Ranma/ Hannibal
'Mind Games'
Darkness, that's all the young boy saw. His young eyes could not see anything more than the all consuming shadow brought by the negation of light, but he knew they were out there. In his mind, he could see the dozens of pairs of slitted eyes, and he could sense their hunger directed towards them. With each moment, the young boy's fear grew, and with it his dependence on that which is keeping him safe...
____________________
Ranma walked cheerfully down the stairs to greet his hosts, and once again found himself in the arms of another man.
"Er, good morning to you too, Mr. Tendou."
Soun stepped back, and regarded Ranma with careful scruteny. Ranma kept the expression of baleful irritation from reaching his facade, choosing a confused and curious expression. After a few moments, the Tendou Patriarch beamed.
"Oh, how I'm so relieved! For some reason I recall you being a girl!"
Ranma turned to see Kasumi smiling at him from the kitchen just back to his right, and turned back to Soun, "I can understand the confusion. In your absence, your three daughters were great hosts, you must be proud of them!"
"Indeed, they are the pride of an old man who only wishes to see them wed outstanding young men such as yourself!" Ranma had already forseen the conversation being steered into this direction.
"Yes, I wouldn't wish them any less... Kasumi, did you have something to ask?"
Finding herself addressed, Kasumi nodded to Ranma, "Good morning, Ranma-kun, breakfast will be ready in just a little bit. Would you like to call your father while we're waiting?"
"That won't be necessary," Ranma replied with an innocent smile, "He will be along when he's ready."
"And how is my old friend! It's been too long since I've heard from him. I trust your..."
"Yes, yes, he's doing fine," Ranma interrupted, not really wanting to discuss the old fool, "Whatever you are preparing smells lovely, Kasumi-dear!"
"Why, thank you, Ranma-kun! Why don't you take a seat at the table, it should be ready any minute now..."
Just then, Akane entered from her morning bath, dressed and ready for school, "Ah, hello, Ranma."
The pigtailed boy noted the tentative addressment; she was still weary of him, "And a good morning to you, Akane. I had almost forgot that today would be a school day. You think it would be difficult for me to go today?"
"You actually want to go to school?" Akane asked, curiously.
"Why not?" Ranma retorted, "I don't mind an education, you know? I would rather keep my options for the future open."
"Oh!" Akane exclaimed, becoming intrigued, "Anything in particular you plan on?"
Ranma smiled, "I fancy myself becoming a doctor, maybe. Psychiatrist sounds promising, maybe even a medical doctor."
"Fancy?" Nabiki repeated, as she walked down the stairs, "How cultured you sound, and you want to be a doctor when you grow up?"
"Yes, well," Ranma started, feign bashfulness.
Nabiki stood next to her sister, "Akane, you better take this all in; a boy who even speaks civilized, with ambition, and a gorgeous bod, to boot! One of us definitely hit the jackpot!" Nabiki almost chuckled, as she turned to find her sister staring more intensely than she really wanted to, before realizing what she was doing, and turning away.
"Cut it out, Nabiki! Don't embarrass him like that!"
"Oh, it's no bother. Your sister's pretty, um, spirited.," Ranma placated.
"You mean boy-crazy," Akane interjected, "but she is right, you don't act like most boys."
"Well, I like being unique." Ranma turned to find Kasumi setting the table, "Looks like breakfast is ready. I, for one, am eager to sample a meal from your lovely sister!"
Soun had remained silent through the whole traid, finding himself extremely impressed with the young man, "Saotome, you have done a remarkable job with your son..."
'Mind Games'
Darkness, that's all the young boy saw. His young eyes could not see anything more than the all consuming shadow brought by the negation of light, but he knew they were out there. In his mind, he could see the dozens of pairs of slitted eyes, and he could sense their hunger directed towards them. With each moment, the young boy's fear grew, and with it his dependence on that which is keeping him safe...
____________________
Ranma walked cheerfully down the stairs to greet his hosts, and once again found himself in the arms of another man.
"Er, good morning to you too, Mr. Tendou."
Soun stepped back, and regarded Ranma with careful scruteny. Ranma kept the expression of baleful irritation from reaching his facade, choosing a confused and curious expression. After a few moments, the Tendou Patriarch beamed.
"Oh, how I'm so relieved! For some reason I recall you being a girl!"
Ranma turned to see Kasumi smiling at him from the kitchen just back to his right, and turned back to Soun, "I can understand the confusion. In your absence, your three daughters were great hosts, you must be proud of them!"
"Indeed, they are the pride of an old man who only wishes to see them wed outstanding young men such as yourself!" Ranma had already forseen the conversation being steered into this direction.
"Yes, I wouldn't wish them any less... Kasumi, did you have something to ask?"
Finding herself addressed, Kasumi nodded to Ranma, "Good morning, Ranma-kun, breakfast will be ready in just a little bit. Would you like to call your father while we're waiting?"
"That won't be necessary," Ranma replied with an innocent smile, "He will be along when he's ready."
"And how is my old friend! It's been too long since I've heard from him. I trust your..."
"Yes, yes, he's doing fine," Ranma interrupted, not really wanting to discuss the old fool, "Whatever you are preparing smells lovely, Kasumi-dear!"
"Why, thank you, Ranma-kun! Why don't you take a seat at the table, it should be ready any minute now..."
Just then, Akane entered from her morning bath, dressed and ready for school, "Ah, hello, Ranma."
The pigtailed boy noted the tentative addressment; she was still weary of him, "And a good morning to you, Akane. I had almost forgot that today would be a school day. You think it would be difficult for me to go today?"
"You actually want to go to school?" Akane asked, curiously.
"Why not?" Ranma retorted, "I don't mind an education, you know? I would rather keep my options for the future open."
"Oh!" Akane exclaimed, becoming intrigued, "Anything in particular you plan on?"
Ranma smiled, "I fancy myself becoming a doctor, maybe. Psychiatrist sounds promising, maybe even a medical doctor."
"Fancy?" Nabiki repeated, as she walked down the stairs, "How cultured you sound, and you want to be a doctor when you grow up?"
"Yes, well," Ranma started, feign bashfulness.
Nabiki stood next to her sister, "Akane, you better take this all in; a boy who even speaks civilized, with ambition, and a gorgeous bod, to boot! One of us definitely hit the jackpot!" Nabiki almost chuckled, as she turned to find her sister staring more intensely than she really wanted to, before realizing what she was doing, and turning away.
"Cut it out, Nabiki! Don't embarrass him like that!"
"Oh, it's no bother. Your sister's pretty, um, spirited.," Ranma placated.
"You mean boy-crazy," Akane interjected, "but she is right, you don't act like most boys."
"Well, I like being unique." Ranma turned to find Kasumi setting the table, "Looks like breakfast is ready. I, for one, am eager to sample a meal from your lovely sister!"
Soun had remained silent through the whole traid, finding himself extremely impressed with the young man, "Saotome, you have done a remarkable job with your son..."