Jerri stared at what was supposed to be the area where a magical invisible disclaimer was posted. The nice stranger assured her that the disclaimer states she doesn't own Ranma 1/2 or the Emperor's New Clothes, but only true fans of Ranma 1/2 would be able to see it. She almost panicked when the stranger asked her what she thought about it. Try as she might, she couldn't see it. Was it because she never really read the manga? She only skimmed...well the majority of those chapters. And there was that cluster of boring sounding episodes she skipped. She was still a true fan...right? Right?
"It's perfect!" Jerri said as she laughed nervously.
"Wow Kasumi, you have a lot more stories written in this book!" Nabiki said flipping through the pages. Her eyes found one of the earlier entries.
Kuno's New Clothes
Once upon a time, there was a young man by the name of Tatewaki Kuno with an interesting dilemma…
"I cannot choose! I must have them both"
…he wanted to win the hearts of two girls: Akane Tendo and Ranko Saotome.
"Hey wait a minute Kasumi, you misspelled Ranma's name in this story." Nabiki said.
"Actually I chose to use Ranko is this one. It makes writing it a little easier." Kasumi replied.
"…or a bit lazier…" Nabiki mumbled.
While Kasumi's smile never faltered, her eyes hinted slight annoyance with her sister. "Well, if you think we should try to explain to a young Saotome why a strange young man is after the hearts of Mommy and Daddy-"
"Ranko it is." Nabiki said quickly.
Kuno was so exceedingly fond of the two girls that he would spend money on anything remotely related to them. He cared very little of what people thought of his obsession, in fact he was oblivious to the negative criticism it caused. After all, why would it matter to them if he has enough pictures of the two for every hour of the week? All that matter was his two loves.
So Kuno continued to try to win them over, but couldn't seem to get them to shed their false bravados about not wanting to date with him. There had to be a way to get them to stop being so shy! He was in his room thinking about the matter when he heard the doorbell ring.
Kuno sighed as his servant Sasuke answered the door. He may not know who the visitor was, but he had an idea what they wanted. Many visitors come to the Kuno household to sell their wares and services. Today it seems would be no different.
"Master Kuno, you have a visitor. She says she has heard of your troubles and has come to offer you a solution." Sasuke said.
The young woman waited besides the front door with a bag and a small portable loom. She seem to straighten up when she saw the two enter the room.
"N-Nabiki Tendo!?" Kuno said.
"Wait a minute Kasumi! You made me the stranger?" Nabiki asked.
"Is that a problem?" Kasumi countered.
"Oh course it is! The stranger is a con artist! Everyone knows that! You don't think of me as a con artist do you?" Nabiki said with a small distressed look on her face.
As before, Kasumi's change in demeanor was very slight but the careful observer could tell she was amused. Whether she was amused at making Nabiki the con artist or the fact that Nabiki still cared about her opinion about her sister remained a mystery. "Of course I don't Nabiki, but even you must admit that out of everyone you fit the role the best. I mean, you already sell photos of your sister and future brother-in-law to Kuno, is it that unlikely you would scheme him out of his money this way?"
Nabiki didn't really have a response for that.
"Let's cut the formalities, Kuno-baby." Nabiki said with a smile. "I hear you are having lady troubles. Well maybe I can help."
She held up her loom. "So here's the deal. The clothes I can weave with this loom are made with only the best fabrics and very powerful magic! But, only well educated people who deserve to be royalty can see them! Just imagine, you can finally see which girl is fit to be a Kuno!"
Kuno stared at Nabiki in shock. Clothes that could spot true royalty!? He thought. If I wore them, I can figure out which girl is fit to be my bride! Wait a moment…
"Nabiki Tendo, you did say well educated people can see this clothes right, not just royalty?" Kuno asked.
Nabiki blinked. Did he figure it out already? "Well, educated people should be able to see something more than the average person…" she said slowly.
Kuno grinned. Not only will I figure out which girl to choose, but I would also be able to discover the wise from the ignorant. The royal from the peasants. "Alright, Nabiki Tendo, you have yourself a deal!"
"50,000 yen." Nabiki said as she held out her arm. He paid her to start immediately.
So Nabiki started to work on her small portable loom. As she weaved, Kuno noticed something. He couldn't see the thread she was using! Was he not educated enough? Worse, was he unfit to be a Kuno? Nay, he thought and left Nabiki to her work.
As Kuno sat in his study, he couldn't help be to let his thoughts linger on the clothes Nabiki was weaving. A few hours had passed and while he was curious of Nabiki's progress, he dared not good to check up on it. Would he even be able to see the work in progress? Of course I will, He thought. The thread must be thin, that's all. Rather than question his abilities further, he called for his servant.
"Sasuke! To me!" Kuno ordered.
Sasuke appeared as if from nowhere. "Yes, Master Kuno?"
"Go to Nabiki and ask of her the status of my clothes." Kuno said.
So Sasuke went to check on Nabiki who was working away at her empty loom. He blinked when he didn't find anything. This can't be, he thought. I can't see anything at all!
When Nabiki realized he was there, she began showing off the clothes. "Look upon it Sasuke! What do you think about the pattern I made? Hopefully the colors aren't too bold. Please tell me what you think!" Nabiki said excitedly.
Sasuke shifted uncomfortably as he stared at the empty loom. He couldn't see anything, and he was starting to believe there wasn't anything to see.
"It's…uhh…beautiful." He managed. "Let me tell Master Kuno how wonderful it is. I'm sure he'll be just as amazed as I am."
"Wonderful." Nabiki said as she continued her work.
Sasuke went straight for Kuno to tell him of his discovery. "Master Kuno! I feel as though you are being deceived!" Sasuke said.
"What do you mean, Sasuke!? Is this about Nabiki Tendo and her loom?" Kuno asked.
"Yes Master! I couldn't see anything in her loom! There aren't any clothes!" said Sasuke.
Kuno watched Sasuke in stunned silence for several moments before bursting into laughter, much to Sasuke's surprise. "Oh, of course you didn't see anything Sasuke! I forgot! You need to be well educated or royalty to see the clothes!"
Sasuke's surprise expression shifted to one of annoyance. "And what are you implying Master Kuno?"
"Well you are a servant for your betters." Kuno smirked. He dismissed Sasuke with a wave of his hand.
"You deserve these clothes, Master Kuno." Sasuke muttered on his way out.
As more time passed, Kuno couldn't help but be more curious. He wanted to send someone else to check on Nabiki's progress, but didn't want to make the same mistake as he did with Sasuke. Royalty…royalty… Kuno thought. Who could send to check on the clothes?
"Oh Brother!" Said a voice. "Why is that Nabiki Tendo in our home?"
Of course! He could send his sister! "She is working on a beautiful set of clothes for me to wear. You have to be well-educated and worthy of royalty in order to see them!" He said.
"Well then, I should go see these clothes for myself!" Kodachi said as she left in a fit of laughter.
Kuno smirked. "And do tell me how they look upon inspection!"
Nabiki was humming happily when Kodachi entered. She cheerfully held up something for Kodachi. "Please Kodachi, please tell me what you think of my work!"
As with Sasuke, Kodachi couldn't see the cloth in Nabiki's hands. "Who are you trying to fool, Nabiki Tendo?" She asked.
"What are you talking about Kodachi?" Nabiki countered.
"You aren't holding any clothes! You are making up these clothes!" Kodachi said.
"Huh. Perhaps you just aren't meant to be royalty then." Nabiki said.
Kodachi blinked. Not meant to be royalty? Of course I am. I'm a Kuno! And I know I'm intelligent! "Wait! I see it! The colors! The pattern! You really outdid yourself Nabiki Tendo!" she said.
"You really think so Kodachi, you're not just saying that?" Nabiki asked.
"Of course not! Let me go tell my brother that you're nearly finished with your work." Kodachi said.
"That's what I like to hear. Thanks Kodachi." Nabiki said with a smile.
"You're welcome, Nabiki Tendo." Kodachi said. She missed Nabiki's satisfied smirk as she left to her brother's study. "Your new clothes are very lovely, Brother" she told him.
With that, Kuno felt confident enough to check on Nabiki's progress himself. He found her inspecting what appeared to be a few wired hangers with nothing on them. It can't be! He thought. I still can't see anything. Am I really not fit to be a Kuno? This is terrible! What a thing to happen to me of all people! He couldn't let Nabiki find out he couldn't see anything. He will not be embarrassed like that! "Well Nabiki Tendo, weaving is a skill you truly mastered." he said.
Nabiki grabbed the hangers and raised them for inspection. "These are the slacks," She said lifting on arm. "And this is the uwagi. You know, because you wear it so well!" She smiled as she lifted the other arm. "Keep in mind that they are light so you would almost think you had nothing on, but that's what makes them so fine."
"Exactly," agreed Kuno as he grabbed the hangers from Nabiki. "I'm off to change. Maybe I can finally put to rest who should be my love."
Kuno search all over Nerima for Akane and Ranko. Everywhere he went he seemed to create a big girth around crowds. People avoided him. Mothers shielded their children's eyes at his appearance. He scoffed at the lot of them. Fools! They all must be uneducated. They think I'm merely in my underwear. Finally he found the two girls…
…Who were pointing and laughing at him!
"Look at that! Kuno doesn't have any clothes on!" They said.
Kuno realized that he had been taken for a fool. He had to get back home to change, but he couldn't run defeated like a commoner. He had to be a proud Kuno through and through! So he strode down the path with his head held high, hoping that he wouldn't run into many people on his way back home.
Nabiki looked up at her sister. "This was a great story and all, Kasumi, but do you really think they will need it? After all, they seem-"
"Yes, I still believe that they will need my bedtime stories at some point in the future." Kasumi said. She frowned slightly. "Even if things seem slightly rocky at the moment."
The two sat in silence for a moment lost in thought. Nabiki decided to change the subject. "So the moral of the story is don't let pride or greed cloud your judgment?" She asked.
"Actually the moral of the story is don't grow up to be Tatewaki Kuno!" Kasumi said with a laugh.
Nabiki couldn't help but to join in.
Author's Note: I hope you like Kasumi's adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's The Emperor's New Clothes! I was trying to keep some kind of sub story working around these first two chapters, but I'm not certain if I'm going to continue this trend. Also, I was thinking of changing the title to Kasumi's Bedtime Stories. Would anybody have a problem with that?
And what's up with me not writing Ranma or Akane as fleshed out characters yet? It's almost like I'm deliberately avoiding them from some reason. Hmm…
Anyway, if anyone would like to suggest possible kid's stories to adapt, I'd be happy to hear them. I think this little series is cute enough to continue! :D
-Jerri
