Akane Tendo was leaving.
Sniffling a bit more, Soun Tendo sniffled louder and louder. “Now, Akane, you behave when you get there...” He was trying hard to force back the tears, really he was. “Remember to sleep well, eat well, exercise regularly, you here?” Now the tears began flowing out of his eyes. “And never, ever forget your loving family! WAAAAAAAAHHHHH! MY BABY GIRL’S ALL GROWN UP!!!”
Sweat-dropping a little, Akane said, “Dad. It’s only a foreign-exchange program. It’s not like I’m going to be gone forever.”
Slinking up to the Tendo Patriarch, Genma smiled. “Besides, Tendo,” He whispered to his partner in crime. “Remember the plan. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. By the time she gets back, Ranma will be ready and willing to take her to the altar himself.”
Suddenly becoming pretty damn chipper at his friend’s, words, Soun’s attitude brightened. Standing up, he started patting his daughter on her shoulder repeatedly. “That’s a girl Akane! Have fun! Bon voyage! Don’t forget to write!”
Wincing a little, Akane said, “Dad. You’re hurting my shoulders.”
“Oh, I am not!” Soun said as he continued to pat her again and again, unaware that he was shaking her like a rag-doll.
Shaking his head, Ranma tried to ignore the stupidity. Of course, turning his head the other way just gave him another outlet of stupidity. Principal Kocho Kuno. “Hey, Principal Kuno,” Ranma grumbled. “How come you’re sending Akane overseas? I mean, isn’t the foreign exchange program for the top students or something?”
“HEY!” Akane shouted, upon hearing that. “At least I’m still doing much better than you ever have, Mr. ‘D-Minus’!”
“He does have a point there, Akane,” Nabiki said. “It is odd that you’d choose Akane of all people,” She looked at the Principal. “I mean, there are people smarter than Akane.”
“N-Nabiki!” Akane shouted. “Not you too!”
Laughing a bit, Principal Kuno scratched the back of his head. “Relax little kheiki. Our little wahini Akane here is perfect for the position of representin’ Furinkan High School overseas. I just known Ms. Tendo here will be doin’ her very best to fit in and learn all she can while on this studious journey, I be tellin’ ya’.”
Of course, what Principal Kuno DIDN’T mention was how he had been threatened by numerous people to send Akane overseas. Such as...
(------)
...The manipulative chef, Ukyo Kuonji...
Holding her spatula up to the little palm tree on Principal Kuno’s head, Ukyo growled. “Listen and listen well. You’re going to get rid of Akane by sending her on that trip, do you hear me!?”
(------)
...The Chinese waitress, Shampoo...
Holding her bonbori above Principal Kuno’s head, Shampoo stared down at him menacingly. “Pineapple man listen to Shampoo. Pineapple-man send obstacle Akane Tendo very, very far away for foreign-exchange trip!” Her eyes narrowed. “Or Shampoo make sure Pineapple man is pineapple salad!”
(------)
...The Chinese waitress’s grandmother, Cologne...
Whapping Principal Kuno on the head, Cologne looked at him seriously. “Either you help me get rid of one of the girls vying for son-in-law’s heart, or I will make sure you live to regret it.”
(------)
...That pig-boy who would have made a nice poi-roast...
Shaking Principal Kuno menacingly, Ryoga stared him in the eyes. “Damn it! You’ve got to help me separate Ranma and Akane before it’s too late...” Ryoga was sweating a little. “They’re starting to... To... Fall for each other...” Ryoga sniffled. Sure, he loved Akari, but he still cared for Akane. And he knew her life would be hell around Ranma. He had to save her. “SO DO SOMETHING ALREADY!”
(------)
...His own son, Tatewaki Kuno...
Holding his bokken up to Principal Kuno’s nose, Kuno sneered. “Listen father, you better find a way to keep the fierce tigress Akane Tendo away from that foul demon sorcerer Saotome, or you shall face the wrath of the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, Tatewaki Kuno!”
(------)
...And his own daughter, Kodachi Kuno...
Looking ever-so-sweet as she could, Kodachi’s eyes sparkled like a newborn doe’s. “Oh father dear. Please send that nasty little Tendo girl away. Please? It would mean soooo much to me if Akane wasn’t around to bother my darling Ranma-sama.”
(------)
Ranma rolled his eyes. Somehow, he felt the principal was blowing smoke out of his ass with that rather lame excuse. “Whatever.”
Akane crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. “Ranma, can’t you be a little happy for me, for once?”
“I am,” Ranma said. “But something about this just don’t feel right.”
“Oh, relax, boy,” Genma said. “It’s normal to feel sorry when your loved when has to leave for some time.”
Ranma’s eye twitched. Akane wasn’t a loved one in the way his old man was expressing. But damn it, he did care for the tomboy.
Shaking his head, Ranma walked up to Akane. “Hey, Akane?”
Blinking her eyes, Akane asked, “What, Ranma?”
“Just take care of yourself, would ya’?” He asked managing to give her one of his cocky grins. “I won’t be around to save your butt this time.”
Smirking, Akane whapped him playfully. “Baka.”
Over the airport loudspeakers, a voice called out. “Passengers for rows ten to twenty of Flight 135 may start boarding now.”
Picking up her bags at that word, Akane said, “There’s my cue. I better get going.”
“Oh, do have fun, Akane,” Kasumi said seriously.
“And be careful,” Soun added.
Smiling a little, Nabiki told her younger sister, “Don’t do anything stupid while you’re in another country.”
“Yeah, be careful you tomboy,” Ranma said.
Waving a handkerchief, Principal Kuno said, “Don’t forget to write, little keihki!”
(------)
Standing by a window of the airport, Ranma let off a sigh, watching as the plane with Akane took off. He wasn’t going to admit this to anyone, but damn, was he ever going to miss the tomboy.
Placing a hand on his son’s shoulder, Genma wisely told him, “Don’t feel bad, boy. She’ll be back.” Of course, the bastard panda-man mentally added, “And then we can get you two kids hitched!”
Walking over to the two Saotomes, Principal Kuno coughed into his hands. “Well, come on, you twos. We gotta get going to the next gate and pick up your guest.”
Ranma blinked his eyes. “Guest?”
Staring at Principal Kuno, Genma asked, “What guest?”
“Well, this do be a foreign exchange program,” Principal Kuno said. “Meaning we be taking in someone from overseas as well.” He smirked. “Or rather, ye be takin’ her into your home!”
Genma gulped. He hadn’t realized that part. Hopefully Soun wouldn’t know until...
“SAOTOME!!!” Soun roared from across the airport.
Wincing, Genma cursed under his breath. Oh damn this was gonna be a pain.
Rolling his eyes, Ranma mumbled, “Baka.”
Nabiki just shrugged it off. It wouldn’t have to do much to retabulate Dojo finances. They were just replacing a person is all.
(------)
Yawning as he sat back in an airport seat, Ranma yawned once more. Damn it, why did HE have to be the one left behind to wait for the exchange student?
Turning his head, Ranma looked at the clock. Great. He had been there for four hours already. “And it’s getting close to dinner time. Damn it. I hope this person gets here soon.”
Finally, Ranma for his reprieve as the voice called over the speaker-system of the airport. “Flight 3445 arriving at Gate 34-B.”
Blinking his eyes, Ranma turned his head. Yep. That was the gate they had him waiting outside of this was it. Now all he had to do was wait for the foreign exchange student, one...
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(Posted Sat, 19 Jun 2004 21:56)
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