Part Two-Visitors
Tap, tap...Kaorou looked up. A face was peeking at her from behind the huge wooden doors that encircled her dojo. A streak of moonlight caught flaming red hair. And...a panda?
Reluctant to leave her solitude, Kaorou got up anyway. She slowly headed towards the doors, pulling her bamboo sword up behind her. "Hai, may I help you?" She asked the newcomer. As she pulled the door farther open, her hand froze. In fact, her whole body froze. The group standing in front of her was weirder than any group she had ever seen before. Considering the fact that she had seen many weird groups in her lifetime.
There was, in fact, several members to this odd group. In the front was the red-haired girl, standing beside a slightly taller girl with blue hair. Clutched tightly in her hands was a little black pig sporting a yellow bandanna. There was a cat on the ground, white, with tiny bells all around it, and a duck, the same colour, beside it. Behind them stood (yes, stood) the largest panda she had ever seen. There was another girl with brown hair, presumably the oldest, tied with a ribbon. Beside her was a slightly shorter girl with shoulder length brown hair, her face set in a frown. Behind them, a very wet man, bent slightly, was crying silently to himself.
Her muscles began to unfreeze, and she did the first thing that came to mind. Scream.
"KAOROU-DONO!" came Kenshin's voice, and the clatter as he prepared to take his sakambatou. Then came Yahiko's voice, "Ugly, what's wrong?" As much as she wanted to slap Yahiko, she also found herself a bit grateful that he cared enough to come bolting down the hall with his bamboo sword clutched tightly in his hands.
Finding herself unable to hold up any longer, Kaorou collapsed in a heap at the foot of the doors. The red-haired girl looked at Kaorou with what could only be a mixture of pity and disgust. "Well, isn't this the perfect welcoming party. I feel so wanted" She said sarcastically.
Looking almost as disgusted as her comrade, the blue-haired girl stepped up slightly. "You oughta be ashamed of yourself. Do you have any idea how far we've traveled, only to get lost, wind up at this sorry place, and have you scream and come at us like we're murderers? Do you really think we feel welcome now?" She turned her back on them with a "Humph!"
Kenshin slowly took himself out of battle stance. Kaorou-dono had really done it this time, he thought amused. A little group of, in fact, extremely innocent looking people, and she had decided to scream. Kenshin chuckled silently to himself, causing the redhead to glare at him. He recoiled, just a little. "Oro?" he said, a little confused. Why was she looking at him like that? "Gomen nasai, minna-san. When Kaorou-dono screamed, we thought something was wrong, that we did. We hope you'll forgive us, that we do." He said, to make peace.
Kenshin noticed that Kaorou seemed to have regained her composure. About time too, he thought. Something was wrong with Kaorou-dono. The way she had been acting lately was a bit unsettling. But he quickly brushed aside the thought, and concentrated on what Kaorou-dono would do to make up for her embarrassment.
She quickly dusted herself off, still shaking slightly. A bright, hot glow settled in her cheeks. That was, if possible, her worst first impression ever. She hadn't meant to scream like that. But after seeing all those people after Kenshin all those times...the memories made her want to cry. But she didn't. She was stronger than that. Forcing herself to stare straight at them all, she cleared her throat and spoke. "Gomen, minna-san. I...we have been going through quite some stuff lately, and...let's just saying seeing all of you brought back some really bad memories. Once again, gomen." She bowed a little, then stuck out her hand "My name is Kaorou Kimiya, and this is my dojo. I'm the assistant master."
The redhead stepped up and scornfully stuck out her hand to greet the girl. Girls...she thought. They always have to overreact. And I thought Akane was bad. This girl beats even her! "Yeah, well, you sure did work out those lungs of yours. But next time you do that, I might have to hurt you," she grinned "I'm Ranma Soatome. Nice to meet ya." Ranma quickly pulled her hand away as soon as the shake was over. "Could you introduce us to your friends?" she asked. Of course it was impolite, but hey, someone had to ask these questions.
The next person that stepped up was the guy with the cross-shaped scar. Ranma eyed him carefully. He looked like someone she could trust...but the way he handled his sword...he was no minor samurai. She noted that the sword was a sakambatou, a reverse bladed sword.
Kenshin stuck out his hand also, to be polite. With a quick bow, he introduced himself. "I'm pleased to meet you, that I am. I'm Himura Kenshin. I have just...taken rent here." The girl...Ranma's grip was strong. Stronger than any female he knew...even the pirate girl, Shura. He approved of that, and nodded politely.
The blue-haired girl stepped up next. "Hi. I'm Akane Tendou. I use my father's dojo. I don't do swords," she had made a point to notice that the man, Kenshin, had a sword of his own, "I'm a martial artist." Akane didn't very much like the other girl, Kaorou. She was too...jumpy. Akane didn't approve of that. And looking over at Ranma, she could see that she disapproved too.
Akane observed the next "contestant". A short little boy, wearing a white top and green lower-wear. He gripped his bamboo sword tightly, as if he still didn't trust them. She sneered. Don't worry yourself too much, little boy. She thought. You'll learn to trust us soon enough. She stuck out her hand too meet him.
"H-hi. I'm Myojin Yahiko, descendant of a samurai family. Dozo yurishiku." Yahiko stuck out his hand to take the young girl's. He observed her carefully, almost as carefully as she was observing him. He noticed that, besides her tomboyish apparel, she was pretty cute. At least, cuter than Kaorou! He thought gleefully. And the same went for the redhead, Ranma. Although he thought she was the prettiest of the lot. And his decisions about women were never wrong.
Next, the two brown-haired girls stepped out of the darkness. They didn't offer a handshake, but stood there. The one, slightly taller, and looking older, came forward first. "Hello, everyone. How nice to meet you. My name is Kasumi. I hope I will be of some use." She was rather pretty. Her long brown hair was tied near the end by a pink ribbon, and thrown over her shoulder with care. She wore a yellow sweatshirt with a long, purple skirt, and had a light pink apron covering her outfit. Her hands were clasped together, and hanging off one was a woven basket. She held herself properly, and smiled warmly at them all.
The next brown-haired girl stepped up, rather reluctantly. She still had the frown on her face, and her hands were crossed, as if with disapproval. She was wearing a red and white striped T-shirt with aqua coloured pants, and red running shoes. "I'm Nabiki." Was all she said.
Kasumi went back into the shadows and pulled gently on the crying man's shirt. She looked at him gently and said "Now, now, it's okay, father." She patted him lightly on the back and turned to the Samurai's family (She supposed that's what they were). "His name is Soun Tendou. Akane, Nabiki, and I are his daughters."
Out of the darkness came another voice, the one they had noticed this morning. "Sano..." Kenshin's voice came out "How did you...?"
"I've got instincts...don't worry, Kenshin. I won't disturb your lovely party. But you've got very good taste in women." Walking up to the group, he also stuck his hand out "I'm Sanosuke Sagara. This is like my second home. Dozo yurishiku." He took Ranma's grip head on, not intimidated, but intrigued with her strength.
"Pretty strong grip you have there...Ranma, was it?" He said playfully. "I guess, next to Kenshin, I'll have to worry about you, won't I?"
Ranma stared. She was starting to like him. He was like her. Always teasing, but mostly teasing the girls. She grinned back, and replied, "Yeah, I suppose you'll have to. I'm not one to be taken lightly." She pulled her hand away and stated the obvious. "The cat there, and the duck, and pig, and panda...they're with us. I'll introduce you. The cat there, her name's Shampoo. She's from China, along with the duck. He's Mousse. The pig in Akane's arms," Ranma stated, glaring at the pig, "Is Ryoga."
Akane punched Ranma in the face...blushing as she did it. She didn't want to have to do this in front of strangers, but Ranma was forcing her to. How many times did she have to say this? "RANMA! THIS IS NOT RYOGA!" She turned to the group, still blushing, and said, "His name is P-chan. P, for pig, and chan, for little."
Ranma was glaring at the girl now, rubbing her head to ease the pain. She hated when Akane did that at home...but to do it here, in front of all these people? "Whatever." She sighed, and continued, pointing to the panda. "And that there's my pops." As usual, she got the reply she was expecting.
Kaorou collapsed once again. "Y-you're father? But...isn't that a panda?" She held her head. This group was weird enough. But to have this Ranma, who she was sure hated her already, declare that she had a panda for a father? This was getting to be too much.
Yahiko leaned on his bamboo sword for support. Wasn't this turning out to be interesting, he thought. Next thing you know, we'll be learning that these animals are actually real people!
Sano and Kenshin both chuckled. "Well, this is one of the most interesting groups I've ever seen." Declared Sanosuke. Kenshin nodded in agreement. "Hai, it is, isn't it?"
As the Kenshin-Gumi stared at her intently, Ranma sighed. She knew this was going to happen sooner or later. But she was hoping for the later, not the sooner. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward. "If you're planning on hearing the whole story, I suggest you invite us inside."
Tap, tap...Kaorou looked up. A face was peeking at her from behind the huge wooden doors that encircled her dojo. A streak of moonlight caught flaming red hair. And...a panda?
Reluctant to leave her solitude, Kaorou got up anyway. She slowly headed towards the doors, pulling her bamboo sword up behind her. "Hai, may I help you?" She asked the newcomer. As she pulled the door farther open, her hand froze. In fact, her whole body froze. The group standing in front of her was weirder than any group she had ever seen before. Considering the fact that she had seen many weird groups in her lifetime.
There was, in fact, several members to this odd group. In the front was the red-haired girl, standing beside a slightly taller girl with blue hair. Clutched tightly in her hands was a little black pig sporting a yellow bandanna. There was a cat on the ground, white, with tiny bells all around it, and a duck, the same colour, beside it. Behind them stood (yes, stood) the largest panda she had ever seen. There was another girl with brown hair, presumably the oldest, tied with a ribbon. Beside her was a slightly shorter girl with shoulder length brown hair, her face set in a frown. Behind them, a very wet man, bent slightly, was crying silently to himself.
Her muscles began to unfreeze, and she did the first thing that came to mind. Scream.
"KAOROU-DONO!" came Kenshin's voice, and the clatter as he prepared to take his sakambatou. Then came Yahiko's voice, "Ugly, what's wrong?" As much as she wanted to slap Yahiko, she also found herself a bit grateful that he cared enough to come bolting down the hall with his bamboo sword clutched tightly in his hands.
Finding herself unable to hold up any longer, Kaorou collapsed in a heap at the foot of the doors. The red-haired girl looked at Kaorou with what could only be a mixture of pity and disgust. "Well, isn't this the perfect welcoming party. I feel so wanted" She said sarcastically.
Looking almost as disgusted as her comrade, the blue-haired girl stepped up slightly. "You oughta be ashamed of yourself. Do you have any idea how far we've traveled, only to get lost, wind up at this sorry place, and have you scream and come at us like we're murderers? Do you really think we feel welcome now?" She turned her back on them with a "Humph!"
Kenshin slowly took himself out of battle stance. Kaorou-dono had really done it this time, he thought amused. A little group of, in fact, extremely innocent looking people, and she had decided to scream. Kenshin chuckled silently to himself, causing the redhead to glare at him. He recoiled, just a little. "Oro?" he said, a little confused. Why was she looking at him like that? "Gomen nasai, minna-san. When Kaorou-dono screamed, we thought something was wrong, that we did. We hope you'll forgive us, that we do." He said, to make peace.
Kenshin noticed that Kaorou seemed to have regained her composure. About time too, he thought. Something was wrong with Kaorou-dono. The way she had been acting lately was a bit unsettling. But he quickly brushed aside the thought, and concentrated on what Kaorou-dono would do to make up for her embarrassment.
She quickly dusted herself off, still shaking slightly. A bright, hot glow settled in her cheeks. That was, if possible, her worst first impression ever. She hadn't meant to scream like that. But after seeing all those people after Kenshin all those times...the memories made her want to cry. But she didn't. She was stronger than that. Forcing herself to stare straight at them all, she cleared her throat and spoke. "Gomen, minna-san. I...we have been going through quite some stuff lately, and...let's just saying seeing all of you brought back some really bad memories. Once again, gomen." She bowed a little, then stuck out her hand "My name is Kaorou Kimiya, and this is my dojo. I'm the assistant master."
The redhead stepped up and scornfully stuck out her hand to greet the girl. Girls...she thought. They always have to overreact. And I thought Akane was bad. This girl beats even her! "Yeah, well, you sure did work out those lungs of yours. But next time you do that, I might have to hurt you," she grinned "I'm Ranma Soatome. Nice to meet ya." Ranma quickly pulled her hand away as soon as the shake was over. "Could you introduce us to your friends?" she asked. Of course it was impolite, but hey, someone had to ask these questions.
The next person that stepped up was the guy with the cross-shaped scar. Ranma eyed him carefully. He looked like someone she could trust...but the way he handled his sword...he was no minor samurai. She noted that the sword was a sakambatou, a reverse bladed sword.
Kenshin stuck out his hand also, to be polite. With a quick bow, he introduced himself. "I'm pleased to meet you, that I am. I'm Himura Kenshin. I have just...taken rent here." The girl...Ranma's grip was strong. Stronger than any female he knew...even the pirate girl, Shura. He approved of that, and nodded politely.
The blue-haired girl stepped up next. "Hi. I'm Akane Tendou. I use my father's dojo. I don't do swords," she had made a point to notice that the man, Kenshin, had a sword of his own, "I'm a martial artist." Akane didn't very much like the other girl, Kaorou. She was too...jumpy. Akane didn't approve of that. And looking over at Ranma, she could see that she disapproved too.
Akane observed the next "contestant". A short little boy, wearing a white top and green lower-wear. He gripped his bamboo sword tightly, as if he still didn't trust them. She sneered. Don't worry yourself too much, little boy. She thought. You'll learn to trust us soon enough. She stuck out her hand too meet him.
"H-hi. I'm Myojin Yahiko, descendant of a samurai family. Dozo yurishiku." Yahiko stuck out his hand to take the young girl's. He observed her carefully, almost as carefully as she was observing him. He noticed that, besides her tomboyish apparel, she was pretty cute. At least, cuter than Kaorou! He thought gleefully. And the same went for the redhead, Ranma. Although he thought she was the prettiest of the lot. And his decisions about women were never wrong.
Next, the two brown-haired girls stepped out of the darkness. They didn't offer a handshake, but stood there. The one, slightly taller, and looking older, came forward first. "Hello, everyone. How nice to meet you. My name is Kasumi. I hope I will be of some use." She was rather pretty. Her long brown hair was tied near the end by a pink ribbon, and thrown over her shoulder with care. She wore a yellow sweatshirt with a long, purple skirt, and had a light pink apron covering her outfit. Her hands were clasped together, and hanging off one was a woven basket. She held herself properly, and smiled warmly at them all.
The next brown-haired girl stepped up, rather reluctantly. She still had the frown on her face, and her hands were crossed, as if with disapproval. She was wearing a red and white striped T-shirt with aqua coloured pants, and red running shoes. "I'm Nabiki." Was all she said.
Kasumi went back into the shadows and pulled gently on the crying man's shirt. She looked at him gently and said "Now, now, it's okay, father." She patted him lightly on the back and turned to the Samurai's family (She supposed that's what they were). "His name is Soun Tendou. Akane, Nabiki, and I are his daughters."
Out of the darkness came another voice, the one they had noticed this morning. "Sano..." Kenshin's voice came out "How did you...?"
"I've got instincts...don't worry, Kenshin. I won't disturb your lovely party. But you've got very good taste in women." Walking up to the group, he also stuck his hand out "I'm Sanosuke Sagara. This is like my second home. Dozo yurishiku." He took Ranma's grip head on, not intimidated, but intrigued with her strength.
"Pretty strong grip you have there...Ranma, was it?" He said playfully. "I guess, next to Kenshin, I'll have to worry about you, won't I?"
Ranma stared. She was starting to like him. He was like her. Always teasing, but mostly teasing the girls. She grinned back, and replied, "Yeah, I suppose you'll have to. I'm not one to be taken lightly." She pulled her hand away and stated the obvious. "The cat there, and the duck, and pig, and panda...they're with us. I'll introduce you. The cat there, her name's Shampoo. She's from China, along with the duck. He's Mousse. The pig in Akane's arms," Ranma stated, glaring at the pig, "Is Ryoga."
Akane punched Ranma in the face...blushing as she did it. She didn't want to have to do this in front of strangers, but Ranma was forcing her to. How many times did she have to say this? "RANMA! THIS IS NOT RYOGA!" She turned to the group, still blushing, and said, "His name is P-chan. P, for pig, and chan, for little."
Ranma was glaring at the girl now, rubbing her head to ease the pain. She hated when Akane did that at home...but to do it here, in front of all these people? "Whatever." She sighed, and continued, pointing to the panda. "And that there's my pops." As usual, she got the reply she was expecting.
Kaorou collapsed once again. "Y-you're father? But...isn't that a panda?" She held her head. This group was weird enough. But to have this Ranma, who she was sure hated her already, declare that she had a panda for a father? This was getting to be too much.
Yahiko leaned on his bamboo sword for support. Wasn't this turning out to be interesting, he thought. Next thing you know, we'll be learning that these animals are actually real people!
Sano and Kenshin both chuckled. "Well, this is one of the most interesting groups I've ever seen." Declared Sanosuke. Kenshin nodded in agreement. "Hai, it is, isn't it?"
As the Kenshin-Gumi stared at her intently, Ranma sighed. She knew this was going to happen sooner or later. But she was hoping for the later, not the sooner. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward. "If you're planning on hearing the whole story, I suggest you invite us inside."