Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that i claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:
For Love and Money, Chapter 6: A new challenger has appeared!
Qiang Pu was excited, as was evident to those who were getting to know the young amazon. She might try to hide it, or pass it off as something else, but it was clear to those that spent time with her that she was excited about this new phase of her life. The last week had been intense, to put it mildly. Koda had worked the young girl hard, and freely used the talents of the other ladies of the Teahouse to fill the vessel that was Qiang Pu's mind with as much knowledge as they could fit in one week.
Her Japanese was the most noticeable improvement. She still spoke with an odd accent, and was prone to falling back into her horrid pidgin at times when she was too excited or stressed, but overall it was getting better. She wanted to make a good impression, and to not bring dishonor or disgrace on the House of Tendo, a house that she was starting to see more and more as her own, just as much as she was a proud amazon warrior of the Joketsuzoku. Maybe it was okay to belong to both worlds? She had the feeling that her father would approve.
The fact that Elder Nabiki seemed happy with the direction things were going only made her more confident in her choice to try going to school in Japan.
She didn't know much of her father, but she couldn't help but see this as a chance to learn more about the man that she was sired by. An outsider male that was good enough for her mother to want to add his stock to the Joketsuzoku, that they would go to such lengths to gain what he had to offer. They had even resorted to the medicine of the outsiders to make her birth possible, a fact that she still didn't believe.
It was not widely known that Xian Pu had not actually bedded the outsider, that the child that would become Qiang Pu was placed in her belly using the medical science of the Japanese, something that they called in vitro fertilization. The very fact that the tribe would allow such things spoke volumes of the worth they put in this one outsider male.
It only deepened the mystery that was her father, as far as she was concerned.
She tried not to think of her mother, if she could help it. It was improper for a warrior of the tribe to worry about another warrior like that. It was a weakness that could be exploited, after all. And as the heir, she could not show any weakness, ever.
Still, she missed her mother. Not that Nabiki wasn't proving to be an exceptional mother in her own way, but how they raised their children in Japan and what she knew from the village were different, to put it mildly.
It still amazed her that people like Tachi and her father came from this strange land.
No weapons training or martial arts, unless the child or their parent wanted it. The way they raised their children should make them soft, weak, helpless. But instead, she saw a different strength, a different kind of competence and flexibility. She was confused by how many ways their worlds differed, but also by the similarities that lay underneath. Honestly, it was one of the reasons she wanted to attend school, to see if she could figure out the puzzle that was Japan. To see if she could understand her father and Nabiki better.
She was nervous about the prospect of meeting one of Nabiki's sisters, since that was one of the things that were lined up for later today. A chance to meet at least one of the siblings of her surrogate mother, and their partner. Relations between two women were not uncommon in the village, but at the same time the necessities of the tribe overrode everything else. Even among those that preferred the touch of another woman, it was common for them to have children with the men of the tribe, because otherwise the tribe would suffer.
She was also interested in meeting their little girl, a child that they had adopted. Taking in an orphaned child was not uncommon among the tribe, since every child was precious. As Nabiki came from a martial arts family, she seemed to understand how important the training the young warriors went through was, but she couldn't see why we took the risks with them that we did.
Perhaps in Japan, where it was far more peaceful it was not necessary to test the mettle and worth of every potential warrior, and they could take a more cautious approach to raising them and training them. Qiang Pu had her suspicions that her father had not been raised in such a careful manner, though. A nagging idea that lingered at the back of her mind, given what she had learned of her father's capabilities over the years.
It made the mystery of his relationship with Nabiki even more tempting to try to unravel.
Still for now she had best focus on her homework assignment from Koda, lest she disappoint her teacher. History was the subject for today, it seemed. All answers written in Japanese, of course. And docked for any mistakes in the writing, along with the answers themselves.
Koda was a scary teacher in her own way, it would seem.
Qiang Pu looked at the clock, shook her head and got to work. She had limited time, and much work to do if she was going to finish before they went to Akane and Ukyo's house for supper.
Qiang Pu was confident that her homework would pass muster, now she faced a challenge that was unlike any she had faced before. They were on their way to meet Akane and her partner along with their daughter. It was her one chance to make a good impression.
Nabiki glanced over and smiled at her ward "Relax, dear. They are going to love you."
"Qiang Pu is nervous, I want to make a good impression." Qiang Pu said as she could tell she had started to slip back into the speech pattern that she had worked so hard to move past.
"Just be yourself, dear. They are going to love you, just like I do." Nabiki said as they parked in front of Ukyo's restaurant.
Qiang Pu nodded a bit nervously before she got out and followed Nabiki to the door.
Nabiki knocked on the door and smiled as Akane opened the door. Akane smiled at her sister, then looked over the young girl before her before she bowed politely. "You really do look like Ranma. Please, come in. Make yourself at home." Akane said as Nabiki and Qiang Pu stepped inside, and followed Akane into the main part of the restaurant.
Ukyo looked up and smiled at Akane and their guests. "Come in sugar, sit and I will have our food ready right away." Ukyo turned her attention back to the grill as the others sat at a table, Kaya sitting in her high chair and fussing a bit.
Akane turned her attention to her daughter, taking care of her before she cast a look at Nabiki and Qiang Pu. "I'm glad we finally got to meet. I'm Akane Tendo, and the most amazing chef in all of Japan over there is my wife, Ukyo."
Ukyo waved and shook her head. "You know I'm not the best, just one of the best, sugar. I think you are a bit biased." She said as she waved her spatula at Akane.
Akane laughed and shrugged. "I'm entitled to be biased, since I love you and all." As her wife blushed and made herself busy at the grill, Akane grinned at Qiang Pu and settled Kaya into her lap for a bit. "So, how are you liking Japan so far? I heard you are going to start school soon?"
Qiang Pu glanced at Nabiki, then nodded. "Yes, Qiang Pu… I mean, yes, I am going to start school soon, thank you for asking, Tendo-san." Qiang Pu said formally, as she did her best to remember the lessons that Koda had taught her.
"So formal! Just relax, as far as Ukyo and I am concerned, you are family, Qiang Pu." Akane asserted as she settled Kaya back into her chair.
Qiang Pu nodded her head as she tried to settle down. She settled back into her chair as the older women started to talk about work, and how the families were doing. Qiang Pu had to admit to herself that she was getting lost once in a while, but it was a comfortable enough event as she watched the youngest Tendo and her wife.
When Ukyo brought their food, she looked at the plate that was placed before her. "I thought I would make you one of Ran-chan's favorites." Ukyo explained.
Qiang Pu blushed and nodded as she looked at the meal, quickly bowing her head as the manners that Koda had been trying to teach her sunk in. "Thank you very much, Ukyo-sama."
Ukyo laughed as she rested a warm hand on top of Qiang Pu's hand "Just Ukyo, sugar. You're family, after all."
QIang Pu blushed and nodded, a shy smile gracing her lips "Thank you, Ukyo."
Ukyo gave her hand a little squeeze and sat down, before she commented "She really is his daughter, after all. They both can be so cutely awkward at times." Ukyo smiled and winked at Qiang Pu while the other two started to laugh.
Somewhere, somehow, she had started to feel like she belonged. Like she was with family.
If she had to admit it, Qiang Pu was rather content with the situation.
Several hours later, a tired Qiang Pu is cuddled up next to Nabiki as she drives them home, a happy smile on her face. The dinner had gone just as she had hoped, with Qiang Pu making a good impression of herself, not like she had doubted she would for a moment, after all. It was just nice to have it confirmed by Akane and Ukyo.
The moment that had cemented things in her mind though was when little Kaya had reached out and gripped one of QIang Pu's fingers tight, giggling happily in that way that little children do. The look of pure joy and bliss that had crossed QIang Pu's face spoke volumes of what kind of person the twelve-year old girl was, and also of the kind of person she would grow into.
Nabiki nodded as she drove, a hand resting lightly on the side of the drowsing girl.
Come what may, she was going to do her best to keep Qiang Pu here, with them, if it was an option. Tendo's were all about family, and Qiang Pu was undoubtedly family.
She just hoped that when she took her new daughter to school on Monday that it went well.
But, it was middle school, what could possibly go wrong?
The following Monday, a nervous Qiang Pu stood outside of a classroom, shaking her hands out as she ran through what she would say and do in her mind once again. The other young warriors would have made fun of her, she was certain. The idea of being nervous about standing in front of a bunch of outsiders, both girls and boys like this. It was hardly seemly for a proud warrior of the Joketsuzoku.
She just hoped it was acceptable for a member of the House of Tendo. Tachi and Koda had said that it was natural to be nervous in a situation like this, and even Elder Nabiki had said it was okay, that it didn't reflect poorly on who she was. That particular acknowledgement seemed to make her heart a bit steadier, and filled her with a bit more confidence.
When the teacher nodded to her, and gestured for her to come in she did. She bowed deeply to the assembled class while the teacher introduced her to the class.
"Today, we have a new student joining us. I expect all of you to give her a warm Tokiwadai Middle School welcome today." Her homeroom teacher, a Ms. Fumi Nagasaki said. Ms. Nagasaki was a short, energetic young woman, certainly in her mid to late twenties as best as Qiang Pu could tell.
Qiang Pu lifted her head, and smiled her best smile. Social interactions had been one of the things that all of her teachers at the Teahouse had drilled into her, telling her that these little gestures and expressions were some of her most powerful weapons for dealing with the people that would surround her on a day to day basis. And if Qiang Pu was good at anything, it was mastering new techniques.
"Hello, my name is Qiang Pu, and I have moved here from China. I will be staying some time with my father and step-mother. Please take good care of me." She said as she bowed, her long lavender hair in a set of twin tails. It was a style that she had honestly fallen in love with after seeing it in one of her manga's, and Nabiki had been quite happy to help her get her thick hair settled. All in all, she had been happy with how her introduction had gone.
"Why don't you tell your class something about yourself, Qiang Pu dear?" Ms. Nagasaki had asked.
"Alright, you mean like hobbies and interests, yes?" Qiang Pu asked.
"Yes, dear. What are your hobbies and interests, so that your classmates can get to know you better." Ms. Nagasaki confirmed.
"I love martial arts, cooking, and I like to read manga and watch anime. I never really had any access to them where I grew up, so guess I am making up for lost time, I think is how they say?" Qiang Pu said with a bright smile.
A number of students had taken interest in her from the offset, a few boys as was expected. Some of the girls were giving her calculating looks, others had a mix of warm, welcoming smiles or guarded, wary ones. One short, plump girl in the back had a starry-eyed look as she clasped her hands excitedly in front of her.
"Thank you, Qiang Pu. So, why don't you sit.." Ms. Nagasaki looked over the class, then smiled and nodded her head as she made up her mind. "Next to Fujimaki. Yaayaa Fujimaki, please raise your hand. Thank you, dear."
The starry eyed, plump girl was practically shaking in her seat as her hand shot up excitedly.
Qiang Pu walked over, and nodded to her as she sat down. "Thank you, Fujimaki-san. I am Qiang Pu." She introduced herself politely, like she had been taught.
"Hi, I'm Yaayaa Fujimaki, but please, just call me Yaayaa or Fujimaki, I'm not so great that I deserve San added to my name." Yaayaa said with a blush.
"Then, I call you Yaayaa?" Qiang Pu said as she tested it out.
Yaayaa's happy little smile and energetic nod seemed to be answer enough.
Qiang Pu settled into her seat, as a happy and content feeling settled into her chest.
Maybe things were going to work out after all?