Unfortunately, it wasn't like he could exactly complain about this to any great length. This girl was obviously Nabiki's friend, especially when his middle daughter sat next to the girl, and he didn't exactly want to hurt his daughter by dismissing a friend. Then again, he didn't know this girl, and what he had seen of her had shown a dignified and respectful young woman, so treating her badly simply because she happened to be inconvenient just didn't seem right.
But he could try to make certain that there were no chances for things to go awry. All that he had to do was to make certain that the blonde girl and the sole boy in the room were treated as friends, so that it would be clear where everyone stood. The problem with that was the fact that Ranma sat next to Haruka, which wouldn't be a bother normally, but instead of allowing Genma to sit next to his son, Akane took the spot at the boy's left. Her father decided that it could be helpful to have a possible fiancee sit next to the boy, and managed to dismiss the seating issue long enough to sit next to his friend, as Kasumi's positioning had made it impossible for them to be seated in any other arrangement.
He was certain that things would work out though, and so he drew himself up with all the paternal airs that he could puff his chest up with. "Now, we were discussing our promises...."
It was to Haruka's credit as a respectful guest that she only gave him a questioning look.
"Long ago, back when we were suffering under a cruel and self indulgent master...."
"Sorta like you, Pop," Ranma murmured.
"Yes, I know that I can be a tough task...." his father began and then glared at the teenaged boy. "HEY!"
"ANY-way, we made a promise that our children would marry, and as I have three lovely daughters, and Saotome has a son, it is a simple assumption that Ranma will marry one of my girls. It is a matter of honor," Soun continued.
"Exactly, and we want nothing to go wrong," Genma commented, looking over at the blonde.
Haruka shrugged. "That's understandable, though I would have thought that you'd have waited until you had children."
"And why should we?"
"It's really simple. What would have happened if you both had daughters? Or had sons? There is nothing wrong with certain couples, but if you wanted to have one of the sort that it sounds like you do, then it would have been safer to be sure."
"Well, we don't have to worry about that."
"Just a bit of good fortune in that."
The Tendo patriarch gave the visitor a level look. "I'm sure that Genma would know enough to keep up his side of the bargain."
"He'd certainly always try his best to get what he wants, even when it's amusing."
"Oh?"
"When we first met, he tried to convince me that he was a tough and demanding man, what with him telling me that I 'whined like a girl'," Haruka said with a smirk. "Too bad for him that I am a girl."
"Couldn't he just see that?"
Nabiki gave off a little snicker. "Actually, Dad, Haruka can look a lot like a guy, given the right clothing."
Her father looked over her friend, and tried to figure out how that was possible. The girl might have not have the most voluptuous figure and had short hair, but she was certainly not flat in any way. "I hope that my friend had enough reason to be fooled, and it wasn't anything else...."
"Tendo!" Genma blurted.
The Tendo sisters giggled, and their friend gave their father an approving glance, while:
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(Posted Sat, 18 Mar 2006 22:31)
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