Wait for it...
Wait for it...
This was pure torture, this waiting patiently and quietly as if nothing was wrong and he was contently reading his newspaper like any normal salaryman of Japanese heritage. Genma Saotome scowled as his eyes ignored the upside down newspaper in front of them for something behind his eyelids, only himself could see. The dratted foolish boy head up in the clouds like a little girl thought he could just leave did he? All his and Soun's plans to join the schools and provide for their retirem—err...progeny amounting to nothing because the boy had managed to get Nabiki of all people fouled up in some ridiculous plot or another!
It had taken nearly all the older, balding man's willpower and strength to get this far; he had to force his body to remain at rest despite every nerve, every sinew screaming at him to move! Only a bit longer and he could check to see whether or not the boy had really left the house and the coast was clear. So long as he could make his move before No-chan noticed his absence...
NOW! Surely he had waited long enough not to be noticed. Surely he could make his move before No-chan was any wiser!
It had been a total of five seconds of sheer willpower and one Genma Saotome was shaking like a leaf from the exhaustion of it all.
The portly man sidled over to the house's sole telephone. When he'd first returned home during the aftermath of the wedding and had been told of its existence he'd been rather unhappy with the frivolity of its foolish expense but now it served as a life line and bearer of dreams. Through this connection he could commiserate with Soun and together try to work out a solution to their mutual troubles.
It was this sole redeeming facet that made its presence tolerable. Well that and the ability to order out food for delivery. That was pretty special in itself.
Quickly checking around the corner to ensure his wife, one Nodoka Saotome was still in the kitchen busily putting the finishing touches on a feast for the three of them to eat later that evening, the older male Saotome quickly dialed the number to Soun's house. He let it ring once, twice, then quickly hung up the phone. He waited three beats and then dialed again.
Soun answered with a slight whimper. “Genma, is that you?”
Genma frowned. “Who else would it be, old friend? I dialed twice and waited three just like we agreed to. Don't you remember?”
The other man's voice shook as he replied, “So much has happened since you left old friend, I barely know what day it is anymore. Between Nabiki's trouble with the Chinese gaijin and the Kounji family vendetta I barely get a moment's peace. And then Kasumi...”
Genma winced. It looked like it would be one of those conversations. And if something had happened to Kasumi!
“...my little Kasumi-chan has disappeared. She... She left a note saying she was going to live with Dr. Tofu until this mess gets cleared up. Saotome, what are we going to do? Why isn't Ranma here taking care of these other women of his?”
Genma sighed to himself. At least the oldest Tendo daughter was still in good health.
“Old friend you know what No-chan said! Just because she's decided to let Ranma off the hook doesn't absolve me, you know. If only we knew what Nabiki had said to her that day.”
Genma left unsaid that if it wasn't for Soun's daughter none of this mess would have happened...
Soun's wince could be felt all the way over the phone line but he merely whimpered, and did not dissolve into his usual bout of 'manly' tears as was his wont. It had been awhile since Soun's eyes had done more than burn with unshed tears. Unnatural is what it was. Not since before the two of them had met the master had Soun been so stoic.
Was it possible his old friend's ability to register emotions had burn out from the recent stress?
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(Posted Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:58)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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