Ranma and Nabiki were sitting across from each other at a booth in a small
restaurant. Nabiki had picked an out of the way American restaurant named
"DENISU". Ranma was digging into his hamburger with all the enthusiasm he
showed towards Kasumi's cooking at home. Nabiki realized Ranma had never
learned any table manners.
"Ranma?" Nabiki tried to get his attention.
"Hmph?" Ranma quickly swallowed his meal, "What's up? Is the food ok?"
Nabiki sighed, "How much have you interacted with people outside of martial arts in the last ten years or so?" She hoped if she worded things right Ranma wouldn't be offended.
Ranma sat back and drained his soda, "I dunno, there was this old lady that lived nearby when I was a kid. Sometimes after training with Pop I'd wake up in her lap."
Nabiki filed that bit of info away for later.
"Then there was my childhood friend Ucchan, no wait we trained together all the time too. Ok, there was this guy in junior high... no, we fought all the time too."
Nabiki let Ranma continue to think a couple more minutes. She was slowly beginning to get a good idea of what she needed to correct, "So Ranma, you've never had any real interaction with people who are not martial artists?"
Ranma shrugged, "I guess not. Pop never thought it was important I guess. Why?"
"Remember what we talked about that first night? About your future?" Nabiki asked. Ranma nodded.
"There are a lot of things you need to be aware of or learn if you want to be successful. I realize you don't have many plans yet. Ok, how this for an example. If you want to teach the art you want students to respect you right?" Ranma nodded hesitantly, "Do you respect your father?" Ranma winced.
Nabiki continued, "If you'll let me, I want to help you learn how to interact with people better. If anything it'll keep Akane from trying to kill you every time you mouth off." She finished with a smirk.
Ranma contemplated this for a moment. He and Nabiki had just met and didn't know each other all that well yet. However, they were getting along well and she seemed very intelligent. Maybe there was something to what she was saying. He had noticed that not everyone behaved the way Ranma and his father treated each other. At first he thought maybe it was just a martial artist thing but lately he was finding that assumption flawed.
"Ok, sure. I'll try for you." Ranma agreed.
"Thanks Ranma, I'm really starting to like you." Nabiki said. She felt her face redden. Why did she say that? What if he doesn't like me back?
"Um, thanks Nabiki, you're pretty cool yourself. I'm glad we can be friends. I don't have too many of those and you're not as temperamental as your sister Akane." What Ranma said was true. He had never had any real friends and he was finding it comfortable to be around Nabiki. If he had thought about it for a moment he'd realize that he was being way too comfortable with someone he had resolved to himself not to marry. Not that he didn't like Nabiki, he just didn't want to marry anyone. He had the Art to perfect after all and had little use for distractions.
Nabiki figured that was as close to an admission of liking her that she was going to get from Ranma tonight. They continued small talking for a while, getting to know each other and the lives they had lived. Nabiki telling stories of growing up with Kuno as a school mate and Ranma telling of the places he'd been and the people he'd fought. Nabiki had a terrible time keeping calm after some of the tales of Ranma's so called training. Really, tying rocks to his feet and making him run from a pack of hungry wolves? She was tempted to have Genma arrested for child abuse.
It was just getting dark as the two teenagers headed home. Ranma had to admit to himself that he really had a good time. It was nice to talk to someone who actually listened to what you had to say without judgement.
They approached the gates of the dojo and Nabiki stopped Ranma from opening them, "Aren't you forgetting something Ranma?"
Ranma looked confused. He patted himself down as if searching for something, "No I don't think so. What?"
Nabiki grinned, "You're forgetting the last part of the date."
"Huh?" Ranma said intelligently.
"The goodnight kiss you dope." Nabiki teased.
Ranma's eyes went wide as he turned pale, then his face flushed suddenly as he started shaking, "Um, well, you see... I'm not... that is... if you really... ah..." Ranma stuttered and floundered trying to find words as he quickly lost all semblance of control.
Nabiki's eyes flashed mischievously at Ranma's state, "I had a lovely time. Thank you." She leaned over on tip toes and kissed him quickly on the lips. Nothing romantic or sensual just a quick peck. Ranma froze up completely as his mind went into shock.
Nabiki turned and went indoors as Ranma collapsed into a heap at the entry way.
It was later that Ranma found himself on the roof of the dojo, staring at the city lights in the distance. His fingers brushed his lips where Nabiki had kissed him. He was contemplating the last two days. How had his life changed so drastically? He'd only known the girl for two days and he wasn't sure but he thought he was falling for her and hard.
Meanwhile, Nabiki was sitting in her room trying to go over her daily receipts and balance her ledger. Her mind kept drifting back to that kiss with Ranma. It wasn't anything special, something you'd give a relative yet... Nabiki realized it was her first kiss with someone who wasn't related to her. Her first kiss. Nabiki had expected it to be a magical moment with music and sparkling light and doves with ribbons. Ok, maybe not the doves. But she thought it would be something flashier, although.
She found herself not able to concentrate. Finally she gave up trying to get anything accomplished and let her mind turn to the fiancé problem. Was it wise to fall for the pigtailed martial artist? What did she know about him other than his curse and the powers he'd shown her. Granted they had talked at great length about their lives but Nabiki was not one to accept a persons word at face value. Ranma however seemed almost unnaturally honest and honorable, more so than his fat father. If even half of what Ranma had told her was true she was hesitant to have him for an in-law.
Maybe Ranma could take her name and they'd kick the old man out of the dojo after the wedding. Nabiki blushed, thankful no one was around to see. Here she was thinking about marriage after knowing the guy two days! It must have been the fact they were engaged by their parents. No way could this have happened by chance.
Nabiki sat down on her bed and resolved to deal with her Ranma dilemma, right after she indulged in a little fantasizing first.
Ranma was practicing turning into different substances, chimney brick, roof tile, iron nail, sighing he flicked the loose nail off the roof where it embedded itself into a tree. He wasn't sure exactly what love was but he did know he'd never felt this way about anyone before. Not even his father who he thought he loved even if he didn't respect him.
"Why do things have to be so difficult? All I ever wanted was to be the best martial artist in the world. Now I got a gender changing curse, these freaky powers, and a fiancé that I think I'm beginning to lo...like a lot. Where did everything go wrong?" Ranma muttered.
"Sometimes fate has other plans than what we make for ourselves." A voice said next to Ranma.
Ranma, startled, almost fell off the roof. He turned and saw a small animal of some sort. It looked sort of like a Raccoon crossed with a fox. It looked familiar like he'd seen something like it before. It also had a skinny almost weasel like build and it was currently trying to pry the top off a bottle of sake.
"What...what the hell are you? You just talked didn't you?" Ranma asked.
The creature turned to Ranma with glowing orange eyes, "Huh? Oh, I'm just a harmless little Tanuki." It wrestled with the bottle some more.
Ranma suddenly remembered. Tanukis were Raccoon/fox spirits that were popular in shinto traditions. You could see statues of them all over Japan, from shrines to keychains. They were usually pretty fat though and jolly looking too. They were real animals related to dogs but Ranma had only seen them a few times in his life and they'd never looked like this. This one seemed frustrated and way too small.
"Pretty scrawny for a Tanuki aren't you?" Ranma said, chocking the whole thing up to just another weird part of his life.
The Tanuki shrugged, "I've been sick. Would you mind?" It held up the sake bottle to Ranma.
Ranma took the bottle and unscrewed the cap and handed it back to the spirit creature.
"Thank you ever so much. No opposable thumbs and all that." It said as explanation. It took a big swig of the colorless liquid letting out a loud gasp when he was done, "Ah, that's some good stuff. I'll have to thank your father when I see him for his taste in liquor."
Ranma chuckled, serves his old man right to get ripped off, "So why are you here? I assume it's not just to drink Pops booze."
The Tanuki drained the bottle by half and nodded, "You're correct boy. I'm here to be your spiritual guide."
Ranma frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Quite simple, I'm here to help you with your powers and offer advice." The small creature sat back and donned a small straw hat, "You my boy are destined for great things and I'm here to help you achieve them."
"So you're responsible for these powers?" Ranma asked. He wasn't really unhappy with his newfound gifts but he wished he knew how they worked.
"No, unfortunately I have no idea how you got them. I do know I've been assigned to help you out though." The Tanuki replied.
Ranma sighed. "So basically someone higher up noticed my powers and sent you to keep an eye on me." So now the gods are getting involved thought Ranma.
The spirit shrugged, "I'm not at liberty to divulge that information. But don't worry about me, I'll just be nearby whenever you need me."
"Great... Don't hold your breath ok?" Ranma got up and walked to the edge of the roof, "By the way, you got a name?"
The Tanuki smiled almost evilly with a mouthful of sharp teeth, "You can call me Jerry."
"Ranma?" Nabiki tried to get his attention.
"Hmph?" Ranma quickly swallowed his meal, "What's up? Is the food ok?"
Nabiki sighed, "How much have you interacted with people outside of martial arts in the last ten years or so?" She hoped if she worded things right Ranma wouldn't be offended.
Ranma sat back and drained his soda, "I dunno, there was this old lady that lived nearby when I was a kid. Sometimes after training with Pop I'd wake up in her lap."
Nabiki filed that bit of info away for later.
"Then there was my childhood friend Ucchan, no wait we trained together all the time too. Ok, there was this guy in junior high... no, we fought all the time too."
Nabiki let Ranma continue to think a couple more minutes. She was slowly beginning to get a good idea of what she needed to correct, "So Ranma, you've never had any real interaction with people who are not martial artists?"
Ranma shrugged, "I guess not. Pop never thought it was important I guess. Why?"
"Remember what we talked about that first night? About your future?" Nabiki asked. Ranma nodded.
"There are a lot of things you need to be aware of or learn if you want to be successful. I realize you don't have many plans yet. Ok, how this for an example. If you want to teach the art you want students to respect you right?" Ranma nodded hesitantly, "Do you respect your father?" Ranma winced.
Nabiki continued, "If you'll let me, I want to help you learn how to interact with people better. If anything it'll keep Akane from trying to kill you every time you mouth off." She finished with a smirk.
Ranma contemplated this for a moment. He and Nabiki had just met and didn't know each other all that well yet. However, they were getting along well and she seemed very intelligent. Maybe there was something to what she was saying. He had noticed that not everyone behaved the way Ranma and his father treated each other. At first he thought maybe it was just a martial artist thing but lately he was finding that assumption flawed.
"Ok, sure. I'll try for you." Ranma agreed.
"Thanks Ranma, I'm really starting to like you." Nabiki said. She felt her face redden. Why did she say that? What if he doesn't like me back?
"Um, thanks Nabiki, you're pretty cool yourself. I'm glad we can be friends. I don't have too many of those and you're not as temperamental as your sister Akane." What Ranma said was true. He had never had any real friends and he was finding it comfortable to be around Nabiki. If he had thought about it for a moment he'd realize that he was being way too comfortable with someone he had resolved to himself not to marry. Not that he didn't like Nabiki, he just didn't want to marry anyone. He had the Art to perfect after all and had little use for distractions.
Nabiki figured that was as close to an admission of liking her that she was going to get from Ranma tonight. They continued small talking for a while, getting to know each other and the lives they had lived. Nabiki telling stories of growing up with Kuno as a school mate and Ranma telling of the places he'd been and the people he'd fought. Nabiki had a terrible time keeping calm after some of the tales of Ranma's so called training. Really, tying rocks to his feet and making him run from a pack of hungry wolves? She was tempted to have Genma arrested for child abuse.
It was just getting dark as the two teenagers headed home. Ranma had to admit to himself that he really had a good time. It was nice to talk to someone who actually listened to what you had to say without judgement.
They approached the gates of the dojo and Nabiki stopped Ranma from opening them, "Aren't you forgetting something Ranma?"
Ranma looked confused. He patted himself down as if searching for something, "No I don't think so. What?"
Nabiki grinned, "You're forgetting the last part of the date."
"Huh?" Ranma said intelligently.
"The goodnight kiss you dope." Nabiki teased.
Ranma's eyes went wide as he turned pale, then his face flushed suddenly as he started shaking, "Um, well, you see... I'm not... that is... if you really... ah..." Ranma stuttered and floundered trying to find words as he quickly lost all semblance of control.
Nabiki's eyes flashed mischievously at Ranma's state, "I had a lovely time. Thank you." She leaned over on tip toes and kissed him quickly on the lips. Nothing romantic or sensual just a quick peck. Ranma froze up completely as his mind went into shock.
Nabiki turned and went indoors as Ranma collapsed into a heap at the entry way.
It was later that Ranma found himself on the roof of the dojo, staring at the city lights in the distance. His fingers brushed his lips where Nabiki had kissed him. He was contemplating the last two days. How had his life changed so drastically? He'd only known the girl for two days and he wasn't sure but he thought he was falling for her and hard.
Meanwhile, Nabiki was sitting in her room trying to go over her daily receipts and balance her ledger. Her mind kept drifting back to that kiss with Ranma. It wasn't anything special, something you'd give a relative yet... Nabiki realized it was her first kiss with someone who wasn't related to her. Her first kiss. Nabiki had expected it to be a magical moment with music and sparkling light and doves with ribbons. Ok, maybe not the doves. But she thought it would be something flashier, although.
She found herself not able to concentrate. Finally she gave up trying to get anything accomplished and let her mind turn to the fiancé problem. Was it wise to fall for the pigtailed martial artist? What did she know about him other than his curse and the powers he'd shown her. Granted they had talked at great length about their lives but Nabiki was not one to accept a persons word at face value. Ranma however seemed almost unnaturally honest and honorable, more so than his fat father. If even half of what Ranma had told her was true she was hesitant to have him for an in-law.
Maybe Ranma could take her name and they'd kick the old man out of the dojo after the wedding. Nabiki blushed, thankful no one was around to see. Here she was thinking about marriage after knowing the guy two days! It must have been the fact they were engaged by their parents. No way could this have happened by chance.
Nabiki sat down on her bed and resolved to deal with her Ranma dilemma, right after she indulged in a little fantasizing first.
Ranma was practicing turning into different substances, chimney brick, roof tile, iron nail, sighing he flicked the loose nail off the roof where it embedded itself into a tree. He wasn't sure exactly what love was but he did know he'd never felt this way about anyone before. Not even his father who he thought he loved even if he didn't respect him.
"Why do things have to be so difficult? All I ever wanted was to be the best martial artist in the world. Now I got a gender changing curse, these freaky powers, and a fiancé that I think I'm beginning to lo...like a lot. Where did everything go wrong?" Ranma muttered.
"Sometimes fate has other plans than what we make for ourselves." A voice said next to Ranma.
Ranma, startled, almost fell off the roof. He turned and saw a small animal of some sort. It looked sort of like a Raccoon crossed with a fox. It looked familiar like he'd seen something like it before. It also had a skinny almost weasel like build and it was currently trying to pry the top off a bottle of sake.
"What...what the hell are you? You just talked didn't you?" Ranma asked.
The creature turned to Ranma with glowing orange eyes, "Huh? Oh, I'm just a harmless little Tanuki." It wrestled with the bottle some more.
Ranma suddenly remembered. Tanukis were Raccoon/fox spirits that were popular in shinto traditions. You could see statues of them all over Japan, from shrines to keychains. They were usually pretty fat though and jolly looking too. They were real animals related to dogs but Ranma had only seen them a few times in his life and they'd never looked like this. This one seemed frustrated and way too small.
"Pretty scrawny for a Tanuki aren't you?" Ranma said, chocking the whole thing up to just another weird part of his life.
The Tanuki shrugged, "I've been sick. Would you mind?" It held up the sake bottle to Ranma.
Ranma took the bottle and unscrewed the cap and handed it back to the spirit creature.
"Thank you ever so much. No opposable thumbs and all that." It said as explanation. It took a big swig of the colorless liquid letting out a loud gasp when he was done, "Ah, that's some good stuff. I'll have to thank your father when I see him for his taste in liquor."
Ranma chuckled, serves his old man right to get ripped off, "So why are you here? I assume it's not just to drink Pops booze."
The Tanuki drained the bottle by half and nodded, "You're correct boy. I'm here to be your spiritual guide."
Ranma frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Quite simple, I'm here to help you with your powers and offer advice." The small creature sat back and donned a small straw hat, "You my boy are destined for great things and I'm here to help you achieve them."
"So you're responsible for these powers?" Ranma asked. He wasn't really unhappy with his newfound gifts but he wished he knew how they worked.
"No, unfortunately I have no idea how you got them. I do know I've been assigned to help you out though." The Tanuki replied.
Ranma sighed. "So basically someone higher up noticed my powers and sent you to keep an eye on me." So now the gods are getting involved thought Ranma.
The spirit shrugged, "I'm not at liberty to divulge that information. But don't worry about me, I'll just be nearby whenever you need me."
"Great... Don't hold your breath ok?" Ranma got up and walked to the edge of the roof, "By the way, you got a name?"
The Tanuki smiled almost evilly with a mouthful of sharp teeth, "You can call me Jerry."
