bloodsong1 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bloodsong1) wrote2006-09-17 06:10 pm
bloodsong1) wrote2006-09-17 06:10 pm
Entry tags:
And they have long distance weapons
Yeesh.
Ranma drove to the closest intersection and stopped at the light.
"Where to?" He asked. Akane looked around and smirked under her helmet. She recognized the area, belatedly remembering she had driven past the Night Owl often.
"Take a left," She answered. Ranma nodded and turned left. Akane kept one arm around his waist and used her left hand to tap his shoulder for the appropriate turn. Fifteen minutes later, they both saw her family sign standing proudly near the gate. She slapped his helmet twice, he nodded and pulled up next to the sign. Setting the engine to idle, Ranma helped her off the bike and took off his helmet. She reciprocated.
"The Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts, huh? Somehow, I should have known." He grinned at her, only to have the smile fall at her serious expression.
"You saved my life tonight, Ranma," She said. He started to say something. She held up her hand and he closed his mouth. "You did. I might have cleared my bike, but I would have ended up in the canal and I'm not a good swimmer. So, you saved me. You even took the time to get me to safety so I could recover my composure before coming home. A Tendo never forgets a promise and she ALWAYS repays her debts. I want you to know this. If you need my help for anything, just say so."
"Akane..."
"I'm serious Ranma. Anything. Well, as long as it's not perverted or too illegal, that is," She hastily corrected. Ranma burst out laughing.
"Oh, man, you are just too cute!" She blushed bright red. Ranma grinned at her. "I get it, Akane. If I need your help, I'll let you know."
"Good. Thank you, Ranma, for tonight."
"My pleasure." Akane bowed and turned to the gate. "Hey, Akane!" She looked back over her shoulder. He had his arms folded across his chest, helmet dangling by the strap on two fingers. "Stay home tomorrow. You'll need the rest. I'll make your excuses."
"Oh really?" She asked, turning to lean on the gate and copying his posture. "And just what are you going to say?"
"That you were jumped by a bunch of thugs while out for a walk around your block and I, who happened to be driving by, saw and rescued you." She shook her head.
"With the Morning Fight going as it does, what makes you think anyone would believe that?" Ranma blinked and looked sheepish.
"Eh heh. You're right. How about you were nearly run over by a motorcycle gang?"
"And you came and rescued me?"
"Of course!"
"Always gotta be the hero, hmm?"
"Only for my friends, Akane," Ranma said, his expression deadly serious. "Only for my friends."
"Are we? Friends?"
"I want to be." Akane cocked her head. Ranma was one of the very few boys who hadn't joined the Morning Fight at all, not even when it first started. And he was always giving her small signs of encouragement, like the victory sign he flashed her some mornings. Akane decided in that moment to follow her heart, an organ she had studiously avoided listening to since her father...well. She nodded and smiled.
"Friends it is. On and off the streets?" She asked hesitantly. Ranma's grin turned into an all out smirk.
"On and off the streets," He confirmed. She nodded again.
"I'd like that. Thanks again, Ranma. And like I said earlier, as soon as I'm ready, I'll tell you about tonight. Promise."
"And a Tendo keeps her promises," He said. She nodded.
"Always. I'd better go inside now, Ryu."
"See you around, Kijuuki. Remember, stay home tomorrow."
"I will." She waved and let herself in the gate. Skipping up to the front door, she glanced back to seen Ranma still there, with his helmet on. She waved again, he saluted and drove off. Akane smiled slightly. How sweet of him to wait until she was safely at her front door. Dad would have...
The enormity of the evening swamped her again. Sighing heavily, she unlocked the door and walked inside, locking up behind her. Why, Daddy? Why did you leave us like that? Why didn't you wait until Kasumi was married? Akane leaned her forehead against the door, fighting the tears.
"And since when do YOU come in the front door after 11 pm?" A voice behind her had Akane conducting an impressive spin jump and helmet toss. Nabiki, backlit by the hall light, caught the helmet careening towards her head. "Jumpy, I see."
"God, Nabiki! Don't DO THAT!" Akane gasped, hand on her chest.
"So, you wanna explain yourself?" Nabiki asked, folding her arms and looking very stern. Akane groaned, slumping against the door. She mumbled a response. "Sorry, didn't hear that."
"I said I took a dive! Beaker's totaled and floating in the canal!" Akane snapped back, a few tears breaking through her restraint. Nabiki stiffened, then walked over, grabbed Akane's arm and dragged her towards the kitchen. Akane yanked herself free when they reached the living room.
"What are you doing?" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down for Kasumi's sake. Nabiki snapped on the light and looked her sister over critically.
"No blood, no limbs twisted at odd angles," She moved in close, staring at Akane's eyes. Akane held still. "Eyes aren't dilated or mismatched." Nabiki's fingers flew into Akane's hair, probing her scalp. "No lumps, no apparent bruising. Considering you walked in here on your own and we didn't get a call from Tofu..."
"I'm fine, Nabiki. I jumped clear and I was caught."
"Caught?"
"Yeah. Ranma was behind me and caught me in midair."
"RANMA??"
"He's Ryu." Nabiki's mouth opened, closed and compressed. She whirled and stomped into the kitchen, leaving Akane blinking in confusion. The fridge opened and closed, then Nabiki returned with two cans, tossing one to Akane. Akane caught it and blinked again.
"Beer?"
"We're both going to need it by the time you've finished your story. Now sit and talk." Nabiki pointed to the table. Akane sighed and plopped down on her preferred cushion, popping the tab and taking a long swallow. She nearly spat it out again.
"GAH! You drink this stuff?"
"Only when pushed. I usually get a better brand, but this was on sale." Nabiki took several swallows of her own beer, then slammed the can down and glared at her little sister. "Talk."
Akane talked, telling Nabiki the whole story. Her conflicted emotions regarding their deceased father, Ryu's true identity, how he kept her safe from cops and freaky stuff alike and took care of her.
"So now I have a new friend and a smashed up bike. Oh, god, Nabiki, what are we gonna tell the cops? I don't know if Beaker's plate is legible or not!" Nabiki finished her beer and grabbed the telephone.
"It really burns me up how the bike Dad bought me for graduation and that I was going to bequeath to you on your graduation was stolen tonight by a bunch of punks looking for a joyride." Akane grinned.
"And to make matters worse, when I went out for a stroll to help me relax, given the excitement of tonight, I see that very same bike out on the street. And when I went to demand it back, the thugs tried to run me over. It's so fortunate that a classmate happened to be out the same time and rescued me. I could have been killed!"
"That's right! And this classmate was kind enough to take you someplace to be checked out and then saw you home safely. But I don't think you should go to school tomorrow. Who knows if those punks are still around waiting for you?"
"You're absolutely right, Nabiki. I will stay home tomorrow. Maybe Kasumi and I can start working on wedding plans."
"Good idea. You go on up to bed. I'll handle this." Nabiki punched a number. Akane nodded and stood, shoving her mostly full beer can towards her older sister. Nabiki accepted it with a nod.
"Thanks, sis."
"Hey, this what I live for. You get some rest."
"Night, Nabiki." Akane headed upstairs, grinning as Nabiki wove their story for the police. For once, she was glad for her sister's conniving ways.
Ranma drove to the closest intersection and stopped at the light.
"Where to?" He asked. Akane looked around and smirked under her helmet. She recognized the area, belatedly remembering she had driven past the Night Owl often.
"Take a left," She answered. Ranma nodded and turned left. Akane kept one arm around his waist and used her left hand to tap his shoulder for the appropriate turn. Fifteen minutes later, they both saw her family sign standing proudly near the gate. She slapped his helmet twice, he nodded and pulled up next to the sign. Setting the engine to idle, Ranma helped her off the bike and took off his helmet. She reciprocated.
"The Tendo Dojo of Anything Goes Martial Arts, huh? Somehow, I should have known." He grinned at her, only to have the smile fall at her serious expression.
"You saved my life tonight, Ranma," She said. He started to say something. She held up her hand and he closed his mouth. "You did. I might have cleared my bike, but I would have ended up in the canal and I'm not a good swimmer. So, you saved me. You even took the time to get me to safety so I could recover my composure before coming home. A Tendo never forgets a promise and she ALWAYS repays her debts. I want you to know this. If you need my help for anything, just say so."
"Akane..."
"I'm serious Ranma. Anything. Well, as long as it's not perverted or too illegal, that is," She hastily corrected. Ranma burst out laughing.
"Oh, man, you are just too cute!" She blushed bright red. Ranma grinned at her. "I get it, Akane. If I need your help, I'll let you know."
"Good. Thank you, Ranma, for tonight."
"My pleasure." Akane bowed and turned to the gate. "Hey, Akane!" She looked back over her shoulder. He had his arms folded across his chest, helmet dangling by the strap on two fingers. "Stay home tomorrow. You'll need the rest. I'll make your excuses."
"Oh really?" She asked, turning to lean on the gate and copying his posture. "And just what are you going to say?"
"That you were jumped by a bunch of thugs while out for a walk around your block and I, who happened to be driving by, saw and rescued you." She shook her head.
"With the Morning Fight going as it does, what makes you think anyone would believe that?" Ranma blinked and looked sheepish.
"Eh heh. You're right. How about you were nearly run over by a motorcycle gang?"
"And you came and rescued me?"
"Of course!"
"Always gotta be the hero, hmm?"
"Only for my friends, Akane," Ranma said, his expression deadly serious. "Only for my friends."
"Are we? Friends?"
"I want to be." Akane cocked her head. Ranma was one of the very few boys who hadn't joined the Morning Fight at all, not even when it first started. And he was always giving her small signs of encouragement, like the victory sign he flashed her some mornings. Akane decided in that moment to follow her heart, an organ she had studiously avoided listening to since her father...well. She nodded and smiled.
"Friends it is. On and off the streets?" She asked hesitantly. Ranma's grin turned into an all out smirk.
"On and off the streets," He confirmed. She nodded again.
"I'd like that. Thanks again, Ranma. And like I said earlier, as soon as I'm ready, I'll tell you about tonight. Promise."
"And a Tendo keeps her promises," He said. She nodded.
"Always. I'd better go inside now, Ryu."
"See you around, Kijuuki. Remember, stay home tomorrow."
"I will." She waved and let herself in the gate. Skipping up to the front door, she glanced back to seen Ranma still there, with his helmet on. She waved again, he saluted and drove off. Akane smiled slightly. How sweet of him to wait until she was safely at her front door. Dad would have...
The enormity of the evening swamped her again. Sighing heavily, she unlocked the door and walked inside, locking up behind her. Why, Daddy? Why did you leave us like that? Why didn't you wait until Kasumi was married? Akane leaned her forehead against the door, fighting the tears.
"And since when do YOU come in the front door after 11 pm?" A voice behind her had Akane conducting an impressive spin jump and helmet toss. Nabiki, backlit by the hall light, caught the helmet careening towards her head. "Jumpy, I see."
"God, Nabiki! Don't DO THAT!" Akane gasped, hand on her chest.
"So, you wanna explain yourself?" Nabiki asked, folding her arms and looking very stern. Akane groaned, slumping against the door. She mumbled a response. "Sorry, didn't hear that."
"I said I took a dive! Beaker's totaled and floating in the canal!" Akane snapped back, a few tears breaking through her restraint. Nabiki stiffened, then walked over, grabbed Akane's arm and dragged her towards the kitchen. Akane yanked herself free when they reached the living room.
"What are you doing?" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down for Kasumi's sake. Nabiki snapped on the light and looked her sister over critically.
"No blood, no limbs twisted at odd angles," She moved in close, staring at Akane's eyes. Akane held still. "Eyes aren't dilated or mismatched." Nabiki's fingers flew into Akane's hair, probing her scalp. "No lumps, no apparent bruising. Considering you walked in here on your own and we didn't get a call from Tofu..."
"I'm fine, Nabiki. I jumped clear and I was caught."
"Caught?"
"Yeah. Ranma was behind me and caught me in midair."
"RANMA??"
"He's Ryu." Nabiki's mouth opened, closed and compressed. She whirled and stomped into the kitchen, leaving Akane blinking in confusion. The fridge opened and closed, then Nabiki returned with two cans, tossing one to Akane. Akane caught it and blinked again.
"Beer?"
"We're both going to need it by the time you've finished your story. Now sit and talk." Nabiki pointed to the table. Akane sighed and plopped down on her preferred cushion, popping the tab and taking a long swallow. She nearly spat it out again.
"GAH! You drink this stuff?"
"Only when pushed. I usually get a better brand, but this was on sale." Nabiki took several swallows of her own beer, then slammed the can down and glared at her little sister. "Talk."
Akane talked, telling Nabiki the whole story. Her conflicted emotions regarding their deceased father, Ryu's true identity, how he kept her safe from cops and freaky stuff alike and took care of her.
"So now I have a new friend and a smashed up bike. Oh, god, Nabiki, what are we gonna tell the cops? I don't know if Beaker's plate is legible or not!" Nabiki finished her beer and grabbed the telephone.
"It really burns me up how the bike Dad bought me for graduation and that I was going to bequeath to you on your graduation was stolen tonight by a bunch of punks looking for a joyride." Akane grinned.
"And to make matters worse, when I went out for a stroll to help me relax, given the excitement of tonight, I see that very same bike out on the street. And when I went to demand it back, the thugs tried to run me over. It's so fortunate that a classmate happened to be out the same time and rescued me. I could have been killed!"
"That's right! And this classmate was kind enough to take you someplace to be checked out and then saw you home safely. But I don't think you should go to school tomorrow. Who knows if those punks are still around waiting for you?"
"You're absolutely right, Nabiki. I will stay home tomorrow. Maybe Kasumi and I can start working on wedding plans."
"Good idea. You go on up to bed. I'll handle this." Nabiki punched a number. Akane nodded and stood, shoving her mostly full beer can towards her older sister. Nabiki accepted it with a nod.
"Thanks, sis."
"Hey, this what I live for. You get some rest."
"Night, Nabiki." Akane headed upstairs, grinning as Nabiki wove their story for the police. For once, she was glad for her sister's conniving ways.