"Ryoko! Wake up!"
"Huh? Wha-?" Ryoko groggily sat up in her futon and
rubbed her eyes, blinking them quickly as the
lightbulb on the ceiling blinded her temporarily.
"Oneechan? What's-?"
"Don't ask any questions! There's a wounded man
downstairs and I need you to help me out!" Ryoko
grumbled, throwing aside the covers and pulling on her
robe. "Who is it this time? Another man
seeking Ranma for revenge?" Ukyou shrugged and
bustled off. Ryoko sighed and trotted off down
the stairs to the restaurant area of their small home.
It was already upsetting that Ukyou had
been able to keep her from sneaking off and helping
the others on that little adventure they were
on. Now, her sleep was being disturbed by those who
don't have the courtesy to get hurt in the
day rather than the night. "Hello? Anyone there?"
"Snoooorrrree..." replied the man. Ryoko blinked.
Turning, she spotted the figure lying down
in one of the booths. Walking over, she prodded him a
bit.
"Oy, wake up, you!" she said, accenting the 'oy' and
'you' with sharp pokes. The man groaned and
stirred.
"Wha- where am I?"
"You're in Ucchan's Okonomiyaki. Where are you hurt?"
"I don't remem- Ukyou! I remember the name, Ukyou!"
Ryoko raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," she said slowly, as if talking to a child.
"Ukyou is the owner of this restaurant." The
man nodded, looking a bit out of it. "Who are you?"
"M-me?"
"Yes," she said even more slowly. "What. Is. Your.
Name?"
"I'm... Kailan." He looked at her strangely. *This
girl has a speech problem,* he thought.
"Yes, nice to meet you, Kailan. Where are you hurt?"
*This guy has a brain problem,* thought
Ryoko. She looked him over. He was wearing odd
clothes. Some kinda red cloth thing. It went
with his hair though, which was reddish brown. He was
fairly thin as well.
"Who are you?"
"Hm?" she asked, looking back at his face. "Oh, my
name is Ryoko." The man nodded. Then he
proceeded to stare off again. "Ano..." Ryoko sighed.
"Listen, I could be sleeping now. This
is the last thing I want to do. You could help me by
cooperating, you know."
"Huh? Oh right." He nodded his head down at his arm.
"I think my arm's broken," he said
nonchalantly. "It's alright though."
"Hmm." Ryoko crouched and examined his injured arm.
She blinked. Then she looked up at him.
Then back at the arm. Then back up at him. "Doesn't
this hurt?"
"Um.. no.. not really. Well, not as much anymore."
"You've got bone sticking out of yo-" she stopped as
the bone disappeared back into his arm.
She blinked.
"I heal quickly," said Kailan, noticing her surprise.
"Ano..." Ryoko scratched her head. "Wow. Even Ranma
wouldn't be able to get over a broken bone
as quick as that." Kailan grinned.
"Alright, Ryoko give me a hand here!" shouted Ukyou as
she arrived down from upstairs. In her
arms she carried several towels as well as a _large_
first aid kit. Ryoko sighed and started
towards her older sister but Kailan stood up and
darted to Ukyou's side.
"Here, let me help you with that."
"Thanks... ano... wait! You shouldn't carry this
stuff," protested Ukyou as Kailan took the
large first aid kit from her fingers. "You'll injure
your arm more." Kailan shifted the heavy
kit in his arms and shrugged.
"It's okay. I'm fine now." Ukyou blinked and stared
at his arm.
"Hey..." Kailan started laughing.
"You two must be sisters. You both have the same
reactions." He grinned. Ryoko smirked while
her older sister sighed.
"Alright then. I'll just take this stuff back
upstairs." She took the kit back from Kailan.
"Hey, let me help you," protested Kailan. Ukyou shook
her head.
"No, it's okay. Ryoko cook up some okonomiyaki for
our guest."
"But it's late! The grill was already cleaned an-"
"Stop whining!" Ryoko pouted and trudged to the
grill. "Or else I'll make you do the dishes."
Ryoko blinked and shivered.
"Alright alright! I'm getting the dough already."
Ryoko disappeared into the kitchen.
"Good. Um.."
"Kailan."
"Yes, Kailan. Please have a seat while my little
sister cooks up some food for you." Kailan
nodded and sat at the bar. Ukyou disappeared upstairs
and soon Ryoko reappeared from the
kitchen, yawning loudly.
"Alright. What type of okonomiyaki do you want?"
"Okonomiyaki?" Kailan had a blank look on his face.
"Yes. Otherwise known as Japanese Pizza?" said Ryoko
scornfully. She hardly enjoyed cooking as
much as her older sister. And in the middle of the
night? Too much.
"Um..."
"Listen, just make a choice!"
"What do you suggest?" Ryoko sighed loudly.
"Fine. I'll just make you a combo."
"Whatever."
"Man. I'm stuck at home when I could be off helping
my friends." Ryoko bit her lip. Kailan
looked at her concernedly.
"Anything wrong?" Ryoko shook her head.
"I don't know why I don't just..." Ryoko blinked.
Then a big grin appeared on her mouth.
Dropping the bowl of batter, she grabbed her small
pack that sat on the side of the grill and
bounded to the door.
"H-hey! Where are you going? What about my
Okonomeyucky?" asked Kailan whirling in his seat as
he watched Ryoko hop to the door.
"It's Okonomiyaki. Wait for Oneechan. I'm going to
go find my friends!" She grinned and opened
the door. "Fun and adventure, here I come!" With
that she ran out the door. Kailan muttered.
"Naive girl. She's going to get in trouble." He
frowned and looked around. "Hey... I want some
adventure too!" He got to his feet and ran out the
door. "Hey.. what was it.. Ryoko!"
"Hm?" Ryoko slowed down and turned towards Kailan.
"What?"
"Let me come with you! I want to see what you're so
excited about." Ryoko shrugged.
"Alright then. Doesn't matter to me. Just keep up
then." With that, she took off, leaving him
behind.
"H-hey! Wait!" he shouted, noticing after a moment she
had darted off. He took off after her.
(
geocities.com/totalanimenut)