Growing Up

6– Being Fussy

The day of chickenpox and potty training went by pretty fast as Kasumi's salve helped with Ranma's itch, and his fever went down. The next day, him being four years old, was calm and quiet, as he was still a bit tired and feverish, and slept practically all day.

Today was the day of fifth year. Ranma was all well, not sleeping in a crib or using diapers... Which meant Soun had lost the bet. Poor man was currently doing the laundry. But not to make it too unfair, Genma would do some other chores – like going for grocery shopping. And he decided to take Ranma with him.

"Buckle you belts", the man said as they got into the car. Ranma did as told... Well, he tried to, but had some difficulties.

"Daddy! This stupid thing wont go!" he shouted. Genma sighed and got out of the car, walking to his son to the back seats, buckling his belt.

The way to the store was quiet. Nobody said a thing. A good sign, Genma thought. He parked the car and helped his son out. There was an ice cream van in front of the store's main door.

"Daddy! I want ice cream!" Ranma shouted, pulling his father's sleeve.

"No", Genma prohibited, calm. They waked in to the store. Genma took a big cart, and so they got on their way.

"Daddy! I wanna get on the cart!"

"You are old enough to walk", Genma snorted. Ranma pouted.

They went past the normal food aisles – bread, butter, milk, some yogurt and noodles... But then they walked past the candy aisle. Ranma grabbed a Snickers -bar.

"Daddy, I want chocolate!"

"No, I will not buy you chocolate", the man bit his teeth. Ranma sighed, but soon grabbed a bag of Haribo -candy.

"Daddy! I want candy!"

"No candy for you now!"

Finally they got to the checkout, but just next to it was the soda shelf.

"Daddy, I want Coke!"

"No! You are NOT GETTING ANY COKE!" Genma shouted. The boy seemed to startle a bit. He retreated a few steps, all quiet. Genma sighed and got back on his way to the checkout. While he was paying, Ranma walked behind him. The man started packing the purchases, Ranma just standing behind him, looking a bit sad.

"Uh, daddy..." he mumbled his hands behind his back.

"What?" the man snorted, without even turning towards his son.

"S... sorry. Do you hate me?"

Genma sighed.

"Listen, son", he pointed at the boy with his finger. "If you want to become a powerful martial artist, you can't eat candy, ice cream, chocolate and coke, but nourishing, healthy food. You do want to become a strong, fearless warrior, like me? Don't you?"

"..." Ranma stared at his father and tilted his head. "... you're a great martial artist?"

Genma nodded with a proud smile.

"But you are so fat..."

"WHATTA-!?" Genma shouted out. "You little-!" But he tried to calm down. He took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead. "Come, let's go home."

"We're here" Genma called as he and the little boy walked. in. Then he could smell something... "What is this stench?"

"That Stench is my daughter's cooking!" growled Soun, who walked to them.

"Oops, ehe..." Genma grinned and rubbed his neck. "Well, anyway, here is everything you listed." He went to the kitchen, but right after stepping in he smelt the... something, whatever it is. He grabbed his nose, trying not breathe. He put the grocery bags on the table.

"Here, uh... Your noodles", he said and handed over a big packet of noodles to Akane, busy cooking her... who knows what.

Soon the food was ready. Kasumi and Soun took the bowls and chopsticks to the living room's table.

"Come on and eat!" Soun called, smiling. He was maybe the only one in this house being so delusional to think this food will taste good. Ranma sat next to his father, but started sniffing it.

"E... EWWW!" he shouted and pushed the bowl away. "I am NOT gonna eat tha' junk!"

"Son!" Genma snapped and poked Ranma's cheek with his finger. But then the man himself took a few noodles with his chopsticks... And gagged.

"Hmmf!"

"Genma!" Soun poked his friend's side. He took his bowl and poured the soup in his mouth... But started coughing, too.

Poor Akane.

"This is good...!" Soun tried to grin. Genma nodded. But Ranma was honest.

"I don't wanna eat this!"

"Okay then", Genma sighed. "What do you want to eat?"

"Chocolate cereal!"

This is when Genma gave up. He got up and walked away.

"Daddy!" the boy shouted and ran after him. "I wanna come with ya!"

"Don't make this any worse!" the man shouted.

Only Kasumi ate her portion of heer little sister's noodle soup. She didn't like it either, but her angelic nature made her fight the horrible taste.

Ranma sat in the living room's floor, watching Pokemon from TV. He was getting grumpy of hunger. Then finally he heard his father come home. The boy got up and ran to him.

"Didya get ma' cereal?" he smiled. Without answering, Genma walked to the kitchen and started emptying the grocery bags. Then Ranma could see the brown box his father put on the table.

"Gimme!" he shouted out.

"Just wait a sec. Go to living room, I'll bring you some", Genma said. Happily Ranma ran to the living room and sat down beside the table.

As Genma had finished with the groceries, Soun came into the kitchen. Then he saw Genma pour some cereal in a bowl... but there were two bowls! For a while Soun wondered, why, until...

"Give me a bowl too!"

"And me!" shouted Nabiki, who just walked in.

Genma, Soun and Nabiki walked to the living room. Genma put one bowl in front of Ranma, and everyone sat down, starting to eat with great appetite. But the final member of this family was peeking in from behind the living room's door. They rather ate cereal than the food she had made with love.

Again, poor Akane.