Ranma 1/2 is the property and invention of Rumiko Takahashi. The following story is not produced for any monetary or personal gain. Its sole purpose is to entertain using the characters and plots developed by Takahashi. ALL rights reserved
 |
Shadows of the Land
Volume II : Family Ties
|
Chapter 7: Summer blossoms
Akane Ten...Saotome woke up feeling slightly cold. Her arms moved around the futon and found nothing. Miffed, she opened her eyes, missing that warmth that had been next to her all night and most of the morning. She wondered if it was morning? She knew that at her insistence they had not gone to sleep until well into the morning. Akane was extremely happy to know that Ranma's excellent stamina transferred to other areas of his life also. Yes, she was happy, a bit miffed but exuding happiness. Now where had her errant husband gone and how dare he leave her in the tent all alone without a teddy bear to hug.
Yawning, she pulled off the sheet they had used and let the cool air refresh her. Still a bit sleepy she looked around and donned the nearest piece of clothing, which happened to be Ranma's black, dragon embroidered shirt. She smiled lovingly as she breathed in his fragrance. She pulled the sides of the shirt around her chest not caring to do the wooden ties. With a final yawn she stepped outside the tent.
Peeking, she found him easily enough near a small fire. She crept up on him but as soon as she was going to grab him, he spun around and handed her a plate of food.
"I was going to give you breakfast in bed," he smirked, "but you can have it now if you prefer."
Wordlessly, Akane ate. It still irked her that even now; Ranma could still cook a lot better that she could. Then she noticed that he was staring at her. Oh yes, she had forgotten to do the ties.
"Do you see something interesting?" she asked seductively.
Ranma smiled and gave her a cocky grin.
"Nothing but an uncute tomboy," he replied with mischievous intent in his voice.
"Oh! Well I guess that makes you a real baka then."
"Really?"
"And a hentai if you continue staring at a tomboy like me..."
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her closer towards him and the log he was sitting on. Their noses were micrometers from touching.
"Oh I think I know who the real hentai is."
"Really," she replied. "And how do...ohhh..."
Her retort was cut short as he softly kissed the nape of her neck.
"You're insatiable you know."
"And you aren't?" he replied.
She smiled as her hands wandered down his chest and tugged against the white boxers he normally wore, sliding them off.
"We're both..." she whispered into his ear before she no longer whisper again.
************
Akari stayed at the hut for a few days. She had that strange dream the other day when she had fainted with the others and she chose caution in front of valour and opted to stay put and make sure she was not sick. The house also looked like it needed a woman's touch. She realised that a woman had visited there sometime in the past but whatever she had done to the place had been quickly overturned by the men. She sighed and watched the sun as it started to dim over the hills. She still did not want to think about what she had seen and the consequences. Ryouga and that... She sniffed a bit and watching the sunrise she thought it was best to go for a walk. The old man had warned her about strange animals in the area but she was sure she could take care of herself.
The others were not around. The boy had taken off to try and find the injured animal that had been waking them haphazardly over the last few nights. It had to be a very smart animal since it only made noise during the night so that predators could not identify it during the day. Perhaps it was trained like her pet pigs. That would be thrilling! To meet another farmer who had fostered intelligence into his animals; it really would. She had not met that many people who shared her zeal for rearing animals.
Sighing, Akari began her trek with her little bag and her pet for company. It was not as if her pet sumo pig did not fit in with the lot of these animals.
He grunted and she patted his cheek. The people at the hut had been good to her, but that was not what she wanted. She wanted to go back home and she wanted someone to be with her. She had stayed too long without someone there for her. Grandfather was fine for some types of company but she wanted someone to be there to hold her on those cold rainy nights or when she needed a hug. She felt embarrassed going to her grandfather when she felt scared and although she did have Katsunnishi it was not the same.
When she had met Ryouga, she thought it would all change. She did not mind that he turned into a pig or that he got lost. She would not mind if she got lost with him as long as he was there to hold her when she felt lonely. Right now she felt lonely: lonely, depressed and betrayed. She thought he was the one. The one who she could give her heart to and the one who would give his heart to her but she had been mistaken. Finding him with that other girl proved it. He did not want her.
Maybe it was because she had nothing to offer him. She was just an ordinary girl. She did not have the body like Shampoo and she didn't have Akane's fighting skills. All she had was her farm. That was it. She was a farmer and nothing more. What could he possibly see in a farmer? She could try and do something about that, but what was the point. She doubted that she could ever sway Ryouga as she had seen other girls do. She did not really know how to catch a husband. All she had to go on was the gossip of the other girls around her and there was no way she was going to blemish her honour by doing some of the things they had hinted at.
Maybe she should just give up on Ryouga and look for some other boy to marry. There were lots of other boys around though they were nothing like her Ryouga-sama. Sigh. There was Kensuke, the boy with the pointy nose who was into growing green roses and Fei the horse breeder. Then again, Akari knew that Fei liked Ritika but was too shy to ask her out.
Why were things like that so complicated?
She kicked a stone and finally glanced up ahead. She was coming close to a river. Covering her eyes, she peered out over the bank and almost missed the tent that was there. However, it was hard to miss the sleeping couple near the river. She had to smile at that. For some reason seeing someone else enjoying life had that effect.
It wasn't a bad idea either. The sun was covered by the clouds, which were not dark enough to bring rain but prevented the weather from getting too hot. The wind was very cool also.
She was about to walk away from the scene and leave the pair alone when she spied something. On a branch near the tent a red shirt was hung on a line and the more she stared at it, the more she was convinced that it was Ranma's. The question was should she try and see who it was. It would be embarrassing if it was someone else. And what would she say to Ranma anyway. Wait a minute, who was he with? She could definitely make out two shapes. Maybe one of his fiancées? If that, then whom did he choose?
Oh this was too good. Akari knew she shouldn't, but she had to know. She had her dibs on Akane. She knew Ranma had to at least like Akane. She could see that clearly from his actions. She knew she should let it go and move on but the temptation was there and if it were Ranma and Akane, that would brighten her mood greatly.
She crept towards the pair trying not to make a sound. Katsunnishi took her lead and was also trying to walk quietly. His attempt made her giggle since the earth around him still shuddered as he walked. A soft touch was all that she needed to tell him to stay.
Excited, Akari silently manoeuvred towards the sleeping couple. She still could not see who it was since from the angle she was taking; she could not see their faces. She knew they were martial artists so the only chance she had was to creep up from their blind side- from behind them.
She was there, almost there, but still she not see a thing. One shape was a person with short hair who could be a boy or a girl and the other was buried in the covers. The person below the covers yawned and turned and a head popped out of the blanket.
"Ranma!" exclaimed Akari excitedly then she clamped down her mouth. However, it had already been too late. In front of her, two now awake and mostly nude female bodies stared at her. Their faces did not mask their total and complete shock.
************
Ryouga Hibiki was a man of few words probably because he only knew a few people. His amazing ability to get lost in a room with one door made sure that he had a limited social background when it came to dealing with other people. Suffice it to say that the only people Ryouga could talk to in a normal way were other martial artists who he could fight.
After knocking away another of those trees blocking his path, Ryouga began to think again. Something that he was not accustomed doing. He had usually just walked around and found himself something to do. That was before he had stumbled across Ranma and the Tendos. He had at first wanted to ruin Ranma's life by destroying his happiness with Akane then he had fallen for Akane. Now he knew for sure that he did not love Akane any more. Sometimes he would remember how she looked at him but he did not see that spark in her eyes that he saw when she glanced at Ranma when his back was turned. Akane always did that and he had always pretended to dismiss what those secretive glances probably meant.
Ranma did the same thing too. That was how Ryouga knew Ranma did like her- a lot. Ryouga also knew that Ranma was not to be trusted. If he could run out on a man to man fight, he was capable of anything. Ryouga knew he had to protect Akane from Ranma's corruption. The only problem was that Ryouga could not figure out exactly how Ranma was going to hurt Akane. He knew that Ranma would eventually hurt Akane but he just didn't know how. The only obvious thing Ryouga could do was keep looking after Akane's interests which meant keeping a steady eye on the pigtailed martial artist. How was he supposed to do that while lost in the forest!
The sparkling eyes that Akane had for Ranma. He had known someone with sparkling eyes for him once. She was not as beautiful as some of the other girls he had known but there was something about her that screamed that he should stay next to her and be there to protect her. He still wanted to be there for he but he did not think that she wanted him to be there for her any more.
He wondered if she was thinking about him. He had not wanted to share the tent with Ukyou and he had no idea how her hands had wrapped around him but he saw the shock in her face. He knew she thought that he was seeing Ukyou. He knew he wasn't but what did she really think happened? He wished he could find Ranma. This usually happened to him and Ryouga knew Ranma -even though he was dishonourable- would somehow be able to help him out of that situation.
Another fallen tree brought him to a clearing and what he saw brought tears to his eyes....
**************
Ukyou Kuonji thought herself to be one of the dumbest people in the world at the moment. She had found out that Jham was well versed in magic so she had asked him, well actually bribed him with some really good food since he hadn't any means of payment and thought that the food was free. Back to the subject on hand- she was one of the dumbest people on earth. She had asked the boy to look into her future and find out if she was destined to be with Ranma. She knew he would pick her, she just wanted to make sure. Now she found herself sitting in a lotus position for the last two hours with the weird boy and still he had not given her an answer. The first time she had disturbed him he told her that those things took time and did not just appear to him out of thin air. She had accepted that, but two hours!
She could not even move about because he said if she moved she would disrupt the karmic flows or something like that. She couldn't even open her business. Arghhh! At least she would know once and for all that Ranma would be in her life and she could use that to her advantage over the other girls. The only problem was this intense waiting. She liked action that was one of the reasons she liked being around Ranma. There was always something going on when Ranma was there.
So, Ukyou ended up fuming at her own stupidity until Jham finally stopped chanting. This fact Ukyou did not recognise until she felt a hand on her shoulder. From years of instincts, she executed what could have been the perfect judo throw and had the perfect result: Jham was now a semi-permanent addition to the wall of Ucchan's.
Ukyou blinked twice then unholstered her huge spatula to scrape the boy off the wall. That job completed, she placed him on the floor and waited for him to get up.
Hours later...
"What hit me?" asked Jham as he groggily sat up using his hands. Unfortunately, his strength left him and he slumped back down to the floor.
"I did sugar. Didn't your mother ever tell you not to sneak up on a woman?"
"Never knew my mother," he responded. "And normal girls would usually just slap you, not ingrain you into their walls."
"Well I'm not normal," she replied.
"Of course not," he countered. "You're the most abnormal person I've ever met! Let's run to the doctor!" he replied sarcastically.
As in the case with all women in the Ranmaverse, they did not take well to sarcasm and Jham earned himself another bump on the head and another trip to dreamland.
*************
While Nodoka Saotome could not be called normal in the terms we use to describe a normal person, she was perhaps one of the sanest of them that lived in the Tendo Dojo, disregarding Nabiki of course. But then again, Nabiki wasn't sane; she just appeared to be...but back to the story.
Nodoka Saotome was happy that her son and future daughter-in-law were on a training trip. She knew that with her manly son, Akane was bound to fall for the Saotome charm that had caught her once. The only thing was that she could not remember what that had been, but anyway, whatever it was, Akane would be trapped and Nodoka could look forward to pampering all those lovely grandchildren she was sure Akane would give her.
Grandchildren, she could not wait to have grandchildren, and that was why she was currently cooking up a storm in the kitchen without the aid of a certain Kasumi Tendo. Nodoka certainly thought of herself as more than an aunt to the Tendo girls and she knew that it was about time she planned for their suitors.
Nabiki was a difficult one. She was more independent than her sister was and Nodoka knew she would have made a fine geisha in the olden days- she still could. She doubted that Soun would approve of that though. Ah well, there was that Kuno boy who was infatuated with Akane. Nodoka knew that Nabiki's eyes lit up anytime she heard the boy's name called but whether it was because she liked him or she liked the thought of taking away more of the lad's money, Nodoka did not know. Well she could arrange a few things.
Nodoka popped a few knuckles. The bread was ready all she had to do was add the magic ingredient. Well actually it wasn't a magic ingredient but it still worked anyway. This was a special recipe that always worked. She doubt it would have worked for her son and Akane but maybe for someone else. All she had to do was suck a small pill when she served it and make sure than neither Soun nor Genma were in the area. Both were taken care of. She knew that the men had probably gone of drinking somewhere with the money she had given them.
Nabiki...hmm. There was a hard case.
But this was not for Nabiki. This was for Kasumi. She had long been told about Kasumi and the good doctor and she had seen first hand the strange antics the doctor used when he was around Kasumi. He would make a good husband for Kasumi. All she needed to do was give them the right inspiration.
"Auntie, what are you making?" asked Kasumi as she stepped into the kitchen.
"Ah dear. We are going out tonight. I'm just making some snacks for the trip."
"Oh...do you need any help?"
"Oh no, but you had better get changed."
"Oh my...yes I should."
Nodoka followed the soft patter of footsteps before she opened the oven door. Snacks indeed! Now all she needed to do was to make two phone calls.
**************
Akane flew towards Akari and helped her close her mouth while Ranma's face dropped to the floor.
"Akari what are you doing here?" asked Akane hurriedly.
Akane slowly removed her hands from the girl's mouth.
"Me? Here? I should be asking you the same question?" replied Akari; suspicious that something at least had happened.
"We're on a training trip," replied Ranma lamely.
"Yeah, sure," countered Akari. "And I guess you normally spend the day in bed snuggling up only in underwear."
Ranma and Akane blushed brightly.
"We were cold!" exclaimed Ranma.
"Suuure..." replied Akari.
Akane got tired of the exchange.
"Akari you're our friend right?"
Akari nodded her head.
"I want to tell you something but you have to promise not to tell anyone."
Ranma vigorously shook his head in a vain attempt to change Akane's mind from saying what she was going to say, but we all know that Akane would say what she wanted to say regardless of what Ranma wanted her to say. That is, Akane was as stubborn as he was.
Akari nodded her head.
Akane reached for Ranma's hand and tugged the smaller girl, pulling her into an embrace that at first Ranma struggled in but after a second or two moulded into.
"Ranma and I we're..."
"Married," finished Ranma. Earning him a bonk on the head for stealing the moment from his wife.
"Married..." whispered Akari. The couple nodded.
"Married!" she exclaimed, then she drew both of them into a stifling hug that almost made them faint.
"When? How? And why wasn't I invited!" demanded Akari.
"Wha...huh...?" replied the pair as they were assaulted by a verbal barrage of questions.
"Akari!" shouted Akane. Akari blinked, confused.
"We just got married okay. It sort of just happened. We didn't plan anything!"
"Oh?" she replied. "Cool."
"Remember," warned Akane. "Don't tell anyone. Ranma and I have enough problems as it is. Not even Ryouga."
Akari's face paled slightly at the mention of that name. They noticed easily.
"Did something happen to Ryouga?" asked Akane.
"No, nothing! It just that, well I shouldn't be telling you this. I mean you just got married. You're supposed to be happy not worrying about me."
Akane wrapped her hand around Akari and wordlessly told Ranma to stay out of the way. Ranma did not need further pressing and started hunting for their shirts.
"It just that, I...I was trying to get to Nerima to come and visit when I came across a camping ground. It was late and I thought we could stay with them for a while. Then Katsunnishi went running into one of the tents and when I went in, Ryouga was sleeping with another girl. You showed me her picture once, Ukyou I think."
"I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding," soothed Akane. Ranma could not help but butt in.
"He may be pigheaded, dumb and insane most of the times," informed Ranma. "But he's a loyal idiot. Ryouga likes you Akari. I'm sure it was just a simple misunderstanding."
Akane was surprised at her husband's insight.
"Ranma's right Akari. When Ranma was with the others I kept finding him in very compromising situations."
"Yeah and she never let me explain what had happened."
Ranma was bonked for that.
"What he's trying to say is that you should ask him what happened."
"But I'm..."
"Afraid," answered Akane. "I was too. That's why I never wanted to listen to Ranma. Just in case it was something I did not want to hear."
Ranma opened his eyes, surprised.
"Find him and ask him," urged Akane.
"But where should I look?"
"If I know Ryouga," replied Ranma. "He's probably trying to get back to you house right now, so I'd give him a couple of days. Takes him about two weeks to get back to the Dojo."
"Home?"
Akane hugged her.
"Now go home and wait for him. I'm sure it was just a mistake." Ranma nodded, supporting Akane.
Akari smiled.
"Thanks you two. Now I'll just leave you on your honeymoon."
Akari started to walk away before she stopped to add a final word.
"Oh Akane, you should soundproof your room when you get back home. You're really loud."
It took a few seconds for the comment to register. Then Akane turned a deep red. Akari saw her face when she glanced back and started to giggle.
Akane stood there embarrassed watching Akari as she disappeared from view. However, two small hands appeared around her back and began a massage that had been learnt and perfected. A massage that had been taught by a woman who had over three thousand years of knowledge to back her up. It was a simple task of learning certain pressure points. By themselves they did nothing, but together…
Now the owner of those hands had some of that knowledge. As businessmen know, knowledge is power and power was what Ranma began to wield over Akane. Small hands wandered across soft flesh, pressing release points as they wandered. The effect was staggering. Akane could not believe that Ranma could make her feel like this by just massaging her body. He had not even reached the sensitive parts yet his touch was drawing her forth. Summoning her courage, she turned around, forcing him to move his hands.
She tried to break free of his spell but he kissed her. Drawing her into a long deep kiss that she could not escape. Even at that stage he did not stop, even when she shuddered against his body, he did not stop kissing her. He continued to caress her lips and her body until finally she could take no more and collapsed against him.
"Ranma that was...amazing."
Ranma looked up and kissed her cheek showing her a kettle in his hand.
"Are you hungry for more Acchan?"
Akane swept him off the ground and began to fervently kiss him as she sprinted towards the tent. She wanted more, a lot more, and she knew that she still did not know just what her husband was capable of.
**********
Kasumi Tendo was pleased to note that she could still fit into that dress that Nabiki had given her two years ago. For some strange reason she liked that dress but she had never found the right setting to wear it. Today she felt that she had to wear it. She was not getting younger, a fact that was becoming more and more pronounced every day. With Auntie Nodoka she was free to act a bit more carefree than she normally would but with Ranma and Akane away, the days had begun to get a bit boring. With all the help around the house, Kasumi found herself with too much time on her hands. Strangely though, Auntie had been able to borrow some books from Tofu. Kasumi knew the books well, she had read a few of them, but there was one in particular she had not read.
It was that one that held her interest at the moment. She had begun reading it last night and had stayed up all morning. The book was actually a novel about a Dr. Zhivago. It was rather enthralling she thought.
Kasumi answered the knock at her door.
"Auntie?"
"Kasumi are you ready?" asked Nodoka.
"Yes Auntie, I think I'm finished."
Nodoka appraised the young girl. Some work could still be done she thought.
"Kasumi don't think it impolite of me to ask this, but can I just make some adjustments. I've always wanted a daughter and Ranma's curse just isn't the same."
"Oh Auntie I'd love that," replied Kasumi.
Nodoka smiled back. Whether it was genuine or predatory, only she knew.
Nodoka asked Kasumi to wait for her in the bathroom while she went to fetch her equipment from her room. With everything now at her fingertips, Nodoka set to work. She undid the ponytail that she was accustomed seeing and applied some softener to the hair ends, then after a bit of brushing, she added some special mousse that allowed the hair to remain bouncy while holding it in place. Satisfied, she turned to other parts of the girl.
Kaumi had on a little make up but she had neither the style nor the experience of Nodoka. Taking a little off here and there, Nodoka began making Kasumi's face into a work of art. With the hands of a sculptor, Nodoka made quick her work and only after a few minutes she was finished.
Kasumi, whose eyes had been transfixed on the wall in front of her gasped when she was finally given a mirror in which to see herself. She did not have long to gaze upon herself however since the doorbell ran downstairs. She excused herself to briskly walk and welcome in the guest. She was more than surprised to find a middle-aged woman standing outside the door.
"Hello dear, is Nodoka in?"
"Hello. Yes Auntie is inside. Why don't you come in?"
"Why thank you child. It is good to see such manners in a girl of your age."
Kasumi could not help but blush a little.
"Mina dear, how are you? I haven't seen you in such a long time!"
"Nodoka, I heard your found your son and I had to come see him."
"Oh, I'm sorry to disappoint you but he is on a training trip with his fiancée."
"Training trip? Ahh...I see."
"Oh dear, I only have two tickets to the movies tonight. I'm sorry Kasumi dear. We may have to postpone our little trip until another day."
Someone called at the door...
"I wonder who that could be," murmured Nodoka out loud.
She brought the new guest into the living room with the others.
"Dr. Tofu, I'd like you to meet Mina Ikoyu an old friend of mine."
"Oh hello there, Ikoyu-san. I believe I have seen you before."
"Dr. Tofu!" exclaimed Kasumi who stepped back into the room after making a short trip to the kitchen.
"Ka-ka-kasssumiii, fancy meeting you here," he replied and was just about to start dancing when the other guest reached up and grasped his hand.
"Doctor, why don't you sit down you look a bit pale."
Surprisingly enough, he complied. Nodoka ushered Kasumi out of the room with the excuse that she thought her friend might need a cold drink after her journey. Kasumi disappeared into the kitchen while Mina stared into Tofu's eyes and began speaking to him. Her voice was soft, very soft, and mesmerising. Her words were well thought out.
"Ono Tofu, do you know a Kasumi Tendo?"
"Ka-ka-ka..."
"Shh...when you see Kasumi you will think of a waterfall. Remember that waterfall. Have you ever been to a waterfall, Dr. Tofu?"
"Hm...oh yes Ikoyu-san. They are quite peaceful," replied Tofu, completely oblivious as to what had just happened.
Nodoka smirked, one not unlike that of her son's. Mina smiled. Kasumi returned with a drink for her.
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Nodoka. "Dr. Tofu, could you do me a really big favour?"
"What is it Nodoka-san?" asked Tofu.
"With my friend here, I can't take Kasumi to the movies and I don't think it is right to have her go alone."
The trap was set.
"I'll take her if you like Nodoka-san."
...and he fell for it hook, line and sinker.
"Now where did I put those tickets...ahh here they are," beamed Nodoka as she handed them off to him. "Now Kasumi, remember I want you back here before midnight. I don't want your father crying again. Remember last time when you were delayed at the market."
"Hai Auntie..."
"And Tofu, make sure my daughter in law has a good time."
"Hai Nododa-san."
"Now before you both go, have some of my cookies. They're a special recipe I learnt from my grandmother."
"Thank you Auntie," replied Kasumi after taking a few.
"Thank you Saotome-san."
"Please, call me Auntie."
"Thank you Auntie," corrected Tofu.
After they finished eating Kasumi stood up indicating that she was ready. Tofu offered a hand while trying to quench the butterflies in his stomach. It did not help that his hand was shaking. Kasumi on the other hand was blushing furiously as she slowly slid her hand within Tofu's. They stood there for awhile watching each other and holding each other's hands until Nodoka thought it prudent to put an end to it.
"You two had better get going. There will be enough room for staring after the movie."
Both of them blushed heavily and Nodoka could not help but smile. After they had left Mina addressed her.
"Still the matchmaker of old Nodoka?"
"You know me Mina-chan, old habits die hard."
Mina swallowed the little tablet Nodoka had given her when she had entered.
"Oh, you don't have to remind me. And Ito sends his love. An interesting man that doctor. I will need a few more sessions with him. His silliness has become deeply ingrained. Either that or your daughter will have to do something when she is alone with him."
"Do something? Like what?" asked Nodoka.
Mina smiled and then whispered something into her ear.
"Oh my!"
**************
Jham woke up again but this time he did not find himself in a overturned position against the wooden wall. This time, he was actually lying on the floor which although not that much of a change was still a lot better than being imbedded in a wall.
"Jeez, are all the women in Nerima as violent as you are? No wonder this Ranma likes to run off all the time. It must be a real hell having four of you running after him all the time," responded Jham as he rubbed his head and the huge lump that had formed.
Ukyou hrumphed.
"For your information, I'm his cute fiancée and I am not violent. The violent one is Akane."
"Could have fooled me," he taunted.
Ukyou resisted a huge urge to give him a third bump that afternoon. it was a hard battle but eventually she won, releasing the anger by splitting the table in front of her. Unfortunately it was the table Jham was lying on and he soon found himself lying on the floor.
"Okay that's it! All I wanted was a nice scenic trip through Japan. Being assaulted by a hormone crazed girl with a ridiculously oversized cooking utensil is not what I call a vacation. Later..."
Ukyou stared at his back as he started walking out the door. He was actually leaving. He couldn't leave, not as yet anyway. At least not until he told her of her future.
"Wait. You haven't told me what you saw about me and Ran-chan."
"Go find some other sap to do your bidding. I'm officially on holiday."
He turned to leave and started walking towards the door when something blocked his path. How in the name of Buddha did she move that quickly to get in front of him? Then again he did not want to know. She was nutty and it was his bet that the whole district was as well. It would do him good to get out when he had the chance.
"You're not going until I know," she stated firmly.
Now if he was going to leave this nutty place, he would have to go somewhere else in Japan and he knew exactly where. The only problem was finding it and he had the prefect way of solving both his situations in one go.
"Okay, I'll tell you but you will have to do something for me too."
"What's that?" she asked
"You'll have to get me to the Wasari Shrine."
"No problem, where is it?"
"That's the catch. I don't know where it is. All you have to do is find it and take me there and then and only then will I tell you what I saw."
Ukyou growled and Jham stepped back.
"Okay, I'll do it," she replied. "But don't try anything funny."
"I'm the one who should be asking that question," he snickered then turned and ran as he saw her face turning red in anger.
**********
Nabiki Tendo liked mysteries and one of the mysteries she was currently involved in was tracking her little sister and her fiancé. She had found little information about them so far except for that brief note in the Kuonji village. She had pried into the matter but the Clan had been closed-lipped about the whole affair. At least she knew they had been there though. The question was why had they been there.
She did not chuck it down to coincidence. She knew better than that. Something was up with her little sister and Ranma. Come to think of it, Ukyou had also been missing for a few days. Could it be that she had met them and they had sorted out something? From her information, it did not look like the chef was ready to give up on Ranma as yet so something else had to have happened. She only needed to figure out what. She knew she could use any information to her advantage with the owners of the Nekohanten and the Kuno's being her main target at the moment.
Nabiki lost herself in her files again. This was perplexing, and she was enjoying every minute of it. This was what gave her the thrill at the end of the day. Making money was nice, but trying to predict and control what would happen. That was where she really got her thrills. Now where were those two deviant teenagers?
She had lost track of them after they had entered the forest again after visiting the Kuonji Clan. If it had only been Ranma she would have given up on the search but Nabiki knew her little sister and without the comforts of home for more than a week, Nabiki knew that Akane would want to return to some civilisation soon.
Where though? Where should she send her contacts? The plot thickened and she creased her brow. This was going to be fun.
***********
Ono Tofu was probably having the most reflective conversation with his mind in his life. He could not figure out how he had not lost control yet. Not that that wasn't a good thing, but he should have lost control a long time ago. Anytime he thought about her now, he could see her face in the reflection of one of the waterfalls he had visited many times on his trips around Japan. At the moment it was late in the evening and he was en route to the cinema, with Kasumi walking next to him. Just the thought of the girl next to him brought a blush to his face. How long had he known her? He couldn't remember offhand the exact length of time, but he did remember the first day he had seen her. That had been a long time ago.
He was just setting up practice in the Nerima area when he spied a young girl limping in street outside the clinic. His heart broke when he saw such a cute young girl in such distress so he naturally asked her into the clinic. She was hesitant at first but after a while she had consented when one of his new customers entered for a little check-up.
Akane had simply over extended her muscles in what had to be an attempt at a crescent kick. All she needed was a simple massage and a little drink of something he made and she was okay to go, once she kept pressure of the foot for the rest of the day. He had called Akane's home after getting the number and someone promised they would come and get her.
He was idly chatting away with Akane who was very much into the martial arts from the way she spoke about the topic when someone knocked at the door which was by his preference left ajar and walked in.
"Oh my! Akane, I was so worried!" exclaimed Kasumi as she rushed inside and hugged her little sister.
Then she turned towards him.
"Thank you Mr.?"
"Tofu, Dr. Ono Tofu."
"Thank you very much doctor," responded Kasumi, then she did the unthinkable. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, blushed, and hurried out of the clinic. Tofu did not know what had him trapped blubbering there for hours until his next patient appeared, it could have been her beauty or it could have been the kiss. He did not know which. He just knew that from then on, every time he saw her, he turned to mush.
"Tofu-sensei?"
"Hmm..." he replied.
"I think we are going in the wrong direction," she informed.
"Oh dear, I believe you are right."
He noticed that they walked a slight distance apart and they had to cross the road. He had not really gazed upon her all night but when his eyes met hers he could not tear his face away. He had not really noticed since he had been so nervous in the beginning, but her hair was let down around her shoulders and curled slightly to hide the sides of her neck. He could not think it possibly true but that new hairstyle made her seem even more beautiful. The slight shade of makeup and the delicate application of lipstick made her face surreal, as if crafted or designed to perfection. He continued to stare at her their faces coming closer together until someone rudely bumped into them. He felt a hand grasp his and a warm sensation filled his body. He stood there for a moment savouring the touch before he could speak.
"Shall we cross?" he asked. The nightlife was creeping out of the ward and the streets in the area were beginning to fill.
She nodded, and he relaxed his hold on her hand. He noticed that she did not let go and her eyes darted suspiciously around. He forgot that she usually never left the house late into the afternoon especially when the sky was darkening as it was now. He tightened his hold on her ever so slightly as she smiled in gratitude. At that moment Tofu wondered if he would ever want to let her go again.
They walked slowly to the cinema and in silence. The crowds were becoming thicker and he could feel Kasumi huddle her body closer towards him as he made a pathway through the oncoming human traffic. Finally they made it to the reception of the cinema. The place was packed and Tofu manoeuvred for space within the confines of the small hall. Finding a more private area, he searched his pockets to find the tickets Auntie Saotome had given him. Funny, he had not even bothered to find out what movie he was supposed to be watching.
Kasumi's back was to the wall, which seemed to calm her considerably. He knew she was not as accustomed to the hustle and bustle of normal life since she did most of her shopping during the off peak hours. He was still sifting through the contents of his pants when a large contingent of teenagers pushed themselves into the reception area. This had a cascading effect as other people were pushed and Tofu found himself being pushed, while off balance, towards Kasumi. He gained his balance quickly enough, but he had already been pushed too close where personal space was non existent. It had not helped that his hands were now against the wall and Kasumi's were, while holding him off her, not anywhere extended enough to keep their bodies apart. He was even further lucky when he noted that she was a bit shorter than he was and he had not been directly in front of her at the time. Had he been, they would have found themselves in an even more precarious position.
He was blushing and he knew she was, the tickets were in his hand and the screen number was on them.
He forced his way through the crowd to the booth outside the proper screen. Kasumi held his hand as she trailed behind him, trying to fit into the space he left behind and succeeding, though only because Tofu made sure she had enough space to pass.
He could hear her breathe a sigh of relief when they finally reached the inside of the screening room. There weren't that many people in the room which was odd when Tofu thought about the crowd outside but he was rather glad since he too did not favour crowds at all.
He released Kasumi's hand momentarily when he edged his way into the seats so that they could be at the centre of the row. It was only after they reached the centre that he realised that Kasumi no longer held his hand. He momentarily frowned at that development. He missed having her hand in his. They sat there watching the advertisements on the screen when Kasumi asked him a question.
"Tofu-sensei, what movie are we watching?" she asked.
Tofu blinked then he realised that he had not actually looked at the name of the movie before they handed in the tickets.
"I do not know Kasumi-san," he replied truthfully. "And please call me Tofu."
"And...Tofu, you may call me Kasumi."
Tofu smiled and Kasumi smiled back.
They were about to engage in some more friendly conversation when the lights suddenly dimmed indicating that the movie was about to begin. The movie was Japanese but Tofu did not know what The Rise of the Fushi Oni was.
During the first five minutes of the movie, Tofu was intently trying not to look at Kasumi as she sat next to him. It would not be right for him to do something like that unless he had made a formal request to her father. He let the idea play around in his mind for a while. An idea was all it was. He knew that Kasumi probably did not think anything much of him. He was just a chiropractor living in Nerima. She probably thought of him as an old friend than anything else. That was all he thought he had been to her and the Tendos, a friend. He knew about Akane's crush on him a while back but he had seen to it that it stayed that way. She was young and immature. He was glad that after Ranma came, she had lost almost all of her interest in him and instead had focused on sending Ranma on quite a regular basis to his clinic.
A hand grabbed his arm and as he turned, he realised that Kasumi was clutching him tightly. He had been lost in his thoughts for a minute and when he turned back to the screen he realised that someone had just lost a arm to one of the oni's attacks. Having practised his profession and having seen the worst, he could see the hoax that was being played on the screen but he knew Kasumi did not have any of his training. She only knew what she had possibly read from his books. She had no real practical experience. He easily lifted the hand rest between the seats while directing her arm over it. She clutched his hand in a grip he had more come to expect from Akane than her. Strangely though, he could see that she was terrified but was totally absorbed in the film. He doubted she actually knew what she was doing at the time.
She still held his hand and slowly but surely as the movie progressed, he noticed that she began move ever so slightly towards him: a fact that both thrilled and alarmed him at the same time. His work had taken a lot of his time over the years and with all of his friends disappearing around Japan and the world at large, he had not had an extensive social life i.e. he had not been out with women a lot.
Confused, he tried thinking of the logical thing to do but his mind fled. What should he do? Finally he decided he would take a chance. With Kasumi still clutching one hand and the other trapped between them, he removed the trapped hand and brought it around her shoulders. He was presently surprised, when instead of questioning him she merely tilted her head so that it partially rested on the chair and mostly on his arm. He was so shocked that he remained still, until the warmth on his arm flooded him with conflicting emotions.
He should not be doing this; it was improper to say the least. But it felt good! What was he to do? Should he retract his hand? He peered down to gaze at Kasumi's face. She looked both intrigued at the film and contented to be in the position she was in. He sighed knowing the decision had been made for him. He focused his attention again on the movie.
Somewhere between the second half hour to the end of the movie where both became highly absorbed into the movie, Kasumi had removed any gap between them and her head now comfortably rested below his, and her hands clutched his also as one scene slipped into the next. The movie had been a suspense science fiction thriller that had mixed reviews but for the two sitting there watching the movie the review would be an excellent one, especially with the company present. The movie rolled on and the finale was a gripping conclusion, which had Kasumi almost making a handprint in Tofu's flesh. It was only after the credits started rolling that she finally came back to reality.
When the lights came back on, Kasumi shyly smiled. Tofu trapped did not know what to do or say so he smiled back and thought himself lucky when all Kasumi did was sand up, stretch lightly, and slowly make her way to the exit. He sighed and followed but his step was sprightlier than when he entered the cinema.
*************
One Akane Saotome lay humming next to her husband and idly played with his pigtail as they snuggled under the blanket. Had she known married life would have been like this, she would have married Ranma as soon as she had laid eyes on him. She was hungry as evident from her stomach rumbling, but she was also feeling lazy and she did not want to move. She didn't feel that bad when she heard Ranma's stomach echoing hers.
Ranma made a move, but Akane held him down shaking her head slowly, demanding that he remain there with her. Surprisingly he obeyed and once again she lay her head against his chest. Her husband idly toyed with her hair also. The sky was already dark outside and they could hear the pitter-patter of the raindrops as they assaulted the tent. The nights in Ryugenzawa were surprisingly cold, but inside the tent, coldness was not as issue.
Akane rolled off her husband who turned to embrace her from behind, while nuzzling the back of her neck. She moaned appreciatively and they both went back to the laziness that had encompassed their whole day. The comfort of their warm bodies pressing against each other soon lulled them back into a blissful daze.
While passing her hand across Ranma's chest, Akane decided there and then that she would never give up married life for anything.
***********
Nodoka Saotome prided herself on knowing everything that happened in her house and she extended that sense to the Tendo residence. Her ears were sharp enough to hear the sliding of the door and the soft patter of feet as they entered the house. Nodoka yawned softly and headed into the living room to meet Kasumi who should be coming home about that time.
She peeked into the room to find Kasumi gliding slowly across the floor like an apparition. Nodoka smiled. Apparently her little batch of cookies had worked. It almost seemed as if Kasumi was in her own little world at the moment. Nodoka decided not to bother the girl for the rest of that night. There was always morning.
Kasumi did everything automatically as she prepared for bed. Walking, undressing, even combing her hair were done without a thought. It was only when she pulled the covers over her body that full realisation of the night hit her.
She had actually gone out with a man and not with any man either. She went out with Tofu. She smiled. Tofu, she liked that name. Usually whenever she was around, he would start his usual antics, which amused her greatly. Tonight though, he had not danced with Betty-chan. She began to remember that night and she blushed.
She should apologise to Tofu about her behaviour, it was unbecoming of her. She could not believe that she had stared into his eyes that long or that she had grasped his hand after someone bumped into her. She should not have done that, but it felt so good, so right. She had been a bit scared and she had liked holding his hand. For some reason, touching him had been comforting while moving through the crowds. Then came the episode when the crowds pushed him onto her.
She chided herself for reading too many of those romance novels and for her thoughts while he was so close to her. He was so close that she wanted to touch him. She had actually wanted to kiss him then, on the neck. She had to hold back herself and luckily he had found the tickets. She was glad when he asked her to call him Tofu. She had known him for too long and he was almost like family to her. She remembered how he used to take of Akane all the time with her many accidents. He even gave them a special family discount. She should not be having thoughts about him like that. He was too special.
Then the movie came and she was not prepared for it. She was accustomed to normal movies but she had no idea what her Aunt preferred. She would have to ask her aunt about that in the morning. At the moment she was too tired and she wanted a bit of rest. She wanted to dream too. She always liked dreaming and she wanted to dream about what had happened that night.