Ranma/ Hannibal
'Mind Games'
Part 3
Ranma's finger traced the doorframe of the entrance to the dojo, before looking forward and slightly off to the left to find one of his hostesses watching him. Ranma noted the tone of pride within the girl's eyes, and chose to continue his survey of what brought her that pride.
"Impressive," Ranma commented, walking along the wooden walls, lightly tracing his fingertips across the smooth surface.
"My Dad built it," Akane stated.
"It must have seen many students, as nice as it looks in here," Ranma lied. He could smell that it had few personal scents, mainly one being prominant. The floor's finish, though worn, hasn't shown the need for replacement. Before Akane or Nabiki could answer otherwise, Ranma continued, "Well, I'm anxious to get going, are you ready?"
"Uh... yeah, sure!" Ranma could hear the relief in Akane's voice. "You study Kempo, right?"
Ranma tilted his head, and maintained an expression of humble modesty, "A little."
"Good! Let's have a match!" Akane turned to Nabiki expectantly. With a roll of her eyes, the girl walked between where Akane and Ranma were standing, and held her right hand ready to call.
"BEGIN!" Nabiki quickly darted back, interally groaning. She wondered why Akane always had to do this when someone came over with even minor skills. As if the formalness is going to impress them in some way.
Akane was the first to begin the battle, launching at Ranma with a right punch. Ranma darted forward, parrying it away, and returning a left jab. Akane blocked it with her forearm, and attempted a lunging knee, to which Ranma barely blocked in time, and slid back from the force.
Ranma immidiately went back into stance, and gave Akane an approving look, "You are pretty good."
Akane was internally smiling. In the first trade off, she had managed to almost overpower Ranma. If he indeed studied in China, she was matching up to even world class martial artists, "You're not so bad yourself. Ready?"
Ranma tentatively approached Akane, and once within range, he launched out with a right punch, similar to Akane's first blow. Akane dodged it to the side, and attempted a crescent kick to the head. Ranma palmed the kick, and then dropped low for a sweep. Akane leapt back, and then spun into a hook kick aimed at Ranma's stomach. The pigtailed boy swung his arm down to guard against the strike, jamming and redirecting it, before stepping forward and delivering a palm thrust with his free hand that caught Akane in the stomach, sending her to the ground.
"Point; Ranma," Nabiki announced with a slight smirk. It was about time someone was able to humble her little sister.
Akane pulled herself off the ground, and glared at Nabiki, "So, I got careless, okay? I was going easy on him!"
Ranma raised an eyebrow, "You're going easy on me? You're definitely better than I expected, then."
Akane gave a smirk that barely concealed the haughtiness that she was holding back, "Thanks, I'm the best in Nerima." Her smirk dropped slightly, and the haughty attituded changed to a sour one, "Of course, I don't really need all the opportunities I'm given to prove it..."
"As my Pop always told me, 'A martial artist's life is fraught with peril'," Ranma quoted, "Ready to begin next round?"
Akane nodded, and both stepped back to the middle of the dojo. Both Ranma and Akane turned to Nabiki again with expectant faces. With a huff of slight irritation, Nabiki walked between them, and called the match one more time.
Akane increased her tenacity a great deal, launching into a series of punches and kicks at Ranma. Ranma immidiately went on defensive, parrying all of Akane's initial blows, although pressed. Once he gained enough distance between them, the pigtailed martial artist retaliated, quickly pushing Akane back into her guard. Akane rushed through Ranma's attack with a general guard, and attempted a sidekick to his ribs. Ranma sailed back, and landed on his backside.
"Ouch."
"Oh! Sorry," Akane apologised, expressing genuine concern. Ranma was almost touched.
"It's alright, I wasn't expecting that. Your point."
Akane nodded, and walked back to the center. Ranma joined her, and waited for Nabiki to call it one more time. They both leapt after each other at the same time, trading and guarding each other's blows with a rising pitch. Nabiki noted Akane starting to gain her more focused expression, as Ranma himself slowly followed behind her slightly with his own face becoming more concerted. Nabiki was growing more and more impressed, as the fight went on; she hadn't seen Akane this pressed on the longest time. But... there was something that was slightly... off... that she couldn't place her finger on.
The tradeoff was starting to become fierce, which was beginning to worry Nabiki a bit. She knew her sister, and though Akane rarely meant to, exept in special cases, she tended to get a bit out of hand. She was about to shout out to Ranma in warning, but found it moot, as Ranma swung closer to Akane, guarding against her double fisted 'u' punch, and causing her to have to dart back to gain some leverage. Unfortunately for Akane, Ranma's swing towards her had placed his forward foot in the path of Akane's retreating leg.
Startled, Akane reached out, and grabbed Ranma's shirt. The pigtailed boy blinked in surprise, as he was pulled down ontop of Akane. He just barely managed to prace his hands on the sides of Akane, to keep his weight from completely resting upon her.
"You know?" Ranma started in an almost casual, yet quiet tone, "There were many tribes in the early Americas, most notorious the Iroquis, that believed eating the flesh of their defeated enemies gave them their strength..." Ranma leaned in closer to Akane's incredulous expression, "I have to say, you do impress me..."
Wide eyed, Akane pushed Ranma off of her, and scuttled away, "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!?"
Ranma's face turned to an expression of mirth, "I'm kidding." Ranma stood up, and leaned over Akane with his hand presented, "But really, you definitely have talent."
"Th-thanks," Akane replied, still a bit startled.
"What? What was that all about? What joke?" Nabiki looked between the two former combatants, wondering why Akane hadn't beat Ranma mindless for the close, though unintentional, contact.
"Don't worry about it, Akane apparently didn't find it funny," Ranma commented, helping said girl back to her feet, "I'm looking forward to sparring with you some more later."
"Same here," Akane replied, as she was slightly doubled over and catching her breath from the last round.
"Well, I've rather been traveling for quite a bit. If you don't mind, I could use a hot bath." Nabiki apparently was the only one that heard Ranma.
"Uh, sure," Nabiki answered, "Kasumi can get one prepared for you, just ask."
"I will, thanks," with that, Ranma bowed to each girl, and walked out of the dojo casually. Akane nodded her head, but didn't look up yet, so she missed what Nabiki noted; the fact that Ranma didn't even seem winded, regardless of the fierce sparring session he had been in with Akane.
______________________
"Thanks, Kasumi," Ranma answered the eldest Tendou daughter, "This is much appreciated." He stripped down, and prepared a bucket of cold water. After upending it over her head, Ranma began to scub herself down. After a few minutes of the preparation, Ranma stood up, and started for the furo. Akane walked in at that moment, carrying her own bath supplies; which in turn, caused Ranma to turn about, slightly startled.
Akane blinked her eyes a couple of times, before her expression started to grow angry, "You... you..."
"I'm sorry, I guess I should have found some way to let you know the bathroom was occupied," Ranma-chan stated, cutting Akane off. The redhead turned her back to allow Akane her modesty, while not even bothering to hide her's, "I understand your harrassment probably set you on end, but I assure you that I have no intentions of being one of those group of boys that must be driving you crazy."
Akane was shocked out of her building anger, "How, how did you know?"
Ranma-chan waived the question off, "It must be an impressive group of boys who want to be your suiter. But don't worry, I understand the displeasures of dealing with... nusances." Ranma turned to look at Akane, before turning back away. "If you want, you have my support in dealing with them. That is, if you ever need it. You're more than capable, I had seen earlier."
"I do okay against them." Akane said guardedly, but relaxing.
"I could leave, if you like?"
"N-no... no, but you should put the occupied sign out when you're using it," Akane chided, not feeling threatened by the pigtailed girl.
Ranma nodded without turning around, "I'll remember that, thanks." Akane left the bathroom, almost walking right into Kasumi.
"Oh! Isn't Ranma in there?"
"He is," Akane replied, "He just didn't realise he was supposed to put the sign out."
"If everything's okay..." Kasumi concerned. "I think father's had too much excitement today, so I helped him to bed. Do you think Ranma is hungry? I could fix him something if he would like..."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm pretty tired." Ranma-chan's voice called out. "If you don't mind, I would just like to go to sleep after this, but thanks again."
"Okay, Ranma-kun," Kasumi called into the bathroom, before turning to her sister, "Oh my, he's rather polite."
"Yeah," Akane said with a slightly distracted tone.
'Mind Games'
Part 3
Ranma's finger traced the doorframe of the entrance to the dojo, before looking forward and slightly off to the left to find one of his hostesses watching him. Ranma noted the tone of pride within the girl's eyes, and chose to continue his survey of what brought her that pride.
"Impressive," Ranma commented, walking along the wooden walls, lightly tracing his fingertips across the smooth surface.
"My Dad built it," Akane stated.
"It must have seen many students, as nice as it looks in here," Ranma lied. He could smell that it had few personal scents, mainly one being prominant. The floor's finish, though worn, hasn't shown the need for replacement. Before Akane or Nabiki could answer otherwise, Ranma continued, "Well, I'm anxious to get going, are you ready?"
"Uh... yeah, sure!" Ranma could hear the relief in Akane's voice. "You study Kempo, right?"
Ranma tilted his head, and maintained an expression of humble modesty, "A little."
"Good! Let's have a match!" Akane turned to Nabiki expectantly. With a roll of her eyes, the girl walked between where Akane and Ranma were standing, and held her right hand ready to call.
"BEGIN!" Nabiki quickly darted back, interally groaning. She wondered why Akane always had to do this when someone came over with even minor skills. As if the formalness is going to impress them in some way.
Akane was the first to begin the battle, launching at Ranma with a right punch. Ranma darted forward, parrying it away, and returning a left jab. Akane blocked it with her forearm, and attempted a lunging knee, to which Ranma barely blocked in time, and slid back from the force.
Ranma immidiately went back into stance, and gave Akane an approving look, "You are pretty good."
Akane was internally smiling. In the first trade off, she had managed to almost overpower Ranma. If he indeed studied in China, she was matching up to even world class martial artists, "You're not so bad yourself. Ready?"
Ranma tentatively approached Akane, and once within range, he launched out with a right punch, similar to Akane's first blow. Akane dodged it to the side, and attempted a crescent kick to the head. Ranma palmed the kick, and then dropped low for a sweep. Akane leapt back, and then spun into a hook kick aimed at Ranma's stomach. The pigtailed boy swung his arm down to guard against the strike, jamming and redirecting it, before stepping forward and delivering a palm thrust with his free hand that caught Akane in the stomach, sending her to the ground.
"Point; Ranma," Nabiki announced with a slight smirk. It was about time someone was able to humble her little sister.
Akane pulled herself off the ground, and glared at Nabiki, "So, I got careless, okay? I was going easy on him!"
Ranma raised an eyebrow, "You're going easy on me? You're definitely better than I expected, then."
Akane gave a smirk that barely concealed the haughtiness that she was holding back, "Thanks, I'm the best in Nerima." Her smirk dropped slightly, and the haughty attituded changed to a sour one, "Of course, I don't really need all the opportunities I'm given to prove it..."
"As my Pop always told me, 'A martial artist's life is fraught with peril'," Ranma quoted, "Ready to begin next round?"
Akane nodded, and both stepped back to the middle of the dojo. Both Ranma and Akane turned to Nabiki again with expectant faces. With a huff of slight irritation, Nabiki walked between them, and called the match one more time.
Akane increased her tenacity a great deal, launching into a series of punches and kicks at Ranma. Ranma immidiately went on defensive, parrying all of Akane's initial blows, although pressed. Once he gained enough distance between them, the pigtailed martial artist retaliated, quickly pushing Akane back into her guard. Akane rushed through Ranma's attack with a general guard, and attempted a sidekick to his ribs. Ranma sailed back, and landed on his backside.
"Ouch."
"Oh! Sorry," Akane apologised, expressing genuine concern. Ranma was almost touched.
"It's alright, I wasn't expecting that. Your point."
Akane nodded, and walked back to the center. Ranma joined her, and waited for Nabiki to call it one more time. They both leapt after each other at the same time, trading and guarding each other's blows with a rising pitch. Nabiki noted Akane starting to gain her more focused expression, as Ranma himself slowly followed behind her slightly with his own face becoming more concerted. Nabiki was growing more and more impressed, as the fight went on; she hadn't seen Akane this pressed on the longest time. But... there was something that was slightly... off... that she couldn't place her finger on.
The tradeoff was starting to become fierce, which was beginning to worry Nabiki a bit. She knew her sister, and though Akane rarely meant to, exept in special cases, she tended to get a bit out of hand. She was about to shout out to Ranma in warning, but found it moot, as Ranma swung closer to Akane, guarding against her double fisted 'u' punch, and causing her to have to dart back to gain some leverage. Unfortunately for Akane, Ranma's swing towards her had placed his forward foot in the path of Akane's retreating leg.
Startled, Akane reached out, and grabbed Ranma's shirt. The pigtailed boy blinked in surprise, as he was pulled down ontop of Akane. He just barely managed to prace his hands on the sides of Akane, to keep his weight from completely resting upon her.
"You know?" Ranma started in an almost casual, yet quiet tone, "There were many tribes in the early Americas, most notorious the Iroquis, that believed eating the flesh of their defeated enemies gave them their strength..." Ranma leaned in closer to Akane's incredulous expression, "I have to say, you do impress me..."
Wide eyed, Akane pushed Ranma off of her, and scuttled away, "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!?"
Ranma's face turned to an expression of mirth, "I'm kidding." Ranma stood up, and leaned over Akane with his hand presented, "But really, you definitely have talent."
"Th-thanks," Akane replied, still a bit startled.
"What? What was that all about? What joke?" Nabiki looked between the two former combatants, wondering why Akane hadn't beat Ranma mindless for the close, though unintentional, contact.
"Don't worry about it, Akane apparently didn't find it funny," Ranma commented, helping said girl back to her feet, "I'm looking forward to sparring with you some more later."
"Same here," Akane replied, as she was slightly doubled over and catching her breath from the last round.
"Well, I've rather been traveling for quite a bit. If you don't mind, I could use a hot bath." Nabiki apparently was the only one that heard Ranma.
"Uh, sure," Nabiki answered, "Kasumi can get one prepared for you, just ask."
"I will, thanks," with that, Ranma bowed to each girl, and walked out of the dojo casually. Akane nodded her head, but didn't look up yet, so she missed what Nabiki noted; the fact that Ranma didn't even seem winded, regardless of the fierce sparring session he had been in with Akane.
______________________
"Thanks, Kasumi," Ranma answered the eldest Tendou daughter, "This is much appreciated." He stripped down, and prepared a bucket of cold water. After upending it over her head, Ranma began to scub herself down. After a few minutes of the preparation, Ranma stood up, and started for the furo. Akane walked in at that moment, carrying her own bath supplies; which in turn, caused Ranma to turn about, slightly startled.
Akane blinked her eyes a couple of times, before her expression started to grow angry, "You... you..."
"I'm sorry, I guess I should have found some way to let you know the bathroom was occupied," Ranma-chan stated, cutting Akane off. The redhead turned her back to allow Akane her modesty, while not even bothering to hide her's, "I understand your harrassment probably set you on end, but I assure you that I have no intentions of being one of those group of boys that must be driving you crazy."
Akane was shocked out of her building anger, "How, how did you know?"
Ranma-chan waived the question off, "It must be an impressive group of boys who want to be your suiter. But don't worry, I understand the displeasures of dealing with... nusances." Ranma turned to look at Akane, before turning back away. "If you want, you have my support in dealing with them. That is, if you ever need it. You're more than capable, I had seen earlier."
"I do okay against them." Akane said guardedly, but relaxing.
"I could leave, if you like?"
"N-no... no, but you should put the occupied sign out when you're using it," Akane chided, not feeling threatened by the pigtailed girl.
Ranma nodded without turning around, "I'll remember that, thanks." Akane left the bathroom, almost walking right into Kasumi.
"Oh! Isn't Ranma in there?"
"He is," Akane replied, "He just didn't realise he was supposed to put the sign out."
"If everything's okay..." Kasumi concerned. "I think father's had too much excitement today, so I helped him to bed. Do you think Ranma is hungry? I could fix him something if he would like..."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm pretty tired." Ranma-chan's voice called out. "If you don't mind, I would just like to go to sleep after this, but thanks again."
"Okay, Ranma-kun," Kasumi called into the bathroom, before turning to her sister, "Oh my, he's rather polite."
"Yeah," Akane said with a slightly distracted tone.