A/N: I LOVE ALL OF YOU! You're all so wonderful and incredibly kind! +Sniff sniff+ So I tried my hardest to update as soon as I could, just for you! Yes, you, on the front row! Come up here, you big lug! +Squeezes you to death+
Adopted
Chapter 3
"I'm home!" Ranma hollered, walking in the door, his school bag over his shoulder.
"Then look out!"
Ranma jumped back barely in time to avoid Yunshin, who was running past, pushing a rag along the floor. When he reached the wall he turned and ran back the other way, leaving streaks of shiny clean floor behind him. Ranma followed him back into the living room curiously.
The whole room was emitting the smell of fresh lemons and cleaning detergent. Soun and Genma were moving furniture to the backyard, making way for Yunshin to clean the floors. Kasumi was standing on a chair, using a dusting rag to clean the high corners of the ceiling. Nabiki was sitting on the floor, the phone caught between her shoulder and ear, her palm pilot in her hand.
"No, I don't want ten cartons of Arm&Hammer! I said I wanted one carton of Pinesol! Are you incompetent?" Nabiki scowled as she yelled at the person on the other end.
Ranma hopped over Yunshin and his rag again as he made his way towards Kasumi.
"What's goin' on?" He asked her.
"Oh, Ranma! Welcome home!" She stepped down off the chair and led him towards the backyard. "I just decided that it was time to clean up a little bit. Would you mind helping us wipe down and polish up the furniture?" She gestured toward the pile on the grass.
Ranma smiled down at her gently. This was Kasumi's way of saying she was nervous about Akane coming home. "Sure, no prob, I can help."
Ranma took up a wet rag and scrubbed down the chairs and table. When he was finished, he vacuumed the couch and cushions, silently cheering every time he found a coin wedged between the pillows. Nabiki came out to bring him the Pinesol for polishing the wood furniture. Before she left, she held out her hand and told Ranma to empty his pockets. Ranma sighed and handed her the coins. She said it was for a good 'cause. Ranma just rolled his eyes.
"So, Yunshin," Nabiki said, leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen.
Yunshin paused in scraping the grime from the inside of the stove. "Yeah?"
Nabiki leaned down to help him. "You're an orphan, huh?"
Yunshin eyed her suspiciously. "Yes…"
"How long?"
"Why?"
"I'm just curious." Nabiki shrugged innocently.
"About eight years." Yunshin started scrapping again.
"Really? And you've been at Nishao all that time?"
"Yeah. I guess my grandparents dropped me off there when my parents died. My grandparents were old, and my grandpa was dying, so they weren't able to take care of me. I've been with sensei at Nishao ever since." Yunshin spoke casually. Nabiki watched him closely, to see if he was just acting, but it seemed he genuinely didn't mind about his past.
"So, uh, you ever think about being adopted?" Nabiki asked, wincing at the flakes of black that were coming from the inside of the stove.
"Naw, I liked being at Nishao. At one point I even wanted to grow up and inherit the place." Yunshin paused and eyed Nabiki knowingly. "But I'm still a kid. I can change my mind."
Nabiki grinned. "You're a good kid, Yunshin. I'm going to enjoy our new little relationship."
"As am I, Aunt Nabiki."
Nabiki paused at the new prefix. It sounded odd, and made her feel kind of old, but she found she didn't mind it coming from this little boy. She took Yunshin's hand and dumped a handful of old coins into his palm. "Yunshin, would you mind running an errand for me?"
"Sure…"
Ranma slumped on the newly cleaned and replaced couch. The sun was going down and they had just barely finished putting back all the furniture. Soun and Genma (panda form) had collapsed on the floor in front of him, wheezing and coughing like there was no tomorrow.
"Oh, grow up, you two," Nabiki rolled her eyes at them. "A little bit of house work doesn't hurt anybody."
"Everyone's tired, and I'm sure they're hungry, so I suppose I had better get dinner ready." Kasumi, with her hair frazzled and her body slumped from tiredness trudged to the kitchen.
"No worries, sis," Nabiki turned Kasumi around and sat her down at the table. "I got it all taken care of."
Ranma looked around. "Where's Yunshin?"
Soun and Genma looked around then shrugged.
"When was the last time someone saw him?" Ranma hopped off the couch and hurried into the kitchen, slightly worried.
"Like I said," Nabiki said when he came back to the living room. "I got it all taken care of."
With impeccable timing, the doorbell rang.
"Oh! That must be him now," Kasumi said. She didn't bother getting up to get the door because Yunshin was already walking through it.
"I'm back!" Yunshin said brightly as he walked around the corner into the living room. In his arms was a stack of pizza boxes. Ukyo walked in behind him seconds later.
"Nothin' like some Japanese style pizzas after a hard day's work, eh, sugar?" Ukyo grinned around the room as she set her stack down next to Yunshin's on the table. Soun and Genma—remarkably revived from their coma at the smell of food—were at the table in milliseconds, watching Ukyo with teary eyes.
"My dear, you are amazing," Soun said as he lifted up an okinomiyaki.
"-Ukyo,-" Genma's sign read. He flipped it over. "-I love you.-"
Ukyo laughed. "No problem. A little elf hopped into my place and told me all about what you guys were up to." She ruffled Yunshin's hair.
"Hey, you freeloader, back away from the okinomiyaki!" Nabiki stabbed the back of Genma's paw with her chopsticks. He started to tear up and dropped her food. He backed down at Nabiki's glare as everyone laughed.
Ranma smiled to himself as he sat down. He didn't think he'd seen them this lively in almost a year. And it wasn't just the clean house or the warm food. He turned and grinned down at Yunshin. He was laughing at Soun who was reprimanding his daughter for injuring an endangered animal. Nabiki ignored him and ate her food while glaring at the back wall.
"What?" Yunshin asked when he noticed Ranma smiling at him.
"Nothin'," Ranma dropped an okinomiyaki on Yunshin's plate. "Eat something."
Yunshin eyed him suspiciously for a minute before digging in. "Don't think that means you'll get a fact about Akane." Yunshin said through a mouth of food. "It doesn't count!"
Ranma just grinned.
Ranma yawned as he walked along the fence. His school bag was slung over his shoulder. Yunshin walked along beside him, writing something in his notebook as they passed the old lady with water who was washing her sidewalk.
Yunshin suddenly put his notebook away. "Ranma, do you feel…kind of odd?"
"Odd? How so?" Ranma reached down to feel Yunshin's forehead. "You're not gettin' sick, are ya?"
"No, I mean, doesn't today feel kind of odd? It's almost…ominous. Like something bad is going to happen." Yunshin looked around worriedly.
"If you're worried because Mr. Tendo was dressed like a woman this morning and Kasumi was baking cat-tofu, don't worry, that happens sometimes." Ranma dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Besides, isn't cat-tofu a good omen? I think—"
Ranma froze as he saw someone up ahead. It was a young woman leaning over the fence, looking into the canal. She was wearing a white wedding dress that was flowing behind her. "It can't be…" Ranma muttered.
Yunshin looked up and followed Ranma's gaze. "Is that…?"
Ranma broke into a run toward the woman.
"Wait! Ranma! It isn't her! It's not Akane! Don't!" Yunshin cried after Ranma, but his voice sounded far away, as if from another room.
Ranma stopped just behind the girl. He took a step forward and reached out to touch her shoulder. Right before he made contact, she spoke.
"Sunsets are pretty, aren't they? Especially when reflected on the water."
Ranma looked up at the sky. The sun was setting. Odd, hadn't it been rising just a moment ago? And circling the sun seemed to be black birds. No, wait…they looked more like little black pigs with wings, all of them wearing yellow bandanas…They all seemed to be snorting and oinking at him, as though they were laughing.
"What the…" Ranma squinted at the flying pigs and started to turn to see them better.
"Ranma," the girl said, grabbing Ranma's arm just before he put his back to her.
Ranma turned back around and gasped. Standing before him was most definitely not Akane. It was man with a full on black beard. He was wearing makeup and it was running as if he had been crying. Why the heck was this man wearing Akane's wedding dress?
"Ranma," the person's serene, girly voice had disappeared, to be replaced by a rasping man's baritone. "Don't you recognize me? Don't you remember me?"
Ranma backed away as the person advanced, sobbing manly tears and repeating his name over and over.
"I warned you, Ranma."
Ranma turned to look at Yunshin. "Yunshin, c'mon, you gotta help me! This person—"
"It's too late, Ranma," Yunshin said darkly. "You didn't listen to me. You didn't trust me." He took a few steps toward Ranma. "Now you've seen too much. I'll have to dispose of you."
Yunshin reached toward Ranma, and he seemed to get larger, to become more menacing.
"No, wait, Yunshin, I do trust you, don't—!"
Yunshin's hand barely touched Ranma's chest but he was blown backwards, crashing through the wire fence. He fell, down and down, into the bloody red canal below. The last thing he saw before he crashed through the water were the laughing black piglets as they flew around him like vultures…
"Don't kill me Yunshin!"
Bam!
"Ouch!" Ranma rubbed his head as he read the sign he had just been hit with.
"-Shut up, boy,-" Genma-panda flipped it over. "-I'm trying to sleep.-"
Ranma looked around the dark room as Genma snuggled back down on his futon. "Just a dream," Ranma said to himself, lying back down. "Just a really weird dream…"
Ranma never really got back to sleep that night. Every time he closed his eyes he saw a crying man in a white dress. It gave him Goosebumps. He gave up after a while and changed into his Gi. He still had hours before school started, and he hadn't trained in the morning in a couple days.
The house was completely quiet in the mornings. It was a relief. Before, Ranma would have given anything just to be able to sleep-in in the mornings. But now it was the only time where he could ever get a moments peace.
The Dojo wasn't empty this morning, though.
Ranma slid open the door and watched as Yunshin ran through a series of katas. He recognized Yunshin's form almost immediately. He was going through his exercises the same way Akane used to do.
Yunshin was halfway through a particularly difficult kata when he suddenly slipped and fell.
"Dangit!" Yunshin muttered, getting back to his feet. "I always mess up right there."
Ranma chuckled. That's the same place where Akane always used to fall, too.
"Here," Ranma said, entering the room. "Run through it again, I'll show you what you did wrong."
He watched Yunshin go through it, and right before he got to the difficult part, Ranma stopped him. "You're moving too fast. Slow down right before you do this kick and you won't get thrown off balance. Put your fist up, too, it helps even the body weight."
Yunshin did as he said, moving through it perfectly. "Whoa. Cool!"
Ranma stood next to Yunshin and they did another series of katas, in perfect unison.
They slid the doors to the yard open as the sun started to come up.
"Why are you up so early?" Yunshin asked Ranma as they moved their practice to the grass.
"Erm, just couldn't sleep. How 'bout you?"
"Couldn't sleep either, especially with the 'Don't kill me, Yunshin!' that the whole house heard." Yunshin snickered when Ranma flushed.
"Was I really screaming that loud?"
"Almost as if I was really trying to kill you. What were you dreaming about, anyway?" Yunshin grinned.
"Heh, uh, just some weird stuff…" Ranma took a defensive stance to change the topic. "So, uh, how long have you been doing martial arts?"
Yunshin shrugged. "Five years."
"Oh yeah? You're pretty good. Ya know, for a kid."
"Thanks. But I didn't really start getting good until Akane came to stay. She taught me a lot."
Ranma nodded and smirked. He knew it. Akane was always eager to show off what she knew. And without Ranma or any other of the martial artists from Nerima there, she was probably the best one around.
"Wanna spar?" He asked Yunshin.
Yunshin cracked his knuckles. "Sure, but I'm warning you, I'm better than I look."
Ranma dodged and twirled as Yunshin threw punches and kicks at him. He grinned when he saw Yunshin get frustrated that he couldn't lay a finger on him. He slowed down and crouched slightly, bringing himself down to Yunshin height.
"C'mon, you'll have to hit harder than that!" Ranma said as Yunshin punched him in the shoulder. "Concentrate! You can't just flail around wildly!" Yunshin just got madder and moved faster. "Nope, wait, stop." Ranma stopped moving and so did Yunshin. He took a deep breath and gestured for Yunshin to do the same. "Now, concentrate. Think before you move."
Yunshin came at him again, but this time with that hard, determined look. Ranma took a swipe at him, just to see what he would do. Yunshin ducked under it, rolled between Ranma's legs and kicked him in the back of the knees. Ranma fell flat on his back.
"That was good!" He said to Yunshin, who beamed with happiness. "Ready? Let's do it again."
Yunshin nodded excitedly and Ranma smiled down at him.
Kasumi thrust open the back doors and smiled at Ranma and Yunshin on the lawn. They didn't stop what they were doing, but paused to nod at her. Kasumi's smile broadened. She turned back to the kitchen, humming to herself.
"Oh my," she said when she noticed the spring in her step. She did feel lighter hearted today. She felt like she had a purpose. She opened all the windows in the kitchen, pausing to enjoy the breeze.
"Is it just me," Nabiki said, coming into the kitchen as Kasumi started breakfast. "Or do those two seem alike to you?" Nabiki jerked her chin toward the open doors and the back yard.
Kasumi smiled. "I think it's good for Ranma. He hasn't had someone to relate to in a long time. He's grown up too fast."
"Huh," Nabiki grunted. "Figures the only one he can relate to is a ten year old."
Kasumi turned to smile at her. "My, you look nice this morning. What's the occasion?" Kasumi asked.
"Do I?" Nabiki pulled on her black suit jacket and straightened out her slacks. She was wearing makeup and had straightened her hair this morning. "We're having a guest tonight. Would you mind making something special for dinner?"
"Of course I wouldn't mind!" Kasumi giggled. "What would you like me to make?"
"Do you have the recipe for Udon Noodles and Curry stir fry?"
"Oh, yes. That used to be Akane's favorite meal. I have it memorized." Kasumi smiled as Nabiki nodded to her and left the kitchen. Her humming became louder as she thought about dinner. For some reason, making Akane's favorite dish didn't bother her like it used to. She returned to her work with twice the vigor.
Nabiki stopped Ranma and Yunshin just as they were walking through the door.
"Goodness, look at you two," Nabiki scrunched her nose as she saw them covered in sweat. "Go get cleaned up, would you? And try to stay clean, we're having a very important guest for dinner." Nabiki stopped as her cell-phone rang. "What? No, I don't want a regular taxi! I wanted the limo company, idiot!" She nodded to Ranma and Yunshin as she turned and walked out the door, talking into the phone. "If you mess this up today, I will make sure you never have another job again…"
Yunshin looked at Ranma with wide eyes and he just shrugged. They headed to the bathroom, smiling as they heard Kasumi singing to herself in the kitchen.
"Hey, hey, Yunshin!" Soun danced a little closer as he twirled his noisemaker and waved his fan around. "Look over here!"
"Look at this, m'boy!" Genma hopped up and down on his head, balancing carefully on top of a rubber ball. Little sparks flew from his sleeves as he waved them around, blowing confetti everywhere.
Yunshin sighed again as he watched the clock. He dropped his chin in his hands, resting his elbows on the table, when it had only advanced a minute. He was so BORED. He lolled his head side to side. Ranma wasn't home yet, Nabiki wouldn't be back for a few more hours, and Kasumi had gone out for groceries. Was there no one left here to entertain him?
"Yunshin! Hey, look at this—!" Soun stood on one foot, balancing the fan on his nose. He put his hands in the air. "Ta-da! W-whoa!" He lost his balance, toppling back into Genma, who rolled backward off the ball, falling into the back door.
"Ouch," Genma moaned from underneath a dizzy Soun, confetti falling softly around them.
The ball slowly rolled across the room, bumping into Yunshin's knee. Yunshin picked it up and balanced it on his finger, twirling it around and around.
"I'm home!" Someone hollered from the doorway.
Yunshin sprung up as fast as he could, jumping onto Ranma as he entered the living room.
"Whoa, hey there!" Ranma smiled.
"Ranma! Thank goodness you're home! I've been so bored." Yunshin clung to Ranma's neck, dangling his feet over the ground.
"Hello, son," Genma said, trying to act cool as he pulled himself out from under Soun.
"Have a good day at school?" Soun asked, pulling the fan from his hair.
Ranma eyed them suspiciously as he lowered Yunshin to the ground. He didn't even bother asking about the confetti in their hair. He turned to Yunshin who was looking up at him with wide eyes. "How was your day?" He asked.
Yunshin beamed. "It was good! Kasumi and I made some cookies earlier! They were peanut butter!"
Ranma chuckled. "Oh really?"
"Yeah!" Yunshin jumped up and down, bursting with excitement. "And then your dad turned into a panda and let me ride him to the park. You should have seen all the kids that were staring!"
"Well, I'm glad," Ranma ruffled Yunshin's hair. The front door opened and shut again and Kasumi walked in with an armful of groceries.
"Hello, everyone!" She smiled at them all cheerfully.
"Ah," Yunshin ran over to her. "I'll help you with those!"
"Thank you," Kasumi and Yunshin disappeared into the kitchen. Ranma smiled after them.
"That boy seems to fit well with our family," Soun commented.
"Yes, everyone seems to have taken a liking to him," Genma grinned at Sound and then at Ranma slyly. Ranma frowned. What were they cooking up?
"Hmm, yes, everyone," Soun elbowed Genma with a wink. In seconds both men were patting Ranma on the shoulder knowingly.
"You know, " Soun said. "It's a shame a good kid like Yunshin doesn't have a family."
Genma smiled wickedly. "Girls are suckers for single fathers…"
Ranma started. The subject of fiancées or marriage had been unanimously banned since Akane left. The contract Genma and Soun had to marry their children had been pretty much dismissed. The three men were very sensitive about it, and hardly dared think about it, let alone talk about it.
Ranma wasn't quite sure what to say. He was irritated that they were trying to set him up with more girls to make more trouble for him. Ranma wasn't sure if he was in love with Akane; he had never really had time to test those grounds. But he did know that he hated the thought of forgetting her, of just moving off and wooing some girl he hardly knew. He didn't even want to know any other girls. He was completely content where he was, in the Tendo home.
He snapped back to reality, trying to shake the weird thoughts. The two men hadn't noticed he'd spaced out. They were guffawing to themselves and their brilliantness. Ranma didn't even think they knew what they were talking about. He supposed it was just the light mood, the at ease air they had had the last few days—the confirmation that their baby girl and ex-future-maybe-still-possible-daughter-in-law was coming home.
Ranma decided to answer, but carefully, so as not to remind them what they were saying. He wasn't really in the mood for Soun's tears right now.
"Pops," Ranma said airily, grabbing his father by the front of his Gi. "Why are you here again? Maybe I should call Mom?"
Genma froze up and Soun snickered. "Erm, no son, that's not necessary…"
"I thought you guys were gonna be living together. Did you make her angry again or something?" Ranma asked innocently. "Surely your life wouldn't be in danger would it?"
Genma started to sweat as Soun burst out laughing. Ranma turned, feeling successful in his evasion, as he walked away from the two men who had started a confetti fight.
Ranma paused in what he was doing to smell the air. Kasumi had started making dinner and the smells drifted toward him on a happy little breeze. Genma and Soun, after helping set the table—with one extra spot for their guest—were sitting in front of the TV. Both had tears in their eyes as they watched a show about endangered pandas.
"Come on, Ranma!" Yunshin said, bringing Ranma's attention back to him.
Ranma and Yunshin were sitting on the back porch, drinking lemonade and playing rock-paper-scissors to see who would help clean up after dinner. So far they were up to best 11 out of 20. They counted to three and then both showed their signs.
"Haha!" Yunshin said, snapping his scissor fingers. "Eleven! I win!"
"Best sixteen out of thirty!" Ranma demanded glaring at his paper hand. Yunshin smirked and readied his hand again.
The screeching of tires outside caught everyone's attention. Kasumi stepped out of the kitchen as Soun and Genma turned off the TV.
"Oh my," Kasumi smiled. "That must be Nabiki now."
They heard the slamming of car doors and then it was quiet for a moment.
Ranma and Yunshin turned as they felt someone walk up behind them. Ranma blinked, confused. It was a young girl, a few years younger than Yunshin. She stood on the grass, her arms folded. Her hair was wavy and walnut colored, hanging down to her waist. She was wearing clothes just like Yunshin's. They were old and dusty, with tares in the sleeves and knees. But despite her appearance, she looked down her nose at them with dark, amused eyes.
"Well, well, big brother," She stepped forward, toward Yunshin. "Long time no see."
"Kimiko!" Yunshin gasped, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Kimiko didn't say anything, just eyed him coldly. Then, all of a sudden, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Yunshin. Yunshin sighed, patting her shoulder. Yunshin suddenly gasped. Kimiko was squeezing him so hard all the air was being forced out of him. There was a snapping sound as Yunshin's back cracked. Kimiko pulled away, glaring down at Yunshin.
"You idiot," She snapped, smacking him on the head. "Do you know how worried we've been? Especially mom." She smirked as Yunshin paled. Ranma looked back and forth between them as they passed some sort of silent message. Yunshin and Ranma jumped as they heard the front door slam open. Kimiko shook her head. "You are so dead."
"Where is he?" Someone demanded from the doorway.
Ranma's jaw dropped at the voice. What? Ranma stood slowly, staring at the living room door, just waiting for the owner of the voice to walk through it at any moment. He was barely aware of Yunshin standing up next to him.
"Oh no," Yunshin whispered. He dashed across the living room and bounded up the stairs, disappearing down the hall. Kimiko just sighed and stepped into the house.
Steps echoed down the hall as a series of feet walked toward the living room. Nabiki stepped through the doorway. She scanned the room, nodded toward Kimiko, and then walked to the side.
Time seemed to freeze as the next person walked in. Ranma was afraid to breath; he didn't want to shatter the moment as Akane walked into the room.
She was the most beautiful thing Ranma had ever seen. She had grown. Her cheekbones were high, making her eyes look brighter and her lips seem plumper. She had truly grown into her curves, now. Ranma didn't know how he could have ever called her shapeless. Her hands and legs were long and slender, making her seem taller than she really was. It didn't matter that she was wearing ratty, colorless, second hand clothes. She was glowing.
Ranma's chest constricted and he remembered he was holding his breath. He exhaled slowly. She was looking calmly around the room with an unreadable expression on her face. She only paused for a millisecond as she saw Kasumi, Soun, and Genma. Ranma's breath hitched again as, in slow motion, she turned towards him.
What would she think? What would she say? Would she say anything at all? How did he look? He felt like an idiot, standing there under her gaze. He wanted to fidget with his clothes and touch his hair to make sure it was smoothed back. When was the last time he had shaved? Did he bathe this morning?
Ranma's heart crashed through his ribs into his stomach as she passed by him like she had the others. Her gaze turned to Kimiko next to him. Kimiko silently pointed up the stairs. Akane's head snapped in that direction. The impassive look was gone from her eyes. She scowled and stomped toward the stairs, skipping them and jumping straight to the top.
Ranma jumped at the rage and anger he saw in her eyes before she disappeared. What was wrong? Why was she so mad? There was a crashing sound as Akane tore open the door to one of the rooms and entered it. They heard thumps and crashes as Akane threw things around up there. What was she looking for?
Ranma closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Come on, Ranma, He said to himself. This is not the time to stare like an idiot. He opened his eyes slowly and looked around. His eyes were drawn to the stairs again. Come on, concentrate.
He looked at the faces of the others. Soun, Genma, and Kasumi were all frozen in place, staring at the stairs. Their faces were stuck in a look of shock. The only two who didn't seem to be in shock was Nabiki and Kimiko. They listened, interested and amused, as Akane tore apart the next room.
"Auntie Nabiki!" The voice was quiet, and completely ignored by those in shock, but Ranma, Kimiko, and Nabiki turned as tiny steps came down the hallway. There was a thump like someone falling and a small whimper. Nabiki hurried into the hallway and returned with a small child in her arms. He was a little boy, only about three or four with black hair and dressed in the same ratty clothes. Kimiko skipped over to them and kissed the small boy's "booboo".
Ranma raised an eyebrow. Who were these kids? They were obviously from the orphanage as well, but why were they here? And hadn't Kimiko called Yunshin 'big brother'?
Yunshin…
Ranma's head snapped toward the racket up stairs again, putting two and two together—Akane was looking for something, and Yunshin was the only one upstairs…
As if reading his thoughts, Yunshin appeared at the top of the stairs. He looked behind him, frightened at the crashing and booms coming from the back rooms. He slowly tiptoed down the stairs. He was halfway down, when the step beneath him gave an ever so soft creak.
Yunshin gasped as the crashing behind him immediately stopped. He threw caution to the wind and sped down the stairs two at a time, disappearing behind Kasumi's skirt into the kitchen.
Akane burst from the top of the stairs, landing at the bottom gracefully. She didn't eve pause as she saw Kasumi looking behind her into the kitchen. She gently moved her sister aside, much to Kasumi's shock, and entered the kitchen.
Ranma strode across the room and watched as Akane thrust open cupboards. She didn't bother closing them before she moved open to the next ones. She pulled out pots and pans and completely ignored the food that was still cooking on the stove. Just as she was dragging a chair over from the table to reach the higher cupboards, the pantry slid open and a blur ran from it. Akane turned just in time to see the sliding back door quiver. She stepped down from the chair and walked past Kasumi and Ranma again. Ranma let her pass, not wanting to get in her way.
Akane searched the backyard, quickly, but finding nothing, she ended up standing in the middle of the grass. The shocked and un-shocked family members had wandered onto the back porch, watching her scan the yard.
A growl ripped from her throat. She stamped her foot and threw back her head to holler, "YUNSHIN! YUNSHIN HIKAWA TENDO! I want you in front of me in three seconds or I will ground you for LIFE!" There was no sound. "1…"Akane started, warningly. "2…" There was a rustling in the tree across from her and a blushing and nervous Yunshin hopped down from the tree.
Yunshin didn't dare look up to meet Akane's eyes as she stalked toward him. Akane's nostrils flared and Ranma felt empathy for anyone who was on the receiving end of that. Akane's arms raised and Yunshin flinched, afraid of a blow. But nothing came. Akane crouched down and crushed Yunshin to her.
"Don't you EVER," Akane said forcefully but quietly into his ear. "Ever worry me like that again."
Yunshin buried his face in her short hair. "I won't." His voice cracked and he sniffed.
Ranma blinked, surprised by the unexpected action. He didn't know whether he should go over and join them or just smile and let them be.
Kimiko pushed her way to the front of the adults and hopped off the porch. She took the small boy from Nabiki's arms and they both ran over to Akane. Akane opened her arms and added them to her hug. The little boy clutched Yunshin's leg with tears in his eyes.
"I won't," Yunshin repeated. "Mom."
A/N: Bwahahahahahahahaha! I am a genius. I know, you don't have to tell me. But you know what else? I'm and EVIL genius! As is evident by that really bad cliffhanger! Haha! +All angry fans start to advance.+ Back, Back! +Swallows a potion and turns into a monster called "Jaquel". Climbs out a window.+ You shall never catch me! Mwahaha!