Glazius Falconar wrote:
- I just don't think you can _work_ semi-serious romantic thought
- into a funny story about underwear.
- And now Adrian Tymes will prove me wrong.
You'd think I had a rep to maintain or something. ^_^
---
"Death of one close to Ranma, by Kasumi's hand. Shampoo never think
Kitchen Girl murdering type, but anyone who hurts airen answers to
Shampoo!"
So lost was the chinese near-woman in her angry ponderings, that she
failed to see Akane until the latter stepped out of her way and tripped
her.
"Watch where you step, Uncute Tomboy! Shampoo must get vengeance for
airen, no have time fight you today."
Akane frowned. "Vengance? For what?"
"Shampoo no know what, just know who: Kitchen Girl."
"Kit...you mean Kasumi?"
"Yes, Shampoo mean Kitchen Girl."
"Vengeance is his, Shampoo. Don't get in Ranma's way." Akane smiled.
"Besides, sometimes just being there to heal the hurt can touch a heart
better than getting revenge."
"Shampoo see." She turned and marched the few steps to the Tendos'
front door, punching her way through. Since the door was open, this
only caused it to swing fast on its hinges and slam into the wall
rather than shatter as Shampoo had hoped, but the slam was loud enough
to partially make up for that.
Inside, Ranma sat on the futon, loss written all over his face (with
ink from Metaphor, Inc., supplier to muses world wide). Kasumi stood
by his shoulder, wringing her hands and muttering, "I'm so sorry..."
"Kitchen Girl going to be very sorry when Shampoo through!" Shampoo
charged at Kasumi, who barely looked up before Ranma wordlessly leapt
from his futon, clotheslined Shampoo, grabbed her by her rising ankle,
hurled her out the door, and fell back to his pouting position in three
seconds flat.
Akane watched to make sure Shampoo cleared the local airport's airspace
(given as Akane was on probation for a series of close calls due to
Mallet Express, and did not want another long lecture from her
probation officer), then walked up to Ranma and picked him up in a bear
hug. "Ranma...I heard about what happened."
"I still can't believe it. It's like my childhood friend just died."
"There's nothing that can be done?"
"Kasumi's already tried her best. It's hopeless."
"You can cry on my shoulder if you want. I promise not to tell
anyone."
"Thanks...thanks, Akane. I've already shed my tears, but..." He
returned her embrace. "I-I don't know what I'm gonna do now."
She smiled. "Baka. What do you think the mall's for? I'll give you
a set of mine; they should be good enough to go shopping in."
"You would?"
"Mm-hmm. It's my duty, since you're my fiancee. We should get going
soon, though, the mall closes in a couple hours."
"I guess. And speaking of time...I guess it probably was time for them
to go, if they were developing a life of their own." He glanced at
Kasumi. "Stop apologizing, already. You're forgiven."
Kasumi breathed a sigh of relief.
Akane looked at her. "So, exactly what did happen, anyway?"
"Well...I tried to do Ranma's laundry. Some of his underwear really
needed it. I even took off the set he was wearing...Akane, I swear on
my honor that I did not peek at what was underneath. When I got to the
laundry room, though, some of them started fighting me when I tried to
put them in the wash. I struck back, and before I knew it, I'd torn
them to shreds in self-defense." She met Ranma's gaze. "Just how long
has it been since you washed them, anyway?"
"Never. Like I said, childhood friends..."
Akane looked at him, then back at her sister. "Kasumi, while we're
out, gather up the rest of his and leave them for Happosai. And if he
won't take 'em, burn 'em."