Rhythmer's Fist: Trouble and Bass
'Kasumi's Rival'
Kasumi, it was always Kasumi...
Kasumi...
Kasumi...
Kasumi...
Kasumi Tendou, the darling of everyone, the most popular of girls at school. The one all the guys wanted. The sweet one, the polite one, the one that the teachers never had any problems with. The one who got all As in class, the one that all the girls from the lower grades wanted to be like. Little miss perfect in every fashion. It was always about her, no one else could measure up, she was untouchable, it wasn't even worth the effort to consider so.
Nikki Akamatsu refused to believe that. Ever since she had first met Kasumi, back when they both went to Furinkan High, the blonde girl dreamed of the moment she would finally prove that Kasumi wasn't the pristine goddess everyone made her out to be. The girl must have a flaw, something that she could be challenged at, something that Nikki could proclaim victory in, and humble the obnoxious, oh-so-haughtily perfect Kasumi Tendou.
After much deligation, The blonde Austrailian born girl found it. With a large, gleaming smile, she made her challenge to Kasumi, and a week from when she issued it, she and her proclaimed rival would meet.
The night they would meet was the final day of school before exams...
Kasumi never showed up...
________________
"I'd love to go out with you again tonight, Ranma-kun, Akanechan," Kasumi replied, smiling at the two serenely, while preparing dinner.
"Great!" Akane replied, leaning back against the counter, "So that makes us, Nabiki, Kasumi, Shampoo, Yuka, and Ryoga going."
Ranma gave Akane a side glance, "And how, prey tell, do you intend to make sure pigboy gets there at a decent time?"
"Why do you keep calling him 'pigboy'?" Akane asked, even though she already knew the answer after an incident when she brought her pet pig to Petra's studio...
~~~~~~~~
"Coffee not strong enough," The metallic aqua-haired woman decided, as she looked from the naked, beat red blushing boy to the half-empty coffee pot that was still dangling tipped from her hand, "Like my men beefier..."
~~~~~~~~
"I'll make sure he gets there, Ranma," Akane finally replied, after recalling all the racy comments she and Petra made, every time Ryoga ran by them, attempting to find an exit.
"Now there's a feat I would like to believe..." Ranma said just loud enough for both girls occupying the kitchen to hear.
________________
"Akane? Aaaaakannneee!" Ryoga whimpered, swinging lightly from the ceiling of the dojo, upside down, "I really promise to stay put! No need for the bondage! Akane?"
________________
"Awwww, aren't you soooo cute when you're worrying about your favorite playmate!" Akane cooed, pinching the pigtailed boy's cheeks, "Don't wory, alright? I got it hanging good and tight."
Ranma gave Akane a withering glance, as she snickered to herself.
________________
Kasumi didn't feel much like dancing just yet, and decided to watch the Nerima crew demonstrate and stylize the Saturday night crowd at Ucchan's; setting the mood and groove along with Mu Tzu's liquid flowing flavor of House beats. She sat with her legs crossed in a stool supplied on the VIP floor against the chain fence supported by plexiglass.
She was content, recalling her high school days, when she used to do things like this, before responsibility demanded her attention. She carefully scratched her leg through her sky-blue slacks, cautiously ensuring that she didn't snag the white pantyhose underneath, and adjusted the suspenders that fit over her pearl-white vest and sky-blue blouse underneath that. She would have to compliment Nabiki on the coordination of her, Akane, and Nabiki's own ensemble to match with different colors; While Nabiki wore a black vest with hunter green blouse and slacks, Akane wore a deep brown vest with a burgundy set.
Kasumi remained so rapt in the thought of how cute the outfits looked on them, that she didn't notice the newcomer that had descended the spiral staircase, and head straight for her.
Ranma, Shampoo, and Akane took that moment to take a rest on the other side of the center floor, but noticed the blonde woman in a totally sudbued white blouse, leggings, and short cape that came only down the the small of her back, as the edges attached to the sides of her waist. Her hair was cut close on the right side, while a half-bowl of blonde lockes that came down to bottom ear level covered the left side of her head. Only a quif of hair on the right side springing from the center part remained lengthy on the right side.
"Who's that?" Ranma asked, earning a shrug from Shampoo and Akane.
"Didn't invite her," both girls replied in unison, before giving each other a look, and giggling.
"Hmm, the way she's approaching Kasumi, she seems to know your sister from somewhere. Guess Kasumi brought her."
Akane shrugged again, before leaning to the side, just as Shampoo knelt, and Ranma raised his arm just an inch against the chain fence. The dagger thrown by Mu Tzu passed by Akane's neck, over Shampoo's head, imbedding itself into the plexiglass beyond the fence. Ranma relaxed his arm, allowing it to rest on the throwing weapon. All three turned to observe Kasumi blinking in shock.
Kasumi looked up to find a slender, yet statuesque woman around the same age as her, standing above her, "Um, hello?"
"Kasumi... Kasumi Tendou..." the woman stated, as if a demand.
Kasumi tilted her head, and smiled, "Oh my, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage..."
The woman's almost haughty glare turned into an irritated one, "Ever since the night you didn't show for our duel, that annoying, oblivious, can't-do-nothing-wrong smirk that was always plastered on your face haunted my nightmares!"
Kasumi blinked, "Um, am I smirking? I apologise."
"ENOUGH! Don't think you can pull that 'I'm too sweet for sugar' act with me! I know the *REAL* you!"
Kasumi finished blinking in shock, "Do... do I know you?"
"Two years ago," the woman started, "We were to meet for a final duel, do you remember, coward?"
Kasumi blinked twice, before her eyes went wide, "N-N-Nikki?"
The woman nodded solumnly, as Kasumi pointed a shakey finger at her. "I had heard you returned to the club scene. And such, my chance for vengence has come again!" The woman struck a pose reminiscent of a Spanish Flamingo stance. Her sinewy body expressed curves of elegance and poise, as she prepared to do battle with her long absent rival.
"Excuse me... miss..."
Nikki shot a glare at the long-haired effimate boy wearing a chrome reflective shirt with matching pants, "Beat it, you're ruining my dramatic moment."
"Miss, this is the VIP floor," Konatsu went onto explain, undaunted, "You cannot be here without permission... or at least being someone important."
"What?!?" Nikki screeched, dropping from her pose, "See? Now you've ruined the moment!"
Konatsu shrugged, "Please, leave."
"Hold on, hold on, I have something... right... here! AHA!" The woman got through reaching down the front of her rather flat blouse, and pulled out a business card, handing it to the young man.
"Nikki Synthia Akamatsu, World renouned dancer extraordinare..." Konatsu read aloud.
"Here are my credentials," Nikki replied with a hooded stare, as she held up a long printout sheet of various performances she had done.
Konatsu's eyes grew wide, as he read the business card again, "Wait a minute... *THE* Nikki Synthia Akamatsu? You're *HER*?!?"
Nikki nodded, beeming at one who happened to be a fan of her performances.
"Never heard of you," Konatsu replied, handing back the business card. "Please, get out, before I have to remove you."
"WHAT! HOW DARE YOU-"
"Konatsu... let her stay."
Everyone looked up, to find Ukyo sitting almost demurely on the fence that surrounded the VIP floor, looking down upon the patrons with her usual stoic expression, as she tapped her large folded fan against her side. Even over the music, her soft voice demanded presence.
Konatsu nodded, before giving Nikki one last glance. The blonde woman stuck her tongue out at the ninja in victory and mocking.
"After all, for someone to be so self-important, I would expect this would be the only place in the club that would be spacious enough for her ego..." With that, Ukyo unfolded her fan, and waved it in front of her. The fan closed up, revealing Ukyo to be missing, before it faded from sight.
"I taught her that," Konatsu beemed with pride, before crouching down, and then seeming to leap into thin air, vanishing himself.
Nikki stewed, before turning back to a thoroughly shaken Kasumi, "Enough of this! For my honor, I challenge you, Kasumi Tendou!!!"
"I ac-" For the briefest of moments, a flicker of an expression, something, not quite identifiable to even her sisters, passed over Kasumi's face, before she quickly turned away, "I... can't!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Kasumi rushed up the spiral staircase, and away. Everyone remaining stared at her sudden departure, with the usual Nerima crew staring in confusion.
________________
The next morning, Ranma and Akane found Kasumi in the kitchen, humming a merry tune, and preparing breakfast, "Good morning Akanechan, Ranma-kun. Breakfast will be ready shortly!"
"Ah... that's great, sis," Akane replied with heavy concern in her voice, "What happened to you, last night? We went looking for you, and couldn't find you!"
"Oh, I was home," Kasumi replied happily, "How silly of you to have missed me!"
"We checked the house," Ranma answered.
"Hmm," Kasumi mused, "Perhaps then I was in the dojo when you were checking the house. There was much to clean in there..."
"We checked the dojo, too," Akane replied, wondering why her sister would be cleaning at two AM.
"Maybe I was in the attic when you checked the dojo," Kasumi replied, logically, "It was awfully dusty in the attic."
"Checked the attic too," Ranma stated.
"Then I was in the bathroom, the furo needed to be cleaned."
"checked the furo," Akane replied.
"Maybe she was in the basement," Ranma suggested, helpfully.
"Oh my, that's right!" Kasumi exclaimed, "There were a lot of cobwebs in the basement I had been meaning to take care of..."
"We don't have a basement," Ranma, Akane, and a newly entered Nabiki replied in unision.
"Alright, sis, fess up?" Nabiki demanded, coming to stand between Akane and their mutual fiance.
Kasumi sighed, and bowed her head, "I guess I can't hide it forever..."
Kasumi motioned everyone into the tea room, and had them sit down. After they were seated, Kasumi smiled, "Would anyone like some tea?"
After everyone nodded, Kasumi went into the kitchen to prepare some tea. After a few moments, their fathers came down, and Kasumi set out breakfast. After they ate breakfast, Kasumi collected the plates, and returned to the kitchen. Soun finished reading his paper, and left to start a game of shogi with Genma. About an hour later...
"Ah... Kasumi, what are you doing in there?" Nabiki asked, watching the TV.
"I'm mixing a special blend of tea, it will only take a few more moments!" Kasumi replied.
"What's wrong with the blends we have?" Akane shouted, incredulously.
"it's a very good blend," Kasumi replied, "Oh my, we seem to be out of cinnimin. I'm afraid I must go to India, and-"
"Get in here," Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki commanded.
Cowled, the eldest Tendou sister walked back into the tearoom, and sat down. "Okay, now explain what was going on with that blonde chick last night?" Ranma started.
Kasumi took a deep breath, "Well, when I was in my final months of high school, there was this girl, Nikki Akamatsu. She was popular, and pretty, and..." Kasumi sagged, "She hated my guts for some reason."
All three audience members gasped in utter shock; someone... hating *Kasumi*?
"She seemed so upset about me, and always challenged me to various things."
"One day, I found out that your sister was the little darling of the club scene, and discovered my chance..."
"GAAAHHHH!!!!" Ranma jumped, finding the blonde woman from last night sitting between him and Nabiki.
"Uh... h-hello," Nabiki greeted, barely able to maintain her composure.
"Nikki..." Kasumi baulked, "H-how did you find out where I live?"
"You used to invite me over for slumber parties, remember?" Nikki replied, factually, "Anyhow, Kasumi was notorious in the club scene, the 'Sensual Swallow', she was called."
"It was better than being called 'Mist', Kasumi replied, covering her face.
"Did everyone have a club life before me?" Akane asked, a bit irritated. Nabiki raised her hand, before she recalled something, and quickly dropped it. Akane glared at the middle sister, as she nervously glared back.
"Anyways, I challenged your sister to a dance-off..." Nikki pulled out a microphone, and pointed accusingly at Kasumi "REPENT! WHY DID YOU NOT SHOW THAT FATEFUL NIGHT, KASUMI?"
"I.... I couldn't..." Kasumi replied in a defeated tone.
Nikki smirked in satisfaction, "So, it was because you are a coward! A false goddess who's light poisons all that is truly good!"
"That's not it at all!" Kasumi replied, adimantly! "It... it was just that..."
"Yes, yessss?" All four asked, anxiously awaiting Kasumi's answer.
"It was sukiyaki night," Kasumi replied, shamefaced. She looked down at the tea table, "Oh my, we're going to have to get this replaced."
Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, and Nikki all picked their faces up off of the broken table they had just caused. "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING!" Ranma demanded, rubbing his face.
"The night Nikki challenged me... I... I was so pumped, that I went out to practice, to prepare for our duel."
"'Pumped'?" Her two siblings parroted, suprised at Kasumi's terminology.
"That's the old Kasumi I used to know," Nikki replied.
"Unfortunately, I forgot that I needed to cook dinner. Sukiyaki night was always Father's favorite dinner night. He was so dissappointed." Kasumi hung her head in shame. "So, the night of our battle... I... chose to prepare dinner, a large meal for father to make up for missing it the previous week. Because of that, I wasn't able to prepare for our match... and I chose to forfeit."
"You can't just simply deny a challenge!" Ranma proclaimed, "Even if not a fully-fledge practioner, all members of the Anything-Goes school must accept all challenges!"
"He's right," Akane pointed out.
"Daddy would have a heart attack if he found out about this," Nabiki added.
"I did not accept your forfeit!" Nikki proclaimed, "In five days, we will settle this at Ucchan's! If you're not there, I'll drag you there myself!"
"I...." Nabiki, Ranma, and Akane saw it again, the expression that had eluded them that night.
"What... what is this almost overwhelming power of confidence?" Ranma whispered, in awe.
"Ka-Kasumi..." Akane breathed, while Nabiki remained dumbfounded.
Kasumi stood up, the change in her bearing heavily apparent. Gone was the serene smile of the homemaking goddes, now replaced with the cool, determined expression of a war goddess. "I accept, Nikki Akamatsu, five days!"
Nikki chuckled, "Yes Kasumi Tendou, we shall settle this soon!" With that, the statuesque woman saw her own way out.
Kasumi sniffed in confidense, and shifted her eyes to where she had last seen Nikki depart, "She has awakened my fighting spirit."
"Um... Kasumi..." Nabiki attempted to interject during her sister's posturing. Kasumi blinked, and gave her a serene smile.
"Why, yes, Nabikichan?"
"That's Friday night..." Nabiki continued...
Akane's eyes went wide, "That's right! That's..."
Ranma's face paled... "Sukiyaki night..."
Kasumi baulked, realizing her grave mistake.
'Kasumi's Rival'
Kasumi, it was always Kasumi...
Kasumi...
Kasumi...
Kasumi...
Kasumi Tendou, the darling of everyone, the most popular of girls at school. The one all the guys wanted. The sweet one, the polite one, the one that the teachers never had any problems with. The one who got all As in class, the one that all the girls from the lower grades wanted to be like. Little miss perfect in every fashion. It was always about her, no one else could measure up, she was untouchable, it wasn't even worth the effort to consider so.
Nikki Akamatsu refused to believe that. Ever since she had first met Kasumi, back when they both went to Furinkan High, the blonde girl dreamed of the moment she would finally prove that Kasumi wasn't the pristine goddess everyone made her out to be. The girl must have a flaw, something that she could be challenged at, something that Nikki could proclaim victory in, and humble the obnoxious, oh-so-haughtily perfect Kasumi Tendou.
After much deligation, The blonde Austrailian born girl found it. With a large, gleaming smile, she made her challenge to Kasumi, and a week from when she issued it, she and her proclaimed rival would meet.
The night they would meet was the final day of school before exams...
Kasumi never showed up...
________________
"I'd love to go out with you again tonight, Ranma-kun, Akanechan," Kasumi replied, smiling at the two serenely, while preparing dinner.
"Great!" Akane replied, leaning back against the counter, "So that makes us, Nabiki, Kasumi, Shampoo, Yuka, and Ryoga going."
Ranma gave Akane a side glance, "And how, prey tell, do you intend to make sure pigboy gets there at a decent time?"
"Why do you keep calling him 'pigboy'?" Akane asked, even though she already knew the answer after an incident when she brought her pet pig to Petra's studio...
~~~~~~~~
"Coffee not strong enough," The metallic aqua-haired woman decided, as she looked from the naked, beat red blushing boy to the half-empty coffee pot that was still dangling tipped from her hand, "Like my men beefier..."
~~~~~~~~
"I'll make sure he gets there, Ranma," Akane finally replied, after recalling all the racy comments she and Petra made, every time Ryoga ran by them, attempting to find an exit.
"Now there's a feat I would like to believe..." Ranma said just loud enough for both girls occupying the kitchen to hear.
________________
"Akane? Aaaaakannneee!" Ryoga whimpered, swinging lightly from the ceiling of the dojo, upside down, "I really promise to stay put! No need for the bondage! Akane?"
________________
"Awwww, aren't you soooo cute when you're worrying about your favorite playmate!" Akane cooed, pinching the pigtailed boy's cheeks, "Don't wory, alright? I got it hanging good and tight."
Ranma gave Akane a withering glance, as she snickered to herself.
________________
Kasumi didn't feel much like dancing just yet, and decided to watch the Nerima crew demonstrate and stylize the Saturday night crowd at Ucchan's; setting the mood and groove along with Mu Tzu's liquid flowing flavor of House beats. She sat with her legs crossed in a stool supplied on the VIP floor against the chain fence supported by plexiglass.
She was content, recalling her high school days, when she used to do things like this, before responsibility demanded her attention. She carefully scratched her leg through her sky-blue slacks, cautiously ensuring that she didn't snag the white pantyhose underneath, and adjusted the suspenders that fit over her pearl-white vest and sky-blue blouse underneath that. She would have to compliment Nabiki on the coordination of her, Akane, and Nabiki's own ensemble to match with different colors; While Nabiki wore a black vest with hunter green blouse and slacks, Akane wore a deep brown vest with a burgundy set.
Kasumi remained so rapt in the thought of how cute the outfits looked on them, that she didn't notice the newcomer that had descended the spiral staircase, and head straight for her.
Ranma, Shampoo, and Akane took that moment to take a rest on the other side of the center floor, but noticed the blonde woman in a totally sudbued white blouse, leggings, and short cape that came only down the the small of her back, as the edges attached to the sides of her waist. Her hair was cut close on the right side, while a half-bowl of blonde lockes that came down to bottom ear level covered the left side of her head. Only a quif of hair on the right side springing from the center part remained lengthy on the right side.
"Who's that?" Ranma asked, earning a shrug from Shampoo and Akane.
"Didn't invite her," both girls replied in unison, before giving each other a look, and giggling.
"Hmm, the way she's approaching Kasumi, she seems to know your sister from somewhere. Guess Kasumi brought her."
Akane shrugged again, before leaning to the side, just as Shampoo knelt, and Ranma raised his arm just an inch against the chain fence. The dagger thrown by Mu Tzu passed by Akane's neck, over Shampoo's head, imbedding itself into the plexiglass beyond the fence. Ranma relaxed his arm, allowing it to rest on the throwing weapon. All three turned to observe Kasumi blinking in shock.
Kasumi looked up to find a slender, yet statuesque woman around the same age as her, standing above her, "Um, hello?"
"Kasumi... Kasumi Tendou..." the woman stated, as if a demand.
Kasumi tilted her head, and smiled, "Oh my, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage..."
The woman's almost haughty glare turned into an irritated one, "Ever since the night you didn't show for our duel, that annoying, oblivious, can't-do-nothing-wrong smirk that was always plastered on your face haunted my nightmares!"
Kasumi blinked, "Um, am I smirking? I apologise."
"ENOUGH! Don't think you can pull that 'I'm too sweet for sugar' act with me! I know the *REAL* you!"
Kasumi finished blinking in shock, "Do... do I know you?"
"Two years ago," the woman started, "We were to meet for a final duel, do you remember, coward?"
Kasumi blinked twice, before her eyes went wide, "N-N-Nikki?"
The woman nodded solumnly, as Kasumi pointed a shakey finger at her. "I had heard you returned to the club scene. And such, my chance for vengence has come again!" The woman struck a pose reminiscent of a Spanish Flamingo stance. Her sinewy body expressed curves of elegance and poise, as she prepared to do battle with her long absent rival.
"Excuse me... miss..."
Nikki shot a glare at the long-haired effimate boy wearing a chrome reflective shirt with matching pants, "Beat it, you're ruining my dramatic moment."
"Miss, this is the VIP floor," Konatsu went onto explain, undaunted, "You cannot be here without permission... or at least being someone important."
"What?!?" Nikki screeched, dropping from her pose, "See? Now you've ruined the moment!"
Konatsu shrugged, "Please, leave."
"Hold on, hold on, I have something... right... here! AHA!" The woman got through reaching down the front of her rather flat blouse, and pulled out a business card, handing it to the young man.
"Nikki Synthia Akamatsu, World renouned dancer extraordinare..." Konatsu read aloud.
"Here are my credentials," Nikki replied with a hooded stare, as she held up a long printout sheet of various performances she had done.
Konatsu's eyes grew wide, as he read the business card again, "Wait a minute... *THE* Nikki Synthia Akamatsu? You're *HER*?!?"
Nikki nodded, beeming at one who happened to be a fan of her performances.
"Never heard of you," Konatsu replied, handing back the business card. "Please, get out, before I have to remove you."
"WHAT! HOW DARE YOU-"
"Konatsu... let her stay."
Everyone looked up, to find Ukyo sitting almost demurely on the fence that surrounded the VIP floor, looking down upon the patrons with her usual stoic expression, as she tapped her large folded fan against her side. Even over the music, her soft voice demanded presence.
Konatsu nodded, before giving Nikki one last glance. The blonde woman stuck her tongue out at the ninja in victory and mocking.
"After all, for someone to be so self-important, I would expect this would be the only place in the club that would be spacious enough for her ego..." With that, Ukyo unfolded her fan, and waved it in front of her. The fan closed up, revealing Ukyo to be missing, before it faded from sight.
"I taught her that," Konatsu beemed with pride, before crouching down, and then seeming to leap into thin air, vanishing himself.
Nikki stewed, before turning back to a thoroughly shaken Kasumi, "Enough of this! For my honor, I challenge you, Kasumi Tendou!!!"
"I ac-" For the briefest of moments, a flicker of an expression, something, not quite identifiable to even her sisters, passed over Kasumi's face, before she quickly turned away, "I... can't!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Kasumi rushed up the spiral staircase, and away. Everyone remaining stared at her sudden departure, with the usual Nerima crew staring in confusion.
________________
The next morning, Ranma and Akane found Kasumi in the kitchen, humming a merry tune, and preparing breakfast, "Good morning Akanechan, Ranma-kun. Breakfast will be ready shortly!"
"Ah... that's great, sis," Akane replied with heavy concern in her voice, "What happened to you, last night? We went looking for you, and couldn't find you!"
"Oh, I was home," Kasumi replied happily, "How silly of you to have missed me!"
"We checked the house," Ranma answered.
"Hmm," Kasumi mused, "Perhaps then I was in the dojo when you were checking the house. There was much to clean in there..."
"We checked the dojo, too," Akane replied, wondering why her sister would be cleaning at two AM.
"Maybe I was in the attic when you checked the dojo," Kasumi replied, logically, "It was awfully dusty in the attic."
"Checked the attic too," Ranma stated.
"Then I was in the bathroom, the furo needed to be cleaned."
"checked the furo," Akane replied.
"Maybe she was in the basement," Ranma suggested, helpfully.
"Oh my, that's right!" Kasumi exclaimed, "There were a lot of cobwebs in the basement I had been meaning to take care of..."
"We don't have a basement," Ranma, Akane, and a newly entered Nabiki replied in unision.
"Alright, sis, fess up?" Nabiki demanded, coming to stand between Akane and their mutual fiance.
Kasumi sighed, and bowed her head, "I guess I can't hide it forever..."
Kasumi motioned everyone into the tea room, and had them sit down. After they were seated, Kasumi smiled, "Would anyone like some tea?"
After everyone nodded, Kasumi went into the kitchen to prepare some tea. After a few moments, their fathers came down, and Kasumi set out breakfast. After they ate breakfast, Kasumi collected the plates, and returned to the kitchen. Soun finished reading his paper, and left to start a game of shogi with Genma. About an hour later...
"Ah... Kasumi, what are you doing in there?" Nabiki asked, watching the TV.
"I'm mixing a special blend of tea, it will only take a few more moments!" Kasumi replied.
"What's wrong with the blends we have?" Akane shouted, incredulously.
"it's a very good blend," Kasumi replied, "Oh my, we seem to be out of cinnimin. I'm afraid I must go to India, and-"
"Get in here," Ranma, Akane, and Nabiki commanded.
Cowled, the eldest Tendou sister walked back into the tearoom, and sat down. "Okay, now explain what was going on with that blonde chick last night?" Ranma started.
Kasumi took a deep breath, "Well, when I was in my final months of high school, there was this girl, Nikki Akamatsu. She was popular, and pretty, and..." Kasumi sagged, "She hated my guts for some reason."
All three audience members gasped in utter shock; someone... hating *Kasumi*?
"She seemed so upset about me, and always challenged me to various things."
"One day, I found out that your sister was the little darling of the club scene, and discovered my chance..."
"GAAAHHHH!!!!" Ranma jumped, finding the blonde woman from last night sitting between him and Nabiki.
"Uh... h-hello," Nabiki greeted, barely able to maintain her composure.
"Nikki..." Kasumi baulked, "H-how did you find out where I live?"
"You used to invite me over for slumber parties, remember?" Nikki replied, factually, "Anyhow, Kasumi was notorious in the club scene, the 'Sensual Swallow', she was called."
"It was better than being called 'Mist', Kasumi replied, covering her face.
"Did everyone have a club life before me?" Akane asked, a bit irritated. Nabiki raised her hand, before she recalled something, and quickly dropped it. Akane glared at the middle sister, as she nervously glared back.
"Anyways, I challenged your sister to a dance-off..." Nikki pulled out a microphone, and pointed accusingly at Kasumi "REPENT! WHY DID YOU NOT SHOW THAT FATEFUL NIGHT, KASUMI?"
"I.... I couldn't..." Kasumi replied in a defeated tone.
Nikki smirked in satisfaction, "So, it was because you are a coward! A false goddess who's light poisons all that is truly good!"
"That's not it at all!" Kasumi replied, adimantly! "It... it was just that..."
"Yes, yessss?" All four asked, anxiously awaiting Kasumi's answer.
"It was sukiyaki night," Kasumi replied, shamefaced. She looked down at the tea table, "Oh my, we're going to have to get this replaced."
Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, and Nikki all picked their faces up off of the broken table they had just caused. "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING!" Ranma demanded, rubbing his face.
"The night Nikki challenged me... I... I was so pumped, that I went out to practice, to prepare for our duel."
"'Pumped'?" Her two siblings parroted, suprised at Kasumi's terminology.
"That's the old Kasumi I used to know," Nikki replied.
"Unfortunately, I forgot that I needed to cook dinner. Sukiyaki night was always Father's favorite dinner night. He was so dissappointed." Kasumi hung her head in shame. "So, the night of our battle... I... chose to prepare dinner, a large meal for father to make up for missing it the previous week. Because of that, I wasn't able to prepare for our match... and I chose to forfeit."
"You can't just simply deny a challenge!" Ranma proclaimed, "Even if not a fully-fledge practioner, all members of the Anything-Goes school must accept all challenges!"
"He's right," Akane pointed out.
"Daddy would have a heart attack if he found out about this," Nabiki added.
"I did not accept your forfeit!" Nikki proclaimed, "In five days, we will settle this at Ucchan's! If you're not there, I'll drag you there myself!"
"I...." Nabiki, Ranma, and Akane saw it again, the expression that had eluded them that night.
"What... what is this almost overwhelming power of confidence?" Ranma whispered, in awe.
"Ka-Kasumi..." Akane breathed, while Nabiki remained dumbfounded.
Kasumi stood up, the change in her bearing heavily apparent. Gone was the serene smile of the homemaking goddes, now replaced with the cool, determined expression of a war goddess. "I accept, Nikki Akamatsu, five days!"
Nikki chuckled, "Yes Kasumi Tendou, we shall settle this soon!" With that, the statuesque woman saw her own way out.
Kasumi sniffed in confidense, and shifted her eyes to where she had last seen Nikki depart, "She has awakened my fighting spirit."
"Um... Kasumi..." Nabiki attempted to interject during her sister's posturing. Kasumi blinked, and gave her a serene smile.
"Why, yes, Nabikichan?"
"That's Friday night..." Nabiki continued...
Akane's eyes went wide, "That's right! That's..."
Ranma's face paled... "Sukiyaki night..."
Kasumi baulked, realizing her grave mistake.