Ranma hadn't seen very many movies or shows that didn't have martial arts in them (his pop's treat), or lewdness (the guys "treat" at some of the all-boys' schools he had gone to). So he had no real idea of what Nabiki had meant when she told him to "walk like you have spurs on". He didn't even know if spurs could be worn with slippers.
But he was able to walk into the place slow and deliberate. ("How d'ya say those macho-guys do it!??-I AIN'T gonna walk like no girl!!") The straw hat alone would have brought attention upon him, as he had been thrown out of the game center not minutes ago. But now it was lowered to keep his face in shadow, while his Chinese shirt and most of his pants was covered by a dark cloak, adding to the sense of his hidden intent.
He was watched as he took his time walking to the game that had set him on the path he was now headed down: Skittles.
He put his coin in the slot, and the pins were set. He took off the hat. The clerks in charge of outsing unwanteds from the joint made their first move.
But Ranma stopped them cold, when he turned his mirrored glasses towards them. They couldn't see his eyes, but they sensed that this was someone who didn't intimidate, but, instead, intimidated others.
As they stared intently at the stranger, waiting for the first sign of a weak spot, he toss his hat. It hit the hanging skittle ball; it swung and knocked down all of the nine pins weighted to keep the customer from winning. He got credit for the game, and the pins were set up again.
Nabiki watched on from near the door. Despite being in a colorful spring kimono with a parasol, she was basically ignored. All eyes were on Ranma. She was proud of herself. Her improvised plan was working out better than she could have hoped from the little time she had had to coach Ranma in how to act.
Ranma, the "Mysterious Stranger", reached for the pins so he could arrange them for some really challenging hat tricks.
The burly clerks rushed him. He flung his straw hat: It spun with the force of a buzz saw; but it didn't cut. Instead, the inside of the hat came in around from the side. The under-brim caught the jawline of the man who was fifty pounds less than the other. Its impact whipped his neck about, sending him off balance into the heavier man. Both went down.
"Man, it was supposed to return to me! I do need more practice," Ranma said, going to retrieve his straw weapon. "I ain't used to have this raincoat interfering with my arms." Then he remembered there were slits in it for his arms to go through.
Meanwhile, an average-looking twenty-something, who could even be mistaken for an accountant, except for the scar on his face, offered the five local gang members (such as they were in peaceful Nerima) a reward, if they could beat the guy-in-black.
(Posted Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:49)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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