My Mum's Cooking - By Natsume Saotome

A short ranma one-shot by Ryoohkichan

"C'mon Ako," said Natsume as she dragged her friend along the footpath, "I know that you've heard stories about my place from the others but it's nothing that strange."

"But Natsume," her friend exclaimed, "Your idea of strange is in itself a little odd though. After all, most kids don't have a dad that turns into their mum when hit with water!"

"Yeah, and I told you all about my Grandpa…."

"The panda."

"Yes." Continued Natsume, "The one who turns into a Panda. Well... there are a few other things that sometimes happen at home, but nothing much stranger than that."

Ako bumped right into the back of her red-headed school friend, when she suddenly stopped in front of the Tendo Dojo. The outside appearance of which, somewhat defined the chaotic happenings that often occurred within. The sign reminding challengers to go around to the Dojo was hanging at an angle, and the building itself appeared to have been patched so many times that it was more patches than original construction.

"I'm home!" announced Natsume as the girls left their shoes in the entryway and put on their slippers.

An older version of Natsume poked her head around the corner and smiled, "Natsume! You've brought a guest!"

The older woman backflipped from the other room to stand in front of them.

Surprised, but recovering quickly, Ako bowed politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr… Mrs? Uh… Saotome. I'm Ako, Natsume's classmate."

Ranko let out a laugh and scratched the back of her head awkwardly, "Just call me Ranko when I'm like this. I've got a class in a minute Natsume, feel free to bring Ako-chan in to watch."

"Sure Dad," said Natsume, "But we'll probably just be up in my room."

"Okay, have fun girls!" Ranko said as she walked off.

"Oh girls," Ranko said, stopping suddenly, "Don't go into the kitchen, it's dangerous."

Ranko grinned and flashed them a peace sign as she went off to her class.

"Natsume?" Ako asked "What does your… Ranko mean when she said dangerous? We're both eleven years old. I know my way around a kitchen, I've even cooked dinner for my family by myself."

"Oh Ako. Dad doesn't mean the usual sort of dangerous." Natsume said, taking Ako's hand and making a shushing motion. Together they walked down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Natsume lent in close to her friends ear to whisper, "Mum is in the kitchen, and sometimes it can be very dangerous in there when she cooks."

Together the two girls peeked around the door to see a sweating Akane furiously using a rolling pin to beat the head of a giant squid faced monster that was coming out of a pot of soba.

"I don't care if you're name is Cthulu! You are not invading our dimension through my dinner!" Akane shouted.

Natsume gave her friend a huge smile, "At least this means we're having take out for dinner!"