"At last, the Tendo Dojo," Genma said with true happiness. The last two weeks had been a hell for him. First, his worthless son had somehow managed to waste the perfect oportunity of making them rich, and instead turned into an even more worthless girl!
Worse than that, she had been pestering him with demands of more books. How can anyone read that fast? If at least she asked only for martial arts manuals, he would be able to understand that, but she asked for worthless science books and pointless novels! It was enough to make a brave man weep.
Now, at last, he was in the front door of the Tendo Dojo, and hoped that his nightmare would be finally over. Even if Tendo didn't have anything in his part of the 'inheritance' that could restore Ranma's gender, he and Kimiko already had experience with raising girls, so they would gladly take care of her until he found a cure or another worthy heir.
Genma knocked at the door, and soon after that a young girl wearing an improvised apron opened the door.
"Oh... wh- who are you?" She timidly asked.
"You must be Kasumi, right?" Genma asked her.
"H-hai," she replied.
Genma smirked. It seemed that they had finally managed to educate that tomboy. Ceratainly, his was certainly the best place for Ranma. "I'm Genma Saotome, your father's friend. I've come to talk with him."
"And I'm Ranma Saotome," Ranma said.
Genma turned to scold Ranma. "How many times must I tell you that you are Ranko until you are a b-" He interrupted himself as he realized that Kasumi was still here.
"Genma... and Ranma Saotome?" Kasumi's face suddenly lit with a hopeful smile. "Thank God! Father had been talking nonstop about you two being his only hope! Please, come in, come in!"
As they entered the Tendo's they could notice that it has seen better days. "Sorry about the mess, but since mo..." Kasumi's voice slowly quieted down, unable to finish the sentence. "Please come in. Father is in his room."
"Thanks, I know the way," said Genma. "Perhaps you could take care of Ranko while I talk to your father." With that, he proceeded to climb up the stairs.
"Ranko?" Kasumi asked her, confused.
"Don't mind my father, he is a fool. I'm really Ranma." Ranma replied.
"Oh... Well, come with me. Perhaps you'll want to be with somebody of your age..." And Akane certainly needs the company now, Kasumi thought.
******
Akane Tendo striked time after time the wood board in front of her, the bandages around her hands were proof of her efforts. Why couldn't she do it? She had seen her father do this many times, but why couldn't she do the same? She refused to believe that she was too weak to break the board. She had to prove them that girls could also be stron, that girls could also defend themselves. She had to prove them that she could be strong, just as Mother asked her before she... went away.
She almost didn't see the girl that Kasumi had brought to the dojo, but she ignored her. She had to break this damned board!
"Why are you doing that?" She heard the girl.
Akane stopped, angry at the strange question. "What do you mean with why am I doing that? It's obvious, I'm training!"
"I knew that, but why are you training?" asked the girl. "Pop says that girls can't be martial artists..."
"Yeah? Well, then your father is a machist jerk! Girls can be as strong as boys! It must be true! AND I WILL PROVE IT BREAKING THIS DAMNED BOARD!" With an angry scream, she drove her fist through the board, breaking it in half... and dislocating her hand in the process.
As Ranma rushed to help her with her injured hand (After all, she had way too much experience with that), she was forced to rethink her opinion about girls. After all, she had just been able to break a board without using the proper techniques... and she didn't need to be a genious (Which she weren't yet) to know that his father was an idiot. Perhaps she would be able to keep up her training... but the books she had been reading lately were a lot more interesting than training.
"Akane!" came Kasumi's voice behind Ranma. "Are you alright?"
"She had just dislocated her hand," replied Ranma. "I can help you with this," Ranma said to Akane. "But it will hurt."
"I know. Do your worst." She replied with a painful smile. She had finally showed them.
With a swift movement, Ranma put her hand in the proper place. Akane couldn't avoid to supress a scream, and she almost wanted to cry, but she couldn't allow it. She had to be strong. Meanwhile, Kasumi had brought more bandages, and they proceeded to secure her hand.
"You shouldn't use that hand until it heals completely, but I believe that it won't be too long until that. You certainly have a strong arm." Ranma told her.
"Th- thanks." Akane said. "I'm Akane Tendo, what is your name?"
"I'm Ranma Saotome."
"Ranma?" Akane asked, confused. "Isn't that a boy's name?"
"That's what Pop allways tell me, but what does he know about names? Why can't I have a boy's name? You were right, he is an asshole. And, given what I have seen lately, I think I prefer to be a girl than a stupid man like him." She was talking with knowledge of the cause. After all, when she was a boy she wasn't exactly bright.
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(Posted Mon, 10 Jan 2005 18:34)
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