Ranma; Hard Core
The door to the guest room opened, and Ranma-chan found herself staring up into the Tendou Patriarch's face. The quick flash of surprise was surpressed, and Ranma stared defiantly at Soun, waiting for him to make the first condemning statement that will validate her reason for turning around, and making sure she never comes back this time.
"So... you've returned," Soun said with a neutral tone, eyeing Ranma-chan with an intense and studying gaze. The redhead held her ground, making sure to continue meeting the man's eyes, and nodded once. Soun grunted, and then spoke again, "Why?"
Ranma finally looked away, not sure of the answer herself, and then looked back up after coming up with a reply, "You told me I was supposed to look after her on my honor. Once she's ready to go home, I'm gone, too."
"She doesn't need your help if that is the reason your doing this; just because I told you to."
Ranma had the reason she needed to walk out, and never return to the Tendou Dojo; her honor be damned. But now, she felt the urge to defy the master of the house, showing him that she was not intimidated by him in the least, "Though you and your daughters have made it obvious that I'm not welcome here, I'm taking my obligation to this girl seriously. If you doubt my sincerity, I haven't unpacked yet, and the only answer I'll need is to find my stuff out in front of the doorstep in less than an hour. Now if you'll excuse me, she wanted more water." Ranma shoved her way past Soun, making it a point not to look back. If she had, she would have found a slight smile on the Tendou Patriarch's face.
And if both had been looking, they would have seen Akane's door silently close.
__________________________________
Kasumi looked up from cooking breakfast, noticing that Kodachi hasn't called for anyone. That was remarkably strange, as the girl was insisting that someone dally on her every waking minute and then some. Kasumi didn't mind caring for another person, but after recent events, she was rather unnerved, and on short temper. Her sisters were no help, as they seemed to almost 'fear' Kodachi, and kept away from her as much as possible, while her father offered minimal assistance, at least.
"Morning, Kasumi."
"Good morning, Akane," Kasumi returned, looking towards her younger sister, whose long hair was frazzled from waking so early for her on a weekend day, "Why are you up so early? You know you can sleep in, today."
"Kasumi, why don't you ever sleep in? I mean I'm sure you get the least amount of sleep of all of us." Akane enquired, and then yawned.
"I don't mind, really. Have you seen to Kodachi? She's been awfully quiet this morning."
"Uh..." Akane started to reply, almost instantly waking up, before finishing lamely, "Um, Dad did."
Her lie went to no avail, as Ranma entered the kitchen, and paused when Kasumi turned to see who had just walked in. The eldest daughter's face ran from quiant, to shocked, and then livid, before settling on expressionless, "Ranma, I see you've returned."
Akane watched the emotions on her sister's face, and then looked to Ranma, who met Kasumi with his own neutral expression, "I..." After one syllable, Ranma stopped even entertaining the notion of explaining himself, "Forget it, Kasumi, just forget it." He stormed towards the front door, and opened it before putting on his shoes. What met his sight froze him for several seconds, before he walked out, and closed the door.
Once Ranma had left, Akane turned on her sister with an angry expression, "KASUMI!"
"Akane, he's violent and not in control. You saw what he did to Kodachi, oh my, what he almost did to *you*! How can you be so naive little sister?"
"Oh, and what does that make me? Well, big sister?" Kasumi baulked at what Akane implied, and shook her head vehemately.
"Akane, you're different, he..."
"You know? If I could..." Akane paused, and blinked at what she started to say. With a sigh of resignation in realization, she continued the line, "If I could, I would have broken Kuno's arm myself, he deserves it! And from what I could see, Kodachi was the one in the wrong! She broke in and attacked one of our guests! What was Ranma supposed to do?"
"He COULD have subdued her without trying to break her damn leg off!" Kasumi returned with a harsh whisper, before calming herself down, "Akane, I know that martial artists take injuries like that all the time, but what Ranma did was very exessive, even you have to admit that."
"I don't think so," Akane returned in a hot tone of voice, "What if she had entered with deadly intent? It was Ranma's choice to take her down without risking his safety! If the bitch loses a leg because of it, well..."
"Your language, Akane. And if you bothered to ask father, 'O' great little Miss 'Martial Artist', he would have told you that what Ranma did probably put him at MORE risk than many of the GENTLER options he could have used. Face it, Ranma did it out of spite, not defense."
"Well, maybe Ranma didn't see it that way! I mean, none of us were there to witness it! And I've heard the stories about Kodachi; about how she..."
"Kasumi, Akane, mind if you continue your cat fight at a later time of day? Some of us aren't awake enough to be shocked and then amused at the novelty of it," Nabiki quipped, as she walked into the kitchen still wearing her pajamas, "What has you two going at it, anyhow?"
"Ranma's back," Kasumi supplied, throwing a distainful glare back at her youngest sister.
"And you're burning breakfast," Akane retorted, before rushing over to attempt to salvage Kasumi's meal.
"Get away from that!" Kasumi growled, forcibly shoving her sister out of the way, much to Akane and Nabiki's shock. To further add to Nabiki's surprise, Kasumi swore, and dumped the contents of the pan into the trash. Kasumi spread her arms down to her sides, and took a deep breath, "Look, you're on your own for breakfast this morning. I'm going to lie back down; I must still be tired." Without another word, Kasumi stormed upstairs, and both her sisters jolted at the sound of the door slamming.
"Geez," Nabiki breathed, not recalling ever seeing Kasumi this mad before, "Kasumi really doesn't like Ranma, does she?"
"I don't get it, why is she so bent against Ranma? If she would just give him a chance..."
"Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that he attempted to cave your nose into your brain may have something to do with it?"
Akane shot a glare to her remaining sister, "Don't you start on him about that, too!"
"Akane-chan, one has to wonder how you can be so vengeful against boys one moment, and so utterly and disgustingly forgiving the next. Besides, I don't fully blame Ranma, anyway."
Akane blinked, "You... you don't?"
"Nope," Nabiki replied casually, "In fact, in some circles, we would say it was entirely *your* fault, you know?"
"WHA? But, huh, wha..." Akane sputtered indignatly, while Nabiki walked to the fridge and retrieved an apple.
"It's true, too, he was just defending himself, while you went off and tried to sock him." Nabiki turned back to her sister, "What was that about, anyway? I never did get the full story."
Akane looked chagrinned, "Well... he was being a pervert..."
"Hmm," Nabiki replied, raising an eyebrow, and taking a bite out of her apple. After she finished muncing on the piece she bit off, she asked, "And how, pray tell, was he being a pervert? He doesn't really strike me as the type."
"He just was, okay?" Akane replied, not looking back at Nabiki.
"Oh yes, 'all boys are perverts,' I keep forgetting that. You're going to really need to grow up, sis. That attitude almost got you into serious trouble once, now. He also doesn't deserve it, what with his life already being enough of a Hell as it is." Akane continued looking towards the garbage can, where the browned remains of what was to be breakfast clung to the side of the liner. Nabiki sighed in irritation, and left the kitchen, leaving her younger sister to stew in the piece of mind that she had been handed.
"We're on our own for breakfast, daddy," Nabiki stated to her father, who was reading the paper at the dining table. He nodded once, still reading the paper, while Nabiki went to check to see if anyone was using the bathroom, before going upstairs to get a change of clothing before bathing. Once Nabiki was out of sight, Mr. Tendou quickly turned the paper right-side up, while grousing over how to bring back the unity of his household. Perhaps Genma may have a solution...
__________________________________
Kasumi collapsed onto her bed in tears. She isn't supposed to lose control like that. Even as she continued to argue with her sister, she mentally screamed to herself that this was wrong, that all of it should rightfully be directed towards Ranma for almost hurting her baby sister. It just galled her that Akane was so forgiving about it; it just didn't make sense.
All the eldest Tendou daughter wanted to do was protect her family from the violent boy who didn't care who he hurt, just as long as he didn't have to face any consequences. Ranma didn't care what he did to people, if they crossed him, they would pay grievously. Kasumi knew that what happened in Ranma's past was *apparently* to blame for how he was now, but that still doesn't excuse him from choosing to spread misery to everyone else's lives; he was tearing her own family apart!
Kasumi didn't miss the way her sisters were both looking at Ranma at rare moments; they were going to come to a confrontation over it, unless Kasumi worked some sense into both of them. Akane was even defending Ranma! Akane, the *last* person Kasumi could think of that would defend a boy, much less one that tried to harm her badly! Did Akane even know how much danger she was really in from that single blow? How truly *dangerous* he was?
It wasn't fair, she loved her sister, and what Ranma did *scared* her in a way and with an intensity that she hadn't felt since her mother was dying. Kasumi continued to weep into her pillow, before she was blissfully interrupted from her morbid and distressing thoughts...
"Ranma? RANMA! I demand your assistance this instant! RANMA!" Kasumi straightened herself out, and pulled out a hankerchief to wipe the tears from her face, before going to help Kodachi with whatever she needed. Kasumi seemed to be the only one other than her father that knew Ranma could not be trusted for anything.
The door to the guest room opened, and Ranma-chan found herself staring up into the Tendou Patriarch's face. The quick flash of surprise was surpressed, and Ranma stared defiantly at Soun, waiting for him to make the first condemning statement that will validate her reason for turning around, and making sure she never comes back this time.
"So... you've returned," Soun said with a neutral tone, eyeing Ranma-chan with an intense and studying gaze. The redhead held her ground, making sure to continue meeting the man's eyes, and nodded once. Soun grunted, and then spoke again, "Why?"
Ranma finally looked away, not sure of the answer herself, and then looked back up after coming up with a reply, "You told me I was supposed to look after her on my honor. Once she's ready to go home, I'm gone, too."
"She doesn't need your help if that is the reason your doing this; just because I told you to."
Ranma had the reason she needed to walk out, and never return to the Tendou Dojo; her honor be damned. But now, she felt the urge to defy the master of the house, showing him that she was not intimidated by him in the least, "Though you and your daughters have made it obvious that I'm not welcome here, I'm taking my obligation to this girl seriously. If you doubt my sincerity, I haven't unpacked yet, and the only answer I'll need is to find my stuff out in front of the doorstep in less than an hour. Now if you'll excuse me, she wanted more water." Ranma shoved her way past Soun, making it a point not to look back. If she had, she would have found a slight smile on the Tendou Patriarch's face.
And if both had been looking, they would have seen Akane's door silently close.
__________________________________
Kasumi looked up from cooking breakfast, noticing that Kodachi hasn't called for anyone. That was remarkably strange, as the girl was insisting that someone dally on her every waking minute and then some. Kasumi didn't mind caring for another person, but after recent events, she was rather unnerved, and on short temper. Her sisters were no help, as they seemed to almost 'fear' Kodachi, and kept away from her as much as possible, while her father offered minimal assistance, at least.
"Morning, Kasumi."
"Good morning, Akane," Kasumi returned, looking towards her younger sister, whose long hair was frazzled from waking so early for her on a weekend day, "Why are you up so early? You know you can sleep in, today."
"Kasumi, why don't you ever sleep in? I mean I'm sure you get the least amount of sleep of all of us." Akane enquired, and then yawned.
"I don't mind, really. Have you seen to Kodachi? She's been awfully quiet this morning."
"Uh..." Akane started to reply, almost instantly waking up, before finishing lamely, "Um, Dad did."
Her lie went to no avail, as Ranma entered the kitchen, and paused when Kasumi turned to see who had just walked in. The eldest daughter's face ran from quiant, to shocked, and then livid, before settling on expressionless, "Ranma, I see you've returned."
Akane watched the emotions on her sister's face, and then looked to Ranma, who met Kasumi with his own neutral expression, "I..." After one syllable, Ranma stopped even entertaining the notion of explaining himself, "Forget it, Kasumi, just forget it." He stormed towards the front door, and opened it before putting on his shoes. What met his sight froze him for several seconds, before he walked out, and closed the door.
Once Ranma had left, Akane turned on her sister with an angry expression, "KASUMI!"
"Akane, he's violent and not in control. You saw what he did to Kodachi, oh my, what he almost did to *you*! How can you be so naive little sister?"
"Oh, and what does that make me? Well, big sister?" Kasumi baulked at what Akane implied, and shook her head vehemately.
"Akane, you're different, he..."
"You know? If I could..." Akane paused, and blinked at what she started to say. With a sigh of resignation in realization, she continued the line, "If I could, I would have broken Kuno's arm myself, he deserves it! And from what I could see, Kodachi was the one in the wrong! She broke in and attacked one of our guests! What was Ranma supposed to do?"
"He COULD have subdued her without trying to break her damn leg off!" Kasumi returned with a harsh whisper, before calming herself down, "Akane, I know that martial artists take injuries like that all the time, but what Ranma did was very exessive, even you have to admit that."
"I don't think so," Akane returned in a hot tone of voice, "What if she had entered with deadly intent? It was Ranma's choice to take her down without risking his safety! If the bitch loses a leg because of it, well..."
"Your language, Akane. And if you bothered to ask father, 'O' great little Miss 'Martial Artist', he would have told you that what Ranma did probably put him at MORE risk than many of the GENTLER options he could have used. Face it, Ranma did it out of spite, not defense."
"Well, maybe Ranma didn't see it that way! I mean, none of us were there to witness it! And I've heard the stories about Kodachi; about how she..."
"Kasumi, Akane, mind if you continue your cat fight at a later time of day? Some of us aren't awake enough to be shocked and then amused at the novelty of it," Nabiki quipped, as she walked into the kitchen still wearing her pajamas, "What has you two going at it, anyhow?"
"Ranma's back," Kasumi supplied, throwing a distainful glare back at her youngest sister.
"And you're burning breakfast," Akane retorted, before rushing over to attempt to salvage Kasumi's meal.
"Get away from that!" Kasumi growled, forcibly shoving her sister out of the way, much to Akane and Nabiki's shock. To further add to Nabiki's surprise, Kasumi swore, and dumped the contents of the pan into the trash. Kasumi spread her arms down to her sides, and took a deep breath, "Look, you're on your own for breakfast this morning. I'm going to lie back down; I must still be tired." Without another word, Kasumi stormed upstairs, and both her sisters jolted at the sound of the door slamming.
"Geez," Nabiki breathed, not recalling ever seeing Kasumi this mad before, "Kasumi really doesn't like Ranma, does she?"
"I don't get it, why is she so bent against Ranma? If she would just give him a chance..."
"Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that he attempted to cave your nose into your brain may have something to do with it?"
Akane shot a glare to her remaining sister, "Don't you start on him about that, too!"
"Akane-chan, one has to wonder how you can be so vengeful against boys one moment, and so utterly and disgustingly forgiving the next. Besides, I don't fully blame Ranma, anyway."
Akane blinked, "You... you don't?"
"Nope," Nabiki replied casually, "In fact, in some circles, we would say it was entirely *your* fault, you know?"
"WHA? But, huh, wha..." Akane sputtered indignatly, while Nabiki walked to the fridge and retrieved an apple.
"It's true, too, he was just defending himself, while you went off and tried to sock him." Nabiki turned back to her sister, "What was that about, anyway? I never did get the full story."
Akane looked chagrinned, "Well... he was being a pervert..."
"Hmm," Nabiki replied, raising an eyebrow, and taking a bite out of her apple. After she finished muncing on the piece she bit off, she asked, "And how, pray tell, was he being a pervert? He doesn't really strike me as the type."
"He just was, okay?" Akane replied, not looking back at Nabiki.
"Oh yes, 'all boys are perverts,' I keep forgetting that. You're going to really need to grow up, sis. That attitude almost got you into serious trouble once, now. He also doesn't deserve it, what with his life already being enough of a Hell as it is." Akane continued looking towards the garbage can, where the browned remains of what was to be breakfast clung to the side of the liner. Nabiki sighed in irritation, and left the kitchen, leaving her younger sister to stew in the piece of mind that she had been handed.
"We're on our own for breakfast, daddy," Nabiki stated to her father, who was reading the paper at the dining table. He nodded once, still reading the paper, while Nabiki went to check to see if anyone was using the bathroom, before going upstairs to get a change of clothing before bathing. Once Nabiki was out of sight, Mr. Tendou quickly turned the paper right-side up, while grousing over how to bring back the unity of his household. Perhaps Genma may have a solution...
__________________________________
Kasumi collapsed onto her bed in tears. She isn't supposed to lose control like that. Even as she continued to argue with her sister, she mentally screamed to herself that this was wrong, that all of it should rightfully be directed towards Ranma for almost hurting her baby sister. It just galled her that Akane was so forgiving about it; it just didn't make sense.
All the eldest Tendou daughter wanted to do was protect her family from the violent boy who didn't care who he hurt, just as long as he didn't have to face any consequences. Ranma didn't care what he did to people, if they crossed him, they would pay grievously. Kasumi knew that what happened in Ranma's past was *apparently* to blame for how he was now, but that still doesn't excuse him from choosing to spread misery to everyone else's lives; he was tearing her own family apart!
Kasumi didn't miss the way her sisters were both looking at Ranma at rare moments; they were going to come to a confrontation over it, unless Kasumi worked some sense into both of them. Akane was even defending Ranma! Akane, the *last* person Kasumi could think of that would defend a boy, much less one that tried to harm her badly! Did Akane even know how much danger she was really in from that single blow? How truly *dangerous* he was?
It wasn't fair, she loved her sister, and what Ranma did *scared* her in a way and with an intensity that she hadn't felt since her mother was dying. Kasumi continued to weep into her pillow, before she was blissfully interrupted from her morbid and distressing thoughts...
"Ranma? RANMA! I demand your assistance this instant! RANMA!" Kasumi straightened herself out, and pulled out a hankerchief to wipe the tears from her face, before going to help Kodachi with whatever she needed. Kasumi seemed to be the only one other than her father that knew Ranma could not be trusted for anything.