Hey, hey HEEEEEY! Guess whose out of her funk?! This girl! Anyway, I'm back with an update on Pigs and Blankets and I apologize for taking longer than I expected! School's finally over, and I also just bought the new Harvest Moon game Story of Seasons! If anyone out there loves Harvest Moon games and is wondering about the latest game, it starts out slow but it gradually gets better. I mean very slow! Just need patience with this game. Anyway, I'm straying away from the topic at hand! Please excuse my lateness, and grammar errors, and enjoy this new chapter!
Chapter VII
"Ranma, Ranma are you listening?" Akane hissed when she saw Ranma's eyes off at a random corner of the quiet dojo. Ranma had rested his head against his right palm while staring far off out of the window that showed the beautiful afternoon. Outside was still bright with blue skies and not a cloud in sight. The pig-tail boy was itching to jump out of the door and practice his kata or run around,... shoo, chasing after the grand perverted master sounded exhilarating right now- anything beside figuring out math problems.
"Ranma!" The boy in question gave out an exaggerated sigh before looking over at his frowning fiancee, and for a second he feared she would materialize her mallet if he didn't answer back.
"Um... uh sixty-two-"
"Grrr, Ranma." Akane pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "You were actually doing well until you zoned out. We need to get through this math section before the test-"
"We've been through two sections already-"
"Half of the time I've been pulling you back from daydreaming and not focusing-"
"but I'm hungry now!" Ranma rested his head against his opened math book. "We've been at math for over an hour, and not one break. Akane..." Ranma whined, not ready to be drilled back into the world of algebra by his strict "teacher". Akane's frown disappeared with a sigh and she checked her wristwatch. Now that she thought about it, the two did get started with homework as soon as they got home from running away from the crazy upperclassmen, and the time now was almost four o' clock. Akane stared down at the pig-tail boy whose chin was resting on his open workbook and his face molded into a scrunched up frown. Akane felt her mouth twitch up at Ranma's unhappy face, she really wanted to laugh for Ranma's face was pretty funny.
"Careful, you keep that face up, and it will stay that way." Ranma turned his head a little to Akane and gave her a small stink eye, successfully making her giggle. "Ranma, alright, if you can answer number thirty I'll make some onigiri-"
"Y equals nineteen." Ranma sat up quickly, his eyes lost the dull look at the mention of food.
"So you were paying attention huh?" Akane raised one eyebrow at Ranma, a challenging gleam to her eyes. Ranma simply played it off like he was still bored, his eyes off toward the window again. Akane shook her head, but rose from her seat. "Give me a minute. I'll be back." Akane took a second to shake awake her numb legs, and Ranma watched the whole way through. Her rising from her pillow seat to the rolling of her ankles the pig-tailed martial artist bared witness to Akane's creamy thick legs in close action. One leg at a time, she would wiggle and roll her ankles to get a feeling backing her stiff bones and Ranma ogled as her hips shook and her thick thighs dance along. Finally able to place one foot after the other, Akane announced that she would returned shortly, but the words dies in her throat when she looked back at her pig-tailed fiance' and his hungry stare over her lower region.
The bluenette still couldn't believe how open her fiance' could be when he was "liking what he was seeing."
"Ranma," Akane crossed one leg over the other while placing her hands on her hips. Her voice was strong, but the pink on her cheeks were glowing.
"Hmmm... yes?" Ranma took his time looking up Akane's bare legs, up to the red sport shorts, then her off white T-shirt that clung onto her chest and finally, his playful grey eyes reached Akane's face. By the time his eyes met hers, Akane's cheeks flushed even brighter but maintained a straight face.
"Pickled plum or none?" Akane spoke cooly, but her heart was hammering against her chest like a bass drum.
To think his smokey grey eyes had the same effect as his gentle hands when they skated barely over her legs at the park...
Ranma tilted his head slowly over to his left like a curious cat he hummed in thought. "You know I'm not the picky type..." Akane didn't have to look at his lips to know he possessed a playful smirk. His expressive eyes did a fine job of letting her know what was going on. Akane hummed and turned to the door.
"Why don't you go over the last section, while you wait?" Akane suggested before walking down the small stairs of the dojo.
"Well don't take too long,"
SMACK!
"or I'll get too bored!~" Akane jolted up to her toes in surprise before whipping around to the already closed dojo doors, and a husky snicker followed behind. The bluenette huffed before stomping her way back into the house finding the kitchen. After measuring the rice and water to pour inside the rice cooker, Akane took a minute to gently massage the abused right side to rub where Ranma's strike landed.
"Ranma, baka you better not have left a hand print behind!"
~XXxxxXX~
"Gee, you think Onee-chan was going to buy the whole produce aisle from the grocery store with how much she needs to make her dishes, but then again..." Akane thought about the non-paying residents that shared the same roof as the Tendos. Two very hungry martial artist, the perverted master and Mrs. Saotome. The youngest Tendo daughter sighed again as she walked her way home from the grocery store with foo din both hands. Thinking of food reminded Akane about the oyakodonburi she made for lunch earlier today.
The smile on Ranma's face brought a small one of her own. She couldn't help but add a skip into her step, replaying the little date Ranma set up up for the two of them in the park. After their lunch, Ranma rested against a sakura tree enjoying the bright sun between the pink petals and tree limps, and gently held Akane in his lap. Akane remember his strong arms holding her with care, his hand in her blue placing daisies in between her locks. She remembered resting her cheek against his shoulders she felt him play with her hair, her body relaxed in his arms. Akane used her lifted hand to gently touch his own left arm, which was lazily wrapped around her waist, and slid down his smooth skin. Akane suppressed the giggle in her throat when she felt the shiver ripple from the boy behind her. The brunette stopped her touches when warm air tickled her neck, and her body responded with her own shiver. She felt the pig-tailed boy lean closer, his left arm snaking around her waist to hold her firmly in place. Akane could feel the blush rise against her cheeks and slowly travel down her neck where Ranma's breath still danced across her skin. Akane pressed her face more not his shoulder, presenting her bare neck to the boy of her desires.
Once his lips made contact, Akane couldn't stop the sharp gasp of air from her throat as the spark jolted her body, her thighs clinched and knees knocking together.
!
Akane had to stop her reminiscing in memories before her face resembled a tomato, Shaking her head, she continued on home with groceries almost forgotten.
"I don't want to be too long. One-chan likes to get started on dinner early-"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAA!" a familiar but unwanted laugh bellowed down the street behind Akane pulling her focus now on the fast approaching danger. The female screams were right behind him, yelling profanities and demands for their underwear back, but they were heard on deaf ears.
Akane grumbled, this was not whose wanted to see at the moment, preferably never, but she had to stop him before she noticed her presence. The blunted quickly scanned her surroundings to find something to stop the their.
!-! "Ah! perfect!" Akane rushed towards the store to her right and grabbed the mannequin displaying the latest fashion and ripped the fake off her stand.
"Hey!" the store manager yelled at her. Akane shoved her bags into his arms.
"Watch my bags, please? I'll be right back!" Akane quickly explained, and not waiting for a response she grabbed a few other garments from the table to fix the mannequin a new look. Akane dashed onto the street and cleared her throat, just as the perverted master hopped not ten feet ahead of her. With extra ratings of honey, Akane announced her presence from behind the mannequin. "Hippos-saaamaaa!~" Said master blinked beady eyes at the pretty face posing with a sheer black nighty to protect her women parts, topped with red ribbons stitched over the underwear rim and up top the bra straps.
"OOOHOOO! SWEEEETOOO!" Happosai launched himself at full speed to grab hold of the beautiful figure before his big eyes. Already forgetting the angry mob behind, he just planted his grubby hands against the hollow body and fake boobs hiding behind the sheer nighty of black and red when a shadow jumped from behind-
SLAM!
CRACK!
Happosai was stunned onto the pavement, and once again the female herd attacked, beating him into the cracked ground. Akane shook her head at the perverted master getting clobbered into the pavement, and flexed his arm that held the 25 lb dumbbell.
"Who would have thought carrying weights would have come in handy beside working out? I'll have to thank Ranma later tonight."
"AAAAAAH! My mannequin! Hey!" Akane snapped around to the distraught and angry store manager. "Do you know how much this will cost me to replace the destroyed merchandise?! Those garments we-"
"Hey! Back off!" one lady fumed right into his face. "This girl here just stop the panty their and you are yelling at her like this was al her fault?!" she barked back, almost forcing him back, and soon the manager was ganged up by a few more ladies coming to her defense. The manager's red hot anger quickly vanished seeing he was outnumbered by hostile women at every corner. The feeling of fear began to creep up inside his heart now quelling the previous anger in his head. A few women were still beating the into the pavement, but one detached from the onslaught and brought out a few bills to hand to the manager.
"Perhaps we can pay you back for the damaged goods?" the female smiled kindly to the dumbfounded manager. The small group mumbled in agreement and also contributed to the growing stack of bills. The balding manager started to feel terrible at yelling at the young girl and graciously took the offer money with his head bowed to Akane.
"Thank you." he mumbled before turning back to his store and retrieving Akane's forgotten groceries.
"Ah! Thank you!" she took them back with a grateful smile. Now the manager felt foolish for yelling when all she did was help.
"Perhaps a free purchase at my store for your help?" he spoke meekly.
"I'm so sorry, but I'm running late. Another time?" Akane smile kindly before skipping off home. Dumbbell back in her purse, she decided to take a short route home so, ... she leaped onto a nearby car and hopped up onto the closest roof. Quickly, but carefully as to not drop her bags Akane proceeded to building hop from roof to roof until she reached her neighborhood. Landing back onto solid ground, Akane mentally cheered at successfully making it home by roof-hopping and not one slip-up.
Too bad Ranma wasn't there to see her progress.
Akane pushed the thought aside to hurry into the kitchen and drop off the groceries to Kasumi, who was already humming away.
"Ah Akane-chan, great timing! Can you help me put the food away for now? I still haven't decided what to make today" Kasumi was holding her carrying tray to her chest while a cookbook laid out on the counter top next to the sink. Akane got to work placing the food away in their correct places in the kitchen, but didn't fail to notice Kasumi urging a ceramic bowl infowar carrying basket. She also noticed the light blush across the eldest Tendo daughter's cheeks.
"Onee-chan, whose the pot of food for?" Akane asked herself, hiding a small smirk to herself.
"Akane, I need to return a book to Dr. Tofu before I start dinner. Can you come with me please?" Kasumi asked politely, taking off her apron to hang up on the hook.
"Eh?" Akane turned to her sister puzzled. "Gomen Onee-chan, I was planning on practicing before dinne-"
"Onegai?"
Kasumi turned to her baby sister with a soft smile, and Akane knew she couldn't disagree. Akane waited at the front and for not too long, Kasumi appears with her basket , and a bouquet of flowers?
"Eh? Onee-chan, the flowers?" Kasumi smiled and handed Akane the bouquet of yellow flowers.
"Mrs. Miyazaki is at Dr. Tofu's office and just recovered from her surgery and I wanted to present these flowers to her." The eldest slipped on her shoes and walk out the front door with Akane in tow. The walk to the doctors office was silent, and Akane took a few glances at her older sister."Nee Onee-chan," Kasumi looked down at her baby sister with her bright smile. Akane stared down at the flowers in hand before she looked back up.
"Are these flowers an excuse to see Dr. Tofu?" Akane looked at Kasumi dead in the eyes when she asked. The eldest smile grew bigger before she giggled into her hand. She continued to walk on towards their destination and Akane could see a hint of pink on her cheeks. Akane confirmed her suspicion when Kasumi's eyes stared down at her feet. Akane brought a smile of her own, happy for her big sister.
"It's about time too! I wonder when she will tell him?"
~xxx~
"Dr. Tofu? Sorry for intruding!" Akane called out, slipping on the slippers at the door. Kasumi was about to announce her arrival as well, but was stopped by a loud cry.
A loud obnoxious meow to be exact.
"Could it be" Akane rushed into the office to see the good doctor with an elderly lady petting Ranma's purring head. The pig-tailed boy was resting half his body onto the lady's lap happy to be coaxed by the gentle lady. "Ranma!" Akane gasped, truly surprised to see him here in the doctors office. Hearing his name, Ranma straightened up quickly and launched himself to the bluenette, both crashing to the hard ground. The sound of purring resonated even louder than before as Ranma nestled up Akane's body.
"Oh my!" Kasumi exclaimed softly as to not startle the peaceful catboy. The eldest Tendo scooped the forgotten flowers from the floor and proceeded to the office. "Ah, Mrs. Miyazaki, !" Kasumi smiled brightly.
The young doctor's glasses immediately fogged up from the steam radiating from his hot head. "K-Kasumi-san!" Dr. Tofu's tongue felt fat on his mouth for he couldn't speak past stutters. Before the doctor could do any damage, Kasumi helped the elder lady to her feet and lead her out of the office.
"Hai, for your recovery!" Kasumi handed her the yellow bouquet to the surprised lady. "Ooh, thank you Kasumi-chan! You keep that doctor in check for me okay?" Mrs. Miyazaki smiled before shuffling to the door and walked home.
MMEEEEOWRRR! "Ranma-*gasp* Down boy!" "Oh my!" Kasumi jumped. How could she forget about her baby sister?
Well, the eldest didn't really forget about Akane, Kasumi's first priority was to get the patient in the doctor's care out of harm's way. For a while Kasumi had heard the horror stories of the patients in the doctor's office when she was in the room. Only after Mrs. Miyazaki's busted hip did Kasumi see the danger the doctor put his patients through. Kasumi felt terrible for the position she put the poor woman in, and checking up on the elderly lady while she recovered, and giving her flow was the least she could do.
Now she had to go and help aid for younger sister before Ranma got too comfortable.
"Tofu-sensei, may I borrow your kettle please?" Kasumi asked the bashful man sweetly.
"Don't worry Kasumi-chan! I got the hose for you! Let's water the flowers together! Ahaahaahaahaaaaa!" the now scattered brain doctor appeared into the waiting room with a garden hose and twisted the hose on, directly at the napping Neko-Ranma!
"Oh dear! Ranma! Akane! Are you two okay?" Kasumi cried out, ducking from the random sprays of water. Akane used Ranma's body to shield her from the cold water, but her sky blue skirt got splashed on pretty good, even her haricot wet. Who was going to stop the crazy doctor from ruining his own office? Immediately, the water stopped spraying, but that didn't stop the doctor from his silly dancing. That is, until gentle hands pulled the limp hose from his grip and rapped the nozzle against his forehead. "Tofu-sensei, go into your office." Kasumi pointed to his empty office with the hose nozzle but still gave a soft smile at the command. Dr. Tofu, still in his dream state, danced away to his office, making a mess as he went.
Signing, finally stopping the chaos, Kasumi took a minute to look at her baby sister and her knocked out fiance, now in his red-head form. Akane shook a few droplets from her wet bangs and pushed a few from her face so she could look down at the sleeping girl in her lap. Akane smiled while gently pushing the wet red hair away from her face.
"Poor Ranma. I wonder how he got here in his Neko-stage?" Kasumi wondered out loud. Akane nodded in agreement, but didn't move from her spot on the floor. Kasumi wordless left the two there to fetch hot water from the tap. Boiling hot water would take too long and the two teens needed to get out of her wet clothes. When the water was just right, Kasumi gathered a cup's worth along with towels and handed them to Akane. She could leave things in her sister's hands.
"Now to straighten out the clumsy doctor."
~XXxxxXX~
"Brrrr. Stupid cats." Ranma hissed underneath his breath while walking through the neighborhood on their way back home.
"How did you end up at Dr. Tofu's office?" akane asked, curious as to where Ranma had been after studying math. The boy in question snorted, hating having to think about the horrific incident before his mind went blank to Neko Mode.
"I was making a delivery for the doctor. He needed a certain book pick up os I did that, but *sigh* I ran into unwanted company..."
(( The pig-tail martial artist tiptoed up top a gated fence with one arm holding a paper package close. "How weird for the doctor to have to pick up a magazine order instead of air mail. Oh well, nothing else better to do, except study." Ranma shivered at the thought of school. The last three weeks have been constant studying and less time practicing his Art. The small breaks from the overload were a wonderful relief, and the martial artist would do all he could before having to return back to sitting still, and reading and writing... and studying! Ranma grumbled, his hatred for school starting to grow. Hinako-sensei wasn't making things at school any better either.
Now, his sensei after school thought...
Ranma couldn't stop the small smile from spreading across his face at the memory of his sensei walking out the dojo in those red shorts-
BRIIING! BRIIING! BRIIING! CRASH!
Ranma's thoughts were cut short from the sudden pain coming from his back.
"Ah! Ranma!" Bike bell, familiar voice...
"Sh-Shampoo, my back..."
"You come to restaurant and have dinner with Shampoo? Yatta!" The weight of the bike quickly moved off his back to be replace with Shampoo's body as she tackle him off the rail to the concrete below. "Shampoo so happy!"
"No, Shampoo. I'm not going to your restaurant. I gotta get back to studying." Ranma tried to wiggle out of her arms, but the purple amazon stayed clutched around his neck.
"Take break with Shampoo. Get free meal on house!" Ranma tried harder to break out, but Shampoo wasn't taking no for an answer.
"RANMA! Keep your hands off my Shampoo!"
CRASH!
A heavy weight landed firmly on top of Ranma's head, crushing his chin into the concrete.
"MOUSSE!" Shampoo shouted at the blind martial artist who stayed parked on top of Ranma's head with his bike.
"Get ... off-" Shampoo relinquished her hold on Ranma only to to stand on his back and glare hard at Mousse.
"Shampoo! We have deliveries to make!"
"Mousse! Shampoo busy! Go make deliveries!"
"But Shampoo, we must finish before lunch is over. You don't have time for Ranma-"
"Shampoo make time for Ranma!" Shampoo then dumped Mousse's delivery box up top of his head before shoving him off to the ground. "Ranma, go on date with Shampoo!" the amazon snatched Ranma from the ground and tried to make a run, but was stopped cold.
SPLASH!
The ladle lady was outside and Shampoo sudden shriek quickly turned into a furious meow. Her clothes dropped to the ground and a purple cat took her place.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ranma regained control and bounced away from the feline only to get hit by Shampoo's delivery box. Upon the amazon's transformation, she had lost hold of her metal box the now popped and the hot bowl spilled all over Ranma. He shrieked, bouncing from foot to foot for the noodles and broth scalded his face, head and shoulders. Once Ranma dislodged the limp noodles from his person, he took noticed of what else was in the box.
Cooked fish.
Ranma flinched, knowing what trouble comes from the smell of tasty seafood, and his body was ready to flee from the scene.
MMMMMRROOOOOWWWRRR!
Ranma was too late. It only took one peak behind him for his body to lock up in fright from the glowing pair of eyes peaking from the trash can.
Six more pairs of eyes for Ranma to start shaking and sweating bullets-
NYAAAW! A purple cat called up from it's spot on the ground before it jumped into Ranma's face... and everything went black.))
After the horror story, Ranma sighed heavily, shoulders sagged and head a little low. Looks like Shampoo and the alley cats put him through the ringer. Akane frowned at Ranma's down hearted face. Seeing him so down really tugged at her heart, and she wanted to bring him out of his gloomy state and stamp back a smile on his face. The bluenette looked up to see a line in front of a building and quickly filling as groups came out with big smiles and full bellies.
And the familiar smell of okonomiyaki tickle her nose and stomach too.
Gently touching Ranma's arm to grab his attention, Akane gave him a soft smile. "Hey, how about a squid cake? My treat!" Ranma turned sharply to the gentle smile bestowed on her face, but it didn't hit him as fast as the offer to pay for their meal. It was rare for Akane to pay, even offering to pay for the parfaits he eats in his girl form, and he didn't miss a chance for a free meal. The two looked down at Ranma's stomach who was every excited on being fed and Ranma finally flashed Akane a smile.
"Ucchans sounds good right now. At least until dinner later. Mom and Kasumi will never tell me what's for dinner anymore." He grumbled, kicking a small stone down the street like a young child upset of not having dessert before dinner. Seeing Ranma frustrated over her cooking, and not because he wanted to ditch anymore made Akane's small smile stretched bigger, the warmth inside her belly fluttered like the beat of a hummingbird. She tried to stop the giggle behind her fist from bubbling out of her throat, but a soft bell like giggle did escape shading hers and Ranma's cheeks a little pink. Wanting food and to save himself from embarrassment, Ranma pulled Akane along liking the sound of a fresh squid okonomiyaki right now.
However, seeing two Ukyos' was not what he was to expected when walking into an almost full house.
~XXxxxXX~
Gently stacking the freshly washed and dried set of plates onto the dining cart, Ryoga allowed himself to breath after an hour straight of washing, separating ingredients for Ukyo and preparing new dishes and tea for customers. Taking a quick drink of cold water the lost boy looked around his work area and was satisfied with his work. So far no casualties on anyone's part, even Momo's help was really pulling along the dinner rush out there.
Ryoga smiled, mentally patting himself on the back. "If Ukyo is pleased with this work, then I'm content. After this I need to pay Akane-san a visit..." Ryoga frowned down at the water in his cup. "I need to apologize like a man... But first-" he gripped the helpless cup tight already splitting half the plastic into tiny shards. "Saotome Ranma..." Ryoga growled. "I will defeat you first, and then-"
"Ryoga!"
The sudden shout from the dining area surprised the lost boy into dropping his cup and splashing the floor. Completely forgetting his mess, Ryoga grabbed the dining cart and pushed it forward. Momo greeted him with a confused pout.
Ryoga noticed this and wondered what made her so confused. "Momo, what's the matter?" Before she could speak a familiar voice spoke first.
"Ryoga kun?" Ryoga quickly maneuvered around Momo to see Akane sitting in front of the hot stove with Ranma himself. It didn't help his position seeing Ranma try to hold back his snickers.
"Ryoga, so this is where you've been hiding!~Stuck on cleaning duty?" Ryoga growled at the martial artist gripping the cart's handle a little too hard.
"Ryoga, you're about to break my cart!"
Ukyo snapped at the fanged boy out of his loathing. Ryoga snapped back to reality and dropped the cart that he subconsciously pulled off the ground. The wheeled cart slammed back onto the floor making the glass cups and water pitchers splash onto the floor. Luckily Ryoga jumped out of the cold waters direction, but Momo didn't react fast enough. She squealed as the cold splashed her face dropping her tray and cards, and she stepped back right on top of fast growing puddle underneath her feet. Trying to break her fall she grabbed the edge of the cart, bringing the condiments down on top of her.
SPLAT!
Momo coughed and sputtered regaling breath from the onslaught of food falling her and looked down to see the status of her new kimono.
"Oh no! Ucchan's kimono! Oh dear! It's a mess!" Momo stared at the mess in distress. Ukyo sighed with growing frustration. So much for things going smoothly.
"Ryoga, baka!" Ukyo barked, making the lost boy jumped in sudden fright.
"It was an accident!" Waving his hands in front of him for protection of Ukyo's giant spatula. Quickly trying to save face, he grabbed some napkins and wiped off some sauce off Momo's face. "Come on, let's get you out of this kimono-"
"Great! It was starting to stick to my skin!" Momo happily helped, pulling off the obi sash successfully opening the folds of the robe wide open, ...right in front of Ryoga's unprepared eyes!
Ryoga lit up faster than a boiling red lobster.
"EEEEEEEK!" Ryoga squealed, face instantly steaming before fainting right there on the floor. Momo stared down at Ryoga in confusion. Apparently she still hasn't fully adapted to the word, modesty.
"um...Ryoga?"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOO!" All the males exclaimed at Momo's opened robe, and hoping to get a peak, followed by Ukyo's startled scream.
"Oh no you don't you dirty ass perverts! Rubber reinforced 'yaki' noodle restraint!" The chef leapt into the air and seized the male customers into a sticky noodle mess.
Taking out her battle spatula, she smacked the boys towards the far corner of the restaurant and away from Momo. Once Ukyo controlled her breathing, she sharply turned to the half naked girl. She could see Momo shake in fear from Ukyo's dangerous aura, and not wanting her to burst into tears Ukyo turned her frustration on the next person.
"Ryoga, Baka! You and your stupid clumsiness almost costing me customers! Damaging store property, wasting my food inventory, flashing Momo to the customers- are you even thinking pig boy?!" She snatched up his collared shirt and shook him while she ranted. Too bad Ryoga was knocked out to hear even one word.
"Ucchan please! You might hurt poor Ryoga-"
"Hurt him?! Please, this idiot can take on a boulder and still be able to walk!" Ukyo exclaimed. She just couldn't have a day that went her way! The beginning of dinner was just going smoothly, but curse her luck something had to happen and now her shop was a mess! Who was she kidding? She lived in Nerima, where all the wild people lived-
"HOOOOOHOHOHOHO!"
Wild n' Crazy person #1! Right on time!
Black rose petals began to flood the restaurant, the crazy laughter scaring Momo into hiding behind Ukyo's back. Ukyo could feel the human-piglet shiver in fright for the possible danger approaching and Ukyo grabbed her battle spatula from behind her. Bursting through the doors was the gymnast Kodachi, twirling her ribbon close with a snap! Taking in the mess of the greasy smelling restaurant, her sharp eyes swept the room and spotted her target with her nose held high in the air like the heiress she was.
"OHOHO! Typical sloppiness from the common folk, but you should be used to this kind of pig sty fashion, eh lowly peasant." Kodachi sneered at the hot headed chef who was grinding her teeth at the insulting gymnast and clutched her battle spatula harder.
"You want another ass whoopin', then come on! I mopped the floor with you before I can do it again!" Ukyo growled loudly almost scaring Momo behind her. Kodachi huffed before throwing something close to Ukyo's face. Snatching the object from mid air, the chef froze to see... a black rose in her hand. "Wha-what's this suppose to be?" Ukyo stared at the single flower quite dumbfounded before looking at Kodachi.
The gymnast snapped her ribbon then pointed the tip at Ukyo. "Kuoji Ukyo, I challenge you! Rhythmic Gymnastics Martial Arts! St. Herebeke School for Girls in two weeks! Do you accept?" Ukyo stared hard at the crazy girl before looking at the rose in her hand. "A gymnastic battle huh?" Ukyo had never done gymnastics before-
"Loser gives up Ranma for good, deal?"
-but with Ranma at stake and Kodachi out of her hair how could she refuse such a deal?
"I accept your challenge!" Ukyo pointed her battle spatula with relish, feeling pumped up more than ever to get rid of the crazy gymnast. Her aura quickly changed from angry hot black to a fiery red full of passion and excitement. She would not fail, and soon she would be one step closer to winning Ranma's heart!
~XxxxxX~
"How the hell am I going to win with this?!" Ukyo held the bouncing orange ball before throwing it away from her in frustration. After cleaning up her shop thoroughly and closing a little earlier than planned, the chef hauled up her new roommates into her bathroom quickly dunking Momo into hot water reverting her back to piglet form, and splashing Ryoga with cold water to wake him up. Once the two were cleaned up, Ukyo, with Ryoga's help, cleaned up the kitchen and stored away food for tomorrow. Making a quick dinner for everyone, Ukyo fished out black and red leotard she apparently had hidden away in the closet and set off to her backyard to practice. Unfortunately, things weren't going her way, again...
Ukyo huffed before flopping against the soft tumble mat she laid out in the backyard and stared out into the pink and purple sky slowly welcoming the night and the tiny stars. The chef had hoped this gymnast fight would be a cake walk and could be pick up quickly, so much for hoping. She sighed heavily relaxing her tired muscles from the long and exhausting day and closed her eyes from the world.
"Man, another day in Nerima, but today's drama seems almost too much. Kodachi, twice in one week, if that doesn't scream trouble I don't know-"
OINK!
Ukyo blinked her eyes open hearing the familiar squeal beside her head. Turning her head over to her right she could see Momo back in her normal pig self, red bow tie securely tied around her little neck and looking happy to see her. Momo timidly walked up to Ukyo's head and gently nuzzled her short brown bags slowly revealing a smile across her face. Ukyo sighed before sitting up and scooping up the cuddly piglet. Gently scratching behind her ears, Momo grunted in happiness while Ukyo smiled down at her tiny body. Despite what happened during dinner rush, Ukyo couldn't stay mad at Momo for long.
Besides, for a piglet to learn quite a lot in one day and act completely human for more than two hour is something to be proud of.
Still holding Momo in her lap, she picked up the the green ribbon next to her feet and tried twirling again. A simple swirl was produced before she snapped the ribbon over to a forgotten pin aways in front of Ukyo, but the tip just slapped the pin even further away. Ukyo growled in frustration and snapped the ribbon towards another pin off to the right but was beaten by a red ribbon grabbing it first.
"Eh?"
"You have control, your timing is what needs work."
Ukyo turned around to face the new voice still twirling the red ribbon in a simple but thinner swirl above his head.
"Ryoga?" Ukyo quickly stood up after setting Momo back on the ground. The lost boy walked out into the open field looking at the scattered equipment on the ground below snapping his ribbon to another pin.
"Think fast!" Ryoga shouted before whipping the ribbon towards Ukyo who quickly moved out of the way, but the pin was coming to her face! She reached behind but realized that her spatula was not there!
"Ah!" Ukyo squealed before tilting backwards just barely dodging the pin before it imprinted into the wall behind her. Rolling back up to her feet, she watched as Ryoga kept the red ribbon in hand along with two pins before walking closer to Ukyo. Searching for a weapon she saw the orange ball a few feet away and pranced after it but Ryoga was a step ahead and launched one pin at her feet. Expertly dodging the pin Ukyo didn't see the red ribbon attach to her arm until Ryoga pulled her towards him. Just before she left the ground, her bare left toes snatched her green ribbon and quickly twirled it around one of Ryoga's leg. Taking the ribbon into her hand she gave a hard tug successfully pulling him to the ground but she only pulled herself down as well! Taking the situation into his control, Ryoga pounced on Ukyo just as she landed onto the ground, caging her with his body and stuck the pin into the hard ground just next to her head with a crack, earning a yelp of surprise.
Ryoga gave Ukyo a minute to control her breathing before he spoke, "Your reflexes are not bad, but your timing will get you a step ahead of your opponent. You'll need to learn how to best use each tool before going up against Kodachi." Ryoga subconsciously leaned closer noticing her face flushed from the sudden workout. Ukyo suddenly smiled at the lost boy who raised an eyebrow.
"You know Gymnastic Martial Arts? You're going to help me practice?" Ukyo's face lit up, and her eyes twinkled with happiness. "Ryoga, you're awesome man!" the chef smiled up at Ryoga who couldn't stop the red blush across his cheeks. He slowly moved off from up top the brunette and cleared his suddenly dry throat.
"Okay, let's just start with the ribbon first. That should be your primary and number one tool to be familiar with." Ryoga straighten out his own ribbon before twirling the long string in a simple swirl. Ukyo grabbed her green one and tried twirling to match his. Not as tight and flowing like Ryoga's but Ukyo kept trying. After a few minutes Ukyo was able to perform a perfect swirl, but Ryog surprised her with lashing at her ankle and tripping her. "A simple swirl won't be enough. Try to hit me hit me with the ribbon." Ukyo quickly picked herself up and attack, her whiplashes not as strong but with practice, she'll hopefully will get there. Ryoga could only hope as he watched Ukyo practice some more with the ribbon and dancing around the field trying to land a hit on Ryoga with Momo bouncing between her legs.
"Faster!" Ryoga pranced away zipping and sliding away from Ukyo's ribbon tip, and decided to spice up the training. With his toes he snatched up a pin and toss it at Ukyo's head. With quick reflex she snapped the flying object from mid air and seized it in her other hand just as Ryoga threw three more her way. Ukyo yelped before ducking again as the pins sailed pass her and embedded themselves into the wall. Just as she turned to face Ryoga again, the orange ball came into her view before slamming into her gut. Knocked out and spent, Ukyo took a minute to catch her winded breath. "For a teacher he sure can be bossy!" Ukyo huffed to herself stretching her legs up in the air to loose some tension.
"It's enough her one night. Tomorrow we'll go a bit longer time and get into the other tools." Ryoga stood above her, his shadow blocking the light from her apartment and Ukyo took a moment to look up at his face. She took in his big golden orbs staring back into her big pools of blue. They were hard with concentration like he was trying to solve a big puzzle. Her eyes traced his face to see very little to no sweat gleaming off his face. Ryoga didn't even break a sweat! Ukyo's face hardened, not feeling good about the sudden scrimmage. If she was going to beat Kodachi at her own game, she needed to plow her way through a lot of practice, starting now! Ryoga noticed her change in demeanor for he took a step back just as she was pushing herself back to her feet. Snatching her green ribbon, she snapped at Ryoga's feet who quickly pranced away.
"Ten more minutes! I have a lot to cram in before two weeks is up, and I don't have time to sit back and relax! Let's go!" Ukyo clenched her leg muscles ready for anything Ryoga threw at her. Ryoga stared at Ukyo with confusion before he too grabbed a ribbon and gave her a small smile.
"Very well Ukyo. Now watch closely!" Ryoga snapped his wrist before performing a simple spin, a short swirl before stretching the swirl to become thinner but longer. Ukyo watched and kept trying the simple excretes until Ryoga was satisfied, and the procedure continued...
~XxxX~ Forty minutes later~
Ukyo sighed loudly now submerging her body in hot bath water. Her muscles were singing praises now that the cook could relax for the rest of the day. Taking in the aroma of soft jasmine Ukyo took deep breaths and relaxed against the wall of her tub. The chef took the time to defog her brain from everything that happened today. First finding out she just as cursed as Ryoga, teaching a piglet who acts like a kindergartner to serve customers, Ranma and Akane showing up and now Kodach- Eh! Ukyo jumped from her relaxed position to sit up and gawk in horror.
Oh no!
She totally forgot to ask Ranma out for a date tomorrow! When did he and Akane leave in the first place? The chef growled, grinding her teeth in aggravation.
"Black Rose Kodachi." Ukyo slowly growled, resenting the crazy gymnast even more. Not only issuing a challenge, but having to clean her mess she left behind. "Where the hell did she caring all those black roses?!" Ukyo pushed the awful topic aside. She wanted to relax and couldn't if she thought of sour things like black roses...
Ukyo submerged her body up to her shoulders and closed her mind to the outside world, making her mind go blank. Slowly her muscles stopped pulsing every second and released the built up tension finally letting the hot water do it's job. Ukyo decided to pour her energy at thinking over her challenge into two weeks. The steps Ryoga taught her tonight and controlling her wrist when twirling her ribbon. For such a heavy hitter Ryoga could be very quick. How loose but in control he was of his weapon. How sharp his eyes were when honing on his target... How he stared unbalanced into hers when she cooled down... Eyes of bright topaz with a splash honey... not a drop of sweat on his chiseled face-!
"GWUAH!" Ukyo panicked, quickly rising up to her feet and water splashed around her and out the tub. Her peach face was flushed with embarrassment from thinking such thoughts. Her mind should be on the challenge in two weeks! Not Ryoga's stupid eye color- or his chiseled face-
SLAM!
"Ukyo! Are you ok- eh?" Ukyo turned to see Ryoga's face etched with worry, but that quickly evaporated when she realized where she was where he was standing and remembered where she was in the first place.
"GYAAH!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Ukyo dunked her body back into the water, all flushed red even more embarrassed than before. Ryoga lit up fast putting tomatoes in the market out of shame, just before a wash bucket slammed into his chin along with three bars of soap and a wash brush. Ryoga awkwardly fell out the bath room landing on his head with blood dropping from his nose like a bad leaking faucet. Soon splashes of water then stamping feet rushed out of the bathroom presenting Ukyo securely wrapped in a towel glaring angrily at the twitching lost boy.
Cracking knuckles were heard just as Ryoga woke up from unconsciousness.
"Ryoga, you-you-BAAKAAAAAAAAA!"
POW!
BOP! "Chotto matte-"
SMACK! "Ukyo!"
THWACK! I can exp-"
POW! "YAAAAH!"
Whlie the beatdown was happening outside Ukyo's room, Momo blinked tired eyes hearing the screams of Ukyo and Ryoga. One was of pure rage, the other was of pain and torture. She snorted a happy snort. A love spat! It was obvious Ukyo liked Ryoga by showing him her brute strength! Pigs know these things, she would know! While curling back up to sleep, Momo sighed happily. She could get used to this kind of life.
"One big happy family! What will tomorrow bring next?"
Alright! Finally have the next chapter up for you! I apologize again for taking forever, but some of the ideas in this chapter came to me like days ago. A lot of revising and making the story stayed on track. Anyway, I have a few stories I'm working on as of now so once again the next chapter might take a while, or it might take less time. Typing up the next chapter now so hopefully I will get done sooner! Besides working at my job I will soon be starting my very first internship! i'm so excited! Keep your fingers crossed that things will turn out well! I might put up another poll as to what should be posted next so definitely check my profile and see if another poll will appear!
Until next time,
~Shiza
