"As you see fit to insist on the nonsense of women fighting, you *will* be female in his house, at all times! Further, if I hear you have had one fight as a male, you will either take the scrolls and the position as Tendo Heir or you will be driven OUT of my house!" Soun was ignoring Genma completely, whatever demons drove him being plainly over and above all concerns for others.
Ranma almost walked out on them all then and there, but some small still part of her balked. This is a challenge, Akane needs your help anyway--and besides, the school states plain that any challenge is sacred. Ranma shuddered, then accepted her fate, Nodding to the Tendo head, who stalked out without a word. Once Soun left, Ranma started stretching, which tended to cause a horripilation of self-disgust in the Saotome father. Ranma couldn't help but unconsciously pose for just such affect, as Genma needed to lose the Martial Artist Only rut.
This tactic was extremely effective too--the guy had been celibate for a decade, and Ranma looked like a teenaged version of Nodoka when female, save for the eyes of course.
Ranma's mischief, once sated, retreated as she asserted "Okay, pop, I can only assume you have a reason I need to stay male. BUT I am giving this a chance. Simply put, pops, I am *not* gonna let this jerk ruin his own daughter's training. You got me? Good." Ranma made sure to hold the Panda's gaze squarely, and he was unsurprised when Genma gave a numb nod. The panda-sign that followed said (with multiple flips) "I hate it, but I agree. Soun's going too far, *way* over the line. I'll listen, but not ask, and if he spills why, you'll be the next to know, boy. In the meantime, get ready. I suspect that you'll need to hang close to Akane to keep this going, so I enrolled you in school."
Ranma smirked a little bitterly, saying "And the engagement had something to do with it.. Now now, no sign this time, I suspected as much! Besides, this way you got no reason to hold me away, now do you? I don't suppose you got me a uniform?" One panda headshake later, Ranma smiled more naturally.
"Excellent. I will try to be a guy as much as I can outside the house, Pops, but until Soun backs down, fights and that damn cold water are gonna have me female a LOT. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather be dragged NAKED over a bed of coals with broken glass on top by a car going at a high high speed than wear a female school uniform." She was consciously practicing her speech, for school, not always effectively.
The soft call of "Well, I can't argue with that logic.." got them both to notice the world around them again, specifically Akane Tendo, bearing a strange look on her face from many mixed emotions. Finally she settled down and said "You coming? Breakfast is ready. And, Ranma? *sigh* Thanks."
As they leapt over her deftly and caromed down the stairwell, Ranma said "No problem." Genma of course just 'growlf'ed.
Breakfast was a strange affair for the Tendo, as they witnessed the first of what promised to be a LOT of Meal Duels. Akane was as agog as the others, until she got the idea. Then she started trying to take Soun's food. It worked fairly well, she got just enough to leave him a little hungry, as punishment for her recent hassles. Then she noted the time. "Yeek! I forgot, you have to sign IN! We'll be late at this rate!"
Ranma grabbed the extra knapsack Genma thrust at her, figuring (correctly) that it was a set of schoolbooks, before racing out after Akane.
For Akane's part, she would have 'portaled and hang the consequences, but she never quite was out of Ranma's sight, ruby sunglasses or not. Of course, that could be.. "And why may I ask are you on the top of the fence, dear Ranma?"
Ranma'd obviously relished that very quuestion from the grin she evinced in answering "Better range seeing what's out there, balance training, confusion unto the enemy.. Habit, too come to think.." Akane simply heaved another sigh, thinking she'd better find a way to fill her fiance(e) in on herself soon. This Saotome kid was a trifle macho/Macha, true, but frankly she OWED Ranma that much.
Thinking of recent escalations, she called up to Ranma "Hey, when we hit school, just head straight to the office and sign in. I have--a situation that needs seeing to, and I don't want you in it until you know it all!" She was speeding up as she shouted that last, going full-bore into the school compound at the last, to find;
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(Posted Wed, 05 May 2004 10:26)
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