Sasameki Koto and Ranma ½: Martial Arts Mix
Chapter Eight
"You're sure you want to leave?" Tomoe Hachisuka asked as the three women watched Akane sparring with Sumika in the Tendo dojo courtyard. Tomoe wasn't a expert martial artist, she had only recently began to pick it up, but even she was impressed.
Akane Tendo was, frankly, scary as hell. She was attacking with a speed that to Tomoe looked nearly superhuman. Worse, she actually seemed superhumanly strong, punching right through a wall in a burst of broken stone and dust. If Tomoe, or for that matter almost any member of their high school martial arts club, faced her in a fight, she knew they'd lose.
The one exception to that was Sumika Murasame, who was out there staying ahead of Akane's blows. She was faster, clearly, and somehow was striking back with blows as powerful as the other girl's. Tomoe didn't fully understand it, but apparently the martial artists here could channel 'ki' into their blows, somehow. Either way, it was damn impressive.
Ushio Kazama nodded, also watching the fight a bit more worriedly. "I think Sumika is fine," she said, "and that's why we came."
Tomoe hid a sigh, not saying some of the other things that she was aware of. She had been aware of the crush Sumika had had for Ushio, and knew how hurt Sumika had been when Ushio started dating someone else. But now Sumika seemed over it, or at least somewhat more content than she had been. Which seemed to irritate Ushio, interestingly.
"Holy shit," Miyako Taema breathed out as Sumika used as powerful kick to literally send Akane flying away. Then in a move that looked like something out of Dragonball Sumika cupped her hands, ice churning around them before firing off a cold blast that hit the already stunned Akane dead center. "Wonder why she never does that in normal fights?" Miyako wondered aloud.
"She doesn't need to," Tomoe said dryly in response, "besides, it wouldn't be fair to use that against normal fighters."
"I suppose," Miyako pouted.
Akane shook off the freezing burst, the young woman stumbling a bit before Sumika caught her. "You okay?" she asked politely.
"Yeah," Akane smiled up at her as she added, "I think that's worse than some of Genma's attacks. Or at least the effect lingers more."
Tomoe was amused to see Ushio scowl at seeing the two so close together. 'You're seeing someone,' she thought sardonically, 'make up your mind, Ushio.'
Miyako looked more amused than anything as she remarked, "They look kind of cute together, don't they?"
Ushio scowled at Miyako, "They do NOT."
Akane and Sumika finished up their sparring, the two walking back to where the others were watching. "What did you think?" Akane asked curiously.
"Damn impressive," Tomoe nodded, "both of you."
"I sure wouldn't want to fight you," Miyako added cheerfully.
Ushio took Sumika's arm as she nodded to Akane, "Could you excuse us a moment?"
Akane gave her a look but nodded slightly. "Okay, I'll just gossip with your friends about you two," she said agreeably.
Tomoe snickered while Ushio flushed, then the pulled Sumika away from them.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Ushio grit her teeth at Akane's mocking tone. She wasn't sure what it was, but both her and Kasumi just annoyed her. Once they reached the other side of the courtyard Ushio looked up at Sumika, and was struck again what just a short absence had done.
Ushio hadn't known Sumika all that long, but she had felt she knew the other girl well. While confident in her fighting skills Sumi was socially awkward and shy. She retreated behind academics rather than deal with people, and had only a small pool of friends.
Now, somehow, Sumika met her gaze with a greater confidence. She seemed more at ease with herself and had made friends in this strange karate dojo. On one hand Ushio knew she should be happy for Sumika, but it bothered her. Part of her wished she had been the one to bring Sumika out of her shell...
"I'm sorry," Ushio said suddenly.
Sumika blinked in confusion, "For what..."
Hurrying over Sumi's words Ushio continued, "For not paying attention to you. It took days before I even heard you were gone."
Neither mentioned that Ushio had been off with her new girlfriend, but both were well aware of it. Sumi's smile was faintly pained as she said, "It's all right, I understood."
"No, it's no all right," Ushio shook her head, "I've neglected you and my friends." She took Sumi's hand and squeezed it, "I hope you'll forgive me."
Sumika smiled back as she said, "Of course I forgive you."
Ushio beamed, "Maybe I can introduce my senpai to our friends! That way we can all get along."
The oddest look passed on Sumika's face, then she smiled again. "Yeah," she agreed mildly, "we could try that."
"I'm so glad!" Ushio beamed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Did you mean it when you said you'd gossip?" Miyako asked curiously.
"Well, I mostly said it to annoy your friend," Akane admitted. She dropped her voice a bit, "Is she always this clingy with Sumika?"
"When she senses a rival, yeah," Tomoe admitted. She shrugged as Akane raised her eyebrows, "Ushio is a good kid, but she's kind of insecure. She used to rely on Sumika a lot."
"I guess that makes sense," Akane conceded as they covertly watched Sumi and Ushio talk.
"Is Sumika fitting in here okay?" Miyako asked. "I mean, it's not like I'm her best friend, but I don't want to leave her here if there's trouble."
"Aww, you like her," Tomoe teased Miyako.
Miyako stuck her tongue out at her girlfriend then looked at Akane, "Well?"
Akane smiled back, amused by the two young ladies. "She's fitting in really well, actually," she admitted, "and my father and Genma both feel she has potential. If she ever seriously got into martial arts, she'd be a terror."
Tomoe raised her eyebrows, "She's not seriously into martial arts by your standards?"
"Compared to some friends of mine?" Akane shrugged, "No, not really."
Miyako shook her head, "I don't think I'd want to do that."
Tomoe noticed Ushio say something, and the oddest look pass over Sumika's face. "Damn," she sighed, "I wonder what clueless thing Ushio said this time?"
"She does that often?" Akane had to ask.
"Yes, actually," Miyako sighed as Sumi and Ushio walked back towards them.
"Alright," Ushio beamed still holding Sumika's hand as she said, "I think we've settled things."
"Uh huh," Tomoe said just a bit dubiously. "Well, the mechanic says we'll get the car back today, so we can head out when you're ready."
"Oh lord, we have to ride with you again?" Miyako sighed dramatically in dismay as Akane bit back a laugh.
"I'm not that bad of a driver," Tomoe said defensively.
"Yeah, your cars just randomly explode on their own," Sumika teased.
"Explode?" Akane asked, blinking.
Tomoe flushed a bit, "It was just the one time."
It took a hour or so for the car to arrive, so it was about noon when the three girls were ready to go. Genma and Soun both politely said their farewells, and Ranma promised Miyako to look out for Sumika for as long as she was here.
Kasumi bowed to them slightly as she said, "It's been nice meeting you, I hope your trip goes well." She frowned slightly at how clingy Ushio was being in saying her goodbye to Sumika, but didn't say anything.
After Ushio let her go Sumika nodded to Tomoe, "Thanks for coming out here, I missed seeing you guys."
"You're welcome," Tomoe shook her hand and asked, "should I tell Lotte you'll be back after the break ends?"
Sumika winced, thinking of the girl who was her unofficial karate student. "Might be a few weeks," she admitted, "my dad set it up so I could spend some time away if I needed to."
Miyako dropped her voice, "You staying because of what you can learn, or...?" She pointedly looked towards Ushio.
"Bit of both," Sumika admitted. She looked at Tomoe, "Take care of Lotte and the others for me, okay?"
"Do my best," Tomoe agreed as they got into the car.
Ushio leaned out the back window as the little car drove off, calling out, "See you soon, Sumi!"
"See you," Sumi called back, waving goodbye.
"Well," Genma noted cheerfully, "now we get to move back into the guest room."
"Dad," Ranma clouted him for being insensitive as they walked off together.
Soun and Nabiki headed in, Nabiki smiling to herself slightly. She had made a agreement with Tomoe to keep her informed about Sumi, a very profitable arrangement. It was so nice to deal with a woman who understood how powerful money could be.
"You okay?" Akane asked as she, Sumi and Kasumi headed inside.
"I think so," Sumika shrugged slightly, "I think it was nice to see them." She paused a second and added, "And maybe now I can stop holding out hope things might change."
Akane looked confused while Kasumi nodded slight. She tentatively took Sumika's hand as she said quietly, "I'm sorry."
"It's for the best," Sumika said, willing herself to believe it.
To be continued...
Notes: Setting up the fact that Sumika might be at the dojo for a bit. My original idea was just a week or so, but the story pacing really hasn't worked for that. On the character bits: Miyako looks sweet but is rather cynical, which I tried to get across. Ushio often says stuff that's both clueless and hurtful in canon, so I don't feel bad for her being clueless here.
