Ranma stepped into the house next to Kassy, still a little out of it.
Raising her head from her work, Nabiki looked on in apparent disinterest as the two entered the living room.
Turning towards the two, Kasumi smiled, cheerfully as ever. “Oh, welcome back you two,” She said in her saccharine sweet voice. “How did shopping go today?”
“Good enough,” Kassy said. “Got my uniforms, some school supplies... We stopped for ice-cream,” She said, looking at Ranma pointedly. “You know, you give pretty girls everywhere a bad name doing that.”
Ranma’s confused look spoke for itself. “Huh?” He had no idea what Kassy was talking about.
Nabiki smirked in amusement. Trust Ranma to be oblivious.
Rolling her eyes, the half-Salusian sighed. “Never mind.” She then turned to Kasumi with a bright smile. “So, what’s for dinner?”
“Oh, we’re having something very special tonight, since Nabiki was so kind to give me an extra bit of money for food allowance," Kasumi stated quite happily. Turning her head to look at Nabiki, she asked her younger sister, “By the way, where did you come up with so much currency in so little time?”
“Gee, I wonder...” Kassy mumbled sarcastically.
Nabiki smiled that mysterious smile of hers and answered her older sister. “It was easy money, Kasumi.”
Kassy’s eye twitched considerably at that comment.
Turning her head back to the two younger teens who had entered, Kasumi told them, “Anyway, as I was saying, with the extra grocery money, I’m able to provide us a special treat. Lobster tail tempura.”
“Lobster tail tempura?” One could her Soun call out from the veranda.
Ranma plopped down at the table expectantly. “That’s great, Kasumi!”
And then Ranma found himself pushed out of his seat by a certain overweight panda. The sign it held up read, [Oh boy! Bring it here, Kasumi!]
Kassy visibly winced at the sight of the panda.
Sitting back up, Ranma glared at his father. “Get out of the way, old man!” The pigtailed martial artist punted his father out of the room.
[Don’t you know pandas are an endangered species?] One could make out from the sign the panda held before it landed with a loud ‘thud’ in the empty koi pond.
Ranma snorted. “Pandas don’t eat lobster, old man!”
Sighing in relief as the panda exited stage left, Kassy sat down next to Ranma. “Thank you,” She said to him honestly.
Ranma blinked and turned to the girl with a confused look on his face. “What for?”
“To be honest, that pet of yours gives me the creeps,” Kassy said honestly. “Why do you even keep it around?”
Ranma blinked again and his eyes widened in realization. “Oh. That!” He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “That ain’t no real panda. That’s just my stupid old man.”
Kassy blinked her eyes once, twice, before realization came upon her face. “That Jusenkyo place you were telling me about earlier, right?” She asked. She had personally been rather surprised, seeing Ranma change into a redhead before, but she got over it quickly.
Nabiki smirked and leaned forward, resting her face on the palm of her hand. “You learned about Jusenkyo already? I’m not surprised. That’s the first thing people notice when they’re new around here.”
His eye twitching, Ranma gave Nabiki an annoyed look, which the girl ignored easily.
Kassy blinked her eyes, but shrugged it off. “Never mind that.” She looked at the eldest Tendo sister pleadingly. “Where’s dinner?”
“Coming right up,” Kasumi said with a smile. She then turned and left the room to get to the kitchen.
Nabiki’s smirk widened as she decided to get some information about the new girl. And what better source than Ranma, who couldn’t keep a secret if his life depended on it? “So, how was your day with the new girl, Ranma-kun?”
At hearing that, Kassy titled her head to the side. She didn’t like being referred to as ‘new girl’.
The pigtailed boy shrugged. “Pretty tame, actually. Only Kuno made an appearance.”
“Don’t remind me,” Kassy grumbled. “Idiot started going off on me because I’m foreign.”
Nabiki turned to Kassy. “Really? Well that’s Kuno-chan for you. The most harmless of Ranma’s friends.”
Staring at Nabiki, Kassy silently mouthed, ‘most harmless’?
“They ain’t my friends!” Ranma protested hotly. Out of the damned lot, only a couple of them were his friends, though they did try to kill or marry him anyway.
Nabiki nodded with a grin and motioned for Kassy to ask Ranma. She was clearly amused.
“So, he’s not a friend then,” Kassy said quietly. Looking at Ranma she asked him, “Anybody worse than him?”
Ranma shrugged and looked up at the ceiling as if it wasn’t a big deal. “Kuno is the weakest of the lot. There’s Shampoo and Mousse, both Chinese Amazons. Shampoo is pretty good with or without weapons and she tends to blow walls up. Mousse is actually dangerous with his bad sight and many weapons.”
Nabiki smirked darkly. “Don’t forget Ryoga. Or Pantyhose. And what about Happosai?”
However, after saying that last name, Soun rushed over to Nabiki to shush her. “SHHHH! Don’t say his name out loud!”
Ranma nodded. “You’re right. They haven’t showed up in a while and are bound to appear. Hope the insurance company doesn’t give us any heat this time.”
The way the people were acting gave Kassy the impression Ranma had some major bad news following him.
Ignoring her father, Nabiki made a comment meant for Kassy ears. “They shouldn’t, as long as you don’t destroy entire buildings like last time Pantyhose was here.”
Kassy’s left eye twitched. Lots. “Sounds like I never left home...” Kassy mumbled irritably.
“What was that?” The middle Tendo sister didn’t miss Kassy’s mumble, since she was paying special attention to the girl.
“Nothing...” Kassy sighed. She was beginning to wish she packed a few more of her technological items with stronger offensive capabilities.
And it was then that Kasumi came back into the room, placing a large tray onto the table. A huge plate of Tempura lobster tails with assorted vegetable tempura, and a classic sauce to dip with. “Dig in everyone.”
“Oh WOW!” Kassy shouted, her eyes sparkling. “This looks incredible!” Looking up at the eldest daughter, she said, “Thank you!”
Kasumi smiled happily. “If that’s what you say by just looking at it, then go on and try it.”
“I will!” Kassy said happily, before using her chopsticks to bring a piece of tempura over onto her plate as she piled a few of the vegetables on with it.
“Don’t mind if I do!” Ranma served himself as well.
Kasumi looked at Nabiki. “Would you like some too?”
Nabiki smiled at her sister. “Please.” As she served herself she smiled and waited for the right moment, namely when Kassy had her mouth full, to ask a question. “Have you met any new royalty lately, Ranma-kun?”
At the question asked, Kassy froze into place, a piece of lobster tempura falling out of her mouth and landing black onto her plate with a clatter.
Ranma shook his head. “Nah. Saffron was the last one.”
“Saffron?” Kassy asked with a raised eyebrow.
Nabiki remained silent, knowing Ranma would put his foot in his mouth as was his custom.
“A Phoenix God. King of Mount Phoenix in China,” The pigtailed boy answered casually, to which Nabiki only nodded gratefully in silent thanks. Ranma didn’t like talking about the fight, but just talking superficially about the god wasn’t hard for him. He somehow managed to block the fact he had to kill him.
Eyeing Ranma with a bit of newfound awe, the half-Salusian went back to calmly eating her meal. “Very interesting...” She said before popping a bit of food back into her mouth.
“Good thing the fight was in China. People around here would be really upset if you blew up Mount Fuji,” Nabiki smirked to herself, Kassy was making this too easy.
“You mean people don’t know it was blown up once already?” Kassy asked curiously. Her eyes widened and she chuckled nervously. “Uh, in the movies I mean! They always blow up that poor mountain.” She then began laughing hysterically while scratching the back of her head.
Nabiki stared at Kassy pointedly, letting the girl know she wasn’t convinced by her try at covering her slip up.
Ranma ignored the conversation, too preoccupied with filling his stomach before his father got back in and started another fight.
Noticing Nabiki still staring at her, Kassy continued to chuckle nervously. “Boy, this sure is some good food, Kasumi,” She said before stuffing her mouth again.
Smiling politely, Kasumi said, “I am glad you’re enjoying it, Kassiopeia.”
“Well, she is correct, it is rather good Kasumi,” Soun said, while eating. He sat in a stoic manner, but inside, he was VERY thankful Genma was currently unconscious. More food for him.
Nabiki remained silent, smirking at her victory for now, and ate at a sedate pace. No one ever dared steal food from her plate anyway.
And it was then a figure stumbled into the dining room form the backyard. A very haggard figure wearing a yellow shirt with green pants so frayed at the bottom, they had to be held together with yellow cord. The large backpack topped with a red umbrella he had on his back, and the yellow polka-dotted bandana he wore were enough to indicate who this was.
“Where is the Tendo Dojo?” Ryoga asked in fatigue.
Kassy blinked her eyes for a moment before turning to Ranma. “Anyone you know?”
Ranma perked up. Maybe now he'd have a decent sparring match. “Hey, P-chan! How is Egypt this time of the year?”
“Huh?” Ryoga asked, looking up. His fatigue soon turned into a growing rage. Gritting his teeth, he pointed a shaking hand towards Ranma’s direction. “YOOOOOOooooooouuu... Because of you, I've seen hell!!!”
Ranma rolled his eyes and munched on some vegetables. “Yeah, yeah. What did I do now?”
Ignoring Ranma’s question, Ryoga shouted, “I CHALLENGE YOU!”
“Can’t it wait ‘til I’m done eating?” Ranma was torn between wanting to fight Ryoga and wanting to eat Kasumi’s delicious cooking. The decision was taken away from him by his own stomach, which rumbled angrily at the thought of not being filled to full capacity.
Kassy’s eye twitched. Yeesh. And she thought the people were strange back home.
“Stop being so self-centered, Ranma!” Ryoga shouted to him. “I wasn’t talking to you!”
“Huh?” Was the cry form more than one person.
Nabiki turned to look at Ryoga incredulously.
“I was talking to HER!” Ryoga shouted as he pointed to the girl with skunk-ears atop her head.
Now this is interesting,” Nabiki muttered and leaned forward to watch some entertainment.
Looking back and forth, and noticing it was her he was pointing at, Kassy tentatively pointed a finger at herself and hesitantly asked, “Me?”
“What?” Ranma turned from the enraged Ryoga to Kassy, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Yes, YOU!” Ryoga shouted. “Because of you, I’ve seen hell!!!”
Kassy sputtered a few moments in shock, before managing to shout out, “I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU!”
“A likely story!” Ryoga said, starting to take his backpack off.
“Seriously!” Kassy said, standing up from the table. She honestly did not like where this was going. “I have no clue who the hell you are!”
Ranma frowned. “Hey! Cut it out, pork-butt!” The pigtailed boy jumped to his feet. “Leave her alone.”
Nabiki rolled her eyes. There he was, Saotome Ranma, jumping to the rescue of the princess in distress.
Ignoring Ranma and pointedly glaring at the girl, Ryoga brought a hand up, pointing at his bandana. “Does this look familiar?”
Kassy shook her head. “No!”
Gritting his teeth, Ryoga growled. “Oh, that’s it!” He reached a hand forward and grabbed her wrist. “We are going to the Dojo and fight this out honorably like men!”
“BUT I’M A GIRL!” Kassy shouted a bit fearfully.
Ranma didn’t give a warning this time. He kicked Ryoga in the face and sent him flying out of the house. Kassy shrieked a bit, as Ryoga kept a grip on he before he was sent flying, and the movement jerked her arm quite a bit.
“Oh my, if you’re heading out, please pick up some French Bread for me,” Kasumi asked Ryoga. “I hear the bakers there are doing extremely well this time of year.”
Ranma jumped after Ryoga, angry as all hell for the pig boy to dare attack a girl.
Nabiki rolled her eyes. Ranma and Ryoga were fighting again. “What’s for desert, Kasumi?” Nabiki asked in a bored tone.
“Oh, I have some rather nice red bean ice-cream with raisin bread,” Kasumi told Nabiki.
“Can I have some?” Nabiki asked.
“Sure,” Kasumi told her younger sister before going back to the kitchen.
Sitting up, Ryoga grit his teeth. “Ranma! This doesn’t concern you!”
Outside Ranma was glaring at Ryoga. “She’s a girl, Ryoga! I can’t believe you’d sink so low.”
“Hey! She isn’t a girl!” Ryoga shouted at Ranma. “What kind of woman beats on defenseless little black piglets?”
Ranma rolled his eyes. “The kind of girl that can identify a pervert when she sees one.”
“HEY!” Ryoga shouted, taking some bandanas off of his forehead. “You take that back!”
“Or what? You’ll make my life hell?” Ranma taunted back, now on the familiar ground of making Ryoga see red. “The way you’ve acted around Akane you have no right to talk, P-chan.”
“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” Ryoga shouted as he threw three bandanas at once, all seemingly acting as shurikens.
Ranma rolled his eyes and jumped onto the roof of the house, easily evading the projectiles. “That’s WAY too old a trick, pork-breath.”
“Then try this one!” Ryoga shouted, reaching down into the pond and holding the unconscious form of Genma-panda with one hand. “Panda Pitch!” He shouted as he threw the panda bastard at Ranma.
The pigtailed martial artist jumped over the panda, somersaulting elegantly, to land softly on his feet behind Ryoga. “That lacked finesse, P-chan. What’s the matter? Can’t come up with something original and need others to give you their techniques?”
Smirking, Ryoga mumbled, “Too close,” And slammed his elbow into Ranma’s chest, knocking the wind out of his lungs and sending the pigtailed martial artist flying back against the wall.
Ranma coughed a couple of times and struggled to his feet... Before giving Ryoga a raspberry and smirking arrogantly. “That hardly stung, P-chan. You’re getting weak.”
His eye twitching, Ryoga roared and started rushing at Ranma, throwing punches and kicks.
The pigtailed martial artist started doing what he was best at, dancing around his opponent’s blows and taunting with each miss. “Heh, you’re slow,” He ducked under a high kick. “Nope, didn’t hit me.” And jumped over the following sweep. “You almost got me there... Not!” And so on.
Throwing punches and kicks, Ryoga then hit the ground underneath Ranma. “BAKUSEI TENKETSU!” And Ranma was caught in the middle of an explosion of ground.
When the dust settled Ryoga’s eyes widened. While Ranma’s clothing had several tears on it the pigtailed martial artist didn’t seem the worse for wear. In fact he was smirking again.
Ryoga’s vision started to turn red. “You’ve been learning the Bakusei Tenketsu behind my back!” He accused.
Ranma shook his head. “Of course not.”
Ryoga’s frown deepened.
The pigtailed boy smirked. “Why would I want such a crappy technique? It makes you slow.” He patted his chest. “What I did was train myself to be tougher.”
At the insult to one of his best techniques, Ryoga growled and threw another punch at Ranma.
Ranma side stepped the attack and thrust his hand forward, finger extended, to hit his opponent in the elbow. Ryoga instantly felt his entire arm cramp.
“W-what the hell!?” Ryoga growled, holding his arm as he grit his teeth.
“Neat, huh? While you waste your time with useless training I’m learning quite a lot.” Who would’ve thought Happosai’s hidden stash of scrolls was so good. He just had to avoid the ones with more use, since they obviously had to do with the old gnome’s most perverted techniques.
“Damn you,” Ryoga grit his teeth.
Coming back downstairs from the guest room, Kassy shook her head in annoyance. She started walking back towards the two men outside.
Ranma was about to finish Ryoga off, for the moment, when he noticed Kassy making her way towards them.
Noticing the pigtailed fighter not making a move, Ryoga stared at Ranma. “What’s wrong? Too scared to fight!?”
Ranma smirked. “Nah. Just bored. You’re no longer a challenge, porky.”
“EXCUSE ME!?” Ryoga shouted, ready to tear Ranma a new one...
...When he felt something placed on his back...
...Which caused him to slam into the ground. “C... Can’t move...” He mumbled.
Kassy smiled at Ranma. “Gravity enhancer. He’s feeling the effect of twenty times earth’s gravity.”
Ranma looked down at Ryoga and then turned to Kassy. “Really?”
“Yep,” Kassy said with a nod of her head. “He won’t be going anywhere for awhile.”
The pigtailed boy smirked. “Do you have more of those things?”
“A few,” Kassy admitted. “Why do you ask?”
Ranma looked at Kassy seriously. “Could you let me have one?”
“Sure,” Kassy said. “Least I can do for you, after you helped me,” She said with a smile.
Ranma smiled back, though his smile started to take a goofy-like appearance again. “Can you release P-chan? I’ll knock him out and put him outside the wall. We probably won’t see him for a couple of weeks after that.” There was no way Ranma was letting Ryoga of all people keep a device that would increase gravity for him. The guy was strong enough without having it on him.
“Oh, okay,” Kassy said seriously, before moving towards Ryoga to turn off the device.
Gasping for breath and standing up on his feet again, Ryoga turned and glared at the woman. “You... YOU...”
“Hey, I let you go, didn’t I?” Kassy asked, hoping to placate him.
“Ryoga...” Came Ranma’s mysteriously calm voice.
“Huh?” Ryoga asked, turning to the sound of the male voice.
*POW!*
Ranma punched Ryoga upside the head with such force the boy’s head became embedded into the ground. Ryoga was completely unprepared for the blow.
After a moment, the rest of Ryoga’s body was moving, trying to pull his head out of the ground.
*POW!*
Ryoga was further imbedded into the ground.
Kassy blinked her eyes considerably, watching as Ryoga's legs flailed in the air.
Once he was sure he wouldn't be able to fight anymore Ranma leaned down to press a shiatsu combination to knock the boy out. The problem with it was that it required a certain amount of time to work. With Ryoga in his current predicament it would work.
Kassy whistled. “Impressive.”
Ranma smirked. “Thanks,” He took a hold of Ryoga’s leg and dug him out of the ground with a mighty pull, which also happened to send him flying over the wall. He then walked over to Ryoga’s backpack, which was inside, to bring it out and throw it over the wall as well. His smirk widened when a meaty thud was heard. “Bull’s-eye!”
Blinking her eyes once, twice, thrice, Kassy couldn’t help but start giggling. “Nice.”
Ranma laughed as well. He was in a good mood right now. All his hard work on the new techniques, which was very hard, paid off. He didn’t think he could defeat Ryoga so easily.
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(Posted Wed, 21 Jul 2004 00:03)
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