It all started with a question. One simple question. An innocent question.
"What was your wife like?" Ranma asked Soun.
Soun Tendo was staring silently at the shrine of his wife in the dojo, tears slowing running down his face.
Ranma was looking to get some work in with her girl body, mostly out of laziness since Akane knocked her into the koi pond.
And the best place was the dojo after all.
Which made the situation awkward. Sure Ranma could practice without distrusting Soun but it would be awake are to do so. Even worse would be telling him to leave especially since he was having a moment and owned the place anyway.
But Ranma's curiosity got the better of her so she asked the question.
"She was a kind woman." Soun was not holding it together well at all. "Patient, respectful, always knew what to do with the girls. So selfless, always putting everyone's needs in front if her own, honoring her family and the obligations she had. I... I didn't deserve her..."
Ranma felt even more awkward because of that. She tried to think of something to say but she couldn't muster a word.
"Today was her birthday, Kasumi... Kasumi will be making something special for her. Oh I miss her so!" Soun's tears became a river instead of the creek that was on his face earlier.
Ranma just stood there, awkwardly. Man, he needs to get laid. Was a thought that came to Ranma's mind. Sure he loves his wife and all but it's been years and frankly, he's just... Such a crybaby. It would be understandable if it was just like this but it's all the time.
"I'm sorry, I, you want to use the dojo right? I'll be in my room. Just, just wake me up for dinner." Soun got up and walked out.
Now I feel like a jerk. Ranma sighed. There wasn't anything she could do though and words left her.
Or so she thought.
Because at that same time, unbeknownst to Ranma and Soun, Kasumi was sick.
"You can't be sick Kasumi!" Akane complained as she replaced the towel on Kasumi's forehead. "It's mom's birthday..."
Kasumi coughed. "I'm sorry Akane. But I can't do it... Someone else must..."
"I'll do it!" Akane felt confident.
"No!" Kasumi pleaded. "No, we. We just won't have it."
"But I can do it!" Akane desperately wanted to.
"Akane... No. Please." Kasumi begged. "It's too difficult. And I don't, I'm not saying you would but... I like my kitchen intact."
That hit Akane like a to of bricks, making her call to her knees it was that bad. "What's so hard about making a blueberry pie anyway?"
"It requires the oven." Kasumi answered. "Just, please, buy one instead."
"No! It has to be handmade!" Akane grabbed Kasumi's hand. "I can do it! Honest!"
Kasumi looked away.
And Akane fell to her knees again.
That's when Ranma came in. "Hey Kasumi, just want to..."
With Akane on the floor and Kasumi sick, it was an unusual and rare sight.
"Uh oh." Ranma scratched the base of her pigtail. "Uh, your dad said to wake him when dinner is ready... Akane's going to try to make dinner isn't she?"
"No." Kasumi shook her head slowly.
"But Kasumi!" Akane put on her most pitiful face.
"No." Kasumi closed her eyes.
Akane sulked out of the room, taking Ranma with her.
"So, uh..." Ranma took Akane's hand off of her. "I guess then..."
Akane grabbed Ranma's shoulders. "Ranma... This is very important for our family... I need... I need... You to please, please not tell Kasumi..."
"Woah! Nuh uh!" Ranma took Akne's hands off her. "You'll ruin it!"
Akane glared at Ranma. "I have to try!"
"I don't know what this is but your dad says it's special, so it's got to be way a live what you can even hope to do!" Ranma tire into Akane.
"But it has to be made by a family member! The blueberry pie has to be made by a family member!" Akane started to cry.
"Pie?" Ranma couldn't believe it. "Pie for dinner?"
"SHUT UP!" Akane yelled at Ranma. "It was Mom's favorite!"
"ITS PIE!" Ranma screamed. "And making a pie is, is HARD! Nuh uh, no way, you'll burn the house down!"
"NO I WON'T!" Akane shoved Ranma and stormed to the kitchen.
A half hour, a beeping sound, and a fire extinguisher was the result of Akane's attempt of making a pie.
Defeated, she moped in a corner.
"What did I tell you?" Ranma stomped out the last of the flames.
Akane just sniffled and buried her face into her knees.
"Man, Kasumi will be pissed..." Ranma shook her head.
"I ruined everything." Akane cried.
"Yep." Ranma nodded.
"YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY THAT!" Akane complained.
"But you did." Ranma placed her hands on her hips.
Akane moped further. "I know... Now it's ruined. And there's almost no time left to try again."
"Well you need someone who is good enough to cook to do it." Ranma shrugged. "And with Kasumi out there's no one left in your family that can cook at all."
Nabiki put something in the microwave to prove Ranma's point.
Ranma stared at her.
"What? I heard. No dinner. So I'm having a frozen one." Nabiki pointed. "Unless you want to make it, after all, you're marrying Akane right?"
"HA! As if I'll marry this train-wreck!" Ranma pointed her thumb to Akane.
"Oh who would want to marry an arrogant jerk anyway?" Akane retorted.
"Hey! No fighting until I get my camera, or my food out of the microwave." Nabiki frowned.
The three girls started at the spinning TV dinner in the microwave.
"So, will you do it Saotome? Or should I say, Ranko Tendo?" Nabiki smirked.
"WHAT?" Ranma shook her head. "Nuh uh, no way! Besides, Mom knows and it's not real and!"
Akane took Ranma's shoulders again, and cried. "Please... Please Ranko can you do it. I have the instructions here..."
Ranma glanced back and forth between the two girls and groaned. "Can't my mom do it?"
"She's out of town with your dad remember?" Nabiki crossed her arms.
Ranma sighed. "Fine..."
Akane glomped Ranma. "Thank you! Thank you!"
Ranma looked away, not liking it one bit.
It was a simple endeavor for Ranma, since she followed directions and had talent. Although it was slowed by Akane insisting on helping. So that meant Ranma was covered in white powder and smashed blueberries.
But it worked and the pie was ready for dinner.
"Ahh ahhAh AHHHH!" Soun screamed and shrieked at the sight before him.
Ranma, with her hair tied up and covered with blueberries and the rest of her in white powder, she looked like the ghost of the Tendo matriarch. After all, Akane took after her mom and Ranma looked like Akane.
In short, Soun passed out in a flash.
Thu Oct 09 00:43:51 2014
5 comments Last updated: Thu Oct 9 14:28:01 2014