Chapter Four
"Is Akane awake yet?" Ranma asked Nabiki after settling Siri with the rice balls from Ryoga.
"No. And I'm holding you reponsible!" Soun Tendo bellowed. "How can you let this happen?!" He was glaring at his future son in law.
Ranma sighed. "I knew I was going to be blamed for this! She's the one who trusted Shampoo!" He sat down and watched over Siri. "Least I can do this right."
"Yeah right." His father, who was in his panda form as usual held up a sign. He bent over writing another one. "By tomorrow, you'll have the child currupted."
"Shut up, will ya?!" Ranma glared at him. "I'm doing better than Ryoga was! He let her turn him into pig!"
"More pwease?" Siri held up her bowl, bringing Ranma's attention back to her. Her beautiful brown eyes looked up at the sixteen-year-old expectantly.
"I'm sorry. That's all there was." Ranma told her slowly. "I can maybe get you something else...." He was at a loss as to what to do with the four-year-old martial artist.
"Maybe she'd like to watch some cartoons or something." Kasumi Tendo suggested. "Nabiki is in the living room. I'll get her to turn the tv set on."
Ranma nodded, then looked down in surprise. Siri had fallen asleep with her little arms wrapped around his leg. "Well...." He picked her up,and laid her head on his shoulder. "Nevermind,Kasumi! She fell asleep."
He carried her into Akane's room. His fiancee to be was awake now, brushing out her hair. "Hey....."
"Oh. Ranma. I don't know what came over me. I just felt so tired all of a sudden." Akane smiled at the sight in her mirror. Ranma had the girl Siri in her arms. "How is she doing??"
"Pretty good,I guess. Ryoga was having difficulty with her,so I decided to take her overnight. Can she sleep on the floor beside your bed?"
"Well....uh.sure,I guess." Akane smiled again. "I might even a have a long shirt she can sleep in." Akane moved to get her a shirt. "I heard Mousse is now involved with her."
"Yeah,well...." Ranma muttered. The truth was, Ranma was already finding himself attached to the little girl.
"Ranma? You're not getting attached to her,are you?" Akane held out a shirt to him. Her eyes were playful with amusement.
"No way! I'm just trying to teach Ryoga how to be responsible!"
"Uh huh." The youngest Tendo went to the door. "I'll be out here."
Ranma watched her go, muttering. "Feh......" He changed Siri into her night shirt, and after making bed for her, laid her down. "So what if I am? It's not a big deal." He smiled to himself, leaving the room.
"Mousse? What you doing?" Shampoo had been watching Mousse work on a small kimono for hours,before finally deciding to ask his intentions.
"This is for that girl, Siri. She needs more protective clothing." Mousse held it up for Shampoo, so she could get a better look.
"It's nice made." Shampoo complimented. "I no idea you could sew." She put some pasteries in a basket. "Any case, you looking after her?" She wondered how Mousse could do that, if he could barely see.
"No, sadly. Ryoga came and took her away. But I will at least offer this as a gift. " He went back to work. Shampoo's talking to me! She really is. Maybe now I can ask her.......
"Mousse?" Shampoo was staring at him thoughtfully. "Would you like go date with Shampoo?"
Mousse's mouth nearly hung open. Did my beloved just ask me out?! This a dream! Why would she ask me out? "O-of course I would!" He moved to take her hands in his. "Does this mean you will finally let me be yours?"
Kong! Shampoo hit him over the head with a pot. "I say date, no steady! I only doing this make Ranma jealous. So we have date. Is okay?"
"S-sure...." Mousse was crestfallen though. He'd thought Shampoo sincerely wanted to go out wih him. As long as Ranma's around, that's never going to happen! I'll just have to beat him! His eyes narrowed,as he set the small kimono aside. It would have to wait. Ranma was about to get what was his!