'Rhythmer's Fist'
"You're just going to give up, just like that?" Ranma enquired, leaning against the counter of the kitchen while watching Kasumi clean up after dinner.
"I don't have a choice, Ranma," Kasumi said, sadly, as she dried her hands, "I made a vow that I wouldn't let father down like I did before. Please understand."
"Na, don't think I can," Ranma retorted, adjusting his position a bit to get comfortable, "As a student to the Anything Goes School of Martial arts, I hold the belief that you gotta answer every challenge. And as a student of the Rhythmer's Fist school of Martial Arts, I hold the belief you gotta go out and prove your style."
Kasumi began to wring her hands nervously, "Oh Ranma, I want to... I really do! I haven't felt so... soooo..."
"I know what you mean, heh," Ranma chuckled, "I don't think there wasn't a kid around that didn't see you light up at that challenge. Kinda like a bonfire found its flame. You were alive, you get?"
"Yes, Ranma, I understand," Kasumi replied, though still with a saddened expression, "But I've come to accept my responsibilities, and I can't regret the choice I've made."
"Sounds like you already are," the pigtailed martial artist commented in a serious tone, before he brought back his flippant smile, "Kasumi, girlfriend, what about the responsibilities to yourself? I mean, you stay cooped up in the crib unless I drag you out to have a good time, or you go somewhere with your Pops. What if we don't end up compatable, you know?" Ranma held up a hand to forestall any comments Kasumi would make, "I know, I know, you're thinking you would fight tooth and nail to secure a catch like me, even against your sisters..."
Kasumi frowned, as that wasn't quite what she was about to say.
"...and you'd do anything to make it work between us..."
The eldest Tendou daughter rolled her eyes, but chose not to interrupt.
"...but what if we don't hook up? You don't even date, though I can hook you up if you give the word. I hear Mu Tsu's available, according to Shampoo. And Ryoga's closest you'll find to a replacement for me... kinda depressing to think about, huh?"
"This is all sweet, but I think-"
"Don't sweat it, Kasumi. You take your time choosing between them, but if you do choose, you gonna have to go out with them every once in a while."
"That wasn't what I was about to say, Ranma."
"Come on, Kasumi, at least talk to your old man," Ranma changed the subject, oblivious to Kasumi's chagrin, "I'm pretty sure if anything, he'll understand a duel of honor. Besides, letting this thing go could make what's-her-face..."
"Nikki Synthia Akamatsu?"
"Yeah, that's her," Ranma confirmed, "Nikki Sifiha Akamatsu or whatever could go seriously agro over this. You don't know what it's like to get stood up for a challenge, it ain't all
"Well," Kasumi began, wringing her ponytail with her hands over her shoulder, "I suppose talking to him wouldn't hurt..."
"See? No need to be sketchy over this," Ranma finished, shrugging cheerfully, "Now, we got four days until your big game, so we better get started to getting you back to hardcore status."
"What?" Kasumi asked simply, staring at him with a blank, confused expression. Ranma's smile cracked slightly; he had a lot to cram into four days...
_________________________
Kasumi stood in the middle of the dojo, nervously watching Ranma set up the portable stereo. With his usual care-free smirk, Ranma held up several CDs for display, "Choose your groove; Drum and Bass, Funky Breaks, Trance, Happy Hardcore, Speed Garage, House, Euro-"
"Ranma, here."
"Hey, 'Kane, sup?" Ranma greeted, turning to Kasumi's youngest sister.
"You got to know Kasumi like I do. She can dance to all of that, but if you really want her to go off..." Akane trailed off, holding the CD before Ranma.
"Heh, one of the prime teachings of the fist, you want someone going all out, you need to beatmatch!" Ranma took the CD, and turned to load it into the player.
"Don't worry, Kasumi, this is more to your pace, I'm sure." Akane gave Kasumi the same, confident smirk Ranma tended to wear, causing the eldest Tendou daughter to wonder if Ranma's arrogance was rubbing off on her little sister.
Her reverie was disrupted by a sudden drop in bass boom, followed by a beat steady rhythm in a sooth pace; quite a comfortable beats-per-minute as contast to the high speed Ranma usually subjected them to when they went clubbing. Bass guitar kicked in, enhanced by the background melody that made itself known. A chill feeling groove that permated and uplifted like being submerged in a soft rippling ocean.
"Oh my," Kasumi exclaimed, already in love with the song, "What's this?"
"Roc Project with Tina Arena," Akane replied, leaning against the wall with her arms folded, "Song's 'Never'."
"Aight, it's aight," Ranma commented, though it wasn't quite up to his speed.
Riding the sensations the tune radiated through her, the slow sensual sway of the hips came unconciously. Almost instinctively, she crossed her arms over her torso, squeezing her cleavage together, as her arms intersected over her stomach while her hands rested on her waist. Her head swayed with the rest of her body, as she took a deep breath that she could almost believe allowed her to inhale the scent of the rhythm; feeling it wash down her body, filling her lungs, before invading he rest of her being.
She had to inhale, feeling intoxicated by the song now, completely at it beck and call. This... this was something she truly missed. It was something she gave up too easily, and now that she's touched it again, it would be painful to let go of.
"Ah... woah," Ranma replied, after managing to swallow a gulp, and following Kasumi's left hand as it trailed delectably down her right arm as it reached to the sky, all the while still moving almost etherally with the rhythm.
Akane mutely nodded in agreement. She had seen her sister dance before, and Kasumi had already proven herself more than compotent. But at the moment, her older sister was showing a sudden dramatic improvement. If Akane didn't know better, she would swear Kasumi was invoking the Rhythmer's Fist. Of course, she knew better, because as sensual, as methodical, as graceful, and as beautiful as Kasumi seemed, she was missing something.
"No drive," Ranma mumbled. Akane looked over at him, to see him studying Kasumi intensely, just as he would an opponent, and looking for flaws in the technique. Looking closer, Akane saw what he was referring to.
Kasumi was dancing, all for herself. The outside world didn't exist beyond the beats that held her captive. Because of that, her focus wasn't sharp, and her movements were almost listless, like a thread in a breeze.
Before any of them realized it, the song was over. Kasumi felt still on high in a way she so sorely missed, allowing it to gradually flow down her, out through her feet, and over the dojo floor to dissipate into the atmousphere.
"Oh.... my," was the first thing Kasumi could say. For a few minutes, she was back in highschool; rebellious, confident, carefree. Before obligations, responsibilities, and guilt forced her to put herself aside, and embrace a different personage. Kasumi smiled, it was good to be back.
With a coy smirk, she glanced sideways at Ranma and her sister," Ranma-kun, mind playing that once more for me?"
"In a bit, Kas', something we gotta talk about, first," Ranma replied, as serious as his personality would let him.
"Oh?" some of Kasumi's confidence faded, before she realized that she couldn't quite be at a hundred percent just yet. But that was okay, with four days and both Ranma and Akane at her side, she wouldn't be long before being unstoppable.
"Kasumi, remember you're in a competition, here. As good as you are, you have to be better... namely better than *her*" Ranma proclaimed, pointing to the drawdown diagram of an obnoxious blonde woman, as Akane tapped the picture once with a pointer.
"I know that, Ranma-kun," Kasumi replied, drolly, "Please get to the point so I can get back to dancing."
"Well, she's got the moxy down," Akane commented, wryly.
Ranma chose to ignore both comments, "You think you're ready to take on some world renouned dancer?"
"I hadn't heard of her until the other evening."
Ranma shrugged at Akane's statment, "Me neither, but she sounds pretty confident in herself."
"Ranma, thank you for your concern, but I think I'll do just fine," Kasumi said sweetly, "Music, please?"
Ranma was pretty sure his warning went clear over her head, or she avidly ignored it. With a snort, Ranma nodded his head, "Fine, you think you're ready? Then I get first shot at you."
Kasumi paused, as Akane's eybrows climbed to her hairline. "Ranma?" Kasumi asked, a bit puzzled by the challenge.
"This is the Anything Goes and Rhythmer's Fist school reps on the line. If you win, you're definently ready. If you lose, you're staying home Friday night and cooking a succulent meal of sauteed and thinly sliced meat."
"Ah..."
At the elder girl's trepidation, Ranma shook his head sadly, "See? And that's why you'll lose. You not competitive enough."
Kasumi frowned, remembering that even in her schooldays, she wasn't the one for conflict. Nikki's challenge was the first she had ever truly viewed as a match of honor, and that was met with naught, "I think I see what you mean."
"Hey, it's alright, tho', because I have just the training regimen for it!" Ranma replied, giving Kasumi a toothy smile.
It was Akane that voiced the sceptisism, "And just what, pray tell, is this miracle training exercise?" The youngest Tendou daughter swore to herself if Ranma had any confidence self-help seminar tapes...
"Relax, in fact, it's something my Pop's came up with, worked perfectly for me!"
Kasumi relaxed at Ranma's smile. She couldn't argue against the fact that Ranma was definitely in the elite hardcore. Whatever training that she was about to undergo would be rigerious, but well worth the results to come...
_________________________
"Father?"
Soun looked up from where he was watching television in the tea room, "Oh, yes, Kasumi dear?"
The eldest of Soun's daughters fidgeted a bit, while wringing her hands. Why, oh why did this seem so difficult? All she had to do was tell her father of her plans, and he would obviously understand! It wasn't as if it were to be the end of the world if he missed his single, favorite, meal of the week. Why, she was sure many restaurants around easily served sukiyaki that rivaled hers!
Filled with a new determination, Kasumi started again, "Father, about this Friday night... I know how you always enjoy my sukiyaki, and..."
Soun's expression beemed a radiant joy just at the mention of said meal, as tears trickled down his cheek, "Kasumi! Oh how I look forward to this week's sukiyaki! It will be quite special!"
Taken aback by the reaction, Kasumi attempted to affirm her resolve, "I'm, um, glad you look forward to it, father, but..."
"You're sukiyaki was always special, it... it even rivaled your dear mother's!" Soun suddenly leapt up, and grabbed Kasumi's shoulders, startling her, "Did you know that this Friday would be the first time your mother cooked for me?"
"Ah..." Without even having to hear the rest of it, Kasumi knew what she was about to be told wasn't going to help her any.
"Yes! When we were courting, she prepared my favorite meal. Do you know what that is, Kasumi dear?"
Kasumi gave a weak smile, "Um... sukiyaki?" Just as it left her mouth, her father pulled her into a crushing hug.
"Kasumi! You make your father proud to know him so well!"
"There... there, father," the girl managed to choke out with what little air she had left in her lungs.
Pulling away from her, but still holding her shoulders firmly, Soun's expression was solumn, "Your mother's dying wish... well... one of them anyways, she had a rather long list of things we'll have to get to later... was when I felt you had reached the pinnicle of your culinary craft, that I was to give you the final step to the Tendou family's secret cooking arts..."
"Tendou... secret cooking arts?"
"Yes, you remember finding your mother's cookbook?" Kasumi nodded, already broken, but willing to endure more punishment of her father's expressive emotions.
"Well, that didn't hold ALL her secrets! Oh no! Come... to my bedroom..."
Before Kasumi could react, she found herself nearly dragged through the house, and was standing in the threshold of her father's room. Soun gleefully pulled out a heavily padlocked box, complete with retinal scan.
"It cost me nearly a fortune, just to ensure Nabiki never accessed this," the Tendou Patriarch commented casually, as the box opened, emitting mist as it did. Kasumi blinked, as the scrolls within seemed to glow etherally. Each one seemed rather old, yet elegently prepared.
Cautiously, Soun lifted the scrolls from the box, "These... are the total sum of the Tendou Clan's cooking techniques. Techniques so renouned, master chefs had saught after them!"
"Ah... I feel... honored, father..." Kasumi mumbled, looking down at the pile her father was placing in her arms. After doing so, he pulled one lone scroll from the pile.
"Kasumi, would you honor your old father with this particular recipe?"
_________________________
Ranma strolled into the kitchen, followed by Akane who kept eyeing him as if she were studying the village idiot. Regardless of how idiotic she thought of this training regimen, she gave her vow to keep the peace.
Kasumi turned to Ranma, looking a bit pale and shellshocked, "H-hello, Ranma."
The pigtailed boy didn't even seem to notice her condition, "Yo, Kas', we're all set to begin your training! By the end of this week, you'll be ready and sketch'n to battle!"
"Um, Ranma, I thank you for all this... but I think that..." Kasumi stopped, as Ranma motioned Akane to bring in the necessary equipment for Kasumi's training. Once she saw, Kasumi forgot all else exept her incredulousness, "N-Nikki?"
Ranma beemed, as the blond woman snorted, and tossed her head to the side, "Kasumi, what a... quaint domicile we have here. You caretake it yourself?"
Kasumi blinked, managing to regain herself, "Um, yes, yes I do."
"Obviously," Nikki replied, "You must not have much time then, to give this place such a rushed effort."
Kasumi closed her eyes, and her smile became a bit hollow, "Pardon?"
Ranma interjected, "Well Kasumi, seeing as how the two of you are old friends, I kinda thought it would be cool if you two got to know each other... for the next couple of days."
"WHAT?" Kasumi nearly screeched, before quickly recovering her composure, "I mean... I'm pretty sure Nikki...chan has a great deal of things to do."
"Much to your fortune, I'm between gigs," Nikki commented, "I think it would be nice if we got to know one another before I prove once and for all I'm your superior." The woman looked around the kitchen, "Let's just do it somewhere other than around here."
Kasumi just smiled as best as she could.
_________________________
"You're just going to give up, just like that?" Ranma enquired, leaning against the counter of the kitchen while watching Kasumi clean up after dinner.
"I don't have a choice, Ranma," Kasumi said, sadly, as she dried her hands, "I made a vow that I wouldn't let father down like I did before. Please understand."
"Na, don't think I can," Ranma retorted, adjusting his position a bit to get comfortable, "As a student to the Anything Goes School of Martial arts, I hold the belief that you gotta answer every challenge. And as a student of the Rhythmer's Fist school of Martial Arts, I hold the belief you gotta go out and prove your style."
Kasumi began to wring her hands nervously, "Oh Ranma, I want to... I really do! I haven't felt so... soooo..."
"I know what you mean, heh," Ranma chuckled, "I don't think there wasn't a kid around that didn't see you light up at that challenge. Kinda like a bonfire found its flame. You were alive, you get?"
"Yes, Ranma, I understand," Kasumi replied, though still with a saddened expression, "But I've come to accept my responsibilities, and I can't regret the choice I've made."
"Sounds like you already are," the pigtailed martial artist commented in a serious tone, before he brought back his flippant smile, "Kasumi, girlfriend, what about the responsibilities to yourself? I mean, you stay cooped up in the crib unless I drag you out to have a good time, or you go somewhere with your Pops. What if we don't end up compatable, you know?" Ranma held up a hand to forestall any comments Kasumi would make, "I know, I know, you're thinking you would fight tooth and nail to secure a catch like me, even against your sisters..."
Kasumi frowned, as that wasn't quite what she was about to say.
"...and you'd do anything to make it work between us..."
The eldest Tendou daughter rolled her eyes, but chose not to interrupt.
"...but what if we don't hook up? You don't even date, though I can hook you up if you give the word. I hear Mu Tsu's available, according to Shampoo. And Ryoga's closest you'll find to a replacement for me... kinda depressing to think about, huh?"
"This is all sweet, but I think-"
"Don't sweat it, Kasumi. You take your time choosing between them, but if you do choose, you gonna have to go out with them every once in a while."
"That wasn't what I was about to say, Ranma."
"Come on, Kasumi, at least talk to your old man," Ranma changed the subject, oblivious to Kasumi's chagrin, "I'm pretty sure if anything, he'll understand a duel of honor. Besides, letting this thing go could make what's-her-face..."
"Nikki Synthia Akamatsu?"
"Yeah, that's her," Ranma confirmed, "Nikki Sifiha Akamatsu or whatever could go seriously agro over this. You don't know what it's like to get stood up for a challenge, it ain't all
"Well," Kasumi began, wringing her ponytail with her hands over her shoulder, "I suppose talking to him wouldn't hurt..."
"See? No need to be sketchy over this," Ranma finished, shrugging cheerfully, "Now, we got four days until your big game, so we better get started to getting you back to hardcore status."
"What?" Kasumi asked simply, staring at him with a blank, confused expression. Ranma's smile cracked slightly; he had a lot to cram into four days...
_________________________
Kasumi stood in the middle of the dojo, nervously watching Ranma set up the portable stereo. With his usual care-free smirk, Ranma held up several CDs for display, "Choose your groove; Drum and Bass, Funky Breaks, Trance, Happy Hardcore, Speed Garage, House, Euro-"
"Ranma, here."
"Hey, 'Kane, sup?" Ranma greeted, turning to Kasumi's youngest sister.
"You got to know Kasumi like I do. She can dance to all of that, but if you really want her to go off..." Akane trailed off, holding the CD before Ranma.
"Heh, one of the prime teachings of the fist, you want someone going all out, you need to beatmatch!" Ranma took the CD, and turned to load it into the player.
"Don't worry, Kasumi, this is more to your pace, I'm sure." Akane gave Kasumi the same, confident smirk Ranma tended to wear, causing the eldest Tendou daughter to wonder if Ranma's arrogance was rubbing off on her little sister.
Her reverie was disrupted by a sudden drop in bass boom, followed by a beat steady rhythm in a sooth pace; quite a comfortable beats-per-minute as contast to the high speed Ranma usually subjected them to when they went clubbing. Bass guitar kicked in, enhanced by the background melody that made itself known. A chill feeling groove that permated and uplifted like being submerged in a soft rippling ocean.
"Oh my," Kasumi exclaimed, already in love with the song, "What's this?"
"Roc Project with Tina Arena," Akane replied, leaning against the wall with her arms folded, "Song's 'Never'."
"Aight, it's aight," Ranma commented, though it wasn't quite up to his speed.
Riding the sensations the tune radiated through her, the slow sensual sway of the hips came unconciously. Almost instinctively, she crossed her arms over her torso, squeezing her cleavage together, as her arms intersected over her stomach while her hands rested on her waist. Her head swayed with the rest of her body, as she took a deep breath that she could almost believe allowed her to inhale the scent of the rhythm; feeling it wash down her body, filling her lungs, before invading he rest of her being.
She had to inhale, feeling intoxicated by the song now, completely at it beck and call. This... this was something she truly missed. It was something she gave up too easily, and now that she's touched it again, it would be painful to let go of.
"Ah... woah," Ranma replied, after managing to swallow a gulp, and following Kasumi's left hand as it trailed delectably down her right arm as it reached to the sky, all the while still moving almost etherally with the rhythm.
Akane mutely nodded in agreement. She had seen her sister dance before, and Kasumi had already proven herself more than compotent. But at the moment, her older sister was showing a sudden dramatic improvement. If Akane didn't know better, she would swear Kasumi was invoking the Rhythmer's Fist. Of course, she knew better, because as sensual, as methodical, as graceful, and as beautiful as Kasumi seemed, she was missing something.
"No drive," Ranma mumbled. Akane looked over at him, to see him studying Kasumi intensely, just as he would an opponent, and looking for flaws in the technique. Looking closer, Akane saw what he was referring to.
Kasumi was dancing, all for herself. The outside world didn't exist beyond the beats that held her captive. Because of that, her focus wasn't sharp, and her movements were almost listless, like a thread in a breeze.
Before any of them realized it, the song was over. Kasumi felt still on high in a way she so sorely missed, allowing it to gradually flow down her, out through her feet, and over the dojo floor to dissipate into the atmousphere.
"Oh.... my," was the first thing Kasumi could say. For a few minutes, she was back in highschool; rebellious, confident, carefree. Before obligations, responsibilities, and guilt forced her to put herself aside, and embrace a different personage. Kasumi smiled, it was good to be back.
With a coy smirk, she glanced sideways at Ranma and her sister," Ranma-kun, mind playing that once more for me?"
"In a bit, Kas', something we gotta talk about, first," Ranma replied, as serious as his personality would let him.
"Oh?" some of Kasumi's confidence faded, before she realized that she couldn't quite be at a hundred percent just yet. But that was okay, with four days and both Ranma and Akane at her side, she wouldn't be long before being unstoppable.
"Kasumi, remember you're in a competition, here. As good as you are, you have to be better... namely better than *her*" Ranma proclaimed, pointing to the drawdown diagram of an obnoxious blonde woman, as Akane tapped the picture once with a pointer.
"I know that, Ranma-kun," Kasumi replied, drolly, "Please get to the point so I can get back to dancing."
"Well, she's got the moxy down," Akane commented, wryly.
Ranma chose to ignore both comments, "You think you're ready to take on some world renouned dancer?"
"I hadn't heard of her until the other evening."
Ranma shrugged at Akane's statment, "Me neither, but she sounds pretty confident in herself."
"Ranma, thank you for your concern, but I think I'll do just fine," Kasumi said sweetly, "Music, please?"
Ranma was pretty sure his warning went clear over her head, or she avidly ignored it. With a snort, Ranma nodded his head, "Fine, you think you're ready? Then I get first shot at you."
Kasumi paused, as Akane's eybrows climbed to her hairline. "Ranma?" Kasumi asked, a bit puzzled by the challenge.
"This is the Anything Goes and Rhythmer's Fist school reps on the line. If you win, you're definently ready. If you lose, you're staying home Friday night and cooking a succulent meal of sauteed and thinly sliced meat."
"Ah..."
At the elder girl's trepidation, Ranma shook his head sadly, "See? And that's why you'll lose. You not competitive enough."
Kasumi frowned, remembering that even in her schooldays, she wasn't the one for conflict. Nikki's challenge was the first she had ever truly viewed as a match of honor, and that was met with naught, "I think I see what you mean."
"Hey, it's alright, tho', because I have just the training regimen for it!" Ranma replied, giving Kasumi a toothy smile.
It was Akane that voiced the sceptisism, "And just what, pray tell, is this miracle training exercise?" The youngest Tendou daughter swore to herself if Ranma had any confidence self-help seminar tapes...
"Relax, in fact, it's something my Pop's came up with, worked perfectly for me!"
Kasumi relaxed at Ranma's smile. She couldn't argue against the fact that Ranma was definitely in the elite hardcore. Whatever training that she was about to undergo would be rigerious, but well worth the results to come...
_________________________
"Father?"
Soun looked up from where he was watching television in the tea room, "Oh, yes, Kasumi dear?"
The eldest of Soun's daughters fidgeted a bit, while wringing her hands. Why, oh why did this seem so difficult? All she had to do was tell her father of her plans, and he would obviously understand! It wasn't as if it were to be the end of the world if he missed his single, favorite, meal of the week. Why, she was sure many restaurants around easily served sukiyaki that rivaled hers!
Filled with a new determination, Kasumi started again, "Father, about this Friday night... I know how you always enjoy my sukiyaki, and..."
Soun's expression beemed a radiant joy just at the mention of said meal, as tears trickled down his cheek, "Kasumi! Oh how I look forward to this week's sukiyaki! It will be quite special!"
Taken aback by the reaction, Kasumi attempted to affirm her resolve, "I'm, um, glad you look forward to it, father, but..."
"You're sukiyaki was always special, it... it even rivaled your dear mother's!" Soun suddenly leapt up, and grabbed Kasumi's shoulders, startling her, "Did you know that this Friday would be the first time your mother cooked for me?"
"Ah..." Without even having to hear the rest of it, Kasumi knew what she was about to be told wasn't going to help her any.
"Yes! When we were courting, she prepared my favorite meal. Do you know what that is, Kasumi dear?"
Kasumi gave a weak smile, "Um... sukiyaki?" Just as it left her mouth, her father pulled her into a crushing hug.
"Kasumi! You make your father proud to know him so well!"
"There... there, father," the girl managed to choke out with what little air she had left in her lungs.
Pulling away from her, but still holding her shoulders firmly, Soun's expression was solumn, "Your mother's dying wish... well... one of them anyways, she had a rather long list of things we'll have to get to later... was when I felt you had reached the pinnicle of your culinary craft, that I was to give you the final step to the Tendou family's secret cooking arts..."
"Tendou... secret cooking arts?"
"Yes, you remember finding your mother's cookbook?" Kasumi nodded, already broken, but willing to endure more punishment of her father's expressive emotions.
"Well, that didn't hold ALL her secrets! Oh no! Come... to my bedroom..."
Before Kasumi could react, she found herself nearly dragged through the house, and was standing in the threshold of her father's room. Soun gleefully pulled out a heavily padlocked box, complete with retinal scan.
"It cost me nearly a fortune, just to ensure Nabiki never accessed this," the Tendou Patriarch commented casually, as the box opened, emitting mist as it did. Kasumi blinked, as the scrolls within seemed to glow etherally. Each one seemed rather old, yet elegently prepared.
Cautiously, Soun lifted the scrolls from the box, "These... are the total sum of the Tendou Clan's cooking techniques. Techniques so renouned, master chefs had saught after them!"
"Ah... I feel... honored, father..." Kasumi mumbled, looking down at the pile her father was placing in her arms. After doing so, he pulled one lone scroll from the pile.
"Kasumi, would you honor your old father with this particular recipe?"
_________________________
Ranma strolled into the kitchen, followed by Akane who kept eyeing him as if she were studying the village idiot. Regardless of how idiotic she thought of this training regimen, she gave her vow to keep the peace.
Kasumi turned to Ranma, looking a bit pale and shellshocked, "H-hello, Ranma."
The pigtailed boy didn't even seem to notice her condition, "Yo, Kas', we're all set to begin your training! By the end of this week, you'll be ready and sketch'n to battle!"
"Um, Ranma, I thank you for all this... but I think that..." Kasumi stopped, as Ranma motioned Akane to bring in the necessary equipment for Kasumi's training. Once she saw, Kasumi forgot all else exept her incredulousness, "N-Nikki?"
Ranma beemed, as the blond woman snorted, and tossed her head to the side, "Kasumi, what a... quaint domicile we have here. You caretake it yourself?"
Kasumi blinked, managing to regain herself, "Um, yes, yes I do."
"Obviously," Nikki replied, "You must not have much time then, to give this place such a rushed effort."
Kasumi closed her eyes, and her smile became a bit hollow, "Pardon?"
Ranma interjected, "Well Kasumi, seeing as how the two of you are old friends, I kinda thought it would be cool if you two got to know each other... for the next couple of days."
"WHAT?" Kasumi nearly screeched, before quickly recovering her composure, "I mean... I'm pretty sure Nikki...chan has a great deal of things to do."
"Much to your fortune, I'm between gigs," Nikki commented, "I think it would be nice if we got to know one another before I prove once and for all I'm your superior." The woman looked around the kitchen, "Let's just do it somewhere other than around here."
Kasumi just smiled as best as she could.
_________________________