"...otta go on a trainin' trip or sumthin' to get a trick or two ta beat this geezer," 'Ranma' was saying. Nabiki shivered, even knowing that it was Ranma's mother doing the talking it was a creepy just how dead on she was in her act.
"Oh?" Akane said. "And which of your floozies are you taking with you this time?" Ranma took a lemon from the tray and twisted it to squeeze the juice into the tea.
"Why are we having English-style tea, today, Kasumi?" Soun asked as an aside.
"I had some leaves that needed to be used," Kasumi said. "It seems I was lucky to have noticed that."
"What?" Ranma demanded. "Ah, come on, 'Kane I ain't bringing nobody with me!"
"Not even your father," Genma declared angrily. "And how can you do any serious training without me around to guide you, boy?"
"Like you know anythin' that can help," 'Ranma' snorted, before picking up his tea cup and sipping.
Nabiki breezed in, hardly noticed, it was her gift, fading into the background. It was what let her hear so much in the way of interesting gossip. There wasn't much of an exception here as she set herself into the scene without anybody noting. Though she thought she may have detected a slight twitch in the eyes of the Ranma standing there.
"You still haven't said anything about what kind of style this challenger used," Soun noted.
"Well he uh...sorta...moved stuff..." Ranma said, hesitantly. "But I know I can figure out the technique and then I can take care of him!"
Nabiki was again impressed at how dead on the performance was, and decided to move in to play her part.
"As if," Nabiki said, yawning. "Don't you watch the news, Daddy? That wasn't a martial artist Ranma was fighting. That was none other than big-bad mutant terrorist Magneto himself."
There was a pall of silence for a moment and then.
"That's my boy," Genma declared. "Just the way to show those freaks of nature their place. I'll be waiting to see the results of your training when you get back." Kasumi scowled slightly at Genma's rant.
"Indeed, Ranma," Soun declared then. "Truly a noble quest, when you have completed your training we will be here to back you up."
"From the nearest sake bar," Nabiki quipped with a snicker.
"Well now I'm definitely coming!" Akane declared.
"What?!" 'Ranma' asked, almost dropping in surprise. He shook his head and took another sip from his tea. "Look, Akane, I don't want nobody with me, got it? Not you, not Ryouga, not Pops. Nothing but me and my training got it?"
"Oh, so you think I'll get in the way then?" Akane demanded. "Your going to try to fight a mass murderer Ranma!"
"Hey, I almost beat him once," Ranma said. "Once I get back, I got him for sure!"
"If he comes back that is," Nabiki noted. "Look, Akane, you know what it's going to be. Ranma bouncing of trees or rocks or attacking bee swarms or something else of questionable sanity that soon fades into some sort of boring, monotonous routine. There'll be little food, lots of Ranma snoring at all hours of the night and little to no rest in the day. All for no particular reason because I doubt Magneto is going to come back to pick a fight with some no account bum."
"But..."
"Finals are coming up," Kasumi noted.
"Oh, yeah," Akane said. "I guess I'd have to study." She sounded reluctant.
"A very true matter indeed," Soun said. "In fact I insist that you stay here and study while Ranma goes off to prepare for battle."
Several people laid rather mildly disgusted glances in Soun's direction.
"Ranma could you collect the dishes for me?" Kasumi asked. "Thank you."
"Sure," Ranma said, shrugging. Nabiki sighed as the matter appeared to be settled and relaxed as Ranma carried the dishes into the kitchen with Kasumi.
****
"You took my tea cup, Ranma," Kasumi noted quietly.
"Huh," 'Ranma' said. "Oh, sorry 'bout that."
"It is no problem really," Kasumi said. "I only mention it, because my tea-cup is the one with the dancing cats."
"Okay," Ranma said. "I'll remember that next time."
"Thank you," Kasumi said, bowing slightly. "I didn't think I'd ever have to mention that to you, considering the dancing cats."
"What about the dancing cats?" Ranma asked suspiciously.
"Oh," Kasumi said. "It's just that normally you look at that tea-cup turn rather green and pick another one. What with that terrible fear of cats you have."
They remained silent for a long moment.
"There was a doppleganger here once," Kasumi explained. "And since that time I've taken steps to detect imposters. Such as buying that cup."
"And you confront me like this?" Mystique asked. "What if I tried to hurt you?"
"I don't think you'll do that," Kasumi said. "Nabiki obviously knows something of what you're doing and who you are, she also seems to be trying to help you. As such I doubt you're a threat, but, I thought perhaps I should tell you that fact. Don't be surprised for not knowing. Ranma doesn't talk about it much. I don't believe he's even told his own mother about the Neko-Ken."
"The Neko-Ken?" Mystique repeated.
"Though perhaps that is for the best," Kasumi noted. "I don't like to think what his mother would do if she were to find out that her husband repeatedly tied Ranma up in fish sausage and threw him in a pit of starving cats."
Mystique, still in Ranma's form, twitched.
"Incidentally," Kasumi said. "Ranma's mother is the only I know who twists their lemons in that particular manner. It really is lucky for me that I served English-style tea today."
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(Posted Wed, 07 May 2003 06:57)
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