'Over the Clouds'
"When did you get the letter?" Genma asked, sitting across the tearoom table from both Ryoga and Ranma. Kasumi remained in the kitchen, preparing the typical social beverage for everyone present. She added a light hint of lemon and jasmine, while focusing a bit more on the conversation in the room beyond.
"Two days ago, sir," the newly-arrived young man replied with a great deal of respect. Kasumi considered the travel-worn garb he was dressed in, and the rather heavy traveling pack he had with him, now currently sitting by the front door. His rugged appearance gave him the look that he was used to long treks, and she wondered just why that was.
"Hmm," Uncle Genma seemed pleased at the reply, "You're getting better. You were at home when it arrived?"
Kasumi imagined him nodding, "I've been careful about concentrating more on where I'm going. I think my parents are pretty proud of me." He was definitely a nice and polite young man, a stark contrast from the initial impression he made. Then again, not many people could be held in a positive light, when they're attacking someone as innocent as Ranma.
Picking up the tray of tea and cookies, Kasumi walked into the dining room, choosing to keep her peace as a proper hostess, regardless of the many questions that came to her.
"Then your trip to the- ah, thank you, Kasumi!" Genma quickly cut himself off, once he noticed the eldest daughter walk in with refreshments.
"Great! Cookies!" Ranma announced, quickly reaching for a handful, before the young man named Ryoga arrested his arm. Ranma gave him an irritated look, which Ryoga returned with a firm headshake.
Kasumi found the sudden silence ackward, as if Genma was avoiding continuing the line of conversation in her presence. After pouring the tea, she sat down across from the two boys, next to Genma on the other side of where her father would be sitting, once he returned.
Once Kasumi was seated, Ryoga picked up a few of the snacks, and handed them to Ranma. The pigtailed boy looked at what was obviously not the full amount he wanted, but resignedly ate them.
Kasumi gave Ryoga a slight bow of her head in thanks, and blinked at the suddenly flustered expression he grew. Kasumi turned to Genma, as he was sipping his tea, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything, please continue." It was a subtle way of getting a couple of her inquiries answered, more than it was a courtesy.
"Well, it's up to Ryoga..." Genma trailed off, looking at the bandanna-clad boy across from him.
Ryoga waved it off, while handing Ranma a couple more cookies, "It's alright, Mr. Saotome." With a humorous snort, Ryoga took a quick sip of his tea, "It's a lot less embarrassing than how my problem used to be. This is good!"
"Thank you," Kasumi replied, before folding her hands in front of her, on the table, "Problem?"
"Ryoga gets lost a lot," Ranma answered for the other boy, before popping another cookie into his mouth. Both Genma and Ryoga somewhat glared at Ranma, realizing no one had given him another cookie.
Ryoga held his glare a bit longer, for having his embarrassment so cavalierly expunged. "Ryoga has an unusual form of spacial/relations disability," Genma clarified, assisting Ryoga from his embarrassment.
With a light smirk showing a slightly elongated canine, Ryoga continued, "The doctors said I have something similar to dyslexia or discalculia, exept with understanding how I percieve directions."
Kasumi tilted her head, finding herself actually rather familiar with the subject. "I think I understand," she started, grasping her ponytail with both hands as it dangled down her shoulder, "So you don't comprehend directions in a proper order?"
Ryoga blinked at the observation, somewhat surprised at its accuracy. "Close, it's more like I confuse directions in relation to where I'm supposed to be." Ryoga seemed to grasp for a proper explanation, "It's like having an idea where you want to head, but not completely knowing where you're starting from. Like I should be going left, but I think I'm already facing left..." Ryoga began to scratch the back of his head, nervously, "Ah, at least that's how it was explained to me..."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Kasumi consoled, feeling as if it were the right thing to do, "but it's good that you've come to terms with your disability."
"Disability? What's this?" Soun enquired, finally returning from his trip to the restroom.
"How is it you met?" Kasumi changed the subject, deciding from the flush Ryoga was developing that it was still a sensitive subject.
_______________________
"What are you doing here, boy?" Genma asked, standing at the door of his rented apartment, looking down at the young boy who had been by a few times.
The fourteen year old scratched his head, "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to bother you again..." Ryoga considered asking the man for directions out of the building, but he looked rather imposing, like a great martial artist.
"This is the fourth time you've been by, boy." Genma announced, "You lost?"
The young man deflated, and nodded sullenly, and silently awaited the usual ridicule he recieved from both peers and adults, though the adults were usually patronizing instead of insulting.
He didn't notice the stern expression on Genma's face, "Where do you live?"
"I have a map..." Ryoga handed the map over to the adult, and looked at the man hopefully.
Genma's eye twitched at the rather simplistic map with Mt. Fuji sitting in the middle, a picture of a pygmie tribe, and the 'x' that marked the location of his home. "Ah..." Genma coughed to regain his composure, "I don't suppose you can tell me your address?"
________________
Ryoga looked at the other boy about his age, wearing a gi like his father. As nervous as he was, he was a bit excited at meeting someone else his age that practice martial arts. His thoughts of introducing himself were interrupted, as Genma squatted down, and spoke.
"Hop onto my back, Ryoga, and make sure you hold on."
"Huh?" Ryoga asked, puzzled at the request.
"I'm going to have to carry you, the way we're going to get there."
"How are we going to get there?" Ryoga enquired. To answer his question, the other boy leapt to the nearest rooftop, after getting bored with just standing around.
Ryoga didn't hesitate to follow, leaving a stunned father behind...
_______________________
"After that, I kinda became Ranma's best friend," Ryoga finished, earning Ranma's nod. "Mr. Saotome thought my direction problem may be some mental... a special problem." Ryoga cupped his cooled cup of tea with both hands, before looking down, and speaking a bit more quietly, "Turns out he was right. Both of my parents have it, so it's hereditary it seems. I've been to a few doctors suggested my Mr. Saotome, and they've helped a bit."
Kasumi looked over Genma and her father, as the latter nodded encouragingly, while the former had a slight smile, as if proud of Ryoga.
"Anyways," Ryoga perked up, "Eventually, we found out that I was probably one of the few people in the world who can take a direct punch from Ranma."
"Can not!" Ranma retorted from his mouthful of cookies.
Kasumi noticed the muffle of Ranma's voice, and looked down at the now empty plate of cookies, "Oh my."
_______________________
"Why won't you try to hit me back?" Ryoga growled, still attempting to lay a hit on his new friend.
Ranma redirected his eyes, sullenly, "Pop told me I can't hit anyone, because I might hurt them really bad."
Ryoga didn't quite understand the way Ranma spoke, sometimes, but never hesitated to stand up for him, if anyone attempted to make fun of him for it. He hated when people ridiculed him about his sense of direction, and hated it just as much to see it happen to anyone else. "Ranma, I doubt you can hurt me," Ryoga replied, finally stopping their sparring session.
Ranma looked dubious, but hopeful, "Really?"
"I'll tell you what," Ryoga started, and crossed his arms over his chest, "hit me in my guard. That way, if it does hurt, It won't be so bad."
After a few moments, and a hesitant nod, Ranma pulled back his fist...
_______________________
"I arrived just in time to see Ryoga sliding back, and into a brick wall," Genma continued. Took me a while to get over the shock, but Ryoga's probably one of the toughest martial artists you can find."
"Indeed," Soun commented, "truly it is a valuable gift to any true martial artist to be blessed with such durability."
Kasumi barely held back a giggle, once she realized why Ryoga's expression remained flushed. She refrained from interrupting anyone, while she stood up, and headed to the hall cabinet. She returned moments later to find Ryoga arguing still with Ranma about taking a full punch from the pigtailed boy, and handed him the container she was carrying.
"Ranma-ku...chan, would you mind taking Ryoga to the bathroom?"
Ryoga was about to reply that he didn't need to go, before looking at the container of deep bruise healing salve Kasumi had given him. "Thank you," he mouthed gratefully, before ushering Ranma to lead the way
"When did you get the letter?" Genma asked, sitting across the tearoom table from both Ryoga and Ranma. Kasumi remained in the kitchen, preparing the typical social beverage for everyone present. She added a light hint of lemon and jasmine, while focusing a bit more on the conversation in the room beyond.
"Two days ago, sir," the newly-arrived young man replied with a great deal of respect. Kasumi considered the travel-worn garb he was dressed in, and the rather heavy traveling pack he had with him, now currently sitting by the front door. His rugged appearance gave him the look that he was used to long treks, and she wondered just why that was.
"Hmm," Uncle Genma seemed pleased at the reply, "You're getting better. You were at home when it arrived?"
Kasumi imagined him nodding, "I've been careful about concentrating more on where I'm going. I think my parents are pretty proud of me." He was definitely a nice and polite young man, a stark contrast from the initial impression he made. Then again, not many people could be held in a positive light, when they're attacking someone as innocent as Ranma.
Picking up the tray of tea and cookies, Kasumi walked into the dining room, choosing to keep her peace as a proper hostess, regardless of the many questions that came to her.
"Then your trip to the- ah, thank you, Kasumi!" Genma quickly cut himself off, once he noticed the eldest daughter walk in with refreshments.
"Great! Cookies!" Ranma announced, quickly reaching for a handful, before the young man named Ryoga arrested his arm. Ranma gave him an irritated look, which Ryoga returned with a firm headshake.
Kasumi found the sudden silence ackward, as if Genma was avoiding continuing the line of conversation in her presence. After pouring the tea, she sat down across from the two boys, next to Genma on the other side of where her father would be sitting, once he returned.
Once Kasumi was seated, Ryoga picked up a few of the snacks, and handed them to Ranma. The pigtailed boy looked at what was obviously not the full amount he wanted, but resignedly ate them.
Kasumi gave Ryoga a slight bow of her head in thanks, and blinked at the suddenly flustered expression he grew. Kasumi turned to Genma, as he was sipping his tea, "I hope I didn't interrupt anything, please continue." It was a subtle way of getting a couple of her inquiries answered, more than it was a courtesy.
"Well, it's up to Ryoga..." Genma trailed off, looking at the bandanna-clad boy across from him.
Ryoga waved it off, while handing Ranma a couple more cookies, "It's alright, Mr. Saotome." With a humorous snort, Ryoga took a quick sip of his tea, "It's a lot less embarrassing than how my problem used to be. This is good!"
"Thank you," Kasumi replied, before folding her hands in front of her, on the table, "Problem?"
"Ryoga gets lost a lot," Ranma answered for the other boy, before popping another cookie into his mouth. Both Genma and Ryoga somewhat glared at Ranma, realizing no one had given him another cookie.
Ryoga held his glare a bit longer, for having his embarrassment so cavalierly expunged. "Ryoga has an unusual form of spacial/relations disability," Genma clarified, assisting Ryoga from his embarrassment.
With a light smirk showing a slightly elongated canine, Ryoga continued, "The doctors said I have something similar to dyslexia or discalculia, exept with understanding how I percieve directions."
Kasumi tilted her head, finding herself actually rather familiar with the subject. "I think I understand," she started, grasping her ponytail with both hands as it dangled down her shoulder, "So you don't comprehend directions in a proper order?"
Ryoga blinked at the observation, somewhat surprised at its accuracy. "Close, it's more like I confuse directions in relation to where I'm supposed to be." Ryoga seemed to grasp for a proper explanation, "It's like having an idea where you want to head, but not completely knowing where you're starting from. Like I should be going left, but I think I'm already facing left..." Ryoga began to scratch the back of his head, nervously, "Ah, at least that's how it was explained to me..."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Kasumi consoled, feeling as if it were the right thing to do, "but it's good that you've come to terms with your disability."
"Disability? What's this?" Soun enquired, finally returning from his trip to the restroom.
"How is it you met?" Kasumi changed the subject, deciding from the flush Ryoga was developing that it was still a sensitive subject.
_______________________
"What are you doing here, boy?" Genma asked, standing at the door of his rented apartment, looking down at the young boy who had been by a few times.
The fourteen year old scratched his head, "Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to bother you again..." Ryoga considered asking the man for directions out of the building, but he looked rather imposing, like a great martial artist.
"This is the fourth time you've been by, boy." Genma announced, "You lost?"
The young man deflated, and nodded sullenly, and silently awaited the usual ridicule he recieved from both peers and adults, though the adults were usually patronizing instead of insulting.
He didn't notice the stern expression on Genma's face, "Where do you live?"
"I have a map..." Ryoga handed the map over to the adult, and looked at the man hopefully.
Genma's eye twitched at the rather simplistic map with Mt. Fuji sitting in the middle, a picture of a pygmie tribe, and the 'x' that marked the location of his home. "Ah..." Genma coughed to regain his composure, "I don't suppose you can tell me your address?"
________________
Ryoga looked at the other boy about his age, wearing a gi like his father. As nervous as he was, he was a bit excited at meeting someone else his age that practice martial arts. His thoughts of introducing himself were interrupted, as Genma squatted down, and spoke.
"Hop onto my back, Ryoga, and make sure you hold on."
"Huh?" Ryoga asked, puzzled at the request.
"I'm going to have to carry you, the way we're going to get there."
"How are we going to get there?" Ryoga enquired. To answer his question, the other boy leapt to the nearest rooftop, after getting bored with just standing around.
Ryoga didn't hesitate to follow, leaving a stunned father behind...
_______________________
"After that, I kinda became Ranma's best friend," Ryoga finished, earning Ranma's nod. "Mr. Saotome thought my direction problem may be some mental... a special problem." Ryoga cupped his cooled cup of tea with both hands, before looking down, and speaking a bit more quietly, "Turns out he was right. Both of my parents have it, so it's hereditary it seems. I've been to a few doctors suggested my Mr. Saotome, and they've helped a bit."
Kasumi looked over Genma and her father, as the latter nodded encouragingly, while the former had a slight smile, as if proud of Ryoga.
"Anyways," Ryoga perked up, "Eventually, we found out that I was probably one of the few people in the world who can take a direct punch from Ranma."
"Can not!" Ranma retorted from his mouthful of cookies.
Kasumi noticed the muffle of Ranma's voice, and looked down at the now empty plate of cookies, "Oh my."
_______________________
"Why won't you try to hit me back?" Ryoga growled, still attempting to lay a hit on his new friend.
Ranma redirected his eyes, sullenly, "Pop told me I can't hit anyone, because I might hurt them really bad."
Ryoga didn't quite understand the way Ranma spoke, sometimes, but never hesitated to stand up for him, if anyone attempted to make fun of him for it. He hated when people ridiculed him about his sense of direction, and hated it just as much to see it happen to anyone else. "Ranma, I doubt you can hurt me," Ryoga replied, finally stopping their sparring session.
Ranma looked dubious, but hopeful, "Really?"
"I'll tell you what," Ryoga started, and crossed his arms over his chest, "hit me in my guard. That way, if it does hurt, It won't be so bad."
After a few moments, and a hesitant nod, Ranma pulled back his fist...
_______________________
"I arrived just in time to see Ryoga sliding back, and into a brick wall," Genma continued. Took me a while to get over the shock, but Ryoga's probably one of the toughest martial artists you can find."
"Indeed," Soun commented, "truly it is a valuable gift to any true martial artist to be blessed with such durability."
Kasumi barely held back a giggle, once she realized why Ryoga's expression remained flushed. She refrained from interrupting anyone, while she stood up, and headed to the hall cabinet. She returned moments later to find Ryoga arguing still with Ranma about taking a full punch from the pigtailed boy, and handed him the container she was carrying.
"Ranma-ku...chan, would you mind taking Ryoga to the bathroom?"
Ryoga was about to reply that he didn't need to go, before looking at the container of deep bruise healing salve Kasumi had given him. "Thank you," he mouthed gratefully, before ushering Ranma to lead the way