part 4 "....and Storm."
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"To be proud and inaccessible is to be timid and weak."
Jean Baptise Masillon
=============
"Ahh Home sweet home," Shaoko said in a lively fashion, her Japanese
just slightly too precise. She stepped fully into the small apartment,
making way for her overburdened brother with the luggage. He grunted
mildly as he stepped through the frame and kicked it shut behind her.
(Yeah, right...) he thought sarcastically. He dropped most of the
luggage to look at the place that would be his residence. Three room;
one bed, one bath studio, one main with kitchen type stuff near the far
window. (Well, I'll live...augh!) After receiving a savage elbow in the
abdomen from his sister.
She picked up one of the bags and headed for the bed room. He looked
through another bag and pulled out a small statue.
It was a simple statue, really. He examined it for a moment, respectful
eyes wearing across his face. It was gold, but so tarnished it looked
like brass.
A very simple construct about as tall as a basketball. And abstract Tien
Lung(Cosmic dragon), A bengal and an Eagle all assaulting one another.
Shagske calmed himself as he searched for west. Upon finding the
west-most wall, he set the idol down on the floor. (Furniture. That's
first thing....)
====
Mousse broke the door down ferociously. <I HAVE RETURNED!!> Shampoo and
her bike were bound up in an incredible amount of chains.
<LET ME GO!!!NOW!!> she shrieked, kicking as much as she could under the
duress. Cologne walked out from the back and leapt to the table.
<Silence, Shampoo. I sent mousse to retrieve you.> Shampoo calmed her
struggles.
<Get these off of me, stupid.> Mousse slowly retracted his chains with a
submissive expression on his face. Shampoo pushed off violently from him
as soon as she regained mobility. Mousse took the force silently,
letting himself take a seat on the floor. She shook her hair in a
superior fashion. <Why did you send -him-?>
<Hush, girl. We have had other thing to worry for, other than your
pride.> Shampoo fell silent as Mousse had before her. <Powers from China
have entered, powers I would have never thought possible to arrive in
Japan. Now we have work to be done if we are to make a standing.>
====
Ranma lightly wrapped his knuckle on the door, just below the duck sign.
Knock knock
Akane was parafied. (Is it him?)
It occurred to her. (One way to find out...) "Who," her voice failed
her. She steadied herself, and called again. "Who is it?"
Ranma cracked his knuckles nervously on the door, causing it to creak in
a sickening way. "It's...me. Uh...well..," (great, now what?) "Are you,
uh..."
She fidgeted in her chair. "Come in...," she finally sputtered.
(Here it goes.) Ranma exerted his influence on the door knob, not
letting it make the clicking noises. He walked in calmly.
.[..and the twain meet..].
Akane looked up at Ranma as he shut the door behind him. (Well, here we
go...) "I guess I'm ready if...if you are." She looked him up and down.
Ranma hadn't bothered to look at her when he walked in, and now he felt
her eyes on him. He stood there, embarrassed at her appraisal of him.
"Well uh...," he looked up at her.
It was Akane's turn for a bit of embarrassment. (whoa,) was all Ranma
could think. He traced her from toe to head, not forgetting to notice
the sweatshirt was real tight across the bust, and he admired her face
calmly. "You...look nice..." The ribbon reminded him of something, a
particular shade which he had seen before. It really framed her face
well. "Real cute...."
She stood up, her hands behind her back. "Thank you...You look nice,
too..."
Silence.
====
A really sharp whistle.
"YO! Taxi!" The boy with the backpack waved frantically as a cab blew by
him. He stood there with a solemnly indignant look on his face. "Well,
then..." He reached into his pack and pulled forth a shiny money clip
which blistered to the sun drawing attention to it. "Now, try again.
TAXI!" he waved the large amount of bills in his hand.
Brakes screeching as four cabs broke suddenly, three of them having
already had passed him.
====
"Well, uhm...," Ranma held out his hand. "Lets go." It was more of a
request than a statement.
"H, hai." Akane walked for the door. Ranma opened it hastily and stood
for her to exit first.
They went downstairs passing by a very quiet first floor. (Here we go.)
they both thought as they walked out. Kasumi smiled as she stopped
sweeping the front walk.
"Well, hello, you two! Finally getting something done this weekend?"
(Uh, oh)
(No getting around Kasumi...)
(Except to...) Ranma looked to Akane.
(Come right out and...) Akane looked up at Ranma.
"Were going out," they both said at the same time.
"How nice! Akane would you pick up heavy paper on your way home? Father
wanted them for the festival booth."
Akane stood somewhat surprised. "Sure Oneechan."
"You two have fun!"
They walked out the main gate, both befuddled by their unison decision.
The two stood, Akane looking left and right. "So, uh Ranma...where are
we going?"
Ranma almost facefaulted, then he patted his wallet satisfyingly.
"Well...That depends." a look of confidence washed over his face. "What
would you like to do?"
(What? we get this far and you don't have anything planned? Why you...)
Akane's anger died out suddenly. ..'..what would you like to
do?..'...(Oh wow, he just asked me...) She gulped nervously.
"Lets go get lunch first." Ranma started walking towards town, leaving
her. Akane shook herself after a moment of staring after him, and ran to
catch up.
"Wait up, jerk!"
====
(Where am I?)
3 guesses.
(It looks kinda like Nerima..)
The first 2 don't count.
(Could be worse...Probably will be...) He looked up at the sky in an
attempt to confirm his current depression. He found no such depressing
clouds.
Clear blue sky.
(Well,...okay...) he sighed. He continued his walk down the street.
Ryoga heard a horn honk and decided to walk to the sidewalk. He popped
out his umbrella, just waiting for puddles to be splashed on him.
He realised it hadn't rained for a week. (Relax, it's not like you
couldn't survive..,) a voice told himself, adjusting his long sleeve,
yellow tunic.
A glint of something caught his eye. His gaze turned to see the source
of the reflection. It had come from a shop's window. He walked up to the
glass pane. (Maybe I could get directions in here...)
That's when he saw the source.
And ebony statue, highly polished, of a dolphin.
(Elegant.) he thought in awe. Ryoga checked his backpack pocket where he
kept a makeshift wallet. It seemed to be substantially full. (That'd
make a great souvenir.) He walked towards the open door.
=======
The boy jumped out of the cab after paying the fair. The cabby had hoped
to get some more of the money he saw him waving at the street corner but
decided not to push it, when he crushed the handle of his doors.
He stood as the cab pulled away. "I'm here. I wonder if they are?" He
walked through the main gate and spied a tall lovely young woman
sweeping the front.
Kasumi looked up at the figure approaching her. (Ranma? No....but he
sure looks like Ranma...A little short..) "Hello. May I help you?"
"Uh, yeah. Is this the Tendo-ke?"
(Even sounds like Ranma.) "Why yes. Yes it is."
"Are the Saotomes here?"
(Oh, he must be related.) She eyed the boy before her. He had no pigtail
braid but he wore something mildly Chinese and a big pack like the ones
the Saotomes wear on training missions. "Well, Yes, but Ranma just
left."
"May I see them, please?" Kasumi walked towards the entrance and set the
broom to the wall.
"Certainly..um..."
He walked with real calm peace that Ranma did not. "Junma. Junma
Saotome."
========
Ukkyou began cleaning her grill for the third time. She found it
calming, a precise ritual of the As-you- like-it school. The rhythmic
flow to scrape the fryer, the simple scraping noise that issued from
metal on metal. It was almost Zen.
She also had nothing better to do.
(Jeeze, not one customer in...)she looked up at the clock Konatsu had
found and dug up out the garbage. He had fixed it, proving he had
surprising mechanical skills for his throwbacks to ninja times. (...3
hours. Man.)
2:35
(I wonder whats happened.)
(oh well.) Ukkyou thought to the day before. Tsubasa had asked her for
tips on what a real girl might like to receive as a present. (What was
it he said..? 'I must give something that will effectively express my
undying affections towards this one. You proved to me that love letters
don't work, Ukkyou-san')
Konatsu had sat down against the wall to the back room and the rest of
her home. He pulled out a matchbook and lit a match, a weary expression
coming over the okama's face. Ukkyou sighed as she watched him entertain
himself again. At first she had begun to protest, but the last thing he
would do is let something endanger Ukkyou's restaurant.
(If it keeps up this slow, I'm going to close early. Maybe I'll go see
Ran-chan.) She smiled cutely to herself trying to decide what to slap on
his okonomiyaki. She looked up at the clock.
2:37
(For the love of....this is going to be a long day...)
The sound of Konatsu striking matches filled the restaurant.
===
Ranma and Akane walked on the sidewalk through town, both tense. The
shops were surprisingly calm for a weekend. Ranma walked on the outside,
his hands up behind his head. Akane walked softly, almost an embarrassed
aire about her, her hands in front of her skirt. (Well, it's not too
cold...,) she thought. (I wonder what he's thinking about right now...)
(Ugh, now what?) Ranma thought disgustedly. (I've got...uh... a loaded
gun with nowhere to shoot.)
He looked at Akane. (Maybe I should find a better set of sayings.) He
looked around. (Maybe she'll pick something. No, you dolt. Pick
something for her, something you know she'll like...)
(Are we just gonna keep walking, Ranma?) Akane was getting impatient
herself watching cafe`s go by left and right. She saw something out of
her left come towards her slowly. Ranma had extended his hand over to
her.
She giggled softly, taking his shaking hand he offered. He calmed at her
touch.
(whew...wait a minute...I've got an idea.) Ranma began to look around
with purpose. Akane noticed this and began to try and follow his eyes.
He drew a wry smile as he found two shops he was looking for. "Hey
Akane, wait her for me, wouldja? I wanna got get something."
"Why can't I come? You gonna run out on me, jerk?" She wasn't sure if
she was teasing or really worried Ranma was going to chicken out.
"Huh? N-no! I--I...Its a surprise, that's all." He began to cross the
street. "Just wait here for me!"
"Hmph."
======
<Why do we have to don these symbols?> Mousse asked.
<Because, they're an I D tag for those who invade us. They won't be
easily revealed and even I can barely distinguish them from normal
people. They would attack you without impunity if you were recognized as
'normal' to them. These marks will make them at the very least neutral
to both of you.> Cologne finished her verbal speech and then handed them
both another item.
<Whats this great great grandmother?>
<You read much here Shanpu?>
<I try, but it is hard...>
<Science Fiction?>
<I am familiar> Mousse said calmly.
<Homing device. Put them under your tongues, and do try not to swallow
them.> They both obeyed.
====
"I'm home," Nabiki announced calmly.
"Welcome home Nabiki. We have a guest."
She took off her shoes and set her bag down. "Who, onee-chan?" A dish
had clacked over her voice and Kasumi never heard. She walked towards
the livingroom. She adjusted her tight denim and the huge collar T as
she turned the corner. She saw Ranma talking heartily with his parents.
"So, Saotome, who's the guest?"
"Your looking at him, Nabiki," Genma said smoothly.
"Who's the other pretty girl?" Ranma said.
She knew immediately that this was not Ranma. "I'm Junma, Saotome
cousin."
"Uh yeah." Nabiki was fumbling. He looked so much like him, except for
the braid. He was just as handsome, if not a little older in some
respects. "Nabiki," she finally said.
"She's the middle daughter, dear," Mrs. Saotome said.
"So," she sat down, trying to assert her presence in her own house.
"What brings you here? where are you from?"
"I stay with another of my aunts in Hakone, Kanagawa. I'm here to visit
this end of the branch. I hope I didn't come at a bad time guys."
"Not at all!" Kasumi interjected, bringing a plate of munchies with her.
"Father would be delighted to have another guest for a time."
(Yeah, so would our pocket book. Another free loader.) "So," she said
again. "How long are you staying?"
"No longer than necessary. I need to re-familiarise the family ties, and
as soon as that's done, I'll be off."
(Okay. Does he know about Ranma and his dad? Probably not.) "Say, did
you know your cousin and uncle went to China before they got here?"
Genma gagged. Nodoka frowned.
Strangely, Junma got this disgusted look on his face. "Yes I heard about
-Ranma- leaving for China. That's about the time we lost touch. We
tracked him -before-, but kept losing him periodically."
(Well, that was a nasty tone. Did I hit a nerve? Wonder what it
was...and he's more schooled than Ranma, easily. I wonder if he trains
too.) Nabiki preparing her examination microscope to shine down on Junma
again.
(What is with this girl?) Junma was already angry at yet another
mention of Ranma. The very fact that he wasn't here was a testament to
his vexation. "So, do you work?" she asked.
(Another Question? What is this?)
"Yeah, Do you? What's your youngest sister's name? How old is this
house? What are you studying for? Do you always wear denim? How do you
spend your weekends over the summer? What was the index of the NYSE over
the last two years? How well is the Dodge Neon sell in Hokkaido? Where
is the bathroom? How often is there a blue moon?"
Nabiki stared blankly at the exasperated the Junma in front of her. She
cleared her throat calmly . "No, I do not. Akane. Older than Daddy.
Business management and executive relations. Almost never. On a yacht
with a friend. Just broke 5000. Rate of 5 Civics to 1 Neon. Over there.
Every volcanic eruption."
They both stared calmly at each other. "Heh. Heheh. That's pretty good.
Heheh. Lets try that again. I'm Junma."
(Interesting fellow...) "Nabiki." (Interesting indeed. Maybe he won't be
totally another mooch.)
====
follow part b
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