------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction * Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction * Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction * ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Switch: Herbs and Spices (Chapter 03 / 22) by Nikholas "Switch" F. Toledo ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please do remember that Ranma 1/2 is a trademark and a copyright of and by some big name people and companies I am not even worthy to introduce. Anybody who says that I took any of their stuff better not find me hiding. Also, great thanks to whoever reads this and likes it, good thanks to whoever reads it anyhow, and teeny-weeny thanks to whoever else even saw this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day 1 Third Degree The man smiled. It was just time for lunch, and it would seem that plans will be taking effect as they should. The company was now financially secured, and the prospects have only to wait, and he was sure that she would deliver. He would soon have to meet with her to make the arrangements for the stocks, then all will be well in that department. Ryoga went out of the bathroom in his saffron shirt, one among many. He wondered why it seemed as though in the world of martial artists, when they've decided on a form of garb, they seem to stock their wardrobes with them. For him, it's always been a case of making sure that there's something he could wear in between transformations wherever he could be. Ranma's had an ensemble of Chinese shirts he's seen, and most of the girls have clothes changes every few days. Mousse has his amorphous tunic. Kuno's always wearing that kendo gi, but that's Kuno. He sighed. People here get too engrossed sometimes. It'll take days to even remember to change. Carefully (read: very, very carefully) retracing his steps, he went down the stairs into the viewing area. His tumultuous concentration was unreasonable at best, attuned to his temper. He had to learn to be more calm, he reasoned, if he didn't want to end up in Australia again. Keeping the air of a man who would need tearing his arms from his shoulders (but the face of decorum; oh yes, decorum must most definitely be maintained), he fairly leapt when he felt a tap. He was glad he wasn't any more alert than he was, or else, with his super martial artist reflexes, he would've knocked Nabiki's block off. Some martial artist reflexes. He felt himself cool down. "What do you want?" Nabiki was wearing some striped shirt and jeans, and her arms were crossed in front of her. For the life of him, she looked like she was surprised. "I was wondering what you were doing here." He knew the opening. "I'm just looking for Ranma. We have a match to settle." Nabiki put a hand to her chin. "Not another one. You guys seem to fight as often than Ranma and Akane." He fought to contain the bubbling emotion evoked by the simple mention of her name. Oh Akane. "He's always the one who starts it." A wide-eyed look leapt to her face. "That's what Ranma says." He was starting to get itchy. "All right, Nabiki. What is it you really want?" Nabiki dropped the bit. "Simple. I just caught you stealing away from Akane's bedroom." Ryoga's jaw dropped to mildly mid-torso. "You what??" Nabiki pursued the tag. "It may escape the attention of most of the people in the house, but not from moi." She loosely waved her hand towards her chest. Ryoga couldn't help but look raptly at it, his mind suddenly at warp 3. Getting caught like that, it was just too careless, careless. But at the same time, he ogled Nabiki as a female. It was getting too bizarre. "What? When? How?" he muttered through barely controllable lips. Nabiki noticed how close they were. She dared herself to get even closer. "I knew it from the start Ryoga. How you were always here, even when Ranma wasn't around, for example." Ryoga sweated. He wanted to believe it was the weather, but it was ominously clear that it was the fact that he was caught in the headlights of one called Nabiki, in more than one way. What he was worried about was that the closer she got, the more painfully clear it was that the mild scent of perfume was wafting in his nostrils. When she got as close as she had, they were standing with Ryoga trying to inch slowly up the wall on tiptoes, and Nabiki bent at the waist and peering at him, looking like she was going to buy him. There's no way out, Ryoga's mind moaned in his soft as jelly ears. It was then that Nabiki had an itch on her collarbone. As she held her collar, and raised it, the last thing Ryoga saw was Nabiki's slender neck, and ... Nabiki was glad that she had backed away quickly. Blood seemed to be everywhere, just gushing out of Ryoga's nose. Nabiki just smiled. She dragged him by the scruff of his neck on the way out. He deserved it, she reasoned. She looked back into his face. For being a bad boy. My sister doesn't take to perverts easily, so you can't ask me to help you there. Besides, I already have plans. Soun turned off the set. The morning animes had ended, and the early noon news was on. He didn't care for midday information anyhow. The best time to take your medicine was in the morning, he always thought. He stared at the young man across the table. He knew that look. He bent over to knock on the kendo champion's head. Empty. It would look like young Kuno was going to be around for lunch, he thought. Hope he'd have regained consciousness then. Morning anime always seemed to have this effect on him. He caught the sight of Nabiki dragging along a body. She said, "he's just going to join me in going to the bank, daddy. Something about protecting and ladies, or something." She lopsidedly smirked. Soun just waved her off. "Have a care." He saw her drag the young man in yellow away. I can only hope she's not after the young man's money this time, Soun thought. It was about early lunch when the Ucchan's opened. Although okonomiyaki was a staple breakfast (and all-around) meal, it was rare that people went out to eat that there. One reason was that the Ucchan's, along with some landmarks such as the Tendo dojo, the Furinkan high school, the Kuno mansion, and the Cat Cafe, were trouble magnets. This was mainly because this was where a certain Ranma Saotome would visit every so often. Also, there was an oblique loneliness about the place which did not bode well for the occupants within. But come lunch time, the scent of the secret ingredients and cooking batter held a sonata to the nose that almost none could avoid. It could be reasoned that the Ucchan's, along with the Cat Cafe, both had the distinction of having good food, great entertainment (since, in some way or another, all Nerima residents had an insatiable urge to watch all-or-nothing fights up close and personal), and terrific service. Indeed, a percentage of the regulars would stay there just to ogle at the proprietor (or proprietor's relatives or friends). But, Ukyo reasoned, they would choose the Ucchan's more often, because it was there they felt most at home. Ukyo had the personality for small chat and large talks, and knew most of the people who came in by face. She felt that the ambiance that she had created for the place echoed her need to be among others, and for others to be around her. Still, she held herself aloof. Her heart had many rooms for others, but the one she was in was always cold, always alone. She needed someone. She knew, in that same heart, that he lived just nearby. His door was open, but never all the way. The regulars started pouring in, with a few fresh new faces. A little nod or two, some kind words, and some batter and sauce. It was the start of a good day. The summer heat had forced her to open the windows. Again, the sun bridled through without love. She sighed without contentment. After an order for two yakisoba was bandied about, and she was wondering whether to get a waiter (or waitress), she watched as Akane walked in with Ranma-chan. She smiled openly at them, and started to make four okonomiyaki along with the soba noodles for the earlier order. In five seconds, she had prepared the modern yaki on plates and had tossed them with her left hand to the right table. While some thanks were shouted from that side, with her right hand she brought the other two on plates to where her two classmates sat. Ranma-chan spared no expense other than to bellow out thanks before engulfing the extra large helping he had been served, while Akane rolled her eyes at him. She took a section she had sliced off and bit on it. She then tastefully ate it, then turned to talk to Ukyo. "How is it?" Ukyo began. "It's good," Akane replied, when Ranma-chan added, "as usual." He smiled broadly. She quickly prepared another generous helping. "What leads you to this neck of the woods, at lunchtime? Last I heard, Kasumi was at home." With Ranma-chan wolfing down his (first) seconds, the two fiancées had to continue the conversation. "She's at Dr. Tofu's," she said wistfully. "Now she'll probably be there until a bit later, just to fix up a bit." "You two were just there, I take it." "Yup," she said plainly. Ranma-chan took up the topic, "I had to see him about my mustache." Some nearby gents overheard the last comment, and turned discreetly to pick up on the rest of the conversation. Their hopes were dashed with a sharp look from the blue-eyed redhead. Ukyo was piqued. "What about your mustache?" Another helping. Akane let go of her chopsticks and started applying a napkin to her lips. "Apparently, it was being affected by the dragon hair he digested some time back." "Doesn't it lose effect or something? It was just ingested anyhow." "I don't know," said Akane, her blue-black hair shining. Ranma- chan stared at the two of them. "What's with the 'ingested' and 'apparently'? You two on the drama club or something? Gettin' ready for a play?" "You wouldn't know anything," Akane shot back. Ranma-chan shrugged, which brought their blooming argument into the ground. While he dug into the remains of the last okonomiyaki, Ukyo whispered, "there's something wrong with him, all right. He can't carry a decent word war with you." Akane could only shake her head. "You're right." Ranma-chan looked up at the two of them. "What with the two of you? Sounds as though my birthday's comin' up or somethin'." Ukyo motioned to make two more hefty platefuls. "Maybe it is." Ranma-chan took a bite of the first one that came. Then he snapped his fingers. "Come to think of it..." This had the two other girls straighten. Akane was the one who had the nerve to say, "it is?" Ranma-chan just shrugged, "nope." This was enough to get him dagger looks from his companions, which in turn was enough to shut him up through the next two hotcakes. Ukyo just said, "so that's why he's eating even more than usual." Again, the shorthaired girl assented. "And he's still having lunch. Ranma," the last directed at the obvious, "you'd better leave some stomach for lunch, you know." "But it'll be afternoon when Kasumi comes back," he reasoned. "I'll be cooking lunch." Ranma-chan tried the path of least resistance. He failed. He gulped audibly. Ukyo had thought a bit, and started baking three okonomiyaki. She was glad no one had come in during the past few minutes, this being lunch hour. These okonomiyaki were definitely an emergency supply. Akane was busy staring at Ranma-chan, determined to see him through to her lunch. She smiled. This, she believed, was the overall reason as to why she'd end up with him: Akane couldn't cook to save her life. Tying up the fresh batch in a delivery box, she motioned slightly to Ranma-chan. She slipped him the parcel with a wink. He smiled broadly again, and whispered his thanks. Coming into a suspicious gaze of Akane, they went to the door. When they left, the self-styled ninja felt her shoulders sag under an empty weight. Together, they were. Don't they know how entirely destructive to a psyche that was. She shook her head and smirked. This was getting melodramatic. With what little patience she had left, she returned to open a crate of eggs. Nodoka was surprised that the doorbell rang. Opening the gate, she saw no one. "What a weird happening," was all she said, before she went back in for cooking. Kuno woke up with a start. He was holding the hand of a mustached old man. He let go of it immediately. "I'm glad you chose to rejoin the world," said the mustachioed man, returning to his newspaper. Kuno, with some confusion, got up and returned to his house for lunch. A lone figure leapt through the forest. The forest was the best route for any diminutive martial artist to take during the hot high noon. He had gotten the hang of lugging along the lanky device. But he was sure that it was going to be worth it. It was probably best if he was controlling the fight from the start. It wasn't fair, but who said life was? He'd never seen it before. Nabiki was brimming with unadulterated glee. Ryoga had barely caught up with Nabiki's bright steps. She wasn't showing any signs of emotion beyond the gait in her walk. And that gleam in her eyes. It was as though she could do one of the more perfect Tiger Fireballs that Ranma had belted before. They had passed by most of the shopping complex in the commercial district of Nerima. She started slowing down near the entrance. He wasn't surprised, as they had had the pace since they left the bank. Having been confused by the earlier events of the day (as he was wont to do), he promptly forgot most of the events leading to him escorting Nabiki. The only sure thing was that the sun started to beat upon them as though it was lunch somewhere on his more foreboding trips, not the friendly streets of the downtown. As luck would have it, the next turn led them face to face with the okonomiyaki shack. Nabiki entered without much delay, with the lost boy in tow. As the two entered, Ukyo glanced sharply upward, in a lightning reflex to what she thought was danger. Upon sighting Nabiki's face, she felt a chill when she stared into the shorthaired woman's eyes. In an instant, she knew (with that famed woman's instinct, for those redoubting males), what Nabiki was planning to do. Seized with indiscernible terror and panic, she stood paralyzed as Nabiki broke contact and hefted Ryoga into the darker corners of the shop. Ukyo was stunned. There was a slight wave of nausea that held her, but otherwise, the past moments held no clue. She wasn't exactly sure what had transpired, but it had something to do with the latest two patrons. Without realizing it, she brought two orders of lunch to the table huddled in the shadows (as shadows can huddle in the noontime, that is). Nabiki was sure of it, giddy as she was. This was all part of the grand scheme. It just wasn't very sporting of her to get the upper hand in the impromptu battle of wits, but she wasn't backing down. No, she wasn't giving him up without a fight. The young warrior seated in front of her was confused, but she planned to give him something to think about. This wasn't right, Ryoga thought. There was something about the presence of shadows in a room with windows open at half-past noon to keep a martial artist who's dealt with magic, ghosts, demons and perverts on his toes. And the tension in the air was palpable as the young entrepreneur went over. She let the plates in her hands lay themselves upon the table. Her eyes never left the back of the head of the brown-haired girl, before the latter slowly turned to view her hostess. "Well," she said evenly. "Well," responded the long-haired ninja, voice thick. It was a glad thing that the corner of the room was conceivably obstructed, as certain corners of diners were, to facilitate backroom dealings and underworld contracts. Nabiki knew all these at the back of her head, and had had a few choice encounters of her own. The presence of the okonomiyaki chef outside her customary grill was enough to get the attention of most of the regulars. Unfortunately for them, the corner was as tight as it could get. Ryoga was feeling pretty normal at this point. Nabiki held Ukyo in their second war of wills, with neither giving way. It was awkward to view such a tournament in the confines of the Ucchan's (if not the district), and so some of those watching started to fall back into the better lit areas of the restaurant. It fell on dead ears that, in the end, Nabiki actually won. It helped that she knew what this battle was about, and that her opponent did not. After a few minutes of the staring match, it surprised many when the middle Tendo sister gave the unsuspecting Hibiki a full kiss in the mouth. Before he could properly faint, Nabiki was gone. Standing in leftover okonomiyaki bits, and a sea of misplaced jaws, Ukyo waded through the small pool which separated her and Ryoga, who had his face in a plate. Tsubasa yawned. He had had enough trouble with the bamboo costume, he decided. He had been sidetracked, and bopped as well. On top of that, he was getting hungry. One always takes care of one's stomach in Nerima. Also, in Nerima, the best way to get a free meal was to follow one's nose. That exactly was what Tsubasa was doing when he smelled the smell of fine cuisine wafting in the late morning breeze. Trailing the silhouetted figure jumping through the rooftops, he went the shortest path to his stomach.
