[ Video/ Highcrest Action ]

[tomboytendo]

[ Akane's scroll flips on rather randomly today, but it doesn't show Akane training this time. Rather, she's helping out some of the citizens, a few tools slung over her shoulder and in the process of climbing a rickety ladder. ]

"That's it lad, seal up those holes and we'll be able to move on to the next house. What was your name again? Kane?"

[ Apparently this is shouted from the ground where one of the villagers is overseeing Akane's work. She only looks annoyed, however. ]

"For the last time, I'm a GIRL, and it's Akane!"

"Haha, that's silly, no girl has hair that short. It's okay lad, sometimes the Gods make men a little more feminine than we're used to!"

[ Akane throws her toolbox down on the roof once she's reached the top of the house she's helping fix and glowers to the ground. ]

"I am a GIRL! G-I-R-L! Just LOOK at me you morons!"

Meh, I don't see anything girly about you, boyo, and you should be proud of that! Most boys your age ain't so muscular!"

My name is AKANE and I'm NOT A BOY.

"Akane's a pretty weird boy's name though don't you think, Chuck?"

"Sure do, Dave. I'd swear it was suited to a girlie."

"That's because I *AM* A GIRL."

"Lookee here Kane, if you was a girl you'd have breas-"

[ He stops here, because at this point an enraged Akane has launched an empty bucket at his head. There is a ringing TONG, and then he hits the ground. Oops. Um. Medic? Also mind the Donkey Kane on the roof, still ranting and looking very much like she's about to throw barrels. ]

Comments

[Action]

[yang_fang_leiden]

[Yang is out for a walk today, and witnesses the events without interfering. Perhaps Kodachi was more correct than he had assumed. On the other hand, the ferocity cannot help but remind him of his wife.]

You seem to be having trouble with the locals, Akane.

[Action]

[tomboytendo]

[ Only in Bizarro-world would Kodachi ever be right about something. And strange as this place was, it was not yet bizarro world. Caught off guard by the familiar voice, Akane leans over the edge of the roof. ]

Oh, Master Yang - good morning! [ Talk about a complete 180 from her temper! ] Most of the the locals are fine actually - it's just those two jerks. I can handle myself anyway.

Re: [Action]

[yang_fang_leiden]

[Yang bows politely.]

And good morning to you as well.

[He chuckles.]

I saw that. Quite the accomplishment.

[Action]

[tomboytendo]

Well hitting one idiot is nothing compared to what I had to do every day for a while, back home. Out for a walk?

[ She can work and chat at the same time! ]

Re: [Action]

[yang_fang_leiden]

I am. I spent the morning practicing, and am relaxing now with a walk.

[A wiry smile.]

You often have to deal with such... contemptible behavior?

[ Action ]

[tomboytendo]

Unfortunately, I have.

[ She huffs, starting to sort out boards on the roof. ]

Our upperclassman at school told the entire student body that they had to defeat me if they wanted to date me.

[ She hammers a nail into one of the boards particularly viciously. ]

So every day on the way to class I had to fight the lot of them off. Idiots.

Re: [ Action ]

[yang_fang_leiden]

[His eyes widened only slightly at the explanation, before resuming his calm demeanor.]

That sounds... most troublesome.

[ Action ]

[tomboytendo]

That's putting it mildly. At least I was able to get to classes on time aside from that. After Ranma came to town, they stopped.

Not that I needed his help. [ Except she kinda did. ]

[Action]

[chinaboy]

[Ranma was set to be in Orlea, but with his world engagements placed in Highcrest, he sometimes spent most of his time in this district. It wasn't like Ranma was worried about Akane or anything, she could take care of herself, he was just loitering around because he could.

It was a decision he wouldn't regret either! Finally, more people saw it his way! There was no way Akane was feminine when she was lugging around tools with construction-esque chores being one.]

Ya'know, Akane, you're not very convincin' when you throw things like that.

[Hi! He's on a roof nearby.]

[Action]

[tomboytendo]

[ OH FOR THE WANT OF A BUCKET OF WATER. . .actually no, they might think Ranma was a witch and try to lynch him. Hearing his voice, she glances up from the scene on the ground, frowning. ]

Who asked you? [ NO ONE ok. She can be plenty feminine, damnit! Probably! ..maybe! ]

What are you doing over there anyway?

Re: [Action]

[chinaboy]

[AND HOW GLAD HE IS SHE DOESN'T HAVE ONE! Ranma's done a pretty good job avoiding converting to his girl form since he's been here. No one needs to know about that, no one!]

A-ah. [Why'd she ask that?] No reason.

[With people thinking she's a boy, he doesn't need to help her. Ha ha]

[Action]

[tomboytendo]

[ ONE DAY THOUGH Ranma. ONE DAY. You best Watch. Your. Back. There -is- a pond outside the house after all >:D Though granted it's still far enough from the village that they wouldn't notice if she threw him in it. Unless the scroll turned on. ]

No reason huh? Yeah right.

[ FINE YOU LAZY CHINA BOY. She doesn't need you, so THERE. Off playing as usual - HUMPH. :D ]

Did you already look around the other districts?

[ She -could- just ignore the unhelpful not!fiancee, but... yeah she has missed talking and arguing with him. Besides, he was kind of her best friend when he's not being a jerk. ]

[Action]

[chinaboy]

[ So he's not that worried, and even if that did happen, he still has his Ranko alias to go buy and Akane is the only one who know's his secret.]

Yeah. What's the deal with the pillows? Fairies are none too friendly either.

[Action]

[tomboytendo]

I don't know what the deal is with the fairies. They just don't seem to like anyone. Doesn't say much for all the stories about them, if they're normally that mean spirited.

As far as the place with the pillows... [ She sits back against her heels. ] Your guess is as good as mine. It's -weird-.

[Action]

[chinaboy]

They should do somethin' about that. [Before they kill someone. Ranma was just lucky to have the necessary skills to evade them.]

Are all the districts this weird?

[Action]

[tomboytendo]

Like what? The Queen's more interested in dragging people here, I think, than disciplining fairies. More like they'd tell us to just stay away from them if we were in that district.

[ She looks up skywards, thoughtfully. ]

Pretty much. Fairies, pillows, districts where things in your dreams come true for a day - [ Oh yeah did she neglect to mention? ]

Orlea, Lochwell and HIghcrest are probably the most normal ones there.

[stillshinigami]

How does anyone think you're a boy?

[tomboytendo]

[ Finally someone who sees sense! ]

Your guess is as good as mine! Just because my hair is short, I guess - and I don't dress in skirts and things. I offered to help replace the boards on someone's roof, and they saw me carrying stuff from Orlea to help repair it, and they've been calling me a guy ever since.

[ She's impersonated a guy once before, but she'd had her breasts bound then! ]

[white_pegasus]

I understand your feeling. They're indeed rude.

[This come from a boy who'd often being mistaken as a girl.]

[tomboytendo]

[ She can relate so much to this. ]

I guess in this time they didn't care much about manners. If nothing else there are some here who don't give women much respect. [ She'll beat it into them though, don't worry. ]

[white_pegasus]

Yes, a man is supposed to protect woman.

[He is an idealist, and this matter tickles his idealism further, he can't stop now.]

I just can't stand it if those guys being rude to a woman.

[He pouts.]

[tomboytendo]

[ There is a long pause from Akane, before responding, if only because she's trying to keep her temper. ]

Women can protect themselves just fine without needing some MAN to come and save them.

[white_pegasus]

Oh.

[Chung pauses. He might be dense at almost the entire serious time, but he knows how to read a person's gesture.]

I-I said something wrong didn't I?

[He scratches his head.]

Sorry ...

[tomboytendo]

You don't seriously think women can't defend themselves, do you?

[white_pegasus]

Definitely not!

[He sounds a bit nervous]

..In fact, in my group, most of the fighters are girls and their strength is..wicked.

one slap from them and I was sent metres away from where I stood.

[He shivers when he recalls that memory.]