Not that they liked it any more than he did, as it was obvious that everyone there was just waiting for their own opportunity to get to the counters where the clerks waited.
His wife glanced over at him and gave a small smile. "Bothered to be here like this?"
"Nah. I'd never have a problem with being with ya. The thing is that this is...." he trailed off.
"Kind of dull?"
"Well... yeah. I mean, I'm always used to being able to doing things, and this is just...."
"Standing around," Nabiki agreed with a sigh. "But you can't always do as you like."
"I know that. What I don't like is havin' to stay here like this."
"What, I thought that you just said that you like being around me."
"Eh? I do! I did!"
"I know that you do. I was just having some fun with you," she murmured, leaning in towards him.
"You know, a guy could get really confused 'round you."
"But you love me anyway."
"Why wouldn't I?"
And that was part of why she loved him so much, which Nabiki could freely admit to herself. No matter how much he liked to play at being the 'devil may care' guy, once he had settled into feeling about something, he didn't waver. That sort of loyalty could never be brought, and only a few people could ever manage to have it. She counted herself fortunate in that regard, as she knew that he would forever watch over her, not because he felt that he owed her something, or that his honor said that he had to. Instead, he would protect her simply because he wanted to, and his love for her would allow him to do nothing else.
"Next!" called out a voice, interrupting her happy ruminations.
"I suppose that rudeness comes from everywhere," she commented. "Unfortunately, it can't pick the right moment for pushing, or it wouldn't be a lack of manners."
"But there is a reason for that," her husband responded.
"What would that be?"
Ranma simply pointed off in front of them.
Confused, she followed his gesture, wondering where it was that he was directing her attention... until she saw an annoyed looking clerk peering right at her, with no one in front of them. It was then that she realized that they were first in line, and that it was time for them to take care of their business. Recognizing that they'd been holding up everyone behind them, she gave a small and rare blush before hurrying over to the counter with her spouse.
"I assume that you have sort of business here," the man behind the desk asked her as he pushed his glasses up on his nose.
Putting on her most 'innocent' look, she smiled and nodded before holding out the paper that she'd come up with. "We'd like to place this into our family registry."
"Ah, I see. And which one would that be?"
"The Saotome one."
"Actually, can we do two?" Ranma asked.
"Huh? Why?"
"The Tendo one should get a copy, right?"
"You.... Yes, that might be for the best."
"If that is the case, we might be able to help you," the clerk put in. "This is...."
"Yes?"
"If what I am seeing is right, our records already have the two of you...."
"Oh, that's right. We had the ceremony months ago," Nabiki confirmed, realizing that they were being asked about their marriage.
"Then what about this? You really don't need it."
"Better safe than sorry, right?"
"Girls your age rarely do understand that," the government worker allowed as he started to record their document.
Sparing a moment to look over at her husband, she shared a happy gaze with him, and they looped one of their arms around each others', lacing their fingers together in a moment of quiet unity and love.
Scheming was not Akane's forte, but neither was standing around and doing nothing. For her, activity was a way of life, one in which she'd spent most of her life. Things were going nicely for her family, but the thing was that she couldn't be sure that it would go on forever. Ranma was her friend, and no matter how sly Nabiki could be, she was still her sister. She wanted both of them to be happy, even though she knew that there would be plenty of problems waiting to make trouble for them.
All that she could do was practice her Art, and try to get through the frustration that being so unsure brought out of her. With her feet moving with well remembered steps over the smooth boards of the floor, and the fabric of her gi rubbing up against her skin, she went through the routines that had long since become a part of her. As she let her body go through the familiar movements, she was able to let go of the tension and clear her mind, though the starting thoughts still remained.
With the sweat that she was working up, she thought that she would have gotten rid of the worries for the time being. However, it seemed that she couldn't totally be rid of it, as it was like a nagging itch that wouldn't go away. Somehow, she got a sense that Nabiki was trying a little too hard, which didn't seem like it should fit. Her sister was the cool, calm, and relaxed one, and that meant that she should have been able to take it easy, not get overactive.
Akane knew that she would have to do something to support her sibling and brother-in-law. Perhaps she could run interference for them, or act as back up when they needed it. The fathers would need to be watched over, of course, and she knew that Kuno was already a pest. Making sure that those guys didn't get in the way might help, and she rather hoped that she could do more things, perhaps like helping with gift shopping, or carrying information between them. In fact, she could even help her sister find a balance, and point out how the older girl could be with a boy like any normal girl would.
She knew that she wasn't the sort to fix things up like that, but as she began to feel a bit more at ease, she wondered what could be the problem with her trying such things out.
Peering at his milkshake, Ranma frowned at the drink and wondered what he was supposed to do with it. "Did you really want to come here?"
"Hmm? Why wouldn't I?" Nabiki asked as she looked over her own milkshake at him.
"'Cause.... We were supposed to be on an errand run?"
"And we finished it up, with nobody expecting us to hurry home. It's not like we have anything pressing waiting for us."
"Hey, I don't mind. What I don't get is that ya took us here," the pigtailed boy commented as he looked around at the rather antique looking cafe that they were sitting in.
"As far as everyone knows, I'm your girlfriend, right? Well, this is a perfect place for someone to stop in when they're with their 'honey'."
"You're supposed to be my wife," he muttered sourly.
Right then, she softened and allowed herself to gaze softly at this boy that she'd married. Dating hadn't mattered that much to her before, as it had merely been a way to get guys fascinated with being with a girl to set her up with gifts and meals. But with this guy alone, she not only could see a future, but wanted badly for it to happen. He loved her so much that even she had to wonder what she'd done to deserve it sometimes, but it was the sort of miracle that one didn't complain about for fear that it would disappear.
So, she settled for grinning at him and raising her brows at his drink. "Aren't you going to drink that?"
"Yeah, that was the general idea," he admitted.
"Good, it'd be a waste to leave it."
"Like I'd ever wanna ignore food."
"Now, that I can agree with. And am pleased by," Nabiki told him... before picking up her straw and sticking it into his drink.
"What do ya think you're doin'? I told you that I was going to have it!"
"I didn't think that you'd mind sharing."
His eyes went wide as Ranma watched his wife sip from his cup, wondering just what the heck she thought she was doing. Seeing her do that mildly irritated him, as he hated when other people took his food, but he found that he couldn't really complain more than letting his annoyance show on his face. Perhaps it was due to how much he loved her, or how the sight of her lips pursed around the straw did curious things to his insides, but all that he knew was that he couldn't fight as much as he might have liked to. Instead, all he could do was let her drink from his milkshake, knowing that she had not hesitated in her actions, and showed no repentance even now.
Though, he also didn't make much of a production of it as he reached over and began to sip from his own straw, blushing, but not saying anything as they enjoyed the intimacy of sharing from the same cup, while:
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(Posted Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:33)
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