Certainly, this could be a ruffian. No matter what, however, it bore further investigation.
Ranma was roused by a not-so-gentle prodding. "Ruffian! Awake so I may question thee..."
Ranma opened one eye about halfway. Blue clothes, long wooden poking instrument, archaic speech... "Go 'way, Kunou. I'll pound you later, before class." He fells back asleep, snoring blissfully.
The prodding, unfortunately, got harder. "Threatening an officer! Loitering! Awake, scoundrel, and explain thyself."
The words filtered through Ranma's state of semi-conciousness. Officer? Not to mention that Kunou was being a lot more patient that he normally was...oh no...
Ranma's eyes snapped open as he turned to look at the person prodding him. The business end of a nightstick was stuck in his shoulder, and above that a strong arm...and the face of Kunou! But, not quite. Gone was the madness that normally resided in the face of Tatewaki, replaced by a sense of purpose and a hard, cautious edge. His clothes were cut close to his body, a standard officer's uniform, rather than the kendo club's gi. He seemed a bit older as well.
"Um, sir?" Ranma asked cautiously, his hands moving up a little, to better defend himself should he have to. "Kunou?"
"Officer Kunou, yes," the figure agreed. "Who might you be, sleeping in an alley beside a Pokemon Center. You look much like a trainer. Why doth though threaten me?"
"Erm, I'm sorry officer. I thought ya was someone else I knew."
"Attacked by a Kunou? Thou must be a thief or varlet of some sort for certain to attack one of my cousins." Kuno frowned. "Perhaps a night in a jail cell might suit thee after all."
"Nah, he wasn't a police officer. He was a nutter with a wooden sword who though I was a sorcerer or somethin'." Ranma frowned, weighing options. While he was fairly sure he could take this Kunou as easily as the one he remembered, he didn't want to get into trouble with the law or anything.
"A sorcerer? Why doth he think that?" the officer questioned curiously, easing up on the pressure on his shoulder.
"He couldn't figure out why Akane-" he choked on the word a bit, frowing. "Why a girl didn't like him. She's my...well, she was my fiancee..."
Officer Kunou nodded. "Oh? What brings you here to this alley then?" He continued, still a little wary, but taking a step back.
Ranma rose carefully, popping a few kinks as he rose. "I got inta town last night, and everything was closed, and I didn't know where ta go, so I figured I'd just wait for a few hours 'til people got up. I heard there was a Professor here who was lookin' for some assistants." He shrugged. "I need work."
Officer Kunou hmmed, and reholstered his night stick. "The Professor dost indeed need help. I believe thy story. But thou can not just stay here in the alley for hours."
"Well, if you know somewhere that might have breakfast? I could wash dishes or somethin', I guess. I don't have any money."
Officer Kunou hmmed. "Bring thy supplies with thee, and come with me to the station. Thou did very nearly have a free meal on our behalf anyway, though thou wouldst have been resting in the cell at the time. Thou might as well have the meal anyway."
"Alright." Ranma smiled a little. For all he looked and talked like Kunou, he seemed a pretty decent guy.
The station was kinda small, with only the single desk, the small cell, and a little waiting area filling the building. "Only yerself here?" asked Ranma, curious.
The officer smiled. "Fortunately, Pallet Town is a small and peaceful place. I am all they need. Wouldst though like muffins or donuts?"
"Both, if you have them. Huh. I bet Ukyou and Nabiki are hungry too..."
"Who?"
"A Ponyta and a Rattata. I'm their trainer."
"Ah, by all means, then."
Ranma flipped through his pack, digging out a couple of cans of Pokechow, Opening them up, he experimentally sniffed. Smelled like meat, anyway. He coulda eaten it, if he had ta. He placed one can on one side of the room, and the other can a bit away. Kunou watched him curiously.
"They don't get along too well," he explained.
Officer Kunou nodded. "Ah. Wouldn't it be safer to only bring out one then?" he asked.
Ranma shook his head. "Nah. They gotta get used to each other, or I'll never hear the end of their fightin'." Grabbing a donut for himself, he grabbed his Pokeballs, and released them. "Mpphmpph!" he managed through the donut, then paused, and gulped in down. "Breakfast!" he restated cheerfully.
Nabiki looked at the canned food in front of her and ughed. "[You don't really expect me to eat...who's that? Wait! Don't answer!]"
Both Ukyou and Ranma looked confused for a moment staring at the Rattata, as Ranma bit into a second donut. "Mmm mmph?" he asked
Nabiki rolled his eyes. "[Just pretend you can't understand us! Do you want the world to know your advantage?]"
Officer Kuno chuckled. "Thou talks to them, dost thou?"
Ranma swallowed his second donut and laughed nervously. "Of course not. It's not like I can understand them or anythin'!"
See other episodes by Will McDuff
(Posted Fri, 06 Feb 2004 02:00)
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