The Matriarch of the Tendo Household had been in a rush to get to the grocery store, buying as much as she could of anything she could think of. She barely registered that the store manager made a comment about, ‘boy, looks like you’re cooking for Ranma again’, but that made Kasumi smile. He had only been joking, but imagine how he would have reacted if he knew that that were indeed the case.
Getting home, Kasumi then went straight to getting out all of her cookbooks, making sure to find all the circled recipes. These were the ones she made notes of that were Ranma’s favorites.
And so the kitchen lay a battle zone of sorts. All four burners of the stovetop were being used at once, as was the oven. And the microwave as well as she was at it. Bowls upon bowls and other utensils covered all the counter-tops of the kitchen. And there were more than a few puddle of food or liquid, or spilled items.
Yes, Kasumi was intent on preparing a literal feast! This was the first meal Ranma would have there in over four years. She wanted to make sure that he could certainly enjoy himself.
Though with some of the items being cooked... Lobster... Crab... Steak... Prime Rib... Lamb... Whole ham... And the large turkey currently in the oven... Yeah, one could easily see that Kasumi was going more than a little overboard.
However, with all these good foods, these wonderful meals being cooked... It did attract the attention of others.
(------)
Breathing deeply, Genma smiled. “You do smell that, Tendo?”
“I’m not going to be distracted this time, Saotome,” Soun said seriously as he kept his eyes on the shogi board. “You’re not beating me this time.”
“No, I’m serious Tendo,” Genma said. “Something smells absolutely wonderful.”
Frowning, Soun kept his eyes on Genma as he smelled. If his friend blew another one, he swore to god he was going to shove that shogi board up his ass and...
...
Wait a minute. That was the smell of food! “Could it be?” Soun mumbled as he looked towards the kitchen.
“Yes it is, Soun old boy,” Genma idly commented as he moved the shogi board around. “Smells like Kasumi is making a big meal again.”
Soun smiled, it always made his heart jump for joy to know his eldest was making a fine meal.
And then Soun lifted up his family katana. “Put it back, Saotome.”
Genma chuckled nervously. Soun wasn’t as much fun as he used to be since he started taking kendo lessons from Nodoka. It was originally meant to kept the two families together until they could force Ranma and Akane together in marriage; Genma never thought Soun would get good. “Sure, buddy, sure...”
(------)
Wiping her brow, Akane looked about her class. The afternoon class was always pretty large on weekend. Over twenty students, and then over a hundred other students spread about during the weekdays. Indeed, Akane’s title of the Greatest Martial Artist in Nerima had returned once Ran-the pigtailed boy disappeared.
Sighing, Akane shook her head. She really had to stop thinking about him like that. Yes, it upset her that he could bring himself to love her as she loved him, but... Damn it, he had done so much for her! She knew she had to be at least a LITTLE respectful...
...Even if he was a large pain in the ass.
“Okay students,” Akane clapped he hands together once as she spoke out to gain the attention of her gathered martial arts students. “I’m very proud of all if you. You advanced pretty darn well today. So, I guess I can end class a little earlier than usual.”
At the cheers she got, Akane raised her hands to placate them. “All right, all right already. Now remember, students. Exercise regularly during the week! Next we meet will start learning another Kata of the Tendo School of Martial Arts.”
“Hai, Sensei!” was the cry from all gathered as the students began to quickly rush out of the dojo.
Shaking her head, Akane chuckled good-naturedly. Kids these days. They had no frikin’ patience. “Then again, I guess for me it would be the pot calling the kettle black,” Akane thought grimly. “God, I was such a brat.”
Her eyes going distant, Akane ignored all that was about her as memories of times long past began to flitter through her mind. Had it really been over seven years ago since this all started? Those three years he spent in Nerima had been nothing short of amazing, even if she tried to ignore all the good things he did for her and others.
However, before Akane could real focus on any of her memories for long, a sensation began to overwhelm her body.
Smells.
GOOD smells.
To the heir and teacher of the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, they could only mean one thing. “Kasumi’s making a good dinner!” Akane thought happily. Akane herself had been the one to do the majority of the cooking lately. Granted, it wasn’t anything special, just decent food, but it was a far cry from the toxic nightmares she used to conjure up in her youth. “Too bad Ranma never got a taste of my cooking after he left,” she smirked. “It probably would have given him a heart-attack.”
And so Akane left the Dojo, intent on taking a quick bath before dinner.
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(Posted Fri, 20 Feb 2004 20:35)
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