After all, it wasn't even a good opportunity to get some practice in, since he could pound Kuno flat in one skirmish, never mind a real fight.
Blowing out a breath, he left the unconscious upperclassman laying where he'd fallen, and headed off to find his step-nieces. At least he could find something worthwhile in being around them, and they didn't seem to want to bash him simply for some way to reinforce a deluded view of the world. They were pretty nice to him, and he didn't have to try to figure out a reason to talk to them, or a way to feel comfortable being around them. Right then, all he wanted to do was to find where they were and head home.
He just didn't pay any mind to the group of his schoolmates who were now lining the edge of the field where he'd been having his 'conversation' with Kuno. Nor did he hear how they were reacting to his little 'tiff', though he might have wanted to do so. A lot of boys, many of whom who had been pushed around by the demanding and deluded kendoist, were all commenting on his strength, and how they'd like to be as strong as him. On the other side, a number of the girls were squealing with delight, and pronouncing him to be both 'cool' and 'cute'. Had he known about those comments about him... he'd have been running for the hills right then.
Instead, he merely wondered if there was some cool weather coming, as he felt a chill down his back, but brushed it off as he headed off to find his sister's step-daughters.
Working a grill was something that Ukyo almost felt that she'd been born doing. By what she could tell she'd always been around them, and it was as natural to her as was eating. She liked the opportunities that a grill gave her, as she could cook all along its surface, and have an easy way to talk to customers. Even when it was getting late, like it was now, she did have to admit that she enjoyed being there and cooking for the varied sorts of people who'd filter in and out of the shops that she'd work at.
Still, she wasn't above being concerned if one of them didn't quite leave as fast as she'd thought he would. "Mister Yoshida? Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine, my dear boy," the salaryman told her, not guessing the truth of her gender. "As far as I know, there's nothing wrong. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you'd usually be gone by this time, and you seem to be waiting here long past the time when everyone else has left...."
"Oh. That's actually because of you."
"Me? Why?"
"It's really simple. I was reading a newspaper this morning, and saw this ad. See here? 'Ukyo Kuonji, it's time to settle things about the promise. See me in Nerima. Genma Saotome.' Now, I don't know much about how names are spread out, but it seemed to be odd that this person has the same name as you.... Are you okay?" Yoshida asked.
Since she'd gone wide eyed, and dropped her spatula, it was kind of obvious that she wasn't all that focused at the moment.
It was a fairly annoyed Ranma who sat at the Tendo family's table that evening. Even the wonderful scents of dinner being cooked wasn't enough to get his mind off of it, as he had other things to worry about, all of it to do with one idiotic kendoist. All that he wanted to do at the moment was to enjoy the opportunity to be with his new found relatives, and he was having to deal with a moron who couldn't get a clue.
"Aren't you taking this a little hard?" Nabiki asked him.
Akane answered her sister for him. "Consider just what Kuno's been doing to me, and think if Ranma is going to like it."
"Oh, right. I do know my classmate, and he is annoying."
"Who is annoying?" asked a male voice that certainly wasn't Ranma's.
"We weren't talking about you, Grandfather Genma," the middle Tendo sister responded. "We were discussing a guy in my class. Kuno is his name, and apparently he's gotten the hots for Ranma's 'girl side'."
"Stupid boy!" Genma barked down at his son. "You shouldn't be leading boys on!"
"Who said that he was?"
"But you said...."
"Kuno has... his own tastes. He sees Ranma's admittedly rather attractive girl form, puts it together with similar looks to my mother, and martial arts skill, and he falls for her."
"Of course, he doesn't take 'no' for an answer," the youngest of the Tendo sisters groused, crossing her arms over her chest. "And he thinks that you're in love with him, no matter what."
"Ah. I see," the Saotome patriarch replied with a nod.
"Fortunately, Ranma will only be bothered by him."
"Don't I know it," the pigtailed boy grumbled.
Nabiki grinned at her step-uncle. "Hey, at least you're getting along pretty well with the girls. A lot of them seem to like you."
"That's not good. The boy can't be jumping from girl to girl when there are important responsibilities to handle!"
"Trust me. He's not going to be doing that sort of thing. He's just got his own little 'fan club' of girls."
"I'm so happy to hear that," commented a female voice that did not match either of the sisters'.
"Eh? Who is.... Oh, my...."
"What are you...." Genma began... just before his eyes went wide open. "No... no... no.... Nodoka!"
"It is good to see you as well, husband," the redheaded matron told the big man. "It has been a long time."
"But... but.... How...."
"I talked to her on the phone," Ranko chirped, as she popped up right behind her mother.
"It's just... why?"
"She is my Mom. Why shouldn't I do something about it when her only son and husband have returned home?"
"Oh, hell...." Genma gasped weakly as he began trembling all over, while:
(Posted Mon, 13 Nov 2006 05:08)
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