'Over the Clouds'
Akane shifted nervously, as she finally dropped her eyes from the intense stare Shampoo was giving her. After what seemed like eons of dead, voided silence, Shampoo spoke.
"You... come with Shampoo, we have much important talking."
Akane managed to gain her voice, "Huh? About what?"
Shampoo shifted her eyes back to the house, "Ranma."
"What about that jerk!"
Shampoo's face darkened. Akane felt nerves tighten in her back, like they were shriveling up, as the hairs on the nape of her neck began to stand on end. It was quite obvious to her, the Amazon was angry.
The youngest Tendou daughter stepped back, nervously, as Shampoo went into stance. "You want violent fighting? Shampoo provide to violent, pig-head girl."
Akane would have bristled at the challenge, but something about the menace in the other girl's voice warned her off. "I'm done with my workout," Akane stated in almost dismissal.
"If we no fight, we is talking, then." Akane realized that Shampoo would brook no argument.
"Whatever."
____________________
Shampoo sipped from her tea, not looking at the other two girls with her. That allowed Akane to silently fume in outrage, while Kasumi folded her hands nervously over one another. The latter wanted to talk to Shampoo about Ranma, but found the current tension a bit to much to her disliking.
Finally, after managing to calm down, Shampoo brushed the carefully tended lavender locks from the sides back into place, and started, "Ranma is no fighter. Ranma no learn art to fight."
Even with the broken Japanese, Akane caught the meaning, which threw her off-guard, "What do you mean? If he's learning to fight-"
"Ranma no learning to fight, Ranma learn art." Shampoo put her mug down, and prepared to explain the situation as simply as possible to the youngest Tendou. She internally frowned at her horrendous Japanese; hoping it wouldn't make the situation too difficult, "In village, young begin learn art by playing. Once elder warriors take apprentice, they learn art for battle. Ranma like young in village, learn art as game, is only game to Ranma."
"This is all a game to him?" Akane was beginning to seethe again; finding impudence in the attitude Ranma carried for such a serious concept. Such contempt for the cherished Anything Goes School of Martial Arts should not be tolerated.
"Is what Shampoo say?" the Amazon retorted, staring hard and disapproving at Akane.
"Akane-chan, maybe we should let Shampoo finish," Kasumi interjected, not wanting hostilities to be developed in her home, and curious to find out more about the Saotome boy.
Shampoo gave Kasumi a nod of gratitude, "Husband teach Ranma art, but Ranma no understand what it for. He enj-eng... like showing art to peoples. He also like showing people how to play game." Shampoo looked directly into Akane's eyes, and the other girl returned the stare in challenge. "Genma tell Shampoo that it thing that make Ranma happiest. You no take away by *fighting* Ranma, or husband, and Shampoo, make you pay too, too much."
Akane slammed her palms into the table, almost rising to standing, "I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS!!!"
"Akane, please, calm down," Kasumi urged. Her youngest sister's temper was coming to the fore, making an already tense situation a serious powder-keg.
"BUT SHE'S THREATENING ME! IN OUR OWN HOUSE!!!"
"And you were intending to harm Ranma, from the sound of it," Kasumi retorted with a firm disapproval. Akane baulked at the tone, finding it well too similar to her departed mother's. Akane had only heard it from Kasumi a scant few times, and it was usually directed towards Nabiki.
Kasumi relaxed herself, and in a lighter voice, continued to chide her sister, "Akane, remember that Ranma is a guest of our house, and he should be treated with the utmost respect, even if you... don't understand him."
"I understand the idiot fine!" Akane grumbled under her breath, while not meeting the face of her oldest sister. Kasumi's glare went noticed only by Shampoo.
"I apologise for her," Kasumi said to Shampoo, "She has some difficulties of her own that make this all hard for her." Kasumi took a deep breath, knowing that she would have to appease both sides for even a tentative peace to reside, "And I'm afraid that Akane's behavior may be a bit stringent, I can't condone threats to any member of my family."
"Shampoo understand. Until she control herself, she no be near Ranma." Kasumi internally sighed, realizing that she wouldn't be able to resolve this conflict in the immidiate future. The eldest Tendou daughter decided that the current resolution would have to do.
Akane snorted, "I have homework I need to finish," with that, she stood up, and left the room.
Kasumi was thankful that she didn't have to look for a tactful way of dismissing her sister, so that she could talk alone with Shampoo. She prided herself on the ability to make it seem so easy, as Nabiki would constantly note to her; she thought it was her greatest weapon for keeping her family under control.
After watching Akane leave, Kasumi turned to address Shampoo, who was quietly simmering in her own irritation, while simultaniously attempting to calm down, "Shampoo, if I may, I wanted to ask you about a few things."
The lavender-haired girl looked up, as if remembering the other girl was still there, "Is okay. Ask Shampoo what nice-girl want."
Kasumi nodded graciously, "Well, I have to admit, I admire you, Shampoo."
The Amazon tilted her head to the side, as if it were an obvious thing to do, "Shampoo is of strong womens, but thank Kasumi for compli- compi... nice words."
"It's just that, taking care of Ranma must be a stress for you, especially when he isn't your own child," Kasumi avoided addressing Shampoo's age. She wasn't sure if it would be a sore spot to touch upon, and decided she wanted to stay on the other girl's good graces by playing it safe.
From the way Shampoo's eyes were narrowing, something had gone wrong somewhere. "Ranma is Shampoo own child," the young girl replied with great adimance, "Shampoo pledge to care and protect Ranma as if from Shampoo own."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," Kasumi hastefully replied, becoming slightly flustered, "I wanted to know how you adapted so well to being Ranma's mother." Kasumi thought it would be harder to state the relationship that Shampoo nominally held with Ranma, but surprisingly found no hesitation when she said it.
Shampoo sighed, and put her tea down, "Shampoo first defeat by airen, she no happy at all. Give kiss of marriage to mans too, too older than Shampoo, great hurt on pride. Great-grandmother tell Shampoo no have choice, she take Genma as strong husband. Shampoo become angry when realize she also now have son from husband, son old as Shampoo."
The lavender haired girl looked down at the table with a sorrowful expression, "Great-grandmother say Shampoo learn much humiliation from this. Great-grandmother convince husband no wrong, and apologise for villiage, and ask him stay in villiage where they show many technique. That get husband to agree, while Great-Grandmother get him use to idea that Shampoo wife. Husband stubborn about idea, but stay in village because Ranma enjoy learning from Great-Grandmother." Shampoo gave a humorous sniff, "Great-Grandmother enjoy teach Ranma too, too much. When Ranma no learning from Great-Grandmother, he with father."
Kasumi was convinced, and awed at the display of emotions that danced through Shampoo's face as she recounted the past. Apparently the girl had done a great deal of growing up for her current role.
"Shampoo watch husband with son, and surprise at how much airen care for Ranma. It like he no have anything in life but Ranma, and Shampoo realize, Genma good husband, because he care for children well. Shampoo see many sisters marry mans who too, too arrogant to take care of child. Genma many time older than Shampoo, but Genma better than those mans. Shampoo learn from Genma and Great-Grandmother what it is to care for childs when Shampoo is still child. Ranma help teach Shampoo too, and Shampoo learn much from all."
"Shampoo still no understand why Great-Grandmother tell Shampoo she learn great humiliation. She no feel regret, and very happy." The lavender haired girl gave a light, uncertain smile to the woman who was now sitting across the table from her.
Kasumi reached her hands out, and overlayed them onto Shampoo's hand that was not holding her mug of tea. "I think the word you're looking for is 'humility', Shampoo."
It was another surprise, to find herself looking up to a girl younger than her as a role model.
____________________
Akane stood in the hallway, partially hidden from the living room, watching Ranma play videogames. With narrowed eyes and sour expression, she contemplated the pigtailed boy, his father, and the foreigner girl's stay at their home.
The youngest Tendou daughter didn't understand why her sister was siding with them, and wasn't sure what Nabiki's stance was about all this, but she knew that she should be able to get through to her father. If she could make him understand the madness that he was currently allowing, surely they wouldn't be around for too much longer.
She continued to watch Ranma, contently intrigued with the interactive polygons and sprites moving across the screen.
Akane shifted nervously, as she finally dropped her eyes from the intense stare Shampoo was giving her. After what seemed like eons of dead, voided silence, Shampoo spoke.
"You... come with Shampoo, we have much important talking."
Akane managed to gain her voice, "Huh? About what?"
Shampoo shifted her eyes back to the house, "Ranma."
"What about that jerk!"
Shampoo's face darkened. Akane felt nerves tighten in her back, like they were shriveling up, as the hairs on the nape of her neck began to stand on end. It was quite obvious to her, the Amazon was angry.
The youngest Tendou daughter stepped back, nervously, as Shampoo went into stance. "You want violent fighting? Shampoo provide to violent, pig-head girl."
Akane would have bristled at the challenge, but something about the menace in the other girl's voice warned her off. "I'm done with my workout," Akane stated in almost dismissal.
"If we no fight, we is talking, then." Akane realized that Shampoo would brook no argument.
"Whatever."
____________________
Shampoo sipped from her tea, not looking at the other two girls with her. That allowed Akane to silently fume in outrage, while Kasumi folded her hands nervously over one another. The latter wanted to talk to Shampoo about Ranma, but found the current tension a bit to much to her disliking.
Finally, after managing to calm down, Shampoo brushed the carefully tended lavender locks from the sides back into place, and started, "Ranma is no fighter. Ranma no learn art to fight."
Even with the broken Japanese, Akane caught the meaning, which threw her off-guard, "What do you mean? If he's learning to fight-"
"Ranma no learning to fight, Ranma learn art." Shampoo put her mug down, and prepared to explain the situation as simply as possible to the youngest Tendou. She internally frowned at her horrendous Japanese; hoping it wouldn't make the situation too difficult, "In village, young begin learn art by playing. Once elder warriors take apprentice, they learn art for battle. Ranma like young in village, learn art as game, is only game to Ranma."
"This is all a game to him?" Akane was beginning to seethe again; finding impudence in the attitude Ranma carried for such a serious concept. Such contempt for the cherished Anything Goes School of Martial Arts should not be tolerated.
"Is what Shampoo say?" the Amazon retorted, staring hard and disapproving at Akane.
"Akane-chan, maybe we should let Shampoo finish," Kasumi interjected, not wanting hostilities to be developed in her home, and curious to find out more about the Saotome boy.
Shampoo gave Kasumi a nod of gratitude, "Husband teach Ranma art, but Ranma no understand what it for. He enj-eng... like showing art to peoples. He also like showing people how to play game." Shampoo looked directly into Akane's eyes, and the other girl returned the stare in challenge. "Genma tell Shampoo that it thing that make Ranma happiest. You no take away by *fighting* Ranma, or husband, and Shampoo, make you pay too, too much."
Akane slammed her palms into the table, almost rising to standing, "I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THIS!!!"
"Akane, please, calm down," Kasumi urged. Her youngest sister's temper was coming to the fore, making an already tense situation a serious powder-keg.
"BUT SHE'S THREATENING ME! IN OUR OWN HOUSE!!!"
"And you were intending to harm Ranma, from the sound of it," Kasumi retorted with a firm disapproval. Akane baulked at the tone, finding it well too similar to her departed mother's. Akane had only heard it from Kasumi a scant few times, and it was usually directed towards Nabiki.
Kasumi relaxed herself, and in a lighter voice, continued to chide her sister, "Akane, remember that Ranma is a guest of our house, and he should be treated with the utmost respect, even if you... don't understand him."
"I understand the idiot fine!" Akane grumbled under her breath, while not meeting the face of her oldest sister. Kasumi's glare went noticed only by Shampoo.
"I apologise for her," Kasumi said to Shampoo, "She has some difficulties of her own that make this all hard for her." Kasumi took a deep breath, knowing that she would have to appease both sides for even a tentative peace to reside, "And I'm afraid that Akane's behavior may be a bit stringent, I can't condone threats to any member of my family."
"Shampoo understand. Until she control herself, she no be near Ranma." Kasumi internally sighed, realizing that she wouldn't be able to resolve this conflict in the immidiate future. The eldest Tendou daughter decided that the current resolution would have to do.
Akane snorted, "I have homework I need to finish," with that, she stood up, and left the room.
Kasumi was thankful that she didn't have to look for a tactful way of dismissing her sister, so that she could talk alone with Shampoo. She prided herself on the ability to make it seem so easy, as Nabiki would constantly note to her; she thought it was her greatest weapon for keeping her family under control.
After watching Akane leave, Kasumi turned to address Shampoo, who was quietly simmering in her own irritation, while simultaniously attempting to calm down, "Shampoo, if I may, I wanted to ask you about a few things."
The lavender-haired girl looked up, as if remembering the other girl was still there, "Is okay. Ask Shampoo what nice-girl want."
Kasumi nodded graciously, "Well, I have to admit, I admire you, Shampoo."
The Amazon tilted her head to the side, as if it were an obvious thing to do, "Shampoo is of strong womens, but thank Kasumi for compli- compi... nice words."
"It's just that, taking care of Ranma must be a stress for you, especially when he isn't your own child," Kasumi avoided addressing Shampoo's age. She wasn't sure if it would be a sore spot to touch upon, and decided she wanted to stay on the other girl's good graces by playing it safe.
From the way Shampoo's eyes were narrowing, something had gone wrong somewhere. "Ranma is Shampoo own child," the young girl replied with great adimance, "Shampoo pledge to care and protect Ranma as if from Shampoo own."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," Kasumi hastefully replied, becoming slightly flustered, "I wanted to know how you adapted so well to being Ranma's mother." Kasumi thought it would be harder to state the relationship that Shampoo nominally held with Ranma, but surprisingly found no hesitation when she said it.
Shampoo sighed, and put her tea down, "Shampoo first defeat by airen, she no happy at all. Give kiss of marriage to mans too, too older than Shampoo, great hurt on pride. Great-grandmother tell Shampoo no have choice, she take Genma as strong husband. Shampoo become angry when realize she also now have son from husband, son old as Shampoo."
The lavender haired girl looked down at the table with a sorrowful expression, "Great-grandmother say Shampoo learn much humiliation from this. Great-grandmother convince husband no wrong, and apologise for villiage, and ask him stay in villiage where they show many technique. That get husband to agree, while Great-Grandmother get him use to idea that Shampoo wife. Husband stubborn about idea, but stay in village because Ranma enjoy learning from Great-Grandmother." Shampoo gave a humorous sniff, "Great-Grandmother enjoy teach Ranma too, too much. When Ranma no learning from Great-Grandmother, he with father."
Kasumi was convinced, and awed at the display of emotions that danced through Shampoo's face as she recounted the past. Apparently the girl had done a great deal of growing up for her current role.
"Shampoo watch husband with son, and surprise at how much airen care for Ranma. It like he no have anything in life but Ranma, and Shampoo realize, Genma good husband, because he care for children well. Shampoo see many sisters marry mans who too, too arrogant to take care of child. Genma many time older than Shampoo, but Genma better than those mans. Shampoo learn from Genma and Great-Grandmother what it is to care for childs when Shampoo is still child. Ranma help teach Shampoo too, and Shampoo learn much from all."
"Shampoo still no understand why Great-Grandmother tell Shampoo she learn great humiliation. She no feel regret, and very happy." The lavender haired girl gave a light, uncertain smile to the woman who was now sitting across the table from her.
Kasumi reached her hands out, and overlayed them onto Shampoo's hand that was not holding her mug of tea. "I think the word you're looking for is 'humility', Shampoo."
It was another surprise, to find herself looking up to a girl younger than her as a role model.
____________________
Akane stood in the hallway, partially hidden from the living room, watching Ranma play videogames. With narrowed eyes and sour expression, she contemplated the pigtailed boy, his father, and the foreigner girl's stay at their home.
The youngest Tendou daughter didn't understand why her sister was siding with them, and wasn't sure what Nabiki's stance was about all this, but she knew that she should be able to get through to her father. If she could make him understand the madness that he was currently allowing, surely they wouldn't be around for too much longer.
She continued to watch Ranma, contently intrigued with the interactive polygons and sprites moving across the screen.