There was a part of Nodoka that was unsure of how to proceed with this next part. In all honesty, it had slightly annoyed her that Genma had arranged a marriage for Ranma with the daughter of a friend of his without consulting her. She'd gone along with it anyway. She could see the logic, even if her husband was most likely employing other reasoning.
What she could not quite abide was the Kuonji arrangement, which was blatantly born out of greed and shame. A blatant scam to steal their livelihood out from under them. It wouldn't be so bad, if Ranma wasn't already promised to marry someone else, but now the Kuonji girl's pride had been hurt, her integrity wounded, and all through no fault of her own.
Part of her was relieved to find the store closed. The rest of her recognised she would still have to have that awkward conversation some other time. For now, she would have to attend to other business -
"Ooh la la~" a voice called out in a cheap French accent. Oh dear. "Checking in on your son's women, oui?"
Nodoka turned around, and saw a woman standing there, wearing a rather cheap cosplay of a stereotype of a French woman. It took her a moment to recognise who it was, and when she did...
"Oh, it's you," she said. "It has been a long time Kumicho."
"Indeed, eet haz!" Kumicho replied, sizing Nodoka up right there. "Far too long -"
"Could you please drop the phony accent?" Nodoka asked her old enemy. "It's not nearly as appealing as you seem to think it is."
"You always were a killjoy," Kumicho sniffed. "Is that why you carry about that sword in that bundle? To cut down the fun other people are having?"
Nodoka was not enjoying herself right now. Hard to believe, I know, but it's true. This woman... this interminable woman! A perpetual thorn in her side, as she was such a busybody. It was blatant that she wanted in on their fun. She'd even done her own share of research into magic and curses from around the world.
Alas, her personality made it difficult to want her around. Let's put it like that, yes. Difficult to want her around. Quite the tactful way to put it, don't you think?
"I understand you married into the Kuno family," Nodoka said.
"And you, the Saotome," Kumicho replied. "I got the better bargain, it seems."
It was hard to argue that either of them were winners here, as it happens, but Nodoka knew better than to rise to the bait. Now that Kumicho had her eyes on her, there was precious little chance she'd be doing much of anything else for the rest of the day. At least she had been able to speak with the Joketsuzoku on her own. Ukyo would have to wait for another time.
"If you'll excuse me -" Nodoka said, at least trying to make the effort, only for Kumicho to slide right in front of her.
"Really now, must you be in such a hurry?" Kumicho said. "We have so much catching up to do. Perhaps we could even spar, like we used to? Or is it perhaps a little awkward now that your son is giving it to my daughter on the regular?"
Ah, yes. Kodachi. There was no real connection there. Kodachi was pretty enough. Tall and leggy, slender physique, flexible gymnastics type rather than possessed of impressive bust or rear end.
Nodoka allowed herself a slow breath.
“Your daughter,” she said carefully, “is very… spirited.”
Kumicho’s painted lips curled upward. “Spirited? Is that what we are calling it now? How diplomatic you have become. Marriage must have sanded down your edges.”
,,,,
“It has others.”
There was a flicker there—quickPride and Joy
There was a part of Nodoka that was unsure of how to proceed with this next part. In all honesty, it had slightly annoyed her that Genma had arranged a marriage for Ranma with the daughter of a friend of his without consulting her. She'd gone along with it anyway. She could see the logic, even if her husband was most likely employing other reasoning.
What she could not quite abide was the Kuonji arrangement, which was blatantly born out of greed and shame. A blatant scam to steal their livelihood out from under them. It wouldn't be so bad, if Ranma wasn't already promised to marry someone else, but now the Kuonji girl's pride had been hurt, her integrity wounded, and all through no fault of her own.
Part of her was relieved to find the store closed. The rest of her recognised she would still have to have that awkward conversation some other time. For now, she would have to attend to other business -
"Ooh la la~" a voice called out in a cheap French accent. Oh dear. "Checking in on your son's women, oui?"
Nodoka turned around, and saw a woman standing there, wearing a rather cheap cosplay of a stereotype of a French woman. It took her a moment to recognise who it was, and when she did...
"Oh, it's you," she said. "It has been a long time Kumicho."
"Indeed, eet haz!" Kumicho replied, sizing Nodoka up right there. "Far too long -"
"Could you please drop the phony accent?" Nodoka asked her old enemy. "It's not nearly as appealing as you seem to think it is."
"You always were a killjoy," Kumicho sniffed. "Is that why you carry about that sword in that bundle? To cut down the fun other people are having?"
Nodoka was not enjoying herself right now. Hard to believe, I know, but it's true. This woman... this interminable woman! A perpetual thorn in her side, as she was such a busybody. It was blatant that she wanted in on their fun. She'd even done her own share of research into magic and curses from around the world.
Alas, her personality made it difficult to want her around. Let's put it like that, yes. Difficult to want her around. Quite the tactful way to put it, don't you think?
"I understand you married into the Kuno family," Nodoka said.
"And you, the Saotome," Kumicho replied. "I got the better bargain, it seems."
It was hard to argue that either of them were winners here, as it happens, but Nodoka knew better than to rise to the bait. Now that Kumicho had her eyes on her, there was precious little chance she'd be doing much of anything else for the rest of the day. At least she had been able to speak with the Joketsuzoku on her own. Ukyo would have to wait for another time.
"If you'll excuse me -" Nodoka said, at least trying to make the effort, only for Kumicho to slide right in front of her.
"Really now, must you be in such a hurry?" Kumicho said. "We have so much catching up to do. Perhaps we could even spar, like we used to? Or is it perhaps a little awkward now that your son is giving it to my daughter on the regular?"
Ah, yes. Kodachi. There was no real connection there. Kodachi was pretty enough. Tall and leggy, slender physique, flexible gymnastics type rather than possessed of impressive bust or rear end.
Nodoka allowed herself a slow breath.
“Your daughter,” she said carefully, “is very… spirited.”
Kumicho’s painted lips curled upward. “Spirited? Is that what we are calling it now? How diplomatic you have become. Marriage must have sanded down your edges.”
,,,,
“It has others.”
There was a flicker there—quick, almost eager. Kumicho had always preferred Nodoka when she pushed back. It gave her something to bite into.
“Oh?” Kumicho tilted her head. “Do enlighten me.”
“You know very well,” Nodoka replied, her voice level, “that my son’s situation is… complicated.”
“Complicated?” Kumicho laughed, dropping the French affectation entirely now that she was properly engaged. “He is engaged to half the daughters of Nerima, from what I hear. I had thought the Saotome school prided itself on decisiveness.”
“Genma prides himself on convenience,” Nodoka corrected.
There it was again—that slight shift in Kumicho’s eyes. Interest. She had always been quick to sniff out cracks in armor.
“So you disapprove,” she said smoothly.
“I did not say that.”
“You did not need to.”
Nodoka resisted the urge to adjust the wrapped blade at her side. She would not give Kumicho the satisfaction of appearing unsettled. Still... The amusement in her voice was hinting that she knew something that she was dying to tell Nodoka.
"By the way," Kumicho said. "Have you met Mariko?" Hrm? Mariko? "Oh, of course - She's a Konjo, and she's dating my son."
A Konjo... Dating Tatewaki? Nodoka felt herself turn pale at the very idea of it. A girl from that family - She was from a rival faction, one that preferred the ditzy transformation type of perversion and lewdness, that basked in blatant feminine corruption, that was enthralled by stupidification - that was ultimately responsible for that ridiculous bimbo beach spell!
"My condolences," Nodoka said. "Your son was already an idiot. By the time she's done with him -"
"Oh, he's happier than he's ever been," Kumicho said, with a twinkle in her eyes. "The girl is challenging your son's little slut brigade -"
"Which your own daughter is a member of," Nodoka observed.
"Hrmph! Indeed! We'll be shared grandmothers before the year's out, mark my words!" Kumicho smirked. "They'll be strong, they'll be beautiful, and they'll be perfect for getting us what we both want, whether you appreciate an alliance or not. In any event! If your son wins against Mariko, I'll be undoing the various spells placed on them! If your son loses, his girls will all become part of Mariko's cheer brigade. Horny little ditzes, permanently, full time, prancing around in pleated skirts talking like T-H-I-S all the time!"
Nodoka's eyes narrowed. Yes, she'd been aware that the Konjos would make their move - but to think that it would be something like this.
"So you're supporting the Konjos...?" Nodoka asked dangerously.
"No, I will support the winner," Kumicho said. "The spell I need to cast relies upon winning a contest with reasonable stakes. If your son wins - the curses are dealt with. It's just that simple. How confident are you in their ability to win?"
How confident? Nodoka straightened her back and let loose her very best smile.
"I have total faith in my son," Nodoka firmly stated. "Even if he needs to win this ridiculous contest as a girl, I shall support him all the way."
Some training would be required. Fortunately, Nodoka was rather aware of what was going to be needed here. Martial arts cheerleading, was it? Very well then, Ranko. You'd be getting some special training before too long...
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