Ranma ½ Young Times Day II: Kaori Betrothed?! by Kris Thompson This is a work of fiction based on Rumiko Takahashi's 'Ranma Nibun no Ichi' a.k.a. Ranma ½ and was created for the author's personal enjoyment. *** "Tadaima!" Fu called out as she and Kaori entered the entrance of their home and removed their shoes. Akane peeked out from the living room. "Hey, girls. How was school?" "Fine." Fu said. "May I go up to my room?" Akane nodded and her youngest headed up stairs. "And how about you, Kaori?" Kaori walked into the living room and flopped down on the sofa. "Horrible." Akane eyed her daughter and sat down next to her. "And why is that?" Kaori fumbled with her fingers for a moment. If she told her mom that she had not only accepted one, but *two* challenges, she'd be grounded for life. But there was no way out of it. And besides, her mother would find out about it, one way or another. If nothing else, she's ask Fu and her sister, completely unlike her, couldn't lie and would tell her mom all about it. 'Might as well do it *now*,' Kaori thought. "Well, it started this morning. That stupid Ikari caught be before school and stuff, so naturally I pounded him to pulp and then this girl named Isabelle Shiratori, Azusa's kid, challenges me for my track title. So, naturally, I accept the challenge." Akane nodded. "Naturally." Kaori continued. "Right. Anyways, then, at lunch, this other girl comes over to Fu and I and asks to sit with us. I tell her yeah and my name and she freaks out. Turns out, she's Hachi Kuno, Kodachi's daughter, and she's got a score to settle with me as well. So *now*, I have two challenges for this week. How'd I get myself into this, Mom?" Akane sighed and smiled weakly. "I'm afraid it's not you, dear." CRASH! Both mother and daughter turned to the source of the sound. "Ryouga, man! Where ya been? I sent for ya a *month* ago! Whaddya do? Get lost?" Ranma said from the other room. "Ranma, this is all YOUR FAULT! I've seen hell because of you!" came the sound of Ryouga's voice. Kaori brighten. "Uncle Ryouga!" She sprang up and vaulted to the kitchen where her father and his friend were. "Ryouga!" The Lost Boy turned and hugged the girl. "Hello Kaori. How are you?" "I'm fine." Kaori said cheerfully. "Where's your sister?" Ryouga asked. "Upstairs, nose in a book, if I know her at all." "Hello Ryouga." Akane said, standing behind Kaori. "Hey Akane. How are you?" Akane smiled. "Fine. And you?" "Just fine. Been camping with Hiroshi." Ryouga replied, gesturing to the boy beside him. Hiroshi was Ryouga's son and very much resembled his father, with green eyes and dark hair. Kaori turned to Akane. "Mom, about the challenges…" "It's fine, Kaori." Kaori's head snapped up. "What?" Akane gave her a stern look. "Now, understand, I don't want you getting into these all the time. But your father got into many a challenge. Many from Ryouga, if memory serves." Ryouga put a hand behind his head and laughed nervously. "Oh, come on Akane," Ranma said, "it wasn't *that* bad." Akane gave him a skeptical look. "Oh really?" Ranma swallowed and smiled. "Ryouga, can Hiroshi and I go to the dojo and practice? For a little while?" Kaori asked. "Sure, if you two want to." Ryouga said. "Can I?" Hiroshi asked. "Sure." Ranma said. "Just make sure everything goes back the way it was, okay Kaori?" "Sure thing, Dad!" Kaori grabbed Hiroshi's arm and dragged him towards the dojo. When they entered, they caught Fu in the middle of a kata. She didn't acknowledge them until she was done. "You can have the dojo now, Ka. I'm done." Kaori gave her a look. "I thought you were upstairs." Fu stopped at the door and turned to her. "I came down." and left the dojo. Kaori shrugged. *** Everyone sat around the table; Ranma, Akane, Kaori, Fu, Ryouga and Hiroshi. Fu was silent as usual and Ryouga, Ranma and Akane were all busy discussing something. "But, Ryouga, since you'll be staying for a while, you've got to put Hiroshi into a school." Akane told her friend. "I suppose you're right, Akane," Ryouga said, in a somewhat defeated tone. "But where?" "Well, I think he could get enrolled at Furinkan, don't you Akane?" Ranma suggested. Fu, Kaori and Hiroshi all looked up at them. "Yeah!" Kaori exclaimed. "That'd be neat!" "Hmmm… that would be interesting." Fu commented. "Come on, Dad," Hiroshi said, slightly tugging on his father's shirt. "I'd really like to go." Ryouga smiled. "I suppose. You start tomorrow." All the children cheered and their parents smiled as the door bell rang. "I will go and see who it is," Fu said as she stood and walked to the door. "Wow, Hiroshi! It's gonna be great with you livin' here and going to school with us and everything!" He smiled. "Yeah, it will be pretty neat. We'll see each other every day almost." Kaori blushed slightly and mentally berated herself for it. 'What am I *thinking*?! It's just Hiroshi, and he's one of my friends!" Fu entered the room again with someone behind her. "Delivery from the Atarashii Neko Hanten." A girl with big brown eyes and part of her long black hair up in Chinese style buns, much like her mother's, on either side of her head. The natural dark purple highlights shown in the light. Kaori stood and greeted her friend. "Sapphire!" The girl smiled. "Nihoa! Sapphire come bring New Cat Café dessert! Is too too delicious!" The girl emptied the delivery box of it's dessert contents. "So, Sapphire, how are Mousse and Shampoo?" Ranma asked. "Mother and Father fine. Much enjoy work, though business low lately. But give Sapphire and Great-Great Grandmother much time to study." Sapphire said in her broken Japanese. Even though Sapphire had lived almost her entire life in Nermia, she had been born in the Amazon village, in China. An ancient Chinese Amazon custom. But, the four, including Cologne, had been allowed to return to Japan, as long as Sapphire, or Sy-fire in Chinese, continued to learn of the Amazon ways. And who better to teach her than Cologne? Like her parents, she trained in martial arts. She was quiet the child prodigy, inheriting Shampoo's strength while also inheriting Mousse's skills on being a master of hidden weapons. To be honest, she was quiet the lethal warrior. "Why don't you join us, Sapphire? I ordered enough." Akane offered. Sapphire smiled. "Sapphire thank Mrs. Saotome." *** It was later that night, after Sapphire had gone back to the New Cat Cafe, Fu and Kaori were sharing Kaori's room for the night while Ryouga and Hiroshi were sharing Fu's room. Hiroshi had gone to bed while Ryouga, Ranma and Akane all sat up still. "I'm not sure, Ryouga. I mean, you know how Ranma and I felt about it when we first found out." Akane said. "Yeah, I know. But look how well it turned out." Ryouga pointed out. Ranma rubbed his chin. "I don't know. I think that we should let them decide." "What are you saying?" Ryouga asked. Ranma looked thoughtful. "Well, it's like this: we tell them about the engagement, but just wait it out and see how they get along and if it works, it works, if it don't, it don't." Ryouga sat back and thought about it for a moment then smiled. "Sounds like a plan." Ranma turned to his wife. "Akane?" She looked down for a moment. "I suppose it's okay, as long as we're not forcing them the way our fathers were us." "Good," Ranma stuck out his hand to Ryouga, who shook it. "Then Kaori and Hiroshi are engaged." *** Above them, Kaori and Hiroshi both sneezed in their slumber. *** Author's Notes: To be honest, I've had this done for a while, except for the end. This series is so hard for me to write, but I have no idea as to why. Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I'm working on this series and my 'Definite Misunderstandings' series at the same time and doing college so... anyways, thanks for reading! Signin' off! -Krissy cartoonpaperclips@email.com www.geocities.com/kuroi_hoshi