"'Inside'?" her father asked.
"But of course. Did you want to stand out here all day?"
"No, of course not...."
The eldest Tendo daughter smiled. "Then we really should get inside."
"Why? What's the rush?"
"Father, we have your friend as a guest, and Ranma here. Not only am I sure that they are probably hungry and in need of a rest, but it would be terribly impolite to leave anyone to stand around on our front walkway."
"Oh. Right," Soun grunted. "So long as it's understood that I'll be watching everything."
"Dad...." Akane groaned.
"What?"
"He's the guy that I love. Do you have to treat him like he's some... some... former criminal?"
"He hasn't proven that he isn't one. I'm just going to be as safe as I can."
"He didn't do anything that needs for him to be watched like that."
"He married you without letting me, your father, know."
"Now, now, Tendo. I'm sure that the children have a reason for it," Genma tried to soothe.
"I'm sure that they do, other than what they've already told me. Though I don't see why they couldn't just tell me if you wanted to take him too China."
"Who knows? It's not like it came from anything about me."
"Actually... it did," Nabiki corrected.
"Eh?"
"What? I did speak clearly, didn't I?"
"But what you said didn't make sense."
"Only if you're you," the middle Tendo daughter replied, turning to look at her father. "You see Daddy, your old 'buddy' has never really liked the idea of his son associating with anyone, and that especially includes girls. As far as what I can tell from Ranma, he's always broken things up so that Ranma would never have any chance of having a real relationship."
"But I had to in order to make certain that the Tendo arrangement was followed!"
"Even if that was the case, his own words make his feelings clear. According to him, girls are weak, soft, and useless, as well as the most nasty insult that he apparently can come up with. Had he had the opportunity, he would have tossed Akane aside and made certain that they couldn't be together. Now, we had no idea that this 'promise' that you two had going on even existed, so we had to act fast. But if we told you, you might have told him, or interfered in some way, and we couldn't afford that. You might have accepted it, but he wouldn't have, and that was what we were trying to avoid."
"I wouldn't have been able to know that she was his daughter. And in any case," the Saotome patriarch replied, "everything has worked out. And now the first step to continuing our lines is secure."
"How nice for you, but I think that my sister will want to enjoy some pleasure in married life before rushing in to start having babies."
"What does a woman need pleasure for in producing heirs?"
Each of the three Tendo sisters glared at the portly man.
"What?"
"I rest my case," Nabiki muttered in disgust.
"And I'm related ta him," Ranma sighed, hanging his head.
Akane took her husband's hand into the hold of both of her own. "Don't worry. I still love you, even if your father is an idiot."
"I'm happy that you feel that way.... I think...."
"Trust me. It's a good thing."
"Okay...." the pigtailed boy allowed.
Kasumi gave him a reassuring look, and went to guide the married couple inside... only to stop and frown. "Before you eat, I do think that you should.... How can I say this...."
"Huh?"
"Why don't you have a bath? Not that you smell or anything, but you're dirty.... oh dear...."
"Don't worry 'bout it," her brother in law said with a shrug. "I know that I'm all sweaty, dirty and crumpled lookin'. Ain't had a proper bath in a while, and havin' one sounds real good ta me."
"Then I'm certain that you can enjoy one while I get a meal ready, okay?"
"Sure thing."
"Akane? Would you show him to the bathroom? He probably doesn't know where it is...."
"No problem," the youngest sister said brightly. "I'm his wife, aren't I?"
Nabiki leaned in towards the married couple and gave an amused grin. "And it'll give you two some time to talk... alone...."
The couple blinked at her words, before what she was saying settled in, and they blushed heavily.
"I see that you have your own ideas."
"What are you talking about?" Soun asked.
"Nothing to worry about. It's okay."
"Of course I'll worry. I'm still not certain about how good it is to have things like this."
"That's something that we already know," the middle Tendo daughter responded as the teens moved inside, while:
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(Posted Mon, 14 Nov 2005 04:06)
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