One hour before....
The Mrs. had really given it to him this time, though part of him had to admit he deserved it. Until recently, he'd always been careful in his wheeling and dealing. Over time, he'd promised Ranma's services to scores of ranch owners and breeding centers, all who wanted samples (sometimes doses) of young Saotome sperm. Genma never honored any of them, he simply milked them for what he could and skipped town before they came to collect. It never occurred to him that someone might come looking for him.
Much less, their daughter.
Genma eyed the pokeball in his hand ruefully. It'd taken skill and a bit of ingenuity, but he'd managed to subdue her. In other words, his wife did it for him. But he hadn't gotten off that easy.
After hearing the story of how he'd promised the girl's father that she was to become his future Alpha in exchange for his family's cart, she made him make amends. Not only did she make him return the cart, but now he had to make good on his promise by finding a tamer to take her in. And Ranma was not an option.
It was by chance that he happened across the small town when he did. Genma was figuring a way to get out of it when he overheard some of the townsfolk talking.
"Did you hear?" one was asking.
"About the Hibiki boy, you mean? Yep. Damn shame if you ask me." another replied, shaking his head. The first one laughed. "Yeah! I mean, how can he call himself a tamer without a Pokegirl?" The other man joined in his laughter, "No kidding!"
Opportunist that he was, Genma's ears pricked up. A tamer without a Pokegirl? The wheels began turning.
"Excuse me" he began with a wide toothed grin, "but did you say there was a tamer here without a Pokegirl?" The two men's laughter subsided as they eyed him suspiciously.
"Who're you stranger?"
Genma's grin never faltered. "Just some nameless passerby looking to make conversation." he answered.
The other man rubbed his chin, "Hm, don't know about you passerby types. They usually make trouble." Behind him, the first man nodded sagely in agreement.
"I'm no trouble at all. Honest." Genma lied. He wasn't sure how, but it worked. They told him all about Ryoga and how he'd missed out on his chance at getting a Pokegirl. After learning his home address, Genma politely excused himself and took off running. They never suspected they'd given him a way out.
______________________________________
Present time....
The house had been empty and the door was unlocked. So he kindly let himself in. From the looks of things, the rumors about the Hibiki family were true. The place hardly looked lived in. In fact, it looked spank brand new as if it'd only been built recently.
Genma looked around awhile longer, eventually arriving at the kitchen. No harm in a light snack while I wait. he supposed with a shrug.
However, all this was after Ryoga had come home. And in a bad mood besides. Luckily, Genma's reflexes were as quick as his wits. Otherwise he'd have been in world of hurt. His senses alerted him to Ryoga's presence just moments before the attack. In a scene befitting a Jackie Chan sequence, Genma deftly defended himself against the boy's attacks with a lobster in one hand and a roll of sausage in the other.
Mid way through the exchange, he grabbed a cup of water and threw it in the young man's eyes. The ploy worked as he'd hoped, giving him time to put distance between them and turn on the light. Ryoga finished wiping his eyes and glared.
"Alright, what's the big idea? You can't just come into somebody's house and -"
Genma grinned again, eyes closed. "Ryoga Hibiki, am I right?" he asked him. Ryoga blinked. "Well yeah. How'd you know?"
Easily distracted. This is gonna be easy. the martial arts tamer thought smugly. "Never mind that." he began, "The point is, you're a tamer only you ain't got a Pokegirl to tame. Pretty sad if you ask me." Ryoga's anger was immediately rekindled.
"Well nobody asked you! So get out! Go find somebody else to mooch on."
"Now, now boy. I was only stating the facts. No need to be hostile." Genma amended. "In fact, I'm actually here for that reason."
"Huh?" Ryoga blinked in that lost puppy dog way that would've made most any girl swoon had they been present.
"Look here boy." Genma said, digging into his pocket. "I just happen to have a Pokegirl here."
"Yeah, so?"
"So what I'm saying is, it's yours. No strings attached."
Ryoga couldn't believe his ears. Or his luck. Was this guy for real? "You're kidding me, right?"
"Not at all."
"Yeah, well how do I know it's not empty?"
"Use your eyes boy. See that light?" Genma said pointing to it's front. "That there let's you know it's occupied. And I'm sticking - I mean, giving it to you free of charge."
Ryoga eyed him warily. But after a moment or two, his expression softened. "I don't know what to say."
"Just say you'll take it. And that you'll take good care of her. After all, she's your responsibility now." Genma replied. "Okay, I will!" Ryoga eyed the ball in his hand with joy. He couldn't believe it, his very own Pokegirl! Then turning to activate it, "I wonder what kind it is?"
Genma's eyes flew wide. "Wait!" he cried, clamping his hands down over Ryoga's. Seeing the boy's suspicion return, he beamed. "No need to open it now. Besides it's late and the poor girl's probably sleeping. You wouldn't want to disturb her, now would you?" Ryoga shrugged inwardly. That made sense. Seeing that it worked, Genma visibly relaxed.
"Well anyway, I gotta get going or else the Mrs.'ll come looking for me." he said, while discretely stuffing his pack with Ryoga's foodstuffs, but he was too excited to notice. By the time he looked up, Genma was halfway out the front door. "Remember to take good care of that Pokegirl. And don't open it 'til tomorrow! Ya hear?!" he yelled over his shoulder as he beat a hasty retreat.
Ryoga continued to smile at his good fortune. Maybe life wasn't so bad after all. Still, he wondered. Just what kind was she? He looked around. That guy was nowhere to be seen. It couldn't hurt to take a quick peek.
Right?
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(Posted Mon, 31 May 2004 06:39)
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