"Oh, please don't put yourself out...." Nodoka apologetically commented.
"It's no trouble at all. I'll be just a moment!"
"Kasumi? Dear? Have they been dipping into old sake while they've been here?"
"Oh, no," Kasumi answered. "You see, they're both very nervous...."
"They are?"
Ranma snorted. "The two of 'em have been actin' up for most of the time, mainly on the same thing."
"And what would that be?"
"Somethin' that happened on the trip. Ya see, Pop doesn't wanna let ya see, and Mister Tendo wants ta make sure that ya know about it."
"Why would they take such different positions on whatever it is?"
"Pop's scared, and Kasumi's dad's all concerned."
"Should he be?"
Her daughter in law shook her head. "It's an inconvenience, but is not something that we can't handle."
"I see...." Nodoka murmured, scowling at the sound of arguing growing closer to them. "Whatever is going on?"
"I think that they're actually conflicting...."
"Don't worry, my dear. I'm sure that this is only a small thing. They have been friends for so long."
"True. The way that they act, they kinda belong together," her son drawled.
"Come on, Saotome!" Soun was growling, dragging his friend by the arm. "She has to know about this!"
"Why?!" Genma whined pathetically.
"Because it's only right! She's his mother, and she should have all the facts about her son!"
"No, she doesn't!"
"Why not! Are you going to deny your wife the knowledge about the problems that your son has? She's his mother, and needs to know."
"It can wait!"
"It can't," the Tendo Patriarch snapped back, nearly letting the water in the glass that he was holding slosh out.
"Can't we just give it some time? She hasn't seen him for so long...."
"A true parent would want to know everything!"
"What would I need to know?" the redheaded woman asked, her tone one of deep confusion.
"It's something that has really changed your son."
"Oh? What is it?"
"This!" the tall man replied as he tossed the water onto the pigtailed boy.
"RANMA?!"
The pigtailed girl wiped the wet strands of hair out of her eyes and gave a dark look at the sole Tendo male before shaking her head at where her wife had gotten damp. "Ya okay?"
"It was only a little water," Kasumi answered.
"Good. And ta answer your question, Mom, it's me, Ranma Saotome."
"But.... How?!"
"Pop took me ta go over ta a place where ya turn inta what drowned there when ya get hit by cold water."
"And you get turned into a girl?"
"Only in body! I'm still a guy!"
"I see.... What do you think about this, Kasumi?" Nodoka asked, looking at the eldest of the Tendo daughters. "What sort of problem do you have with this?"
"Only that it is a little strange that my husband turns into a girl," Kasumi answered softly.
"You are planning on staying with him?"
"I can not think of another place where I can, need, should, and want to be."
"I see.... But why would my son let himself get caught in something like that...."
"Oh, he didn't."
"Pardon?" the elder woman asked.
"Your husband threw him in when he wasn't moving fast enough."
The sword whipped out from its sheathe and the tip was pointed at the Saotome Patriarch's chest. "How could you do such a thing?!"
"I didn't know about that part!" Genma blurted, looking close to bolting.
"Why didn't you ask?!"
"I was in the middle of findin' out 'bout the place," Ranma put in. "That's why I was goin' 'too slow'."
"Is that so.... Well then, husband, you do know what we have to do now."
Genma's eyes shot open as wide as they could go. "Please no! Have a heart, dear!"
"You messed up, and now we'll have to handle it appropriately."
"But I don't want to die!"
A shocked look came across Soun's features. "What do you mean by that?!"
"The woman.... We have a contract. If I didn't raise Ranma to be a 'man among men', the two of us would have to commit ritual suicide!"
"What?!"
"That's why I didn't want to show her! Now she's going to insist on taking my head!"
"Whatever gave you the idea that I would want to go through with that promise?" his wife asked.
"Huh?! But I thought that you said...."
"I know what I said. But I'd already decided that my little boy had grown into a very manly young man."
"You did?"
"Of course I did. Back when we were reunited, I had opportunities to see him be very manly indeed. And the fact that he has a girl like Kasumi be so dedicated to him as to ignore such a glaring change, he must have grown manlier."
"Then why threaten me...." her husband asked.
"Because you've proven that you are a massive fool! What kind of clueless idiot goes to such a place?!"
"Now, Nodoka...."
"Don't you 'Nodoka' me!" Nodoka snapped. "We are going to have a long discussion about how irresponsible you have been, and make certain that you learn not to put my baby into those sorts of situations.
Soun stared dumbfounded as Nodoka led his old friend away by his ear.
"Mother is not very happy with him, is she?" Kasumi asked her husband.
Ranma-chan grinned back. "Hey, he brought all his troubles on himself. Trust me on that."
Cologne looked over at what her great-granddaughter was backing, and raised a brow. "You're travelling light."
"I do have a long journey ahead of me," Shampoo replied. "He did say that he lived all the way in that island nation."
"That he did. But I'd feel more comfortable if you made sure to be prepared for anything."
"I am as prepared as I need be. You do know that carrying too much will slow me down when it could cause me trouble."
"Consider it the 'old woman' in me, child. I look at you, and see the little girl that you used to be."
The younger Amazon gave her an indulgent smile. "But I am not that child any more."
"Trust me, I do recognize that. So do a great many males."
"Pheh. Them? Either they don't have enough spine, leer at me, or act like complete fools."
"With Mousse at the top of the fool list," the Amazon Matriarch murmured.
"Exactly. If nothing else, I welcome this trip, since it will get me away from him."
"That would be a benefit...."
"Besides, I was invited."
"Yes, you were. But you do realize that you don't know exactly where you're going yet," her great-grandmother observed, watching the other Amazon fold clothing.
"I know, but we already knew that I would be going. I want to get there as soon as his letter arrives."
A wry smile crossed the elderly woman's face. "Who would have thought it possible? A male who actually knows how to behave?"
"He is aware of how proper it is to stay loyal to his wife."
"I don't think that he can think of being otherwise."
"That's something that I'll have to agree with," Shampoo responded with a small shrug. "His dedication to her is good to see."
"And his reaction to his father was... humorous."
"Wasn't it though? I was all set to bash a girl for what her panda was doing, and she turns to beat the stuffing out of him for me. And then she apologized."
"A male with manners. His wife has taught him well," the elder Amazon drawled.
"More like he'd do anything for her. He did say that she was a gentle and generous sort, right?"
"That he did. Is that why you want to protect her like he would like?"
Shampoo pursed her lips. "Something about how he spoke of her impressed me. She isn't a warrior, but I do want to meet her."
"And see that boy again?"
"Why not? We might become friends, and he does see my strength as a benefit."
"You like him?"
"He did spend some time here, what with the mess that his father made. We did talk, and he did offer to make up for what happened at the tournament."
"Then you are wanting the debt paid."
"If nothing else. But there is something about this 'Ranma Saotome' that does impress me, on a 'warrior to warrior' level," Shampoo mused, while:
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(Posted Sun, 22 Jan 2006 05:03)
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