Sighing, Britanny looked over to her bag. Pulling it closer to her, Britanny opened the top flap and dug in, pulling out a photo. It was one of her and Stripe, in happier times. Tears started to well in the corners of her eyes. "Oh, Muffin..."
Britanny still couldn't believe it. The man she loved so much was... Dead. He wouldn't be coming back, no matter how much Britanny wanted him to. "I'm alone..."
Britanny wiped across her eyes with the back of her hand, but it was no use. The tears kept flowing. "Muffin..."
It was then that Nodoka and Ranma came back into the room. Nodoka was walking forward, carrying a tray with tea things. "Sorry if it took so long. I prepared a fresh pot of tea, and..." She stopped as she saw Britanny on the verge of tears.
Ranma moved past his mother and was already by Britanny's side. "Britanny? Are you all right?"
"I, I'm sorry..." Britanny sniffled. "It's just... I was thinking about Stripe, and..."
"Shh..." Ranma said, rubbing Britanny's shoulder as he sat down next to her. "It'll be all right. You'll see." Seeing Britanny just nod her head dumbly, Ranma sighed.
Nodoka put the tea tray down on the table, and started filling the cups with the warm liquid. She offered a cup to Britanny. "Here you go, Britanny-san. Drink. It will help you relax."
Sighing, Britanny nodded her head, Mrs. Saotome. "Sorry. Was just... Thinking, you know?"
"Quite all right." Nodoka said. "It's understandable that you'd be upset." She offered the cup of tea again. "Go on. The green tea will help you relax."
Nodding her head, Britanny put down the picture of herself and her deceased fiance. She reached her hands forward and took hold of the cup. "Thank you." She said honestly.
"Don't mention it." Nodoka said.
Britanny lifted the cup and took a sip of the green tea. It was hot, but it had a refreshing taste to it. "Thank you. This is quite good."
"I'm glad you like it." Nodoka said, a smile on her face. Her eyes moved and noticed the picture on the table. "Pardon my curiosity... But is that a picture of you and Stripe."
Nodding her head slowly, Britanny said, "This is a photo of Stripe and me before he was killed."
Looking down at the photo on the table, Ranma asked, "Is he a weretiger?"
Shaking her head, Britanny said, "No. He was a Kryn. A cat-person." Britanny's eyes watered slightly again. "He was the greatest..."
Ranma frowned. He hated seeing Britanny upset. He didn't know why, but there was just something about the werecheetah... Something that made Ranma never want to see her upset. He tentatively wrapped his arms around her in a hug. "Britanny, it will be all right. You'll see. I'm sorry it hurts you now, I really am. And if I could, I would bare the pain for you, but I can't. But if you'll allow me, I'll try to help you through it."
Sniffing, Britanny smiled lightly at Ranma. "Thank you. You really are a sweet guy..."
Ranma blushed lightly. "It's not like that. I just can'tstand to see you so upset." Smirking lightly, (albeit still blushing) Ranma said, "I just know that with a little help, you'll get through this. And I plan to help!"
Seeing Ranma blush like that, Britanny smiled a little more. "Modest too..."
Seeing the werecheetah smile brought a smile to Nodoka's face. She could tell this girl had taken the death of her fiance hard, and Nodoka knew that it would not be an easy, nor short road to recovery. Still, Nodoka was sure that her manly son would help the nice lady as much as possible. He was a real gentleman that way. He had a heart of gold, and was loyal to a fault.
Deciding to give her son a break from blushing, Nodoka spoke up. "By the way, Miss Diggers, shall I bring your stuff upstairs while you and Ranma continue to drink tea?"
"Bring my stuff upstairs?" Britanny asked. "You mean you do want me to stay here?"
"Of course." Nodoka said. "I just can't throw you out, knowing what you've been through.
Britanny nodded her head to that. "Thank you for allowing me to stay."
Nodoka just waved it off. "No problem." Smiling, she then added, "It gets so lonely around here sometimes."
Ranma winced at that. "Sorry I haven't been around much, mom."
"Not your fault." Nodoka said. "I was the fool for letting your father raise. You. I should have been the one to take command in raising you... But your father was quite adamant, and I honestly thought the contract would keep him on his best behavior." Sighing, Nodoka said, "I just wish I would have been able to foresee the stupidity my husband had."
"It's okay mom. I know you just wanted Pops to be a good teacher, but..." Ranma shrugged. "Pops isn't know for his brains. As a martial arts instructer I trust him, but otherwise... Well... He's a conniving, greedy, stupid old panda."
Nodoka nodded her head to that. "Can't argue with that." Turning her head towards her guest, Nodoka asked, "So, Britanny dear... What would you like for dinner?"
"What do I want?" Britanny asked.
"Yes." Nodoka said. "I would like to cook dinner soon, and I would liek to make sure it's something you'd like."
"Thank you." Britanny said. She blushed a little and asked, "Do you have any tuna?"
Nodoka blinked her eyes. "Actually I do think I have a can or two in the cupboard. But I'd prefer to get you something a little fresher."
"It's okay." Britanny said. "Canned tuna will do."
"All right then." Nodoka said. Standing up, Nodoka started walking towards the kitchen she stopped in her stride and turned her head to look back at her son and Britanny. "I suggest you try to relax while I start cooking. So how about a bath before dinner?"
Britanny nodded her head. "That would be nice."
"Good then." Nodoka said. "Ranma, please draw our guest a bath. And make sure you get clean too."
Ranma noddded his head. "Yes mom."
And so, Nodoka went into the kitchen, a smile on her face. It wasn't much but HOPEFULLY, if things went well, Britanny might get over Stripe quickly, her thoughts replaced by those of Nodoka's own manly son.
"Still," Nodoka thought, "Knowing my son, he'll be a gentleman about this."
And so, Nodoka went into the kitchen, to prepare dinner.
"Of course!"
"How to deal with life in general."
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(Posted Tue, 10 Jun 2003 02:35)
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