Stormfury said:
Remember, focus on Kasumi/Ranma cooking shenanigans, not references to other mangas that the vast majority of readers won't get anyway! (because who outside Japan even fucking read Yakitate! Japan?? I only know what it is from Kyon: Big Damn Hero)
I'm a little confused. You didn't like the one Yakitate reference I used? But I need it ;_;
That's the end of chapter one.
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Love at First Bite Chapter 2
By
ToastedPine
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æIÆve found her!Æ The thought entered him, filled him, and marinated his every cell in spicy jubilation.
As he watched the timid girlÆs shocked expression, he felt a tiny pang of guilt at performing the technique on her the way he had. On the other hand, she was right there! How could he resist sampling her to the fullest extent of his ability? Food was meant to be eaten, and talent appreciated.
Ranma, self-proclaimed gourmet of culinary skill, tried to adjust so that his voice was the most soothing possible, ôMy nameÆs Ranma, whatÆs yours?ö
ôKasumi,ö she blurted out, and then covered her mouth with her hand, then realized where the hand had been, and hurriedly held the offending limb as far from her as possible.
An overwhelming need to crawl into a hole struck him when he realized the implication of her actions, but he fought it down. This was an opportunity that wouldnÆt come in another million years.
For a wandering martial artist, these meetings were gossamer strands of spun sugar, plentiful yet evanescent, easily disappearing beneath the summer rains. Since as far back as he could remember, he and his father were always moving, never stopping anywhere for long enough to lay down roots. Ranma had met many people during his travels-- a lot of them with homes and families. There seemed to be a correlation between their ability and how much they took their lives for granted. For his art the pigtailed boy would sacrifice much.
It was lonely, but he had been fine up until now. The woman in front of him was perhaps different somehow. Of the hundreds of names and faces heÆd encountered, and the various places heÆd seen, he found in her something special. For the first time he felt as though heÆd met a potential peer, and with herà the possibility of a home.
ôKasumi,ö he sounded it out, rolling it around his tongue like a strawberry drop. Steeling his nerves, he took a long breath then called, ôMr. Tendo!ö
The man, who had been prone on the floor shedding buckets of tears from being at the receiving end of his youngest daughterÆs violence, was suddenly kneeling with back ramrod straight. ôY-yes, Ranma!ö
A paralyzing terror struck when he realized that he hadnÆt planned this far in advance. In his addled state, he arbitrarily decided that it was a good idea to say something to break the tension. His mind groped frantically for something to fulfill his intent, and bubbles of SounÆs words floated up from his subconscious. What was that about picking one of his daughters? An engagement?!
HeÆd only ever been friends with a handful of girls. How the heck was he supposed to jump from all the way to a fiancÚe? He looked at Kasumi once more. She was cute even when she was frazzled, and more importantly unattached. How long would things stay that way? No, Ranma Saotome would not hesitate. He grinned internally. If the early bird got the worm, then he fully intended to snap her up. Martialing his bravado, he said the first words that came to mind.
ôI choose this one.ö
Ironically, those words did nothing to break the tension.
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æThis one?Æ Those words hit like a spray of cold water. KasumiÆs right eye twitched. For a split second, she had seen his neck and imagined a dirty rag. Maybe if she wrung him out, sheÆd be able to extract some manners.
Unfortunately, that wouldnÆt be proper. The weight in her other hand caught her attention, a pitcher of barley tea.
æHe does look like he needs to cool off, and it would be impolite not to return the favoràÆ
ôNow why ever did I do that?ö Kasumi said aloud, blinking with wide innocent eyes. The sound of the tea as it hit the boyÆs face had been quite satisfying.
After the second or third blink, the blinking suddenly stopped, and her mouth went dry.
ôàoh my.ö