Nabiki and Ranma were walking arm in arm towards the ice cream parlor.
“Now for the dessert, my treat.” Nabiki smiled at Ranma.
“You sure Nabs? You did pay for lunch too.” Ranma pointed out.
“Yep. After all, what else would I get the great Ranma Saotome for his birthday other than lunch and ice cream. I can’t think of anything you love more than food.” Nabiki eyes twinkled as she winked at him, her lips curling as she tried to smother her giggles.
Ranma looked skywards as he let his shoulders drop. Copying his father’s pose, Ranma railed to the heavens. “What have I done to deserve such an uncute fiancée?”
Nabiki giggled.
Ranma, cracking a smile, looked at Nabiki and said, “Thanks, it is a great present, after all. And the first for the day, unless the tattoos count?” Ranma smirked at Nabiki.
“Sure they count. Tattoos: the gift you can’t return or give away.” Nabiki smirked back at Ranma, her face glowing with humor. Nabiki gently pulled Ranma into the ice creamery. “So, think this place is safe?”
Ranma shrugged. “I’m not sure how we could tell the difference.”
Getting in line, the two waited to place their order while scanning the menu of flavors. Glancing at the ice cream jerk behind the counter, Ranma and Nabiki were amazed by his ability. He was using white and yellow ice cream to sculpt what looked like a very convincing plate of fried eggs. Topping the creation with strawberry sauce and nuts, he handed the sundae to a customer. Sadly, the next customer only ordered a waffle cone, and didn’t get something sculpted. Soon, it was Ranma and Nabiki’s turn to order, but they were still looking at the list of flavors and options.
“Hello there, how can I help you today?” The jerk asked politely.
Ranma pursed his lips. “Not sure yet. Anything on special?”
Nabiki broke into the conversation at this point. “Would it make any difference if we had receipts from the other stores here?”
“Nope, we don’t have a discount program. But it is good to know that you two are enjoying your day shopping. Maybe I could recommend the Lover’s Special? It is a sundae for two.”
Ranma drooled at the thought of a sundae large enough for two people. “How big is it?”
“Better get two,” Nabiki teased Ranma with a smirk, “one might not be big enough.”
The ice cream jerk smiled at the byplay of the two customers before him. “It is a six scoop banana split sundae in a heart shaped bowl. Your choice of flavors, though the regular is two scoops of cherry, two scoops of mango, and two scoops of lemon-almond Italian style ice cream. It is covered in a sweet sauce made from red rose petals and passion fruit. Topped with whip cream, hot fudge, caramel, and two cherries. You can add sprinkles or chopped roasted nuts if you like for fifty yen extra. Of course, it comes with two spoons.”
Ranma stared off into space, drooling. Nabiki, meanwhile, asked something she was wondering about. “What was with that plate of fried eggs you made?”
“Ah yes,” the vendor said as he pointed to a specific section of the menu on the wall. “I can make the ice cream look like other things, and the list of choices is right there. For the morbidly in love, I could make it look like a pig’s heart. Or maybe you’d like a plate that looks like shrimp tempura. We also feature all sorts of frozen treats from around the world. Maybe you’d like a Klondike bar?”
“What would you like, Ranma?” Nabiki tugged on his sleeve to get his attention.
“Huh? Oh, how about the one for two special. Sounds just right. And you can use the second spoon to try a little of it, too.”
Nabiki shook her head, not at all surprised that Ranma wanted one of the bigger sundaes, though not the biggest. Looking towards the jerk, Nabiki placed the orders. “I’d like a chocolate malt milkshake and the lover’s special.”
“Which flavors would you like in the sundae?”
Ranma was indecisive, as there was a lot of flavors to choose from. “I’m not sure. Maybe one each of ... hmm.” Nabiki elbowed him in the kidneys. “Yeah right. OK. Give me chocolate, vanilla, sea urchin, lychee, octopus, and miso ice cream with the chopped nuts too.” Nabiki made faces at some of his choices.
The jerk nodded in approval. “An adventurous kind, I applaud your boldness. OK, coming right up.” It only took a couple minutes to get everything made up, the milkshake mixing as the sundae was being made. Nabiki paid the man, then they found a table in the corner and began to have their dessert.
Sitting down, Ranma wondered out loud, “Should I change into a girl for this?”
“Why?” Nabiki questioned. “I paid for it, so it’s free to you. No need to try and charm free treats with your girl form. You’re among strangers here, so no need to worry about who might see you eating ice cream. And who knows if we can find you hot water easily. Just enjoy the ice cream, I say.”
Ranma nodded his agreement. “Wanna try some, Nabs?” Ranma handed her the second spoon.
“Yeah, sure, if you can find me the chocolate or vanilla. I’m not really in the mood for octopus flavored ice cream. Sometimes, I really do wonder about you, Ranma.” Nabiki picked at the scoops Ranma pointed out. Fortunately, it was hard to mistake chocolate ice cream for anything else and vice versa.
Nabiki smiled at Ranma, but with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “So, how long before you let slip to your little harem that we shared a lover’s sundae?”
Ranma groaned. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. They’d probably try to kill you. Well, Kodachi would for sure.”
“So, about two hours then?” Nabiki smirked.
Ranma changed the subject. “How’s the milkshake?”
Nabiki sat back watching Ranma finish his ice cream. Checking her watch, she smiled at Ranma and said, “Ready to go?”
Ranma let out a loud belch. “Sure thing, I’m all done.”
“Eew, gross!” Nabiki waved her hand in front of her nose like she was trying to chase away a bad smell.
Ranma blushed and looked down into his lap sheepishly. “Sorry ‘bout that.”
Nabiki got up and slapped his shoulder in good humor. “Come on, tough guy. Let’s see what else we can find around here.” Ranma got up and together they left the ice cream shop.
Once they reentered the food court, Nabiki paused to look around.
“If it helps, we came in from that way,” Ranma said as he pointed down one of the alleyways.
“Let’s see what else we can find if we try a different path. How do we pick one?”
“Just pick which ever feels the best to you, I guess.” Ranma shrugged and looked at Nabiki expectantly.
Nabiki thought for a moment. ‘I want to find Ranma a gift. What kind of store would appeal to a martial artist?’ “Alright. Let’s go this way.” Nabiki walked away, still trying to figure out which store would be best to find. ‘Still got time to hit a normal store back in Nerima, I’m not so sure I ought to buy things heedlessly here. Might be best to just window shop.’
“Hey, look at these shops, Nabiki.” Nabiki broke out of her thoughts. Looking around, she could see some stores that may appeal to Ranma. “Hey look, a comic shop. ‘Fantastical Manga’ You like manga, should we go in?”
Nabiki looked closer at the indicated store. “Where comics come to life,” she read out loud from the store’s sign in the window. “I’m not so sure, lets look in the others.” ‘There’s a thought, Ranma would like a martial arts themed manga. Even if he sometimes laughs at the moves, I wonder if he ever got ideas from them as well.’ Nabiki then walked over to the next shop, looking into it’s window. ‘Or maybe he would like a more serious work, a novel dealing with war and warriors or bushido and honor.’
Nabiki was deep in thought and didn’t register that she was looking in the window for Lets Go-go Dance. Ranma stood right behind her. “See something interesting Nabiki? Is it the girl in the go-go dress, or is it the pole dancing class?”
Nabiki blushed when she noticed what she was staring at. “Er, nothing Ranma-baby. Let’s look across the street.” Across the way, she spied a dojo. Panbellatorium School of Hard Knocks was housed in a traditional Japanese style building.
“Wow!” Ranma stared at the building in a daze. “It claims to be the only place where you can learn all possible martial arts, and a few of the impossible ones too. Can we go in?” Ranma seemed to bounce in place like a child on Christmas morning.
Nabiki smiled at Ranma’s antics. “Just think what you’ll pick up by just watching a few moves, huh? Not interested in looking at the other stores?” While she did ask, Nabiki knew what Ranma would say. Just finding such a place had made his day, and she felt oddly satisfied at seeing how pleased he looked.
Ranma didn’t even seem to hear her, as he reverently approached the dojo. Nabiki tagged along, hoping to keep him out of trouble if she could. ‘Well, this doesn’t help me decide what to get for him, but it would be something special he can see on his birthday. I’d get him a year’s membership if I thought he could find his way back here again. Now I know what Ryouga must feel like.’
Silently, the two entered the building, bowing at the threshold and removing their shoes. Standing in the corner, Ranma devoutly watched the ongoing class, absorbing as much as he could. One of the trainers noticed them and approached.
“Can I help any of you?” He asked the duo.
When Ranma failed to respond, Nabiki nudged him to get his attention. Then, she jabbed him. Next, she stomped on his toe. Finally, she simply decided to answer for him. “We’re just passing through. He’s a bit of a martial arts nut, always looking to learn something new. Mind if we just watch for a little while?”
“Not at all. If you’re interested in learning, we have some pamphlets that gives our rates.”
“Thank you, maybe I’ll pick one up for him to read when his brain comes back online.” With a nod, the trainer walked away leaving the two to watch the advanced lesson that was currently being conducted. Nabiki glanced over to see if Ranma heard anything, only to find that Ranma needed his chin wiped clean of drool. She couldn’t fault him though, Nabiki knew she would be the same way if they were looking at boy band posters. Walking over to a nearby rack, Nabiki picked up a pamphlet and began to leaf through it.
‘Hmm, expensive lessons. Though they do offer a discount to anyone who’s mastered an art they do not yet offer. I wonder if Anything Goes is sufficiently unique enough and if Ranma could be considered to have mastered it enough for that to count. I can’t imagine any respectable dojo wanting Happosai to teach on the premise, so Ranma is not really that bad of a sell. But Ranma disappearing regularly, I can not see that going well. Would the girls find him here? Cause no end of problems? Ah well, maybe something to look into in the future.’
After almost a half hour, the class began to wrap up by doing some stretches and cooling off exercises. Ranma emerged from his daze and looked at Nabiki with giddy excitement. “Wow!”
Nabiki smiled kindly in return. “Come on, we better get going before we wear out our welcome. I picked up a pamphlet. Maybe you can come back again one day.” Ranma nodded and followed her out the dojo. Both bowed upon leaving and put their shoes back on once they left. Nabiki checked her watch. “Where to next?”
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See other episodes by Errol Peregrinus
(Posted Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:29)
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