Nabiki cuddled closer to her tent-mate, wondering if this had been such a good idea.
It had been really simple when she had heard the offer for one of them to go with the Saotomes on the training trip. Akane had Daddy to train her. Kasumi had Mommy to train her.
What did she have? What did she have that made her ... special?
And then when the trip was offered, she saw an opportunity to have something special. Akane would never go on a training trip ... not after she got lost in that forest.
She kept spending the next few weeks talking about big monsters and being chased by a rabbit the size of the Dojo.
Kasumi would never do it, she preferred to stay home.
But this would be an adventure, a thrill to be on. It would be her chance to shine.
Of course, if Auntie hadn’t been going, she would have said no. She didn’t trust Uncle Baka. He just screamed “bad stranger” to her mind.
But Auntie kept him in line, and she did enjoy watching him get beaten as Auntie “explained” things to him. The last fight had been about Auntie getting some books so she could continue to school them.
Uncle Baka hated it.
Mr. Katana wanted it.
Mr. Katana won.
Uncle Baka took a nap.
Everyone laughed.
But now she was in a tent with Ranma, sleeping in the same bag—Auntie claimed to have forgotten to pick up a bag for her—wondering what everyone was doing back at home. I’ll ask Auntie about it tomorrow. She said we’d be stopping by to visit, so we won’t miss each other.
Smiling at that, she went back to trying to fall asleep. At least he doesn’t snore like Uncle Baka. How can anyone sleep through all that noise?
“You’re just going to make the boy weak,” complained Genma inside their tent.
Nodoka paused in her polishing of her sword, slowly turning to her errant husband. “And tell me how teaching my son that stealing is okay, makes him a man among men?”
Genma paled a bit. “Well ... uhm ... you see...”
“Dear,” she growled out, “I will be coming on this trip with you to ensure you do not forget the purpose. We are not here so you can avoid work. In fact, when I am training Ranma and Nabiki in kendo, schooling, or whatever else catches my fancy; you will be in the local towns finding a paying job.”
“But No-chan—”
“Don’t No-chan me!” she spat out. “You wanted to do this trip to teach our son the Saotome School, and you will, all of it; including those forbidden techniques in case the need arises where he might have to protect someone with deadly force. And since the small amount of time you have been with him was obviously not geared towards that end, you will have me watching you.”
She crawled over to him, sword pointed at his throat. “And if you try even once ... even if on accident ... even if someone kept you away ... to ditch me or Nabiki so you can get back to that failed program, then I will find you, and I will skin you alive before I make you commit seppuku. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, dear,” squeaked the man barely keeping his bladder under control.
“Good,” Nodoka smiled, as she wrapped her sword back up in its silk linens, before sliding inside her sleeping bag. “I look forward to seeing if you can earn your way back into my good graces, Husband. Good night.”
Genma let out a breath as Nodoka shut off the light inside the tent, a little flashlight she had bought. It wasn’t that he had been scared. No; he was merely rethinking on how to prove to her that he knew best.
It was then that he noticed something: Nodoka was using his sleeping bag.
What was he supposed to sleep in?
I know, I’ll take the boy’s. He won’t need it!
“Oh dear, don’t even try to take Ranma and Nabiki’s bag. They need it.”
“But No-chan, what am I supposed to sleep on?”
“You’re supposed to be a tough martial artist; sleep on the ground. It isn’t manly to steal your son’s sleeping bag.”
Genma sighed; so much for an easy solution. Oh, why was he cursed with a dishonorable son who wouldn’t give him his sleeping bag? “Um, No-chan, could I...”
“Sorry; this one is built for two; and Katana-san is so happy in here. Now go to sleep, husband.”
Grumbling about no one respecting him, Genma laid down on the ground of the tent, huddling for warmth. Oh; they were going to talk about this in the morning, he was certain of that.
Nodoka just smiled as she looked away from him. He thought I was hard on him before? MWA HAHAHAHAHA!
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(Posted Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:34)
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