Chapter 10
Author's Note: Again, sorry for the delay. Ideas for this fic just aren't coming as easily as they were at the beginning. I still have no clue how this fic is going to end. I just sorta figured that I would know by now. Oh well.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Ranma and friends.
"I'm home." Ranma barely shouted. Right now seeing the Tendo family was one of the least things she wanted to do.
"Ranma! How was school?" Kasumi called from the kitchen. She patted her apron and then greeted him. "Why are you a girl?"
"It's a long story. I'll be in my room." She informed grumpily.
"Where's Akane?" She asked again.
"How should I know where she is?" Ranma said carelessly. "She probably got lost just like that stupid pig." She stomped heavily up the stairs not wanting to be questioned any further. Confused about the pig remark, Kasumi left the conversation at that and returned to her duties around the house.
Finally having a moment alone, Ranma threw herself down onto the bed. (You're an asshole.) Her brain scolded. (Akane first, ego second. Is that such a hard concept?)
"Yeah, yeah..." She said grabbing a pillow and stuffed her face in its fluffiness.
"Delivery!" A voice called from downstairs. Ranma got up and slammed her sliding door. She sat back down on the bed and cradled the pillow in her lap. She could vaguely hear Kasumi's muffled voice flutter as she chatted with the delivery person. She heard the front door shut and the soft patter of feet going into the kitchen. Another pair of feet climbed the stairs.
"Stupid tomboy's probably back..." Ranma mumbled to herself. She threw the pillow onto the carpet and waited for the screaming of a life time. Akane was probably devising the ultimate guilt trip right now. Then all hell would break loose again.
"Ran-chan! Can I come in?" A feminine voice called from outside.
(Ukyo?) She thought. Ranma slid off the edge of the bed and flew the door open.
"Kasumi told me to bring this up." She explained holding a kettle of boiling water. Ranma took it without a word to say. "I was delivering okonomiyaki."
"Oh." Ranma replied as he poured the hot water over himself. He sighed, feeling slightly better now that he was fully himself again.
"You seem gloomy. What's up?" Ukyo asked sitting down on the edge of the bed. She flung her legs out playfully.
"I just got in another fight with Akane." He said sitting down next to her.
"Doesn't that happen like everyday?" Ukyo asked.
"Yeah...but I think I really hurt her feelings this time." Ranma turned to Ukyo. "You're a girl. What would it take to get you to forgive someone you just fought with?"
"I dunno. An apology would be nice. Maybe a gift or something. I don't think I could ever get mad at you though, Ran-chan." She said playfully pushing the side of his face. Ranma smiled despite himself. He had been friends with Ukyo since childhood. He always considered her a friend first and then one of his fiancés.
"I don't know what to get her though. I don't want it to be ordinary like flowers or chocolate." Ranma contemplated.
"Well, what does she like to do?" Ukyo asked helpfully.
"Martial Arts, but I don't see how I could give her anything related to that. Grace can't be given. That would be perfect too." He thought out loud.
"I'm sure you'll come up with something. I have to get back to my restaurant." Ukyo said rising from the bed. She smoothed the creases in her outfit and fixed her hair delicately. After her tidying up routine, she smiled sweetly at Ranma. "See ya round." She said and turned towards the door. Accidentally, Ukyo tripped over the pillow that Ranma had earlier thrown. She stumbled and grabbed for the closest thing; Ranma. They both flew to the ground.
"I'm home!" Akane called from the front door. She was carrying P-chan as she stepped out of her shoes and walked into the hallway. "Hello?" She called.
Kasumi had left to do some errands. Akane wondered into the kitchen to find the okonomiyaki spread out neatly. Kasumi must have set the table before leaving.
Suddenly, there was a loud thump from upstairs. Akane jumped slightly.
"Ranma?" She called from the foot of the stairs. Receiving no response, she decided to go investigate. Who knew, it might have been a burglar. Akane tackled the climb and made her way to Ranma's door. She opened it ajar only to gasp.
There was Ranma sprawled out over Ukyo looking all too comfortable and content. They both looked up when Akane angrily whipped the door open.
"A-Akane! It's not what it looks like! Seriously!" Ranma stammered jumping off of Ukyo. Ukyo sat up and rubbed her head.
"Yeah, sure. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything. Please continue and don't let me bother you." She said sarcasm staining her furious voice.
"I'm gonna jet. See you guys around." Ukyo said embarrassingly. She ducked out of the room and fled out the door.
"Akane! Let me explain." Ranma pleaded. He was becoming agitated with Akane's stubbornness.
"Y'know what Ranma? I'm tired of hearing your lame excuses. If you want to be with everybody else be my guest 'because no way in hell am I ever going to be with you!" She snapped. Like her words, her hand snapped to the side of Ranma's face. Stunned, Ranma stared, bemused, at Akane. He stared directly into her eyes. He caught the tearful sadness growing in her eyes. Instead of the usual flare of competition, sadness and guilt built up inside the pit of his stomach.
(When did I become so weak to let these feelings develop? Why am I feeling so guilty?) He asked himself.
"Just forget it." Akane whispered. She lowered her hand from his face and walked furiously out of the room. Akane wanted to run from the house, but the horizon had grown dark. Instead, she turned and hid in her room. She shut the door gently behind her and sank to the carpet. Her back was against the screened door. Akane looked up at the ceiling blankly.
(This is it. I don't want to do this anymore. I'm sick and tired of bickering with him day in and day out.) She thought and sighed. (I should just stop talking to him.) She wrapped her arms around her knees and frowned. (Yeah, that would solve everything.) She thought sarcastically.
Akane felt something push against her lower back. She stood up quickly in fear of a hand rearing to grope. Instead, she found a piece of paper. She slowly and cautiously picked it up and unfolded it. It read:
-Open the door
Not knowing who it was from, Akane prepared for anything. She swiftly pulled open the door to meet no one's eye. She glanced around before spotting a package with another note. Akane looked down the hall at Ranma's door. She caught him peeking through it. Being caught, Ranma quickly retreated behind the door hiding him from her death glare.
Uncertain, Akane scooped the package from the floor and returned to her room. She cross examined it. The wrapping was poorly done. The package was square. It looked so regular that it tempted Akane to just open it without a second thought. After giving a second thought, she gave in and opened it.
Before her lay a cook book. A cook book.
(What kind of present is this?) She thought, offended. (What do my bad cooking skills have to do with any of this?) Akane jumped up and decided to pick another loathsome fight.
"What the hell is this?! Why bring my bad cooking skills into this? Did you just run out of things to criticize? First it's my figure, and then it's my grace, now this? What is your problem Ranma?!" She screamed threw his door.
Ranma opened it slightly only to reveal his face. It was frustrated and confused.
"You stupid tomboy. Didn't you even read the note? I try to do something nice for once and this is the thanks I get." He grumbled and shut the door. Akane's anger simmered down unnaturally fast. She pouted after realizing it was her fault for her fluster. She returned to her room again and picked up the note. The second note read:
-I know you like to cook even though you're not very good at it. Maybe this can help you out a bit.
Sorry,
Ranma
(He apologized?) Akane thought surprised. She was so pleased with the apologetic word that she didn't even notice that Ranma was mocking her cooking skills. She did have a reason to get upset, she just didn't use it. Maybe at that little moment both of the stubborn teenagers matured. (Okay! I'm gonna cook the best meal ever!) Akane thought determinedly. She flipped through the book in search of treasure-like recipe.
The evening grew old. Everyone returned to their homes hoping that the great scent they smelled on the streets was floating from their kitchen. Unfortunately, the Tendos did not have the pleasure of inhaling an unruly scent. Akane had been mixing and mashing for almost two hours. Everyone's stomachs growled impatiently. They all looked at each other in uncertainty. They knew that Akane could never concoct something edible. Hopefully, the take out was still safe.
"Dinner's ready." Akane called cheerfully. The family shuffled around the table unprepared for the feast that they before them. It looked alright.
"It looks delicious." Akane's father praised.
"Don't just stare at it. Try it." Akane said plopping a scoop full of who knows what into his bowl. "You too Ranma." Ranma shuttered when he received his portion. Knowing that he provoked this and that he couldn't get out of it, he picked up a small piece of the mysterious dish and placed it in his mouth. "Well?"
Ranma sat rigid in his seat. His eyes stared blankly ahead. The chopsticks were still in his mouth.
"Is he okay?" Kasumi asked.
"Ranma?" Akane questioned.
"It's...great..." He gasped collapsing onto the table. With this action, everyone else pushed the meal away. They all smiled innocently at Akane.
"Practice makes perfect." Nabiki stated.
"Thanks." Akane returned in all sarcasm.
"We still have the okonomiyaki." Kasumi piped hopefully.
"Actually, I threw it out." Akane confessed.
"Then I'll just make something." The eldest sister stood up and hurried into the kitchen. There was a silent pause. Ranma regained his composer though he had a nauseous disposition. "Has anyone seen my cookbook?" Kasumi called from the kitchen. Akane turned her stare slowly at Ranma who was sweating bullets.
"Ranma..." She bellowed threateningly.
"I-It was temporary! I was going to go get one for you in the morning." He stumbled.
"You cheap bastard!" Akane yelled. She jumped at him, but he was on his feet and running away. She quickly recovered and chased him.
Peace was restored again at the Tendos. The curse was the last thing on the cursed occupants' minds. Right now, all they could do was wait for a new day.
Author's Note: Again, I'm sorry for the delay. I'm not sure where to go next so suggestions are welcome as are critiques and comments. Thanks for reading.
Author's Note: Again, sorry for the delay. Ideas for this fic just aren't coming as easily as they were at the beginning. I still have no clue how this fic is going to end. I just sorta figured that I would know by now. Oh well.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Ranma and friends.
"I'm home." Ranma barely shouted. Right now seeing the Tendo family was one of the least things she wanted to do.
"Ranma! How was school?" Kasumi called from the kitchen. She patted her apron and then greeted him. "Why are you a girl?"
"It's a long story. I'll be in my room." She informed grumpily.
"Where's Akane?" She asked again.
"How should I know where she is?" Ranma said carelessly. "She probably got lost just like that stupid pig." She stomped heavily up the stairs not wanting to be questioned any further. Confused about the pig remark, Kasumi left the conversation at that and returned to her duties around the house.
Finally having a moment alone, Ranma threw herself down onto the bed. (You're an asshole.) Her brain scolded. (Akane first, ego second. Is that such a hard concept?)
"Yeah, yeah..." She said grabbing a pillow and stuffed her face in its fluffiness.
"Delivery!" A voice called from downstairs. Ranma got up and slammed her sliding door. She sat back down on the bed and cradled the pillow in her lap. She could vaguely hear Kasumi's muffled voice flutter as she chatted with the delivery person. She heard the front door shut and the soft patter of feet going into the kitchen. Another pair of feet climbed the stairs.
"Stupid tomboy's probably back..." Ranma mumbled to herself. She threw the pillow onto the carpet and waited for the screaming of a life time. Akane was probably devising the ultimate guilt trip right now. Then all hell would break loose again.
"Ran-chan! Can I come in?" A feminine voice called from outside.
(Ukyo?) She thought. Ranma slid off the edge of the bed and flew the door open.
"Kasumi told me to bring this up." She explained holding a kettle of boiling water. Ranma took it without a word to say. "I was delivering okonomiyaki."
"Oh." Ranma replied as he poured the hot water over himself. He sighed, feeling slightly better now that he was fully himself again.
"You seem gloomy. What's up?" Ukyo asked sitting down on the edge of the bed. She flung her legs out playfully.
"I just got in another fight with Akane." He said sitting down next to her.
"Doesn't that happen like everyday?" Ukyo asked.
"Yeah...but I think I really hurt her feelings this time." Ranma turned to Ukyo. "You're a girl. What would it take to get you to forgive someone you just fought with?"
"I dunno. An apology would be nice. Maybe a gift or something. I don't think I could ever get mad at you though, Ran-chan." She said playfully pushing the side of his face. Ranma smiled despite himself. He had been friends with Ukyo since childhood. He always considered her a friend first and then one of his fiancés.
"I don't know what to get her though. I don't want it to be ordinary like flowers or chocolate." Ranma contemplated.
"Well, what does she like to do?" Ukyo asked helpfully.
"Martial Arts, but I don't see how I could give her anything related to that. Grace can't be given. That would be perfect too." He thought out loud.
"I'm sure you'll come up with something. I have to get back to my restaurant." Ukyo said rising from the bed. She smoothed the creases in her outfit and fixed her hair delicately. After her tidying up routine, she smiled sweetly at Ranma. "See ya round." She said and turned towards the door. Accidentally, Ukyo tripped over the pillow that Ranma had earlier thrown. She stumbled and grabbed for the closest thing; Ranma. They both flew to the ground.
"I'm home!" Akane called from the front door. She was carrying P-chan as she stepped out of her shoes and walked into the hallway. "Hello?" She called.
Kasumi had left to do some errands. Akane wondered into the kitchen to find the okonomiyaki spread out neatly. Kasumi must have set the table before leaving.
Suddenly, there was a loud thump from upstairs. Akane jumped slightly.
"Ranma?" She called from the foot of the stairs. Receiving no response, she decided to go investigate. Who knew, it might have been a burglar. Akane tackled the climb and made her way to Ranma's door. She opened it ajar only to gasp.
There was Ranma sprawled out over Ukyo looking all too comfortable and content. They both looked up when Akane angrily whipped the door open.
"A-Akane! It's not what it looks like! Seriously!" Ranma stammered jumping off of Ukyo. Ukyo sat up and rubbed her head.
"Yeah, sure. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything. Please continue and don't let me bother you." She said sarcasm staining her furious voice.
"I'm gonna jet. See you guys around." Ukyo said embarrassingly. She ducked out of the room and fled out the door.
"Akane! Let me explain." Ranma pleaded. He was becoming agitated with Akane's stubbornness.
"Y'know what Ranma? I'm tired of hearing your lame excuses. If you want to be with everybody else be my guest 'because no way in hell am I ever going to be with you!" She snapped. Like her words, her hand snapped to the side of Ranma's face. Stunned, Ranma stared, bemused, at Akane. He stared directly into her eyes. He caught the tearful sadness growing in her eyes. Instead of the usual flare of competition, sadness and guilt built up inside the pit of his stomach.
(When did I become so weak to let these feelings develop? Why am I feeling so guilty?) He asked himself.
"Just forget it." Akane whispered. She lowered her hand from his face and walked furiously out of the room. Akane wanted to run from the house, but the horizon had grown dark. Instead, she turned and hid in her room. She shut the door gently behind her and sank to the carpet. Her back was against the screened door. Akane looked up at the ceiling blankly.
(This is it. I don't want to do this anymore. I'm sick and tired of bickering with him day in and day out.) She thought and sighed. (I should just stop talking to him.) She wrapped her arms around her knees and frowned. (Yeah, that would solve everything.) She thought sarcastically.
Akane felt something push against her lower back. She stood up quickly in fear of a hand rearing to grope. Instead, she found a piece of paper. She slowly and cautiously picked it up and unfolded it. It read:
-Open the door
Not knowing who it was from, Akane prepared for anything. She swiftly pulled open the door to meet no one's eye. She glanced around before spotting a package with another note. Akane looked down the hall at Ranma's door. She caught him peeking through it. Being caught, Ranma quickly retreated behind the door hiding him from her death glare.
Uncertain, Akane scooped the package from the floor and returned to her room. She cross examined it. The wrapping was poorly done. The package was square. It looked so regular that it tempted Akane to just open it without a second thought. After giving a second thought, she gave in and opened it.
Before her lay a cook book. A cook book.
(What kind of present is this?) She thought, offended. (What do my bad cooking skills have to do with any of this?) Akane jumped up and decided to pick another loathsome fight.
"What the hell is this?! Why bring my bad cooking skills into this? Did you just run out of things to criticize? First it's my figure, and then it's my grace, now this? What is your problem Ranma?!" She screamed threw his door.
Ranma opened it slightly only to reveal his face. It was frustrated and confused.
"You stupid tomboy. Didn't you even read the note? I try to do something nice for once and this is the thanks I get." He grumbled and shut the door. Akane's anger simmered down unnaturally fast. She pouted after realizing it was her fault for her fluster. She returned to her room again and picked up the note. The second note read:
-I know you like to cook even though you're not very good at it. Maybe this can help you out a bit.
Sorry,
Ranma
(He apologized?) Akane thought surprised. She was so pleased with the apologetic word that she didn't even notice that Ranma was mocking her cooking skills. She did have a reason to get upset, she just didn't use it. Maybe at that little moment both of the stubborn teenagers matured. (Okay! I'm gonna cook the best meal ever!) Akane thought determinedly. She flipped through the book in search of treasure-like recipe.
The evening grew old. Everyone returned to their homes hoping that the great scent they smelled on the streets was floating from their kitchen. Unfortunately, the Tendos did not have the pleasure of inhaling an unruly scent. Akane had been mixing and mashing for almost two hours. Everyone's stomachs growled impatiently. They all looked at each other in uncertainty. They knew that Akane could never concoct something edible. Hopefully, the take out was still safe.
"Dinner's ready." Akane called cheerfully. The family shuffled around the table unprepared for the feast that they before them. It looked alright.
"It looks delicious." Akane's father praised.
"Don't just stare at it. Try it." Akane said plopping a scoop full of who knows what into his bowl. "You too Ranma." Ranma shuttered when he received his portion. Knowing that he provoked this and that he couldn't get out of it, he picked up a small piece of the mysterious dish and placed it in his mouth. "Well?"
Ranma sat rigid in his seat. His eyes stared blankly ahead. The chopsticks were still in his mouth.
"Is he okay?" Kasumi asked.
"Ranma?" Akane questioned.
"It's...great..." He gasped collapsing onto the table. With this action, everyone else pushed the meal away. They all smiled innocently at Akane.
"Practice makes perfect." Nabiki stated.
"Thanks." Akane returned in all sarcasm.
"We still have the okonomiyaki." Kasumi piped hopefully.
"Actually, I threw it out." Akane confessed.
"Then I'll just make something." The eldest sister stood up and hurried into the kitchen. There was a silent pause. Ranma regained his composer though he had a nauseous disposition. "Has anyone seen my cookbook?" Kasumi called from the kitchen. Akane turned her stare slowly at Ranma who was sweating bullets.
"Ranma..." She bellowed threateningly.
"I-It was temporary! I was going to go get one for you in the morning." He stumbled.
"You cheap bastard!" Akane yelled. She jumped at him, but he was on his feet and running away. She quickly recovered and chased him.
Peace was restored again at the Tendos. The curse was the last thing on the cursed occupants' minds. Right now, all they could do was wait for a new day.
Author's Note: Again, I'm sorry for the delay. I'm not sure where to go next so suggestions are welcome as are critiques and comments. Thanks for reading.