I know this is going a bit slow right now, but i swear, everything will be A ok! As soon as i'm done setting everything up. Getting the characters into thier roles an what not- okie on with the shooooowww!!
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No Soup For You!-LMG-
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It was dinner time.
Everyone except Nabiki had gathered around the table. Akane was busy giving Ranma cold stares. Kasumi was busy dishing out food to everyone. Soun Tendo and Panda-Genma were playing shogi at the table.
Kasumi waved a finger at them.
"I hope you're not planning on playing that game over here on the dinner table father and Mr. Saotome, it's quite rude!"
Soun apologized and the panda held up a sign of apology.
Kasumi giggled. "Oh it's alright, just come over here and eat your dinner."
Panda/Genma held up a sign. "With great pleasure!!"
HE jumped at the dish of food and began gobbling it down.
Soun wasn't too far behind his friend. "Um... Thanks Kasumi, this is really good."
The panda nodded. "Gah! Gah! You're very kind to us Kasumi!"
Kasumi tilted her head thoughtfully. "Uh huh, you're welcome father and Mr. Saotome."
Soun stuck a chop-stick full of food into his mouth.
"Uh hm... say..." He trailed looking around the table. "Where is Nabiki?"
Kasumi brought her hands up to her face. "Oh dear, I don't know, I called upstairs for her, but she just won't answer me, I hope she's feeling okay."
Akane nodded. "I know, I saw her at the Cat Café with Kuno. I think she was pawning pictures of Ranma and me again."
Ranma shook his head. "Eh, don't remind me!"
He was still troubled over the fact that he would be working at the Nekohaten in a girly suit as Ranko. He shuddered. He wondered how he should break the news to his father. Turning into a girl and dressing up in women's clothing isn't the epitome of masculinity.
Panda/Genma smacked him over the head with a wooden spoon.
Ranma winced and bared his teeth at the unwarranted assault. "Ey! Whyja do that for?"
The panda held up a sign, "You shivered, that means that you're sick which means that you're weak! That's so unmanly!!"
Ranm grabbed the sign from the panda and smashed it over his head before it could counter.
"Yeah pops? Well so's you're writing!"
He threw over the piece of wood remaining in his hands. Genma caught it and turned it around to see what the boy was talking about.
He face-faulted.
He'd written the sign with a pink marker.
Gah, that's the last time I go through Akane's drawers for a writing utensil!
Akane ignored Ranma and his father. She'd been around them long enough to perceive this as normal. She turned her gaze towards Kasumi.
"I don't know Kasumi-chan, Nabiki probably had something to eat at the Nekohaten. I mean why else won't she come down for dinner?"
"Oh, I dunno, she could've thought that you were cooking tonight and decided not to come," Ranma grumbled under his breath.
Akane heard the comment and was none too thrilled about it either.
"I heard that you jerk!!"
She pulled out her mallet and was ready to strike down the pig-tailed boy when Kasumi cleared her throat.
"Ah, Akane, why don't you go upstairs and check on Biki-chan?"
Ranma threw her a look of thanks.
Akane reluctantly put away her mallet. "Oh- alright- I'll go check on onneechan.."
She turned to Ranma and threatened him with her bulk of a fist. "And YOU better watch what you say around me Baka! After what you did back there at the Cat Café, I'm still in a rotten mood!!"
On that note, she got up, turned on her heel and left.
Ranma gulped as his father and Soun Tendo stared daggers at him.
"What did my daughter mean by that comment Ranma?" Soun asked him, a little too politely.
The pig-tailed boy sweat-dropped. "Eheheheh, I dunno what Akane's talkin bout besides you know 'kane, she's always sayin stuff to get me in trouble ya know...."
The looks on their faces told Ranma that they weren't buying it.
Ranma gulped.
Kasumi put her hand up to her mouth. Oh my, I hope Ranma's going to be ok.
Meanwhile, Akane was climbing the stairs to Nabiki's room. When she got to the door she paused to listen for a second.
Nothing.
There was no music playing, or rustling of paper of any kind or talking for that matter.
Nabiki had her own phone-line to conduct her business. Sometimes when she was busy with a meeting, she would forget about eating until someone came to get her.
Maybe she's sleeping? If she doesn't eat now, she'll be hungry later! I don't want to wake her if she is sleeping, but- oh well. Akane shrugged.
She knocked on the door. "Um Biki-chan?"
Nothing.
Akane furrowed her brows.
That's funny, Kasumi said that Nabiki came up here after she came home.
Akane knocked again.
Louder this time.
"Nabiki?"
This time, she heard someone moving around.
Well at least she's not sleeping, Akane thought as she waited for Nabiki to open the door.
Nabiki called out to her behind the door. "Akane? Is that you?!" She asked.
Her voice sounded muffled because of the door.
"Yeah, it's me Biki! Open up!"
Nabiki was on the other side of the door panicking.
Eh... what should I do? Akane and the others are probably waiting for me to go downstairs and eat.
Her stomach grumbled in compliance.
Nabiki grabbed at it and squeezed. "Hey- hey- don't you start on me too!! I can't go down there, my whole family's down there, and I have to be careful otherwise I'll end up liking one of them!!"
Akane called out to her again. "Ah, Nabs? Are you talking to someone?"
Nabiki eeped.
E-gads! She heard me talking to myself. That is so pathetic!! Nabiki looked around her room nervously. Oh boy, sorry 'Kane, but I ain't comin out till it's safe!!
"Eh... uh... Akane, I don't think I'm going to come down for dinner!"
Akane was standing by the door when she heard Nabiki talking to herself. What is she doing? Is onnechan losing it?
"Uh, Biki- I think that you should come down, I mean, unless you're feeling sick."
Nabiki snapped her fingers yes.
She faked a hoarse voice.
"Eh, yeah sorry 'Kane, I don't feel too good, I might come down later to grab somethin ta eat, but not now... k?" She hoped that Akane would buy it.
Akane shrugged her shoulders.
Hey, she tried.
She went back downstairs.
Soun looked up at Akane as she entered the room.
"Akane? What did Nabiki say?"
Panda/Genma had Ranma in a headlock. He repeatedly smacked Ranma over the head with a sign that read.
"What are you talking about going to work for Cologne in a dress as Ranko girly boy?!?!"
Kasumi had her hands over her eyes. "Oh dear, I don't think I should be watching this!"
Ranma tried to speak through his choke hold.
"Eh- ack! I told ya Pops! Ek- It's all that stupid Ryoga's fault!! Ack! He's the one that instigated the fight! Ack! That ruined the Cat Café!"
Akane sighed and sat down at her seat. "I dunno Dad, I don't think that Nabiki's coming. She said that she might be comin down with something."
Soun dropped his chopsticks and the tears began to brim in his eyes.
"Oh no!!"
Everyone stopped to look at Soun.
He clenched his fist. "I-I must go and see what's wrong with my Nabiki- chan! If she's sick! I-I have to go!!"
He ran upstairs.
Akane smacked her head. God- Dad can be so dense sometimes. Doesn't he know? Nabiki probably just wants to be alone!
Nabiki wiped her forehead.
Good Akane's gone.
She sighed with relief.
Suddenly Soun broke through her door.
Nabiki jumped into bed under the covers surprised by the sudden intrusion.
"DADDY?!? WHAT THE HELL?!?"
Soun fell onto his knees in front of his daughter.
"Ohohohoho Nabiki! Please tell me that you're alright!!"
He grabbed his middle daughter by the shoulder and shook her frantically. "Please tell me, are you sick?!? Are you hurt in anyway?!?!"
"D-d-d-dA-d-d! Y-you're s-sha-k-king me t-t-t-o-oo h-ha-rd!" Nabiki stuttered.
Soun realized his folly and pulled his hands back sharply.
He sweat-dropped and scratched the back of his head. "Ehehhehehh sorry there daughter!"
Nabiki shrank back into her covers.
Oh god! I hope Daddy doesn't stay here too long.
Soun got up and sat on the bed.
Nabiki glared at him for sitting so close.
He twiddled his thumbs looking at the floor instead of her.
"Nabiki my dear.." He began, and which she rolls her eyes to the ceiling.
Oh great- She wanted to tell her Dad that this wasn't the best time for a father to daughter speech. But she knew that if she refused to listen to him right now, he would probably cry and leave, and then hound her about it tomorrow. So she sat there and listened to him.
"You know Nabiki- If you ever have anything that you wanna say to your Dadda-"
Nabiki scrunched up her face. She hadn't called him Dadda in ages.
"-You can... I know it must be hard sitting on the sidelines while Akane gets all the attention."
Nabiki grimaced, it's alright, I don't really mind, besides, I see what Akane goes through everyday. I'm just glad it's not me.
Soun continued. "I just want you to know, that no matter what- I'll be there for you!"
He reached over to hug her, much to her chagrin, and she panicked.
Eh- what do I do?
She spies a huge bear she won at the town fair last year and placed it in her father's arms instead.
Soun had his eyes closed when he hugged her.
"Ohhohohoh my little Nabiki! I know I don't say this to you much- But I love you! You're such a good, strong –"
He felt her back. It was quite hairy. Did she shave?
"Hairy- daughter...."
Maybe I should teach her to shave or something, bonding time with my little girl!
He pulled back from Nabiki/teddy.
Nabiki quickly switched herself for the bear and smiled nervously.
Her father opened his eyes.
"Nabiki-chan! I just want you to do good in life alright?"
Nabiki nodded.
Uh huh Dad- Now get out!! She wanted to scream.
As if reading her mind he gets up and exits, well not before leaving a trail of tears.
Whew! Glad that's over and done with!
She passed out on the bed, drained.
-End-