I don't own Ranma 1/2
"There you go one extra-large order of dumplings to go." Kazuma said to an already paying customer.
"You seem to have gotten used to this job of yours." a smirking Nabiki said sitting at the counter sipping her tea.
"Yeah it's not rocket science just smile, get orders right and give correct change."
It had been just over a month since Kazuma had gotten his job at the Nekohanten and since then things have enter a relatively routine pace morning rush into just before lunch and training in between. The apartment situation was still a problem as both Cologne and Nabiki insisted on "helping" which was less out of the kindness of their hearts and more of trying to keep him in sight.
The one thing that had was that due to Nabiki simply saying no Kazuma had to change jackets this one being a short sleeve hooded mid-night blue jacket. The trim and pockets however where black.
"So where everybody is figured the lunch rush everyone would be front and center?"
"Oh uh Mu-Tsu's on break and Koron went out for more ingredients. She should be gone the rest of the day." Kazuma explained while cleaning off one of the tables.
"And Shampoo?"
"Who do you think is cooking? Hey Xian-Pu you okay back there!" Kazuma shouted.
"Yes!" the voice of the amazon girl responded. "Shampoo hate this." she quietly sobbed from the kitchen.
"So did you find a new place to live?" Nabiki asked choosing to ignore the crying amazon.
"No, not one that'll get you and Cologne to quit ruining my interviews!" Kazuma growled out glaring at Nabiki.
"What!? I did nothing of the sorts." who had a shit eating grin while shrugging her shoulders despite fraying innocence.
"...Having fun there?" only to continue seeing the smirking Nabiki. "Okay so did YOU find anywhere nice enough? Kazuma asked emphasizing the you.
"Now that you mention it I have been looking around found a number of places that you'd just love." Nabiki responded presenting a list which was simply three names that Kazuma had only vaguely heard of.
"Sure it's nice that you went out of helping me but really only three. I mean you've had like what two weeks." Kazuma said before doing a double take at what she was wearing. "Nice outfit." he said sarcastically.
"Yeah it is." Smirking at the claim Nabiki rose to her feet and stated to pose. Currently she was wearing a very familiar jacket except with a few alterations. It was now sleeveless and was shrunken in order to fit a smaller frame. It was currently atop a red tank top and pair of jeans.
Finishing the posing with her back facing him. "So what do you think?" said Nabiki seductively looking over her shoulder. "And I mean the whole outfit and not just my ass." her smirking only growing once she saw were Kazuma's eyes wondered.
"Oh uh right they look I mean it looks nice, plump and round raahh... I'm just gonna stop." Kazuma sighed in defeat handing a couple of guys their orders who could only shake their head in sympathy towards his plight.
"Thanks." Nabiki said before a teasing smile appeared on her face. "You can look but you can't touch~! She teased with a wag of her finger.
"Hahaha very funny Tendo you hear how I'm laughing." Kazuma said sarcastically as he just finished taking care of the lunch rush. A smile formed on his face looking at the shop he could see that at least half the tables were in use. "So you were saying." he said with a sense of calm that seemed to flow to the customers.
"So my fantastically perfect booty aside I think they all have potential all are at least two bedrooms, rent controlled and two of them aren't that far from here."
"Nabiki Tendo I never thought I'd say this so soon after meeting someone, but I believe this may be the beginning of a beautiful "friendship"." Kazuma said as he laid out a plate of Ebi Chaahan.
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If there was one word Mikado Sanzenin would use to define himself would be playboy. Constantly surrounded by members of the fairer sex this young man's charm went unparalleled that is as long as he isn't being followed by her.
Currently walking beside him was a young woman with a large sack hung over her shoulder being none other than his skating partner and other half of the Golden Pair Azusa Shiratori. And while on the outside this pint sized ice skater with a smile that melt any heart in actuality a kleptomaniac who will throw a childish tantrum and resort to violence if denied.
Currently the duo was taking a stroll through the streets of Nerima, for Mikado it was a chance to scoop out some potential talent while Azusa a chance to find something cute to add to her collection.
"Now Azusa don't go wandering off, do you hear me no running off for anything no matter how cute something is." Mikado ordered looking to his left to see Azusa was holding a rabbit he didn't remember her having when they first started walking.
Before he could show his distain something caught his eye or rather someone. That someone being a brunette with a pageboy hair cut walking in front of him. From her large breasts barely contained in a tight top, her round behind that filled out her jeans connected to her long legs if he had seen her before he didn't know nor did he care.
Grabbing his partner Mikado quickly followed after the girl as she made her way into a semi crowded restaurant. Taking a seat at an empty table in the back as Azusa studied the menu, he began to study the girl as she sat at the counter.
From what he has learned she seems to know the cashier/waiter/busboy. That's when the girl rose from her seat and turned around reveal not only how busty she truly but also her face which sent the male skater into shock.
He remembered this girl this was the sister of the only person to not only deny him a kiss but also defeat him in a skating battle. After his defeat at the hands of Saotome he hadn't seen hide or hare of his future conquest. It seems however that fate has opened its door of opportunity.
"So are you ready to order?" said a voice coming from behind him.
Figuring this would be a good chance to get the elder Tendo's attention. "Yes my good man I..."
"EEEEhhhh Azusa wants that one, that one, that one, this whole page and those two." Azusa squealed excitedly as she pointed at pretty much the entire dessert menu.
"That's a stomach ache waiting to happen." Kazuma said more to himself then out loud. When Kazuma had first walked to the recent occupied table he simply thought it was just another couple on a date. That was until he noticed a. the guy was blatantly checking out Nabiki and b. the girl seemed more interest in all the decorations then anyone who's ever come into the shop. Now he just knew something was off with these two, sensing the deviousness coming from the male he instead choose to focus on the girl and her ridiculously long order.
"DON'T INTERUPT YOU BRAT!" Mikado shouted only to quickly compose himself. Before could enact his plan the waiter had already turned his attention back to his partner.
"So you want everything here?" Kazuma asked just to get a cute nod by the girl. "Well Azusa was it I can't in good conscience give you everything on this list."
Mikado could only smirk at what was about to happen, typical Azusa whenever someone said no to her things tended to get 'hectic'. Even now he could the tears of destruction start to leak from her eyes.
"Any minute now?" was the only thought that came to his mind as prepared not only the destruction and to enact his own plans. While Azusa had her freak-out he would slip through the crowd and talk to the brunette using his charm and good looks he would get all the information he needed on the younger Tendo and finally get that 1000th kiss. Heck with the way she looked he would even make her his 1001 kiss.
What he did expect however was for the waiter to hold up his hand stopping the tantrum of destruction.
"Hold that thought for five minutes I have an idea you might like." Kazuma said as he gave the girl a light pat on the head. "I'm Kazuma by the way." the introduced Kazuma said as he retreated into the back.
The table was ominously quite as the duo sat at the table one with an unreadable expression and one with a look of surprise. "Cough Cough Cough Well?"
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to get mad?"
Azusa looked at her partner before going into her pocket pulling out a comically large pocket watch (she no doubted stole) looking at it. "Not for 3.17 minutes." Azusa explained either not noticing or simply not caring about the shocked look on Mikado's face.
"You're joking right?"
"Don't get me wrong once these 2.27 minutes are up if doesn't have something impressive this shop is going to be nothing more than a pile of lumber so why not conserve the energy." Azusa explained in an alarmingly serious tone.
Before Mikado could rant and rave about how stupid that was Kazuma exited the back room holding a sheet covered large platter with exactly 1.09 minutes left. This drew the attention of patron in the shop.
"As I said I shouldn't sell this to you in good conscience so I hope this satisfy you instead." Kazuma said as he removed the tarp covered platter to reveal a variety of different things on the menu except each one was bite sized. "It's called a sampler."
"So cute!" Azusa squealed in delight.
"I did not see this coming." Mikado mused as he attempted to reach for the food only for a star struck Azusa slapping it away without looking away from the platter. (Said food was actually smaller than the ones actually sold but no one needed to know that).
"This seemed like a better idea then giving you twenty different things on the menu. So what do you think?"
He never got an answer however as Azusa was currently snatching every sampler she could hoping to add them to her collection. Well that was the plan before a dumpling was shoved into her mouth.
"Food is for eating not storing away, you're not a squirrel." Kazuma scolded. "Call me if you need anything until then I just got a new item to add to the menu." He said as he walked back to the counter, noticing the hungry looks the customers were giving the duo's (Azusa's) platter he could tell it was going be a long day.
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"Well that was a profitable few hours. I mean you somehow got everyone to agree to pay 3/5 of the price of like twelve different pieces each and they only ate like what a tenth." Nabiki congratulated her friend with a pat on the shoulder.
"Presentation is key. Oh and Shamps remind me to kick Mu-Tsu's ass for claiming the rest of the day as an and I quote "Mental Health Day." Kazuma sarcastically said while glaring out the door. Sure he had left when he first started working there but he was new and he at least left them with three employees instead of two.
"Stupid Mousse hear during break he challenge Ranma, no end well." the purple amazon said shaking her head in pity.
"Okay so this is the like the third time I've done some research on this Ranma guy and I have to say I'm not impressed." Kazuma causally said not noticing the looks both Shampoo and Nabiki were giving him.
"And before you two get all angry from what I've heard about the Anything Goes style seems less about the art of fighting and more about winning regardless about how you do it. I'm just saying no matter how good your win streak is, is it really a win if you get help or do some underhanded shit. I mean its martial arts not a street fight." Kazuma explained forcing the two to stop and think.
"So can we finally close up shop, because I think that's all of them?" Kazuma asked still facing the women before him.
"There are still two people here!" Nabiki could only giggle at Kazuma's mistake.
"STILL!"
The two in question were in fact Mikado and Azusa the latter of which was just finishing off her fourth platter. Just as she polished off her last piece Kazuma grabbed the platter and left a bill.
"Well could have been a worse way to spend my day. Got three girls numbers, Azusa's been distracted and that girl's still here." Mikado thought to himself as he rubbed his hands in anticipation. Making his way to the counter with Azusa in tow Mikado turned to Nabiki with his most charming smile (not that Nabiki cared).
"So here you go lowly busboy and tell your chief that their food was delicious not that I got to have any." Mikado out the last part while glaring at his partner.
Choosing to ignore the comment Kazuma began ringing up the order. "Okay that be 12,000 yen..." he started only to take a step back avoiding dainty hand reaching out to grab his magatama bead. Seeing that the hand was connected to a wide eyed Azusa. "So you wanna explain this?" he asked while raising Azusa's hand.
"Azusa want's her Raphael give it give it!" Azusa shouted as tears started falling from her eyes. That was until another magatama bead was shoved into her face only this one was different where as Kazuma's was silver this one was transparent.
Before the skater could complain the strangest thing happened the bead started change colors changing from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple then back to red.
"I don't know why your calling my bead Raphael this was a gift from my old master so I hope that one makes up." Kazuma said while patting her on the head. "I'll add it to your bill." he quickly added.
"Wait WHAT! I thought that was a gift!" Mikado shouted in surprise.
"Times are hard all around we're all taking hits." he while handing off a new bill.
"WHAT THIS IS RIDICLIOUS!" Mikado continued to shout noticing that the bill was now twice as much as it originally was. "Azusa give back the... Azusa...Azusa." Mikado tried getting his partners only for Azusa to simply stand there with a faraway look on her face.
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Azusa's Mind
All her life Azusa Shiratori only wanted two things with her life the first was to become the greatest figure skater be it martial arts or simply regular of all time. The second was to travel the world finding every cute thing she could find and add it to her collection. So far the plan was going fine on both fronts expect for one thing.
From Azusa's mind set everything cute in the world was meant to be her's and people only held onto her treasures long enough for her to find them. The problem was some people didn't get the memo and kept fighting her for what was rightfully hers.
Now coming into this kind of cute restaurant she meets this kind of cute guy who made the cutest food she had ever seen. And to top that off not only did he give her something but it was something cuter then what she originally wanted.
She knew now that he was one of the good ones, someone who understood her holy crusade and would gladly help her achieve her goals.
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Outside world
"Is she okay?" Nabiki asked waving her hand in front of the skater girl's face.
"Your guess is as good as mine. I've never seen her act like this before." looking to his partner he snaps his finger in front of her face. "Hey brat we need to leave."
Azusa remained frozen as a statue and quite as a mouse saying nothing, doing nothing just standing there. But before anyone else could say anything Azusa's shot up locking on to Kazuma. Then out of nowhere the young skater jumps across the counter and engulfs Kazuma in a glomp that would make Shampoo proud.
"My knight." whispered a love-struck Azusa.
"Ooookkaayy this is unexpected." murmured Kazuma not sure what to do. "So you gonna jump in and help or what?" he asked only to flinch when he saw the look Mikado was giving.
Mikado eyed the way his partner held onto the busboy making no attempt to let go, he even heard what she whispered. Now he may not have been a genius but the two things he knew better than anyone else was how girls act and how Azusa acts. And while they were practically two different species they had one thing in common.
Once the found something they like they will fight for it tooth and nail. And that look on Azusa's face was a strange combination of admiration and miss communication and the moment he saw it he knew this was his chance. This was it this was his chance to push Azusa babysitting onto someone else. He could keep Azusa as a partner but never have to take care of her anymore, if he could get these two together then he could reap the benefits.
With a creepy smile on his face Mikado places his hand on Kazuma's shoulder. "I approve."
"Approve of what? Nabiki, Shampie what's going on here?" Kazuma asked his friends who could only look at the scene with a smirk.
"Welcome to Nerima!" the two shouted in unison.
Chapter End
Notes:
I'm little annoyed that I couldn't get in a fight scene but you know that's life. And as for Azusa I've always liked the underdog in anime but it always annoyed me that Ranma 1/2 has so many great characters but instead they always have either one-shot characters or focus on Ranma and Akane's 'relationship'.