An idea that's been floating around in my head since I did some C&C on
Tenchi's Choice earlier today. Insomnia is a wonderful excuse for writing. . .
C&C welcome.
Agreeable Komodo
He who bought it, supplied it.
Just say yes to prophylactics.
"Don't discount flying pigs before you have good air defense."
-- jvh@clinet.FI
**************
"Tenchi!"
"Hm?" Tenchi Masaki paused in midstep at the sound of his name. It was the
last day of school and the beginning of summer vacation and the slim,
dark-haired youth was, like others his age, looking forward to summer
vacation. "Hey Tenchi! Wait up man!" Searching the crowd of students, Tenchi
spotted another dark haired youth dressed in chinese clothes running towards
him.
"Ranma! How ya been?" Tenchi asked, genuinely pleased to see his friend.
"Same as usual," Ranma Saotome replied, clasping hands with Tenchi. "How
about you?"
"Same as always."
"Yeah, hey, wanna go get something to eat? I know this neat little place that
makes great okonomiyaki. We can talk and catch up."
"Well. . ." Tenchi began as he looked at the setting sun. It was getting late
and he still had an hour on the train to get home. "Why not? I can catch the
late train."
"All right! Come on."
********
The Restaurant Ranma had in mind was called Uuchan's. A cozy restaurant
tucked in between a herbal remedy supply store and a laundry. It was run by
Ukyo, a pretty sixteen year old who could make okonomiyaki that, by all
accounts, put the rest of Japan's okonomiyaki chefs to shame. It was
tastefully decorated and the air was scented with the smell of meat, cooking
oil and spices.
Sitting at one of the booths, Ranma and Tenchi dined on beef okonomiyaki and
talked about what they had been doing lately. Their friendship was based on
the fact that Tenchi was one of the few boys at Furikan who hadn't been after
Akane and even when Ranma's curse became public knowledge, Tenchi just
treated him like one of the guys. However, aside from Phys ed, their class
schedules were wildly different and they didn't hang out together much.
". . .so anyways, then Shampoo came in through the wall. . .again, and she
and Kodachi started duking it out." Ranma made a face. "Pop made me spend the
rest of the day fixing the hole."
"My grandfather's the same way," Tenchi said mournfully.
"Maybe we should get them together," Ranma said, grinning.
"I wouldn't," Tenchi said. "Not with what you've told me about him, and
especially not with my house guests." Tenchi poured the last of the soda into
his glass and took a drink. "I'm glad I ran into you Ranma, the last few
months at home have been hell and there's been no one to talk to except
Grandpa and Dad."
"Why can't you talk to one of those house guests of yours?"
"The house guests are the problem. Besides," he said, as though it explained
everything, "they're all women." Ranma nodded sagely and raised his glass.
"To bachelorhood."
"To bachelorhood," Tenchi agreed, clinking his glass with Ranma's.
"You know, we should get together more often. Hang out and stuff."
"Yeah," Tenchi said, and then his eyes brightened. "Hey, why not come up to
my place?"
"Huh?"
"For the summer," Tenchi said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the
table. "Come spend summer vacation at the Shrine. We can do some of that male
bonding stuff dad's always on about and you can get away from your fiancee's."
"I dunno man," Ranma replied.
"C'mon," Tenchi said. "Day hikes, fishing, and Grandpa could probably give
you some tips for dealing with Kuno."
"Is there any peace and quiet?" Ranma asked.
"Not at the house, but at the shrine, sure."
"Hm," Ranma mused. He had to admit, it was a pretty sweet deal. Three months
away from Akane, Shampoo, Ukyo and Kodachi. No girls that he was engaged to,
no martial artists looking to challenge him, just peace and quiet. Besides,
he and Kami-Sama probably needed to talk about some of the recent events in
his life and a shrine was probably the best place. "All right," Ranma agreed.
"Sounds like fun."
"Great," Tenchi said, digging in his bag. "Lemme write down directions."
"Why not tonight?" Ranma asked, suddenly remembering the last time he had
tried to leave for a vacation and had made the mistake of telling the family.
"You wanna go up tonight?" Tenchi asked, surprised.
"Sure. I just have to grab some clothes from home," Ranma replied as he laid
enough money for his half of the meal on the table.
"Okay," Tenchi agreed and got out the money for his half. 'Oh man, why did he
want to come up tonight?' he thought, and then realized why. Ranma was an
impulsive person and Tenchi had made the offer. Since it was to late to
retract the offer now, he would just have to hope Ryoko and Ayeka were in a
good mood tonight.