[Episode 211845] [Episode 211845]The next day at breakfast was extremely tense. Everybody was only partially successful at ignoring Akane’s battle aura. Nabiki sat down and flirted a bit with Ranma, which drove Akane’s battle aura to an all-new high. Her rage didn’t let up a bit, even after Nabiki left early for school.
Ranma and Akane made it to school and the Hentai Hoard renewed their morning attacks for Akane’s hand. They found out that Nabiki’s early arrival at school had given her ample time to throw out flyers that announced the change of engagement. Kuno arrived shortly after.
Ranma didn’t even bother to listen to Tatewaki’s rant as he punched him in the head. It wasn’t his strongest punch, but it was enough to draw blood. Tatewaki just wiped his face and said something about understanding the need to be left alone after losing Akane, and something about releasing the pig-tailed girl next. Ranma wasn’t listening and just kicked Kuno through a classroom window. He idly noted that at least Tatewaki would be on time today.
The water challenged youth was in a contemplative daze throughout his classes. It was near lunch when he overheard Daisuke say,
“Did you hear? Ukyo called out Nabiki. They’re going to be at the courtyard.” Ranma jumped out of his seat and ran out. He knew that there was no way that his newest fiancée would be able to defend herself from the okonomiyaki chef. He arrived in time to see Ukyo throw something at Nabiki. He was relieved and dismayed to find that it was a roll of bills.
“6000 yen for Ranma.” Ukyo said. In the canon universe, Ranma would have face-faulted and would have recovered in time to hear his many love interests bidding for his hand. After last nights lesson he was learning to think that the world was not as clear-cut as he had naively thought it was, especially when it came to girls. So, a stray figment, became a stray thought which became an epiphany. He turned abruptly to Nabiki and said,
“Give her a receipt.” A startled Nabiki quickly wrote one out. She was about to hand it to Ukyo when Ranma walked in front of her. She looked up into his blue eyes and was surprised to see that they were not full of hate or annoyance. No, they were full of … gratefulness. He softly said,
“Thank you for giving me some of my honor back.”
“Wha…?” Was all she was able to get out before Ranma pulled her into a full hug. A collective ooohhh came from the student body. Nabiki’s mind went into overdrive as she tried to cope with the situation, but was unable to make sense of anything.
She noted that this hug was strong and had a full body of emotions, thankfulness, cheer, yet somehow a touch of melancholy flavored it all. (Well she also noted that her assistant Ryonami was busying taking snapshots, but couldn’t fit that into any mental column of logic or profit)
Ukyo walked up and took the receipt from her unyielding fingers. Ranma gave her one last squeeze and gently let go. He turned to the okonomiyaki chef and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Come on Ucchan. Let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough of school for today.” He briskly turned and walked out the gates. Moments later a stunned Ukyo trailed behind with a,
”Hey wait up!”
A bush disguised Akane approached Nabiki. She had been attempting to disguise herself as a part of the flora landscape to see if her friends’ prediction about a budding romance was true. She saw the evidence and now she faced the accused. She stomped in front of her older sister and crossly said,
“So he promised you to protect you forever. Is that it! Now what is he doing? Making sure she stays away from you?” Nabiki turned toward Akane, but not quite focusing on the youngest Tendo.
“Ranma, uh, away?” What just might have occurred hit her and her mind hiccupped. To her credit, she did not faint, but she did fall on her butt and spent several minutes oblivious to any inquires to her health.
On the rooftop, Kodachi came out of her own stupor. Her pet ninja had told her about the changed engagement and she had to see if it was true. She arrived in time to see her Ranma-sama hug the middle Tendo girl. Kodachi’s world froze. It was true!
The somewhat delusional gymnast was about to jump down and remove the competition when something extremely odd happened. A piece of paper was taken from mercenary’s hand by one of the girls that also wanted her Ranma-sama then he walked away with her.
Something about that parchment had a hold on her beloved. It couldn’t be blackmail. He had been close to the paper and did not snatch it when he had been giving that tender hug that should be rightfully hers. Kodachi stared at the retreating figures. What power did that paper have? Perhaps her brother was right that magic surrounded her Ranma and this was proof of its hold on her love.
She wasn’t sure of the why, but she was sure of that whoever held that paper had a hold on Ranma-sama’s heart. If she couldn’t possess it then maybe she needed to destroy it and therefore freeing Ranma-sama. Then he would then be free to give his heart to her. Kodachi put away her weapons and jumped from the roof. She needed information. She had a quarry to track!
Shampoo looked around and saw Nabiki sitting on the ground being shook by a concerned ‘bushy’ Akane. The Amazon noted that the girl on the ground was unresponsive and that her airen was nowhere in sight. She gasped as she realized that she was too late and some one had already beaten the greedy girl and claimed Ranma.
Shampoo spied Kodachi speeding away in the distance. She was the one that defeated Nabiki and took her claim! Jumping after the quickly disappearing figure, she went into huntress mode. Shampoo had an obstacle to remove!
“Gotta get my backpack. Be right back.” He walked in. His old man was out at his job at Tofu’s and Mr. Tendo was serenely drinking tea on the porch. “Hi Mr. Tendo, can I have some hot water.” He finished his sip of tea and carefully put the cup down.
“Hello Ranma. Here you go. Have Akane and Nabiki made up yet?”
“No. Not yet…” She wasn’t able to say any more as the stoic image of Soun Tendo became a sobbing mess.
“Oh my family is being torn apart!” The newly converted boy decided to beat a retreat upstairs. He quickly packed his meager belongings. He looked over the girly disguises and decided to leave them. Most of the outfits were made up from the Tendo girl’s clothes anyway. He looked outside and saw Kasumi taking in the laundry.
He jumped out the window and landed near her. He was at first going to hug her in thanks, but it didn’t seem like the right thing to do. Instead, he deeply bowed to her, despite the weight of the large backpack.
“Thank you for your hospitality. I’m sorry for trouble that I caused around here.” Kasumi questioningly looked at him.
“You are very welcome Ranma. It has never been boring with you around. Did something happen?”
“Nabiki has kept the Tendo honor and restored some of the Saotome honor.”
“Oh my! I’m very proud of her. What did she do?”
“She fixed up some of the problems with my engagements. Tell pops that he should find another place to freeload or get to China and be cured or something. See you around.” He turned and left. Kasumi was a little confused, but felt proud of her younger sister, who she was certain was going to sell the dojo and live off the profits. She finally decided to make some of Nabiki’s favorite dishes for dinner.
Ranma. Alone. Oh. Ukyo’s face went bright red. Ranma placed his pack down by the counter and walked over to the door. His fiancée was sporting an atomic blush and her mouth hanging open. Worried he shook her slightly and said,
“Ucchan. Are you ok?” This suddenly brought her focus to Ranma. She looked at Ranma’s face and her blush doubled in intensity. She tried to look widely anywhere else, but at the pig tailed youth. Her arm fluttered in warding attempts, which each just incidentally slapped Ranma in the face.
“Oh! I’m so embarrassed!” Normally, when Ukyo is in this state, she would retreat to her restaurant. Since she lacked her usual sanctuary, she ran toward the back. Her blush went down when she entered her room. Then she saw her bed. “Oh!” Her blush returned and she ran out and into the bathroom. “Oh!” Her eyes fell on the tub and washing stool.
Ranma watched as she ran out of the bathroom and into the storage closet. “Oh!” He wasn’t sure what she saw, or was thinking but she ran out to the restaurant again. She stopped in front of him and turned red again. Seeing the telltale signs of danger he blocked each slap until Ukyo was completed winded. He helped her sit down at one of the counter stools. He got her a glass of water, which she gulped down gratefully.
“Am I being a bother? I can go camp out in one of the vacant lots near the school.” Ukyo grabbed his arm.
“No! No bother.” Ranma smiled and nodded. He let himself relax and suddenly felt very fatigued.
“Ucchan. Is it ok if grab a nap? I really could use some rest.” Ukyo nodded and made an affirmative noise. He grabbed his backpack, went into the storage room, and began to unroll his sleeping bag. Ukyo tapped on his shoulder and said,
“You don’t have to sleep here. You can sleep,” she swallowed as she fought down a blush,”in the bedroom.” He nodded and moved his sleeping bag to the bedroom. Ukyo sat down on the bed and this time was not able to keep down her blush. “I meant that you…I mean you and me...uh…can sleep on the same futon. I mean…that’s what married people do…uh…I guess affianced people do it too…I think…” Ukyo’s thoughts were all twisted about which left the poor girl speechless. Ranma blinked then blushed. After a false start or two he finally answered back at the befuddled girl,
“Ucchan. Maybe we’ll do …um… something like…that… later. Right now, I’m just feeling really tired. I’m not sure why, but after Akane dumping me and I know why Nabiki did what she did, but for some reason it still sort of hurts. Maybe,” He pushed out his chest and thumped on it,” it’s my ego, pride or something. Whatever it is has really sapped my strength.” Ukyo eyes lit up in understanding.
“You’re emotionally drained.”
“I’m what?”
“Emotionally drained. It’s something like too many things have happened to your feelings and your mind gets tired. Get some rest. Here,” she pulled a spare futon and pillow from the closet and set up the sleeping bag as a blanket, “this should be more comfortable.” As Ranma got into the futon, he noticed that Ukyo had taken the receipt out of her pocket and was holding it up in front of her.” He propped himself up and asked,
“Is that the receipt you got from Nabiki? What are you doing with that?”
“Oh. I was just thinking of getting it framed and was wondering where to put it. You get some rest. I’ll keep it safe in my hope chest for now.” Ranma looked on as she pulled a small wooden box from the closet. She saw him looking and answered the unasked question. “A hope chest is a somewhat western tradition where a girl collects things for her married life.”
“Do you have your dad’s secret recipe in there?” She smiled at the memory and replied fondly,
“No. I keep that in the store safe. I should make a new batch and this time you can keep your promise to me to take care of me forever when it turns out good!” Ranma blushed and looked down.
“I think my childhood days were one big training trip blur. How come I never seem to remember the important parts?” He griped to himself as he lay down on the futon once again. Ukyo smiled, laying down on her stomach in her own futon, and softly said,
“I’ll help you remember and we’ll make new memories for ourselves.” She wasn’t sure if Ranma heard her as his breathing slowed, and then went into a slight snore. She watched him for some time until her head began to droop into her crossed arms and soon she too was snoozing.
‘Well, unlike me, some girls can be a little emotional and if you need to comfort them try using one arm to hold her tight and using the other one to stroke her hair.’
The pigtailed youth looked over at his crying fiancée and tried to figure out how hug her. She would probably wake up if he lifted her from the front for a proper hug. He decided to lay behind her so that he could get an arm on top of her and loosely hold her. This allowed him to get his other arm up to stroke her hair. It was a little awkward, but it seemed to help as she stopped crying, but she was still softly mouthing, “Don’t go.” He mentally thanked Nabiki again for her timely lesson and softly said,
“I’m right here Ukyo. I’m not going anywhere. Ucchan, I won’t leave you.” Slowly the girl in his arm calmed down and fell into a peaceful sleep. Ranma was mentally and emotionally drained a second time that day. He was soon asleep again, still holding his cute fiancée.
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(Posted Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:01)
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