Thank you a strange voice echoed in her head. Akane was silent for a moment, eye twitching a bit.
“Did the..the bracelet just talk?! I’m hearing voices…”
I guess you could call it that it said sounding very amused. But don’t worry, I mean no harm. I’m merely at your service. I can grant you anything you wish.
“Wish? Anything I want…Wait. At what price?” She asked suspiciously.
Price. You my dear will owe me nothing. I merely wish to give you what you want. Akane was unsure what to do, it seemed to good to be true. Please ask anything and I’ll do what I can to help. She thought for a moment and realized Kasumi would start dinner soon.
“I’ve always wanted to be a better cook, but I can never seem to get it right. Could you help me with that?” She asked, feeling very silly.
As you wish… it replied simply and fell silent. Akane finished getting dressed glancing at her wrist expecting something to happen. But nothing, she wore a long sleeved shirt to cover it and help take her mind off the conversation she just had in her head. She rushed down stairs and found that Kasumi was indeed preparing to cook.
“Sis, Can I help cook dinner tonight?” She asked eagerly, If this bracelet really was magical then she could cook a meal for Ranma that he couldn’t complain about. Kasumi gave a strained smile, it was always such a mess cleaning up after her sister cooked…but she seemed so determined today.
“I don’t see why not.” She replied, Akane cheered and gave her older sister a big hug. Kasumi felt dizzy at the hug and had to hold the counter to keep balance. Her head felt all fuzzy, though didn’t seem to notice her sisters moment of distress.
“Thanks, I’ll get it right today. I’m all fired up.” The following minutes were some of the weirdest she’d ever been apart of. For once her mind was clear, she picked the right ingredients, she measured them right, all her cuts were even and precise…but Kasumi… “Um sis That’s iodine.”
“oh my your right…it looks so much like soy sauce,” she said confused, Akane was equally confused. Especially as those mistakes continued, salt for sugar, vinegar for white wine, and when adjusting the flame she nearly set herself on fire. Kasumi sat stunned on the ground as Akane handle the flash fire, she looked on the edge of tears. “W-what am I doing wrong…I don’t understand.” She said shakily.
“Why don’t you go lay down Sis…I’ll handle dinner today.” Akane suggested, Kasumi looked up and nodded.
“I guess so…” she said wringing her hands as she left the kitchen, completely confused. Akane set to work on dinner glancing at her wrist feeling very uneasy at that moment. But she threw all her focus into her cooking so not to think off what she may have been party to….
* * * * *
Akane shut the door to her room split to feeling happy and dirty. Dinner had gone great, Ranma and the others were amazed at her new cooking skills. Saying that she was as good as Kasumi now, Kasumi herself stayed quiet and looked just as devastated as she had earlier. It had hit her then what had happened…she’d gained her cooking skill directly from Kasumi. The look on her elder sister’s face was painful.
You seem unhappy Akane-sama. Is something wrong? The bracelet asked now that they were alone. Akane glared at the enchanted jewelry.
“Yes of course. You stole my sister’s cooking skills and gave them to me!”
I took nothing that couldn’t be replaced. And did I not give you what you want? You can cook. It rationalized.
“That’s not the point. I’m getting rid of you as soon as you fix this.”
Tsk tsk, such a shame. Too bad you’ll never get Ranma now…
“W-what are you talking about? Ranma has nothing to do with this!” she nearly shouted but stifled herself.
Oh but my dear. He has everything to do with this, that’s the reason you wanted to learn to cook. You feel you can’t compete with Ukyo and Shampoo. It said in an low tone, And your right as you are you don’t stand a chance.
“Shut up!” she cried out not caring about appearances anymore.
But I can help… it said simply, leaving much unsaid. Akane was silent as her insecurities were voiced aloud for the first time… by an article of magic that claimed it could help her...
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(Posted Mon, 06 Sep 2004 06:24)
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