait a minute I know you..." said Ryo looking annoyed.
"I knew it must be so, my reputation had no doubt spread across all of
Japan. Yes good sir it is I, The Mighty Screaming Eagle of..." started
Kuno but he was promptly interrupted.
"Your that idiot principals kid, he hasn't been around in years. You'll
go to class with everyone else." said Ryo before turning away.
"And who might you be to speak to the mighty Tatewake Kuno in such a way
good sir?!" snarled Kuno angrily.
"I am Dean Kagome, I am in charge of discipline and the conduct of the
students here. Go away little man before you make me angry. If you or
anyone else dares disrupt the sanctity of my halls I will pop your tiny
little heads off your twiggy little necks. Understand?" Ryo said this
quite loudly and the students around him froze in terror.
Tatewaki seemed undaunted, "You must be a strong opponent indeed. If you
ever need the assistance of the Kuno families vast resources you must
only ask good sir." said Kuno with a polite bow, he turned and strolled
towards the building with a large grin on his face. "Perhaps I shall
enjoy the company of such peasants."
Nabiki frowned and stood next to Ryo again, "Wow, rich and stupid. I
could get to like this place."
"Keep it in line Tendo, you are not immune to punishment because of our
relationship, remember that." said Ryo in a warning tone.
Nabiki started towards her class with a frown on her face. "An
interesting challenge." She smiled again when she entered and saw Kuno
plastered against the wall with a look of terror across his face.
He noticed her gaze and instantly stood tall again, regaining his
composure. "No doubt she is dazzled by my beauty." he thought to himself
as he turned and began the long search for his first class. "I must also
have an audience with the administrator about the Kendo club here, talent
such as mine cannot be wasted."
A year passed without much incident, Kuno asserted himself as the
undefeated Kendo champion, keeping his record from his last school;
Nabiki was making money and doing remarkably well in her studies; Ryo was
maintaining discipline remarkably well, and all was right with the world.
At the start of the new school year Akane and Torako started their first
day of school as freshman. They walked together towards the school
building. Akane clung to the amazingly calm Torako like a frightened
child. "Akane, it's just high school come on!"
"Exactly! It's high school! What if I'm not ready?" gasped Akane
desperately.
"It's the same idiots we dealt with last year, my pop's in charge there
so don't worry about it." said Torako soothingly as she tossed her hair
away from Akane's grip.
Nabiki dashed up behind the pair gasping for breath, "You left me!" she
managed after a moment.
"You where spending too much time taking pictures." said Torako plainly.
"How can I expect to make a living with you two leaving me behind like
that!" grumbled Nabiki as she shoved her camera into her school bag.
"Hey Nabiki, take a look at that guy over there." said Torako with an
evil grin.
"The cute senior with the brunette?" said Nabiki calmly.
"Twenty percent?" asked Torako calmly.
"Leave them alone Tora-chan." said Akane with a frown.
"Fine, what is it Tora-chan?" Nabiki watched him enter the gates and
memorized his face, she could follow him and find out on her own, but
Torako always did make it easier.
"He smells like four different girls, in -that- way. Probably very
recently unless he hasn't bathed in a while." said the girl as she
delicately sniffed the air.
Nabiki grinned, she wasn't sure just how the girl did it, but she was
never wrong about things like this. Her eyesight was nothing special
unless it was dark, but her nose and ears were exceptional.
"Tora-chan, that's gross. Besides, you shouldn't spread rumors like
that." scolded Akane angrily.
"It's not a rumor if it's true Akane, besides she's never been wrong
before." said Nabiki.
"But what if she is this time?" asked Akane coolly.
"Then I'll find out before I ruin this guy's life, I'm not one to take
anyone's word without proof. Besides, if it's true he deserves it."
Nabiki smiled. "I have a class with that guy later, if I ask the right
questions it will all fall into place pretty well, then I can work on
getting proof." Nabiki's mind turned as she happily imagined herself
counting out the yen.
Torako smirked in that self assured way she had and turned towards
Akane. "Let's go."
"Tora-chan, it's good to have you back, we can make a mint here ya
know." said Nabiki as she waved at the pair as they moved off.
"Who cares about the money? I just like the challenge." thought the girl
silently as she finally noticed her father standing at the door.
"Hello Ko-neko, you'd better be staying out of trouble." said the man as
she passed.
"Of course daddy."
Akane smiled as she realized that both of them had the same look on
their faces.
"Who is that?" said Kuno as he watched the pair walk by Dean Kagome
calmly. "I must find out!" he cried as he stood.
"I'll tell you for three thousand Yen." said Nabiki from her place next
to him.
"I would pay any price for the names of these lovely maidens." said Kuno
as he shoved the money at Nabiki, who happily accepted.
"The girl with the black hair is Akane Tendo, my sister. The red head is
Torako Kagome, Dean Kagome's daughter and Akane's best friend." said
Nabiki as she counted out the money several times.
"I must date her, to have such a lovely maiden as a girlfriend would be
fitting to one with my stature." said Kuno.
"I think I could set it up for a price, which one caught your eye
Kuno-chan?" asked Nabiki with a gleam in her eye.
Kuno stood for a long moment and stared at Nabiki in silence. He cocked
his head to one side and looked thoughtful. "I would have them both." he
said stoticly.
"Let me know when you make up your mind and maybe I'll help you." said
Nabiki with a small frown.
Nabiki Tendo stood in the dark room in frustration, it had been several
days since Kuno had decided to date her sister and Torako, but since that
time she had not been able to get a single clear photograph of her
sister's friend. It was like the girl was intentionally dodging the
camera. "That must be it." she grumbled to herself. The pictures of her
sister would sell well at least, but Torako would make a mint; school had
just started and both girls were making a huge amount of fans among the
students. Tomorrow Kuno would vocalize his intentions to the girls, but
she had to be ready for any outcome.
Akane would turn him down flat out, Torako was another matter; the girl
was snobbish enough that she might actually like Kuno. Nabiki thought
about it for a moment and smiled, "Kuno-chan, you'll be lucky to live
through tomorrow."
The next morning Akane and Torako stood in the courtyard clutching roses
in their hands. "What the hell?" said Akane in mild shock.
"Interesting." said her friend as she dropped the flower on the ground
and stared at the tree they had come from patiently. Kuno stepped out
from behind the tree with a smile on his face as he sniffed at the rose
in his own hand cautiously.
"The flower pales in comparison with our beauty, it is destiny; my dear,
we were meant to be together! It is written in the stars." said the
Kendoist as he finally turned to gaze at them.
"Who are you talking to fool?" asked Torako calmly.
Akane just looked disgusted. "Our beauty? Who does he think he is?"
"The sound of my voice strikes fear into the hearts of my enemies, I am
the rising new star of the high school fencing world, the shooting star
of Furinkan high! Tatewaki Kuno, age seventeen." said the boy as he
stepped forward towards the two girls.
"Man that jerk Kuno's gonna take one of em as his own girlfriend."
muttered one of the boys in the crowd.
"As if any of you stood a chance." muttered Akane glaring at the crowd
of boys who had gathered around with sour looks on their faces.
"What do we care how old you are you idiot; What do you want?" asked
Torako flatly.
"I would have you; I the mighty Tatewaki Kuno has privileged you with
the honor of accompanying me on a date." said the Boy as he produced a
fan and hid his face.
"What are we supposed to thank him or something?" asked Akane looking
unsure of what to do.
"No." said Torako, she turned and started to walk away.
"No?" repeated Kuno in confusion.
"No, it doesn't matter which one of us you're speaking to, the answer is
no." Torako grabbed Akane by the arm and lead her towards the school
building calmly. The crowd of students that had surrounded them parted
like the red sea in her wake and she moved through them without stopping.
"Hold woman!" said Kuno as he glared at her.
Torako stopped just before the steps of the school. "What is it?"
"Such a privilege is not free, I would have you do battle with me; if
you where to defeat me I will allow you to date with me. If you lose, I
shall be merciful and accompany you to dinner for such a noble effort
should not go unrewarded." Kuno stood tall and produced a bukoten from
behind the tree as he said this.
"You want to fight with me?" asked Torako as she turned with a huge
smile on her face. "It sounds like a no win situation to me." said
Akane sourly.
"My heart guides me into this battle, to harm such a flower in her youth
is beyond even my mighty skills, thus I shall lose with all my might."
Kuno stood ready for her and Torako slowly approached Kuno with a vicious
smile on her lips.
"Don't kill him!" called Akane from behind her.
Torako snarled and crouched low in preparation for the battle, she
spread her arms out and stood straight bringing her fist together in
front of her chest.
Kuno closed his eyes and seemed to meditate for a moment, they flashed
open and he charged at Torako swinging the bukoten with amazing
precision. She dodged easily and punched lightly forward taking Kuno in
the chest playfully.
"I like to play with my food before I eat it, fool." she said as she
passed by his ear swiftly.
Kuno gasped at her sheer speed and spun around slashing at her as she
jumped through the air skillfully and ducked under his blows.
"What is the meaning of this?" roared a new voice over the crowd. The
students around the fight seemed to vanish instantly towards the doors of
the school. Akane turned and gasped as Dean Kagome stood on the stairs of
the school with students filing in around him nervously. He glared at the
two combatants angrily. Akane looked at Kuno and Torako and then back at
the dean; a single word escaped his lips.
"Ko-neko..."
Kuno felt a massive blow to his side that sent him to the ground hard.
He rolled instantly to his feet and staggered for a moment holding the
bokuten up in a defensive position. "Such strength in a woman?" he gasped
as he struggled for breath. To his surprise, Torako was sprawled out on
the ground, and crouching in front of her on all fours was Dean Kagome.
"You dare interrupt a battle of honor between..." started Kuno but it
was a short lived speech as Kagome let out an animal sounding roar and
jumped at him with a look of pure rage on his face.
"Daddy no! You'll kill him!" cried Torako as she tried to grab her
father and missed.
Kuno was forced on his back by the enraged father using his bukoten to
hold the man away from himself desperately as Ryo's hands pounded at the
sides of his head swatting at him like an animal. Kuno felt a strain on
the wood and opened his eyes as best he could only to find Ryo was
snapping at him with his teeth like an enraged dog. Torako finally made
it over to the pair and pulled at her father's neck forcing him off the
young Kendoist. Ryo stood on his hind legs and shot out a kick that took
Kuno in the ribs; finally he reached out and grabbed the boy by his neck
and lifted him into the air. Kuno struggled in the air and clutched at
the man's arm in desperation.
"If you ever attack my daughter or Akane Tendo again, I will kill you."
snarled the man as he dropped the boy on the ground. Kuno lie there for a
long time silently, he glared up at the man with a gaze of pure hatred.
"Go and tell the authorities anything you want Kuno, tell them what I
did; I guarentee you they'll side with me when I tell them what you where
doing to my daughter."
Kuno curled up and rolled over to grab his bokutan and his school bag;
"I will not forget this." he coughed.
"See that you don't boy." replied Ryo.
"Daddy!" said Torako in shock. "You've humiliated him enough!"
"Don't think I've forgotten about you, I want you in my office, now;
both of you." said Ryo with a dark look.
"Are we gonna be Ok?" asked Akane nervously.
"How should I know?!" answered Torako calmly.
"Now, your in big trouble young lady." said Ryo calmly as he sat behind
his desk as he stared his daughter down. He faced Akane next, "Your off
the hook this time, I'm convinced you weren't involved this time, don't
let me find out otherwise." he scrawled out a small note and handed it to
Akane. "Go to class."
"Yes sir." mumbled Akane as she glanced over at Torako sadly.
The door closed and Akane shuffled to her class lazily. She felt bad for
leaving Torako, but there really wasn't much she could do.
Inside the office Torako sat looking uninterested in the events, she
didn't see what she had done wrong.
"Torako, I know you know better than this; this was not the time or
place for a fight and you know damn well." Ryo buried his face in his
hands and glared at her. "You've got to ignore your instincts, it's
harder for us than most people; but it can be done."
"Look who's talking, you almost killed that poor boy." said Torako
snidely.
"This isn't the place to argue with me Torako, I did what I did because
I'm your father." said the man angrily.
"Whatever mother." said the girl as she started to feel the pangs of
anger towards the man.
"Yes, That too; Torako, we have to be careful." said the man as he faced
the window and gazed into the courtyard.
"If you want to fight, fine, do it on your own time. Never let me catch
you doing it during school again." said Ryo flatly.
"Your giving me permission?"
"To fight? In the right time and place? Yes. Ko-neko, I know your a
young martial artist, it's in your soul, but be responsible damn it!"
"I..." Torako was unsure of what to say or do, she wasn't expecting this
from her overprotective father.
"There are other people to consider, we can't just go around destroying
their lives and disrupting everything around us for our own personal
battles. Torako, please try to understand that; I've tried my best to
train you to understand that normal people aren't stepping stones for us
or obstacles, they have feelings and lives. Some things you just have to
learn on your own, I suppose. School is a place for normal people to feel
safe and secure."
"Yes...father."
"Go to class, I'm giving you detention for the rest of the month; see me
after school." said Ryo without looking back at her from the window;
Torako silently complied.
Ryo slumped into his chair "Man, I don't think I can do this too much
more, it's so hard to stay mad at that girl." he glanced at the photo of
her on the desk. It was the only one of her he had with her smiling after
she turned thirteen. She was with Akane at the beach in the summer, they
were wading through the water together splashing each other in the
shallow waves.
Next to that photo was a photo of Talcum, it was one of only two he had
managed to get in China. The Amazons in Joketzuko were back water, but
even a few small vestiges of civilization had managed to make their way
into the wilderness.
He sat there for a long while brooding over old memories for a long time
before the bell rang for the classes to be dismissed. He stood from his
chair and walked into the hallway to see to his duties.
Akane looked more upset about the punishment than Torako, "Geeze Akane,
it's only an hour a day for a month."
"But, I can't help it! We won't be able to walk home together for a
whole month!" said Akane as she hung her head in sorrow.
"It's not that big a deal." muttered Torako absently as she picked at
her lunch. She smiled when she realized that most of the boys where
giving her fearful glances now. "I'd rather have them being afraid of me
instead of my father." she thought a little angrily. The few who had
remained outside during the attack had spread the word quickly. Kuno had
returned home early, with permission from the dean.
"You should have seen the look on his face when he went in there, he
looked like a changed man when he came out. I'd almost say he was happy."
said one of the boys near to Torako's spot.
"He must have had a talk with him too." thought the girl to herself.
A week later Kuno stood at a podium glaring at the audience during the
speech contest for Furinkan high. "The vengeance of heaven is slow but
sure! Anyone who wishes to date Akane Tendo or Torako Kagome, must defeat
her in combat! Am I making myself absolutely clear?!" with his
announcement made he turned to return to his seat.
Dean Kagome stood from his podium on the judges platform and walked over
to the microphone. "I have said it before and I'll say it again, if any
of you puny little men makes so much as a hint of trouble in my school,
I'll pop your tiny little heads off you twiggy little necks; Is that
clear?"
The next day around a hundred male students stood outside the gates of
Furinkan high school in the street and waited. Akane and Torako stood a
few hundred yards away unnoticed as of yet and eyed them coolly. "What do
we do?" asked Akane.
"What else? We go through them." said Torako as she counted the boys.
"Ninety three, and I don't see Kuno with them."
"What about your father?" asked Akane as she ducked back into the
alleyway where they were hiding.
"He won't help unless it's on school grounds." said the tiger girl as
she got a dangerous look in her eyes.
"What?" gasped Akane.
"That's what our talk was about; I'm afraid unless we get in real
trouble or they take it onto the school grounds, you and I are on our
own."
"Great, let's get this over with."
They dashed out into the street and started running, Torako pulled out
in front of Akane at the start and hit the crowd first. She left a path
of total destruction in her wake that didn't even slow her down, Akane
was right behind her. Muffled cries of "I love you!" or "This is for
you!" where all that could be heard as the pair finished up the few
remaining boy's between them and the school gates.
Akane stopped cold as Torako halted before the gates; Kuno was standing
in front of the gates with his bokuten held ready. The tiger girl widened
her stance and opened her arms in a circular motion; she moved gracefully
and finished the movement in a low Kung fu stance.
Akane spread her feet out and got into a rock solid Karate stance, Kuno
eyed them both and smiled.
"Grace and Power, the ultimate combination, is it any wonder I have
fallen for these two deadly angels?" said Kuno dramatically as he tossed
a rose into the ground between them.
"Good bye Kuno." said Akane as they charged forward and knocked him to
the side easily.
A thunderous laughter was all that could be heard as Dean Kagome
appeared in the gateway to Furinkan. "Little fools, to think you could
face MY daughter? HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAAA!" he turned and walked away
laughing harder with each moment.
Ryo sat across from Soun and frowned as his friend placed another piece
on the board lazily. "How are things Tendo?"
"Eh? Fine fine, how about yourself Kagome?"
"Can't complain."
Kasumi walked into the room holding a few sorted letters and a post
card. "Father, the mail has arrived." she said cheerfully.
Over by the Television Akane and Torako sat quietly watching a
documentary on tigers. Akane was mesmerized while Torako seemed
uninterested. The Tendo girl kept glancing at her friend oddly while
Torako simply looked confused. "Hey Torako, don't you do that all the
time?" said Akane as she watched the TV.
"How many times you gonna ask me that Akane? It's been this way for a
half an hour now! "Oh, you act that way all the time!" or "Wow just like
you Tora-chan!" geeze get over it.
Akane pointedly ignored her and continued watching the show.
Soun picked up a post card and gasped in awe. "T..this is..." he
stammered. The man's eyes started to sprout tears of pure elation as he
read the back of the card.
"What is it Tendo?" asked Ryo in confusion.
"This is good for four free beef bowls at that new restaurant down the
street!" said Soun as he cried tears of joy.
"Tendo, it's just noodles and beef. Don't cry." said Ryo.
"Yea, we got ours in the mail yesterday!" said Torako lazily.
"Why didn't you tell me girl! We could have eaten out yesterday!" said
Ryo bitterly.
"Geeze, sorry old man." snorted Torako as she started to paint her
toenails with Akane.
"How wonderful!" said Soun with a smile as he hugged the card as if it
where a long lost child.
"I think we both need some time off Tendo." said Ryo with a heavy sigh,
he turned and smiled as he caught Torako glancing at the TV with mild
interest.
TBC....
That was just evil. Hee hee.
Next time: At last the manga starts! Ranma, Akane, Torako, and the rest
of the cast will become the central characters. Don't worry the massive
exploits of Ryo with Genma and Soun will also be covered. This next part
should include the Ryoga story line as well. How will Ranma react to
Torako and vice versa. What about Ryoga? How will he react when faced
with his old childhood friend?
Torako is a female version of the name Tora, it means Tiger. Ko is a
common ending to female names in Japan. Like Ranko.
Ryo's pet name for Torako, Ko-neko means Kitten.
until next post! Ja ne!
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