'Over the Clouds'
Shampoo sat on the edge of the roof, watching Akane walk through the front entrance of the gate after arriving from school. Since the talk with Kasumi, Shampoo had avoided Akane with much more effort. It wasn't as if she were disgusted with the presence of the girl, it was now more because she wasn't sure how to approach her current objective.
Kasumi plainly was concerned about Akane's behavior. Shampoo may not have liked the girl, but she could understand from the eldest sister's concern that it was most assuradly not the norm.
Akane blew a stray strand of hair from her face as she stopped before the front of her house. The same apprehension she had been experiencing for the past week or so stilled her like a soft, thick barrier between her and the place she called home. Intellectually, she knew it wasn't really there, but her heart knew what radiated that force against her. Ranma was in the Tendou home, the house Akane for all her life had known as home.
Downcrested once again, the youngest member of the Tendou family slowly turned around, and wondered if any of her friends had arrived home yet, or perhaps went to their favorite hangouts.
"Akane!"
The raven haired girl's head shot up at the familiar, and unappreciated voice of her current nemesis. Groaning in resignation, Akane turned fully around in time for Shampoo to land in front of her. "Where Akane going?"
"Glad to see you're using my real name for once," Akane snapped, "And what does it matter where I'm going to you? It's none of your business anyways."
"No, it no my business, but Shampoo talk with Akane. It very important talking."
"Well, I doubt it's all that important," Akane retorted, "I have somewhere I need to be."
"Shampoo go with you then."
Akane glowered, "I don't want you with me! Don't you have a teenager to go babysit or something?"
"You make fun of Ranma?" Shampoo's own eyes narrowed, "Is no good idea."
"Just like it's not a good idea for you three homewreckers to stay here! Why don't you and Mr. Saotome just go? You don't have any business here anyhow!"
"Shampoo gladly leave violent girl, but is no Shampoo choice. Airen make decision to stay, even if Shampoo disagree."
"How convenient," Akane replied over her shoulder, "The three of you probably don't even have a home of your own, so you decide to crash here at our expense. Don't blame yourself at all for it, since it's your 'airen's' decision!"
Akane started to walk off, "If you want to leave, go ahead, and take Ranma with you. You're not 'really' married to Mr. Saotome anyways."
"Take Ranma away from Airen LAST thing Shampoo do," Shampoo stated in a quiet, deadly voice, "Because if Shampoo do, Genma kill Shampoo, and all who get in way. Shampoo never take Ranma away from Airen, because Shampoo know Ranma need Airen too, too much." Shampoo got close to Akane's back, before finishing, "Shampoo no take Ranma from Airen, because Shampoo never... never want breaking up father and boy."
The tone of Shampoo's voice sent chills down Akane's spine. It was a grave seriousness that shattered confidence utterly, leaving only empty bravado in its place. "Whatever," Akane replied, making her voice as strong as she could, "I don't have time for this."
"Shampoo make you have time, then..."
"Oh yea-HEY!" Akane shouted, as she turned around, just in time for Shampoo to snatch her school satchel from her, and leap onto the stone wall surrounding the Tendou home. "GIVE THAT BACK!"
Shampoo pulled her bottom eyelid down with the index finger of her free hand, while sticking out her tongue. After taunting Akane, she ran along the wall, and leapt to the rooftop of one of the nearby homes. Growling in rage, Akane gave chase on the ground.
____________________
Kasumi watched the young Amazon belittle her sister, before taking off, while Akane did her best to follow. Kasumi allowed a frown to cross her face after watching the whole incident. She wasn't sure what was being said, but she decided that she had to trust Shampoo as well as Akane. She knew both of them had great hearts, and a great capacity to care for others; there was no need for them to be at odds. Better still, Kasumi could understand that Shampoo may be able to approach Akane in a way she was hesitant to do. She loved her little sister, and never, ever wanted to bring a grim assertion against Akane. But, if they wanted to truly find what Akane had against Ranma, it would take a great deal of 'tough love' to crack the young girl's prideful shell. That was a kind of strength Kasumi lacked, but one that Shampoo apparently had in large abundance.
"Aunt Kasumi, can I go play with Shampoo and your sister?"
The eldest Tendou daughter whirled around, to find Ranma in girl form, standing behind her with an oblivious, expectant, and hopeful expression. With a nervous smile, Kasumi attempted to regain her composure before addressing the teenage girl, "Ah, how about you help me for a little while in the kitchen, I could use your assistance, Ranma-kun."
Ranma pouted a bit, before giving Kasumi one of her best smiles, "Okay, Kasumi!"
Kasumi nodded, glad to have headed that situation off. It was then that something caught her realization, "Ranma, did you call me 'Aunt'?"
Ranma nodded cheerfully, as she came to stand next to Kasumi. "I told him she should probably start calling you that, you'd appreciate it."
Kasumi turned to give Ryoga a smile, "Why, thank you, Ryoga." She wasn't really sure what to think about Ranma's new title for her, and decided it was the thought that counted most.
Ryoga gave a weak smile and was about to speak again before Ranma interrupted, "What didja want me to do, Aunt Kasumi?"
"Ah," The second time she was called that, Kasumi still wasn't sure how to accept it, "Could you wash these vegetables for me? That's a really important job."
Ranma nodded, before taking the bowl of vegetable to the sink, and running the tap water. Within moments, Ranma was juggling each food item, and methodically rinsing each one off as he kept the others almost always suspended in the air.
"Oh my, he does doe everything exorbantly, doesn't he?" Kasumi whispered, as Ryoga approached her.
The fanged boy chuckled, "Well, to Ranma, everything has to be training... or playing in his case."
"That type of dedication must be what makes him a great martial artist," Kasumi answered, forgetting about her own preparations just to watch the redheaded girl work.
After the long pause, Kasumi turned to look at Ryoga, and found his expression marred with a frown, "Ryoga?"
The frown quickly left his face, "Oh? Sorry, you asked something?"
"Ryoga, is something wrong?" Kasumi enquired, concerned about the sour expression on the seemingly outgoing young man.
The bandanna clad boy sighed, "Nothing, it's nothing, Kasumi."
Kasumi was far from convinced, "Ryoga, could you help me carry something from outside, please?" Ryoga nodded, and was lead to the back yard, past Genma and Soun playing go by the porch. Kasumi lead Ryoga to the other side of the dojo, before turning on him.
"Uh, what did you want me to help you with?"
"Ryoga, what's wrong? And please don't tell me it was nothing."
Ryoga opened his mouth to protest, but paused, before the same frown appeared on his face once again, tainted with a wry resignation, "I guess I wasn't going to hide it forever, huh?" After Kasumi shook her head, Ryoga continued, "I... well, the story about how Ranma and I met... it wasn't all that truthful."
Kasumi raised an eyebrow, but allowed him to continue. Ryoga let out a sigh before doing so, "Truth was, when I first met Ranma, he was so much better than me. At the time, I thought that if I could beat him, just once, that I would then prove that I'm better than him, or at least equal. Yeah, me and Ranma became friends, yeah, he's now like a brother to me, but I still keep thinking, you know?" Ryoga growled, and leaned against the dojo wall they were next to, "I keep thinking, I could still beat him, if I could get just one lucky shot... Right then, at that thought, I realize that's the only way I'll win against Ranma, a lucky shot. Mr. Saotome allows me to go all out against Ranma, because he knows that I couldn't even hurt him on my best day. No matter how hard I train, no matter what techniques I learn, I'm still too far behind Ranma to matter all that much."
Ryoga looked up at Kasumi with ashamed eyes, "I guess that's what you were asking about? I pretty much live to be Ranma's rival, but what does it matter when it's a pointless rivalry? What does it matter if nobody takes it seriously... and what would be the consequences if I do manage to be taken seriously, and worse yet... win?"
"Oh, Ryoga," Kasumi whispered. She couldn't compell herself to comfort him, because the reason for his mood was not truthfully one she could condone. Yet, she didn't want to see him upset, even over something seemingly so trivial and maybe even petty. In the end, she knew Ryoga didn't feel the way he did out of any spite or malice.
Settling for a median, Kasumi put her hand on Ryoga's shoulder in a minimal comfort, "Ryoga, it's alright. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about this." She gave Ryoga a warm smile, before finishing, "After all, Ranma is like a little brother to you, right? Maybe it's just normal for sibling rivalry?"
____________________
Soun had seen his daughter head to the far side of the training hall with the young man Ryoga, and smiled. Maybe his daughter finally took notice in young men? Just then, the front doorbell rang, and since Kasumi was too far from the house to hear it, Soun got up to answer it. After rearranging the board somewhat, Genma went to follow.
"Um, yes, may I help you?" Soun enquired, opening the door to a man in a stone gray business suit with a matching tie and sky blue dress shirt.
The man immidiately spied Genma approaching behind him, and handed the stout martial artist an envelope with an official seal on it, "For you, sir."
While Genma was puzzling over the evelope, the man turned to nod to Soun, "I apologise for any disturbance I caused, have a nice day." With that, he turned, and left without any other fuss.
"Hmm, peculiar," Soun mused, "wouldn't you say, Saotome?" It was then he turned to look at his friend, just as the color was draining from Genma's face, "Saotome?"
Genma looked up from the letter, seeming exeptionally shaken, "It's a court summons..."
Soun's eyebrows climbed at that, but he wasn't all that shocked. Genma may have been his friend and training partner, but he well knew what his character was capable of. Soun presumed Genma would probably leave for a bit, and possibly wait for things to cool down. Unfortunately, that would put a great damper on his plans. "Saotome, I suppose I couldn't talk you into remaining? I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding..."
Genma stared at Soun as if he couldn't hear him, "Nodoka wants Ranma..."
Shampoo sat on the edge of the roof, watching Akane walk through the front entrance of the gate after arriving from school. Since the talk with Kasumi, Shampoo had avoided Akane with much more effort. It wasn't as if she were disgusted with the presence of the girl, it was now more because she wasn't sure how to approach her current objective.
Kasumi plainly was concerned about Akane's behavior. Shampoo may not have liked the girl, but she could understand from the eldest sister's concern that it was most assuradly not the norm.
Akane blew a stray strand of hair from her face as she stopped before the front of her house. The same apprehension she had been experiencing for the past week or so stilled her like a soft, thick barrier between her and the place she called home. Intellectually, she knew it wasn't really there, but her heart knew what radiated that force against her. Ranma was in the Tendou home, the house Akane for all her life had known as home.
Downcrested once again, the youngest member of the Tendou family slowly turned around, and wondered if any of her friends had arrived home yet, or perhaps went to their favorite hangouts.
"Akane!"
The raven haired girl's head shot up at the familiar, and unappreciated voice of her current nemesis. Groaning in resignation, Akane turned fully around in time for Shampoo to land in front of her. "Where Akane going?"
"Glad to see you're using my real name for once," Akane snapped, "And what does it matter where I'm going to you? It's none of your business anyways."
"No, it no my business, but Shampoo talk with Akane. It very important talking."
"Well, I doubt it's all that important," Akane retorted, "I have somewhere I need to be."
"Shampoo go with you then."
Akane glowered, "I don't want you with me! Don't you have a teenager to go babysit or something?"
"You make fun of Ranma?" Shampoo's own eyes narrowed, "Is no good idea."
"Just like it's not a good idea for you three homewreckers to stay here! Why don't you and Mr. Saotome just go? You don't have any business here anyhow!"
"Shampoo gladly leave violent girl, but is no Shampoo choice. Airen make decision to stay, even if Shampoo disagree."
"How convenient," Akane replied over her shoulder, "The three of you probably don't even have a home of your own, so you decide to crash here at our expense. Don't blame yourself at all for it, since it's your 'airen's' decision!"
Akane started to walk off, "If you want to leave, go ahead, and take Ranma with you. You're not 'really' married to Mr. Saotome anyways."
"Take Ranma away from Airen LAST thing Shampoo do," Shampoo stated in a quiet, deadly voice, "Because if Shampoo do, Genma kill Shampoo, and all who get in way. Shampoo never take Ranma away from Airen, because Shampoo know Ranma need Airen too, too much." Shampoo got close to Akane's back, before finishing, "Shampoo no take Ranma from Airen, because Shampoo never... never want breaking up father and boy."
The tone of Shampoo's voice sent chills down Akane's spine. It was a grave seriousness that shattered confidence utterly, leaving only empty bravado in its place. "Whatever," Akane replied, making her voice as strong as she could, "I don't have time for this."
"Shampoo make you have time, then..."
"Oh yea-HEY!" Akane shouted, as she turned around, just in time for Shampoo to snatch her school satchel from her, and leap onto the stone wall surrounding the Tendou home. "GIVE THAT BACK!"
Shampoo pulled her bottom eyelid down with the index finger of her free hand, while sticking out her tongue. After taunting Akane, she ran along the wall, and leapt to the rooftop of one of the nearby homes. Growling in rage, Akane gave chase on the ground.
____________________
Kasumi watched the young Amazon belittle her sister, before taking off, while Akane did her best to follow. Kasumi allowed a frown to cross her face after watching the whole incident. She wasn't sure what was being said, but she decided that she had to trust Shampoo as well as Akane. She knew both of them had great hearts, and a great capacity to care for others; there was no need for them to be at odds. Better still, Kasumi could understand that Shampoo may be able to approach Akane in a way she was hesitant to do. She loved her little sister, and never, ever wanted to bring a grim assertion against Akane. But, if they wanted to truly find what Akane had against Ranma, it would take a great deal of 'tough love' to crack the young girl's prideful shell. That was a kind of strength Kasumi lacked, but one that Shampoo apparently had in large abundance.
"Aunt Kasumi, can I go play with Shampoo and your sister?"
The eldest Tendou daughter whirled around, to find Ranma in girl form, standing behind her with an oblivious, expectant, and hopeful expression. With a nervous smile, Kasumi attempted to regain her composure before addressing the teenage girl, "Ah, how about you help me for a little while in the kitchen, I could use your assistance, Ranma-kun."
Ranma pouted a bit, before giving Kasumi one of her best smiles, "Okay, Kasumi!"
Kasumi nodded, glad to have headed that situation off. It was then that something caught her realization, "Ranma, did you call me 'Aunt'?"
Ranma nodded cheerfully, as she came to stand next to Kasumi. "I told him she should probably start calling you that, you'd appreciate it."
Kasumi turned to give Ryoga a smile, "Why, thank you, Ryoga." She wasn't really sure what to think about Ranma's new title for her, and decided it was the thought that counted most.
Ryoga gave a weak smile and was about to speak again before Ranma interrupted, "What didja want me to do, Aunt Kasumi?"
"Ah," The second time she was called that, Kasumi still wasn't sure how to accept it, "Could you wash these vegetables for me? That's a really important job."
Ranma nodded, before taking the bowl of vegetable to the sink, and running the tap water. Within moments, Ranma was juggling each food item, and methodically rinsing each one off as he kept the others almost always suspended in the air.
"Oh my, he does doe everything exorbantly, doesn't he?" Kasumi whispered, as Ryoga approached her.
The fanged boy chuckled, "Well, to Ranma, everything has to be training... or playing in his case."
"That type of dedication must be what makes him a great martial artist," Kasumi answered, forgetting about her own preparations just to watch the redheaded girl work.
After the long pause, Kasumi turned to look at Ryoga, and found his expression marred with a frown, "Ryoga?"
The frown quickly left his face, "Oh? Sorry, you asked something?"
"Ryoga, is something wrong?" Kasumi enquired, concerned about the sour expression on the seemingly outgoing young man.
The bandanna clad boy sighed, "Nothing, it's nothing, Kasumi."
Kasumi was far from convinced, "Ryoga, could you help me carry something from outside, please?" Ryoga nodded, and was lead to the back yard, past Genma and Soun playing go by the porch. Kasumi lead Ryoga to the other side of the dojo, before turning on him.
"Uh, what did you want me to help you with?"
"Ryoga, what's wrong? And please don't tell me it was nothing."
Ryoga opened his mouth to protest, but paused, before the same frown appeared on his face once again, tainted with a wry resignation, "I guess I wasn't going to hide it forever, huh?" After Kasumi shook her head, Ryoga continued, "I... well, the story about how Ranma and I met... it wasn't all that truthful."
Kasumi raised an eyebrow, but allowed him to continue. Ryoga let out a sigh before doing so, "Truth was, when I first met Ranma, he was so much better than me. At the time, I thought that if I could beat him, just once, that I would then prove that I'm better than him, or at least equal. Yeah, me and Ranma became friends, yeah, he's now like a brother to me, but I still keep thinking, you know?" Ryoga growled, and leaned against the dojo wall they were next to, "I keep thinking, I could still beat him, if I could get just one lucky shot... Right then, at that thought, I realize that's the only way I'll win against Ranma, a lucky shot. Mr. Saotome allows me to go all out against Ranma, because he knows that I couldn't even hurt him on my best day. No matter how hard I train, no matter what techniques I learn, I'm still too far behind Ranma to matter all that much."
Ryoga looked up at Kasumi with ashamed eyes, "I guess that's what you were asking about? I pretty much live to be Ranma's rival, but what does it matter when it's a pointless rivalry? What does it matter if nobody takes it seriously... and what would be the consequences if I do manage to be taken seriously, and worse yet... win?"
"Oh, Ryoga," Kasumi whispered. She couldn't compell herself to comfort him, because the reason for his mood was not truthfully one she could condone. Yet, she didn't want to see him upset, even over something seemingly so trivial and maybe even petty. In the end, she knew Ryoga didn't feel the way he did out of any spite or malice.
Settling for a median, Kasumi put her hand on Ryoga's shoulder in a minimal comfort, "Ryoga, it's alright. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about this." She gave Ryoga a warm smile, before finishing, "After all, Ranma is like a little brother to you, right? Maybe it's just normal for sibling rivalry?"
____________________
Soun had seen his daughter head to the far side of the training hall with the young man Ryoga, and smiled. Maybe his daughter finally took notice in young men? Just then, the front doorbell rang, and since Kasumi was too far from the house to hear it, Soun got up to answer it. After rearranging the board somewhat, Genma went to follow.
"Um, yes, may I help you?" Soun enquired, opening the door to a man in a stone gray business suit with a matching tie and sky blue dress shirt.
The man immidiately spied Genma approaching behind him, and handed the stout martial artist an envelope with an official seal on it, "For you, sir."
While Genma was puzzling over the evelope, the man turned to nod to Soun, "I apologise for any disturbance I caused, have a nice day." With that, he turned, and left without any other fuss.
"Hmm, peculiar," Soun mused, "wouldn't you say, Saotome?" It was then he turned to look at his friend, just as the color was draining from Genma's face, "Saotome?"
Genma looked up from the letter, seeming exeptionally shaken, "It's a court summons..."
Soun's eyebrows climbed at that, but he wasn't all that shocked. Genma may have been his friend and training partner, but he well knew what his character was capable of. Soun presumed Genma would probably leave for a bit, and possibly wait for things to cool down. Unfortunately, that would put a great damper on his plans. "Saotome, I suppose I couldn't talk you into remaining? I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding..."
Genma stared at Soun as if he couldn't hear him, "Nodoka wants Ranma..."