Suzu: -appears dressed as pirate- Yo ho maties! Here's Chap. numba 7! Ahead all to starbord! Ahead we go!
Antwone: -appears embarrased- Suzu... please stop... You're embarassing me AND you're frightening the public! -points at scared public-
Suzu: Ye tellin' me what to do matie?
Antwone: -Grabs Suzu and ties her to a chair with a blindfold over her mouth- Sorry about that. So yea. Here's chapter 7!
Suzu: Mhhh! mhhhfff! hhhffmmmm! -struggles-
Antwone: -giggles- You're right, I did forget! So yeah, how many times do we have to repeat that the reason why the summary is written that way is because we can't fit all the ideas in one minuscule space? It's not OUR fault that they don't leave a big enough space!
Suzu: Ffffhfhhhh! Mhhfhff mmmm!
Antwone: Indeed, Suzu, we did change it... but it pies me off that we had to change it! I mean, common, you'd think it's obvious enough that the summary doesn't show how you write your story... Then again, some people are just... -let's out exasperated sigh-
00Meanwhile, Suzu undid her hands and is undoing her legs from the chair in Antwone's back00
Antwone: So anyways... For those of you complaining about the fcking summary, I fixed it. God if you would've listened, we said our story WASN'T as bad as the summary! And if you're so repulsed by the fcking thing in the first place, then don't leave a review saying so! I'm tired of people btching because they don't read the story because it has a bad summary, and then leave a review about it! And no one was even nice about it! I can understand if someone was like 'Your summary is a bit confusing, can you fix it?' But no. We got shtty reviews because people and their lack of courtesies today. I'm sorry if I sound very rude, but you have to understand, our story isn't bad, well I don't think it is anyway, and we get horrible reviews because of the summary! I mean, come on people, grow up.
-complete silence fills the room-
Suzu: -coughs- Well, Antwone, I think you've made your point...
Antwone: -jumps and touches the ceiling- How the...? What the...? How the...?
Suzu: -smiles- so on to Chapter Seven maties! And if anyone else who gets here and think this is a slow begginning, just remember: "He who understands a slow beggining, will understand a long end."
Chapter 7
It simply keeps on coming...
As morning came, you slowly begin to wake up and let the night's dream fade. The thoughts that now come to you are the ones of the previous day. Rare rasberry... -mmmm- you smile at the thought of your favorite ice cream... then comes the image of Kimiko's awsome kimono -It really is extremly pretty... on top of which, that color suits her soo well !- putting those nice thoughts aside, you become full of questions. Kimiko was acting strangely... stranger than usual! She kept asking you about Ranma, and insisting... -do you think she knows?- you tell yourself... and then all those questions about that kawai pig... You slowly open your eyes as you shake those thoughts from your mind, telling yourself that today's a new day and that whatever happened yesterday will stay yesterday unless it comes back. The light coming from your window is still light - It must be early then- you conclude. You throw on a pair of simply gym pants, waist huggers and no design although there's a slight bell bottom; and a even simpler light blue spaguetti top. As your about to open the door to exit into the corridor, you remember that if it's early, then might as well let the otehrs sleep for a while -Especially Kimiko- you think as you smile, and close your room door again. You end up deciding to take a walk, and as your about to jump out the window facing the rising sun, one surprising thought crosses your mind -Ranma...- You jump out the window, landing softly on the fresh grass. The dew hasn't evaporated yet and you thank for it. The day is cooler, as you don't like a very warm morning. You decide to give a quick walk around the dojo and then take a walk in the woods to see a special someone. You take a tour around the springs, the fight dojo in itself, the main house, etc. -Nothing unusual- You say to yourself, glad there isn't any trouble.
Hands in pockets, you walk towards the woods. -Why does he keep coming to my mind? It's not like I like him or anything- You smirk and shake your head at such a foolish thought. Yet something was bothering you about it.
"Aaaaaaanyways..." You say.
Without hesitation you enter the thick woods that orn the side of the dojo. The morning still smelt of rain and you could still hear the clouds rumbles up high. -I hope it won't rain- you think a hopeful glance to the sky -morning showers tend to be cold... - But for now, it didn't seem to be too much of a problem. What you hated more than anything was when it was a sudden shower... Like in rainforests... For some reason they tended to happen only when you were out. You walked deeper in the forest, and once you attained the perfect spot you stopped. A look around described the perfect scenery: On a hidden trail you knew, you stood in between two big trees. They're splendid form played with the shadows of the dawning. The grass was green and the dew sprinkled off the leaves. A beautiful beginning, a perfect morning. You let out a sigh before beginning. A song full of enchantment that, as usual, would throw anyone in a deep confusion of bliss and joy, without knowing what's happening. A soulfilled song, using an old celtic tonality you had learnt to love.
Suddenly, with the tone of such voice, a cry came from above. A high pitched little sound came to your ears, but you did not stop your song; only kept your eyes closed, a smile on your face, with one hand on your chest and another extended. As the sounds of air passing by, you knew he had found you. A few more drops fell on you, as NightsFlight came down in between branches and leaves. Once done with your song, he gently posed himself upon your extended arm, and after shaking the water his feathers retained, he approached your face to rub his beak in a loving way.
"It's been a while, hasn't it my dear?" You tell your hawk.
No one, no bird, nothing could compare itself to NightsFlight. For it was his special gift that made him so special. Your special connection to him made your relationship so much more loving. Through telepathy, NightsFlight could communicate to you. You'd speak to him, and he'd answer in chirps; although he had a way of telling you things you might not be able to say... It was also a question of recognising his squeeks from his words.
You giggle as the soft beak rubbed against your cheek.
"I've missed you too." You answer, "So what have you done lately?"
As he begins telling you about his everyday activities, you can't help but smell something. -This is strange... O oh... Wait... -
"This isn't good!- You say outloud, startling the bird.
Too late though, for the moment he gripped your shoulder, a sudden rain drenched you and the bird. Both looking surprised as you couldn't have been more, You stay there, dripping wet; before you beggin to laugh. But your laughter had changed.
The bird flew into the air, trying to get the water off from it's wings, but the situation simply looked far too funny to you, as you grabbed your stomach in laughter. You knew what had happened, but no matter. No one knew, no one was around, and futhermore, what's so wrong about it?
A rustling in some bushes not too far off signaled the presence of someone, making you automatically stop laughing and position yourself in case of a surprise attack. NightsFlight seeing this, went towards the bush and started peckering at what, or who was behind it.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Ranma's point of view
That bird pecked at your head, and it hurt! As you jump out of the bushes to try and hit it away, you suddenly realize it stopped hurting you. You saw the umbrella on the ground before you lifted your head and saw that you weren't in the tree... nor in the bushes anymore. Standing in front of you stood a young boy. With his silvery hair with light purple reflections depending on where the light shone, and his deep crimson eyes, he seemed familiar.
"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" He asked as the hawk came back to perch itself upon his shoulder.
You stood studying the boy. He was as tall as you were, if not taller; and you could see he was into martial arts of some kind: he was well formed and seemed in excelent shape. His hair seemed short, yet it was tied in a pony tail behind that got flattened with the sudden rain shower. Your perplexion seemed to amuse him.
"Are you going to stay like a fish out of water, or are you thinking of breathing and answering?" he smirked, and crossed his arms.
"My name's Ranma. Who are you?"
You saw the hesitation in his answer, but he didn't flinch for a second and answered wittily back.
"You can call me Yoru."
"What are you doing here?" You inquiered
"Ah, ha ha! I asked that first!" he answered with a smile.
"I was following someone, but seemingly she dissapeared. Your turn to answer. And who; what; is that?" You ask, pointing at the hawk.
"I am here for the sole reason of meating with my pet. This is NightsFlight. He's a rare race of hawk, very cunning and bright."
The bird chirped in happiness, as it moved it's wings in agreement.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Back to Yuki's point of view
Ranma had not realized the facts, thankfully. Although he did seem to be perplexed about the answers you gave him, he din't say anything more. The coldness of the morning shower had gotten you to transform in your second form: a boy. The color of your hair changed, and your eyes became redder, but except for that you hair length was still the same. As for being a boy, your body structure obviously changed to fit your every day workouts. NightsFlight had been more surprised when he first saw you change. Denying the fact that you could still be the same person, he had tried to harm you. But you stood still while he attempted to harm you, and when he finally realized it was the same smell, he same person, he had learnt; in time; to accept this transformation. He had always stood by your side and never once doubted your love and friendship. He knew and understood more of you than anyone could... Especially since he could read your thoughts.
Acting as if you didn't know Ranma, threw him completly off guard, and worked like a charm. -I love being so smart sometimes!- You think with the smirk hardly fading from your face.
"So who is this girl you were following?" You ask.
With a sudden blush he answered quickly "Who said it was a "her"?"
"You said that "She dissapeared". I think that's quite enough explaining for it to be a she." You answer back.
For some reason you loved to taunt him, playing with his reactions. Curiosty gained you even more as he couldn't seem to find his words. From a slight blush it had become a blush, then as he looked for his words he shufled around and finally seemed to recover from that momentarily pause. The fact that he had changed expressions in such a small spand of time that you couldn't help but giggle.
"What are you laughing at?" He said, a blush reappearing on his cheeks.
"What do you think I'm laughing at?" you answer "You're blushing dummy!"
As a laugh escapes your lips he tries to explain himself. As he doesn't seem to be getting anywhere, you stop laughing and try to put on a straight face as you ask him
"So tell me about her. I don't know, what her name is, why you were following her, what do you think of her, how she looks, what you feel about her, etc."
He calmed down.
"Her name is Yuki." He said without hesitation "And I was following her becaus... Wait a minute! Why am I telling this to you? I don't even know you!"
You can't help but let out another laugh as he suddenly came back to reality. He's right, he didn't know you... well... didn't know Yoru anyways. So you stopped laughing, once again. You suddenly realized all the information that he had layed out, for your ears to hear. Ranma was following you, and luckily he didn't reallize you were the same person. But what was he doing following you? You were almost sure no one was around! How could you hjave missed out on the sounds? Are you becoming weaker? -Oh no!- you think in despair. But then.. why did he act so weird? Di you really see those blushes? Why would he have blushed? Are your eyes becoming blurry?
With all those taunting thoughts surcummin to your head, you didn't hear Ranma calling onto you. Suddenly, a pulling at your ear pulls you back to reality.
"Ah! Ah! Ah! NightsFlight!" You yell, trying to get your pet to let go.
-Ouch... that pinched! Lucky I wasn't wearing any earings on my lobes!- you think rubbing your aching ear. Ranma, still standing there, a few meters away, hadn't moved but was looking at you strangely. You instantly change and look more serious towards him.
"Are you ok?" he asks
"Yeah, why?"
"Cause you suddenly zoned out and completly blushed... just like now!"
You intense blush you could feel across your cheeks... How embarassing! Especially since you're Yoru! -Damnit! I gotta get out of here! And quick!- you think. NightsFlight understanding your thoughts and reasons, decides to create a diversion and occupy Ranma while you flee towards the house to transform again. He tells you that he's going to want to talk to you again later on. You nodd as NightsFlight begins pecking Ranma again. You pounce onto a tree, thinking that it will be faster to jump over the tree branches to get to the dojo. -And the sun is coming up faster than I expected too!-
"Hey! Where are you going?" Yells Ranma in between pecks.
Trying to free the bird from it's peckering, Ranma jumps up the tree and begins to follow you. -Shit!- you think as you race even faster. -How am I going to get away and change before he realizes it? I can't let him know!- Ranma is also pretty fast, to what you can see; but it doesn't stop you. NightsFlight (the smart little one), and brilliant as always created an even better diversion. As Ranma was catching up on you, you jump off the last tree far ahead, hoping to lose him in your run. Luckily, NightsFlight's companions arrived at the perfect moment and a hord of a dozen birds came pestering Ranma. Blinded by all the birds, his course was slowed down... but not slow enough! NightsFlight came to your side sharing the bright insight of a get away and escape way. As you round the second corner of the dojo's main building, you recognize Kimiko's window, as usual, always open. You don't hesitate as you plunge into the room. Kimiko, awake by then, is surprised by the sudden thud you didn't try to avoid when your feet landed on the ground.
"Can't talk!" You say
As she sees you as Yoru, she understands that things must be taking quickly. -She probably already figured out that someone is following me and that I can't let them see me transform back into Yuki!- your mind quickly flies. You hear water to your right hand side, and understanding that she was about to take a shower, you allow yourself to enter the bathroom, undress yourself faster than you knew you could, and jump under the steaming hot water. Steaming was the right word. For the minute the water touvhes your skin, not only do you return to being Yuki, but you also spring out of the shower, almost falling on the curtain and slipping on the floor from the burning water. You quickly shove the clothes somewhere they can't be seen and you trow on Kimiko's bathrobe that was hanging near by.
You come out, fixing your hair, to see Kimiko with a sympathetic smile of the 'sorry' looks she gave you on a daily basis. No matter. All that mattered was that you got rid of Ranma chasing you and that you got to change back into Yuki. -Ranma!- you think hurridly. As you send the message to NightsFlight that the coast is clear, you start to get a few things out from Kimiko's drawers.
"Hey! Don't mind me! It's MY room you know!" She says sarcastically.
Sadly enough, you were as sarcastic as she was, if not more -probably more- you think before answering "Gee! Thanks! That's so nice of you!"
You go towards the small mirror hanging on top of the drawers, you realize your hair is very messy and begin to untie your hair to fix it. At the same moment, Ranma appears before the window, his face and arms red. Thanks for Kimiko knowing how to play along, she begins screaming. Ranma, embarassed to see you in a bath robe and Kimiko in a towel ready to enter the shower, he runs away once more. You can't help but have a laugh attack, which Kimiko joins whole heartfully. Once you two have stopped laughing about each other and the whole scene, you wipe the tears away and grab your aching stomach.
"Wow! I hadn't laughed like that in a while!" She tells you.
"I agree! By the way, you could have told me the shower was burning!"
She lets out a laugh and answers "Sorry, I din't really have the time to! I just turned the hot water on to let it warm up when you came in! By the way, what was all THAT about?"
You let out a sigh and quickly answer "I went for a walk when a cold shower came up on me. You know what happened, but I saw Ranma. Apparently he didn't see me change and didn't pay attention to the clothes, but I know that he was following me... apparently. Probably had something else to do in the same area."
"And what were you exactly doing? Just randomly walking through the forest?"
"Yes... well, I also went to see NightsFlight! You know how he gets after a long while!"
The minute you say that, a happy screech fills the room as NightsFlight makes his appearence. Flying around Kimiko giving her bird "kisses" you both giggle. Happy to see him too you thank him again before reminding him that it might be a little risky that the people see him with you. Offended he asks why?
" "Because the boy likes you or something"? What is he saying Yuki?" Your best friend asks curiously yet mockingly
"He doesn't like me for starters..." And answering to his newly asked question "And NO, I DON'T like him either! Didn't you see him!"
They both mock you more as he answers that you two would look good toguether. Offended yourself, you take your things from the bathroom and quickly cross over to your room; only to hear their laughs all the way there. You turn to the mirror, and your pink cheeks grow hotter as you observe how ridiculous you look.
You take your own shower and dress into a chineise outfit you were "given" at one point of your "work business" with Kimiko. You smile at yourself remembering the awsome catch you had both made, and as you look down upon the red outfit you can't help but quickly forget the morning's events.
After a walk through town and you meeting a couple of people you suddenly remember something. You turn to Kimiko and stop her.
"Wait! We have to go back to the dojo!"
"Hun?" she stares are you with a puzzled look on her face.
"Don't you remember Nabiki saying that we had to be at the dojo for a late lunch? Someone apparently was coming back from a trip adn they wanted us to meet him. It's a friend and he doesn't seem to spend much time at the dojo... Which is why they were surprise to know he'd be coming over. But they invited him nonetheless over."
"Oh!" says your friend, now remembering "But didn't they say we had to be there for three thirty?"
"Yes! That's exactly why!"
"But Yuki, it's only one fourty five..." says Kimiko, one eyebrow lifted upwards.
As you insist on it being three thirty, and showing your watch to Kimiko, she contradicts you by showing hers. They were on different times.
"Either your watch has stopped or gone forward, or mine has stopped or the battery is almost dead." she inquires
"Let's ask someone for the time they have, and we can compare it to ours!"
Your idea was a sucess... yet predictable. You asked the closest vendor who turned out to be a fresh fish seller. He gave you his time. Two o'clock. -Shoot...- you think. As you begin talking to him as to which of all three times was right you all go to the next stand and ask for the time.
"But you three have watches of your own!" she says
As you explain your problem, she accepts to give you her time. Looking at her watch she finally gives you an answer to all your problems
"It's exactly... three twenty-two!" she says, sounding all happy.
She lifts her head up to you to see only a dust bunny lifted from the ground. The fish seller was as surprised as she was.
"I told you so! I told you so!" you keep telling Kimiko
"I'm sorry! Our watches aren't on time! Ok! Ok! Stop it! I know!"
Your 'fight' continues until you get to the dojo. Entering the front door you stop your confrontation and look at everyone staring at you. -Uh, Oh!- What an embarassing situation! Everyone was simply staring at you. In nice clothes, they were fixing the living room to add a peice of the table to make this last one longer. You couldn't help but feel out of place. Kimiko obviously felt the same way, her facial expression being a treason to her feelings. You rapidly give a quick wave and spring for your rooms to get changed... to at least look a bit better. As you jog, you one of the fathers telling you to put somethign nice but not too exaggerated. For some reason they gave you the impression that two very different people were going to appear. You change into somthing nice, arrange your hair with the typical ribbon Kimiko had given you long ago (which you always wear... but it was so long you cut it into three and use them depending on how dirty they are). You smile, and rush back to the living room to help a bit. That didn't work for long, because they soon send you to the kitchen with Kasumi. As you pull on an apron, you realize how much she needs the help: she's barely finished with anything and she couldn't handle all the pans, cut boards, etc. You push her to the stove and take care of the cutting boards. Martial arts were useful in many things! In a jippy you finished cutting everything she needed for the moment. You wash your hands and start getting serving plates and platters to put the food onto when it was ready. Preparing everything, you decide to make a special arrangement and fix the food nicely when it was put on the plates and decorated the platters. Not too long after you finished washing the dishes while Kasumi finiched putting a few things back, a bit of food on plates, platters, dishes, etc. and you both take a break that the bell from the street gets everyone running, dusting themselves and getting ready to open the door.
You follow the others, and timidly stand beside Kimiko, farther behind. They open the door and you all kindly greet the person. Not too interested in his physical appearence, you quickly scan him. He's a man, probably in his fourties, and dressed as some top business man. He doesn't inspire confidence in you, so even if you act all nice to him, you watch your back and keep a distance if possible. Everyone talks for a while, and finally sits down for the lunch you prepared. When everyone's ready, Kimiko signals to you to go and get the food with Kasumi while she puts on some mood music.You make sure the plates are finely arranged, -They all seem to want to cause a very good image... I wonder why- You think to yourself, as you come out of the kitchen, a wide smile spreaded across your face. -Weird... Ranma is missing... nd so is Nabiki... I wonder what's... Oh my...- Your thoughts are interrupted by Kimiko pulling on your pants to get you to wake up. You serve everyone and go back to your place.
"What happened to you?" Whispered Kimiko "You totally zoned out!"
"Sorry... I think I just got caught in my thoughts..." You whisper back
"You almost got everyone busted! From what they tell me, he's..."
Her words are cut; as someone new comes from the doorway. The three spaces on the table are finally going to be filled, as Ranma comes in followed by Nabiki and... -Who's that?- you ask yourself. Some strange boy. He puts his big bag down away from where they can see, and all join the table. As you turn around to ask Kimiko if she knew him, her face described it all. She was staring at the newly arrived boy, not taking her eyes off him (even when you waved your hand passed her face) and open mouthed, she stayed there, astounded.