More than meets the eye (17/7/2007)
Author's note
Well, this will be a shorter chapter but I wanted to try Kasumi interacting with the Autobots. And I decided to pick the most difficult one to try out first. Hope it comes out well in writing. So without further ado….
Chapter 8: Introduction to Japanese Cuisine
It was 12a.m. when three vehicles parked in front of the Tendo dojo. One was a Peterbilt Carrier, the other was an old Prince racing car while the third was a police car. The huge Peterbilt Carrier then transformed into a towering thirty-foot robot. Optimus carefully inspected the house to see if anyone was still awake. When he signalled that the coast was clear, the Prince's car door opened and the huge robot carefully lifted the sleeping girl from inside. Bumblebee then transformed and he carefully took the girl from Optimus' hand before tiptoeing into the house garden, where he went to Kasumi's bedroom whose window had been left opened and gently deposited her in her own bed. As an afterthought, he took the bed's blankets and managed to cover Kasumi with his hand in the room. He then reached into a compartment at his hip and extracted a small bag and put it on Kasumi's table. Once done, he stepped out of the house garden and transformed back into a car.
"Bumblebee, Prowl, I leave Kasumi's protection in your hands. We don't know when the man Happosai might return to finish what he started, nor do we know if the Decepticons know about her meeting us. If they do, they will try to silence her. She has already established a credible reputation and will likely to be successful if she attempts to warn the authorities of our existence. We must protect her until we retrieve the Key and take it back to Cybertron, hopefully with the Decepticons following us. Only then will this world be saved. I will not have another planet be destroyed by our war," Optimus instructed.
The police car spoke, "I can't believe you are assigning not one but two of your soldiers to babysitting duty. This woman hasn't done that much for us. Why do you waste so much resources and time? The Decepticons are here, we need all our manpower to track down the Key now."
Optimus shook his head. "You and Bumblebee can still do it here while the rest of us spread out and cover Japan. If I interpret Bumblebee's report correctly though, I would say that our search is almost over, and the Key is located somewhere in Tokyo. This woman has earned our protection Prowl, by keeping Bumblebee's secret even in light of what happened to her. She risked losing her criminal case by not revealing her saviour and has done everything in her power to conceal his existence from her family and friends. And she has offered us friendship and trust right after meeting with us even though we have given her no reason to trust us."
"I wouldn't mind if she was a member of the Japanese Self Defence Force but how is she going to help us? She's an unmarried housewife living in a ward which is home to the most chaotic situations. You wouldn't believe most of the police reports I've accessed regarding property damage in the area. Most of which are caused by humans when they look like artillery damage. This is not a safe place Optimus, to put our trust in," Prowl protested.
"Prowl, sometimes we must look beyond our fighting and find something else to fight for. You and I both know that as long as the Key and the Matrix exists, this war will never end. If Megatron comes and I cannot defeat him, then the choice is clear: the Matrix and the Key must be destroyed," Optimus said sadly.
The police car was stunned. "You would let the fate of this world supersede the revitalisation of our race?"
Optimus clenched his fists. "Yes. But one way or another, I am bringing Megatron down with me."
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Kasumi woke up at the sound of knocking on her door. She groggily stood up, pushing the stray hairs covering her face and then yawned and stretched at the same time. When she looked at the time, it was 8.30 a.m. It took her a minute to finally realise how late it was. Normally she cooked breakfast by 8 a.m. for her family before her sisters and Ranma went to school. She had a horrible premonition when a burning smell reached her nose.
"Oh my," she cried as she leapt out of her bed. She found that she was still clad in the previous day's clothes and decided to leave it as it is. She opened the door and was greeted by Nabiki, who although already dressed in her school uniform, was still half asleep and looked as though she had partied through the night without sleeping. 'Sorry Nabiki,' she thought to herself.
"Nee-chan, can you please sort those two out? Akane and Ranma are at it again," Nabiki groggily said. Kasumi nodded and proceeded down the stairs to the kitchen where she heard rising voices.
The picture was more or less the same whenever Akane went into the kitchen, which was to say most of the kitchen was in an utter state of upheaval, with lots of smoke in the air, far more food scraps on the floor than should be possible for making a simple breakfast, unwashed pots and pans again too many for cooking breakfast and last of all, Ranma and Akane quarrelling.
"How was I to know that it was kerosene that I was using to cook?!" Akane shouted.
"Gee I don't know, reading the label? Dumb tomboy, why can't you just think before cooking?!" Ranma retaliated.
"I would if there was enough time! We both only woke up ten minutes ago and now you're spurning my attempt to feed the family!"
"What, you mean let you cause mass murder with the poison you call food?!"
"You meanie! After all the times I've tried, why can't you give me a chance?!" Akane was almost in tears now.
"By chance you mean poisoning me to kingdom come, you will excuse me for not taking it!" Ranma angrily said.
"You jerk, Ranma no………."
She never finished the sentence. Before her mallet could materialise in her hand, Kasumi took a deep breath.
"BOTH OF YOU STOP QUARELLING THIS INSTANT!"
This time, it was her voice that carried around the house for a one-kilometre radius, waking up everyone still sleeping in that radius.
The two of them, covered their ears in shock, looking at Kasumi with saucer sized eyes. The look on Kasumi's face was definitely not her usual smile. At that moment, it looked like the wrath of God had descended on them in the form of a human girl called Kasumi.
And then just as quickly, she had her smile back and promptly went to the fridge where she managed to find a few packs of sandwiches that she had made on Friday during the days she was stocking up the fridge. She put one pack each in Ranma, Akane and Nabiki's hands and said, "All of you better get to school, it's getting late. Eat these on the way." Then she turned a hard eye on Ranma and Akane. "Behave yourselves at school. When both of you come back, we're going to have a little talk."
The squabbling couple could only nod in fear at facing Kasumi's wrath. After yesterday's incident, they knew that Kasumi would never be a submissive housewife again.
"Let's go Akane," Ranma finally said and started pushing Akane out of the kitchen. The blue haired girl for once, heeded Ranma's warning and let herself be pushed out.
Kasumi sighed as she took in the mess. She decided that she needed a bath before doing anything and left the mess as it was.
As she gathered her bathing supplies, she noticed the package placed on her desk. There was a note on the package which read, "Kasumi, take this three times a day after meals for a week. Otherwise you will turn into a nymphomaniac by the end of the week."
Ratchet's instruction sent a chill to Kasumi's spine. "So that's what he meant by saying that I would come back to him begging for more." She hugged her towel more tightly and then went downstairs to have a bite first and then take the medication, which after she opened the package, was a plastic bottle, filled with some kind of liquid.
Xxxxxxxxxx
After her breakfast and bath, she decided to go to the market again. Somehow Akane's cooking spree had depleted one day of stocked up supplies, resulting in her having to go shopping again. Kasumi sighed and realised she needed to spend more time with Akane in the kitchen despite the dire consequences that would often result. She smiled as she realised that it was the perfect opportunity to get Ranma to train her as well After all, she couldn't constantly monitor everything Akane did in the kitchen, and Kasumi knew the slightest look away would result in her doing something that she wasn't supposed to.
Shortly after she left the house, she was surprised to see Prowl pull up to her. She noticed something that she hadn't before, mainly there was a police officer sitting behind the wheel. But Kasumi was positive it was Prowl due to the Autobot marking as well as the license plate.
"Need a lift Ms. Tendo?" Prowl asked.
"Uhm, I thought I was the only human who has made contact with you Autobots," Kasumi asked gazing at the police officer who was staring straight ahead as though not aware of Kasumi's presence.
"The driver is a hologram."
"A holo what?" Kasumi asked confused.
She imagined that Prowl was rolling his eyes. "A hologram. A projection of light made into 3D giving the impression of an actual object where there is none."
Kasumi still looked blank.
"It's a fake human! Let's leave it at that!" Prowl said, exasperated.
"Oh is that it?" Kasumi smiled. She then entered the car. "Nerima market square please."
The car started driving.
"So to what do I owe this honour?" Kasumi asked.
"I don't like humans."
Her smile faltered. "May I ask why?"
"Optimus may live under the illusion that the humans would be on our side should we be forced to reveal ourselves and the Decepticons. He is wrong. The moment anybody gets wind of our existence, your government will request US battle groups in the Yellow Sea to strike us, Autobot or Decepticon. We shouldn't have revealed ourselves to anyone including you. Bumblebee was a fool. You give him an oil change and he decides to be your best buddy? That fool has gone native," Prowl said in disdain.
Kasumi sighed. "Even if he never met me, don't you think you Autobots were a little obvious two nights ago when you crash landed into Tokyo?"
"We left enough traces of asteroids to fool your scientists into believing we were a random meteor shower. Our traces are covered. That's why you don't see the news making a big matter out of that incident," Prowl answered.
Kasumi stared at the fake driver next to her. "Why are you telling me this, is this a warning that you aren't going to care about my safety? Because I'm a liability to your race?"
"That you are but I know my orders. Optimus may have his faults but he is my leader nevertheless. I've given him my advice, and he has noted it. Now I must follow his orders no matter what they may be."
In a way, Kasumi was touched by Prowl's dedication even though he disagreed with his leader and was now reluctantly protecting her.
"Mr. Prowl, I can't very much argue with you about what you just said. So is there anything I can do for you that will make your life easier on Earth?"
Prowl snorted. "You got something to offer to one who has lived for countless millennia of your Earth years? What can you possibly offer to one whose race was once the greatest in the galaxy?"
Kasumi's smile widened. "Can Autobots eat Earth food?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Later that night, Kasumi waited in front of her house waiting for Prowl to fetch her rather than walk to the junkyard. She was carrying a large basket with her. Beside her were Ranma and Akane.
"Onee-chan, are you sure about this? It is awfully late," Akane asked, concerned.
"Don't worry Akane, the detective said he would be sending a police car and we would go over some evidence that just turned up on Happosai. Don't worry. Look, here he comes now," Kasumi said.
Prowl's police lights soon appeared on the street and rolled over to the house. The fake policeman in it gave a nod to Ranma and Akane. Kasumi then smiled and put the basket into the back seat before going into the car. "See you tomorrow. Don't fight while I'm gone," she waved. "Or else….." the change from cheerful housewife to the right hand of God's wrath frightened the two and both could only nod at her instruction.
Prowl was impressed. He never figured Kasumi to be the intimidating type. 'She may be a liability but an interesting liability nonetheless.'
The two reached the junkyard. Instead of doing Bumblebee's car tilting trick, he had Kasumi enter the junk yard herself before he transformed and stepped into the other side of the fence. As they reached the hangar, Kasumi saw that the hangar now had a large swivel door. Bumblebee was already inside and stood up to greet her.
Kasumi smiled brightly upon seeing her friend. "Good evening Bumblebee, how are you today?"
"Not fruitful….. I'm afraid. After Optimus' arrival….. the Decepticons …. seem to be lying …. low for now," Bumblebee said.
"And this is all because you couldn't wait to show us your 'girlfriend'," Prowl mocked.
Bumblebee's eyes narrowed and his radio personality voiced out, "You want a piece of me punk?"
"Now boys, no fighting please, I just had to stop one this morning and I don't want to end the day stopping another one," she said as she went to the middle of the hangar. Once there, she took a large picnic cloth from the basket and spread it out. Prowl and Bumblebee looked at each other, both puzzled by her action. "What is she doing?" he asked the yellow robot when Kasumi started to place two large frying pans on each side of the cloth. She then proceeded to take out two pails from the basket as well.
"It appears ……,"Bumblebee said slowly, "that we're going to have a picnic."
"A what?" Prowl asked, confused.
His question was answered when Kasumi took out the final contents of the basket: four gigantic Inari Sushi which she put a pair on each frying pan that served as makeshift plates and two thermoses full of green tea. She poured the tea into the two pails and then a little in a cup for herself.
"Bumblebee, Prowl, would you like to have some tea?" Kasumi asked serenely.
Prowl slapped his forehead. "Kasumi what is this? We don't need Earth food," he stated.
"Well …….. I don't ….. know ……. her …… cooking is ……. legendary…. Never tried ….. Earth food before…." Bumblebee scratched his head.
"Yeah well, remind me to pick a bone with Ratchet for including the ability to eat and taste Earth food. Waste of transformation energy," Prowl snapped.
Bumblebee glared at Prowl. 'Bah, humbug,' his radio said then he went to Kasumi's right side and knelt Japanese style before his plate.
"How…. did …. you cook….. this big?" Bumblebee asked, gazing at the Inari which was as large as a big pillow.
"I live in a home with two bottomless pits remember? Also once in awhile Uncle Saotome does something nice and I cook something Panda size for him," Kasumi replied.
Bumblebee raised his eyebrows and gazed at the Inari before him. He gingerly picked up the first piece of the rice dumplings and looked at it.
"Itadakimasu?" Kasumi said for him.
He lifted it to his mouthpiece. He opened it. He brought the rice dumpling into his mouth. He closed his mouth and bit of a piece off it. He started chewing. And then he started dancing.
Whoa-oa-oa! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good,
I knew that I would, now
So good, so good, I got you
Even Kasumi was startled at his reaction. She looked at Prowl and started laughing. The Autobot's mouth was literally hanging in the air, utterly stupefied at Bumblebee's actions.
"Have you lost your mind? Are you or are you not an Autobot warrior! Snap out of it," Prowl snapped grabbing hold of Bumblebee's shoulder amid his dancing. Bumblebee proceeded to flip Prowl unto his back and made sure he stayed on the ground by putting both knees on his chest.
"What are you doing .. mmmmrrpppphhh!" his protests were promptly stopped when Bumblebee shoved the other half of his Inari into Prowl's mouth. He even used his left hand to move Prowl's jaw up and down.
"Come on….. use those ….. taste receptors Ratchet ……. designed," Bumblebee croaked as he forced Prowl to chew even as Prowl repeatedly struggled to get Bumblebee off of him. His struggles gradually decreased the more he chewed and swallowed and eventually, he stopped altogether. Kasumi stood up and looked at Prowl who had a look that alternated between utter amazement and utter delight.
"By the Matrix what is that?" Prowl then used both his legs to kick Bumblebee off and reached out to grab the other Inari from Bumblebee's plate only to find Kasumi standing between the Inari and his fingers.
"Now Prowl, Bumblebee, mind your manners. Why don't you two sit down like the civilised beings that I know the both of you are and we can enjoy this meal together?" Kasumi said sweetly.
Prowl blushed mocha silver at the realisation that he just acted like an Energon Drug Addict. The two Autobots then sheepishly sat across each other with Kasumi in the middle. Prowl opted to sit cross legged instead while Bumblebee knelt.
"Now why don't we wash it down with some tea? Remember, don't gulp it, just sip it," she said as she lifted up a pail of green tea and offered it to Prowl. The Autobot took the pail from her and carefully lifted it to his mouth to sip. A look of contentment finally erased the perpetual frown on the Autobot's face and it made Kasumi's day perfect.
"OK Kasumi, you made us waste precious time that could have been used to find the Key, so the least you could do is tell us what you just fed us," Prowl said sternly, although his face was still serene from drinking the green tea.
"It's Inari. Basically it is made of sushi rice, which is a combination of Japanese rice, vinegar, salt that is wrapped up in fried tofu skin. I added a touch of Japanese liquor called sake when I cooked the sushi rice as well. It is quite a common sushi snack," Kasumi said.
Prowl put down his pail and promptly picked an Inari and popped it in his mouth.
"OK Miss Distraction, I'll admit that you've totally overwhelmed my senses with this concoction called Inari. That doesn't mean I have to like you. For the moment I'll accept this as rent for our protection," Prowl said between bites. "Although we would still require payments for future services…"
"Prowl ……. what are ……..you ……….doing? We don't ……" Bumblebee wanted to protest Prowl's implication of Kasumi actually paying for their alliance but Kasumi had already replied.
"Shall we say tea two days from now on at 4 p.m.?" she enquired.
Prowl replied gruffly, "Very well, I will pick you up at every time. Do not even think of leaving the house alone from now on, even to the market. Bumblebee, you follow her from now on. Now if you will excuse me, I've got a key to search for."
With that, he popped the last Inari into his mouth and stood up to exit the hangar.
"Drive safely Prowl, there's so much you haven't tasted yet," Kasumi called after him.
A ghost of a smile crossed his facial features and the dour Autobot nodded before riding off into the night.
"That was…. Very sweet … thing for ….. you …… to do ….. for Prowl," Bumblebee said. "The war …… throughout the years ….. has affected him …. the most."
"I know but Prowl was right. I really am useless at the moment. This is the least I can do," Kasumi said quietly.
Bumblebee shook his head at Kasumi saying that she was useless. He ate his second piece of Inari and drank the rest of his tea before standing up.
"By the way … notice ….. anything different?" he asked as he turned himself around.
Kasumi looked closely. He did seem a little different … his yellow markings looked much shiny and new. Her eyes widened. "You didn't change your car form did you?"
The sounds of applause erupted as Bumblebee clapped his hands and gave a thumb up to Kasumi indicating that she was correct. After that he transformed into his car mode.
Kasumi gasped, as instead of the old run down Prince, Bumblebee was now a sleek Toyota Cellica. The new car still retained Bumblebee's classic yellow colour with black stripes but now the result was a sports car fit for a king. Kasumi went to Bumblebee and started gazing into its various parts in delight, even the insides of the hood was different than what she had serviced during the weekend.
"Hop in," Bumblebee said, which Kasumi gladly complied eager to drive out in Bumblebee's new form. The two then drove out of the junk yard using Bumblebee's classic car tilting trick.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Hidden in the shadows, a black figure watched from atop a house nearby, the yellow Nissan exit the junkyard and race out of the neighbourhood. The figure resembled a large panther and growled as it watched its quarry move away.
At the American base known as Camp Zama, forty kilometres away from Tokyo, a single M113 Armoured Personal Carrier Variant, known as the M577 that was in essence a mobile base, transmitted its instructions to the panther.
"Ravage proceed to Amazon Cat Café, Nerima special ward, Tokyo Prefecture, Honshu Island. Commence Operation Scapegoat," a metallic voice spoke in monotone from the APC.
To be continued…
Author's notes
Just want to get a quick survey. You guys want some more misadventures with Kasumi trying to keep the Autobots secret or trying to get to know the respective Autobots better? Or do you prefer me to not drag the story and go into the Decepticon intrigue now? Or maybe just two chapters showing interaction between your choice of Autobots with Kasumi? Don't ask me to reveal all to the NWC, that part I've already planned, I'm basically asking if you guys want more comedy or drama.
Thanks for all of your helpful reviews, especially Cylon One, Sean Malloy, Galen, Elconquisador, and Isumo for pointing out grammar mistakes and plot holes.
