It was a colder day in Nerima way early in the morning, Ringo was holding a robe similar to Mousse's but with a swirl pattern instead "Listen, Mousse, I cant join this bird gang of yours I already got in trouble from the police."
"But together we can take Ranma down and I could finally marry Shampoo!"
a glint appeared in Ringo's eyes at the statement "Listen I don't have any grievances with Ranma nor do I care about your passion for that crazy cat. so leave me out of it."
Mousse hits Ringo's shoulder before using the same arm he hit him with to wrap around Ringo's shoulder.
"That glint in your eyes, I know it all too well! Ranma wronged you! You have to take revenge, so take revenge with me!" his free arm was raised inspiringly and clenched into a fist as he made cheering noises.
"still no, but I'll help when you Really need it."
"Fair enough." before mousse left he noticed the arrangement of antiques before an artifact caught his attention a fishing rod with a sucker "What's this thing?"
"Some.. "fishing rod of love" this old guy gave it to me saying it makes anyone who is caught by it fall in love. Its on this pamphlet"
"HOW MUCH!"
"100 yen." he was so whatever about it since no one buys his stuff but was surprised when *slam* before his eyes 1000 yen. It was placed before his widened eyes "Huh? you're buying something? for real?!"
"Of course I am it's a chance!"
"Thanks I guess.." his hair was flickering with flames that held back a giggle "Have a nice day!" he was waving enthusiastically for once.
"This might be my best day!" Mousse was cackling while he marched out of the store and he happened to walk across shampoo! "How lucky! Shampoo! With this Fishing rod you will finally love me!" he read the pamphlet in front of her and surprisingly she waited till he finished reading... before snatching the rod and kicking mousse away as she chuckled with a sinister idea showing in her smile.
"That, isn't my problem." Ringo was cleaning a spatula before sharpening it enough to cut paper before pulling out a tea pot "This curse may not be a curse after all" he began making tea before he saw Yukue walking out in gi headed to spar with Akane and then Ranma dashing down the same road while dodging the sucker from the cursed fishing rod he was in his pajamas as shampoo gave chase.
In all honesty it was peaceful though the antics were a bit early once the tea was done he went outside and took a large flower pot with him setting it outside and sitting on it. Looking up at the deep blue sky, the bright white clouds with an orange glow, and the rising orange coming from a sun peeking through the tall buildings. It all calmed him he saw everything and focused on nothing. Not the dust cloud rising nor the roof from that shop-house caving in. The explosions felt muffled
"It's a pretty serene day today." he sipped his tea as he was making some stew sharing it with Konastu.
"It sure is" the shinobi filled up a small bowl eating it all in one go "Thanks for the feast" he leapt away leaving Ringo to his thoughts. "Feast? am I being fat?" he looked at his stomach but it was lean -a bit skinny "nah" he began scarfing down on the rest of the stew and rice before washing it all down with water. "Thanks for the meal" he flipped the sign to "closed" walked off. He strolled home looking up at the clouds ducking a few knives here and there, a chi blast whizzed past him, he stopped as he evaded a ribbon flying past him before almost getting caught by a fishing rod. But the chaos continued and more houses were destroyed minus his which was pristine in all honesty save for the full mailbox he could never force himself to check but he went in -ignoring the mailbox still- to laze about for the rest of the day.
He watched the TV briefly noticing it was on a different channel from the usual action show Yukue watched then walked to the kitchen where he just cut an orange into a square and ate it in one bite. but in a mere instant he snatched Kinchō as the child was in the middle of dashing "Ah you got me I knew you were a great thief!" being called a thief irritated Ringo even though he was still wearing that large blue robe he stole, yesterday. but minus the fact that he only had one outfit that wasn't stolen he threw the kid out of his house "Go home."
Ringo retreated back to his bed and slept even though it was the afternoon but he was woken up from his violent dream by Cologne knocking on his head. She looked around his house and was currently scanning his room his pillow had black stains on it some of which were smudged on his face
"Shido why does it smell like ash in here? and your hair! its been dyed why is that"
"No my hair isn't dyed its just been singed, a lot-did you just notice-" He began picking at his hair before pausing "what are you doing here?"
"We had to move in for a bit our house is damaged."
"Now about you Shido, I raised you better than this" Cologne showered Ringo with critiques and scoldings about smoking "You are so clumsy you hair turned black! and you kept up with the smoking!"
"I don't smoke granny! The feather you stuck in my head kept burning it so I just stopped washing it."
"You must take care of your hair! You are part Amazon so your hair is important!"
"Why do you care..." he muttered
"I helped raise you."
"You didn't help when they dragged me away to japan.." he was now pouting before catching her staff.
he stood up and left to the other room before coming back out in a sweater and lounge pants "I'm going to work."
"It's late in the evening."
he was down the stairs "Late shift."
"You own the shop."
he was out the door "Late shift!"
moments later he was just strolling through the night instead of actually going to work but he spots Ochiba sleeping in a vending cart and he walks up to him staring dead into the mans eyes before he woke him up and just laughed at him loudly continuing his stroll like nothing happened.
He notices Yukue working with her family at their wood working shop "isn't it late" he looked at the clock inside "7pm" -an hour before the usual closing time. they laughed at some inside jokes and looked happy.. and grounded, no debts to work at their shop forever, they're where they want to be, they are there, with each other. His hair began flickering as his pace was now brisk at the least. He began thinking about how his grandma didn't even stick around to say goodbye and his parents only came to give him his stuff and make him feel good about being an object of debt.
*poof*
his hair began to feel hot for once but it wasn't the first time he was mad at what his parents did. It was never permanent, his anger always got redirected or replaced by something else, it was a defense that always came and this time his course changed, now he was walking to his shop but when he stood before it he just, Stood there thinking about it. He hated it but he didn't want to leave it his pride kept him from doing so he hoped the storm of fights would ruin this shop too but he would fix it, he just knew.
"Cant I make up my mind, do I hate it or like it" those words echoed at everything he could think of. Nerima, The shop, Y-.... "years of living in Nakano. yeah..." he face palmed before walking inside he turned on the light as its orange glow revealed a wooden floor and white walls, the slight dust in the air coating a porcelain cat and a music box, and the assortment of weapons and bombs. He felt proud of this dump, it wasn't the best he could do-not a chance but it was something from nothing.
*Yawn*
He fell -literally- to sleep before being woken up by Yukue "What are you doin here" he stumbled awake still painfully tired
"Did you stay up all night?"
"What? no I couldn't've" he was nodding in between sleeping and staying awake.
"You look a little tired, are you sure?"
"most def-*Zzzzz-*-initely not tired"
"there is school today."
"What?"
"We have to Go to school. Did you forget?"
"I don't have scho-Oop-" he was being dragged away by Yukue as she closed the shop "Come on."
"Fine." his hands were held up like he was surrendering as they kept a slight jog to school.
"Listen don't you go bailing out of school you have been gone for days."
he took a soldier like salute "Yes Ma'am!"
"Now go soldier! Make me proud"
"Yes m- wait.. why would I do that?" he had a smug grin as he poked her so she would answer but he got hit with a rather strong gut punch that almost took him to his knees.
"N-no *ahem* no reason" Keiaru walked off at the sound of the bell leaving Ringo to struggle his way to class.
Now in uniform he stood before class 1-F "This is the class?" he looked up and down from the schedule he got from the principal "will they stare if I walk in..." he paused for a moment but received a repressed shock when the door opened.
The teacher was looking at a list of names when he opened the door "You may come in Konotori your seat is at the front row, right corner."
The teacher continued his lecture now head deep into a book he was reading
"okay the corner isn't too bad and I was here before, so I don't have to do introductions." He walked stiffly before dropping into his seat feeling the stares from the other students he glances back to see their eyes locked on to his feather but suddenly he is poked by Ranma "You finally decided to come to school?"
"Was forced." the bell rang mid conversation as Ringo seemed to use his skill to slip through crowds to get to his next class but a particularly slow walker kept swerving in his way as he now physically restrained him self from shoving the student out of the way then his hair burst into flames.
Everyone surrounded him but kept their distance not knowing the fire didn't hurt him. "What's wrong?" his flames got intense as the crowd panicked
"Ringo your hair is on fire!"
catching on to this he ran out of the school like it did hurt and all the way home.
When he arrived he almost instantly bowed and thanked Cologne who was discussing a plan to get Ranma to marry Shampoo with Shampoo. "Thanks to you I have a great excuse to leave school!"
His thanking was cut short as Yukue swung the door open staring into Ringo's soul with fury. "Why are you mad?"
"You...BAILED!!"
"Please don't hurt me?" he was holding up warding symbols but suddenly he started to feel weakened as his energy visibly got stolen from him as there stood Miss Hinako! coin extended! ready to punish the poor delinquent student.