Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma. Enough said about that. This story is a combined effort between me and Drakuzz. And yes, there was a really long wait between this chapter and the last one but real life can be such a pain that it's not even funny. I can only say that we hope there won't be that long of a delay between postings of chapters in the future. I can only say that we hope there won't be that long of a delay between postings of chapters. Without any further delay, we hope that you will all enjoy this chapter.
Twin Troubles
By David Knight and Drakuzz
Chapter Seven: Training Day Blues
"Shampoo, there is a delivery for you to make, child," Cologne said as she poggoed out of the kitchen, easily holding a box of ramen in her hand.
"Okay, Great-grandmother," the Chinese girl said taking the package.
"Shampoo my darling," Mousse came in to try to embrace his love, only to end up meeting the floor, having missed the target of his affections.
Shampoo sniffed derisively and rushed out. She might even be able to go see her Aireen if she was fast about the delivery.
Cologne looked down at Mousse and sighed. "You will never learn, will you?"
"I will never give up on making my love realize her feelings for me," the near-sighted Amazon said.
The old woman gave him a scrutinizing look. "And what feelings are those, boy?"
Mousse felt like he might have said the wrong thing at this time. He was looking for a way out, as he didn't feel like having to deal with the matriarch at the moment. She favors Shampoo with Saotome without question, was his morose thought.
Cologne waited patiently; wanting to hear what the near-sighted Amazon would come up with now.
"... Nothing," Mousse said in defeat. Better to go this route in front of the matriarch than admit to how he felt and get bopped on the head.
"I thought so," Cologne said with a nod of her head and went back to the kitchen.
Mousse slumped his head and got into one of the chairs available. It's not fair. Why can't I have Shampoo? It's all because of Saotome! Saotome who has a damn harem of girls! If only there was some way to get him attached to just one of them then Shampoo would have no reason to go him... He shook his head. But that wouldn't matter to Amazon law. There must be a way to work with Amazon law that could keep Shampoo from going after Ranma. There has to be for my future with Shampoo!
"Hello, Mutzu!" A cheerful female voice was heard, with a heavy Chinese accent.
Mousse was woken up from his worries and greeted by someone he didn't expect at all. "It can't be... Razor?"
A Chinese teenager with green hair, who just happened to walk into the Nekohanten seconds ago, smiled. "It's been some time."
"What are you doing here?" Mousse asked.
"Indeed. What brings you to Japan, child?" Cologne asked as she seemed to materialize next to Mousse, her features intent on the new arrival.
Razor blinked at Cologne's act of apparition, but she shrugged it off with relative ease. The elders at the village usually did stuff like that. "I come with a message from the council," she said and the Amazon elder had to admit, grudgingly, that she was a lot more fluent in Japanese than her own granddaughter.
"Please allow me to see it, child," Cologne said as she motioned for a table.
A message from the council?! Suddenly his hopes went up greatly as he wished to know exactly what that message was and how it would help him with his problem.
Cologne read the missive, and much to Mousse's disappointment she didn't share its contents. Instead she assumed a pensive pose. "I will have to ponder this before giving an answer. Is that fine with you, child? To stay in Japan for a couple of days?" Seeing Razor nod she sighed and turned to Mousse. "What are you still doing here, boy?"
"Um... Can I ask what the message was?"
"You can ask," Cologne said neutrally, her face impassive.
"But you won't say, will you?"
"It is important business. Business that doesn't concern a male," the old woman said firmly.
Mousse frowned. "Fine then." He decided to leave the restaurant then, slamming the door on his way out. All to give an impression of his anger. When you aren't aware, old woman, I'll read that letter myself and find out just what the council decreed.
-----
Nine days, that's how long it took Ryoga to finally make it back to area where he and Ranko were going to fight.
Only thing as he arrived at long last was... That there was no Ranko. "Curse you, Saotome Ranko! I knew it! I knew you were just like your... huh?"
That's when he noticed the multitude of signs with notes on them. Each one having a date on them. He looked at the one that was dated today.
'Ryoga.
This is now the eighth note I've made. I still can't believe your sense of direction is this bad. Now I am really glad that I put in that order so that you won't get lost any more. Anyway I left some food in the bag that's below the sign so you'd have something fresh to eat. I'm probably in school now so just stay right where you are until four P.M.
In case you don't have a clock or watch, I happen to have included one in the bag with the food that keeps perfect time.
If you are reading this Ryoga, I will repeat... Keep still until I get out of school and meet you here!
Ranko.'
Ryoga blinked his eyes. This was definitely a new one for him. Not knowing what to do right now, the lost boy decided to keep standing there.
He was tempted to reach into the bag, but the note said for him to keep still. His stomach grumbling in protest made him take the risk of moving.
He shrugged and sat down where he was, opening the bag and taking out a couple of rice balls. He didn't even reach for the watch. Waiting shouldn't be a problem.
-----
Ranko looked at her watch and was walking slowly, though making sure she made it on time. She had in her backpack her sword, some rice balls and that special package that had just arrived yesterday. If he gets here today he will need to keep from getting lost. I really need a regular sparring partner other than my brother. As it was she had spare posts at the lot to use in case he didn't show up.
As she rounded the corner, her eyes went wide as she dropped the bag. "Ryoga!"
The lost boy, who was sitting down next to the note as to not to get lost, looked up. "Ranko..."
Ranko immediately hugged him. "You big lug! You finally made it! By Kami-sama it's about time!" She then realized maybe this was too enthusiastic of a greeting as she broke it off. "Er, sorry. Hope that wasn't too forward of me."
Ryoga, who was blushing furiously, scratched the back of his head and laughed. "Don't worry about it!"
"Anyway, before we go out to spar, I got something for you," Ranko said going through her backpack and produced a black device. "Ta-da!"
"... What is it?" Ryoga asked.
"It's a Global Positioning System, GPS for short," Ranko said giving it to him and turning it on. "Now with this, the only way you could ever get lost is if you didn't read the directions or if you ran out of juice in the batteries and forgot to change them."
Ryoga gave Ranko a blank stare.
"... What?" Ranko blinked. "I am basically giving you something that will keep you from getting lost for days. Does that not click?"
"Uh... Thanks..." Obviously it did not click, but he thanked her anyway.
Ranko sighed. "Just promise me you aren't going to throw it away. I spent fifty thousand yen getting that for you."
He nodded and stood up, his height making him tower over the small redhead.
"We have a lot of missed time," Ranko said. "My brother has just gotten better being able to train with Kasumi."
Ryoga grumbled under his breath. "At this rate we'll never give him what he deserves."
"Which is why I got you that and which is why I have been going to get training for Elder Cologne while you have been a way," Ranko stated.
Ryoga nodded. "So what did Cologne teach you?"
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire."
The lost boy seemed depressed at that. "Ranma already knows that move." He was expecting a technique his adversary didn't know.
"I am learning from her from the ground up," Ranko stated. "I never said it was going to be an easy road either. For now though," she slipped into her stance. "What say we stop talking, and start doing."
Ryoga was a little hesitant about fighting this girl, she was a real girl after all, but to defeat Ranma... He raised his hands into his ready stance.
Ranko decided to throw the first punch, this time, finding Ryoga didn't even block... And her hand hit an unmovable object. "What the hell?"
Ryoga took a hold of Ranko's wrist and, with incredible strength, lifted her off the ground so she dangled in front of him. If Ranma's fighting style was fluid like water, Ryoga's was hard as the mountain.
Okay. This, I think I can work with a bit more than my brother. Ranko smiled to herself. While overwhelmingly powerful, it was similar to those that had tried to overpower her. The small redhead wasn't stronger than a lot of the fighters she'd faced down before and still beat them. She decided to fight force with repulsion. As she was hanging up in the air, she worked to get her momentum swinging downwards, her free arm crawling down to grab onto his shirt and worked into slamming him into the ground.
Ryoga blinked in shock at that. How the hell did she manage that?! Not that it hurt, but the fact that she so easily flipped him around...
"KATCHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!" Ranko called out, trying to see how well the Amaguriken would work against Ryoga. If one punch didn't do anything, let's see how a few hundred work out!
To her surprise Ryoga took a hold of her head, ignoring the punches, and slammed her hard against the ground, making the air to explode out of her lungs.
Okay... That was new... Ranko groaned as she felt Ryoga still have a hold of her head. His legs however were still open to assault. Okay. New plan. Attack at the root. She decided to use the Amaguriken, though this time the punches worked to make him topple over. Ranko then used that momentum as part of a spin that she used to slam Ryoga's own body into the ground, then jumping away from him by pressing her feet against his chest.
Ryoga stood up as if nothing was wrong, making Ranko wonder just how her brother could fight this walking tank, and started to move onto Ranko once more. It was obvious now that if the fight came down to endurance Ryoga would win hands down.
How do I fight this guy? Ranko asked herself as she was in a defensive stance and yet her mind was conflicted. She had been the best in her art back in Kyoto. Here, it was like she was a beginner. The challenge of rising to face people stronger than her she always had. But just how could she handle fighters like her brother and Ryoga, where the gap in ability seemed almost like the gap between Akane's skill and her own.
"You don't know Ranma's Amaguriken yet, do you?" Ryoga asked. Hating to give away a weakness, but since this was a sparring match to prepare against Ranma it would be better if he taught her a little as well.
"Not entirely," Ranko admitted.
Ryoga nodded. "You know why I ignored your punches before?"
"Because you're built like a tank?" Ranko quipped.
"And because your punches aren't on one point only," Ryoga finished, grudgingly admitting Ranma was very fast to learn in his fights. That was probably the one thing he wouldn't be able to defeat in his nemesis. He'd have to be so superior Ranma didn't have a chance to think during their fight.
Ranko stared for a bit before slapping herself in the face. "I can't believe I didn't see that! Damn!"
"What else do you know Ranma does?" Ryoga asked. Maybe before sparring they should know their enemy better. He hadn't fought Ranma for a while.
"What do you mean? I haven't seen him break out any moves save the Amaguriken. He's been getting faster by avoiding by the narrowest of margins Kasumi's katana and she's gotten really good at it," Ranko stated. A smile came to her face. "I love how she can just boss Father around with it. It scares him for some odd reason, but I am not one to complain. Not in that area anyway."
That seemed to upset Ryoga. "He's faster?" Ranma could dance circles around Ryoga even before what Ranko said. Now it would be impossible to hit him. What good was all his strength if he couldn't land a single blow?
"Yeah. It sucks, doesn't it?" Ranko admitted. "Which is why I think we need to work on specifics. I need to get stronger, you need to get faster." She decided to stand down then. They weren't going to do more sparing until they came up with a plan. "And since you have fought my brother the most, I'd like you to tell me everything you know he can do. Everything."
Ryoga was only too happy to oblige. Anything to take the pigtailed martial artist down.
-----
Cologne was in her room in deep thought for hours before finally getting up, heading back to work in the kitchen while leaving the letter Razor had left behind in the room.
Not even a minute later Mousse entered the room through the window. He had used his tools to make certain his entry remained a secret, as well as every precaution for the old bat not finding out he was here.
If she catches me, I am dead. He knew in more ways than one. But he still had to find out what that letter said.
As he took it in his hands he gulped and opened, filled with hope.
'Nice try, Mutzu. Now come downstairs for your punishment.'
Mousse blanched. What... But how? Groaning, he should have known he wouldn't have fooled the matriarch that easily and decided to get what was coming to him.
-----
Akane walked over to the Nekohanten and found Mousse, as a duck, having to take out the garbage. I don't want to know. She shook her head, knowing the Amazon's business was their own business.
She simply walked in the restaurant, looking for the one she came to find.
The restaurant had a few patrons, with Shampoo and a green-haired girl tending the tables while Cologne worked in the kitchen.
Another Amazon! Akane's brain screamed, instantly recognizing the clothing and Chinese features of the girl. She could already imagine the headaches involved now if she stayed. Now, though, she waited until the girls were done with tables before making her move.
Shampoo did notice Akane coming into the restaurant, but did nothing to give away that fact.
Akane waited until had finished with her table before approaching her. "Can we talk?"
The Amazon girl turned to look at Akane curiously. "What kitchen-destroyer want?"
Akane bit back the urge to snap at that comment. Instead she said what she wanted. "I want to fight you."
Shampoo blinked her eyes in confusion. "Stupid-girl have death-wish? Go home and play with bricks."
"I don't have a death-wish and I am done playing!" Akane snapped. "Why is it so hard for any of you to take me seriously?!"
"Maybe because you no is real warrior," Shampoo suggested innocently, wanting to see Akane lose her control once again.
To the side Razor watched the interaction trying to hide her interest. She'd heard from Shampoo stories about the people in Nerima, and in those stories Akane was mentioned more than once.
Akane's fist was clenched, but she let it go. "I am not a warrior. That's not what I want, unlike you. What I want... What I need is to test my skills and prove myself."
Shampoo sobered at that. "You is not choosing opponent wisely," she stated seriously. Martial arts being important to her she had to take Akane seriously... Somewhat seriously, she amended.
"Who else is left to accept?" Akane questioned. "I've already tried Ukyo. Ranma won't take me seriously, I've already lost to Ranko, and I don't dare try Kodachi, she's too insane."
Shampoo pursed her lips in thought. "What kitchen-destroyer want to prove? Shampoo win fight in five seconds."
"... If that happens, it tells me just how bad my skills are," Akane said grating her teeth as she stared at the Amazon. "Win or lose, I have to know my level."
Shampoo nodded seriously. "Shampoo give Akane what she want after work."
"Meet me at the dojo," Akane told her. She started to walk away but stopped, not facing her as she said, only loud enough for Shampoo to hear her. "... Thank you." Akane walked out of the restaurant.
Shampoo blinked her eyes and shrugged, returning to waiting tables.
-----
Kasumi was outside doing some light housework. She was starting to find what she wanted but there were still chores that needed to be taken care of. Especially when it's your own laundry you are doing, she mused as she put her shirt out to dry and caught sight of a redhead. "Ranko-chan welcome... Home?"
Ranko panted, her clothing ripped, favoring one leg as her body showed she was beaten up. Kasumi went to her but Ranko held her hand out. "I... Get in the dojo, under my own two legs."
Kasumi didn't have the heart to say other wise as the redhead got herself inside the house before falling down and leaning against the wall.
Nabiki, who was reading a magazine on the couch, rolled her eyes. "Bad day, Ranma-kun?"
"Wrong twin, Nabiki-chan," Ranko groaned.
Now the middle Tendo sister sat up with a blink. "Ranko-chan? What happened?"
"Training with Ryoga... It's definitely not what I expected," Ranko muttered, catching her breath. "He's a walking tank."
"Ryoga did this to you?" Nabiki asked as she inwardly cringed. If Ranma saw his sister in this state, without her first planning for damage control, he would go on a rampage.
"I asked him to fight me seriously," Ranko said, standing up again. "I don't regret it at all." She smirked then. "I managed to get at least two-three good shots in."
Nabiki nodded and turned to Kasumi. "Can you help clean her up, Kasumi? I need to make sure Ranma-kun doesn't get a chance to see her." At least not yet, she added to herself. This turn of events could be used to her advantage...
"Of course, Nabiki," Kasumi said, helping Ranko up. "Come on, Ranko-chan. Let's get you cleaned up."
Ranko didn't argue as she walked with Kasumi into the bathroom, passing Akane on the way in. Akane stared then looked at Nabiki. "What just happened?"
"It seems, dear sister, that you're not the only one wanting to improve and prove something to Ranma-kun," Nabiki said cryptically.
"Um, speaking of that, we'll be having company soon. Amazon company."
Nabiki raised both eyebrows at that. "And why is that?"
"I asked Shampoo to fight with me," Akane said evenly. "She agreed."
Nabiki sighed and rubbed her temples. "Akane-chan... Just what are you going to get from that? To improve you need to spar with someone close to your own level."
"Who do we know that is close to my level here? No one!" Akane snapped. "I need to know Nabiki. I have to know where I stand." She walked off, intent on getting changed and ready.
Nabiki simply shook her head and decided that keeping Ranma away from the dojo would be a good idea. A very good idea.
-----
Two hours later Kasumi was back outside, picking up the laundry. It had been a real chore to clean Ranko up and also make sure that if Ranma saw Ranko, he wouldn't think she was a brutal fight. She had to admire the will the redhead to go through with it. I've only recently gotten into their world. And yet, I can understand how they feel about honor and their need to prove and push themselves. I don't think I ever truly understood it back then as well as I do now.
Folding the last piece of laundry, she saw a familiar and an unfamiliar face. "Greetings, Shampoo. Who is your friend? Another one of your cousins?"
Shampoo smiled at Kasumi's greeting. "Hello, Nice-nice girl. This not Shampoo's cousin. She Amazon healer Razor."
Said girl nodded to the eldest Tendo sister in respect.
"Pleasure to meet you Razor," Kasumi gave a bow to the girl. "Akane is waiting in the dojo. I hope you'll be serious with her when you do spar."
Shampoo bowed back and went to the dojo, wanting to get this over with so she could spend some time with her Aireen.
Kasumi eyed Razor curiously. "So Razor, what do you know as a healer in your village? Do you know how to fight or are you limited only to healing?"
"All Amazons know how to fight. Unlike Shampoo, I'm not a full warrior," the girl answered with a much better Japanese than Shampoo's, even if heavily accented.
"You know your Japanese well," Kasumi said.
"Us healers usually have more work with books," Razor said and smiled. "And I've found myself studying some Japanese scrolls."
"Why don't you come on in? Would you like some tea?"
"If you don't mind," Razor said, also interested in seeing the man that was to be Shampoo's husband, since he made such an impression on the proud Amazon girl.
Kasumi brought Razor into the house, picking up her katana, which she had left in the doorway. She didn't let go of it as they went into the kitchen. As she prepared tea, the katana remained close by, if not in her hands.
The Amazon was quick to notice such, but coming from a society of Amazon women she didn't think much of it. Kasumi's passive behavior didn't seem like the one of a warrior, yet at the same time the ease with which she held it made the Amazon realize she was probably like some of the other healers in the village. Passive but still warriors.
"Do you practice with a weapon or are you a hand-to-hand specialist?" Kasumi asked as she set the tea down for the two of them, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Several, though I'm most skilled with a staff," Razor said and took a sip of the tea. She blinked her eyes and took another sip. "This is really good."
"Thank you. Having spent a decade as a housewife, one would think you could make a perfect cup of tea," Kasumi replied, taking a sip of her own.
"You're already married?" Razor asked in surprise, wondering how young she was to be a housewife for a decade.
Kasumi shook her head. "No. I have simply been a housewife in the place of my mother who died ten years ago. I fulfilled all of her duties."
The Amazon nodded in understanding and decided not to pursue the subject.
"I have recently, however, found a way to break through that binding and am starting to find a new purpose for myself," Kasumi said, taking a sip of her tea with one hand while the other firmly held the katana tightly.
"It's good that you do. Serving the family is a man's job," Razor said and wondered about the girl's openness with a complete stranger.
"I'd say it would be both a man and woman's job," Kasumi replied. "To raise a family..." They heard the sound of a crash against a wall.
Razor didn't look surprised. "Fight over."
Kasumi simply nodded. Shampoo was more skilled than Ukyo. She knew her sister had to have lost.
-----
Akane was picking herself off the ground, limping and barely making herself able to stand. She had tried as hard as she could, used everything she knew, and yet Shampoo tossed her around like a child. Her performance in the face of that was absolutely pathetic.
"Akane should stop now. She no good to keep fighting, yes?" Shampoo asked as she stood a couple of feet away, not even breathing hard. Not even bothering to assume a fighting stance.
Akane stared down at Shampoo, looking at her furiously. She wanted to fight, she wanted to wipe that smug look off her face.
And yet she knew she'd only end up as unconscious as Ukyo made her when she continued to fight. "... I submit," she whispered, falling to her knees in defeat.
Shampoo nodded and bowed slightly to Akane. "Akane now know what she wanted."
"Yes... I am pathetic," Akane whimpered.
"You'd be pathetic if you kept fighting."
Both Akane and Shampoo turned to see Ranko standing in the doorway. "You have improved and if you can't see what you have improved in then I'll ask you this, 'Do you think you are the best now?'"
Akane had her head bowed still.
"There will always be someone better than us. Someone even better than my brother exists or will exist one day. The path of a martial artist is to improve oneself, but before that, one has to accept the flaws one has."
Akane opened her eyes and saw Ranko's hand held out.
"If you are willing to listen and learn, then I will train with you, at your level and help you," Ranko said evenly. "All you have to do, is ask."
Akane stared at the offered hand. An offer of help for herself. Part of her was screaming to reject it. To keep doing her own thing. To improve her own way.
And then there was this other voice that had grown over the last few weeks. The voice of reason and one that was telling her to accept her faults and her problems.
To accept help when offered and not be too proud to refuse it. "... Please, help me." She said, holding hand out.
"Yeah," Ranko said softly, taking the hand and helping Akane to her feet.
"Shampoo see now. Ranko-chan is too-too nice, like Kasumi," Shampoo said with a smile.
"I'm not like Kasumi, Shampoo," Ranko said, looking back at the Amazon.
"That what Ranko-chan say," Shampoo said and sprang out of the dojo in search of her Aireen happily.
Akane stared at Ranko for some time, not saying anything. "So... What now?"
"You practice Anything Goes, correct? Your side in any event?"
"What I do know," Akane muttered.
"From what I understand, the practitioner is supposed to incorporate and adapt to all styles thrown at them," Ranko said, shifting into a tai chi meditation stance. "Lesson one, grasshopper. You use too much rage. So we are going to start you off by learning how to calm down." She stared back at Akane. "And don't give me that look. I asked if you wanted me to train you, you agreed and now you gotta do what I tell you."
Akane shook her head and tried to mimic Ranko's stance. "Okay. Now what?"
"Now you just move exactly as I do and don't do anything else unless I say other wise." Ranko said as she started to instruct the youngest of the Tendo sisters.
-----
It was much later in the day when Ranma finally arrived home. When she did, even Shampoo had given up on waiting for her Aireen.
"Good evening Ranma-kun," Kasumi greeted him. "How was your day?"
Ranma smiled at seeing the eldest of the Tendo sisters with her ever-present smile. "Did a lot of thinking, Kasumi. How about ya?"
"I had a nice talk with Razor. She's a very nice and cultured Amazon," Kasumi said.
Ranma blinked her eyes at that. "Another Amazon is here?"
"She came with Shampoo to the dojo. She and I talked while Shampoo and Akane had a fight," Kasumi said casually.
Ranma instantly tensed at that. "Shampoo and Akane fought?!"
Kasumi nodded. "Akane's still in the dojo. Has been for the last four hours."
Ranma didn't even wait for Kasumi to finish before rushing to the dojo to check on the girl.
What she found was Akane AND Ranko together. Ranko was going through the motions of a tai chi meditation, eyes closed, while Akane was following her lead, eyes open to imitate the motions.
That... Certainly wasn't what Ranma was expecting to see.
Ranko then opened her eyes and moved into a standing position. "We're done."
Akane fell to her rear, exhausted. "I never knew... Mediation exercises... Could be so tiring..."
"Go take a breather. We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow," Ranko said to her.
Akane didn't argue as she got up off the ground. "Hi Ranma," she said as she passed Ranma by.
Ranma could only blink in surprise as the Tendo sister passed right by her. She didn't look too bad after a fight against Shampoo. "Sis... Did she really fight Shampoo?"
Ranko nodded. "Yeah. But she had the common sense to give up before Shampoo knocked her as unconscious as Ukyo did." She added then, "Sis. What happened? Ladle lady get you on the way home?"
Ranma frowned at the sis remark. "Ha ha. Very funny, shorty. But yeah... She did."
"You and water," Ranko shook her head. "Just what is up with that, honestly."
Ranma shrugged her shoulders. "I'd like to know too."
"So, what you doing now? Here to pick up some clothes, maybe have some dinner with Kasumi before we head on over to our other home for the evening?" Ranko asked.
Ranma blinked once again, but now she blushed slightly in embarrassment. "I... Forgot we're not going to live here."
"You forgot?" Ranko muttered. "How could you forget that?"
Ranma frowned. "Well, forgive me. I've stayed in the Tendo Dojo longer than I can remember staying anywhere."
"Sorry," Ranko apologized. "Sometimes I forget you didn't have a normal childhood. I at least had a semi-normal one." She stared at her sister again. "Are you going to get the hot water or should I do it for you? Unless you want to spend the night stuck like that."
"I was about to do that when Kasumi told me Akane fought Shampoo," Ranma grumbled cutely.
Ranko smirked. For what her brother did teasing her when they fought, she always got him back when he was her sister. "Come on. Let's go get you presentable and have some dinner before we leave."
-----
"Thanks a bunch, Kasumi," Ranma thanked the girl as he placed the kettle down, now back to his male form.
"Not a problem at all, Ranma-kun," Kasumi said as she sat at the table with everyone else.
The pigtailed martial artist did his best to ignore the look of satisfaction on Genma's face, it usually only brought him trouble, and turned to his food. He was rather hungry.
"So how was your training session today, Ranko-chan?" Nabiki asked innocently, knowing the girl wouldn't want her brother to find how that turned out. It was fun to see the Saotomes squirm when on shaky ground. That and she had thought for a couple of hours about the approach she wanted to take to this new turn of events.
"It went well," Ranko said softly, enjoying her tea.
Nabiki raised an eyebrow at the calmness with which Ranko took it. "It's good you didn't get hurt. I'd hate to think of you bruised and battered..." She trailed off with a smirk as Ranma's chopsticks snapped in his hand upon hearing that.
Ranko gave Nabiki a glare that told her in no uncertain terms, 'Try it and you're through'.
The middle Tendo sister just smiled back at the redhead before returning to her own food.
Ranma turned to look at his sister intently, then. Nabiki's words obviously igniting his over-protective instincts. "Did Ryoga return today?"
She knew couldn't lie to him. He'd know. "Yeah. He did. What of it?"
"Did you two spar?" He asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Yeah."
Ranma growled out the next question. "Did he hit you?"
Ranko rolled her eyes at him. "Well I don't think it could be considered a spar if we didn't hit each other now could it?"
"I see..." He returned to his foot calmly.
Too calmly...
"Don't EVEN try it," Ranko growled, glaring right at him and holding his right arm.
"Try what?" Ranma asked unconvincingly.
"I asked Ryoga to fight with me as he fights with you," Ranko growled, her eyes fixed on his. "I know the two of you fight against each other, but if you have any respect for me, you'll do absolutely nothing to interfere with our training or I swear I'll pack my bags and head back to Kyoto. Am I clear?"
Ranma's mouth dropped open in shock at that, his eyes wide as he stared at his redheaded sister.
The others on the table could do nothing but watch in shock, expecting Ranma's reaction to the statement. Genma was even a little hopeful that the redhead would indeed be leaving.
"... Thanks for dinner, Kasumi..." Ranma said tightly, some emotion creeping into his voice. After that he shook his sister's hand off, stood up and started outside.
Ranko stood up walked over to Genma and glared right at him, her eyes burning with anger and rage. She could barely contain herself from striking him but what good would hitting him do, really?
"I hate you. You are my father, and yet I hate you so very much for everything you have ever done to me! But even more so, I hate you for what you did to my brother, especially the part where you made him treat women as if they are china dolls!" She said, letting Genma have it verbally with every emotion she had. She looked over the Tendos. "... Sorry for the disruption." She said before she too walked out of the house.
Now we're getting somewhere, Nabiki thought with an inward smile as Genma tried to regain his dignity after being unable to defend himself from his daughter. She excused herself from the suddenly quiet table and walked to her room, thinking that Ranko was the perfect tool to make Ranma open his eyes to the realities of life. She only needed a little push for his unreal view of the world to upset her enough to do something about it.
"Nice gamble, but you better pray it doesn't come back to haunt you," Kasumi's quiet voice reached her ears
"This is something that has to happen, sis," Nabiki said, feeling entirely justified. Particularly now that Ranma was spending so much time with her eldest sister.
"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I'm particularly thrilled about your methods in this instance," Kasumi replied, frowning.
"And how would you go about it?" Nabiki asked. "Talking? We both know Ranma-kun is so hard-headed he needs something traumatic to change."
"I just hope there's not something to regret later," Kasumi sighed as Nabiki continued her way to her room.
-----
"Damn it!" Ranko shouted she made her way to the apartment. She hadn't been able to catch her brother since he left the dojo and it infuriated her. She wanted to talk to him and help him understand... "Huh?"
The apartment was empty, which didn't come as much of a surprise yet she saw a note on the kitchen table. She picked it up and read it, instantly recognizing her brother's horrible handwriting.
'Going on a training trip. Need to think.
Ranma.'
"... Baka," Ranko whispered softly as a single tear fell down her face.
To Be Continued...