Disclaimer: Nope I don't own Ranma ½ or any other characters or references to any TV show or song or artist. I'm just here for fun, and I get no profit out of it.
" " -Talking
' ' -Thinking
Italics are flashbacks
* -Sounds
/ / -Other languages
Snow falling from the skies filled the ground with a white sparkling mantle, it looked so beautiful and shiny like if it was a magical powder that could grant you a wish.
The trees didn´t escaped from the white gorgeous mantle that fell, it covered everything with grace; somehow just by looking at that landscape you could feel a happiness deep inside, many smiles have escaped even from the most miserable man by the look of this, by the feeling it provoked. The morning though it was chilly, overall the climate wasn't cold, but the presence of Winter was easily noticed.
The Tendo Residence was also a victim of the white mantle, the pond outside their garden was covered by a thin cape of ice, the windows where also affected by the cool air and it showed since they had some minor ice on them besides they weren't transparent as always; this time they were misted. Inside the heater was on so it wasn't cold at all, the heat coming from the oven baking cookies at the time also helped warming the residence. The delicious smell of recently home-made gingerbread cookies filled the house causing the desire to try the cookies the soonest it was possible.
In another section of the residence was a young girl named Akane, she was decorating a tall, green as an emerald Christmas tree with red ornaments, while a young tall man named Ranma, was opening some boxes with more decorative instruments.
"Akane," Ranma said "I think we should also put some silver ones, it would look better that way."
"Yeah Ranma, you're actually right. Silver and red would look pretty on the tree." Akane said.
"Ok then, I'll put the silver ones and I'll put the lights too." Ranma said.
"Yes, but I want to put the star okay?" Akane asked.
"The star? Aww man, I wanted to do that too..."
"Please?"
"Ok, you'll put it, anyways it is kinda girly." Ranma said.
With that answer Akane took out a big silver and white star from a box after she finished with the red ornaments, the star was perfect for the large tree it was put on.
At that time another young girl known as Akane's older sister named Nabiki arrived to where Akane and Ranma were decorating, but unlike the other two she wasn't decorating or helping with anything; she was standing with her back rested on the wall, she looked at them and spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"Aww, isn't it cute? A couple decorating for Christmas together. I should take pictures of this moment to be remembered forever by your children and grandchildren for generations."
At this Akane and Ranma reacted.
"What are you saying Nabiki! I'm just trying to make the tree look good since you do nothing about it, so it has nothing to do with him!" Akane said facing her older sister which was now with a smirk on her face.
"Yeah, that's true, I mean I am not gonna do all the decorations by myself, if there was anyone else that could help me instead of this macho-chick I would of accepted." Ranma said with a smirk on his face and an open box filled with silver ornaments in his hands.
"Wait, what did you just said!?" Akane asked turning to her fiancee.
"Haha come on Akane I was just kidding. I don't mind doing the decorations with a tomboy, that's ok with me so don't worry." Ranma said trying to not make Akane's temper rise but unfortunately he failed miserably.
"You jerk!!!" Akane said and with that she got a mallet out of nowhere seemingly and slammed Ranma full on the head making his face smash with the box of ornaments on his hands.
"Ahhh stupid look what you did!" Ranma said while he removed the pieces of broken ornaments on his face.
"You deserved it." Akane said in defense.
Nabiki was still there looking at the events that developedjust by saying three simple sentences. She stopped resting on the wall and went her way out of the living room but stopped and spoke again.
"You guys, I was just joking with you, but you make such a great drama out of it, really if you two were put on a TV show, I don't know what will happen. Much less if you had really gotten married. You're both so dense and so easy to tease" With that Nabikistarted walking her way out again directing herself to her bedroom upstairs.
Both Ranma and Akane stared at her, not knowing what to say in defense but anyway said what came first to their mouths.
"I am not dense!"
Kasumi heard all that interaction from the kitchen where she was preparing dinner for her family, she needed to make big portions of everything since the two guests going-to-be-family-soon, ate a lot; more than what normal people would expect.
'Oh my I can't believe they still are like that. Neither Ranma nor Akane had improved a lot from the first time they met in his real form, will they ever grow up? And Nabiki, she has been acting weird for a time now, what is her problem?' Kasumi thought.
*Ding* the bell of the oven rang another set of cookies were ready. The eldest Tendo sister took them out of the oven wearing gloves in both of her hands so that she wouldn't get burnt like her youngest sister had done hundreds of times. She wanted to give some cookies to who had been really nice to her, and some others to the kids at the hospital, she loved those sweet and lovely kids, they always treated her with respect.
'Nabiki has something going on, she seems to be troubled with something or most likely someone. Sometimes I have to admit it is hard to deal with my little sisters.' Kasumi continued thinking.
Besides the gate to the pond there were two middle-aged men playing a shogi game.
Genma, Ranma's father, was winning while Soun, Akane's father, was rather bothered that his best friend was winning, even if it was by cheating.
"Genma I thought I was winning just a minute ago before I went to get a glass of water." Soun said
"Well my friend you thought wrong." Said Genma.
"Umm, but I'm sure I was winning you. Did you do something to the board while I was at the kitchen?" Soun asked Genma, looking at him suspiciously.
"Wha- me? You think I would actually cheat? No, no, no Soun you've got it all wrong; cheating on the game if I was loosing horribly and with no possible chance to win would be very dishonorable, I would never do that and much less to my friend."
"Are you sure?" Soun said raising one of his eyebrows.
"I can't believe it, are you actually doubting me? Your friend since long ago."
Genma got up from where he was sitting and started to talk about a lot of things of their friendship and the times in the past they helped each other and about honor. While his friend was doing his emotional speech, Soun wasted no time and moved the some of the pieces on the board so that it was all in his favor. Soun then returned to his seat and looked at Genma like if he was paying attention to what he was saying trying to not look suspicious.
After Genma finished most of his speech with fake tears in his eyes he looked at Soun and to close he said, "That's why my friend I would never cheat on you"
"Yes, Genma how could I have doubted in you, my friend. I will never have any doubt in you nor in your words, and hope you do the same for me." Soun said.
"Of course my friend.I will always trust you" Genma got to his seat and looked at the shogi board, then at Soun. "Did you moved something on the board?"
"No, it is just as we left it. You trust me don't you?"
"Oh well...I guess I don't."
With that both started their game and a after few minutes later Soun won the game after all; since Genma tried to make him look away, distract him so that he could move some pieces in his favor but that didn't worked out.
Nabiki was at her bedroom laying on her bed looking at some fashion magazine.
There was a slight knock on the door.
"Come in." Said Nabiki expecting to see her younger sister, although she was wrong, it was Kasumi who entered the room. Nabiki was a bit surprised by that but she didn't showed in her expression. "Oh, hi sis' are you done already with cooking?" She said while she returned to look at the pictures and all the articles in the magazine.
Kasumi closed the door slowly behind her and looked at her younger sister.
"Nabiki why do you always bother Akane and Ranma? They were comporting really well with each other today, they hadn't fought all day before you said that to them."
"Wow, yeah four hours without fighting now that's a lot!" Said Nabiki in a sarcastic manner.
"Well Nabiki considering it is Ranma and Akane it is a lot."
"Besides how do you know what I said to them?" Nabiki asked without putting her magazine down but this time looking at her sister.
"I heard it all from the kitchen." Kasumi said without her trademark smile she always wore.
"So that's how...well you don't have to get worried about it, didn't you heard I was just jokin'? Besides I wasn't trying to get them mad or anythin'."
Kasumi sat down on her sister's bed just beside her. Without looking at her she said; "Nabiki, I don't know what's the matter with you, but you don't seem to be the same; you act different now. Your attitude towards our younger sister changed, you don't treat her the same. The same is with Ranma, your attitude towards him changed too..."
Nabiki closed and putted her magazine totally down this time then she looked at her sister beside her. "What are you talking about sis'? I treat Akane the same way as I always have, with Ranma is the same since I've met him. I don't treat them better nor worse." She said not knowing where her oldest sister is going with the conversation.
"Well, I don't think so Nabiki, maybe you can make everyone else think you have the same attitude towards those two but not me, you can't deceive me. Even though I look naive and like I don't know what's going on most of the time, I sure know more than what you all give me credit for." Kasumi said this time looking at Nabiki more serious than before.
This was really weird for Nabiki, of all people she would have never thought Kasumi would look this serious and talk that way to her, saying that she is not like everybody thinks she is; naive and innocent, and actually showing her that she was right.
" Kasumi, so all this time I thought I knew you, I was wrong sis, you actually know how the world works. I can't imagine all the things you have kept in secret."
"Nabiki don't try to change the subject. I know that you have even changed attitude towards Ranma and Akane together." Kasumi looked at how her sister changed her cool expression.
She continued; "I've seen how you changed your acts towards both of them; when you see them together having a good moment, which means when they are not fighting, you do something to make them fight each other. Also when Akane cooks for Ranma you make her mad at him for no reason apparently. Like that time when Akane was trying to make a dessert for Ranma, you went and told her that Ranma said it would be disastrous and that the dessert would come alive and instead of him eating it, It would eat him since it would take a living form of a monster and that he would have to save Akane from that and defeat the monster she created.
That and some other times I can remember. You seem like if you want to ruin the relationship between them, you know that it is delicate since there can't be a day without them fighting, and knowing how they are you know what happens, you actually know that perfectly."
Nabiki stared at her older sister speechless, she didn't knew what to say or how to act, she was defenseless this time. Of course she wouldn't let her older sister know that, she wouldn't stay quiet for long, she had to respond.
"I don't do it for that reason, I do it just to uh...it's, it was all an accident. Everything I had supposedly done bad to them its not because I wanted to, it was just an accident, something that happened. Its not like if I want to brake them up, that has nothing to do with it! By the way why would I even want to do that! I have no reason for separating those two."
Kasumi stayed still for awhile looking at Nabiki in the eyes, she knew that her sister was nervous and somehow desperate like if she was hiding something; she suspected that.
"Nabiki", Kasumi said "Don't lie to me, there is no need to. I don't know what your reason, motives or inspiration is for doing what you're doing, but I hope you do it for well and not for wrong. If you think they shouldn't be together for good, if you don't like Ranma for Akane, or if you want Ranma for yourself well do what you have to do, but don't make it for bad motives, also don't do it by them not knowing; make them know what you want; just say what you feel, and be honest about trying to get your goal, and please don't do anything dishonorable. I'll support you sister, you know you can count on me, but just as long as you don't hurt anyone."
With that Kasumi got up from the bed and went her way to the door, she opened it without looking at Nabiki again. Before she was out of the bedroom she said; "Nabiki please think twice of what you are doing, to see if it is really what you want, I don't want you to make a big mistake, and please consider your sister's and Ranma's feelings too." With that she got out and went at the kitchen to call everyone to eat.
Nabiki stared at where her sister was, she didn't blinked until few moments later.
She didn't know what to do now, her older sister had done what really few had done, if anyone else had, she had left her without words. Nabiki changed her position to one of sitting, she stayed sitting there on her bed thinking about what her sister just told her.
~15 MINUTES BEFORE~
Akane hadn't talked to Ranma since of what Nabiki told them, that and the fact that she made him smash with the ornaments so he had to clean up his face, of course Akane wouldn't ever admit it was her fault.
After the incident Akane decided to go to watch some TV since it would make her take her mind off things and make her forget problems, also it was almost time her favorite program was on, she almost never got to watch it since it was at school time, but this time it was different since school was suspended for snowing. A little before her TV program began her oldest sister came from the kitchen and walked to her she asked her what was going on, Akane told her all that happened with a little of her own inventions, within those was that Ranma had insulted her first and said that he would prefer her other fiances or any other person to be with him instead of her decorating, after hearing the story from Akane Kasumi went to the kitchen again without any other word.
Akane was going to go with Kasumi but then her TV program started so instead she stayed where she was sitting and paid all her attention at the television.
Kasumi went to the kitchen to wash her hands, then she putted the things in their place and when everything was in order she went to Nabiki´s bedroom.
Akane was still watching her TV program and paid no attention to anything besides it.
A few moments after, the program was over so Akane got up stretched and called for Kasumi. ¨Kasumi. Sister, are you here?"
When there was no answer she went to the kitchen where she was most of the time.
She went inside but her sister wasn't there. She went deeper into the kitchen and on the table she saw a deep big plate with a cover on top, Akane went to it.
"What's this?" She asked herself and lifted the cover. Inside was the food Kasumi had cooked. "It's Kasumi's cooking, it looks so good. Mmmm, maybe I can make it better." Said Akane after tasting it.
Akane said to no one in special. She got some species from the cabinets and some vegetables from the refrigerator. She put all her materials on the table beside the already cooked food.
"I'll make my sister proud! This time I will not mess up!" Akane said with a lot of enthusiasm and right after she said that she started making Kasumi's already delicious food 'better'. 10 minutes later she finished with the food she was improving, and putted down at the table. "I'm done!" She said. "I know this will taste great! There is no way I could have messed up. If it was really good before like Kasumi made it, now that I improved it and added more things it'll be better! If it has more ingredients it is better right?" She was talking to herself.
~PRESENT~
Kasumi came back from upstairs, she was done talking to her sister for now.
She went to the kitchen to get the food she prepared and serve it to her family. She entered the kitchen and saw Akane there standing just in front of her food.
"Akane? What are you doing here sister?" Kasumi asked prepared for the worst.
"Kasumi! I was looking for you. Since I didn't found you here." Said Akane with a smile on her face turning to look at her oldest sister.
"Akane I told you I was going upstairs."
"Really? Well I probably didn't heard you, since I was watching my TV program."
"Ok, but umm sister what are you doing here? Where you here just looking for me?"
Kasumi hoped the answer was yes, that Akane was just there in the kitchen searching for her, that she did nothing to the food nor anything else.
"Well Kasumi yes I first came in just for that purpose but then I saw the delicious food you made and I thought, well you know..." Akane started saying.
'Oh my, please Akane don't tell me that you did something to the food.' Kasumi thought while listening to her youngest sister.
"I helped you improve your food's taste a little!" Akane finally said now smiling more.
Kasumi stared at her sister not in a bad way but in a expressionless way almost like Nabiki would but much less colder.
"So you did something to what I already prepared?"
"Yes! Isn't it great? I mean if you already had it delicious since I tasted it first, but I thought it might need some salt and pepper so I putted some on it, not much then I thought that if I putted more species it might come out even better than before so I seasoned a little bit more! Besides I wanted to help you since you do all the cooking by yourself and I wanted to show our family that I am also a great cook! I just need the right ingredients that's all." Akane said with a lot of inspiration in her voice.
"Oh, okay." Kasumi said, "I am glad you care about me." She said the last part with a small smile, the one she always wore.
"I'll serve it too okay sis'. I want to see the expressions of them when they eat, and to show Ranma that I can be a great cook!" Akane got the plate where Kasumi left the food at, but oddly Akane seemed to have trouble picking up the tray as if it was heavy as a rock, she got herself to carry it with effort and walked to the dinner room.
Kasumi saw from something green spill from the tray somehow the green thing seemed to move, it moved worm like and made rare sounds.
"Oh by the way sis', hope you can help me clean the kitchen, its just that I didn't had time to do it by myself." After saying that Akane got out carrying the tray.
Kasumi hadn't really looked at the kitchen since all her attention was on Akane
And what she did to her food, that seemed to havetaken live. She took a look at the kitchen and it was a total mess. "Oh my! But I just went for 15 minutes." Kasumi said to herself covering her mouth with one hand. "Well, I think I'll start cleaning, starting with you ." Kasumi went to get a broom and started cleaning the slime-like thing named as `food` by Akane. After she took the slime out of the house, she saw at the table what seemed to be the ingredients that Akane used.
"Why is there detergent, rat poison, powder soap, and vinegar here? Oh, my! Did Akane just used this as ingredients!" Kasumi got out of the kitchen as fast as she could and went to where Akane was.
"Hey why don't you want to eat it? It's really good." Akane asked her father and Genma who denied eating what she had in the tray.
"Akane its not that we don't like what you cook or that we disdain your efforts to cook for us, but is just that we aren't hungry." Said Soun trying not to hurt her daughter's feelings.
"But I thought I just heard you say you were so hungry while you were playing shogi."
"No, no, no Akane you heard really wrong!" Genma said not wanting to eat Akane's so called `food`.
"Oh, well okay, but I'll make sure to leave you two some so when you're hungry you can feel free to get it." Akane told the two older men.
"Yes, okay that's fine, but I don't think I'll be hungry today." Soun said.
"Yeah, and I umm need to lose some weight so I won't eat today neither." Genma said.
Akane looked suspiciously at them but did nothing about it. Later Ranma came in to the dinner room, he was just out of a shower since his hair was still wet. As soon as Ranma came in Akane offered the food to him not really forgetting what had happened earlier, but also trying to show him that she could be a better than his other fiances.
"Hey Ranma, are you hungry? Do you want to eat?" Akane asked him.
"Umm hungry. Now that you say so I am..." Ranma didn't finish what he was saying since he got distracted by Soun and Genma making signs to him behind Akane, trying to tell him not to eat the food if he valued his stomach, though Ranma couldn't really make out what their message was.
"What are ya guys tryin' to tell me?" Ranma asked the men behind Akane.
She looked back and saw them whistling and looking to other ways avoiding her gaze.
"What are you talking about Ranma? Well are going to eat or not?" Akane asked now returning to look at the boy in front of her. Behind Akane the men started again making signs, now this time Ranma got their message.
"Oh, uhh no thanks, I ain't hungry."
"Are you sure. I thought you were just going to say that you were hungry."
"No Akane, really I'm ok." While saying that his stomach growled loudly, he tried to hide it but he couldn't.
"So you aren't hungry huh?" Said Akane getting angry.
"Hahaha, well Akane to tell the truth I don't wanna eat that food."
"But why? There's nothing wrong with it, it's perfectly normal!" Akane said.
"It can't be normal if it was cooked by you." Ranma said.
"Here's where they start arguing again." Genma said looking at the two teenagers.
"Yes, don't you think we should stop them before they get worse?" Soun asked.
"Yeah right, and get us in middle of a fight? No, if you want to come out with no injuries we should stay away." Said Genma.
"Are you sure that's the best to do? Shouldn't we help them?"
"I don't think so, besides you know they will make up later. I'm already got used to this so nothing is goin' to happen, they'll be fine."
"Umm well, okay, but I'm worried about my daughter."
"You shouldn't worry she knows really well how to defend herself. The one that I do worry about is Ranma since he has not protection against mallets, nor anything Akane hits him with."
"Shouldn't you help him?"
"No, that way he'll learn. I think Akane's hitting somehow helps him get tougher in battle." Genma said leaving to the room where they always played shogi.
"It does?" Soun asked following behind Genma.
"I don't know, maybe I should ask him one day." Both men left the dinner room with empty stomachs, leaving the two teenagers arguing.
"What did you said?!" Akane was now angry.
"What you heard. Or what besides being a tomboy you are also deaf?" Ranma asked mockingly.
"Oh yeah so that's what you think! I just prepared food for you and you don't even try it! What's your problem?! You jerk!" Akane said her temper rising.
"My problem is that you are a horrible cook and you want everybody to eat your food but you don't even try it before! Also your temper doesn't help at all." Ranma said also getting mad.
Kasumi got in where Akane and Ranma were.
"Well I'll make you eat this whether you like it or not! And you'll see I'm not a bad cook as you say I am!." Akane got the tray with one hand with surprisingly strength and was ready to throw it on Ranma's face, fortunately before she did that Kasumi spoke.
"No Akane wait! Don't do that!"
Akane stopped her hand with the tray full of food which was less than a centimeter away from Ranma's face. Then she turned to look at where the voice came from.
Ranma first gave an angry stare at Akane then looked at where Kasumi was.
"What is it Kasumi?" Akane asked.
"Akane you can't make Ranma eat that food. You putted by mistake some toxic ingredients to it, if he ate that he could have gotten sick or even worse." Kasumi said looking worried and serious.
Akane lowered the tray and looked at Ranma for a moment then returned to look at her sister. "They were toxic ingredients? But they looked pretty normal to me."
"Well you just messed up with them, it is easy to confuse them if you don't read what it says." Said Kasumi.
"See! What did I told you! You want to make me sick of my stomach more than what you normally do..." Ranma said to Akane.
"Hey I didn't knew those weren't the right ingredients ok."
"Next time Akane please read through everything so that it won't happen again." Said Kasumi.
"Yes sister, I'll be more careful."
"Oh and by the way Akane before you do anything to my food, please ask me for permission first." Kasumi said.
"Yes, sister I will." Akane said with her face down.
"Yeah be more careful, you don't know who you could kill with that type of food."
After saying that Ranma went to watch some TV and rest, he was still hungry but he wouldn't eat anything Akane prepared, so he would wait until Kasumi fixed the problem of the food.
Akane went with Kasumi to help clean the kitchen and the mess she left.
"Akane I think I will have to order some food since I don't have what I need and everybody is hungry. I'll go to the market later." Kasumi already on the phone told Akane.
"Yes sister, that's fine with me." Akane said while throwing the toxic food away.
Nabiki was still on her bed, though now she was laying on her back with her head on a pillow, her eyes looking at the roof. All she was doing was thinking.
'I don't know what to say, what to think. How couldn't I have noticed? Well it seems there are some things I don't notice myself. But what Kasumi said...she is right in some aspects, I have changed with Akane, but with Ranma? I didn't even notice that, I don't think I treat him any different, besides that I sell more pictures of him not only in his female form but also in his male form...but what does that have to do with it? I haven't really change my attitude towards him neither my feelings toward him have changed. How could they change if there never existed any? Its ridiculous...or did it existed?
'Aghh this is so confusing! I have to get my mind off that topic for now, I'll go down and do something to keep my mind off that and also to get some food since I'm hungry.'
She got up from her bed got out from her bedroom and went downstairs to the kitchen. There she saw Kasumi and Akane cleaning up a mess.
"Wow, what happened? Did we got attacked by terrorists?" Nabiki asked in her usual way.
Akane looked at Nabiki, she hadn't noticed she came into the kitchen. Then Kasumi answered the question Nabiki asked.
"It's because Akane tried to—" she was cut off by Nabiki.
"Wait don't tell me, let me guess she tried to cook something and she screwed up. How strange when you´re talking about Akane, who has done that every time she cooks somethin´." Nabiki said with a bit of cold tone in her voice, it went unnoticed by Akane but Kasumi easily noticed it.
Akane stayed quiet she could not answer back to her sister since she knew it was her fault, although she did not admitted it to everyone. Kasumi was the one that responded to her sister instead.
"Well you are not right, Akane did not cooked, I did. She just felt I needed help so she tried to make the food taste better but she accidentally putted some wrong ingredients in it. It was not all of her fault though, I should have been more careful."
"Careful? In what way could you be more careful with how you cook? Kasumi you are an awesome cook and you take care of everything really well, but you shouldn't take the blame for our sister. It was her fault, she was the one who wasn't careful not you, so don't try to take the responsibility from her; she has to grow up and face the problems by herself." Nabiki said this time a little bit more colder.
Kasumi listened to her and stayed quiet for a few seconds after her younger sister finished. Akane still didn't spoke she just faced down trying not to look at Nabiki who was looking at her coldly.
"Akane I think you should go, you already helped me a lot, I'll speak with Nabiki here for a while." Kasumi said looking at Akane. Akane heard what she said and walked out of the kitchen slowly and silently, she felt Nabiki was taking the incident too seriously.
After Akane got out and was sure she was out of hear reach Kasumi spoke.
"Nabiki I think you went to far this time and I don't think it is just because of the food.
You have something else in your mind you don't want to tell me about, because I don't think you said everything you did just because of this incident."
"What else would it be about. I don't think I went too far with what I told her, all of it its true; you just told me earlier you wanted me to say what I felt, so what is the problem then." Nabiki said folding her arms.
"That is not what I meant. And I know its not what you don't know either. Please sister, Nabiki tell me what is wrong and I'll help you with it. I don't want my two little sisters to be mad at each other, I want peace in the family. I want you to know we can count on each other and help us out." Kasumi said looking at her sister seriously but with great care in her eyes.
Nabiki looked away from Kasumi, unfolded her arms and started walking out of the kitchen giving her back to Kasumi. Before she got completely out she said without looking at her sister.
"I don't know, Kasumi. I don't know what is wrong with me...I discovered that I did change my feelings towards Akane, but I don't know how or why. My feelings towards Ranma I'm not sure if they changed, I still haven't figured that out... and thanks for offering help sister, but I think you can't help me this time." With that Nabiki got out of the kitchen.
Kasumi stayed where she was, looking at where her sister was just a moment ago.
"Nabiki...what happened between us sister?"
After a few moments of thinking about the events that happened, Kasumi saw the clock hanged on a wall. 'Oh my the food delivery will be here in any minute, I shall go get the money ready.' She went to get her purse and got some money out she count it and went downstairs.
There was a knock on the front door, Kasumi opened it with the exact money already in her hand.
"Hi Shampoo, nice to see you around here." Kasumi greeted politely and nicely with the smile that characterizes her, the purple haired Amazon who was putting her bike besides the entrance resting on the wall.
"Nihao Kasumi! I bring too too delicious ramen order, careful they really hot."
Said the Amazon carrying the order.
"Oh thanks Shampoo, please come in, maybe you can join us." Said Kasumi letting her into the residence.
"Thank you Kasumi, I not hungry but Shampoo think can stay some time."
Kasumi and Shampoo got in the residence with no one noticing. Shampoo helped Kasumi getting the table ready for breakfast, though it was late for that already.
"Breakfast is ready!" Kasumi said. This time it was ready and it looked, smelled and also probably tasted delicious, no slimy like poison. Everyone gathered at the dinning table, Soun and Genma were the first ones to arrive, the sight of the Amazon did not bothered them now since they got used to it and she cooked great so they were actually glad to see her and most of all see her food there.
Then Nabiki came out of the restroom and to the table, when she saw Shampoo she wasn't surprised at all either and she actually felt relieved she came though she didn't really knew why.
"Hi Shampoo, how you been?" Asked Nabiki to the surprise of the Amazon.
"Shampoo fine. What wrong with greedy-girl? " Shampoo asked looking at Nabiki with a surprised look.
"Me? There's nothing wrong I just wanted to welcome you politely like my sister here does, that's all." Nabiki answered.
Shampoo was not satisfied with the answer but she figured out it wasn't something to think about deeply.
Nabiki took her seat and served some of the noodles Shampoo delivered, few seconds later she started eating.
Akane came out from her bedroom she went downstairs to eat, still feeling bad for what she did to the kitchen and the food Kasumi prepared not to forget to how her sister Nabiki reacted, that really bothered her since she had never been so mad over something like that. Instead of thinking deeply about it Akane thought she would forget all that happened today and go to eat the delicious food Kasumi always prepared, though she was thinking about how fast Kasumiprepared food again, and she thought she heard her say she would need to go to the market.. well maybe she just ordered something.
Akane finally arrived at the dinner table and wasn't glad at all at what she saw,
The purple haired Amazon was there sitting at her table, with her family, talking to her sister Kasumi and everyone else was enjoying the food which seems to be a delivery of the Cat Cafe. As soon as they looked at each other Akane made a face of disgust obviously not liking the company of the Amazon.
'Great now I have to deal with this Amazon after all that had happened today, and besides everyone eats the food she prepares enjoying it when they can't even try mine! Just because of some little mistakes I made with cooking and no one eats what I prepared, that's not fair! I will not eat this food under any circumstance, even if I'm hungry as hell.'
Thought Akane while she sat down not taking her eyes off Shampoo who looked at her for a second then looked back to Kasumi who was having a conversation with her.
Ranma came inside the house from outside, he had been practicing some katas and enjoying the fresh air and the now thinner cover of snow beneath him. He went to the dinner room just after taking off some snow from his shirt, he was a little surprised to find Shampoo there too, having a conversation with Kasumi.
"Shampoo, what are you doing here?" He asked.
Shampoo stopped her conversation with Kasumi about some cooking recipes and looked at her fiance soon she was happier than before.
"Nihao Ranma! Shampoo came to visit, and bring too too delicious food. Eat some I serve you a lot so you no hungry anymore."
"Wow, thanks! I am really hungry I haven't eaten in all day, I could eat a horse!" Ranma said while he sat down next to Akane who wasn't eating.
Akane looked at him and said, "Oh so you couldn't eat what I prepared with a lot of effort but you sure are enthusiastic to eat her food aren't you?"
Ranma looked at Akane and said, "I can't believe you're still mad about that. You heard Kasumi if I had ate that I would have no stomach, it was toxic. C'mon just forget about that."
"How can I? You always compare my cooking skills tothose of your other fiancees!" Akane said getting mad at Ranma again.
"What? You are the one that always compares yourself to them and not only in that, but in many other things." Said Ranma trying not to lose his patience and start shouting like Akane.
"That's not true! You just want me to take blame as if it was my fault! You know what you can eat whose ever food you want, I don't have to worry about cooking food for you anymore and I won't ever again!"
"Are ya sayin' you won't prepare food for me anymore?" Ranma asked.
"Yes, that's exactly what I said!" Akane said.
"Yes! That will be fine with me, yay! Finally I don't have to eat toxic waste!" Ranma said excitedly.
"Are you actually happy I will not cook for you anymore?" Akane asked.
"Of course I am!" Said Ranma.
"Oh yeah..well take this!" Akane got her trustworthy mallet and hit him hard on the face. Then she got up and went to her bedroom her steps heavy, obviously mad at what Ranma had said about her food, again.
After all the interaction between Ranma and Akane passed, everyone at the table stared at Ranma but after a few seconds resumed eating. Shampoo came out of the kitchen she heard everything, she served Ranma's enormous hot plate.
"Here Ranma, hope enjoy!" Shampoo said with a cute giggle.
"Thanks Shampoo! It looks delicious!" Said Ranma and started eating with no mercy.
Shampoo sat down next to Ranma and watched him eat.
Nabiki got up from the table and starting walking out of the dinning room.
"I'll go out, I'll be back later." Nabiki said and went outside.
Kasumi looked at her sister walking out, when she couldn't see her anymore she sighed and got up from the table.
"Excuse I have to get up too." Kasumi said while going to the kitchen there she got the cookies she prepared earlier and putted them in a round box. Then she set off to 's office.
"Well Shampoo I have to say this was delicious!" Soun said.
"Yes Shampoo, everything was perfect!" Genma said while getting up of the table.
"Thanks! Shampoo like cooking, specially when is for Ranma." Shampoo said looking at Ranma.
"Well Tendo, want to play another game of shogi?" Asked Genma walking out of the dinner room.
"A rematch Saotome? Well I'll give you the honor but that doesn't mean it will be different from the last two times." Said Soun following Genma.
Ranma finally finished with the big plate Shampoo had served him, he really enjoyed since it was really tasty, he would have to admit that Shampoo's food was one of the best he had ever eaten. Then he looked around and saw that there was no one else at the dinner table besides him and Shampoo who was too close to him.
"Well thanks for that Shampoo, you truly are a great cook." Ranma said with a smile of satisfaction in his face.
"Thanks Airen. Ranma like my food so much could eat it everyday?" Shampoo asked.
"Yeah, I think so, since I have to admit you're one of the best cooks around."
"Yes, well if Ranma want eat this kind of food everyday, Ranma should be with I." Shampoo said wrapping her arms over his right arm and giggling.
"What? No err, Shampoo I do enjoy a lot what ya cook, but that doesn't mean I'll be with ya just for that." Ranma said.
"Yes, of course Airen not be with Shampoo just for that, but I also have other qualities, many other qualities you not know about." Shampoo said looking at Ranma in the eyes.
"Uhh errr, well yeah ya have other qualities too but, I still don't want to get with you, nor with any other girl ok? I have other things to worry." Ranma said while thinking;
'I think she will try something on me, or maybe she putted something in my food, or I don't know but somehow something will go wrong and Akane will hit me and blame me for it.'
"You no want to have girlfriend yet? Ok." Shampoo said while looking at him but not at his eyes.
"What?"
"I said ok, I will not pressure you more with marrying." Shampoo said..
"I don't know why, but I have the feeling someone is spying on us, didn't ya felt it too?" Ranma said looking around the area.
"Nope, not really." Shampoo answered not bothering to look around.
"Oh, well maybe it was just my imagination. Wait a minute..did ya just spoke perfect Japanese?!" Ranma said surprised about how the Amazon spoke.
"Shampoo, learning Japanese more I improving with speaking skills." Shampoo said.
"Oh, well...wait! Did ya also said ya wouldn't pressure me anymore with getting married to you!?" Ranma asked surprised with what the Amazon beside him said.
"Yes, but that not mean I no want to marry you." Said Shampoo now letting go of Ranma's arm.
Ranma was going through a lot of feeling right now, he was happy, surprised, excited, relieved and mostly confused of what he heard.
He sure was glad Shampoo wouldn't pressure him anymore with getting married, but it was so out of character for her. He didn't know what to make out of the whole situation.
'She is not gonna tell me anymore to marry her..so did she dumped me? Well no 'cause she also said she still wants to marry me, there's something wrong here, she has something going on, maybe this is all part of a plan or somethin'. Maybe this is the old-ghoul's plan to make me marry Shampoo.' Ranma thought.
"Ranma?"
"Huh, oh Shampoo, sorry its just that I was thinking."
"That ok, didn't knew Ranma could be a deep thinker too." Shampoo said while giggling.
"Haha how funny. Even though I look dumb I can think also, ok ." Said Ranma.
"Yes, its just that apeearences can be deceptive sometimes." Shampoo said looking away from Ranma.
"Exactly...wait did ya just spoke well again?"
"Shampoo already tell Ranma, Shampoo improving." Shampoo said somehow exalted still not directing her look to Ranma.
Ranma was looking suspiciously at Shampoo but let it go, though he was still thinking that she may have planned something, he lowered his defence a little, after all Shampoo was not being annoying this time.
"So that ok with you Ranma?"
"Huh, what?"
"Didn't you heard what I say?"
"Umm not really, sorry I was thinking again."
"Oh, well I just say that I want be friends right now. Not anything else but friends." Shampoo said..
"Friends?" Ranma asked surprised for the third time by the Amazon.
"Yes, just friends. That ok right?" Shampoo asked.
"Umm yeah, I guess." Ranma said, not knowing any consequence of them two being just friends, it actually was better, now that she wouldn't bother him anymore.
"Ok, that good. Well I have go to great-grandmother's she worry if I no return from delivery." Shampoo said while getting up then stretched and started walking out. To her surprise Ranma followed her to the door.
"Bye Ranma! See later!" She said when she got outside and started leaving.
"Wait Shampoo!" Said Ranma. Shampoo stopped her way to her bicycle and turned around to look at Ranma.
"Why are ya doing this? You're acting completely out of character." Ranma said. "Ya aren't planning somethin are ya?" The last part he said it with a grin marked in his lips.
"Of course not Ranma. I told you already, I just want to be friends with you...right now." Shampoo said again she started walking away, then she got her bike and got up on it, she spoke again "And no worry Ranma, I no planning anything, you be sure of that." With that she pedaled away back to the Cat Cafe.
"Shampoo...she perfectly spoke Japanese again." Ranma said. "Maybe she means it, she just wants to be a friend to me, but I still think there is something weird with her, and with me too...I somehow felt awkward when she said she just wanted to be my friend. Well, I better get in its getting colder out here." Ranma got into the house and went to watch some TV.
Meanwhile Akane was in her bedroom hungry, mad and somehow worried. She went downstairs when everyone else left, she thought she might eat some food without anyone noticing, but she stopped her way to the dinner table when she heard her enemy talk.
"I said ok, I will not pressure you more with marrying." She came in time to hear Shampoo say that, but still Akane couldn't believe that.
'Whatever like if she would really give up on him.' She thought not wanting to make any sound so that she would be unnoticed by the two martial artists having a conversation.
Akane went walking slowly and as careful as she could manage to a wall next of the dining room, she leaned on it so she could hear perfectly what they were saying.
Though she missed some parts of the conversation she heard.
"Yes, its just that appearances can be deceptive sometimes."
'Okay that's Shampoo, but what does she mean by that?' Akane questioned herself.
While wondering about what Shampoo said for a time she lost other parts of the conversation, but then she putted all her attention again on what they were saying.
"Oh, well I just say that I want be friends right now. Not anything else but friends."
'What? Did Shampoo just said she wanted to be just friends with Ranma!? Ok now that is really suspechious, there's something going on there, she has to be up to something.'
Akane thought not convinced that the Amazon just wanted a friendship with Ranma.
She missed some parts, since they talked in a lower tone then she heard Shampoo say she had to leave.
'Finally that bimbo is leaving.'
Akane thought, she tilted her head a little to the right of the wall and glimpsed to see what was going on and she saw both Ranma and Shampoo going out of the dinning room, it seemed that they were going to the front door.
'That jerk! Why is he walking her to the door? Well maybe she just wants her to leave without trying anything.' Akane thought. She went and followed them without being noticed. There was some talking she didn't heard since she was farther from them this time, but she perfectly heard something that didn't made her happy at all.
"Wait Shampoo!" Akane heard Ranma said after Shampoo was leaving.
'That Ranma, he doesn't want Shampoo to leave or what?!' Akane asked to herself
"Why are ya doing this?"
'Doing what? And why does he somehow sounds kind of disappointed.' Akane thought.
"Of course not Ranma. I told you already, I just want to be friends with you...."
She heard that from Shampoo, it was the last thing she heard her say. Akane was at a loss, she didn't knew exactly what they were talking about, she felt like she was excluded and she hated that.
'Does she really want to be Ranma's friend?' She asked herself.
'No it can't be, that Amazon is crazy for him, well make that for his talent as a martial artist and also the fact that its the Amazon rules...but still maybe she really just wants to be his friend, its weird that she didn't tried to do anything to him while they were alone, or putting any weird magic in his food. She just talked to him, normally and calm.'
Akane thought, she wasn't sure what Shampoo's intentions were, or what they were talking about, and she couldn't ask Ranma about it since he would accuse her of spying on him, which is just what she was doing.
Akane didn't hear anything else of what they were saying, she was too involved in her thoughts. A moment later she saw Ranma was coming back inside so she rapidly went to her bedroom like if she had always been there. Inside her bedroom Akane laid on her bed and thought more deeply on what she heard of the conversation.
'Okay so Shampoo said she will not pressure him to marry, and... wait'
"Did she just talked in perfect Japanese?" Akane said aloud to no one in particular since she was alone in her room. She putted a hand to cover her mouth since she didn't wanted Ranma to notice that she went to listen to their conversation. After few seconds she made sure he hadn't heard anything she started her thoughts again.
'Well besides that Shampoo talked in perfect Japanese that line she also said something about that apeearences can be deceptive, umm what did she meant by that? What or to who did she refer to?..She also said she wanted to be friends nothing else but friends..well that's too hard to believe considering how she acts around Ranma. Then she started to leave and Ranma walked her to the door.' Akane thought the last part with a hint of anger in her face.
'Then after they were outside, he wanted Shampoo to wait and don't leave..' Again Akane got a little more anger this time with that thought.
'He also asked Shampoo why was she doing what she was doing, which I don't know what it was..then Shampoo said no to something Ranma told her and she told him again she just wanted to be friends...well I think I don't have enough information. Maybe she did just wanted to be friends but then why would Ranma be disappointed about that? Ok I am still at a loss here.' She thought.
"But maybe..." She said aloud again then Akane stayed silent and thought.
'Maybe she somehow, dumped him. Yeah maybe that's it, she dumped him since she said she didn't wanted to marry him, she just wanted to be his friend and nothing else..so Shampoo gave up on Ranma! She will not bother us anymore, she won't annoy us, she won't trick us, she doesn't want to marry him!' Akane thought happily.
'So that's it, well then I won't have to worry about her doing any weird magic to me, I can finally be at peace.' Akane thought, then she remembered a memory of some months ago.
'But what if this is a plan of her, like what happened with the reversal jewel, she said she hated Ranma just for him to go after her, and of course the jerk played right into her game. Maybe she is doing the same this time; tricking Ranma saying she is her friend and then when she gains his trust she does some magic trick to make him love her, or be her slave....No I shouldn't let that happen, I won't let my defense down no matter if she says she just wants to be his friend, I have to be alert of any tricks she might pull off.' Akane thought.
Ranma was tired of watching the TV. There was nothing good in it, just channels about history, sports that he didn't liked, old movies, drama shows, programs about animals, XXX movies which he changed the channel faster when he encountered one of those he considered those type of movies gross, old music videos, new talentless music video, and the most annoying to him; a channel that had this show with a girl who was a 'famous singer' which name rhymed with Montana, and at other times she was a normal student at school with problems and non humorous comedy; so there was nothing interesting to watch at TV. He turned off the TV, got up and went to the dojo.
"I better practice a little, I'm so bored I almost want to do my homework." Ranma said while getting in a fighting position, he started with some easy katas, but then he moved up to more advanced ones.
Ranma stopped his training and started thinking to what Shampoo had told him a while earlier. "Why can't I take my mind of that subject?" Ranma said confused.
"Ok I have to think about something else. Maybe I should go outside and go visit Uc-chan or even encounter Ryoga. Anything is better than staying here bored with nothing batter to do than my homework." Ranma said. He got out of the dojo and went outside, it was colder outside since the sun was setting, so he decided to go back to the house to get a jacket.
Ok, that's all for today! This will be one of my longer fics, and I hope you liked it. :)
Please review and tell me what you think about it, I appreciate all comments, criticism and opinions. If you liked this one then please read the next chapter that will be out soon, maybe in like a month.
By the way I corrected some spelling errors, hope this time it would be more readable.