I do not own Ranma ½, rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi and whatever
companies publishing her work around the world.
A.N. I forgot to appologize for my English, it's not my mother tongue, so I guess I make mistakes now and then. Be gentle, please (if anyone cares to read this, that is)
for thought '''' for dialogue CHAPTER 4. OUTCASTED!
The day seemed to go easier and peaceful without worrying about Ranma and the chaos around him. Classes were ok, she really wanted to go to college and get a degree in Phys Ed, she badly wanted to run the family's dojo and earn some respect. She went for a walk around the nearest park, hoping to find Mousse there and see how he was faring. She stopped by the doctor first, since she wanted to ask for Dr. Tofu when she heard some familiar voice moaning softly. She ran inside, to find Mousse on a stretch, his arm in a sling and sporting some nasty bruises on his face and chest.
"My, Mousse! What happened?"
"A honor and amazon law-round with Cologne before she asked me politely to leave and never put a foot in the Neko-hanten.or our village, for what matters..."
"Why? That old bitch! -even Akane was surprised by the venom in her voice- She had no right to do that!- She looked at his things, wrapped in a cloth bundle on the floor.- Your stuff? Fine, I will take it to my house, you're staying with us for a few days until you find some job and a place to stay. And no "but" me or I'll cook stuffed-duck for dinner".
Mousse gulped loudly. He had heard that kind of threat too many times, but at least he knew the first option did not endanger his or any other dignity's, as his Amazon-mates' did (plus, Akane's cooking may endanger other innocent people). He nodded and made for his things, but Akane was faster and swung the bundle over her shoulder and took his hand.
They walked in silence. She opened the door and let Mousse pass.
"I'm home. Kasumi, um, I brought Mousse home, I would like he could stay with us for a few days if you don't mind, he was thrown out the Neko-hanten and has nowhere else to go and he's hurt and." she was talking fast, a display of emotions in her voice: worry, anger, sadness.
"Shush, it's ok, he's welcome, he can stay at grandfather's room, since he's not in sight now. I hope you don't mind spending a few days in what was Happosai's room"
"Er, no, thanks, Kasumi, that would be great for me. I can even exorcise the room if you want" he said with a smile.
Kasumi giggled a bit and motioned him to follow her upstairs.
Mousse unpacked his things and put his robes in the closet, while Kasumi drag a futon from the attic with Akane's help. They tucked a few sheets and watched Mousse as he lit some incense sticks and chanted some strange verses in supposedly mandarin chinese. He bowed.
"It's done. That should clean this room from any ifluence it might have gotten from the former occupant" He smiled shily, while scratching the back of his head.
"Would you like some tea?" Kasumi, the perfect housewife, ever. They went to the kitchen and while sipping some tea, Akane told her about Mousse' plan to get some education. She gave him some good advice and promised to talk with one of her teachers at night school for a late enrolment.
"Thanks, Kasumi, you're the best". Akane hugged her fiercely.
Dinner was nice, Mousse and Akane had helped in the kitchen and miraculously, no one ended sick (though a bit of Alka-seltzer was nice) and the fire department could go to rest for a night more. Ranma did not agree, since he got a nice imprint of Akane's hand on his cheek for appraising her cooking. Akane watched the stars, sitting by the porch. It's fun having Mousse around, at least he helps intead of making a competition out of every single second. She yawned. Time for bed.
Kasumi was glad to have Mousse around in the house helping wherever he could, it would take a week or so before he could get the sling off. She showed him to the night school and got all the papers done, even a little visit to the Foreigner's Office, to check his passport and renew his student visa, this time for real studies. So much to be done, but he had started his own path with an unexpected but welcomed help. Perhaps he should even thank Cologne for making him an outcast.
Even Nabiki got to help him (for a price, of course) about finding a part- time job for a student as a waiter in a night-club. The pay was ok and did not mess up much with his schemes for school. He would have to take two advanced courses if he wanted to finish this year, but at least he got Akane to help him, yeah, life was fair for once.
****************
Ranma was not that happy to have Mousse at home, even if he didn't try to fight, he still suspected he would be after him, claiming his endless love for Shampoo and trying to bash him for taking her away from him. Both Akane and Mousse tried to clear the situation for him, but he didn't bought it, not totally, at least. I can't believe Cologne would allow that, without killing Mousse first, but if I got only one less out there to go after me, well, fine by me.
The next day Shampoo broke into the house by her usual "make door on wall" tactics and humphed at Mousse.
"What silly duck-boy doing here? You marry pervert-girl, so airen all mine?" She smiled at Ranma, now gulping very loudly, and served him a ramen bowl. "Eat too, too good ramen, not silly miso soup".
Now, nobody makes a comment of that kind about Kasumi's cooking and gets on his way! Kasumi smiled and held Shampoo's wrist.
"I'm glad you decided to stop by and give Ranma this little present, but I'd rather you did it by the front door. As for food, I would say he gets enough of equilibrated diet here, he can go anytime where you work and get a snack, right? Now if you would like to leave, please? I would like to serve breakfast." Her grip on Shampoo's wrist was pretty strong, though she never lost her sweet smile. The chinese cook left, her eyes wide open.
Mousse hadn't said a single word, he even refused to look at Shampoo. His lips were tightly closed.
"My, didn't they teach her manners at her village? No offence meant for you, Mousse."
The rest of the household kept staring at her without saying a word. Better not being on Kasumi's bad side, one never knows.Perhaps even Kasumi had had enough of all the mayhem.
So, for a few days, Akane and Mousse would study together before and after dinner since he got a lot of work to catch up. Ranma tried to join the first day, but got bored after fifteen minutes and began playing with his pencil, until Akane gave him a free ticket to the pond. It would be nearly a week since Mousse moved when Shampoo made another attempt to buy Ranma with food at the Tendo's. Akane gave her a furious glare. Mousse still didn't say a word.
"What silly Mousse doing here? He be shame to Amazon village, should not allow to stay with other people, specially with airen"
"He's welcome into my house, I can't say the same about you" shot Akane, she was indeed getting angry.
"Hey, cut that out, her noodles are great!" Ranma, who else, stuffing himself with the food the chinese girl brought.
Shampoo gave her a mischivious smile. Akane was fuming by now.How... how dare he!
"This is not ." 'your house' she stopped before finishing; that would have been. too much, definitely. He was a guest after all, he might have to take the host's uses as they came, but a little bit of politeness from the host was asked.
"I've lost my appetite". She left the table and headed for the furo, to cool off.
Kasumi looked at her little sister, she could guess too easily what she was about to say. Thank the lord, she had somehow managed to swallow it. Shampoo was glowing in her victory and rubbing against an uncomfortable Ranma. Certainly, he had inherited his father's lust for food, he left himself get dragged almost to anything for a free meal. He surely had behind a lot of years with little or nothing to eat, but still.
"Shampoo, would you please help me out in the kitchen? It will be just a minute." She said that with her best, warmest smile.
Shampoo complied. She followed Kasumi and sat where she was ordered.
"Shampoo, correct me if I' wrong. You belong to a matriarchal society, that' right? Where the mother or grandmother is the head of the clan -she nodded her head, waiting for Shampoo to say something-; then, I guess that for your tribe, I am the head of the Tendo clan, right?"
"Yes, nice-girl head of family, not silly tear-man"
'My, don't they teach a bit of diplomacy in their village' Kasumi rolled up her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Then, as the head of the clan, I'm going to ask you to stop coming here unless I personally call for you. You can see Ranma whenever or wherever you want except when he's here. You do not want to put further strain into our respective clans relationships, do you?"
Shampoo had paled, she had paled so much you could tell she looked like a ghost. She'd have to consult this with her great-grandmother. She bowed to Kasumi and left.
Kasumi left out her breath, she had been holding it up for the whole speech. She had never done something of this kind, it was much against her nature, but she felt she had to do it. The way the other fiancés were behaving was umpolite, if not shameful. She did not want her little sister to make a fool of herself or being mocked by the other girls, at least not in her own home. She started preparing lunch for the next day, she needed to calm down.
After an hour, Akane left for her room. She didn't want to see anybody, not her family in any case, and specially, not Ranma. The following week, Mousse picked his belongings and moved to a little flat near the park where Akane and him usually met. They established an schedule for study time and sparring and went at it with a hunger and thrill they didn't expect.
A.N. I forgot to appologize for my English, it's not my mother tongue, so I guess I make mistakes now and then. Be gentle, please (if anyone cares to read this, that is)
for thought '''' for dialogue CHAPTER 4. OUTCASTED!
The day seemed to go easier and peaceful without worrying about Ranma and the chaos around him. Classes were ok, she really wanted to go to college and get a degree in Phys Ed, she badly wanted to run the family's dojo and earn some respect. She went for a walk around the nearest park, hoping to find Mousse there and see how he was faring. She stopped by the doctor first, since she wanted to ask for Dr. Tofu when she heard some familiar voice moaning softly. She ran inside, to find Mousse on a stretch, his arm in a sling and sporting some nasty bruises on his face and chest.
"My, Mousse! What happened?"
"A honor and amazon law-round with Cologne before she asked me politely to leave and never put a foot in the Neko-hanten.or our village, for what matters..."
"Why? That old bitch! -even Akane was surprised by the venom in her voice- She had no right to do that!- She looked at his things, wrapped in a cloth bundle on the floor.- Your stuff? Fine, I will take it to my house, you're staying with us for a few days until you find some job and a place to stay. And no "but" me or I'll cook stuffed-duck for dinner".
Mousse gulped loudly. He had heard that kind of threat too many times, but at least he knew the first option did not endanger his or any other dignity's, as his Amazon-mates' did (plus, Akane's cooking may endanger other innocent people). He nodded and made for his things, but Akane was faster and swung the bundle over her shoulder and took his hand.
They walked in silence. She opened the door and let Mousse pass.
"I'm home. Kasumi, um, I brought Mousse home, I would like he could stay with us for a few days if you don't mind, he was thrown out the Neko-hanten and has nowhere else to go and he's hurt and." she was talking fast, a display of emotions in her voice: worry, anger, sadness.
"Shush, it's ok, he's welcome, he can stay at grandfather's room, since he's not in sight now. I hope you don't mind spending a few days in what was Happosai's room"
"Er, no, thanks, Kasumi, that would be great for me. I can even exorcise the room if you want" he said with a smile.
Kasumi giggled a bit and motioned him to follow her upstairs.
Mousse unpacked his things and put his robes in the closet, while Kasumi drag a futon from the attic with Akane's help. They tucked a few sheets and watched Mousse as he lit some incense sticks and chanted some strange verses in supposedly mandarin chinese. He bowed.
"It's done. That should clean this room from any ifluence it might have gotten from the former occupant" He smiled shily, while scratching the back of his head.
"Would you like some tea?" Kasumi, the perfect housewife, ever. They went to the kitchen and while sipping some tea, Akane told her about Mousse' plan to get some education. She gave him some good advice and promised to talk with one of her teachers at night school for a late enrolment.
"Thanks, Kasumi, you're the best". Akane hugged her fiercely.
Dinner was nice, Mousse and Akane had helped in the kitchen and miraculously, no one ended sick (though a bit of Alka-seltzer was nice) and the fire department could go to rest for a night more. Ranma did not agree, since he got a nice imprint of Akane's hand on his cheek for appraising her cooking. Akane watched the stars, sitting by the porch. It's fun having Mousse around, at least he helps intead of making a competition out of every single second. She yawned. Time for bed.
Kasumi was glad to have Mousse around in the house helping wherever he could, it would take a week or so before he could get the sling off. She showed him to the night school and got all the papers done, even a little visit to the Foreigner's Office, to check his passport and renew his student visa, this time for real studies. So much to be done, but he had started his own path with an unexpected but welcomed help. Perhaps he should even thank Cologne for making him an outcast.
Even Nabiki got to help him (for a price, of course) about finding a part- time job for a student as a waiter in a night-club. The pay was ok and did not mess up much with his schemes for school. He would have to take two advanced courses if he wanted to finish this year, but at least he got Akane to help him, yeah, life was fair for once.
****************
Ranma was not that happy to have Mousse at home, even if he didn't try to fight, he still suspected he would be after him, claiming his endless love for Shampoo and trying to bash him for taking her away from him. Both Akane and Mousse tried to clear the situation for him, but he didn't bought it, not totally, at least. I can't believe Cologne would allow that, without killing Mousse first, but if I got only one less out there to go after me, well, fine by me.
The next day Shampoo broke into the house by her usual "make door on wall" tactics and humphed at Mousse.
"What silly duck-boy doing here? You marry pervert-girl, so airen all mine?" She smiled at Ranma, now gulping very loudly, and served him a ramen bowl. "Eat too, too good ramen, not silly miso soup".
Now, nobody makes a comment of that kind about Kasumi's cooking and gets on his way! Kasumi smiled and held Shampoo's wrist.
"I'm glad you decided to stop by and give Ranma this little present, but I'd rather you did it by the front door. As for food, I would say he gets enough of equilibrated diet here, he can go anytime where you work and get a snack, right? Now if you would like to leave, please? I would like to serve breakfast." Her grip on Shampoo's wrist was pretty strong, though she never lost her sweet smile. The chinese cook left, her eyes wide open.
Mousse hadn't said a single word, he even refused to look at Shampoo. His lips were tightly closed.
"My, didn't they teach her manners at her village? No offence meant for you, Mousse."
The rest of the household kept staring at her without saying a word. Better not being on Kasumi's bad side, one never knows.Perhaps even Kasumi had had enough of all the mayhem.
So, for a few days, Akane and Mousse would study together before and after dinner since he got a lot of work to catch up. Ranma tried to join the first day, but got bored after fifteen minutes and began playing with his pencil, until Akane gave him a free ticket to the pond. It would be nearly a week since Mousse moved when Shampoo made another attempt to buy Ranma with food at the Tendo's. Akane gave her a furious glare. Mousse still didn't say a word.
"What silly Mousse doing here? He be shame to Amazon village, should not allow to stay with other people, specially with airen"
"He's welcome into my house, I can't say the same about you" shot Akane, she was indeed getting angry.
"Hey, cut that out, her noodles are great!" Ranma, who else, stuffing himself with the food the chinese girl brought.
Shampoo gave her a mischivious smile. Akane was fuming by now.How... how dare he!
"This is not ." 'your house' she stopped before finishing; that would have been. too much, definitely. He was a guest after all, he might have to take the host's uses as they came, but a little bit of politeness from the host was asked.
"I've lost my appetite". She left the table and headed for the furo, to cool off.
Kasumi looked at her little sister, she could guess too easily what she was about to say. Thank the lord, she had somehow managed to swallow it. Shampoo was glowing in her victory and rubbing against an uncomfortable Ranma. Certainly, he had inherited his father's lust for food, he left himself get dragged almost to anything for a free meal. He surely had behind a lot of years with little or nothing to eat, but still.
"Shampoo, would you please help me out in the kitchen? It will be just a minute." She said that with her best, warmest smile.
Shampoo complied. She followed Kasumi and sat where she was ordered.
"Shampoo, correct me if I' wrong. You belong to a matriarchal society, that' right? Where the mother or grandmother is the head of the clan -she nodded her head, waiting for Shampoo to say something-; then, I guess that for your tribe, I am the head of the Tendo clan, right?"
"Yes, nice-girl head of family, not silly tear-man"
'My, don't they teach a bit of diplomacy in their village' Kasumi rolled up her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Then, as the head of the clan, I'm going to ask you to stop coming here unless I personally call for you. You can see Ranma whenever or wherever you want except when he's here. You do not want to put further strain into our respective clans relationships, do you?"
Shampoo had paled, she had paled so much you could tell she looked like a ghost. She'd have to consult this with her great-grandmother. She bowed to Kasumi and left.
Kasumi left out her breath, she had been holding it up for the whole speech. She had never done something of this kind, it was much against her nature, but she felt she had to do it. The way the other fiancés were behaving was umpolite, if not shameful. She did not want her little sister to make a fool of herself or being mocked by the other girls, at least not in her own home. She started preparing lunch for the next day, she needed to calm down.
After an hour, Akane left for her room. She didn't want to see anybody, not her family in any case, and specially, not Ranma. The following week, Mousse picked his belongings and moved to a little flat near the park where Akane and him usually met. They established an schedule for study time and sparring and went at it with a hunger and thrill they didn't expect.