Paused on a rooftop on the mountainous outskirts of the Nerima ward, the trio were pondering the final plan to use. While getting in a tussle and having a mock battle with the locals as a distraction was a novel idea, the plan of sending in a disguised Minako in a cab to ensure a safe pick-up seemed best.
At least until Ranma got a call on his cellphone. There wasn't much conversation for the girls to listen in on, just Ranma making noises to let the other person know he'd heard them. Then it ended with a simple, "Alright, see you in a bit."
Seeing the two transformed girls looking at him, Ranma removed his mask and handed it back to Minako. "That was Kasumi, said she told her little sisters about the date, so I may as well just pick her up in person. That being the case, it'd probably be real bad if I showed up with female help."
Thinking for a moment, Ranma was a bit sad the effort was wasted before thinking of something. “Well, sorry for wasting your time. Uhm, look, if you want, next time I have a free evening, I can call and maybe come over and visit, get to know each other properly.”
Despite knowing Ranma was involved with multiple girls since he’d had to explain the basics of who was who, Makoto wasn’t gong to let a piddly thing like that stop her. If anything he seemed fairly considerate about it all. “Sure, just give me a little warning and I’ll cook you a good meal.”
Nodding once, Ranma made his parting quick before bounding on towards Nerima. “Alright then, It’d be nice to relax without the usual hassle. Catch you later.”
Pausing with a grin, Minako turned to her tall companion. “You’ll call me over too, right?
Makoto however was lost in a happy smile at the thought of having a handsome young man over for dinner.
Hearing a tapping on the window, Kasumi went over and opened her curtains. Ranma in turn opened the window himself, wanting to save her the effort. “So, how do you want me to pick you up? Meet at the front entrance or just princess-nap you right now?”
Humming thoughtfully, Kasumi glanced over at her curious sisters. After a moment of consideration she came to a decision. “I’ll meet you at the front entrance in a moment Ranma-kun.”
Nodding once, Ranma leaned back and closed the window before dismounted from her windowsill with a backflip.
Closing her curtains, Kasumi went back to check herself out in her vanity mirror once more. Satisfied with her make-up and outfit, she put on the jewelry she’d been reluctant to wear.
Satisfied with her outfit, she went downstairs, making a point to make a detour into the family room to pause in plain view of the fathers. “Well Father, I’ll be going out on my date now.”
Somewhat startled, Soun looked over his rather pretty eldest daughter. “A date? I wasn’t aware you were dating.”
Hearing that, Kasumi pouted. “Humph, I’m not some house-maid.”
The mustacioed man broken on in rather predictable bawling in response. “Wahh! My Kasumi-chan hates me!”
With Kasumi walking away from the family room towards the entryway with a frown on her face, Akane was feeling seriously conflicted. When Kasumi had said she was going on a date with Ranma, it had been surprising, but it hadn’t really hit Akane until Ranma showed up at the window.
Following along behind Kasumi, she caught a glimpse of her meeting Ranma at the front gate that led to the street. Clad in lingerie and a nice dress, accented with jewelry and polished with a light touch of make-up, Kasumi was more beautiful that usual.
Akane knew of Kasumi’s beauty, but she was even more startled to get a good look at Ranma. He hardly looked like Ranma, even the trademark braid was gone, replaced by the simple ponytail Ranma wore before the Dragon Whisker incident. Likewise his normal Chinese outfit was no where to be seen, the young man clad in a casual but very nice outfit almost like a normal guy.
After talking for a moment, Ranma swept Kasumi up into his arms, eliciting a giggle from the normally prim girl. Then as if to just confirm it really was Ranma, he bounded off over buildings and walls instead of using the sidewalk like a normal person.
Arriving at the restaurant early, they passed the time by sitting together atop a tall nearby building.
Enjoying the view and gentle breeze while giving Kasumi a chance to check that she was still presentable, Ranma took the moment to confirm one last thing. “Oh, for the date, is it alright if I call you Kasumi-chan? I wouldn’t want us to seem too distant.”
“Oh, yes, that would be alright.” Thinking about it however put her situation back in her thoughts. She’d been caught up in the moment, and it was a very nice experience so far. The issue of her father and other adults arranging for her to be formally introduced to guys was a troubling matter. She might have been opposed when she first met Ranma because she wanted an older guy, but after a year of being around Ranma, meek salary-men that had to get drunk to build up their courage just weren’t very appealing at all.
During Ranma’s time in her home, she’d watched over him and his relationship with her little sister. Early on she’d been worried he was sneaking into her room for something naughty, but she’d found out he was just hunting Happousai and others on those occasions to protect the household.
She’d also kept an eye on Akane, and although her little sister got along with Ranma, it was more in the manner of grade school children. If the pair had eaten 10cm age mushrooms and turned into ten year olds, at least they could have grown into their relationship then, or at least acted their ages in one.
Despite growing up on the road and doing things like howling at the moon, sleeping in trees and other odd little behaviors, Ranma could be polite and well-mannered like he was currently. In general he simply treated people like they treated him and acted like a boy that had gone to all-boy’s schools. Despite that he could cook, sew, read books to learn to do new things and manage his own money to live frugally, all things people seemed to overlook about him, but were simply things he learned growing up on the road caring for himself.
It was Akane that worried her. Perhaps it was because she’d been a sheltered school girl or perhaps those morning incidents at school she complained about before Ranma arrived. Whatever the reason, Akane still seemed to be scared that Ranma would take advantage of her. Her little sister seemed to know it was otherwise, but when she was in the moment, it was like how she lost her little mind when it came to cooking and start grabbing things in a hurry.
“Ready to go Kasumi-chan? It’s showtime.”
Startled out of her thoughts, Kasumi nodded and allowed Ranma to pick her back up.
One short windy thrill ride later and Ranma was setting Kasumi down on the sidewalk just in time for a man in the business suit to turn around and be startled to find them there. Unlike many Ranma surprised by suddenly popping up, the business man rapidly recovered by making a show of straightening his tie. “Ah, Saotome-san, I was wondering if you’d already arrived.”
Dressed nicely and with the lovely Kasumi at his side, Ranma felt a lot more comfortable dealing with the demolition company manager. “It’s alright Denbura-san, we were just enjoying the view while we waited. This is my date for the evening, Kasumi Tendö.”
Glancing nervously at the car he’d just gotten out of, the older man seemed a bit flustered as he beckoned to someone in the car. “Ah, well I brought my step-daughter along.”
Eventually a very petite girl with long brown hair exited the car with her face puffed out in a scowling pout, much to the relief of her step-father. “This is Taiga Aisaka. I’m afraid we haven’t gotten to spend much time together with my work, so please overlook her mood.”
Ranma however simply shrugged to show his indifference to her bad mood. “It’s fine, she kinda reminds me of Kasumi-chan’s little sister.”
Unfortunately for Kasumi, she could see the similarity herself, although there were some differences. “Oh my yes, but Akane-chan would have thrown a fit and injured someone by now. Your daughter is quite well-behaved.”
Nervously the business man accepted it as a good sign, however odd a compliment it might have been. “Ah well, thank you.”
Smiling fondly, Kasumi didn’t let it drop there. “Oh I recall the first time Akane-chan met Ranma-kun, she hit him with the family dining table and threatened to drown him in the bath with a small boulder.”
Denbura started to sweat a bit then, and his unease only continued as Kasumi thoughfully added one bit more. “She really is a sweet girl, she’s just a violent maniac at times.”
Ranma rolled his eyes and sighed appreciatively at the sentiment. “Yeah, I just wish she’d get violent with someone besides me, you know, someone that actually deserves it for once.”
Laughing nervously now, the Denbrua moved forward to open the door to the restaurant. “Yes, well, shall we go in and get our table? Perhaps continue our talk over an appetizer course.”
Sitting at the table, Taiga had her arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, teeth grinding and was glaring. Just in case the visual cues weren’t enough, she was also growling. She was not happy.
If she could stand her step-father and the rest of the family her mother remarried into, she wouldn’t have been living by herself in an apartment. Worse the jerk had only invited her out to meet some high school kid he was interested in for some reason. Then that jerk brings along a tall and curvy young woman as his date. Miss Perfect was so tall, she’d have to lean over just to hug Taiga into her cleavage, which of course she had plenty of to show off.
Besides the tall girl having a foot of height on her, and Taiga’s distinct lack of curves or breasts, the other girl was pleasant, charming and sweet. Kasumi was everything she was not, and although she didn’t like her step-father, she was even more pissed off at how uncomfortable he was over how bad she looked in comparison.
Unable to take it anymore, Taiga gripped the edge of the table and heaved it into the air, intending to ruin the meal and get it over with.
To her surprise however there was a thud and rattle as Ranma slapped his hand down on the table, preventing it from flying into the air. That was followed immediately afterwards by Kasumi catching Ranma’s water glass before it tilted over and spilled into his lap.
To Denbura’s relief, neither Ranma nor his date batted an eyelash at the incident. Ranma instead just passed the appetizers over to Taiga. “If you wanted one, just say so.”
After that dinner proceeded quietly until Ranma got a message on his cellphone and paused to read it. Curious, Ranma turned over to Kasumi. “Have you heard anything about me being on TV?”
Perking up, Kasumi had meant to ask about that. “Oh yes, Akane-chan said somethign about that while I was getting ready. Apparently her friends caught your commercial on TV.”
Nodding, Ranma paused to type in his reply and send the text off. “Guess it’ll be no secret then. That was my manager, says the ad company wants to sign me on to do more work for them.”
Kasumi in turn expressed mild surprise. “Oh, how many jobs are you working Ranma-kun?”
Ranma shrugged the question off, trying to stay casual. “Eh, a few. This was the most regular one until I got rescheduled for emergencies. Seems a better use of my spare time than sitting in a tree and reading a book.”
As they returned to their meal, Ranma paused to read another text message before frowning. “Speak of the devil. Seems like tonight is a busy one. I got a notice there may be an emergency coming up I’ll be needed for, so as much as I hate to, can we skip dessert?”
After everything else, at least Denbura had something to worry about other than his step-daughter. “Ah, is this other work going to interfere with working for our company on emergencies?”
Considering the issue, Ranma thought of how to word it for both Kasumi and Denbura. “Ah, no. It’s something else, last two missions were rescuing kidnapped girls. There shouldn’t be a scheduling conflict.”
With his other jobs, that sounded the most like something Ranma would do to Kasumi. “Oh, but shouldn’t you leave immediately?”
The young man simply put his phone away and returned to his meal. “Nah, don’t worry Kasumi-chan. They’re just giving me advance notice to get ready, they have to get stuff ready on their end. If we cut dinner a little short I’ll have plenty of time to get you home and still make preparations.”
With that out in the air, dinner actually went pleasantly after that point, Taiga merely eating her food rather quietly.
After finishing their meal and saying their good-byes, Ranma had carried Kasumi back home.
Once he’d set Kasumi down to stand near the entryway, Ranma wasn’t simply going to run off. Instead he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek before gallanty bowing like a gentleman. “Why thank you Kasumi-chan, the company of a beautiful lady was greatly appreciated this evening.”
Giggling at his act, Kasumi smiled fondly at him. “Why thank you Ranma-kun, I enjoyed myself as well. Now please take care of yourself and come home safely.”
Nodding once to her in reply, Ranma dashed off across the rooftops.
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(Posted Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:16)
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