Disclaimer: Isn't it a little obvious that the characters in this story
don't belong to me but to Rumiko Takahashi?
---------------------++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------- --
Chapter 5: (---A little Surprise---)
Ranma breathed in sharply. He'd accidentally knocked into one of the maids. He hurriedly stood up, adjusted himself and brushed his coat.
As it was a maid, Ranma knew that the she would be frightened of what she'd done, having made his lordship trip and fall and all.
Thus, Ranma expected an apology from the lady whom he thought was a meek and shy thing. He thought she would fluster and excuse herself.
That was what he thought and what he expected.
But that was not what he got.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akane mentally growled. This man could be so clumsy as to just walk in front of her, causing her to slip and fall.
Shouldn't he be saying sorry to her now? For having been such a klutz?
Akane stood up and readjusted her cap, which was really turning out to be a nuisance.
She stared at the man before her.
And he stared back at her, as if waiting for something to happen.
Wasn't he supposed to act like a gentleman and apologise to her?
After more staring and time being wasted, Akane was frustrated and irritated.
He definitely wasn't going to excuse his bad behaviour.
Akane leered. She was furious that her precious time had been wasted away (as a thief, time is always precious).
"Watch where you walk, mister!"
She managed to go, "humph" and sweeping her skirt, she strode away.
Now she had to hurry.
Because of that idiotic man, she was going to be late.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Darn, Ranma was extremely late and he knew it.
His lunch was waiting for him and he was making it wait even longer.
Snapping his fingers, Ranma muttered, "I got it!"
He would just jump up onto the roof and enter the lounge through the window!
"Am I smart or what?" Ranma murmured. He walked towards the closest window and pushed it up. Jumping on the roof, he hopped to where he thought the lounge would be situated.
He peeped inside the window, seeing his mother sitting and sipping tea. He knocked on the window, giving his mother the cue to open the window.
"Ranma, what are you doing there?" Nodoka gasped.
"Just didn't want to be late," Ranma grinned. "So what did you want to discuss with me?"
"Wait a moment," Nodoka pulled her son into the room. "She'll be here soon."
Ranma frowned. "Who?"
At that exact moment, a knock sounded on the door.
"Please come in," Nodoka said in a loud, authoritative voice.
The door was pushed open and in came.
The maid.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akane straightened her costume. She was going to meet Lady Nodoka soon and she wanted to look her best.
Raising her hands, Akane rapped the oak door.
"Enter, please," a firm voice replied.
Akane pushed it slightly ajar and entered. She curtsied.
"Good day, milady," she greeted.
"Good day to you," Lady Nodoka saluted back. "Now son, won't you greet her?"
Akane kept her face down at her feet.
"You!" a male voice sounded.
Surprised, Akane looked up and saw the man she'd bumped into earlier.
"You!"
Lady Nodoka smiled. "So you've both met?"
"No! This man here was terribly rude. He tripped me and couldn't bother to apologise to me afterwards!"
"I'm sorry, it's just that I thought you'd behave like the-"
Nodoka cut in sharply. "Is that true, Ranma?"
Ranma hissed to his mother. "I thought she was like the other maids who would apologise furiously, thus, I waited for her to do so. But all she did was make a biting remark and stomp off!"
"I do not stomp off," Akane said crossly, folding her arms.
Nodoka glared at her son. "Son, just be a gentleman and tell her how bad you feel about having hurt her."
"I didn't hurt her but- oh, alright, just to save time and all. Sorry," Ranma growled out.
"Good, now everybody's happy-"
"I'm not," Ranma muttered.
"- and I can announce what I've decided."
Nodoka cleared her throat. "Ahem. As you know, we have a dojo. And now that my dear son is back, we can open it to students. Sazara, after having seen you fight with my dear, dear, dear daughter-in-law today, I've decided that you, along with my son, will be the teachers of the dojo.
"However, you may only use your martial arts skills in that dojo, Sazara, and not to hurt lady Shampoo anymore, understand?"
Akane nodded.
"Is that fine with the both of you? Sazara, being sensei of the dojo, you don't have to do the household chores. All you have to do is be present when the dojo opens and spread your skills to others."
Akane protested softly. "Why must I do it with such and insolent man?"
Nodoka pretended that she didn't hear Akane's remark and continued.
"Since it's fine with the both of you, you may both leave. Thank you."
Akane curtsied once more. "I take my leave now."
She left the room and walked fifty paces away. When she was in another room where she was sure nobody could hear her, Akane let out a loud curse.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"But Mother, must I do it with her?"
"You didn't see her fight today-"
"I did."
"- so you wouldn't know my reasons."
"But-"
Nodoka waved her hand. "Uh-uh!"
"Why-"
"Hush, go along now, your lunch awaits you."
Ranma muttered before leaving the room. "I hardly think I'm in the mood for lunch now."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"But Lady Nodoka, why didn't you ask me instead?" Shampoo asked. She was hurt that her mother-in-law thought her incompetent when it came to martial arts. Instead, Nodoka had to ask the sneaky little bitch.
"I have my reasons, dear Shampoo."
"But-"
Nodoka interrupted the amethyst-eyed girl. "I didn't want you to have rough hands and tired eyes from training all the people who will come. There will be stress and I want you to look perfect when you wed my son."
Shampoo slowly blinked as her words sank in and settled themselves comfortably into her mind. She nodded, understanding that Nodoka was doing everything for he.
"I follow what you mean and I appreciate it very much."
"You're welcome."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Really? Truthfully?"
"Yes," Akane said sadly as she sank onto her bed.
She'd returned from her 'meeting' with Lady Nodoka and had passed on the news to her good friends who were in the room next door. She'd beckoned to them to follow her back to her room and told them the news. They were more exhilarated than Akane herself.
"Congratulations, Sazara-san! I didn't know you had it in you," Saone exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands together again and again, which irritated Akane.
"Don't congratulate me. I hate milady's arrogant son. He bumped into me without apologising."
"What?"
Akane told them another story about the incident which took place before she arrived at the lounge.
"Truly, Sazara, you've got lots of stories to tell us today," Yuka laughed as she scratched her left arm.
"I've got one more," Akane said dramatically, earning her the response of three people leaning in closer to hear her story. "If I don't get out of this mess I've created, I'm going to hang myself."
The others laughed and placed bets on how long it'd take for Akane to kill herself whereas Akane sighed and lay down on her bed, deciding to take a short nap.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I wonder what my poor little Akane is doing right now," Soun sobbed as he popped a creamed cake into his mouth.
Kasumi smiled and tried to assure him. "Don't worry, Father, I'm sure she's doing fine."
"What if somebody tries to hurt her?" he wailed.
"Nobody would do that to Akane. She's a sweet girl," Kasumi said, then contradicted herself. "Except for the fact that she has a bad temper."
"I don't know what to do without my lovely angel!" Soun bawled, then commented happily. "Lovely cake you made."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ranma slurped down his beef and potatoes.
"Wonderful dinner, Mother, most scrumptious."
"I know."
"More wine?" a maid asked.
Nodoka shook her hand and the maid left the room.
"Genma, how's the pickles? Cooked just right?"
"Just right? It's delicious! Even the man with the most satisfied stomach won't be able to resist it."
"Thank you for your compliment, my husband."
Genma's response was the sound of him gulping down some food.
"By the way, Ranma, I've already gotten the students for the dojo. We'll start the day after tomorrow."
Ranma, who was drinking down some soup, choked immediately and coughed.
"On Monday?"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Yes, Sazara, I heard them say that the dojo would be open on Monday."
Akane's heart stopped. Why did they have to open the dojo so early? Monday was just one day away.
"Are you okay, Sazara?" Sayuri asked.
Akane nodded, smiling for a while, when she had her back to her friends, she felt frustration build up in her. Her face screwed up and she clenched her fists.
"Are you sure?" Yuka asked and held her hand up to Akane's forehead. "Seems like you got a fever."
"No, I don't."
"You're right, you don't."
The girls were polishing the stairs and Sayuri had come running for nowhere. She ran towards the stairs and in her haste, tripped and tumbled down on Akane and Yuka.
"Why don't you go to your room and rest, Sazara?" Sayuri suggested. She was concerned about her friend's welfare.
"That's all right," Akane said, changing the subject. "By the way, have any of you heard of the famous opera singer, Kodachi the Black Rose?"
"Kodachi? Oh, you mean Kuno Tatewaki's sister? Kodachi has a great voice. Unfortunately, she's a little crazy. She has only black roses planted in her garden. Her house is full of the creepy flowers," Yuka said, scratching her left arm which was irking her to the brim of cutting off her hand.
"Sadly, her voice doesn't make up that much for her mind. I heard that she paralysed a woman who was giving birth. Luckily, there were doctors who came to the woman's aid and saved both her and her baby," Sayuri gossiped, her eyes growing as big as a fish's. "Kodachi's really beautiful and loves gymnastics a lot. She's an insidious lady and will cheat even to win a battle."
"She sounds so dangerous," Akane said in awe.
Yuka corrected. "She is."
"Sazara, Sayuri, Yuka, time for us to wash the floors!" Saone cried from the end of the room.
"K," the girls answered tiredly as they picked up the buckets and polish and left to clean the floor.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We all know how surprised Akane was to find Yuka and Sayuri at the Saotomes' mansion.
Now imagine how shocked Akane would be if someone she knew and lived with turned up at the Saotomes' mansion one Sunday morning.
That was exactly what happened. What you have to do is guess who turned up.
It turned out to be a great Sunday morning where the sun streamed in through the windows and Akane donned her uniform. She ran quickly to Sayuri's and Yuka's room to wake them. They prepared breakfast (Akane stayed out of the kitchen. All she did was lay out the spoons and forks and cups) and served it to the master and mistress of the house.
Akane even overheard Lady Nodoka talking about having hired another maid to take over Akane's present position.
What Akane didn't know was that the person was from her family. She was walking past the front door, making sure the coats and hats were placed properly. She even greeted Dakeyo happily when she saw the middle-aged butler standing tall and proud.
Akane was waiting patiently for the next Friday to come so that she could have her day off and go home. She wanted to be closer to her family after having been absent for a week.
What she didn't know was that her wish would be granted. She would be closer to her family, all right.
The doorbell rang and Dakeyo rubbed his hands together. "That must be the new maid," he murmured as he presented himself in an orderly manner and answered the door.
Well, now it's time for you, dear reader, to speculate who this ordinary, but wonderful, person is.
Akane was dusting the shelf which held some of the Saotomes' family heirloom. She could hear Dakeyo invite the maid in.
"Welcome, you must be the newcomer. Or 'rookie'," Dakeyo said grandly.
"I am," a very familiar voice said. "Oh, hey Akane. Didn't expect to see you looking so happy here."
Akane gasped, her fingers letting go of the dust mop which clattered to the ground. How did the newbie know her name.
And the sound. It was something she'd heard everyday, something which had been carved into her brain ever since she was born. The voice had a barrier around it, preventing people from understanding much about this person, yet it was warm and comfortable, a soothing music to Akane whenever she was down and feeling blue.
Yet, Akane couldn't quite place where she'd heard it. Perhaps it was because she couldn't believe that that very person was there.
"Who're you?" Akane breathed out from her lips and twirled around to face the person who'd greeted her.
Two hands covered her eyes and stopped her from finding out who the person was.
"Let go of me. Tell me, who are you?"
The voice was sceptical, yet it contained something which sounded like held back laughter.
"You really want to know?"
Akane gasped again. Where'd she heard it before? Come on, Akane had heard it millions- no, billions of time before.
"Yes!"
Akane could feel the person grin.
"If you want me to tell you who I am..."
"What?"
Akane held her breath.
It was time for the revelation.
"then you'll have to..."
"What?" Akane urged. This person sure was wasting time.
"Be patient!" the person scolded, with a hint of laughter in her voice. "You'll have to."
Akane tensed up, waiting to hear what the person wanted.
"Give me one thousand yen."
-----------------------++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------------- ----
A/N: I'm pretty sure you guys guessed who the person was. Sorry for the delay. It's just that school's started and there's a lot of pressure and I can't relax the way I used to.
And the teachers are pretty mean, too. They've given us a math test on our very first math lesson. The whole level must do it. What a way to welcome us back to school. I'm pretty sure I did okay (I didn't really study, okay? Well, none of my friends did) although I realised that I made two stupid mistakes (two! Can you believe it? Two?) and will not get so high marks for the paper.
Oh, and Nodoka here is very much different from the Nodoka in the Ranma ½ television series. But I'm going to make turn into the Nodoka from the Ranma ½ television series near the end. Or maybe not near the end, but the middle. We'll see.
Thank goodness, though, school's not in full swing. Otherwise I'd get tons of hard homework and I wouldn't be able to watch television and surf the Net and have fun typing my story.
Don't know why I'm moaning and groaning and complaining to you guys when it won't do me any good. Well, at least moaning and groaning and complaining keeps me from killing myself ( :p).
Oh, I detest school!
---------------------++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------------- --
Chapter 5: (---A little Surprise---)
Ranma breathed in sharply. He'd accidentally knocked into one of the maids. He hurriedly stood up, adjusted himself and brushed his coat.
As it was a maid, Ranma knew that the she would be frightened of what she'd done, having made his lordship trip and fall and all.
Thus, Ranma expected an apology from the lady whom he thought was a meek and shy thing. He thought she would fluster and excuse herself.
That was what he thought and what he expected.
But that was not what he got.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akane mentally growled. This man could be so clumsy as to just walk in front of her, causing her to slip and fall.
Shouldn't he be saying sorry to her now? For having been such a klutz?
Akane stood up and readjusted her cap, which was really turning out to be a nuisance.
She stared at the man before her.
And he stared back at her, as if waiting for something to happen.
Wasn't he supposed to act like a gentleman and apologise to her?
After more staring and time being wasted, Akane was frustrated and irritated.
He definitely wasn't going to excuse his bad behaviour.
Akane leered. She was furious that her precious time had been wasted away (as a thief, time is always precious).
"Watch where you walk, mister!"
She managed to go, "humph" and sweeping her skirt, she strode away.
Now she had to hurry.
Because of that idiotic man, she was going to be late.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Darn, Ranma was extremely late and he knew it.
His lunch was waiting for him and he was making it wait even longer.
Snapping his fingers, Ranma muttered, "I got it!"
He would just jump up onto the roof and enter the lounge through the window!
"Am I smart or what?" Ranma murmured. He walked towards the closest window and pushed it up. Jumping on the roof, he hopped to where he thought the lounge would be situated.
He peeped inside the window, seeing his mother sitting and sipping tea. He knocked on the window, giving his mother the cue to open the window.
"Ranma, what are you doing there?" Nodoka gasped.
"Just didn't want to be late," Ranma grinned. "So what did you want to discuss with me?"
"Wait a moment," Nodoka pulled her son into the room. "She'll be here soon."
Ranma frowned. "Who?"
At that exact moment, a knock sounded on the door.
"Please come in," Nodoka said in a loud, authoritative voice.
The door was pushed open and in came.
The maid.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akane straightened her costume. She was going to meet Lady Nodoka soon and she wanted to look her best.
Raising her hands, Akane rapped the oak door.
"Enter, please," a firm voice replied.
Akane pushed it slightly ajar and entered. She curtsied.
"Good day, milady," she greeted.
"Good day to you," Lady Nodoka saluted back. "Now son, won't you greet her?"
Akane kept her face down at her feet.
"You!" a male voice sounded.
Surprised, Akane looked up and saw the man she'd bumped into earlier.
"You!"
Lady Nodoka smiled. "So you've both met?"
"No! This man here was terribly rude. He tripped me and couldn't bother to apologise to me afterwards!"
"I'm sorry, it's just that I thought you'd behave like the-"
Nodoka cut in sharply. "Is that true, Ranma?"
Ranma hissed to his mother. "I thought she was like the other maids who would apologise furiously, thus, I waited for her to do so. But all she did was make a biting remark and stomp off!"
"I do not stomp off," Akane said crossly, folding her arms.
Nodoka glared at her son. "Son, just be a gentleman and tell her how bad you feel about having hurt her."
"I didn't hurt her but- oh, alright, just to save time and all. Sorry," Ranma growled out.
"Good, now everybody's happy-"
"I'm not," Ranma muttered.
"- and I can announce what I've decided."
Nodoka cleared her throat. "Ahem. As you know, we have a dojo. And now that my dear son is back, we can open it to students. Sazara, after having seen you fight with my dear, dear, dear daughter-in-law today, I've decided that you, along with my son, will be the teachers of the dojo.
"However, you may only use your martial arts skills in that dojo, Sazara, and not to hurt lady Shampoo anymore, understand?"
Akane nodded.
"Is that fine with the both of you? Sazara, being sensei of the dojo, you don't have to do the household chores. All you have to do is be present when the dojo opens and spread your skills to others."
Akane protested softly. "Why must I do it with such and insolent man?"
Nodoka pretended that she didn't hear Akane's remark and continued.
"Since it's fine with the both of you, you may both leave. Thank you."
Akane curtsied once more. "I take my leave now."
She left the room and walked fifty paces away. When she was in another room where she was sure nobody could hear her, Akane let out a loud curse.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"But Mother, must I do it with her?"
"You didn't see her fight today-"
"I did."
"- so you wouldn't know my reasons."
"But-"
Nodoka waved her hand. "Uh-uh!"
"Why-"
"Hush, go along now, your lunch awaits you."
Ranma muttered before leaving the room. "I hardly think I'm in the mood for lunch now."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"But Lady Nodoka, why didn't you ask me instead?" Shampoo asked. She was hurt that her mother-in-law thought her incompetent when it came to martial arts. Instead, Nodoka had to ask the sneaky little bitch.
"I have my reasons, dear Shampoo."
"But-"
Nodoka interrupted the amethyst-eyed girl. "I didn't want you to have rough hands and tired eyes from training all the people who will come. There will be stress and I want you to look perfect when you wed my son."
Shampoo slowly blinked as her words sank in and settled themselves comfortably into her mind. She nodded, understanding that Nodoka was doing everything for he.
"I follow what you mean and I appreciate it very much."
"You're welcome."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Really? Truthfully?"
"Yes," Akane said sadly as she sank onto her bed.
She'd returned from her 'meeting' with Lady Nodoka and had passed on the news to her good friends who were in the room next door. She'd beckoned to them to follow her back to her room and told them the news. They were more exhilarated than Akane herself.
"Congratulations, Sazara-san! I didn't know you had it in you," Saone exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands together again and again, which irritated Akane.
"Don't congratulate me. I hate milady's arrogant son. He bumped into me without apologising."
"What?"
Akane told them another story about the incident which took place before she arrived at the lounge.
"Truly, Sazara, you've got lots of stories to tell us today," Yuka laughed as she scratched her left arm.
"I've got one more," Akane said dramatically, earning her the response of three people leaning in closer to hear her story. "If I don't get out of this mess I've created, I'm going to hang myself."
The others laughed and placed bets on how long it'd take for Akane to kill herself whereas Akane sighed and lay down on her bed, deciding to take a short nap.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I wonder what my poor little Akane is doing right now," Soun sobbed as he popped a creamed cake into his mouth.
Kasumi smiled and tried to assure him. "Don't worry, Father, I'm sure she's doing fine."
"What if somebody tries to hurt her?" he wailed.
"Nobody would do that to Akane. She's a sweet girl," Kasumi said, then contradicted herself. "Except for the fact that she has a bad temper."
"I don't know what to do without my lovely angel!" Soun bawled, then commented happily. "Lovely cake you made."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ranma slurped down his beef and potatoes.
"Wonderful dinner, Mother, most scrumptious."
"I know."
"More wine?" a maid asked.
Nodoka shook her hand and the maid left the room.
"Genma, how's the pickles? Cooked just right?"
"Just right? It's delicious! Even the man with the most satisfied stomach won't be able to resist it."
"Thank you for your compliment, my husband."
Genma's response was the sound of him gulping down some food.
"By the way, Ranma, I've already gotten the students for the dojo. We'll start the day after tomorrow."
Ranma, who was drinking down some soup, choked immediately and coughed.
"On Monday?"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Yes, Sazara, I heard them say that the dojo would be open on Monday."
Akane's heart stopped. Why did they have to open the dojo so early? Monday was just one day away.
"Are you okay, Sazara?" Sayuri asked.
Akane nodded, smiling for a while, when she had her back to her friends, she felt frustration build up in her. Her face screwed up and she clenched her fists.
"Are you sure?" Yuka asked and held her hand up to Akane's forehead. "Seems like you got a fever."
"No, I don't."
"You're right, you don't."
The girls were polishing the stairs and Sayuri had come running for nowhere. She ran towards the stairs and in her haste, tripped and tumbled down on Akane and Yuka.
"Why don't you go to your room and rest, Sazara?" Sayuri suggested. She was concerned about her friend's welfare.
"That's all right," Akane said, changing the subject. "By the way, have any of you heard of the famous opera singer, Kodachi the Black Rose?"
"Kodachi? Oh, you mean Kuno Tatewaki's sister? Kodachi has a great voice. Unfortunately, she's a little crazy. She has only black roses planted in her garden. Her house is full of the creepy flowers," Yuka said, scratching her left arm which was irking her to the brim of cutting off her hand.
"Sadly, her voice doesn't make up that much for her mind. I heard that she paralysed a woman who was giving birth. Luckily, there were doctors who came to the woman's aid and saved both her and her baby," Sayuri gossiped, her eyes growing as big as a fish's. "Kodachi's really beautiful and loves gymnastics a lot. She's an insidious lady and will cheat even to win a battle."
"She sounds so dangerous," Akane said in awe.
Yuka corrected. "She is."
"Sazara, Sayuri, Yuka, time for us to wash the floors!" Saone cried from the end of the room.
"K," the girls answered tiredly as they picked up the buckets and polish and left to clean the floor.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We all know how surprised Akane was to find Yuka and Sayuri at the Saotomes' mansion.
Now imagine how shocked Akane would be if someone she knew and lived with turned up at the Saotomes' mansion one Sunday morning.
That was exactly what happened. What you have to do is guess who turned up.
It turned out to be a great Sunday morning where the sun streamed in through the windows and Akane donned her uniform. She ran quickly to Sayuri's and Yuka's room to wake them. They prepared breakfast (Akane stayed out of the kitchen. All she did was lay out the spoons and forks and cups) and served it to the master and mistress of the house.
Akane even overheard Lady Nodoka talking about having hired another maid to take over Akane's present position.
What Akane didn't know was that the person was from her family. She was walking past the front door, making sure the coats and hats were placed properly. She even greeted Dakeyo happily when she saw the middle-aged butler standing tall and proud.
Akane was waiting patiently for the next Friday to come so that she could have her day off and go home. She wanted to be closer to her family after having been absent for a week.
What she didn't know was that her wish would be granted. She would be closer to her family, all right.
The doorbell rang and Dakeyo rubbed his hands together. "That must be the new maid," he murmured as he presented himself in an orderly manner and answered the door.
Well, now it's time for you, dear reader, to speculate who this ordinary, but wonderful, person is.
Akane was dusting the shelf which held some of the Saotomes' family heirloom. She could hear Dakeyo invite the maid in.
"Welcome, you must be the newcomer. Or 'rookie'," Dakeyo said grandly.
"I am," a very familiar voice said. "Oh, hey Akane. Didn't expect to see you looking so happy here."
Akane gasped, her fingers letting go of the dust mop which clattered to the ground. How did the newbie know her name.
And the sound. It was something she'd heard everyday, something which had been carved into her brain ever since she was born. The voice had a barrier around it, preventing people from understanding much about this person, yet it was warm and comfortable, a soothing music to Akane whenever she was down and feeling blue.
Yet, Akane couldn't quite place where she'd heard it. Perhaps it was because she couldn't believe that that very person was there.
"Who're you?" Akane breathed out from her lips and twirled around to face the person who'd greeted her.
Two hands covered her eyes and stopped her from finding out who the person was.
"Let go of me. Tell me, who are you?"
The voice was sceptical, yet it contained something which sounded like held back laughter.
"You really want to know?"
Akane gasped again. Where'd she heard it before? Come on, Akane had heard it millions- no, billions of time before.
"Yes!"
Akane could feel the person grin.
"If you want me to tell you who I am..."
"What?"
Akane held her breath.
It was time for the revelation.
"then you'll have to..."
"What?" Akane urged. This person sure was wasting time.
"Be patient!" the person scolded, with a hint of laughter in her voice. "You'll have to."
Akane tensed up, waiting to hear what the person wanted.
"Give me one thousand yen."
-----------------------++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----------------- ----
A/N: I'm pretty sure you guys guessed who the person was. Sorry for the delay. It's just that school's started and there's a lot of pressure and I can't relax the way I used to.
And the teachers are pretty mean, too. They've given us a math test on our very first math lesson. The whole level must do it. What a way to welcome us back to school. I'm pretty sure I did okay (I didn't really study, okay? Well, none of my friends did) although I realised that I made two stupid mistakes (two! Can you believe it? Two?) and will not get so high marks for the paper.
Oh, and Nodoka here is very much different from the Nodoka in the Ranma ½ television series. But I'm going to make turn into the Nodoka from the Ranma ½ television series near the end. Or maybe not near the end, but the middle. We'll see.
Thank goodness, though, school's not in full swing. Otherwise I'd get tons of hard homework and I wouldn't be able to watch television and surf the Net and have fun typing my story.
Don't know why I'm moaning and groaning and complaining to you guys when it won't do me any good. Well, at least moaning and groaning and complaining keeps me from killing myself ( :p).
Oh, I detest school!