"No worries, Ranchan, we gotta be back for the interview by sunset," Ukyou replied with a wink.
"Just be sure the bath's ready for us when we get back," Akane admonished.
"We bring back too-too nice new clothes for our Ranma, also," Shampoo concluded.
Somehow, the way Shampoo said 'our Ranma', and the other two girls nodded with her just made a chill climb Ranma's spine. He felt the distinct urge to flee to the dojo and hide beneath the living room floor again. "Um, okay, good," he managed in a wavering voice. "Just give me a call if anyone gets kidnapped, okay?"
The three older girls nodded, and then at Shampoo's example, each paused to blow him a kiss. Somehow, all three hit, and he went down.
Hotaru giggled at Ranma's twitching form. Her sisters were behind her, and she hadn't seen them do anything, so surely her father was just playing again. "You're so silly, Papa," she said, just before she was hauled away to shop.
After he'd had a few minutes to recover himself, Ranma rose. "Before you go, take these -- they may help you in general," Tofu advised, pressing a small bundle of books into Ranma's hands.
"What are these?" Ranma asked, sorting through them quickly.
'A Dummy's Guide to Pressure Points', 'Shiatsu and You!', 'All You Ever Wanted To Know About Acupressure But Were Afraid To Ask', and 'Fourteen Pressing Points to Really _Make_ Your Date'.
"Um, Doc, I--"
The last title was quickly swapped out for, 'Pressure Points for First Aid'.
Tofu coughed quietly, his face flushing crimson. "Ah, hehe," he chuckled weakly. "Sorry. I ... went overseas to study meditation techniques to deal with a certain problem of mine."
"Right," Ranma said slowly. "Any ... uh ... luck with that?"
"Some," Tofu said slowly. "I think. Anyway, those books will take you through the basics and into some intermediate shiatsu and pressure point techniques. I'd like to give that to you as my way of saying 'thanks' for watching over the Tendo family when I couldn't do it myself."
"Those months overseas?" Ranma guessed.
Tofu nodded. "It's the least I can do," he admitted. "And, really, I want you and your daughter to be certain to check in regularly. There should be minimal risk with you training her, but...."
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Ranma supplied.
"Exactly! My, where did you hear that?"
"Well, Pops is stingy, and Nabiki goes on about 'forersight'. If they both use the same turn of phrase, it probably means something," Ranma reasoned, grinning.
"Fair enough. Well, good luck, Ranma-kun."
Ranma nodded, and replied, "Thanks, Tofu-sensei." A minute later, he was on the fence walking home, sorting through the first of the Shiatsu books. At a guess, it would probably take two or three solid days of hard training to get everything in all four books. He reasoned that with no school, he could probably finish three of the four before classes began again, without needing to sacrifice time with his daughter.
He reached the Tendo household, eerily quiet, and decided to do as much as he could without actually confronting anyone for the moment. A quick side-trip showed that the furo was full, but cold. He started it up and retreated to the dojo. It would take a good thirty minutes for the monstrous furo to finish, but until then, Ranma had time to practice.
The first chapter was all about pain pressure points, many of which Ranma already knew. Nerve clusters were simply easier to target than points for crippling or locking an opponent's movement. After that was slightly longer duration points; those which would prevent a limb from being used for a minute or more. He was just through the latter half of those when his time-sense alerted him that the furo was ready.
A swift hunt for laundry turned up at least a clean set of pants and a clean white Chinese shirt. After scrubbing and a brief soak, he re-dressed, and went to the living room. Soun was just setting his paper down, though the television was still on. There was no sign of anyone else, so Ranma decided to take a seat at the table and see what Soun was watching.
It appeared to be a, 'Tokyo: After the Tower Fell' special, and Ranma could only wince. "So, Akane's alright," he said absently, as Kasumi came in, setting a tray of snack-crackers and tea before him.
"Good to hear," Soun murmured, glancing at the television. "The naginata?"
"Akane's holding onto that, too," Ranma assured.
"Where is Hotaru-chan, Ranma-kun?" Kasumi asked.
"Ah, Akane, Shampoo, and Ucchan all decided to take Hotaru shopping," Ranma said slowly. "Said they wanted to get some nice clothes before the television crew came over today."
There was the sound of a distant sonic boom, and Nabiki was at the table between Kasumi and Soun, leaning forward and gazing at Ranma intently. "Television crew?" she asked.
Ranma blinked, wondering when Nabiki had gained the martial mastery to.... But then, maybe she saw money in it. "Yeah. After I ... uh ... fought at the tower, some reporter asked me for an exclusive interview."
The boy winced at the sound of a register totaling up a purchase in Nabiki's mind, as she suddenly began to grin. "Product placement," she mused quietly. "Endorsements? No.... Ranma, you owe me a favor, right?"
"But I get to know what it is before I turn it in," he said warily.
"I'm your agent," Nabiki said, reaching towards him, as though to offer a handshake. "And we're even. I'll write off all your debts if you agree to tell anyone who wants to make a deal that I'm your agent."
"I don't know," Ranma said slowly. "I already promised Ucchan I'd say that I went to her place for lunch."
"Well, that's a loss of contract share, but that's fine!" Nabiki said insistently. "Shoes, Ranma-kun, sports apparel, not to mention acting spots! Think of the future!"
Ranma studied the extended hand for a long moment. He did owe Nabiki money, it was true, but.... "I don't know," he said finally. "If I agree, does this mean you'll get money, and I'll get nothing? I gotta make sure that Hotaru's taken care of."
"Aw, come on," Nabiki pleaded. "This could be my big break! You can get another big break any time you want to fight someone from China over a national monument, when am I going to get another--"
"You're not," Akane called from the doorway. Her naginata was slung over one shoulder, several shopping bags hanging from it. Shampoo and Ukyou squeezed in the door behind them, similarly burdened, and Hotaru bounded in, bee-lining towards Ranma.
"Hey," Ranma called in greeting, moments before Nodoka seemed to glide in from the kitchen, intercepting the dust-smudged little girl with a gleeful grin at Ranma before both vanished in the direction of the bath. "Uh. Have fun, Hotaru-chan?"
"You're not takin' over Ranchan's livelihood like that," Ukyou agreed.
"Our Ranma is ours," Shampoo added emphatically.
"Um," Ranma began hesitantly. "Don't I get a say in this?"
Kasumi and Soun looked mildly surprised when the four younger women in the room all turned to him and said, "No!" in unison.
"Okay," Nabiki said, rising and eyeing the trio of former fiancees coolly. "I'll take 40 percent, and arrange the datebooks, make the appointments, and handle all important meetings."
"Shampoo think mercenary girl settle for 15 percent of contract after negotiation," the Joketsuzoku warrior replied flippantly.
"Also, 'forty percent' is vague. Is that pre or post tax?" Ukyou added.
"I may not run a business," Akane said after a moment, shrugging, "but I know when my sister's trying to cheat me."
"Oh, fine," Nabiki grumbled, stamping one foot. "You owe me, Ranma. I'll settle for ten percent -- that's the standard rate! And I'll run whatever schedules and endorsements I want to run through you first. Agreed?"
"Deal!" Shampoo, Ukyou, and Akane said together.
Nodoka, ever expedient when it suited her, returned from the bathroom with a freshly scrubbed Hotaru, who instantaneously resumed course, bounding over to Ranma and hugging him tightly. "My manly heroic son!" the enthusiastic mother cried out, producing two tiny cheering fans from her kimono and waving them around.
"Er," Ranma began. "This is ... kinda weird."
"After seeing you on television, I made something for you, Ranma!" Nodoka suddenly exclaimed. "Wait right here!"
Before Ranma could really reply, she vanished up the stairs. "I wonder when our house'll be rebuilt," he murmured absently. Turning to Soun, and figuring that he'd find a way to ask Ukyou herself later, he quickly asked, "Hey, Tendo? Did Akane get kidnapped a lot when she was little?"
"Oh, no," Soun said, shaking his head as he glanced at Ranma from the television screen. "I'd say she's gotten much better at it recently."
Ranma struggled to straighten himself into a sitting position with Hotaru's help.
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(Posted Sat, 30 Jul 2005 18:03)
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