"We're home," Ranma called out as he and Ranko returned from their shopping expedition. "Ranko, why don't you go show your Aunts your new outfits while Daddy practices."
"OK, Daddy," the little girl called out as she ran up the stairs ahead of her father.
Ranma put down the packages and headed out back to get in his workout. Inside he could hear his daughter calling out for her Aunt Kasumi to look at one of the outfits they had gotten. While he enjoyed teaching Ranko, he didn't want to let his own skills stagnate as he brought hers up. And while he practiced he could try to work out just what he was going to do about her.
Inside, Kasumi smiled at Ranko, "That's a very nice outfit, Ranko-chan."
"Thank you Aunt Kasumi. What do you think Aunt Nabiki?" Ranko asked as she spun around.
Nabiki cast a disinterested eye over the twirling girl's outfit, "It looks good. Why don't you go show Fath.. your grandfather your outfit as well."
As Ranko raced out to the ever present Shogi board Nabiki remarked to Kasumi, "I'm surprised that Ranma did so well buying her stuff. I almost expected them to come back with 6 or 7 Chinese outfits."
"Nabiki, you know Ranma wears them all the time because of his curse." In the background the sound of little feet pounding up the stairs at high speed could be heard.
"And I also see that Ranma has mastered the time honored parental skill of getting away from your kid by focusing their attention on someone else."
"Someday, little sister, you'll look back and wonder how you could have ever been so cynical."
"Pish, someday you'll look back and wonder how you could ever have been so optimistic. Hark, I hear the sounds of small children coming to model more clothes for our delight."
Ranko ran back into the kitchen. This time she was wearing a yellow dress, and had cute little yellow butterfly pins in her hair. Nabiki had to admit that Ranma did have good taste, when he bothered to use it. She also had to admit that it was very weird to be getting called Aunt Nabiki all the time.
As Ranko spun around a flash of light caught her eye. "Ranko, what's that around your neck?"
"It's my good luck charm, Aunt Nabiki. Daddy gave it to me when I was just a baby. He said that as long as I had it it would bring me luck and he would always watch over me. Wanna see it?"
"Sure."
Ranko pulled on the fine gold chain around her neck revealing an intricately carved golden lotus flower that served as the setting for one the the largest pearls Nabiki had ever seen. Nabiki reached out a hand to touch it, "Oww!" She pulled her hand back quickly, shaking it. "That thing just stung me!"
Ranko nodded seriously, "Daddy said that it only zaps people who are thinking bad thoughts. Where you thinking bad thoughts Aunt Nabiki?"
Nabiki had been wondering how much it was worth. She knelt down to look Ranko in the eyes and winked, "I suppose I was, Ranko-chan. How about we let that be our little secret?"
Ranko giggled and surprised Nabiki with a hug. "Okay, Aunt Nabiki."
"Oh my, this is certainly extremely detailed," Kasumi exclaimed.
Nabiki looked up from Ranko to see that, of course, Kasumi was holding the pendant in her hand and was examining it closely. "Really? Oww!" Nabiki stuck her freshly zapped finger in her mouth. 'Dammit, it just isn't fair!'
"So does your good luck charm have a name?"
"Uh-huh. But I can't say it."
"Why not? Will it stop working if you say the name?"
"No, silly. It's just really hard. Daddy said it was called the Hand of Lakisitvi.. Lakissimee.. Lakesbee..grrrrrr!" Ranko stamped her foot and pouted as she tried and failed to pronounce the word.
"Well, why don't we go ask him?" Nabiki told her. Kasumi nodded and picked up Ranko. Together the three of them walked out into the backyard where Ranma was going through kata. "Hey Ranma, what's the name of Ranko's pendant?"
"The Hand of Lakshmi."
"Where did she get it?"
Ranma stopped in mid-jump and landed facing Nabiki. She had seen the look he was giving her before the few times he stopped mucking around and got serious about an opponent. It seemed to catalog her every strength and weakness and then to weigh her soul. It was very unnerving to have that look directed at her, she got the impression that she was found.. lacking. "Well, Saotome?"
Ranma's eyes flicked away to gaze upon Ranko, the hardness gone from them. "I don't know. Just leave it alone Nabiki. It's Ranko's. "
"What do you mean you don't know? This whole knowing, not-knowing thing of yours is getting old, Saotome."
Ranma shrugged as he walked over to Kasumi and transferred Ranko from her to him. He tucked the pendant back into her dress and ruffled her hair.
"Just what do you know Ranma?"
"I know enough. I'm going to go take a nap. Wake me when it's dinnertime,"Ranma walked past Nabiki and headed into the house. "As for you, young lady, is that the outfit you want to wear for the rest of the day?" Ranko nodded. "Alright. Daddy's got to take a nap so can you be quiet and let Daddy sleep?" Ranko nodded again. "Alright then. Off you go." Ranma put Ranko down and headed for his room.
The two sisters watched Ranma leave. "Ranma is a very protective father, isn't he Nabiki?"
Nabiki shuddered, "I don't think protective is the word, Kasumi. I just hope this isn't going to blow up in all our faces."
"I'm sure everything will turn out alright."
"Whatever, Sis. I'm going to go do some research."
"Have fun. How would you like some cookies, Ranko-chan?"
"Cookies? Yay!" cheered Ranko.
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(Posted Tue, 04 May 2004 21:36)
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