Sasameki Koto and Ranma ½: Martial Arts Mix
Chapter Six
Nabiki Tendo watched Sumika spar with Genma Saotome, her eyes narrowed in thought. Nabiki wasn't a martial artist herself but she knew a lot about it, and right then she was feeling somewhat impressed. Sumika wasn't as fast as Ranma was, but she was faster than Akane or her, and she seemed to pick up moves surprisingly fast.
Genma attacked and Sumika grabbed his extended arm, moving and turning as Genma had earlier to pitch the older man away. Nabiki raised her eyebrows, having seen Genma use the same move on Sumika earlier. This time Sumika added her own twist, following up with one of her ice attacks while Genma was off balance.
Genma took the hit, staggered somewhat, then the older man recovered as he called, "Nice, very nice. It's like the Amazon move, Soul of Ice?"
"I don't know," Sumika admitted as the black haired girl took up a fighting stance, "though I suppose it's possible my ancestors got the technique from them."
The two close again, blows flying, and Nabiki noticed another difference in how Sumika fought. Unlike Ranma, who tried to follow Genma's rapid movements across the yard, Sumika stood her ground and waited for Genma to come to her. 'Probably because she knows she isn't as fast as Genma,' she decided.
It was a risky decision, as it meant Sumika had to be ready for an attack from almost any direction. On the other hand she wasn't wasting energy running around, so maybe she could actually outlast the older man.
"Hah!" Genma nounded in, but this time Sumika saw him coming. A side-snap kick staggered the old man, then ice churned around Sumika's hands as she hammered him with a powerful blow. "Oof!" he grunted, staggering back.
"Too slow, pops!" Ranma crowed from where the black haired boy sat watching.
"Silence, boy," Genma grunted.
"What do you think?" Nabiki asked Ranma curiously as Genma launched a powerful series of attacks against Sumika.
"She's not at my or Ryouga's level," Ranma noted thoughtfully, "but I bet she could hold her own against most of the others in town." He shook his head slightly, "Honestly, her biggest problem is her lack of speed."
"And it looks like she's working on solving that problem," Nabiki noted as they watched Sumika hold off Genma.
"Problem is that won't work against anything really big," Ranma shook her head, "against Herb or even Happosai, she'd be toast."
"Bomb Burst!" Genma yelled, tossing the signature mini-bombs that Happosai used, surprising Sumika and catching her in the explosion. She staggered out of the blast a few moments later, singed looking and rather angry.
"What was that?" Sumika yelped.
"It is called Anything Goes,' Genma noted smugly. He smiled as he asked, "Ready to call it quits, young lady?"
"We'd better," Sumika began brushing herself off, "Kasumi's making breakfast."
"Indeed," Genma agreed as they walked towards the house.
Ranma walked over from where they were watching, heading towards Sumika. "I wanted to apologize again," Ranma said a bit sheepishly.
Sumika sighed, then smiled slightly. "You were just helping Akane, I guess," she conceded. She looked at Ranma curiously, "So how does someone as muscular as you become Ranko?"
"It's a bit strange," Ranma admitted as they went inside. He scratched his chin, "I guess it'd be easier just to show you."
Sumika obediently followed Ranma into the kitchen, where they both greeted Kasumi. Getting a glass of water Ranma calmly poured it over his head, when a most stunning transformation took place. Ranma visibly shrank several inches, her muscles lost deffinition, her hair went red and she developed a very impressive bust along with feminine features.
"How...?" Sumika breathed, looking faintly stunned.
"Ancient Chinese curse," Ranma said succinctly, then explained about the training ground with cursed pools of water.
"Do you need hot water, Ranma?" Kasumi asked, passing over the kettle.
"Thanks," Ranma poured the hot water over herself and the process reversed, girl transforming back to boy.
"Wow," Sumika shook her head, her expression faintly stunned.
"Could you go see if everyone's ready?" Kasumi ordered Ranma, and the young man headed into the living room. Looking at Sumika she quietly asked her, "Are you all right? You look a bit shell shocked."
"I guess I am a bit," Sumika admitted sheepishly. "I'm still trying to get my head around super-human martial artists, curses are a bit much."
Kasumi nodded as she said, "I understand, I had nearly the same reaction when I met Ranma and Genma the first time, too." She patted Sumika's arm, "You do get used to it after awhile."
Sumika chuckled softly, "I guess so."
"Do you want to go clean up?" Kasumi asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she pinched at Sumika's ash covered sleeve.
Sumika looked down at her singed clothes ruefully, "Guess I am a bit of a mess. Can I wash up before breakfast?"
"Go on," Kasumi chuckled, "we'll wait."
"Thank you," Sumika smiled as she strode off.
Kasumi watched her go, feeling a odd flutter inside of her. She found herself looking forward to seeing Sumika, talking to her and just being around the young woman. She didn't entirely understand it, honestly, but she liked how she felt around her.
There were some grumbles about waiting to be fed, but Kasumi sweetly pointed out it was Genma's fault for blowing up Sumika, which quieted things down. Ranma hid a grin as Akane, Nabiki and Soun frowned at Genma, even as he helped set the table.
Sumika returned in a t-shirt and jeans, and Kasumi found herself admiring how Sumika looked in the tight pants. A blush colored her cheeks as she thought, 'What am I doing?'
"Can I help dish up the food?" Sumika asked, smiling.
"Of course," Kasumi agreed as both women brought the food out for the two waiting families.
Genma and everyone dug into their breakfast, the two Saotome's eating as quickly as usual. Sumika took her time, then smiled at Kasumi as she said, "This is very good."
"Thank you," Kasumi said just as there was a knock on the door. "Who could that be?" she frowned slightly, getting up to answer it.
As Kasumi opened the door she took in the three unfamiliar young women standing there. One taller girl had boyishly short hair and seemed somewhat more mature, a light brown haired girl in pigtails who stayed close to her side and finally a attractive brown haired girl with longer hair and a serious look on her face.
"Hello," Kasumi smiled warmly, "how do you do?"
"Is this the Tendo Dojo?" the serious looking girl asked tiredly.
"Yes it is," Kasumi answered. As Kasumi took in the three she realized they looked quite rumpled, as if they were going through some great trial. 'Martial artists on a training journey?' she wondered silently.
"Thank goodness, I thought we'd never get here," the taller girl sighed.
"Tomoe, we'd have gotten here sooner if you hadn't killed the car," her companion noted.
"Miyako, I only looked away from the street once, distracted by your beauty," Tomoe said dramatically, her hand to her heart.
"Once is enough," Miyako noted, but she was smiling slightly.
"My name is Ushio Kazama," the serious girl bowed, ignoring her companions carrying on, "is Sumika Murasame here?"
Kasumi didn't let any surprise leak onto her face, but she still felt it. Were these women... after Sumika for something? Turning she called, "Sumika, there are some women looking for you."
Sumika got up, her expression distinctly odd from Kasumi's perspective. She had clearly heard the voices and recognized the women, and she had a mix of eagerness and dread on her face. Still, Sumika walked forward with a firm stride, as if determined to face whatever came.
Ushio's face seemed to light up as Sumika came into view, then she practially threw herself as Sumika. "Oh Sumi," she blurted, "you're all right!"
"It's good to see you, Ushio," Sumika hugged her back even as she looked questioningly at Tomoe and Miyako. "Uhm, why wouldn't I be all right?" she asked.
Tomoe looked amused as she noted, "Ushio heard from your brothers that you were engaged to a violent maniac named Ranma."
"What?" Sumika yelped. She looked down at Ushio, "No, no, I'm not engaged!"
"Really?" Ushio looked up at Sumika, her eyes glistening with tears.
Kasumi was rather impressed by Ushio's seeming ability to turn tears off and on like a faucet. 'Now don't be mean,' she scolded herself, 'she could really be concerned.'
"Really," Sumika promised, "I'm here because my idiot father wants me to train here. No engagement involved."
"I'm so glad," Ushio smiled weakly.
"So is there really a violent maniac here?" Tomoe asked Kasumi as Sumika and Ushio quietly caught up.
"No," Kasumi reassured her then smiled faintly as she added, "it could be the stories mixed up my sister Akane with Ranma."
"I heard that!" Akane yelped indignantly.
Kasumi looked over the women's shoulders, catching sight of the wrecked car sitting near their dojo's gate. It's front fender was falling off, a light was broken out, and what appeared to be smoke was trailing up from under the hood.
"What happened?" she asked mildly.
Miyako sighed as she gestured to Tomoe, "This idiot's driving. Do you know a good mechanic around here?"
"We'll pay whatever," Tomoe added with a sigh.
"You came here in that?" Akane asked, having come up to see what was going on, "You're braver than I thought."
To be continued...