IV. playing dumb

"I the great Tatewate Kuno would like to challenge Fujimiya Ran to a match to make him see that I am most worthy suitor to his sister…" The crazy guy with the bamboo sword was at it again.

"Give it up Kuno, Shuuichi-kun is not a girl!" Akane said exasperatedly bopping the boy with her mallet.

"Ah, Akane my feisty goddess of love. No need to be jealous there's plenty of me to go around." Knowing it was coming, Kuno dodged the mallet and begun to chase Akane who was not amused.

This boy could give Youji lessons in persistence…

"I don't know how you can stand being a fox all the time, Shuuichi-kun. Don't you think it's an insult to your manhood?" Asked Ryoga, a shorthaired boy with the tiger-stripped bandana and weird shirt and pants outfit.

Hey, that bandana looks like the one the black pig wore…better not to ask…

Ran supposed a sore point for the boy. The black pig did object strenuously about being revealed to the extent of jumping into someone's mouth.

No, it's more prudent to keep my mouth shut…

It was another wacky day at the Tendo dojo. Ran was giving Kurama-chan who was again in kitsune form a brushing. Something Kurama enjoyed very much. The Little Fox seemed content to bask in the sunshine and clean air, but knowing the fluff-ball, Ran knew that the latter was plotting another caper. Though at least there was some peace and quiet before the next storm.

Suddenly, a change came in the air when a longhaired girl came into the gate. She wore a pink balloon skirt and her wavy, chestnut hair was tied up by a red ribbon. She also wore a look of artfully contrived innocence on her face. Ran noted with mild amusement that the expression couldn't hold a candle to Kurama-chan's. Everyone suddenly froze stock-still over what they were doing and there was a sharp increase of tension in the air.

"You! What are you doing here?" Ryoga exclaimed, becoming strangely defensive.

Positively cringing…interesting…

"I've come to challenge, Akane and Ranma to a skating duel, again. This time me and my partner will not lose." The girl said cheekily.

"And the prize?" Ryoga asked warily.

"The prize…" The girl halted melodramatically, making the tension spike up like hell.

Can't anyone do anything normally around here…?

The girl's eyes were craftily roaming around the Tendo dojo's grounds before settling on Kurama-chan with a predatory interest that made Ran's hackles rise.

"That kawaii fox!"

Ran growled at that.

"Azusa, how dare you! That belongs to our guest and is not ours to give." Akane said in an extremely combative voice, brandishing her magic mallet.

"Are you chicken then? Ryoga and Ranma-chan become ungainly elephants since the last time?"

Both boys bristled and objected vociferously that Ran's own objection was almost drowned out.

"The Little Fox is not leaving my side for any consideration, whatsoever!" Ran said incensed beyond measure at the cheeky girl, he was ready to draw his steel katana and give her a piece of his mind.

: Easy, 'niichan. If worse comes to worse I can always escape from any sort of human house. I was a thief remember? The best in the Makai… :

: I know that but still. :

: I know, 'niichan. : The kitsune-chan's mind voice was so full of affection that Ran reflected that it was worth all the aggravation his otouto caused.

Well almost…

: Don't argue with them. If it comes to it, I'll make them rue the day they tried to possess a kitsune for a pet. : A foxy grin feeling came with the thought as Kurama whirled several tails around Ran's fingers.

: I do believe you're enjoying this. :

: Of course. Either way it will prove some amusement… But if you really feel that it's too dangerous a game then I'll stop, I don't want to do anything to hurt you, aniki. : The kitsune-chan butted his head gently under Ran's chin.

Ran's remaining resistance crumbled at the face of that admission. It was really unfair the kitsune-chan could disarm him with a mere show of endearment.

: No, I don't want to ruin your fun. :

: Thank you, 'niichan. Nothing bad will happen, you'll see. :

: Well at least not to me. Besides, you can bail me out if I'm out of my depth… : Kurama-chan added mischievously.

Oh boy, why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this…

It was then when Azusa had scooted over to try and pat the kitsune-chan on the head. From the look of things an accommodation of sorts has been reached, though the discontented look on Akane's face Ran knew he wouldn't like it.

***

Ran was right he didn't want to know.

"Ran-san…" Akane said, stuttering a little as she exclaimed that Ranma and Ryoga, the pig-boy, had been tricked into acquiescing to a skating duel with Azusa and her partner Sanzenin by their pride. The prize according to the terms of the game was Kurama.

How dare they use the kitsune-chan as a prize in their games…

Despite Ran's promise not to interfere in what was going to happen, he felt himself bristle with suppressed rage.

I hope you know what you're doing kitsune-chan…

~TBC~

Author's Notes:

Feeling of Impending Doom, dun, dun, dun, dun…

Sorry for those who were following this series, I'm a bit late in the follow through ^^;. I hit a certain lack of inspiration and decided to concentrate on Weiß Kreuz for awhile.^^;

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