In the Tendo residence a similar discussion had been held by the esteemed patriarch and his three eligible daughters.
“Oh, my!” youngest daughter Akane asked, mildly surprised. “A fiancée?”
“Well, it’s about time,” grumbled the middle daughter, Nabiki.
“I do hope he’s older,” idly remarked eldest daughter, Kasumi. “What is he like?”
“Is he wealthy?” interrogated Nabiki. “Is he from a good family?”
“How strong is his faerie craft?” demanded Akane.
“Ah aha!” laughed the esteemed patriarch, Soun. “I have no idea!”
“No idea?” enquired a suspicious Nabiki, and repeated with lilting emphasis. “No idea!?”
“None,” Soun admitted frankly. “I’ve never even met the boy.”
“Oh, so now we’re being parceled off to a complete stranger,” Akane observed bluntly.
“Akane is right, Daddy,” a concerned Kasumi agreed. “How can you be sure he’s a suitable match?”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s no problem,” Soun assured them. “His father is an old, old friend, with strong faerie craft. I’m sure the boy will be fine.”
“Oh, well, in any case, we’ll need new dresses if we’re to make a good impression,” Nabiki pointed out and held her palm up expectantly. “And some nice jewelry, and new hair styles, hrmm…, and makeup, and manicures, and…”
There came a knock, knock, knocking at the door, and a relieved Soun then announced, “ah ha! I expect that will be them now!”
Nabiki’s eyes flattened.
“Daddy!” Kasumi protested as she rose and smoothed her skirts and glanced about the villa with critical nervousness. “How could you!?”
Akane paused by a mirror and complained, “Kasumi’s right, Daddy! You could have given us more time to prepare.” One of her attendant faeries manifest and began combing tangles out of her long black hair. “Thank you, Fuu,” Akane murmured gratefully to the transparent wisp. “Can you perfume me with some of the fragrance from the flower garden?”
“Not everything revolves around pleasing boys, Akane,” Nabiki observed snidely as calmly proceeded towards the villa’s entry at a sedate pace. She glided along serenely to the hall, then dashed to the door. “At least wait until you see if he’s worth the effort.”
“No wonder the boys all think you’re weird,” Akane muttered after her sister’s back.
“Oh, my!” announced Genma, as his gaze swept over the building. “This must be the place.”
“Gee. How can you tell?” Ranma muttered darkly as he was released from the fireman’s carry across his father’s shoulder. He stood upright and starred up at the sign that read:
Tendo Family Residence and School of Anything Goes Faerie Craft.
(To challenge the owner to a duel, please use the back entrance.)
“Quiet boy!” Genma said. “Try to make a good impression.”
“Feh! Why?”
By way of answer, Genma clouted his son over the head with earth craft enhanced strength.
“Hey!” Ranma complained and rubbed the back of his abused head while drawing on metal crafted resilience to ignore the pain. “What’cha do that for, Old Man?”
“Oh, behave!” Genma growled. “Stop being such a child!”
The door opened, revealing a young woman who emerged to latch onto the boy’s arm. “Oh, my! You must be Ranma?”
“Uh, yeah,” he agreed as she started tugging him inside. He felt awkward by the way she was eyeing him.
“Welcome to the Tendo residence,” the girl purred as she stroked his arm and gazed over his chest. “I’m Nabiki. It’s a pleasure to… eek!”
The last utterance was interrupted by Ranma quite abruptly ducking aside and pulling her out of the way as a man erupted from the passage and rushed through the vacated space with what must have been faerie assisted speed.
“You made it. Old Friend!” Soun greeted as he slamed into a bear-hug embrace with Genma. “I’m so glad to see you! Bwahaha! Still the same old reprobate, I see?”
“Mwahaha!” Genma laughed back, pulled free and clapped his friend on the arms to lifted him up for inspection. “Look at you! You make a fine imitation of an honest citizen these days.”
“Hahahaha! It’s been too long, but it’s so good of you to come, at last,” Soun declared as Genma release him then turned to grab the boy. “And you must be Ranma? I’m so glad to meet you, Son in Law!”
“Murrrk!” Ranma muffled by way of winded reply as Nabiki released him into her father’s deathly hug.
“Father, really!” a tall maiden protested from the doorway. “What an unseemly way to greet a guest.”
“Oh, dear,” muttered another girl behind her. “Honestly, father!”
“Oh, tosh,” Soun pished. “Come on, Old Friend, let’s go inside and get comfortable. I’m sure the girls will want to get to know your son.”
“So anyway,” Soun announced as they reclined in the parlor. “These are my daughters, Kasumi, aged 19, Nabiki, aged 17, and Akane, aged 16.”
“This is my son, Ranma, aged 16,” Genma introduced.
“Excellent. Well, anyway, pick the one you like and…”
“Daddy!” the girls complained almost as one.
“Yes, of course,” Soun coughed. “You should get to know each other first. Carry on.”
…
“Yes, well,” Soun blinked into the awkward silence.
“Shall we leave them to it?” Genma asked. “Do you keep a wine cellar these days?”
“A splendid idea!” Soun agreed. “Let’s go celebrate the coming nuptials!”
“Oh, Daddy!” protested his daughters.
Ranma just groaned as he realised that, clearly, he would have two irresponsible birds of a feather to deal with.
‘Well, isn’t this awkward?’ thought Ranma as he stared back at the girls appraising him with various emotions. The eldest smiled politely, the youngest looked uncomfortable, and the middle sister’s initial interest seemed to have faded soon after she noticed his travel worn clothes. “Uhm, so… Sorry about, Pop. The old man can be a bit… uhm… yeah…” He floundered.
…
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:15)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.