ClubCafé presents
The Widow : Chapter 6
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After Ranma had shown Kasumi the rest of his apartment, he went about making a light snack for the both of them. As he was in the kitchen preparing things, Kasumi sat down on one of the large couches in the living room and scanned the room until her eyes fell upon a small photo album laying on the center table. Picking it up she flipped it open to the beginning and looked at the first picture encased in its plastic sleeve.
It was a very tasteful picture of Ranma's mother while she was preparing something in the kitchen. The sunlight was filtering through a small window in the room, casting a few golden rays lazily over her shoulder as an out of focus toddler Ranma crawled about in front of the focal point. All in all it worked out to be a very nice shot, easily taking the viewer into what seemed like a simple time for a small family. Kasumi was pondering on the possibility of Genma being a hobbyist photographer when Ranma set down a small tray of onigiri and some tea on the table.
"Thank you Ranma, they look very tasty!" Kasumi said picking up one of the small packed rice snacks.
"You're welcome, they're not as good as yours obviously, but they do the trick." Ranma finished with a wink.
After taking a few bites, Kasumi looked back at the photo album and then to Ranma.
"I didn't know your father liked photography…"
"Heh man hard to tell huh? Yeah Pops loved to take pictures. He still does! You don't see him doing it often though, but I've seen him sneak off to the park sometimes with his old relic of a camera he treasures. Don't tell anyone though!" Ranma laughed.
After another pause, Kasumi ventured another question.
"Do you still keep in touch with your parents?"
"Oh yeah, all the time. Mom's always having me over for dinner and stuff, or just to talk and hang out, which is cool, and Pop likes to drop in for a spar once or twice a week. Sometimes we even go to a baseball game. That's pretty fun. You should see him, he gets so excited watching the guys pitch the ball."
"Your father likes baseball too?"
"Tell me about it. He used to prattle on about martial arts being everything there is to life, but I've seen his secret collection of baseball cards and stuff. He doesn't have too many, but he's got some really rare ones. What cooked my noodle was how he's had these things for so long and not even thunk about selling them. Hell he didn't even steal them. Got most of them when he was a kid, either from his Pop or buying them."
"Wow I would have never guessed." Kasumi sat in slight awe after having a small bit of Genma's past revealed.
"Yeah I think it's kinda cool, that he's got something like baseball and picture taking as his hobbies. Makes him seem like more of a dad you know? I mean, when we were on the road, we didn't have too much time or money for anything other than martial arts, but on my birthday every year, he would always make sure we were in a city so we could catch a ball game." Ranma smiled wistfully at the fond memories of his father and the times past.
After looking at a few more photos and delving into the past some more, Ranma was drawn out of his nostalgia by a yawning Kasumi. Glancing up at the clock, he noted that it was beginning to get late.
"Hmm getting kinda late. Sorry about that, I didn't think we'd be visiting the past for so long. I can take you home if you'd like, or you can stay here in the spare room, it's up to you?"
"Well if you wouldn't mind me imposing on you, I'd like to spend the night if possible."
"Yeah sure no problem. Lemme get a futon out for you. You can take a bath if you want, my tub's not huge or nothing, but it's nice to have. There's also a shower if you feel like it."
"Thank you Ranma I believe I will have a bath."
"Alright then, just straight down the hall."
After setting up a futon for Kasumi, Ranma made sure everything was ok before heading to the bathroom. Knocking on the door he cast his voice into the door.
"Your room's already, I'ma just hit the sack right now, ok?"
"Sounds good Ranma, goodnight!" Kasumi's voice echoed off the tiles of the bathroom.
"Goodnight Kasumi."
The Next Day
After bringing Kasumi back to her house, which Kasumi had enjoyed quite thoroughly, Ranma told Kasumi that he had a bunch of errands to run that day so she'd be mostly on her own.
"If you need anything though, you can call my cell." Pulling out a small card from his wallet, Ranma handed what appeared to be just his name and number in metallic blue script on a black card. Kasumi flipped it over once before putting it into her handbag.
"I wouldn't have thought you would have a cell phone Ranma. Heck, I don't have a cell phone…"
"Well technology's pretty cool you know? I'm just happy that I got my father to use the phone instead of just showing up at my place and waiting around forever cause I'm at work or something."
"Yes that would be convenient." Kasumi paused before looking at him funny. "So why do you have cards made up with just your name and number on them. Fancy cards too."
Ranma laughed and scratched the back of his neck in a sheepish sort of way.
"Haha well…you know…"
"Indeed I do. The Saotome charm at work no doubt." Kasumi said with a small punch to his arm as she turned to enter her home. Turning back to face him when she reached the door, she gave him a playful wink. "Well then, Ranma's phone number get!" With that she closed the door at a laughing Ranma.
Later That Day
It was early in the evening and Ranma had finished most of his errands when he felt the short vibrating pattern from his phone indicating him of a text message. Pulling into the parking lot of a convenience store he pulled out his mobile phone and flipped up his visor to read the screen better. Keying in a quick reply and sending it off, he then pocketed the phone, flipped his visor back down and set off for the meeting place outlined in the message.
After some short city riding, Ranma pulled into a familiar empty lot. Flipping the killswitch off on his bike, he took off his helmet and scanned the lot until his eyes fell on the gigantic travel backpack partially hidden behind a tree. Suddenly his danger sense wet off and he flipped himself backwards and held himself over his bike in a handstand, narrowly dodging a large blur that impacted the ground from above. Hardly waiting for the dust plume to settle, Ranma launched a kick straight into the dark form in the center of the haze, only to meet a solid resistance.
"Dammit Ryoga, what'd I tell you about making craters around my bike! You could have chipped the paint!"
A small breeze began to clear the dust away from the form of a grinning Ryoga, crouching low while his arms were crossed in front of him, holding off Ranma's kick.
"Aw quit your whining you big baby."
Ranma grinned as he lifted his foot from Ryoga's guard and rolled out of his handstand and placed his feet back on the ground. Ryoga uncrossed his arms and stood up into a firm stance. The two stared at each other before breaking out in huge grins. Launching forward the two clasped arms and patted each other on the shoulders.
"Long time no see buddy!" Ranma yelled out in happiness, eagerly shaking his friend's hand.
"Likewise! How are things for you? Staying out of trouble?"
"Haha you know me!"
"I do, trouble it is then." Ryoga grinned. "You got here quick! Were you close by?"
"Well not far. How is your mobile doing? Not broken I take it?"
"Yeah it's doing great! Thing's almost as sturdy as I am!"
"Haha I doubt that, but good to hear! I can't believe they made that thing for you…"
"Yeah, gotta love custom orders though." Ryoga laughed, pulling out a small yet bulky device that looked like a handheld computer.
"Man it still gets me laughing every time I hear that thing giving you directions! Turn right! No, your other right idiot!"
"Yeah you should hear it when I gets mad! I'm glad it's a female voice, otherwise I'd probably smash the thing!"
After they both shared a laugh, Ryoga put away his GPS mobile phone device and retrieved his backpack.
"So what do you feel like tonight? Sushi? Tempura? Sukiyaki?" Ryoga asked.
"I'm dying fro some teriyaki chicken right now!"
"Damn that sounds good. I'm down for sure."
"Great! I know this place near my house, great food, cheap booze and cute waitresses!"
"You're speaking my language buddy! Lead the way!"
"Well I gotta drop my bike off at my place, so I'll meet you there. You still got it saved in your GPS?"
"Course! I'll meet you there."
"Sounds good."
Later On at the Imperial Garden Restaurant
Laughter and cheers were abound in the small restaurant as Ranma and Ryoga performed tricks and jokes for the waitresses and patrons dining there. Most of the staff and locals knew Ranma and enjoyed the entertainment he and his friend brought. They clapped as Ranma balanced many of the table items and Ryoga juggled more and more items into the mix. Ranma even pulled out his rice teleportation trick, where he would transfer a bowl of rice grain by grain to another bowl so fast, people would think it was magic.
After settling down a bit and ordering more food, Ranma and Ryoga sat down at their table while a couple of waitresses on break flirted with them.
"Careful now Miyuki-chan, if you keep hanging off Ryoga there, your patrons are going to think this is a host club!" Ranma cheered, setting off a round of laughter from the table.
"Nnn you're mean Ranma-kun!" the waitress Miyuki playfully pouted. "Besides, Ryoga-kun is sooo strong!" she said while snuggling up against Ryoga's arm a bit more. Ryoga blushed a bit while laughing at her antics.
"Indeed he is!" Ranma said with a wink. Pouring everyone a round of sake, Ranma set the bottle down and cast a sly glance at Ryoga. "It's good to see you socialising with the girls after what happened back in Nerima."
A small shadow passed over Ryoga's features briefly before he shook it off.
"Yeah, it was for the best really. I'm glad things turned out the way they did. Even if I couldn't see it at the time."
Ranma chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah I'm glad I got out of that shithole. Away from that mess."
"Away from her."
Ranma just nodded. After a serious pause Ryoga lifted his cup to Ranma who grinned and did the same. The two waitresses who were quiet during the serious talk smiled and raised their cups as well.
"Well then here's to the good old days." Ryoga toasted with a wry grin.
"Heh, yeah. The good old days." They all raised their glasses and touched them together before slamming them back onto the table.
"Kampai!"
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Author's Notes:
Well not much to say here, another update so hooray! I've got most of the next chapter sketched out, so there shouldn't be a huge delay or anything. I'm trying to put more detail into things, so that'll hopefully mean longer chapters. The next chapter is going to be a bit dark, so just a heads up.
Again, thanks for sticking around with me through this. :)