"Come on out Ranma." Ranma thought that Akane sounded far too eager.
"No."
"You need to show it off."
"Nope."
"Ranma." And now she was getting annoyed, wonderful.
Ranma sighed. "Fine." She said, unlatching the changing room door and stepping out into the boutique. Cooing met her ears and she flushed as the rest of the assembled group joined in on her suffering.
"It looks nice Ranma," Akane said, though whether or not she was serious Ranma couldn't tell. The other girl was smiling far too broadly for her comfort.
"The ruffles are cute." Kasumi agreed from the side where she was wearing a new beige sweater and black skirt.
"Maybe a bit too pink though," Nodoka said, pursing her lips. Unlike the others, she was being entirely serious.
Ranma picked at the edge of the cherry blossom pink dress she had been forced into. It didn't look that bad on her, even she could admit that but… "Can I get something other than a dress?" She asked icily.
"We're supposed to help you explore your femininity, you know that Ranma," Akane said with a smirk. Ranma glowered at her.
"You can do that without bright pink dresses." She growled.
"Perhaps." Nodoka sighed, casting around the fashionable boutique. Ranma's Grandmother could be seen talking with one of the shopgirls somewhere deep in the racks. "You should still have at least a couple. It'll make it easier for us to show we're keeping our end of the bargain."
Ranma frowned, but her mother did have a point. Still… "No ruffles." She insisted.
In the background, Kasumi let out a disappointed "aaaah".
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With Grace and Elegance
A Girls Und Panzer/Ranma ½ Crossover
Chapter Two: Mansions and Tanks
By: Grounders10
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The Rolls-Royce Phantom V bounced as it drove through a pothole in the road. Ranma paid the sudden rocking little mind as she stared out the window at the bland concrete walls and uniform houses of Yokohama whizzing by. One hand was toying with the braid of her hair while the other tugged at the too tight legs of her black slacks. The tailor said they fit perfectly, and so did her mother, but they just felt too tight after years of loose silk pants.
"I still think you looked good in ruffles." The other occupant of the Phantom V's backseat said. Ranma's eyes slid from what little scenery there was to the grinning brunette watching her over the edge of her textbook.
Ranma scowled at the other girl and received a giggle in return. There was a time when she had basically written off Kasumi as somewhere between an angel and a saint, now after a week of dealing with the fifteen-year-old version she knew that that had just been a very good act. No Nabiki was still the Devil of the three, but she definitely had competition at times.
"She did, didn't she?" Ranma groaned as her grandmother chimed in from the driver's seat.
"Grandma." She complained. The older woman just chuckled.
"You need to relaaaaax Ranma." Kasumi said with a shake of her head, "Don't be so tense."
Ranma sighed and leaned back against the doorframe. She folded her arms and looked out the window. Relaxing wasn't really something she felt like doing at that moment.
Kasumi frowned and bookmarked her page before shutting the textbook and stuffing it into the bag at her feet. "Ranma." She reached over and poked Ranma in the side. "No pouting." She said as Ranma squirmed.
"Stop, Kasumi~" Ranma complained, lightly swatting away the hand that was poking her.
"Then stop sulking." The brunette retorted, "You've done nothing but sulk and study for the last week."
Ranma grumbled but didn't deny it. She had been, rather understandably in her opinion, rather put out about this entire mess. Stupid bureaucracy, stupid Kuno, stupid- She squawked as Kasumi poked her again.
"No sulking either." Kasumi scolded.
Ranma sighed. "Fiiiine." She said.
"We're here," Himawari said.
The two girls looked up as the Rolls-Royce pulled off the main road onto a short driveway that led to a wrought iron gate set into the hedgerow. A single occupant guardhouse was set next to it and a fairly large, though not overweight, man stepped out and walked over to the driver's window as they stopped. Himawari rolled the window down.
"Welcome home Lady Hayashida." The guard said with a bow when he reached the car.
"It's good to be home, Yuuno." She replied, "Inform Michiru I've arrived will you?"
The guard dipped his head. "As you wish Lady Hayashida." The gate rattled and began to slide open.
"A good day then Yuuno," Himawari said, as the car started to roll forward.
"And a good day to you as well Lady Hayashida." The man called as they rolled through the gate onto a driveway that was flanked on both sides by hedgerows tall enough they nearly blocked the sun. Ahead the driveway turned where it reached a brick wall.
Ranma stared at the brick wall, there was a long slender object sticking out of an opening in the wall. As they got closer Kasumi let out a small 'ooh' of understanding.
"That's a bunker." She said.
It was, in fact, a concrete bunker with a small opening for whatever weapon that was to poke through painted as though it were an ordinary, if weathered, red brick wall.
"Good eye Kasumi." Ranma's grandmother praised as they rolled around the corner.
"What is that sticking out?" Ranma asked.
"A decommissioned seventeen pounder gun off an old Sherman Firefly," Himawari said as the driveway left behind the hedgerow. Gardens sprawled out on either side of the driveway all the way up the hill to a beautiful English manor house. Just from what Ranma could see the gardens alone were the size of the Kuno mansion.
Beside the main building was a single story brick structure that appeared to have been, at some point in the past, a stable. A vehicle that was clearly a tank, could be seen sticking out of one of several gates. It had a long squat body with a small turret set forward.
Ranma furrowed her brow at the vehicle. "Grandma, why do you have a tank?" She asked. Beside her, Kasumi sighed. She looked at the brunette and asked, "What?"
"Your grandmother is the Grandmaster of the Hayashida School of Sensha-do Ranma. Why else would she have a tank?" Kasumi said, rolling her eyes.
"Your mother did mention it when she introduced us." Ranma's grandmother pointed out from the front.
Ranma's mother had mentioned a school, but with everything that had been going on Ranma had flat out forgotten to ask what Sensha-do was. Sensha was tank of course, but... The way of the tank? "Grandma, " Ranma asked, "What is sensha-do?"
The car slowed noticeably, though it didn't stop, as the older woman looked back at her. "You don't know?" She asked, "No, don't answer that," She said waving Ranma off as she turned back to driving, "you wouldn't ask if you did. It is, like any art, a fairly complex topic. However, Sensha-do can be summed up as the art of getting the most out of your tank. Much like how Naginatajutsu or Kyudo are about getting the most out of the Naginata or Bow."
"There's a lot more than just getting the most out of a weapon to either of those," Ranma said. There were many schools of thought to wielding a Naginata, and Kyudo was very much a spiritual art with a great deal being made about the state of one's mind and body.
Her grandmother nodded. "Indeed there is. Sensha-do shares that complexity of nature. There are many schools of thought in Sensha-do, however, the Hayashida school is one of the four great schools along with others like the Nishizumi or Shimada schools." She said.
The Rolls-Royce trundled to a stop in front of the main doors of the mansion. "And here we are," Himawari said, turning off the car. A woman in a conservative black dress was taking the steps down two at a time as Ranma stepped out of the car.
"Lady Hayashida," The middle-aged woman said with a scolding tone, "You should have called. I would have had everyone here to greet you."
Ranma's grandmother sighed and shook her head. "And that is why I didn't. This was a visit to my daughter, not a visit from the Emperor." She replied.
The other woman scoffed. "If not for you, then at least to welcome the young miss." She said, coming to stop before Ranma. After spending a moment to straighten her skirts she bowed. "Welcome Young Miss." She said.
Ranma could feel her eyebrow twitch at being called 'young miss'. She didn't hate being a girl quite as much these days, but she was not a young miss! As she was about to say something annoyed, and probably fairly rude, she was interrupted before she could insert foot into mouth by the sudden presence of Kasumi setting a hand on her shoulder.
She glanced at the other girl and Kasumi mouthed, 'be polite' to her.
Ranma swallowed her irritation. This was something she would have to get used to. If she bit the head off everyone who greeted her she'd develop a reputation. A bad one.
"Hello," Ranma said, bowing politely with a forced smile.
The older woman smiled. "Good, you can maintain some shadow of politeness. Even if you do need a hand to do so." She said as she rose from her bow. "Perhaps Lady Hayashida's task for me isn't entirely impossible." Ranma blinked. Had this been a test?
Ranma's grandmother chuckled as she came around the car and passed a set of keys to a young man who had followed the woman out of the mansion. "Ranma, Kasumi, meet the head of my servants, Michiru Oto. She will be in charge of ensuring you understand the social standards to which all St. Gloriana students are held." She said.
Ranma groaned. "Not this again." She muttered. Manners and propriety, oh god what had she gotten into this time?
"It's not that bad Ranma," Kasumi said, sharing a smile that, to Ranma, appeared to be ever so slightly strained.
"You say that." The redhead returned with narrowed eyes. Kasumi looked away.
"Ahem." Both of them returned their attention to Michiru. The head servant was watching them with one eyebrow raised minisculely. "If the two of you would follow me I will show you around the mansion before taking you to your rooms. Your things will be brought up by the servants." As she said this several large men, one of whom looked European with red-orange hair and beard, came jogging down the staircase behind her and went immediately for the trunk of the Rolls-Royce.
Michiru glanced at Himawari. "Lady Hayashida, we received a call earlier today from Mrs. Nomura." She said.
"Oh really." The few age lines on her face deepened as she frowned. "What does the brat want now?" She asked.
Michiru shrugged unconcernedly. "She wished to ask if you might consider bringing your offer more in line with the official procurement policy. She seemed to think you were insulting her. I would have set her straight, however, I was informed of your approach at that time. With luck, she may be still waiting on hold."
Himawari sighed. "Damned shortsighted busybody. Very well." She turned to Ranma. "I would have preferred to see you to your rooms as well, however, it appears I must attend the stupid and shortsighted once again." She paused, "However if you do meet Mrs. Nomura at St. Gloriana I would appreciate it if you withheld my opinion of her. It would simply make things more complicated."
Ranma nodded. She wondered who, exactly, Mrs. Nomura was. "I can do that." She said. Kasumi voiced agreement beside her.
"Wonderful. Don't create too much trouble for Michiru then." Himawari said with a smile before heading for the mansion, taking the stairs two at a time despite her age.
"Well then, please follow me," Michiru said after the older woman disappeared into the building. She started for the door and both Ranma and Kasumi hurriedly followed.
The entrance hall was simply a large tiled entryway with a single grand stairwell leading to the second floor and hallways branching off into the different wings of the mansion. Michiru paused at the base of the staircase and turned to them.
"This is the grand entrance hall." Michiru said, "From here you can access most of the mansion from here. To my left," She gestured to the side, "Is the North Wing. To my right, the South Wing. Behind the main staircase is a set of stairs leading down to the servants quarters, kitchen, and storerooms. You are not allowed down there unless you have been given permission or there is an emergency." The two of them nodded when she paused. "Good. The door to my left leads to the first floor of the North Wing wherein can be found the family library, the trophy room, several sitting rooms, and the smaller dining room. Dinner will be there at six o'clock tonight. Do not show up before six."
This was definitely starting to remind Ranma of her time at the Chardin's. Not even five minutes and already the rules were piling up. Her annoyance must have shown because Michiru sighed.
"The food will not be ready for you before and I will not have you getting in the way of those bringing in the food." The head servant said before continuing. "The door on my right leads to the first floor of the South Wing. Inside is the large sitting room, the large dining room, the great room, and the games and recreation room. The exact contents of it I'm sure the two of you will enjoy exploring for yourselves later."
"Can you tell us something about it?" Kasumi asked politely.
Michiru smiled. "There is a TV, and a Billiards table set up amongst other recreational items. We have amassed quite a collection over the years." She said, "Now, please follow me." She walked up the staircase to the first landing, the two girls close on her heels. She turned onto the southern flight of stairs. "Neither the South or North Wings have access from the first floor outside of this staircase. Also, the third floor is only accessible via staircases inside the second floor of each wing."
Michiru led them into the South Wing. "The second and third floors are intended for guests of the family. While I will admit it sees little use these days, in decades past we used to have guests from around the world staying here. I haven't seen this wing even half-full since before I ascended to my current position over a decade ago. Still, that silence has some benefits, as you will see Ms. Tendo."
As they went Ranma noticed that while the Mansion's interior was styled in some European fashion she couldn't name it was not the same gaudy white with silver and gold leaf everywhere that the Chardin family had used everywhere. The floors were hardwoods, the walls papered with a variety of red and earth tones, and the furniture possessed a simple dark elegance.
"How so?" Kasumi asked.
"As you are an important guest I have taken the liberty of having one of our nicest rooms prepared for you," Michiru said. The corridor came to a T intersection and she turned right down the new hallway. "Just up here." She said, leading them to the door at the end of the hall. A simple oak door with a brass handle that stood across from a flight of stairs that led up to the next floor.
The door was ajar when they reached it and when they stepped inside they found a young woman in a black dress that was similar to Michiru's. She was humming softly as she dusted the large window beside the four-poster double bed.
"Ahem." Michiru coughed.
The maid jumped and spun, nearly losing her grip on the cloth she was using. "Oh, um, hello Mrs. Oto." She said bowing hurriedly.
"I believe I asked you to be finished an hour ago." The head servant said blandly.
The young woman blushed. "Yes, um I lost track of time." She said staying bowed. "I'm sorry Mrs. Oto."
"Stand up straight girl. Is it done?" Michiru asked.
The girl stood straight, her back a bit too stiff. "Yes, Mrs. Oto." She said.
"Then leave us." The girl scrambled for the door, hurriedly murmuring apologies as she left. Head servant sighed. "My apologies, Young Miss, Miss Tendo. This should have been finished a while ago."
"Oh, its no problem," Kasumi said, shaking her head.
"Standards must be kept Ms. Tendo, and I'm afraid that Miss Yanagi is a new hire and is still learning them… More slowly than I would prefer." The older woman sighed.
Ranma "hmmed" quietly. It seemed a bit strict to her, but then again her grandmother seemed the type to expect a certain type of behaviour from those around her. And they had already said she was going to be getting 'etiquette' training later. Even if they hadn't used those words.
Kasumi frowned. "If you say so." She said before looking around at the room. "This is a very nice room." She said.
"One of the original guest rooms, back when the manor was built in the late fifties." Michiru said, "Unlike some other rooms I would say it has aged well."
Ranma had to agree. The room was just a bit bigger than either of the Tendo's guest rooms and had a doorway leading somewhere opposite the window. The walls were papered a dark green with a repeating pattern of gold vines and leaves that wove a beautiful pattern up to the white ceiling. The floor was a dark lacquered wood with dark red rugs placed around the room. A brass chandelier hung from the ceiling.
At the far end of the room was the four-poster bed with a pair of end tables, both of which had brass lamps. A vanity sat against the wall beside the window and by the door, kittie corner from the window, was a coffee table, several overstuffed armchairs patterned after the wallpaper, and an end table with another lamp identical to those by the bed. A wooden chair with a green cushion was by the window.
"Through the archway straight ahead is the bathroom," Michiru said. Kasumi walked over and peered around the corner.
"There's a couple other rooms here." She said.
"The one on the left is the walk-in closet." Michiru said, "The one on the right leads into a small study with a desk. Perfect for all the studying you will be doing for the rest of the week."
"Hmm." Kasumi nodded. "It's very nice. Much larger than I'm used to though."
Michiru smiled. "It is a proper guest room, intended for friends of the family. Do enjoy your time here." She said. A rattling behind them in the hall drew their attention as a pair of men carrying Kasumi's luggage entered the room. "Ah, good. Into the closet with those if you would." She said.
"Yes, Mrs. Oto." The first said, leading the way into the closet. He murmured apologies as he squeezed past Kasumi. Then, as quick as they had appeared, they were gone.
"I'll have the maids put your things away while you're busy today," Michiru said.
"That's very kind," Kasumi said, bowing to the head servant.
"You are in our care for the foreseeable future. It is only proper that we extend the proper courtesy." The older woman said, returning the bow before straightening and turning to Ranma. "Now, while Ms. Tendo gets settled in, I will show you to your room young miss." She paused, "unless you wish for Ms. Tendo to see your room?"
"I wasn't planning on hiding it," Ranma said.
Michiru nodded. "As the current heir to the family your safety is considered paramount. We are not allowed to show anyone not of the family to your rooms unless you give permission." She said. Behind her, Kasumi gasped.
"I'm the heir? Since when?" Ranma asked. This was news to her.
"You didn't know?" The head servant sounded surprised. "I see, well you see the Hayashida family follows a Matrilineal inheritance model due to the Family's school being for women. While Miss Nodoka and Lady Hayashida had a falling out Lady Hayashida never disinherited her. Despite pressure from others in the family. As her only child you are the heiress to the family, and always have been."
"Oh." That was… Huh. That was the sort of thing she should have been told before.
Michiru shook her head and sighed. "I'll add it to the list of things to educate you on once you have completed your entrance exams." She said, "Now if you still wish for her to be shown, she may come along." Ranma just nodded. "Very well. This way please." Michiru walked out into the hallway. Ranma and Kasumi followed her as she led them back towards the entrance hall.
Kasumi leaned over to Ranma as they walked. "Are you alright?" She asked.
"Hm, oh. I'm fine." Ranma said, shaking her head to clear the lingering surprise. "Just didn't expect to be, well, the heir."
Kasumi nodded before, thankfully, changing the subject. "That room is massive," Kasumi said.
"I'm almost worried about how big mine is going to be. I didn't realise mum's family was this rich." Ranma replied, "I haven't seen a place this fancy since the Chardin's."
Kasumi frowned. "Yes well, hopefully, this goes better than that did." She said. Ranma could only nod her agreement.
"Trust me. It's already going a lot better." The redhead replied. For one thing, there had been a decided lack of iron corsets, and while Michiru's choice was dress was reminiscent of the governess she had yet to demonstrate anything and disturbing as that woman… or really anything disturbing at all, which was almost strange in and of itself.
Passing through the entrance hall they walked along the hall above and behind the staircase before passing through the far side into what Michiru called, "The family apartments." As they walked down the hall they passed a few rooms with open doors, one of which was clearly an office in which Ranma's Grandmother was briefly visible on the phone.
"... same commitment has cost St. Gloriana victory many times. The Mark XI and my other two donations will help ." She was saying as they went by. The door of the office clicked shut and cut off the rest of the conversation before they were another five feet down the hall.
Michiru led them down a small side corridor which terminated with a double glass door that led out onto a small balcony. On the right was a single large double wooden door. On the left was a staircase leading up. The head servant ducked behind the stairs and they followed. Tucked away beneath the staircase was a door painted to look like the wall. Michiru reached towards the door then stepped back as it swung open and two more maids exited the room. They both had to duck under the low arch of the door.
"Bags have been stored in the closet for the moment Ma'am." The second one, her hair nearly as red as Ranma's, said as she stepped out. She had a thick accent that made understanding her difficult.
"Excellent job, as usual," Michiru said, smiling at the maid.
"Not a problem Ma'am." She said, before bowing to Ranma. "Enjoy the stay young miss."
"I will," Ranma said. Her eyebrow twitched at her form of address. The maid smiled, half-bowed again, and headed off to whatever it was she needed to be doing.
"Miss Kure has been with us for a while. She will be in charge of ensuring your room is cleaned everyday," Michiru said, still smiling. "Now, allow me to show you your rooms, young miss." Really was everyone going to call her that at every opportunity? Well, at least they weren't calling her Ojousama… then again she wasn't really sure which was worse. One made her sound like a small child. The other made her sound like a princess.
"First, how to get in." Michiru said as she closed the door.
"How to get in?" Ranma repeated, "It's a door."
Michiru stood aside and waved Ranma forward. The first thing Ranma noticed was that there wasn't a doorknob. The wall underneath the stairwell was wood panelling and the door blended right in except for the slightest impression that only stood out because Ranma had seen it open seconds before.
"Why is it a secret door?" She asked.
"You are the heir of the family, and this is the apartment for the heir." Michiru pointed out, "This door is supposed to be the last line of protection for you."
Ranma just gave her a flat look. "I'm not exactly in need of physical protection." She said.
"So I have heard, however, most of our heirs have not been as physically capable as you." The head servant reached into a pocket and withdrew a pair of plastic cards. She held one out to Ranma. "You will need this." She said.
Accepting it, Ranma turned it over. One side was fairly normal for a plastic card. Barcode, magnetic strip and odd block pattern… whatever that was for. The other side, however, was a picture of the manor house as seen from the end of the driveway.
"Now," Michiru said leaning over to the door. "Watch." She tapped a seam half way up the door before drawing the hand up three. "Seam, three panels up. Press gently up and slide right." She pushed the panel up and slid it right. It disappeared into the wall revealing an open space with a large brass ring. She grabbed the ring and pulled it out before turning right. "Pull towards you, turn until it clicks." As it turned the base of it moved to reveal a card reader. "Swipe your card."
She looked to Ranma who, after a moment, swiped her card. The reader beeped and the keypad lit up. Michiru typed in a code. The screen flashed and there was a loud click before the door unlocked and swung open gently. "And there we go." She pulled the door shut. "Now let's go through it again."
They went through the process twice more before Michiru reset the password on the pad and had Ranma enter a new one of her own. She used Akane's birthday. "If that was the birthday of someone you know you should know not to use that in the future." Michiru said. When Ranma looked at her quizzically she explained, "Birthdays are among the most used passwords. Anyone who knows there's a numerical password here will try those first."
Finally, they ran through it once more and when it opened Michiru led the way into the room and the two girls followed. Kasumi had to duck to avoid smacking her head against the top of the doorway.
The room they entered was not, as she had expected, the bedroom. It was a small room with a single door directly across from them and a sliding door to their left. Also to the left was a small coffee table surrounded by a handful of comfy looking armchairs.
"A tea room, for entertaining guests." Michiru said as she walked across to the doors. "The sliding door leads to a small washroom for guests only." Then she threw open the door and stood aside with a small bow. "Young miss, your bedroom." She said.
"Oh, wow." Kasumi breathed and Ranma had to echo her. The room was… big. If they had thought Kasumi's room was large, this room would have made it look modest. Long and rectangular, the room was about double the size of Kasumi's. There were three windows spaced evenly down the right wall with heavy curtains of soft blue wool hung around the window. At the far end was the bed much larger than Kasumi's. A four poster bed with a canopy and soft blue sheets decorated in pink cherry blossoms.
As Ranma stepped in she looked around, taking in the room. The walls were panelled with dark wood along the bottom and a soft blue wallpaper a few shades darker than the sheets with more pink cherry blossoms. In the center of the room were a pair of small sofas around a coffee table. To the right of the door was a small sitting area with several large bookshelves and to the left was a double door. A large picture hung beside the double door.
It was a painting of what appeared to be the larger sibling of the tank out front in the desert. In the background of the painting more tanks like it could be seen. Some were firing at an unseen foe, others were burning, and others still had vast plumes of dust flying out behind them as they sped across the sand.
There was the usual selection of a vanity, dressers, a wardrobe and several more pictures. Some of the pictures were of men and women in military dress while others were of tanks and other armoured vehicles in deserts, forests, and jungles.
In the far left corner was a tightly spiraled staircase that led to the next floor and next to it was an archway that led into another room.
"To the left here is your bathroom." Michiru opened up the double door. The dark wood flooring gave way to marble tile and decorative glass murals.
Ranma took a quick look about, but other than the very large bathing area, with both a shower and a bathtub set into the floor large enough for a large family, it was just a bathroom. A fancy one with too much brass, gold, shiny stones and murals for her taste; but just a bathroom nonetheless.
A single door was across the bathroom from the double doors. "Your closet, I'll have your things hung later." Michiru said. Ranma nodded absently. This was… this was a lot more than she had expected when she had been told she would be living with her grandmother.
"Ranma." Kasumi grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the bedroom.
"Kasumi, what you doing?" Ranma protested as the other girl dragged her out of the bathroom and across the room.
"You're sulking. Stop it." The brunette said. Behind her Ranma heard what sounded like the head servant laughing.
"Be careful around the furniture." The older woman called as she followed them into the main room.
Kasumi dragged Ranma over to the bed and jumped onto the end of the bed, pulling Ranma with her. It was with a startled squeak from the brunette that the two of them sort of… disappeared into the mattress.
"What is this?" Ranma called as she tried to pull herself upright. The mattress was quite possibly the softest thing she had ever laid on, but sitting up was like trying to escape quicksand, and she had done that before.
"Oh dear. Perhaps a bit too soft?" Michiru murmured as she walked over.
Ranma pulled herself into a sitting position and glared at the barely visible in her own hole Kasumi who was lying there with a grin. "Really Kasumi?" She asked. All she received was a giggle and Kasumi waved happily, but declined to move.
"You were being too sulky. You've got a bigger room than me, and we still haven't seen everything." Kasumi said with a smile.
Ranma groaned. What was going on with Kasumi? She'd been like this on and off all week. One moment somewhat serious and polite like usual, the next giggling like a schoolgirl and trying to get her into trouble.
"There is quite a bit more." Michiru said.
"There is?" Ranma said with disbelief before looking towards the doorway near the bed. "Is that a kitchen?" She asked spotting yet another room on the far side of what appeared to be a mostly empty room.
"For education only." Michiru said sternly. "Regardless of your own skill you aren't to use it without supervision from the head chef or his assistant. And the other room is the music room. Up the stairs is the sun room. And tucked behind the stairs is a study."
Ranma blinked and leaned back, peering behind the stairs. Sure enough there was another door tucked behind them.
"Inside you will find books, a desk and chair, and a piano for practice should you wish to learn." Michiru said.
"What is a sunroom?" Kasumi asked.
"A room for relaxation and artistic practice with excellent natural light. Art supplies are available up there if you wish." Michiru said, "Though during summer it can get fairly warm."
Ranma hmmed. Well that was one room she probably wouldn't be using. Her artistic ability was firmly limited to stick figures and oddly shaped blobs.
"Now, I'll leave the two of you to your own devices." Michiru said with a bow. "You have today free so please enjoy yourselves. Explore the grounds, read a book, practice whatever art you see fit. And remember once you leave please change your password and inform myself and your grandmother. While you are welcome to bring Kasumi into your rooms at any time, she is not family and should not know your access code."
Seemed a bit harsh, but she wasn't the one setting the rules here. "Alright." Ranma nodded.
"Good. Dinner is at six. Enjoy your day Young Miss." Michiru bowed, then left.
Ranma sighed then flopped back onto the bed. It was fluffy, but a bit too soft for her tastes.
"It's nice." She admitted as she sank a bit more into the bed.
"Yeah it is," Kasumi said from her own little crater beside Ranma. "So you don't know what Sensha-do is?" She asked after a minute of silence.
Ranma shook her head. "No. I've heard the term in passing a few times, but I never learned what it was." She frowned thinking. "I might have asked pops once, but I think he just mocked it without telling me what it was."
"That does sound like him." Kasumi said frowning, "I wonder what it's like to do it."
"To do what?" Ranma asked, though she had a feeling she knew the answer.
"Sensha-do. It's not like other arts." Kasumi said. "I've heard it's about working with a team and outsmarting your opponent. Something that anyone could pick up without needing to spend decades practising to master."
"Tanks have limits though. They're machines, they break too easily." Ranma said. She had had enough experience with machinery to know that it tended towards being unreliable at the best of times.
"So?" Kasumi shrugged, "Most of us aren't you Ranma. We can't shrug off boulders or play with trees like matchsticks."
Ranma blushed. That was… very true. Sometimes it was hard to remember that most of the world was far less durable than she was. "I guess." She conceded.
Kasumi shook her head and stood up. "Well we've wasted enough time here, let's go exploring." She said, grabbing Ranma by the arm and pulling.
Ranma rolled her eyes, but let the other girl pull her up. She had to admit that she was curious about the mansion as well.
"Come on, we'll start downstairs," Kasumi said as she led her out the door and through the tea room.
"Can you stop dragging me?"
"No."
-0-0-0-0-0-
The family only section of the north wing was, except for a sitting room with a nice TV, entirely bedrooms. Most of which had at least a keypad and card reader for a lock. Ranma's card triggered all of the ones they tested even if they didn't have the codes to get in.
When they reached the entrance hall Kasumi led the way down to the first floor, taking the stairs two at a time. It was a strange experience for Ranma. Even knowing that there was more to Kasumi than the vapid if still caring facade she had adopted as things in Nerima had gotten crazier it was another thing to see her practically sprinting down the stairs.
"Slow down," Ranma said as she walked down the stairs at a more sedate pace. "You're not Akane. If you fall it's going to hurt."
To her surprise, the other girl just stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry at her. "I'll be fine." She said, spinning in place as she took in the entrance hall. "I'm hardly a fragile doll."
Ranma paused a couple steps from the bottom as, for perhaps the first time, she was distinctly reminded that Kasumi and Akane were actually related. Normally it was hard to imagine the brunette and her blue-haired firecracker of a fiancee actually being sisters, they were so different. That, however...
"What's gotten into you?" Ranma asked as she stepped off the stairs.
"What do you mean?" Kasumi asked as she looked at the four doorways that led out of the room. One led to a sitting room just off the main entrance, while two more led into hallways that were probably just like those upstairs. The last was the main entrance. The brunette was spinning in place, mouthing something to herself as she did.
"This," Ranma waved around in general, "You're acting more excitable than Akane." Technically not that hard to do. Akane was on most days fairly calm until you said just the wrong thing. Still, it was out of character.
Kasumi stopped, her finger pointed out the main entrance. "This way." She said setting off a good clip.
"Kasumi," Ranma called after her before sighing and running after her. The brunette had taken the front steps two at a time like the inside staircase and was more than a dozen feet down the path towards the stable building when Ranma finally caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder. "Kasumi." She spun the taller girl around and in the process nearly ran into her.
Kasumi stumbled but recovered before directing a frown at Ranma. "Really?" She said, annoyed. "I can't just enjoy my free time a bit?" Her hands were on her hips and her lips had formed a severe thin line.
"It's not- That's not what I'm saying." Ranma said, internally she was groaning. She'd gone and stepped on some kind of landmine. Again. Her and her stupid mouth, running before thinking. "You're just acting- You're not this-" Ranma just waved her hands around searching for some kind of description that wasn't going to make the entire thing worse. As it turned out, she didn't have to.
Kasumi glared at her for a moment before her look softened and she sighed. "I guess maybe I'm being a bit out there, hmm?" She said before taking Ranma by the shoulder and slipping her arm around Ranma's. "Let's talk and walk then. I'll explain."
Ranma let herself be dragged along, mildly alarmed by the sudden emotional about-face from the other girl. "What's wrong?" She asked, still assuming the worst.
"Nothing. For once." Kasumi sighed, "That's the thing Ranma. There's nothing to worry about. At least nothing I need to worry about because no one else is. Do you have any idea how long its been since that was true?"
"There's still studying." Ranma pointed out.
Kasumi scoffed. "I got straight A's at Furinkan while playing mother to my own sisters and managing the household. An entrance exam is nothing to worry about." She said. She fell silent for a moment as they walked over to the other building. "Daddy wasn't always there after mother died." She said finally, "Until Genma's letter arrived he almost seemed to have joined her. After though… well you know how crazy things got."
Ranma nodded, blushing slightly. "I- Things did get a bit, ehhh." She wiggled a hand in the air.
Kasumi giggled. "Eh indeed. Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep our home clean, repaired, and still able to pay our utility bills?" She asked.
Ranma gave her a flat look. "You and Nabiki made it rather clear early on." She reminded her.
Kasumi smiled. "Only the water bills. Heating all that water for baths all the time wasn't cheap." She said absently.
They reached the gate to the stable. The outbuilding was separated from the main house by more than just distance. A low wrought iron fence ran about it, delineating an area about three times the size of a high school soccer pitch. Sticking half out one of the large wooden gates was the squat tank. A couple of women dressed in tank tops and overalls were working on it.
Kasumi slipped her arm free. "Ranma." She said, settling closer to the fence, watching the women work on the tank. "I'm not running around acting like a fool because there's something wrong with me. I'm just… having fun. Because for the first time in a decade there's no one who is relying on me."
She turned back to Ranma, a radiant smile on her face. "So, we're a pair of schoolgirls with nothing to do. Let's have some fun." She said before running into the stableyard. The two women looked up from where they were working on a compartment in the back of the tank. Kasumi immediately started asking them questions, but Ranma wasn't listening anymore.
Ranma was thinking about what Kasumi had said. It had never struck her just how much Kasumi had actually been doing, and it kinda made her feel bad. How many times had she done something to make her work harder? Or just taken what she did as something that just happened?
She shook her head as Kasumi called her name and waved her over. Whatever, it was the past and Kasumi at least seemed to be trying to move forward, despite the weirdness that was following them even now. She started over.
-0-0-0-0-0-
"Ranma, look at this." Kasumi waved at the tank as Ranma reached her, "It's a- oh, what did you call it?" She asked the younger of the two women working on it.
The blond European woman smiled. "An Infantry Tank MK. III, Valentine Mark XI." She said, patting the armoured hull of the vehicle. "Fairly impressive little tank. Few issues mind you. The gun's the big one."
Ranma looked at the gun sticking out of the turret. It looked fairly impressive, but then what did she know? "Why?" She asked.
The mechanic gave her a bemused look. "You're Lady Hayashida's granddaughter, aren't you?" She asked.
"Yes?" Ranma raised an eyebrow.
Beside her Kasumi sighed. "And no, she knows nothing about tanks." Kasumi said, "It wasn't exactly a common topic in Nerima."
The woman nodded. "Well, guess I'll explain then." She wiped her hands off on a rag before climbing up on the turret. She patted the gun barrel with one hand. "This beauty is a QF 75mm. The number refers to the diameter of the bore in this case. Solid gun, but she's meant for shooting people, not tanks. Which makes her less useful in Sensha-do. You're not supposed to shoot the crew after all. Just the other tanks."
"Which have people in them." Ranma pointed out.
The woman chuckled and brushed a hair behind her head. "Between the protective lining we're required to install and the way they've designed the regulation shells the only way you're getting a lethal penetration is if someone fucked up royally."
"Marie, language." The other woman scolded, from where she was in the back compartment. There was a loud bang and a muffled curse as smoke floated out of the compartment.
"Worry about your own." Marie blithely replied before continuing on. "Now we're replacing this with a proper tank hunting weapon. The long barrelled QF 6lber Mark V. Much better weapon for Sensha-do. Between that and the two-ten horsepower GMC engine in the back when we're done our work this baby is going to be one dangerous little tank hunter. St. Gloriana is going to love her."
The other woman pulled her head out of the engine compartment. "Assuming they accept." She said, wiping her blackened face with her own rag.
"Why wouldn't they?" Kasumi asked.
"Stuck-up morons on the Sensha-do procurement board." Marie said, hopping down. "Bunch of old fools. They're the sort to claim they don't need anything more than those old Matilda II's and that churchill. You should have heard Lady Hayashida cursing them out when she first tried to get them to purchase those A15 Cruiser Tanks."
"Not that she'd like that getting around." The older woman said as she stepped down herself. "I'm Rei Miyake. Senior mechanic for the Lady Hayashida. It's a pleasure to meet you. Miss Ranma." She bowed politely.
Ranma returned it. "Nice to meet you." She said.
A loud crash echoed out of the open door. Followed by swearing and shouts to "watch out you idiot!"
Marie groaned. "Oh god, now what?" She complained.
"Let's go find out," Rei said, giving the open door a sour look. "I swear, it's one step forward and two back every day we work on those damned things."
"What's going on in there?" Kasumi asked.
Marie grinned. "Lady Hayashida picked up-"
"No talking about it." Rei reprimanded, clamping a hand over the younger woman's mouth. She shot an apologetic look at Ranma. "Orders from Lady Hayashida. No one outside the team is to know about what's going on in there at the moment. You could ask her, but I'm not going to risk my job by chattering, even to her Granddaughter."
If they noticed Ranma's half restrained twitch at being called a 'granddaughter' neither showed it.
"It's fine." Ranma said as another loud crash rang out.
Rei cursed loudly, getting an amused look from Marie. "Language old woman." The younger chided before chuckling as the senior mechanic flipped her off.
Rei sighed. "Well we need to get in there. Enjoy the rest of the day girls. Come on Marie." She started off for the door.
"Have fun you two." Marie waved as she followed her senior.
Once the two disappeared into the garage Ranma turned to Kasumi. The brunette was missing. Spinning on the spot she found Kasumi making her way down the side of the former stable.
Sighing, and feeling like this was quickly becoming a trend, Ranma jogged after her. "What are you doing?" She asked.
"I spotted a window down the side here." Kasumi said, leading the way around the corner. Wooden crates and old pallets were stacked against the side wall and at first Ranma couldn't spot the window. Then Kasumi pointed up. About three feet above the tallest pile of crates was a small slit window near the roofline.
"You aren't climbing that." Ranma said, giving the other girl a sidelong glance.
Kasumi rolled her eyes. "I'm not crazy Ranma." She said, poking the stack of wood pallets. It wobbled dangerously. "You can probably get up there without issue though." She gave Ranma an expectant look.
Ranma just looked at the rickety pile of boxes. "Why do you want to look in there?" She asked.
"Don't you want to know what they're working on?" Kasumi asked.
"A little bit I guess." Ranma admitted. Still, getting caught would cause trouble and they just got here. Then she made the mistake of looking at Kasumi. The other girl was smiling expectantly and gestured up at the window.
"Well~" Kasumi said.
Ranma sighed. "Fiiiine." She said, before examining the pile again. She lightly tapped the box at head height. The entire structure wobbled. Yeah, that wasn't safe to climb. That meant a different option would be needed.
A simple hop took her to the roof of the building. She tapped the roof's edge with her right foot. It seemed stable. She shrugged. If it wasn't she'd find out in a moment. She stepped up to the edge and then, with the practice of several years of doing this outside Akane's window, fell forward off the roof, gripping the roof's edge with her toes as she did.
She ignored the strangled cry of. "RANMA!" from Kasumi and peered through the window. The window was grimy with a layer of film that nearly made it impossible to see through. Nearly, but not entirely.
Inside she could see nearly a dozen people congregating around what was clearly a tank. It was an odd tank. About the same length as the one outside it lacked a turret. Instead there was an open box at one end with a gun that stuck out over the body of the vehicle.
Ranma tilted her head to one side in thought. The gun looked bigger than the one outside. A much longer barrel, but also much wider as well. It wasn't the only such vehicle either. Another one could be seen at the far end of the building.
As for the people they were standing around a large sheet of metal about the size of the open top of the tank. It was leaning against the side of the tank and a crane with snapped cables was hanging over it. While she couldn't make out any words it was clear from the way Rei was gesturing threateningly to one of the other mechanics that something had definitely gone wrong.
"There's a couple of tanks in there." Ranma called down, "Looks like they were lifting something on top of one of them and the cables broke."
"That's nice. Get down here would you?" Kasumi called.
Ranma shrugged and, with one smooth motion, flipped off the building to land beside a frowning Kasumi. "What?" She asked the other girl.
Kasumi continued to frown but then sighed. "I keep forgetting what you consider normal at times." She complained, "Honestly, I just meant for you to climb the boxes. Not to fall off the building."
"The boxes would have fallen over. Probably onto you." Ranma said with a shrug, "This was safer."
Kasumi looked up at the pile and hummed thoughtfully. "I suppose. Well, let's get back to exploring. You can tell me what you saw as we go." She said.
"Sure." Ranma shrugged and the two of them headed out to explore the rest of the property.
In Ranma's opinion, there wasn't much to see. She supposed the gardens were nice, but it was still only mid-March and a bit chilly at times. Though there was a badminton court and a swimming pool out back. Also, Ranma had found out the hard way that the borders of the property were surrounded by high walls concealed from view of the main building by tall hedges.
When they finished exploring it was nearing dinner time and they went looking for the dining room.
The dining room was located almost right beneath where Ranma's rooms were. The room was large, about half the size of Ranma's bedroom, with most of the space taken up by a large dark oak table that looked like it was probably older than the mansion itself.
A servant opened the door for them as they approached. The young Man bowed as they entered. "Good evening Young Miss. Miss Tendo. Your meal awaits." He said politely.
When they entered, Ranma's Grandmother was sitting not at the large table, but at a smaller one by the window. Enough room had been made for it by shoving the large table against the wall opposite the window.
"Ranma, Kasumi, did you enjoy your day?" Himawari asked as they joined her at the table.
"We just barely finished walking around the property." Kasumi said, "Your home is quite large."
"That it is. This property has been in the family for several centuries now." The older woman said, "We've been fortunate enough to be able to hold onto it despite being in the middle of the city." She looked at Ranma, "And you? This is your home from now on as well."
Ranma shrugged. "It's.. big?" She said, not entirely sure what to say.
Her grandmother just nodded and took a sip of her tea. "Well then, why don't you tell me what you've been up to while we eat." She said, gesturing to the platters in front of her.
Ranma raised an eyebrow as she looked at the very nice silver platters… covered in french fries and battered fish. "Fish and french fries?" She said.
"Fish and Chips are what the English call it." Her grandmother said, "And I wanted something a little less formal for your first meal here. Though you can be sure the head chef will inevitably start doing something fancy later this week."
Ranma grabbed some fish and chips from the plates and grandmother instructed her on how exactly you were supposed to eat fish and chips. It apparently involved a very tart white sauce, lemon, and vinegar. It tasted pretty good to Ranma, though she personally thought that Kasumi's cooking was normally better than this.
As they were eating Ranma brought up something that had been bothering her for the last few hours. "So Ms Oto brought up something earlier." She said.
Himawari sighed and set down her fork. "About being the Heiress to the family?" She asked. Ranma nodded. Her grandmother rolled her knife between her fingers. "I had wanted to put off telling you. I failed to communicate that with Michiru."
"Why me?" Ranma asked, "I'm not even an actual girl."
Himawari lifted the knife and pointed it to the door. "What did you see as you explored the estate?" She asked.
"Grandma." Ranma said warningly. She frowned at the older woman.
"Humor me, please." She said.
"Gardens, the tanks by the stable," Kasumi said.
Ranma frowned but nodded. "There was the pool, the tennis court and… Why are you shaking your head?" She asked.
"Not the things Ranma. What about the people? Did you see anyone who wasn't a servant?" Her grandmother asked.
Ranma looked at Kasumi who shook her head. Neither of them had seen anyone who wasn't wearing some form of uniform or doing some job for the family. "No one," Ranma said as Kasumi stayed quiet.
Himawari nodded. "The Hayashida school has hundreds of followers who follow its philosophies not just here in Japan, but around the world. Yet our family is all but dead. The main line at least. The less said about some of the branch families the better." She picked her cutlery up again and cut into another piece of fish. "Your mother is no longer socially acceptable since she ran away without a good reason. Despite that I refuse to simply pass it onto her sister."
"I have an aunt?" Ranma asked.
"You do, and she serves as an example that your mother got her poor judgement of character from me." Her eyes tracked to Kasumi. "This is not a topic to be had in front of people from outside our family. Unlike the disaster from before Ms. Tendo has no involvement in this matter."
"I can leave," Kasumi said, sliding her chair back.
The older woman waved her down. "Stay. There will be plenty of time on another day to discuss the family's dirty laundry. Still, the point is that I have no other viable option. Your aunt is unacceptable, and most of your cousins have no interest in the school. Well, other than one girl about a year older than your records claim you are."
"Does that mean I have to learn Sensha-do?" Ranma asked, resigning herself to the possibility. Honestly, she barely had any idea what exactly Sensha-do was other than Tanks.
Himawari shook her head. "No. Not unless you ask to learn." She said, "I tried that with your mother. All it left me with was an empty house and no heiress. Not to mention I imagine your mother would have more than words for me if I tried to force it on you."
"Oh." Well that was a bullet dodged, though was it her imagination or was Kasumi looking a little bit put out?
"Now, let us return to the meal, and please tell me what you did today," Himawari said. They dug back into the meal and small talk overtook them for the next half hour. Once it was done Ranma's grandmother excused herself. "Business piled up while I was away I'm afraid. I need to head back upstairs and make more phone calls." She said apologetically before leaving.
Following that Ranma and Kasumi headed back upstairs. They paused at the base of the stairs. "I'm going to do some reading and get settled in." Kasumi said, pointing towards her room.
"Think I'll go practise a bit, then go and poke around my room for a bit." Ranma replied.
"Well, good night then Ranma. I'll see you tomorrow." Kasumi said, waving as she started up the stairs.
Ranma waved back. "G'nite Kasumi." She said before heading out the front door. There had been a nice empty looking clearing out back, perfect for her to practise in. Now… where exactly had it been?
-0-0-0-0-0-
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
Ranma groaned as she stirred awake. She had, after several hours, managed to get to sleep on the overly soft bed. She shook her head and yawned loudly.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
"I'm awake." She called, sitting up and stretching. She yawned loudly again.
"The Lady wishes you to be informed that breakfast will be in ten minutes in the dining room. Please be there on time, Miss." The servant, a young woman whose voice Ranma couldn't recognize, said through the thick wooden door.
"Okay." She called and headed for the ensuite bathroom. There wasn't enough time to have a bath, but maybe she could manage a quick shower?
Seven and a half minutes later she exited her room, closing the oak door behind her.
In the dining room she found the other girl sitting with her grandmother. "Good morning." Ranma yawned as she sat down.
Kasumi just yawned in reply as she nibbled on a piece of toast. Unlike what Ranma had expected Kasumi looked like she had just thrown something on and dragged herself downstairs. Her hair was dishevelled and looked like it was rumpled on one side.
"Kasumi?" Ranma asked.
The brunette finally looked up from her plate and blinked at her. "G'morning Ranma." She mumbled sleepily from behind her toast.
Himawari chuckled. "It appears she spent too much time reading and not enough sleeping." She said as she sipped another cup of tea. She never seemed to not have a cup of tea actually.
Kasumi yawned, barely managing to remember to stifle it. "Mmm, sorry." She mumbled, "I was reading the maths textbook last night. Then it was four o'clock."
"Aren't you the one who told me not to worry?" Ranma asked. She had also done some studying the night before, but it was only a couple of hours before she decided to try and sleep.
"Not worrying, just lost track of time," Kasumi replied, taking a long drag from her own teacup.
"Scrambled eggs Ranma?" Her grandmother pushed a bowl full of eggs across the table.
It was at that moment Ranma realised that the table was laden with a very English breakfast selection. Eggs, bacon, sausages, and a small pillar of toast were all on the table. It looked, and smelled, delicious. A small bowl of oranges and apples sat beside Ranma's grandmother. The peelings from at least one orange lay discarded on a small plate beside it
"Sure." Ranma started piling food onto her plate.
As they ate, Himawari began to lay out how things were going to go. "So, starting today, both of you will be getting help from a cram Tutor. Ms. Carlile comes highly recommended, but she is not familiar with our situation nor is she part of my permanent staff. So please, do watch what you say." She said.
Ranma and Kasumi both nodded their understanding. Well, Ranma nodded her understanding, Kasumi seemed to just echo her a moment later.
"During lunch and after Ms. Carlile has finished with you for today Michiru will oversee your lessons in comportment." She paused as Ranma groaned. "I understand you may not want this Ranma, but St. Gloriana students are required to hold themselves to a fairly high standard of behaviour. Those students who average at least ninety percent and who are in good standing with their peers are invited into the Tea Garden."
Ranma sighed. That was not a surprise. From what she had learned over the last week St. Gloriana was a school for the rich or talented. "What's the Tea Garden?" She asked.
"The Tea Garden is a mixed use building. Mostly it is small lounges and tea rooms for visiting with friends or studying. The building also includes a rather respectable library on subjects important to the school and it houses the meeting rooms for the various alumnae councils who decide where the schools donations shall be spent." Himawari confirmed, "Those who are permitted entrance are given names based off of tea."
Ranma paused, her own teacup partway to her lips. "Tea?" She asked.
"Yes. St. Gloriana has something of a Teacup culture." Her grandmother said, "It's something that evolved out of our own family's fascination and association with England over the years. When St. Gloriana first started its Sensha-do club my grandmother was invited as its first instructor. She left a legacy there that has continued to this day."
It would seem that while she might have left the lunacy of Furinkan High behind, St. Gloriana had its own form of madness.
"Many traditions can seem silly, but they do have a purpose," Himawari said, knowingly. "Give them a try before you disregard them. You may find some enjoyment in them if you let yourself."
"Hmm." Ranma hummed non-committedly. It reminded her of martial arts Tea Ceremony and that had been nearly unbearable for her. Holding formal posture was taxing in ways other than the physical. Oh god, she hoped that this tea fascination didn't extend to formal ceremonies.
The rest of the meal devolved into small talk as Ranma's Grandmother shared a few stories from her own time at St. Gloriana until Michiru showed up to take them away to classes. Though not before the head servant had dragged Kasumi away scolding her for leaving her room without properly combing her hair. The other girl had offered protests that sounded too sleepy to be taken seriously to Ranma.
-0-0-0-0-0-
English manners were… annoying. Not hard, or difficult, but annoyingly precise. Hold the cup like so. Use this spoon for this. That spoon for that. No, don't use that knife like that. Hold it like so, and so on and so forth.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about the etiquette lesson was how much of it overlapped her previous experience at the Chardin's estate. And not in a good way. Apparently, English manners were different from French manners in small obnoxious ways that, as far as Ranma could tell, were entirely arbitrary and created merely to foster resentment.
Ranma sighed as she rubbed the back of her hand where Michiru had smacked it with a ruler several times. The skin wasn't even irritated, the middle-aged woman didn't have the strength to leave a mark, but she could still feel the phantom sensation of the strikes.
Across the table from her, Kasumi had her hand underneath a bundle of ice. As it turned out, Ranma had actually had a better grasp of fine manners than Kasumi. A mixture of her own experience with the Chardins, and the fact that Kasumi had been half asleep when Michiru was lecturing them.
"Are you alright Kasumi?" Ranma asked.
The brunette shot her a smile over the textbook she was reading. "I'm fine Ranma. My hand is a little sore, but I can deal with it. I probably shouldn't have been sle-ee-eping." She yawned and rubbed her eyes. "I'm just glad Ms. Carlile wasn't that strict."
"Only for you," Ranma said with a grimace. Kasumi had basically breezed through the tests that the woman had put before them while Ranma had struggled. Years of academic neglect didn't disappear overnight even when you had the time to study. Still, the young teacher had said she wasn't entirely hopeless.
"Just remember to study," Kasumi said absently as she went back to her textbook.
"Yeah, yeah…" Ranma sighed and cracked open the book in front of her. There was still a half hour until dinner, she could probably make some progress on the maths work she'd been assigned. Probably. Gods she hated maths.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Thank you to Gekkou_Yoko for helping with this chapter~ *Friendly Kitsune Tail Wave*
We haven't hit St. Gloriana's yet, but I'm hoping to make it there by the end of chapter 3. Instead we have a chapter about Nodoka's side of the family and Kasumi. I would like to know what you think about this Kasumi.
Also feel free to speculate on the future~ (I love hearing your ideas and thoughts!)