As Kasumi and Nodoka brought in dinner the family knelt down around the table, along with their guest, except for the fathers trying to finish up their game of shogi before dinner started. Miyo was once again presentable, having washed off the sweat from her run and dressed in a change of clothes she’d had in her backpack, but that hadn’t changed her haunted look, or the way she kept glancing at the doorway and windows as if expecting something to come smashing through at any moment. Ranma and Akane both noticed, and with an exchange of glances and nods sat on each side of her and tried to distract her with talk of school, being rewarded by seeing some of the fear ease from her eyes and posture.
As Kasumi brought in the last of the food, she glanced over at a distracted Nabiki and frowned. “Nabiki,” she scolded, “it is impolite to wear headphones at the table during dinner with just family, much less when a guest is present.”
Nabiki, her attention returned the dinner table and those around it, simply looked coolly at her older sister. “Relax, sis, I’m just listening for any news that might come up.”
Without looking up from the game board, Soun asked, “So you believe her?”
Trying for a nonchalant look, Nabiki said offhandedly, “No, not really. But she does have quite a reputation among the younger students at school, and we’ve seen some pretty weird stuff, so who knows? No reason not to be careful.”
Kasumi continued to frown for a moment then, as Nodoka chivvied the fathers over to the table, sighed and nodded. “Very well, I’ll say no more — this time.”
Dinner progressed as normal, except for the lack of the usual food-eating contest between Ranma and Genma on account of their guest (Nodoka having had the foresight to keep Genma from sitting next to Ranma and squelching the least hint of Genma making the extra effort needed to reach across the table), until Miyso stiffened and looked around fearfully as the blood drained from her face, causing everyone to look at her.
“What is it?” Akane asked, putting a comforting hand on Miyso’s shoulder, but the fortune teller shook her head.
“I don’t know,” she whispered, “but something is happening — something right now.”
The others glanced around nervously, but everything seemed as it should, and slowly they relaxed.
“Looks like a false alarm, kiddo, nothing’s changed,” Nabiki said nonchalantly, then frowned as a now shaking Miyso shook her head violently.
“You’re wrong!” she shouted, “Everything’s changed!” Then she buried her face in Akane’s shoulder and broke into sobs. Akane gave the others a helpless shrug with her other shoulder, then put an arm around the weeping girl.
“Come on, Miyso, why don’t we get you upstairs to my room?” she said gently, and helped the brown-haired girl up and out of the room.
The rest looked at each other for a few moments, then Nabiki shrugged. “Well, if she’s right nobody’s noticed it yet — at least, there isn’t anything coming up on the news.” Then, with a saucy grin, she turned to Ranma. “So, Ranma, you and Akane going to try to get a date in later? I might be able to get some bets in on how many other fiancées show up.”
Nabiki was walking down the upstairs hall toward her room when Akane stepped out of her room with her school bag in hand and quietly closed her door. “So, is our prophetess okay?” Nabiki asked, and Akane frowned.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “She cried herself to sleep, so keep quiet. Maybe she’ll be alright when she wakes up. I’m going to see if I can get some studying done in the dojo with Ranma.”
Nabiki nodded and walked into her own room, locked her door, then sat down and turned on her desktop computer and started surfing the news sites for anything out of the ordinary.
An hour later, Nabiki leaned back in her seat with a soft laugh. Nothing — nothing at all. It’s a good thing you managed not to show how much she got to you, girl, or your “Ice Queen” reputation would be shot.
Standing up, the middle Tendo stretched, glanced around, and frowned. That’s odd. Everything looks okay, but something’s not right — something’s off.
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(Posted Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:04)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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