Ranma might be stuck as a girl, but if he was going to be stuck as a girl - it was NOT going to be a ditzy klutz who wore pink bunny panties. Nope. LOTS of things to change. The only problem was trying not to change so fast that everyone freaked.
One thing at a time, and find excuses as things went on to toss some of this garbage out.
An unexpected ally developed though. Usagi's mother Ikuko saw her daughter taking things seriously and actually following through on her desire to pursue the martial arts and supported her. Not without a few comments about how she would have preferred Usagi develop more traditionally feminine skills, but she apparently realized you had to start somewhere.
Shingo, Usagi's brother, got very nervous as Usagi went from being a lackadaisical crybaby to someone who might be able to kick your butt seven ways from Sunday.
Finally Sunday came around and Ranma/Usagi decided to change something else with the day off from school. He'd had problems with school all of his former life, and now wasn't any different.
She decided to catch a movie. This was actually part of the plan. Watch a kung fu movie, become a fan of one of the actresses and use that excuse to 'be more like her' - ie a credible martial artist.
Ranma had a plan. Not necessarily a good plan, but s/he had a plan.
That and she needed a haircut. Having hair so long you could literally trip over it was just plain impractical.
Naru's eyes widened as she read the book. There was a Whirlwind Dragon Style. It was a Chinese style, weapon based. Swords, spears, and bo staffs mainly. A Japanese variant used naginata. One of the apparently lost styles, mentioned only briefly in the book she was currently reading at the shop.
So, Usagi wasn't making this all up. Curiouser and curiouser.
Naru wasn't sure what to make of the 'new Usagi' but had noticed a few things changing on her old friend besides the attitude. Usagi was developing lean muscle, tightening up in some areas. During the shower before gym, despite Usagi apparently studying the wall, Naru had noticed that Usagi's figure was improving - especially her legs.
Some of the other girls had noticed too, and they weren't sure what to make of the new Usagi either.
A glimpse of someone walking by and Naru put the book back. She'd just follow Usagi and see what was going on today.
Naru sucked in some breath as she noticed the girls walking behind Usagi. Those bullies had always thought Usagi beneath their notice, but now apparently they HAD noticed her.
"Hey, rabbit-head. Hey, I'm talking to you, crybaby," said Mikuko.
"Looks like she don't hear too good," said Etsuko.
"Aw, does the poor little bunnygirl feel all scaredy?" suggested Minabi.
"Huh?" said their target, stopping and turning towards them. "Oh, that was you? I heard this annoying buzzing and figured it was mosquitos or something."
"WHAT?!" said Mikuko, not having expected anything like this reaction.
"Big talk from a scrawny little kid," said Minabi. "Maybe we ought ta teach you to mind your betters."
"Yeah? Well, if ya find any - let me know," said Usagi, preparing to walk off again.
"You little wise-" began Mikuko, reaching for the smaller girl.
Usagi smiled. It was not a tremulous smile or the smile of a little girl who wanted to be everyone's friend. It was the sort of smile that someone experienced in such could have translated as 'I have been having a whole lot of frustration and problems lately and I want to thank you for providing me a target to take them out on.'
Usagi ducked under the grab, stiffening two fingers and jabbing them into a nerve cluster.
Mikuko howled as pain shot up her arm and she flailed away at the smaller girl.
Usagi ducked and dodged, grinning in a positively EVIL fashion. Ranma Saotome didn't fight girls. Very often at least. Not without lots of regrets. As Usagi Tsukino WAS a girl, that made it okay, didn't it? Ducking in, Usagi aimed a palmstrike straight up from under the girl's chin.
Mikuko abruptly stopped with her chin now pointing skyward, shock and pain arresting her motion. Slowly, and with a certain degree of majesty not present in her attack, she toppled.
"Why you!" "Take this!"
Usagi's eyes almost twinkled. Yeah, she'd almost forgotten how much fun this was.
Naru stared. Usagi had gotten... good. The two still facing her managed to get her with a couple of attacks, mainly when Minabi had managed to grab one of Usagi's ponytails and use it to hold Usagi in place. Still, that was nothing compared to the amount of damage Usagi was inflicting on the three bullies.
Once Usagi grabbed back at Minabi to anchor herself, then started kicking away at Etsuko with both legs, the battle began to shift back in Usagi's favor. Apparently all that running to school had given Usagi a certain degree of strength there. Etsuko apparently would agree with it, the bigger girl breaking and running away as soon as she could.
That left Minabi trying to wrestle Usagi and it was obvious that despite the size difference, the older girl was not going to come up victorious in that struggle. As soon as Mikuko picked herself up and started running, Minabi did the same.
"That was fun. We'll have to do this again sometime," yelled Usagi at the retreating figures.
Naru went back to the bookstore. Was there anything about this in one of those other books?
Luna STARED. She was pretty sure that Sailor Jupiter was taller, but who else had moves like that?
She certainly couldn't remember Sailor Jupiter acting like a cat and chasing anyone around town, but then she couldn't remember anyone else doing anything along those lines either.
This was all so very strange, but within that movie theatre there ought to be some good places to observe from concealment and see if any other clues fit into place.
Meanwhile, Usagi bought the ticket, went in and watched the kung fu film with all appearances of enjoying it. She was going to choose as her role model:
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(Posted Sun, 10 Apr 2005 10:11)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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