Suggested changes: {before : after}
On 01/31/2004 08:56 PM, DB Sommer wrote:
> Hinako moved closer, snuggling briefly against Soun's side and he
> could feel the swell of her breast pressed against his arm. Soun
> found his body reacting to the contact. There was no denying Hinako
> was a very desirable woman. She was attractive, had a generous
> build, and was even a good bit younger than him. It was also
> obvious she was interested in him, which was flattering to his ego.
> There were no drawbacks or distasteful characteristics to her at
> all.
Interesting that no one has mentioned their runins with her to him.
> Admittedly, it wasn't hard to figure out where the dramatic mood
> swings originated. While Ranma wasn't a thing like his father, that
> same could not be said about Akane and Kachiko. They shared a lot
> of similar traits outside of their physical similarity to one
> another. A quick temper seemed to be something Akane had inherited
> from her mother, though Kachiko was quicker to forgive as well
> {incite : ignite}. While Ranma had mostly adjusted to the physical
> similarities, sometimes the common traits in their personalities
> still threw him. The two were different from one another in other
> behaviors, but they were family. Of that there was no doubt.
> He could understand, and even sympathize with her troubles. She
> even tended to take his side in matters, like the engagement thing,
> which few people, outside of Akane, did. The pros outweighed the
> cons when it came to spending time with her. She was kind of fun to
> hang around with, though she had a tendency to attract trouble.
Unlike him. Nope, nope, nope.
> Ranma grabbed Kachiko by the shoulder and forced her behind him.
> "These guys look dangerous. You'd better let me handle this."
>
> "Okay." Kachiko took off running in the opposite direction.
>
> Ranma watched in stunned silence as for the first time ever,
> Kachiko did as she was told. It was unbelievable. Women never
> listened to him. What did he do to make her listen, and more
> importantly, what could he do to make her do it again?
She does have a remarkably practical outlook, but her compliance in this
case is simply a result of her own agenda.
> Content with the knowledge that Ranma could handle himself against
> some smelly biker gang, Kachiko returned to her original objective.
> Rather than continuing her pursuit of Soun and Hinako from
> overhead, she decided to take a more preventative measure by
> scouting ahead of the pair. It was easy enough, knowing which
> restaurant they were going to limited the number of paths they
> could take to it. Her precaution paid off as she spotted a
> suspicious looking pack of women clustered around the middle of the
> sidewalk, one street away from the restaurant. They appeared to be
> idly hanging around, but a closer inspection showed wary gazes that
> shouted out they were looking for someone in particular and wanted
> to do something other than offering them a cigarette.
Cigar?
> Face swelling slightly, Kachiko shifted into an attack stance. She
> might have taken the gang girl lightly, but no longer. The leader
> had some true {
>
> :} potential, and odds said there were a few more in the gang that
> could make Kachiko break a sweat. Worse, there was no time left to
> posture. Soun and Hinako could appear at any moment. If they came
> upon a fight, especially one with Kachiko involved, it would ruin
> everything. Lacking the time needed to defeat the girls either as a
> group or one at a time, Kachiko had to focus all of their attention
> on her and lure them away from the street.
> One thing immediately sprang to mind. It was something that
> crossdressing pervert, Yumi used to do when Kachiko's guard was
> down, leaving her enraged for days afterward. It took months to
> master the technique, all for the purpose of understanding it
> enough to form an effective counter to it. The very thought of
> using the attack against another girl made Kachiko sick to the
> stomach, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Is Yumi related to Ukyou?
> The CLAP had found her again.
Should have worn golashes.
> Kachiko looked at the finger the panties dangled from, the one that
> was leveled at the CLAP. "I can explain! This isn't what it looks
> like!"
>
> "That's what they all say," the leader of the CLAP intoned
> menacingly as he stepped toward Kachiko. The other men followed
> suit.
And it never works.
> The pair continued their casual stroll until they arrived at their
> destination. The outside of the restaurant was sedate, if tasteful.
> They entered and informed the {maitre d' : maitre'd} of their
> reservation. The service proved itself outstanding as the maitre'd
> {was quick usher : quickly ushered} them toward their table. As they
> sat down, Soun noticed their arrival had drawn the stares of many
> people, mostly men, who looked upon Hinako with lust and at Soun with
> envy. The former made him irritated and defensive; Hinako was with
> him, and they had no business looking at her as though they could have
> her. The latter made him fill with pride. He was unable to remember
> the last time anyone was envious of him, even if it was only for the
> company he kept.
> Soun and Hinako {exited : left} the restaurant, giggling
> inappropriately loud. The wine undoubtedly had a great deal to do
> with it. Things had gone so well after the collision with the waiter
> that Soun splurged and ordered a bottle of wine, and a not altogether
> inexpensive one at that. Despite the cost, the atmosphere had been
> too perfect to pass up. It had definitely been the correct choice.
> Just as Soun's grip started to loosen, Hinako's own hands came to
> {engulf : trap} his, making certain they stayed right where they were.
> The intention was unmistakable.
> The voice cut through the building aura of mutual passion that had
> tuned out the rest of the world. Reminded that they were in the
> middle of a public street, and what they had been doing, Soun
> withdrew his hands as though Hinako's skin had caught fire. Hinako
> {firmed : adjusteed} her outfit, which had ridden up during her
> falling and rising from the ground.
> "I am Kenji Yasuroka. A student whose life you tormented until it
> drove me {toward : to} the brink of insanity."
Fortunately he's still quite insane.
> Soun shook his head. "I could hardly call myself a martial artist
> if I allowed something as simple minded as this fool to ruin one of
> my dates."
>
> Hinako couldn't believe her ears. "Look at him! He isn't even
> human!"
>
> "He's nothing compared to my old martial arts master," Soun assured
> her.
True.
> Soun {side stepped : sidestepped} the rush, leaving one foot sticking
> out. The Gargoyle tripped over the extended foot. Soun helped add
> velocity to the rush by pushing on the demon's back, taking his turn
> to send the demon headfirst into the wall.
> "And you are a true man," Hinako {all but swooned : gushed} as she
> grabbed him by the face and kissed him long and hard.
> It was past midnight by the time Soun forced himself to return to
> his home. He had tried going out to a bar to drown his sorrows and
> trick himself into thinking he had done the right thing, but he had
> no desire to taste alcohol. So instead he walked around Nerima,
> alone, just like he had been in so many ways since his wife died.
> His life, as defined by others, was exclusively that of 'father',
> and with the return of Saotome, {' friend' : 'friend'}, but only with
> a woman could be become 'lover' again. He had a chance tonight, but he
> turned it away, and no amount of drink could convince him
> otherwise.
> When the sun eventually crested the horizon and filled the room
> with yellow light, it was a new day dawning in more ways than one.
> But it wasn't really a surprise.
>
> Absolution made everything better, after all.
That was a powerful scene. Healing Soun may be the most important
result of Kachiko's return.