Ranma ½ Exit, Pursued by a Bear
- Thread starter Lord Raa
- Start date
Tell me something I don't know.
I'm sorry you don't like the bear pictures.
I know you'd all prefer fresh content, but how am I supposed to write when I've had no inspiration or idea what to write next?
Plus I've found me a lady friend, so that takes up time at the weekend as I have to impress her with low-fat healthy cooking.
tcm said:
ragnarok1337 said:
The thing is, tcm's image/post could be effortlessly applied to Raa.
You're the one being a bitch here.
Oh, so that's the way you want to go. Well, two can play at that game.
Ahem.
The wait for more updates is un-bear-able. This is a Grizzly situation. Will this ever be finished? Paws-ibly. Just bear with me for a bit here. I'm getting a bit em-bear-est. A-bear-intly I was quite pre-beared for this. I need to stop, this is absolute panda-monium.
...
I think I'll just go away now... I'm not koala-fied to make all these puns... God, this is bear-y Teddie-ous... Fox! Do a Bear-all Roll!
...
Okay, I'm done now. Thankfully I didn't suffer from Kodiak Arrest.
...Dammit!
Ahem.
The wait for more updates is un-bear-able. This is a Grizzly situation. Will this ever be finished? Paws-ibly. Just bear with me for a bit here. I'm getting a bit em-bear-est. A-bear-intly I was quite pre-beared for this. I need to stop, this is absolute panda-monium.
...
I think I'll just go away now... I'm not koala-fied to make all these puns... God, this is bear-y Teddie-ous... Fox! Do a Bear-all Roll!
...
Okay, I'm done now. Thankfully I didn't suffer from Kodiak Arrest.
...Dammit!
It's not dead.
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About five minutes later, the sounds and smell of sweat were strong enough to wake Ranma up. He slowly lifted his head and opened up one eye to see what all the commotion was about.
‘They’re training Akane? Oh yeah, they said that they were going to do that.’
Ranma let out a loud yawn, causing everyone to flinch in fear. When he noticed everyone’s reaction, the bear rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Standing on his hind legs, Ranma stretched out his arms. He beckoned his father to start sparring with him.
Genma realised that this would be a good lesson for Akane to watch and fell into a standard Anything Goes stance.
“In your own time, Ranma.â€
Rushing forward with a shoulder charge, the bear surprised everyone with his speed. It was only years of experience that allowed Genma to dodge the attack.
But it was the follow-up punch to solar plexus made a normally immovable object fly backwards like a bad arcade fighting game.
Ranma turned to the Tendos and gave them a questioning look.
“No-no-no-no-no!†Akane insisted, backing away from the bear. “We don’t want to fight you!â€
The bear nodded its approval, glad that the need for violence was now over. He returned to his corner and went back to sleep.
Akane turned to her father. “What now?â€
“I don’t know,†the moustachioed man admitted. He splashed some of his cold water onto the stunned form of Genma and asked him what he thought was the best course of action.
The balding man shook his head. “I think that we were too ambitious with our intensive training plan. After all, Tendo-kun, you and your daughter are not used to strenuous physical exercise this early in the morning. Perhaps we would be better off starting with a lengthy run this morning?â€
“Yes, I think we can get a few kilometres in before breakfast,†Soun nodded in approval. “And that way, we don’t risk disturbing the others.â€
Everyone cast a glance towards the sleeping bear and decided that discretion was the better part of valour before quietly exiting the dojo.
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Not yet, at any rate.
I should have some more for you in the coming days. It depends on when I can show this new content to people who get first dibs on it.
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About five minutes later, the sounds and smell of sweat were strong enough to wake Ranma up. He slowly lifted his head and opened up one eye to see what all the commotion was about.
‘They’re training Akane? Oh yeah, they said that they were going to do that.’
Ranma let out a loud yawn, causing everyone to flinch in fear. When he noticed everyone’s reaction, the bear rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Standing on his hind legs, Ranma stretched out his arms. He beckoned his father to start sparring with him.
Genma realised that this would be a good lesson for Akane to watch and fell into a standard Anything Goes stance.
“In your own time, Ranma.â€
Rushing forward with a shoulder charge, the bear surprised everyone with his speed. It was only years of experience that allowed Genma to dodge the attack.
But it was the follow-up punch to solar plexus made a normally immovable object fly backwards like a bad arcade fighting game.
Ranma turned to the Tendos and gave them a questioning look.
“No-no-no-no-no!†Akane insisted, backing away from the bear. “We don’t want to fight you!â€
The bear nodded its approval, glad that the need for violence was now over. He returned to his corner and went back to sleep.
Akane turned to her father. “What now?â€
“I don’t know,†the moustachioed man admitted. He splashed some of his cold water onto the stunned form of Genma and asked him what he thought was the best course of action.
The balding man shook his head. “I think that we were too ambitious with our intensive training plan. After all, Tendo-kun, you and your daughter are not used to strenuous physical exercise this early in the morning. Perhaps we would be better off starting with a lengthy run this morning?â€
“Yes, I think we can get a few kilometres in before breakfast,†Soun nodded in approval. “And that way, we don’t risk disturbing the others.â€
Everyone cast a glance towards the sleeping bear and decided that discretion was the better part of valour before quietly exiting the dojo.
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Not yet, at any rate.
I should have some more for you in the coming days. It depends on when I can show this new content to people who get first dibs on it.
Hmmm...
I suppose, at least for this story, you could take the approach that each change resets the clock, as it were, so he would not have to hibernate. Some stories take that approach to that with his girl form to explain why he does have a, er... 'monthly visitor', unless he is locked long enough. If going that approach, then if he was ever permanently locked, he could start to hibernate.
Or perhaps that his human brain overrides the innate natural ability. That would be another valid approach.
I suppose, at least for this story, you could take the approach that each change resets the clock, as it were, so he would not have to hibernate. Some stories take that approach to that with his girl form to explain why he does have a, er... 'monthly visitor', unless he is locked long enough. If going that approach, then if he was ever permanently locked, he could start to hibernate.
Or perhaps that his human brain overrides the innate natural ability. That would be another valid approach.
Completed chapter time!
Post corrections/comments, for tomorrow, I shall upload to FF.net.
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Exit, Pursued by a Bear
By Lord Raa
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Disclaim-me-do: Entropy always increases.
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Part 4
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At dinner, Soun cleared his throat. When he had everyone’s attention, he made an announcement.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say that Ranma will be attending Furinkan with Akane and Nabiki,†the moustachioed man said with a smile on his face.
“What? You mean I have to go to school with that monster?†the middle Tendo sister demanded, pointing angrily at Ranma.
“Monster?†the part-time bear repeated, clearly upset by Nabiki’s tone.
“You turn into a bear! What else am I supposed to call you?†Nabiki asked.
“You could call him ‘Ranma’, you know, his name,†Shampoo replied, glaring angrily at Nabiki.
“He’s dangerous and I don’t want him in the house!â€
Akane might not have liked the idea of a boy staying in the house, but she couldn’t help but feel that her sister was being a bit unreasonable.
“Then he’ll live in the dojo,†Soun replied, hoping to sound like he’d come up with a wise solution to the problem.
“What about bathing?†Ranma asked, rightly feeling put out by the apparent restrictions being put on him.
“They hose down animals at the zoo, don’t they?†the mercenary girl sniped.
“Cold water comes out of hoses. Cold water turns Ranma into a bear,†Shampoo countered, pointing out the idiocy of Nabiki’s irrational suggestion.
“Err… yeah,†Akane nodded. “You say you’re scared of bears, but you want to keep Ranma as a bear? That makes no sense.â€
“What makes no sense is that you suddenly changed your tune and now you want a boy to stay with us,†Nabiki shot back, becoming flustered at the situation. “You love Ranma or something?â€
Soun blinked, having watched the conversation bounce back and forth between the girls at the table. “Wait, what? Akane, are you willing to get married to Ranma now?â€
“She seems to be sticking up for him now…†the middle sister smirked as she left the table.
“Hey!†the Tendo heir shouted. “Nobody said anything about getting married to Ranma!â€
“Speak for yourself,†Shampoo replied. “I’m quite happy to get married to Ranma.â€
“Well, yes, we know that, Shampoo,†Genma said, smiling patronisingly.
Kasumi finished eating and placed her bowl and chopsticks down on the table. “I’ve just had a thought.â€
“Oh?†Ranma asked, curious as to what Kasumi could be thinking.
“Well, what if we adopted Shampoo into the Tendo family? She could then marry Ranma without any problems.â€
“But what about the dojo?†Soun asked.
“Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that,†the homemaker admitted. “But why are you so concerned about the dojo now? You didn’t seem this bothered last month.â€
“Well… the thing is…†the moustachioed man stalled as he tried to word his response as something other than ‘it’s to avoid a massive tax bill’. He looked towards his old training partner for help.
Genma nodded in acknowledgment before responding. “Is it so wrong for a man to want to see his children get the best out of life? To be able to help them out with his years of experience should they need it? What parent wouldn’t want to see his children make a success of the family business?â€
“You make a compelling argument, Pops,†Ranma said, theatrically wiping away an imaginary tear. “But you’re still hiding something from us. How can we agree to such a proposal without the proper risk analysis?â€
“Wha-?†the balding man was cut off by the splash of cold water hitting him in the face.
“What about the risk analysis?†the part time bear repeated. “You want us to take over the dojo, but you won’t tell us why it’s suddenly so urgent. Mr. Tendo didn’t care about it a month ago, yet when I arrive, suddenly it’s the most important thing in the world. Why? Are people going to come looking to claim the dojo as their own?â€
“Or worse, us?†Akane asked, recalling how the engagement with Ranma had surprised her and her sisters.
“You’re right, Ranma,†Genma nodded as his cursed form considered the implications of threats of force. “Tendo-kun, we must look at the risks of forcing one of your daughters to marry Ranma just to avoid the inheritance tax on the home and dojo.â€
“Yes, you look at those risks,†Ranma said as Soun winced at his friend’s words. “We’ll help clear the table.â€
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After the table was cleared, Ranma decided that is was time for his evening practice in the dojo. Shampoo had opted to join him, taking the opportunity to join in the balance practice. It wasn’t that the Tendos had made her feel unwelcome, but there was something about the sisters that gave her pause.
Nabiki’s random outbursts and rants about how Ranma was a monster and a danger to everyone were getting to be tiresome.
Akane didn’t hate Ranma or at least, she tolerated him and his curse. Not that it meant that the youngest Tendo was enthusiastic about the prospect of being engaged to him, but Shampoo suspected that Akane’s reluctance was more to do with her father’s surprise announcement.
The one who seemed to be warmest towards Ranma was the eldest, Kasumi. Though they had only been at the Tendo home for a mere day, it was clear that it was Kasumi that looked after things. So perhaps she was just being a good host?
Shampoo took a break from standing on a thin strip of wood that had been raised off the floor, as she looked around she spotted Kasumi standing in the doorway with a tray of teacups.
The brunette was staring at the way Ranma had been doing one-handed push-ups in the handstand position.
The Amazon also noticed that Kasumi’s face seemed a bit redder than normal.
“Is everything alright?â€
“I... yes, it’s just the steam from the tea,†the homemaker insisted weakly. “I thought that you might like some refreshment.â€
“Thank you,†Ranma said, flipping himself onto his feet. He approached Kasumi and bowed politely before taking the cup nearest to him. “Wait a minute, is this tea...?â€
Shampoo froze, holding her cup centimetres from her lips. She looked questioningly at the object of her affection. “What about the tea?â€
Kasumi’s expression turned to one of horror at the implication that it was anything less than her usual standard. After a moment, the mischievous twinkle in the part-time bear’s eyes made her realise that Ranma was making a reference to a joke he made earlier.
“Please, Mr. Saotome,†the brunette said, trying to calm her flustered voice. “If I wanted you out of the way, do you really think we would be standing here talking?â€
Ranma let out a chuckle. “I guess not, Kasumi Tendo. Or should I say ‘Mistress Terror’?â€
“Oh-ho-ho-ho,†Kasumi laughed daintily in reply. “Just because you know my codename, do not think that you know all of my plans. Now, continue your practice. I would hate for your inevitable demise to be boring.â€
“Very well, Mistress Terror. Come on Shampoo, it’s time to put on a display that will impress our host here.â€
Shampoo nodded as she handed her teacup back to Kasumi.
The two martial artists worked through a complicated pattern of kicks and punches against invisible enemies as Kasumi looked on.
The homemaker seemed to approve of the skill that was on display. Or at least, she seemed to approve of the way Ranma’s musculature flexed as he twisted and turned during his battle against imaginary fighters.
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In her room, Nabiki was angrily plotting to be rid of the troublesome Saotomes. Shampoo wasn’t so bad, though she seemed a little unsophisticated compared to her peers.
‘Maybe she’s from a small village in the middle of nowhere?’ the short-haired Tendo mused. ‘Not that it matters. If I can get rid of Ranma, she’ll follow him.’
Given the nature of the Jusenkyo curse, it was unlikely that she could guarantee that Ranma would be in his bear form long enough for anyone to take him seriously as a threat. She knew that the moment she called for help, Ranma would get some hot water and turn back into his normal body, making her look foolish or crazy.
No, Ranma’s curse would require independent verification from a reliable source.
‘Perhaps Doctor Tofu could be of help?’
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Soun and Genma sat opposite each other at the go board.
“Saotome-kun, this is a troubling situation,†the long haired man said solemnly.
“I know, Tendo-kun. I can understand your desire to ensure the Tendo family legacy.†The portly man placed a piece on the board. “I believe that move wins me the game.â€
“How did you?†Soun asked, unsure of how he’d managed to lose the game so rapidly. He shook his head in an attempt to focus on the issue at hand. “Yes, we need to explain to our children the importance of this union.â€
Genma closed his eyes as he pondered the situation. “Nabiki has already made it clear that she wants nothing to do with Ranma. But all is not lost since you have two other daughters. However...â€
“What do you mean ‘however’?â€
“It will take some time to train Akane to the point where she can defeat Shampoo in combat.â€
“Yes, I fear that I might have been too soft when it comes to her training,†the widow lamented.
“That said,†Genma mused, “the elders in Shampoo’s village know that there’s more to being a wife than just being able to fight.â€
“What do you mean, Saotome-kun?â€
“Shampoo is here to prove that she’s the best candidate for Ranma’s hand in marriage. There are two things that are important to in Shampoo’s village – martial prowess and the ability to run a home. Akane is the best option for fighting; Kasumi already does the cooking here.â€
“You mean Kasumi would take part in cooking challenges?†Soun asked. He looked off into the distance and his mouth started to water at the prospect of Kasumi pulling out all the stops with her cooking. “... I think that we must go with this two-pronged plan, Saotome-kun.â€
“I agree, Tendo-kun. At the very least, it will buy us the time we need to get Akane in a position to challenge Shampoo.â€
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Akane had just finished reading her magazine. She glanced at her clock and realised that if she wanted to get a good night’s sleep before her training session with Genma Saotome, it was time for her to turn in.
“I wonder if Saotome-san and Daddy always had to get up this early when they were training?†she pondered aloud as she set her alarm for 5:30.
It had been a while since Akane had gotten up that early herself, and that was for a school trip. As she prepared her gi and school uniform for the next day she realised that she needed to clean her teeth.
Leaving her room, she was surprised to see Nabiki skulking around.
“Is something wrong, Nabiki?â€
“I’m just making sure Ranma isn’t around here.â€
“By pretending to be a burglar?â€
“No,†the short-haired Tendo replied, clearly infuriated by her sister’s inability to see the real threat. “I have to keep an eye out for him.â€
“And you can’t do this by walking around normally?â€
“No!†Nabiki replied. “Because he’s a bear! He’ll try to eat me if I disturb him!â€
Akane let out a sigh. There were good reasons to not want Ranma in the house – he was a boy; their fathers wanted them to get married, so who knew what kind of stunts would be pulled. But the way Nabiki was acting, you’d think Ranma was a demon-bear unleashed from the deepest pits of Hell.
Sure, turning into a bear when splashed with cold water was weird, but if you were polite to Ranma, he was polite back. It was only when you started to antagonise him that he went out of his way to be mean.
“Alright, Nabiki, continue to sneak around like a burglar. I’ve got to brush my teeth and go to bed. Some of us have to get up at 5:30.â€
The middle sister remembered why Akane and her father were going to be up at that ungodly hour and shuddered. “Why would you want to be up at 5:30 in the morning when you could be asleep in a nice warm bed?â€
“Because if you want to get better at something, you have to make sacrifices. If I don’t put in the effort, I can’t improve as a martial artist.â€
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Kasumi was surprised to see her father approach her just as she was going to turn in.
“Ah, Kasumi, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.â€
“Oh, what’s that, Father?â€
“Well, it’s about the legacy of the Tendo dojo,†the moustachioed man said. It took most of his strength to maintain his facade of wisdom and authority.
Kasumi nodded. She knew that the dojo meant a great deal to her father, even though he had no current paying students. “What can I do to help, Father?â€
“Well, it’s about Shampoo and her challenge...â€
“I can’t interfere with a matter of honour, Father, it wouldn’t be right,†the homemaker insisted sternly.
“I would never dream of asking you to do anything improper, Kasumi,†Soun replied, aghast at the implication of skulduggery.
“Then what did you mean?â€
“I... Well, there’s more to running a dojo than just being a skilled martial artist. While Akane is a skilled martial artist...â€
Kasumi nodded, knowing full well what her father was alluding to. It was in Akane’s nature to try hard in everything she did. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm often got the better of her and she didn’t always pay attention to what she was doing and her cooking was... not good, to put it politely.
“So you want me to challenge Shampoo to the domestic aspects?â€
“Yes,†the long-haired man nodded happily. “It would also give us a chance to step up Akane’s training.â€
Kasumi nodded again, the match earlier had shown just how badly outclassed Akane had been by Shampoo. And Ranma had been even more impressive, even as a bear.
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It was just turning light when Akane’s alarm clock went off. She had deliberately set it a few minutes before 5:30 just so she wouldn’t be taken completely unaware by her father and Genma’s wake up call.
Her bed was warm, much warmer than her room. In fact, it was just cosy enough to make the Tendo heir understand why Nabiki hated mornings so much.
“Do I really have to get up?†she asked herself rhetorically. “Well, you really should if you want to be ready for your training.â€
After the deep breaths to steel herself failed to give her the motivation necessary to get out of bed, a thought occurred to Akane.
“Mister Saotome seems like the sort of teacher who would throw a bucket of water over your head to wake you up.â€
The thought that Nabiki might see a wet patch on the bed and think that it was an accident rather than a harsh wake-up call was enough to get Akane out of bed and into her gi.
She had just finished tying the belt when her father knocked on the door.
“Akane, are you awake?â€
“I’m up, Daddy. I’ll be right down.â€
“I’ll see you in the dojo,†the widower said. His voice was tired, but filled with pride at the thought that his daughter was taking her martial arts seriously.
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Soun wasn’t surprised to hear Ranma snoring in the dojo, given that the boy’s father practically rattled the windows with his own breathing. However, it was the amplification factor of Ranma’s ursine form that had caught him unawares.
“Ranma, it’s time to get up,†he said, fighting off a shiver in the chilly training room. He was soon joined by Genma and Akane. “Saotome-kun, I thought Ranma took his training seriously.â€
“Don’t worry about the boy, Tendo-kun,†Genma said as he started to stretch. “He’ll wake up soon enough.â€
The moustachioed man was sceptical, but he could certainly see the wisdom in not trying to shake a bear awake. “They say to let sleeping dogs lie, but I’m sure that it also applies to bears.â€
“Quite,†Akane said as she started her warm up exercises.
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About five minutes later, the sounds and smell of sweat were strong enough to wake Ranma up. He slowly lifted his head and opened up one eye to see what all the commotion was about.
‘They’re training Akane? Oh yeah, they said that they were going to do that.’
Ranma let out a loud yawn, causing everyone to flinch in fear. When he noticed everyone’s reaction, the bear rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Standing on his hind legs, Ranma stretched out his arms. He beckoned his father to start sparring with him.
Genma realised that this would be a good lesson for Akane to watch and fell into a standard Anything Goes stance.
“In your own time, Ranma.â€
Rushing forward with a shoulder charge, the bear surprised everyone with his speed. It was only years of experience that allowed Genma to dodge the attack.
But it was the follow-up punch to solar plexus made a normally immovable object fly backwards like a bad arcade fighting game.
Ranma turned to the Tendos and gave them a questioning look.
“No-no-no-no-no!†Akane insisted, backing away from the bear. “We don’t want to fight you!â€
The bear nodded its approval, glad that the need for violence was now over. He returned to his corner and went back to sleep.
Akane turned to her father. “What now?â€
“I don’t know,†the moustachioed man admitted. He splashed some of his cold water onto the stunned form of Genma and asked him what he thought was the best course of action.
The balding man shook his head. “I think that we were too ambitious with our intensive training plan. After all, Tendo-kun, you and your daughter are not used to strenuous physical exercise this early in the morning. Perhaps we would be better off starting with a lengthy run this morning?â€
“Yes, I think we can get a few kilometres in before breakfast,†Soun nodded in approval. “And that way, we don’t risk disturbing the others.â€
Everyone cast a glance towards the sleeping bear and decided that discretion was the better part of valour before quietly exiting the dojo.
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A short while later, Shampoo entered the dojo with a flask of hot water.
“Ranma?â€
She was greeted by the sight of Ranma sleeping in the corner of the dojo. She was tempted to stroke the bear’s soft looking black fur, but managed to stop herself before tempting fate.
She knew that the part-time bear had suffered from some unspecified psychological trauma that occasionally caused night terrors. When surprised, he was prone to lashing out in defence.
Genma had sustained several nasty looking wound after such an event.
Though what had surprised Shampoo when that had happened, was that she’d felt protected by Ranma, despite being close enough to end up as his next meal.
The purple-haired girl poured some of the hot water over Ranma’s head, turning him from a large, black and white bear to a shirtless, muscular young man.
Involuntarily, Shampoo found herself licking her lips. “Ranma...â€
“Yeah, yeah, I’m getting up now, Shampoo,†Ranma said, shaking some of the water out of his hair.
“Where is everyone?â€
“Pops, Akane and Mr. Tendo were here earlier, but they must have left after I went back to sleep. Anyway, what’s the plan for today’s training?â€
The Amazon was proud of the fact that she managed to keep her first response of ‘how about we wrestle?’ to herself. “Nothing too physical, we’ve got our first day of school later.â€
“Oh man, it just gets worse for me today. First, Pops wakes me up and now, I’ve got to go to school. At this rate, I’ll probably end up having to sit in my classes as a bear,†Ranma sighed. “Then they’ll send me outside in the halls for not being able to answer any questions.â€
“What if I could teach you a way to communicate as a bear?†Shampoo hinted.
“You can do that?†the part-time bear asked, intrigued by the advantage this would give him. ‘Being able to tell people what’s wrong without them being scared would be great!’
“I can, but it might take a while.â€
“What does it involve?â€
“Signs. So you might need to practice your handwriting and spelling.â€
“Signs? I think I can write as a bear, but where am I going to get a sign from? Plus, I’ll be forever cleaning it and starting again.â€
Shampoo smirked as she pulled out a practice sword from nowhere. “You’re not seeing the big picture, Ranma.â€
Ranma’s eyes widened. If he was reading this right, Shampoo would teach him the ability to pull items out of thin air. And even if he did find a cure for being a bear half the time, he’d certainly always be able to find a use for such a technique.
“Of course, I can’t be expected to reveal such a time-honoured technique for nothing,†Shampoo teased. “What would it be worth to you?â€
The cursed martial artist rubbed his chin. “I... Are you doing anything this weekend? I thought that it might be nice to go out on a date...â€
‘Finally!’ the Amazon mentally cheered. ‘He’s getting it!’ “Well, I think that I can find some free time this weekend. But only if that’s a concrete offer!â€
“It’s a promise, Shampoo. I’ll take you out this weekend,†Ranma said, his voice filled with sincerity.
“Well, in that case, here’s what you need to do,†Shampoo said.
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Genma and Akane looked over their shoulders to see that Soun was lagging behind.
“What’s up, Tendo-kun? Do you need us to take you to a doctor?â€
Soun bristled at his training partner’s comment, taking it to be one of their master’s sarcastic training methods.
“I’ll finish this run!†the long-haired man shot back.
Akane looked concerned for her father’s wellbeing. “Daddy, are you sure about this? We can take a break if you need to.â€
It was then that Soun realised that Genma was still in his cursed form and it wasn’t sarcasm, but genuine concern. “I... I think we should all take a water break. No sense in dehydrating ourselves.â€
The trio slowed down to a halt and started to drink their water.
“How far have we run?†Akane asked between gulps of water.
“About eight kilometres,†Genma answered. Despite his bulk, he was the least winded of the three. “It took us longer than planned, but if we head back now, we can make it in time for breakfast and a shower before we start the next phase.â€
“Next phase?†Soun asked.
“What about school?†Akane asked.
“Well, obviously you’ll be going to school with Ranma and Shampoo, Akane,†the balding man replied. “As for the next phase of the training, well, Tendo-kun, if you hope to be a good example to your daughter, you’ll need to pick up the pace in your training.â€
“But my training days are over...†the moustachioed man protested weakly.
“I thought that your dreams of securing the legacy of the Tendo Dojo were made of sterner stuff, Tendo-kun,†Genma said, shaking his head sadly. “If you can’t train your daughter, then why would anyone want to be trained by your daughter?â€
“...†Akane felt conflicted. Her father had been insulted, but Mr. Saotome had a good point.
“Plus, Akane needs to make sure that she can beat Shampoo in the rematch, what better motivation for that than to see her father go through the same hardships?â€
“... Saotome-kun, I apologise. I had forgotten that you could be so wise, this would secure the legacy of the dojo and strengthen the bond between father and daughter,†Soun replied, his eyes filling with manly tears. “I will train with you, Akane and we will succeed in securing our legacy!â€
Akane blinked. ‘Wow, Mr Saotome’s good...’ “Yes, Daddy, we’ll do this together!â€
“Excellent. But first, we need to get back in time for breakfast.â€
@@@@@
At the breakfast table, there was a multitude of different feelings for the different diners.
Soun and Akane were tired, but enthused about the idea of bonding with over training.
Ranma was happy that he’d learned something new that would make things easier for him at school.
Shampoo was happy that she’d been able to get Ranma to promise a date with her that weekend. ‘Ranma doesn’t make many promises, but those he does, he sweats blood to keep.’
Nabiki was plotting. She’d made her feelings known about the presence of Ranma and his scary alter-ego, but that didn’t seem to convince the others in her family. No, she would require outside help for this task.
Kasumi was feeling slightly more appreciated by people, thanks to Ranma and Shampoo’s interactions with her. Sure, everyone was polite to Kasumi Tendo, but she needed something more than polite conversation about vegetables and laundry detergent.
The running joke that Kasumi was actually a super-villain allowed her a small measure of escapism that made her daily grind bearable.
And Genma was enjoying the food. He liked food.
@@@@@
To be continued...
Post corrections/comments, for tomorrow, I shall upload to FF.net.
@@@@@
Exit, Pursued by a Bear
By Lord Raa
@@@@@
Disclaim-me-do: Entropy always increases.
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Part 4
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At dinner, Soun cleared his throat. When he had everyone’s attention, he made an announcement.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say that Ranma will be attending Furinkan with Akane and Nabiki,†the moustachioed man said with a smile on his face.
“What? You mean I have to go to school with that monster?†the middle Tendo sister demanded, pointing angrily at Ranma.
“Monster?†the part-time bear repeated, clearly upset by Nabiki’s tone.
“You turn into a bear! What else am I supposed to call you?†Nabiki asked.
“You could call him ‘Ranma’, you know, his name,†Shampoo replied, glaring angrily at Nabiki.
“He’s dangerous and I don’t want him in the house!â€
Akane might not have liked the idea of a boy staying in the house, but she couldn’t help but feel that her sister was being a bit unreasonable.
“Then he’ll live in the dojo,†Soun replied, hoping to sound like he’d come up with a wise solution to the problem.
“What about bathing?†Ranma asked, rightly feeling put out by the apparent restrictions being put on him.
“They hose down animals at the zoo, don’t they?†the mercenary girl sniped.
“Cold water comes out of hoses. Cold water turns Ranma into a bear,†Shampoo countered, pointing out the idiocy of Nabiki’s irrational suggestion.
“Err… yeah,†Akane nodded. “You say you’re scared of bears, but you want to keep Ranma as a bear? That makes no sense.â€
“What makes no sense is that you suddenly changed your tune and now you want a boy to stay with us,†Nabiki shot back, becoming flustered at the situation. “You love Ranma or something?â€
Soun blinked, having watched the conversation bounce back and forth between the girls at the table. “Wait, what? Akane, are you willing to get married to Ranma now?â€
“She seems to be sticking up for him now…†the middle sister smirked as she left the table.
“Hey!†the Tendo heir shouted. “Nobody said anything about getting married to Ranma!â€
“Speak for yourself,†Shampoo replied. “I’m quite happy to get married to Ranma.â€
“Well, yes, we know that, Shampoo,†Genma said, smiling patronisingly.
Kasumi finished eating and placed her bowl and chopsticks down on the table. “I’ve just had a thought.â€
“Oh?†Ranma asked, curious as to what Kasumi could be thinking.
“Well, what if we adopted Shampoo into the Tendo family? She could then marry Ranma without any problems.â€
“But what about the dojo?†Soun asked.
“Hmm, I hadn’t thought about that,†the homemaker admitted. “But why are you so concerned about the dojo now? You didn’t seem this bothered last month.â€
“Well… the thing is…†the moustachioed man stalled as he tried to word his response as something other than ‘it’s to avoid a massive tax bill’. He looked towards his old training partner for help.
Genma nodded in acknowledgment before responding. “Is it so wrong for a man to want to see his children get the best out of life? To be able to help them out with his years of experience should they need it? What parent wouldn’t want to see his children make a success of the family business?â€
“You make a compelling argument, Pops,†Ranma said, theatrically wiping away an imaginary tear. “But you’re still hiding something from us. How can we agree to such a proposal without the proper risk analysis?â€
“Wha-?†the balding man was cut off by the splash of cold water hitting him in the face.
“What about the risk analysis?†the part time bear repeated. “You want us to take over the dojo, but you won’t tell us why it’s suddenly so urgent. Mr. Tendo didn’t care about it a month ago, yet when I arrive, suddenly it’s the most important thing in the world. Why? Are people going to come looking to claim the dojo as their own?â€
“Or worse, us?†Akane asked, recalling how the engagement with Ranma had surprised her and her sisters.
“You’re right, Ranma,†Genma nodded as his cursed form considered the implications of threats of force. “Tendo-kun, we must look at the risks of forcing one of your daughters to marry Ranma just to avoid the inheritance tax on the home and dojo.â€
“Yes, you look at those risks,†Ranma said as Soun winced at his friend’s words. “We’ll help clear the table.â€
@@@@@
After the table was cleared, Ranma decided that is was time for his evening practice in the dojo. Shampoo had opted to join him, taking the opportunity to join in the balance practice. It wasn’t that the Tendos had made her feel unwelcome, but there was something about the sisters that gave her pause.
Nabiki’s random outbursts and rants about how Ranma was a monster and a danger to everyone were getting to be tiresome.
Akane didn’t hate Ranma or at least, she tolerated him and his curse. Not that it meant that the youngest Tendo was enthusiastic about the prospect of being engaged to him, but Shampoo suspected that Akane’s reluctance was more to do with her father’s surprise announcement.
The one who seemed to be warmest towards Ranma was the eldest, Kasumi. Though they had only been at the Tendo home for a mere day, it was clear that it was Kasumi that looked after things. So perhaps she was just being a good host?
Shampoo took a break from standing on a thin strip of wood that had been raised off the floor, as she looked around she spotted Kasumi standing in the doorway with a tray of teacups.
The brunette was staring at the way Ranma had been doing one-handed push-ups in the handstand position.
The Amazon also noticed that Kasumi’s face seemed a bit redder than normal.
“Is everything alright?â€
“I... yes, it’s just the steam from the tea,†the homemaker insisted weakly. “I thought that you might like some refreshment.â€
“Thank you,†Ranma said, flipping himself onto his feet. He approached Kasumi and bowed politely before taking the cup nearest to him. “Wait a minute, is this tea...?â€
Shampoo froze, holding her cup centimetres from her lips. She looked questioningly at the object of her affection. “What about the tea?â€
Kasumi’s expression turned to one of horror at the implication that it was anything less than her usual standard. After a moment, the mischievous twinkle in the part-time bear’s eyes made her realise that Ranma was making a reference to a joke he made earlier.
“Please, Mr. Saotome,†the brunette said, trying to calm her flustered voice. “If I wanted you out of the way, do you really think we would be standing here talking?â€
Ranma let out a chuckle. “I guess not, Kasumi Tendo. Or should I say ‘Mistress Terror’?â€
“Oh-ho-ho-ho,†Kasumi laughed daintily in reply. “Just because you know my codename, do not think that you know all of my plans. Now, continue your practice. I would hate for your inevitable demise to be boring.â€
“Very well, Mistress Terror. Come on Shampoo, it’s time to put on a display that will impress our host here.â€
Shampoo nodded as she handed her teacup back to Kasumi.
The two martial artists worked through a complicated pattern of kicks and punches against invisible enemies as Kasumi looked on.
The homemaker seemed to approve of the skill that was on display. Or at least, she seemed to approve of the way Ranma’s musculature flexed as he twisted and turned during his battle against imaginary fighters.
@@@@@
In her room, Nabiki was angrily plotting to be rid of the troublesome Saotomes. Shampoo wasn’t so bad, though she seemed a little unsophisticated compared to her peers.
‘Maybe she’s from a small village in the middle of nowhere?’ the short-haired Tendo mused. ‘Not that it matters. If I can get rid of Ranma, she’ll follow him.’
Given the nature of the Jusenkyo curse, it was unlikely that she could guarantee that Ranma would be in his bear form long enough for anyone to take him seriously as a threat. She knew that the moment she called for help, Ranma would get some hot water and turn back into his normal body, making her look foolish or crazy.
No, Ranma’s curse would require independent verification from a reliable source.
‘Perhaps Doctor Tofu could be of help?’
@@@@@
Soun and Genma sat opposite each other at the go board.
“Saotome-kun, this is a troubling situation,†the long haired man said solemnly.
“I know, Tendo-kun. I can understand your desire to ensure the Tendo family legacy.†The portly man placed a piece on the board. “I believe that move wins me the game.â€
“How did you?†Soun asked, unsure of how he’d managed to lose the game so rapidly. He shook his head in an attempt to focus on the issue at hand. “Yes, we need to explain to our children the importance of this union.â€
Genma closed his eyes as he pondered the situation. “Nabiki has already made it clear that she wants nothing to do with Ranma. But all is not lost since you have two other daughters. However...â€
“What do you mean ‘however’?â€
“It will take some time to train Akane to the point where she can defeat Shampoo in combat.â€
“Yes, I fear that I might have been too soft when it comes to her training,†the widow lamented.
“That said,†Genma mused, “the elders in Shampoo’s village know that there’s more to being a wife than just being able to fight.â€
“What do you mean, Saotome-kun?â€
“Shampoo is here to prove that she’s the best candidate for Ranma’s hand in marriage. There are two things that are important to in Shampoo’s village – martial prowess and the ability to run a home. Akane is the best option for fighting; Kasumi already does the cooking here.â€
“You mean Kasumi would take part in cooking challenges?†Soun asked. He looked off into the distance and his mouth started to water at the prospect of Kasumi pulling out all the stops with her cooking. “... I think that we must go with this two-pronged plan, Saotome-kun.â€
“I agree, Tendo-kun. At the very least, it will buy us the time we need to get Akane in a position to challenge Shampoo.â€
@@@@@
Akane had just finished reading her magazine. She glanced at her clock and realised that if she wanted to get a good night’s sleep before her training session with Genma Saotome, it was time for her to turn in.
“I wonder if Saotome-san and Daddy always had to get up this early when they were training?†she pondered aloud as she set her alarm for 5:30.
It had been a while since Akane had gotten up that early herself, and that was for a school trip. As she prepared her gi and school uniform for the next day she realised that she needed to clean her teeth.
Leaving her room, she was surprised to see Nabiki skulking around.
“Is something wrong, Nabiki?â€
“I’m just making sure Ranma isn’t around here.â€
“By pretending to be a burglar?â€
“No,†the short-haired Tendo replied, clearly infuriated by her sister’s inability to see the real threat. “I have to keep an eye out for him.â€
“And you can’t do this by walking around normally?â€
“No!†Nabiki replied. “Because he’s a bear! He’ll try to eat me if I disturb him!â€
Akane let out a sigh. There were good reasons to not want Ranma in the house – he was a boy; their fathers wanted them to get married, so who knew what kind of stunts would be pulled. But the way Nabiki was acting, you’d think Ranma was a demon-bear unleashed from the deepest pits of Hell.
Sure, turning into a bear when splashed with cold water was weird, but if you were polite to Ranma, he was polite back. It was only when you started to antagonise him that he went out of his way to be mean.
“Alright, Nabiki, continue to sneak around like a burglar. I’ve got to brush my teeth and go to bed. Some of us have to get up at 5:30.â€
The middle sister remembered why Akane and her father were going to be up at that ungodly hour and shuddered. “Why would you want to be up at 5:30 in the morning when you could be asleep in a nice warm bed?â€
“Because if you want to get better at something, you have to make sacrifices. If I don’t put in the effort, I can’t improve as a martial artist.â€
@@@@@
Kasumi was surprised to see her father approach her just as she was going to turn in.
“Ah, Kasumi, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.â€
“Oh, what’s that, Father?â€
“Well, it’s about the legacy of the Tendo dojo,†the moustachioed man said. It took most of his strength to maintain his facade of wisdom and authority.
Kasumi nodded. She knew that the dojo meant a great deal to her father, even though he had no current paying students. “What can I do to help, Father?â€
“Well, it’s about Shampoo and her challenge...â€
“I can’t interfere with a matter of honour, Father, it wouldn’t be right,†the homemaker insisted sternly.
“I would never dream of asking you to do anything improper, Kasumi,†Soun replied, aghast at the implication of skulduggery.
“Then what did you mean?â€
“I... Well, there’s more to running a dojo than just being a skilled martial artist. While Akane is a skilled martial artist...â€
Kasumi nodded, knowing full well what her father was alluding to. It was in Akane’s nature to try hard in everything she did. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm often got the better of her and she didn’t always pay attention to what she was doing and her cooking was... not good, to put it politely.
“So you want me to challenge Shampoo to the domestic aspects?â€
“Yes,†the long-haired man nodded happily. “It would also give us a chance to step up Akane’s training.â€
Kasumi nodded again, the match earlier had shown just how badly outclassed Akane had been by Shampoo. And Ranma had been even more impressive, even as a bear.
@@@@@
It was just turning light when Akane’s alarm clock went off. She had deliberately set it a few minutes before 5:30 just so she wouldn’t be taken completely unaware by her father and Genma’s wake up call.
Her bed was warm, much warmer than her room. In fact, it was just cosy enough to make the Tendo heir understand why Nabiki hated mornings so much.
“Do I really have to get up?†she asked herself rhetorically. “Well, you really should if you want to be ready for your training.â€
After the deep breaths to steel herself failed to give her the motivation necessary to get out of bed, a thought occurred to Akane.
“Mister Saotome seems like the sort of teacher who would throw a bucket of water over your head to wake you up.â€
The thought that Nabiki might see a wet patch on the bed and think that it was an accident rather than a harsh wake-up call was enough to get Akane out of bed and into her gi.
She had just finished tying the belt when her father knocked on the door.
“Akane, are you awake?â€
“I’m up, Daddy. I’ll be right down.â€
“I’ll see you in the dojo,†the widower said. His voice was tired, but filled with pride at the thought that his daughter was taking her martial arts seriously.
@@@@@
Soun wasn’t surprised to hear Ranma snoring in the dojo, given that the boy’s father practically rattled the windows with his own breathing. However, it was the amplification factor of Ranma’s ursine form that had caught him unawares.
“Ranma, it’s time to get up,†he said, fighting off a shiver in the chilly training room. He was soon joined by Genma and Akane. “Saotome-kun, I thought Ranma took his training seriously.â€
“Don’t worry about the boy, Tendo-kun,†Genma said as he started to stretch. “He’ll wake up soon enough.â€
The moustachioed man was sceptical, but he could certainly see the wisdom in not trying to shake a bear awake. “They say to let sleeping dogs lie, but I’m sure that it also applies to bears.â€
“Quite,†Akane said as she started her warm up exercises.
@@@@@
About five minutes later, the sounds and smell of sweat were strong enough to wake Ranma up. He slowly lifted his head and opened up one eye to see what all the commotion was about.
‘They’re training Akane? Oh yeah, they said that they were going to do that.’
Ranma let out a loud yawn, causing everyone to flinch in fear. When he noticed everyone’s reaction, the bear rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Standing on his hind legs, Ranma stretched out his arms. He beckoned his father to start sparring with him.
Genma realised that this would be a good lesson for Akane to watch and fell into a standard Anything Goes stance.
“In your own time, Ranma.â€
Rushing forward with a shoulder charge, the bear surprised everyone with his speed. It was only years of experience that allowed Genma to dodge the attack.
But it was the follow-up punch to solar plexus made a normally immovable object fly backwards like a bad arcade fighting game.
Ranma turned to the Tendos and gave them a questioning look.
“No-no-no-no-no!†Akane insisted, backing away from the bear. “We don’t want to fight you!â€
The bear nodded its approval, glad that the need for violence was now over. He returned to his corner and went back to sleep.
Akane turned to her father. “What now?â€
“I don’t know,†the moustachioed man admitted. He splashed some of his cold water onto the stunned form of Genma and asked him what he thought was the best course of action.
The balding man shook his head. “I think that we were too ambitious with our intensive training plan. After all, Tendo-kun, you and your daughter are not used to strenuous physical exercise this early in the morning. Perhaps we would be better off starting with a lengthy run this morning?â€
“Yes, I think we can get a few kilometres in before breakfast,†Soun nodded in approval. “And that way, we don’t risk disturbing the others.â€
Everyone cast a glance towards the sleeping bear and decided that discretion was the better part of valour before quietly exiting the dojo.
@@@@@
A short while later, Shampoo entered the dojo with a flask of hot water.
“Ranma?â€
She was greeted by the sight of Ranma sleeping in the corner of the dojo. She was tempted to stroke the bear’s soft looking black fur, but managed to stop herself before tempting fate.
She knew that the part-time bear had suffered from some unspecified psychological trauma that occasionally caused night terrors. When surprised, he was prone to lashing out in defence.
Genma had sustained several nasty looking wound after such an event.
Though what had surprised Shampoo when that had happened, was that she’d felt protected by Ranma, despite being close enough to end up as his next meal.
The purple-haired girl poured some of the hot water over Ranma’s head, turning him from a large, black and white bear to a shirtless, muscular young man.
Involuntarily, Shampoo found herself licking her lips. “Ranma...â€
“Yeah, yeah, I’m getting up now, Shampoo,†Ranma said, shaking some of the water out of his hair.
“Where is everyone?â€
“Pops, Akane and Mr. Tendo were here earlier, but they must have left after I went back to sleep. Anyway, what’s the plan for today’s training?â€
The Amazon was proud of the fact that she managed to keep her first response of ‘how about we wrestle?’ to herself. “Nothing too physical, we’ve got our first day of school later.â€
“Oh man, it just gets worse for me today. First, Pops wakes me up and now, I’ve got to go to school. At this rate, I’ll probably end up having to sit in my classes as a bear,†Ranma sighed. “Then they’ll send me outside in the halls for not being able to answer any questions.â€
“What if I could teach you a way to communicate as a bear?†Shampoo hinted.
“You can do that?†the part-time bear asked, intrigued by the advantage this would give him. ‘Being able to tell people what’s wrong without them being scared would be great!’
“I can, but it might take a while.â€
“What does it involve?â€
“Signs. So you might need to practice your handwriting and spelling.â€
“Signs? I think I can write as a bear, but where am I going to get a sign from? Plus, I’ll be forever cleaning it and starting again.â€
Shampoo smirked as she pulled out a practice sword from nowhere. “You’re not seeing the big picture, Ranma.â€
Ranma’s eyes widened. If he was reading this right, Shampoo would teach him the ability to pull items out of thin air. And even if he did find a cure for being a bear half the time, he’d certainly always be able to find a use for such a technique.
“Of course, I can’t be expected to reveal such a time-honoured technique for nothing,†Shampoo teased. “What would it be worth to you?â€
The cursed martial artist rubbed his chin. “I... Are you doing anything this weekend? I thought that it might be nice to go out on a date...â€
‘Finally!’ the Amazon mentally cheered. ‘He’s getting it!’ “Well, I think that I can find some free time this weekend. But only if that’s a concrete offer!â€
“It’s a promise, Shampoo. I’ll take you out this weekend,†Ranma said, his voice filled with sincerity.
“Well, in that case, here’s what you need to do,†Shampoo said.
@@@@@
Genma and Akane looked over their shoulders to see that Soun was lagging behind.
“What’s up, Tendo-kun? Do you need us to take you to a doctor?â€
Soun bristled at his training partner’s comment, taking it to be one of their master’s sarcastic training methods.
“I’ll finish this run!†the long-haired man shot back.
Akane looked concerned for her father’s wellbeing. “Daddy, are you sure about this? We can take a break if you need to.â€
It was then that Soun realised that Genma was still in his cursed form and it wasn’t sarcasm, but genuine concern. “I... I think we should all take a water break. No sense in dehydrating ourselves.â€
The trio slowed down to a halt and started to drink their water.
“How far have we run?†Akane asked between gulps of water.
“About eight kilometres,†Genma answered. Despite his bulk, he was the least winded of the three. “It took us longer than planned, but if we head back now, we can make it in time for breakfast and a shower before we start the next phase.â€
“Next phase?†Soun asked.
“What about school?†Akane asked.
“Well, obviously you’ll be going to school with Ranma and Shampoo, Akane,†the balding man replied. “As for the next phase of the training, well, Tendo-kun, if you hope to be a good example to your daughter, you’ll need to pick up the pace in your training.â€
“But my training days are over...†the moustachioed man protested weakly.
“I thought that your dreams of securing the legacy of the Tendo Dojo were made of sterner stuff, Tendo-kun,†Genma said, shaking his head sadly. “If you can’t train your daughter, then why would anyone want to be trained by your daughter?â€
“...†Akane felt conflicted. Her father had been insulted, but Mr. Saotome had a good point.
“Plus, Akane needs to make sure that she can beat Shampoo in the rematch, what better motivation for that than to see her father go through the same hardships?â€
“... Saotome-kun, I apologise. I had forgotten that you could be so wise, this would secure the legacy of the dojo and strengthen the bond between father and daughter,†Soun replied, his eyes filling with manly tears. “I will train with you, Akane and we will succeed in securing our legacy!â€
Akane blinked. ‘Wow, Mr Saotome’s good...’ “Yes, Daddy, we’ll do this together!â€
“Excellent. But first, we need to get back in time for breakfast.â€
@@@@@
At the breakfast table, there was a multitude of different feelings for the different diners.
Soun and Akane were tired, but enthused about the idea of bonding with over training.
Ranma was happy that he’d learned something new that would make things easier for him at school.
Shampoo was happy that she’d been able to get Ranma to promise a date with her that weekend. ‘Ranma doesn’t make many promises, but those he does, he sweats blood to keep.’
Nabiki was plotting. She’d made her feelings known about the presence of Ranma and his scary alter-ego, but that didn’t seem to convince the others in her family. No, she would require outside help for this task.
Kasumi was feeling slightly more appreciated by people, thanks to Ranma and Shampoo’s interactions with her. Sure, everyone was polite to Kasumi Tendo, but she needed something more than polite conversation about vegetables and laundry detergent.
The running joke that Kasumi was actually a super-villain allowed her a small measure of escapism that made her daily grind bearable.
And Genma was enjoying the food. He liked food.
@@@@@
To be continued...
Also, more.
Because I was able to write today.
@@@@@Exit, Pursued by a Bear
By Lord Raa
@@@@@
Disclaim-me-do: Real life rarely fails to disappoint.
@@@@@
Part 5
@@@@@
Nabiki had left ahead of Akane, Ranma and Shampoo, claiming to need to attend to some unspecified business.
Akane shrugged and apologised for her sister. “She’s not normally that rude.â€
“If she doesn’t want to be around Ranma, that’s her loss,†Shampoo replied. While Nabiki hadn’t been as rude to her as she’d been towards Ranma, she didn’t like the middle sister for her irrational hatred of the part-time bear.
Kasumi nodded in agreement with Shampoo as she handed out lunches to everyone. “Perhaps she just needs to talk to her friends about Father’s plan?â€
“Maybe,†Ranma shrugged. “She seems like the sort of person who’ll do what she wants, regardless of what we say to her. It’ll probably be easier if we leave her alone.â€
“That’s a mature attitude to take, Ranma-kun,†Kasumi smiled in approval.
“Well, not all of us have experience with ‘enhanced techniques for convincing people,’†the part-time bear winked playfully.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,†the homemaker said, though the smile on her lips told another story.
“What am I missing here?†Akane asked confused about the banter being exchanged.
“We think that Kasumi is a super-villain,†Shampoo explained. “Isn’t that right, Mistress Terror?â€
“You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment,†Kasumi retorted, struggling to keep a sincere expression on her face.
“A super-villain? Like in a James Bond movie?â€
“We’re not entirely sure,†Ranma answered. “After all, ‘Mistress Terror’ hasn’t issued any demands or manifestoes.â€
“Kasumi a super-villain called Mistress Terror?†Akane repeated before laughing. “I don’t know what’s funnier, the fact that you think that Kasumi could be a super-villain or the fact that it’s the perfect cover.â€
“Does that mean you don’t want a job as my head of security, Akane?†Kasumi asked, her eyes filled with mirth.
“What are the perks of the job?â€
“Excellent catering, health insurance and the chance to punch idiots like Kuno,†Ranma smiled.
“In that case, I’m in,†Akane laughed. “Come on, we need to get going or we’re going to be late for school.â€
@@@@@
Because I was able to write today.
@@@@@Exit, Pursued by a Bear
By Lord Raa
@@@@@
Disclaim-me-do: Real life rarely fails to disappoint.
@@@@@
Part 5
@@@@@
Nabiki had left ahead of Akane, Ranma and Shampoo, claiming to need to attend to some unspecified business.
Akane shrugged and apologised for her sister. “She’s not normally that rude.â€
“If she doesn’t want to be around Ranma, that’s her loss,†Shampoo replied. While Nabiki hadn’t been as rude to her as she’d been towards Ranma, she didn’t like the middle sister for her irrational hatred of the part-time bear.
Kasumi nodded in agreement with Shampoo as she handed out lunches to everyone. “Perhaps she just needs to talk to her friends about Father’s plan?â€
“Maybe,†Ranma shrugged. “She seems like the sort of person who’ll do what she wants, regardless of what we say to her. It’ll probably be easier if we leave her alone.â€
“That’s a mature attitude to take, Ranma-kun,†Kasumi smiled in approval.
“Well, not all of us have experience with ‘enhanced techniques for convincing people,’†the part-time bear winked playfully.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,†the homemaker said, though the smile on her lips told another story.
“What am I missing here?†Akane asked confused about the banter being exchanged.
“We think that Kasumi is a super-villain,†Shampoo explained. “Isn’t that right, Mistress Terror?â€
“You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment,†Kasumi retorted, struggling to keep a sincere expression on her face.
“A super-villain? Like in a James Bond movie?â€
“We’re not entirely sure,†Ranma answered. “After all, ‘Mistress Terror’ hasn’t issued any demands or manifestoes.â€
“Kasumi a super-villain called Mistress Terror?†Akane repeated before laughing. “I don’t know what’s funnier, the fact that you think that Kasumi could be a super-villain or the fact that it’s the perfect cover.â€
“Does that mean you don’t want a job as my head of security, Akane?†Kasumi asked, her eyes filled with mirth.
“What are the perks of the job?â€
“Excellent catering, health insurance and the chance to punch idiots like Kuno,†Ranma smiled.
“In that case, I’m in,†Akane laughed. “Come on, we need to get going or we’re going to be late for school.â€
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At Furinkan, Nabiki approached Tatewaki Kuno with a serious look on her face.
“Kuno, I need to talk to you about Akane.â€
“What about my fierce tigress?†the kendoist asked, interrupting his practice swings.
“There’s something you need to know about her. You might remember that there was talk of her being engaged to someone?â€
“Yes, I recall someone mentioning something along those lines,†Kuno nodded. “Truly an unfortunate piece of news, but I am sure that the heavens will see that this suitor will drop his claim.â€
Nabiki grit her teeth rather than let out some sarcasm. “Well, it seems that this suitor will be attending Furinkan. He’s called Ranma, he’s got long black hair and he knows martial arts. If you can defeat him in combat, then Akane will surely see that you’re the only person strong enough to protect her.â€
“Yes, you speak a profound truth, Nabiki Tendo. Is there anything else I should know about this ‘Ranma’ fellow?â€
“He’s called Ranma Saotome, you’ll recognise him from his arrogant swagger. He thinks he’s some kind of martial arts god.â€
“To compare one’s skill to those of the gods themselves is truly arrogant. It is my divine duty to put him in his place,†Kuno frowned, completely missing the irony in his words.
The conversation was curtailed by the arrival of Akane, Ranma and Shampoo causing the crowd of boys to form up and begin their twisted courting ritual.
Nabiki took this opportunity to get to her classroom.
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At Furinkan, Nabiki approached Tatewaki Kuno with a serious look on her face.
“Kuno, I need to talk to you about Akane.â€
“What about my fierce tigress?†the kendoist asked, interrupting his practice swings.
“There’s something you need to know about her. You might remember that there was talk of her being engaged to someone?â€
“Yes, I recall someone mentioning something along those lines,†Kuno nodded. “Truly an unfortunate piece of news, but I am sure that the heavens will see that this suitor will drop his claim.â€
Nabiki grit her teeth rather than let out some sarcasm. “Well, it seems that this suitor will be attending Furinkan. He’s called Ranma, he’s got long black hair and he knows martial arts. If you can defeat him in combat, then Akane will surely see that you’re the only person strong enough to protect her.â€
“Yes, you speak a profound truth, Nabiki Tendo. Is there anything else I should know about this ‘Ranma’ fellow?â€
“He’s called Ranma Saotome, you’ll recognise him from his arrogant swagger. He thinks he’s some kind of martial arts god.â€
“To compare one’s skill to those of the gods themselves is truly arrogant. It is my divine duty to put him in his place,†Kuno frowned, completely missing the irony in his words.
The conversation was curtailed by the arrival of Akane, Ranma and Shampoo causing the crowd of boys to form up and begin their twisted courting ritual.
Nabiki took this opportunity to get to her classroom.
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Four-hit combo?
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As Ranma, Akane and Shampoo approached the gate to Furinkan, Akane started to look annoyed.
“Something wrong, Akane?†Shampoo asked.
“There’s something I forgot to mention about school.â€
A crowd of boys surged forward out of the gates, all them with strange looks on their faces.
“Akane Tendo, accept my love!â€
“Akane Tendo, please go out with me!â€
Ranma and Shampoo turned to face each other. “Are they doing what I think they’re doing?â€
“I think so...â€
Then came the violence as Akane defended herself from the horde of horny idiots.
“Shampoo, I don’t mean to be mean, but have any of your tribe been to Nerima before?â€
“No,†Shampoo insisted. “At least, I don’t think so.â€
After Akane quickly dealt with the horde, Kuno dramatically revealed himself.
“Truly such a boorish lot,†the kendoist sighed theatrically. “My dear Akane Tendo, I have heard some troubling news.â€
“What news would that be, Kuno-sempai?†Akane asked, breathing hard after her melee.
“That there is a man who dares to think that he may court you, that he thinks himself worthy of your hand.â€
“Really? And who would that be?†Ranma asked having walked through the school gate with Shampoo at his side.
“I was talking to Akane Tendo, not you,†the kendoist scowled. “Just who do you think you are interrupting a sacred ritual?â€
“I’m-â€
“Is it now good form to announce oneself? I am a Tatewaki Kuno, also known as the Blue Thunder of Furinkan, rising star of the kendo community.â€
“Oh yeah, I remember you from yesterday. I’m Ranma Saotome, heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes.â€
“Ranma Saotome?†Kuno repeat, his expression turning dark. “I’ve heard about you.â€
“Oh?†the pigtailed martial artist asked, curious as to what Kuno had heard about him.
“Yes, I’ve heard that you’re an arrogant fool, who thinks he’s an unbeatable martial artist with designs on Akane Tendo.â€
Akane blinked. “That describes you perfectly, Kuno-sempai.â€
“But the heavens smile upon my noble self,†Kuno insisted.
“Whatever, we’ve got to register for class. Come on, Shampoo, no point in being late on our first day,†Ranma said, dismissing Kuno.
Shampoo and Akane quickly joined Ranma and the trio walked into the main building.
Kuno blinked in surprise. “D-did you just dismiss the Blue Thunder of Furinkan?!â€
The kendoist raised his bokken and charged at Ranma, intent on punishing this insolent youth with the wrath of the heavens.
It was Shampoo that knocked Kuno unconscious with a swift roundhouse kick to the jaw. “Go away,†she chided.
“Such... fierceness...†Kuno thought before losing consciousness.
Looking down at the scene in the schoolyard, Nabiki frowned. ‘I thought Kuno was made of sterner stuff than that...’
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As Ranma, Akane and Shampoo approached the gate to Furinkan, Akane started to look annoyed.
“Something wrong, Akane?†Shampoo asked.
“There’s something I forgot to mention about school.â€
A crowd of boys surged forward out of the gates, all them with strange looks on their faces.
“Akane Tendo, accept my love!â€
“Akane Tendo, please go out with me!â€
Ranma and Shampoo turned to face each other. “Are they doing what I think they’re doing?â€
“I think so...â€
Then came the violence as Akane defended herself from the horde of horny idiots.
“Shampoo, I don’t mean to be mean, but have any of your tribe been to Nerima before?â€
“No,†Shampoo insisted. “At least, I don’t think so.â€
After Akane quickly dealt with the horde, Kuno dramatically revealed himself.
“Truly such a boorish lot,†the kendoist sighed theatrically. “My dear Akane Tendo, I have heard some troubling news.â€
“What news would that be, Kuno-sempai?†Akane asked, breathing hard after her melee.
“That there is a man who dares to think that he may court you, that he thinks himself worthy of your hand.â€
“Really? And who would that be?†Ranma asked having walked through the school gate with Shampoo at his side.
“I was talking to Akane Tendo, not you,†the kendoist scowled. “Just who do you think you are interrupting a sacred ritual?â€
“I’m-â€
“Is it now good form to announce oneself? I am a Tatewaki Kuno, also known as the Blue Thunder of Furinkan, rising star of the kendo community.â€
“Oh yeah, I remember you from yesterday. I’m Ranma Saotome, heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes.â€
“Ranma Saotome?†Kuno repeat, his expression turning dark. “I’ve heard about you.â€
“Oh?†the pigtailed martial artist asked, curious as to what Kuno had heard about him.
“Yes, I’ve heard that you’re an arrogant fool, who thinks he’s an unbeatable martial artist with designs on Akane Tendo.â€
Akane blinked. “That describes you perfectly, Kuno-sempai.â€
“But the heavens smile upon my noble self,†Kuno insisted.
“Whatever, we’ve got to register for class. Come on, Shampoo, no point in being late on our first day,†Ranma said, dismissing Kuno.
Shampoo and Akane quickly joined Ranma and the trio walked into the main building.
Kuno blinked in surprise. “D-did you just dismiss the Blue Thunder of Furinkan?!â€
The kendoist raised his bokken and charged at Ranma, intent on punishing this insolent youth with the wrath of the heavens.
It was Shampoo that knocked Kuno unconscious with a swift roundhouse kick to the jaw. “Go away,†she chided.
“Such... fierceness...†Kuno thought before losing consciousness.
Looking down at the scene in the schoolyard, Nabiki frowned. ‘I thought Kuno was made of sterner stuff than that...’
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