What has happened before this - Read the earlier chapters and find out, or
be lazy and know, Ranma has moved to Juuban at the request of his mother,
and is now living with Mamoru, whom Nodoka served as a foster mother.
Scouts have met Ranma, and Ranko, though have not yet made the connection
between the two. Other stuff has happened
Pre-chapter Authors notes - This chapter was a pain to write. Blending two
worlds of plot together is a pain to do sometimes. And I had a lot of
trouble with this chapter. I "think" it's how I like it. And will along
the next chapters to come together with much greater ease.
My apologies on spelling/grammar mistakes. I can't catch every error.
Disclaimer - You know it, you love it.
Episode 4
A New Hope, A New School
Ranma woke up in his new apartment, and pondered last night's proceedings.
He had barely managed to keep up with the pretty clad sailor soldiers of
love and justice as they had deposited Kodachi at her new home.
Surprisingly, they had done just what he said to do and forced the doctors
to accept Kodachi. Despite how much hell Kodachi had given him, he said a
small prayer that maybe, for once; he'd have one less crazy woman after
him. Makoto and Rei had apparently been ushered off to make statements to
the police, so when he finally was able to find them, everyone needed to
retire for school the day. Makoto and Ranma agreed to meet in the park
before school and walk there together. Rei had to decline since she
attended a private school.
These scouts, Ranma decided, were decent people, so long as he kept his
eyes above their waistline. He might be a girl himself sometimes, but even
those skirts left little to his male imagination. Jumping out of bed he
quickly made his way to the shower and waited for some steam to rise as
proof of its warmth. Being only his third day in the Juuban area, he was
hoping to keep his curse under wraps a while longer, and if Mamoru
accidentally came in, the last thing Ranma wanted was to explain why he was
a red headed female. Surprisingly, he managed to shower, and get cleaned
up without triggering his curse once, fixed himself a small meal, and made
his way out to the park to get a little practice in before Makoto showed
up.
Going through his kata, he slowly lost himself in his movements, correcting
small mistakes here and there as he built himself up to some of his
school's more difficult forms. Within minutes he was jumping into, and
above trees, rebounding off lampposts and generally putting on enough of a
show to gather quite a morning audience.
Ranma however, only took note of his audience in such a way as to avoid
hitting anyone and decided that visual ki attacks would probably a bad
thing.
When he finally brought his exercise to a close, he noticed the applause.
Gathering his wits he looked about to see a crowd looking at him. He also
noticed the looks in many of their eyes. Guys wanted to learn from him,
and the girls; the girls wanted to be with him. Children were looking upon
him as a superhero. A few flashes turned his attention to a photographer
snapping pictures of him. A couple reporters had also just arrived on the
scene.
Ranma did the most sensible thing he could do. He got ready to run. The
only thing that stopped him was her voice.
"Ranma!" Makoto yelled over the throng of people who were approaching her
friend en masse.
Jumping up to see where Makoto was, Ranma quickly bounded over to her
before quickly sweeping her off her feet.
"Mind if we get out of here so I can lose these guys?" Ranma said as he did
a head gesture towards the masses. Keeping her in his arms, he jumped over
the crowds and headed down the street. The single freelance photographer
called out Ranma's name as they were in the air, causing both Ranma and
Makoto to look at her. As she raised her camera, Ranma immediately averted
her eyes; Makoto however gave a quick victory sign and ear to ear grin.
Ranma wondered why she had looked so familiar, though the hat she was
wearing, along with the camera she was using hid her face. The
photographer snapped a quick picture. Once her quarry was out of the area,
she removed her hat, chuckled to herself.
"Ranma, you make this far too easy for me sometimes." Nabiki quickly
masked her smile as she noticed people coming over. Glancing at her
camera, she started calculating the yen as each shot could bring her as it
came up on her small display. "Missing one day of school won't hurt me.
This is just too good to pass up."
A block away, Ranma quickly leapt on to the roof as soon as he was away
from the park with his friend in his arms. She obviously hadn't been a
part of roof hopping as she reasserted her hold onto Ranma with each jump.
Ranma thought it was almost funny, considering Makoto still looked like she
was in shape and was probably still practicing martial arts.
"I figured you would be calmer about this," he said. "It's only a three
story drop if we fall."
Makoto herself couldn't think of a response. Sure, she "could" roof hop,
but not without her senshi powers. And while she could secretly admit it
to herself that it was exhilarating, she couldn't really bring the subject
up without disclosing her secret identity. So, when Ranma looked at her as
he jumped over a small intersection she quickly squinted her eyes as she
glanced down to the ground. Ranma bounded on, stopping only every now and
then to get directions.
Ranma landed in the yard outside Juuban High, and noticed that Makoto had
gotten use to her air taxi ride. Her face was obviously flushed, but she
was reluctant to let go. Finally, realizing they weren't going anywhere
else, Makoto detached herself from her friend and both headed into school
together.
---- a/n the more things change, the more they stay the same ----
Rumor mills are like urban legends. No one ever knows how they entire get
established, but they are firmly entrenched within certain social
hierarchies. High school is one of those social hierarchies. Ranma had
taken less than three steps into his new school, and already most of the
school had heard about him. Ranma heard snippets as he approached the
principal's office so he could get a schedule of his classes.
"He came in with Makoto?" a young blond asked her friends, obviously upset
she couldn't be the first to get a crack at him.
"He must be a fighter then to be able to stand up to her." A boy
interjected to his friends as Ranma walked by. He seemed to remind Ranma
of Daisuke. He looked like the type that would get into the small
skirmishes, and witness the big fights, but generally was a safe kid.
"A real shame, he's really cute. He must be taken." A brunette with
glasses said to her friend.
"I heard he transferred from Furikan," a small boy exclaimed as a bully
held him up against the wall while Ranma was walking past.
Umino Gurio had been a good source of information when Makoto arrived.
Many bullies used him as a source of info on potential threats.
"Furikan? That school has some of the craziest.." The bully had been cut
off as he saw a look of terror in Umino's eyes, and heard a small cough
from behind him.
"Put the kid down, and ask me yourself if you really want to know," Ranma
said with a slight edge of anger in his voice. No, he didn't have much
pride in his old school. He just hated bullies. He especially hated
bullies whom he couldn't go all out with since he'd break them. And while
this social delinquent might be big and strong compared to many of Juuban's
student population, he wouldn't be much of a threat. Sensing the attack
coming, Ranma side-stepped the punch. He then quickly countered with a
punch to the thug's stomach, immediately dropping him.
"Bully anyone else in the school and you'll have a real fight with me."
Ranma picked up the bully by the collar and looked him dead in the eye.
"Understand?"
The bully merely nodded as he paled. Ranma dropped him back to the ground,
gave a nod to Umino and continued down the hall.
"What's his name anyway?" Umino asked aloud as he picked up his books off
the ground and hurried off to class.
"Ranma!" came a shout and wave from a blond girl down the hall as she
sprinted past Umino.
Umino looked up in surprise as Minako shot past him. "Ranma? As in Ranma
SAOTOME?"
Ami Mizuno paused in her stroll down her school's hallways as she heard
Umino's question.
"Yes, I do recall that being his name Umino." Ami wasn't quite as eager to
get to Ranma as her friend was. And besides, no one should run in the
halls. Fortunately, because of that fact, she had been passing Umino Gurio
when he posed his question. "Why, have you heard of him before?"
"Heard of him?" exclaimed the boy. "Ranma Saotome is legend! Most people
assume he doesn't even exist because of how great a fighter he is rumored
to be!"
Unfortunately, the shout echoed down the halls and most people overheard
it.
Ranma heard the exclamation and gave a small prayer to any spirits that
might be watching over him, hoping that he wouldn't have to fight an entire
school of boys. Furikan had much better fighters, and they had been less
then a challenge. He really didn't want to hospitalize anyone on his first
day.
His discussion with the principal was less than what he expected. The man
wasn't Hawaiian, didn't have a palm tree growing out of his head, and even
wore a respectable suit. Despite the large file addressing Ranma's
"delinquency", the principal merely asked if he should need to worry about
Ranma. Ranma assured him that he wouldn't start any fights, and would use
as little force as possible if he felt it was necessary to fight someone.
Although he did admit he punched a bully today who was picking on another
boy. The principal merely chalked it up to a "boys will be boys"
confrontation but still reminded Ranma not to start anything.
The only point of contention he actually had with the principal was with
his uniform, or lack there of. Despite Ranma's protests, he finally ceded
the point and promised he would get a uniform as soon as he was able.
Gathering his schedule he headed off to class.
Most classes were boring and Ranma had trouble following them. While
Juuban was not able to score terribly high academic marks in comparison to
other schools, their average score was higher than Furikan's marks. Add to
the fact Ranma entered his class already behind in his studies, he quickly
got lost as the teacher rambled on.
Gym class was the exception to this. While Ranma might not know how to
play sports, his naturally high physical agility and high aptitude at
learning physical exercises enabled him to adapt quickly.
His teacher timed his sprints. Ranma's sensei wept when he tested his
vertical jump and saw Ranma leap up to the ceiling. Rather than have a
normal class, the entire class became engrossed in watching Ranma as they
thought up test after test. The only test Ranma refused was time trials
and diving exercises in the school's pool. While everyone was slightly
puzzled by this, most merely forgot about it as he began doing what he
called "simple gymnastics."
At lunch, Ranma found himself sitting against a tree enjoying his prepared
bento, as he faced off with the entire school. Ranma mostly was enjoying
his meal, but whenever he glanced up, he would witness a small group or two
trying to work up the courage to approach him. Silently he just wished
someone would just come over already.
His prayers were answered as Usagi, Makoto, Minako, and Ami all walked over
him and asked if they could join him. Ranma merely nodded and enjoyed the
fact that finally a few people would realize that he wouldn't bite.
The conversation was light, talking about his new living arrangements, and
a discussion about Mamoru. Unlike his time at Furikan, it could actually
be considered something close to a "normal" lunch. As lunch dispersed,
Ranma's eyes caught the bully he had saved Umino from earlier. He was
obviously taking to his friends, and while Ranma might be dense when it
comes to many things, the gestures and constant gestures at him were too
obvious even to him. Ranma knew to expect a fight later.
As he got up, he noticed Makoto following his eyes.
"He's probably going to try and get a group to jump you Ranma." Makoto
made the statement in a matter of fact tone.
Ranma nodded. "It's a shame I made that promise to the principle about not
starting fights. How many people do you think he'll muster together?"
"Depends Ranma," she said as she thought about her time here. "I only
fought him and a couple others. But you know how boys are. Very few of
them would actually think about attacking a girl. You're a guy though, and
apparently a legend. You want a hand when it starts?"
Ranma shook his head. "No, but get someone to get the principle outside
quickly. Hopefully, I can end this without putting too many in the
hospital."
Makoto stared at her long lost friend incredulously. "Ranma, he might
easily get like 12 or more people together. You can't seriously think you
can fight that many all at once?"
Ranma smirked. "Only twelve? I think I can handle that."
Makoto looked at her friend smiled. She didn't know which idea was
crazier; the one that Ranma thought he could fight 12 or more people all at
once, or the one that she actually believed him.
Through the next three periods, whispers told of a big fight after school
involving the new kid. Rumors of his fighting prowess enticed most of the
ruffians, so that when Ranma strolled outside there were almost 30 boys
waiting for him. The entire school also was giving a wide birth and a few
prayers to the sacrificial lamb that answered to the name "Ranma Saotome."
Umino also was getting a lesson on how to run a proper betting pool from a
young woman who figured she might as well grab the yen that was available
today. So Nabiki was running a betting pool, and teaching Umino how to run
future pools for a nominal fee.
Ranma stood at the steps to the school's entrance, watching the large group
of boys before him. Focusing entirely on the fight, he didn't notice
Nabiki. He heard Makoto draw up next to him.
"You tell the principle about the fight?" Ranma asked without averting his
gaze from the threat before him.
"Yup, he already knew though. He said he'd see what he could do, though he
doubted he could stop it. I told him you thought you might be able to stop
the fighting at school. Apparently he seems to believe you." Makoto said,
although even she couldn't understand why he might think so. Had she seen
the report the school already had on Ranma, it might have been a different
story.
"Well, I still can't fight them unless they attack me, and if the principle
shows up, I have to at least make an attempt to avoid attacking," Ranma
said with a shrug. "Might as well do this already. Stay here."
Makoto's jaw hit the floor. "You can't actually expect me to let you go
fight 30 men, can you?"
"Mako-chan," Ranma said as he looked at his friend. "Trust me."
Ranma quickly walked towards the crowd and stood with his hands in his
pockets.
"If you're going to try and attack me, you might as well get it over with.
I won't be running, though I won't be throwing a punch or kick back until I
get permission." He said with a gesture towards the few the teachers who
were watching, but unable to intervene.
The teachers knew about the fight. Normally, like any other school, they
would intervene before a fight could start. However they were given
specific instructions not to today. So while many were nervous for the
sake of their students, they continued to stare on as mere spectators.
They all hoped the principal was correct about this boy.
"So, your not going to fight us until you get permission?" the head bully
asked.
Ranma merely nodded, while putting his hands in his pockets and turning his
back to his opponent. "Whenever you're ready?"
It was more than the bully who rallied these troops could handle. With a
roar, he and his followers charged.
The head bully came in with the first punch.
"Sorry about this," Ranma said with a wry grin on his face
Ranma merely grabbed his opponents arm to parry it, then focused on the
other boys that were about to attack him. Timing it perfectly, he spun the
boy around just as three others committed their attacks. Unfortunately,
they found their leader where their attacks intended to land.
The fight continued that was for a few minutes. Ranma would single someone
out, evade their attack, and force them to be in just the wrong position
when someone else attacked.
Mutually disengaging, Ranma and his now smaller mob of opponents decided
round 2 was in order.
Looking at the principle, he finally saw him nod and Ranma jumped into the
air over towards the school's doors.
"Can I fight back now?" Ranma said, smiling as the group had reorganized
and waited for round two to begin. Most onlookers were standing with mouth
agape at the single boy who had managed to avoid so many attacks.
The principle pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. "Let me get a couple
nurses out here. Try not to hurt them too much Ranma. And save their
ringleader. He and I need to have a small talk." Immediately he dialed up
the school's front desk so that he could have his secretary summon the
nurses outside. The principle was not going to miss this fight if he could
help it.
"Gotcha teach." Ranma was smiling as he cracked his knuckles. As he took
a step towards the crowd they braced themselves. He noticed the bully,
whose name he still didn't even know seemed scared. "Mako-chan, make sure
their courageous leader doesn't run. Do whatever you have to."
Makoto smiled. Ranma might be crazy, but she knew she was definitely going
to enjoy having him around. She focused in on the ringleader in case he
tried to run.
"Time me!" he shouted as he charged the group en masse.
44 seconds later the battle was concluded with everyone except the
ringleader knocked out or fleeing.
"I warned you about bullying, didn't I?" Ranma said as he started
approaching the terrified man before him. The still unnamed bully stood
like a deer in headlights, too scared to run away. Ranma stalked towards
him with a snarl, purposely playing the part of the predator. Finally,
when Ranma was within striking distance, he reared back his hand, cocking
his arm as he prepared to strike.
"If I were you, I'd run." Ranma said trying to sound as menacing as he
could.
The bully merely nodded as adrenaline took over and he turned and sprinted
off, only to have his face meet the foot of Makoto Kino. Picking the now
unconscious victim by the back of the shirt, she began dragging him towards
the principal, pausing only to smile at Ranma.
"Ranma, if he was you, he'd be good looking" she said as she laughed.
Ranma grabbed the man's legs, while his friend grabbed the arms and they
quickly deposited their victim at the principal's feet. (a/n: 5 points if
you know the last paraphrased reference)
"Special delivery Principal." Ranma said with as straight a face as he
could hold. "Can I go now?"
The principal nodded, dismissing Ranma while he (the principal) dragged the
troublemaker inside for a private discussion. Ranma turned towards the
gates, pausing only address Makoto.
"I told you, you should trust me." As she nodded he continued. "You doing
anything now? I could still use a hand learning the area."
Quickly nodding, she forgot about the crowd around her, only as they were
about to leave, did she notice they still had an audience. "What about
them though?" she said, simply pointing out at the crowd of onlookers still
gathered on the school lawn.
Looking around, Ranma saw that indeed, most of the school was looking
around wondering what was going to happen next. He was about to speak when
he suddenly felt another presence on his arm.
"Show's over folks! Go about your business! And remember, fighting people
will only getting yourself hurt." The shout came from his newest escort.
Makoto held a hand to her forehead as Ranma finally looked to see who was
latched on.
Ranma turned his head to Makoto as he blushed due to a woman holding his
arm and nuzzling into him. "Is she always like this?" he said, pleading
almost for help.
"Only if Minako likes you, and it looks like she definitely likes you."
Makoto said as she sighed again at her friend's forwardness. Ranma merely
shrugged and realized the futility of it all. He walked out of the school
with the blond growth still attached wondering how the hell he got into
these situations. Makoto merely followed, trying to remind Minako every
now and then that Ranma had multiple fiancées already. "A shame too about
your fiancées," she murmured under her breath. "Because he is definitely
better than any of my old boyfriends."
Had he been paying more attention, Ranma might have noticed Nabiki still
dressed as a photographer from this morning, once again looking at her
shots from the fight as well as counting her winnings and fees from Umino.
"Ranma, you are making this too easy." Nabiki whispered to no one in
particular.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Juuban area, a couple was enjoying their time
in a café with their precious child. Michiru held Hotaru in one arm as she
gingerly reached for her tea. Across the table, Haruka was reclining
against the padding the booth provided, taking in the picture of her lover,
and child.
To onlookers who weren't paying much attention, it was a perfect tableau of
a young couple and their child.
"Maternity seems well suited to you." Haruka said with a wry smile. To
onlookers, it appeared just another young, although very attractive couple
in a café with their newborn.
"And I think you appear to be a very proud father" Michiru said in between
sips. "Not what you expected a year ago is it?"
Setting her cup down, she felt her lover's hand cup it into her own.
Michiru met Haruka's eyes. A year ago had caused huge changes in both of
their lives. Haruka, who was a track star, and dreamed of being a
professional race care driver, gave it all up to try and save the world
from destruction. Michiru, gentle and sensual, took on a mantle of
bloodshed and gore in order to do the same. Scars ran deep as they shared
a glance at each other. Both had nearly died seeking the talismans needed
to summon forth the sacred cup.
A small laugh from Hotaru broke the moment for a second, as both looked to
see what their child needed. She too was nearly a scar onto both of their
souls. Multiple times they had tried to kill the girl they now considered
their own. Truth be told, had they killed her, they probably would of
saved the world, but at the cost of one girls life. Instead, Sailor Moon
had chosen to risk the entire planet so that no one needed to die. In the
final battle with Pharaoh 90, by numerous turns of fate, the scouts had
emerged triumphant from the battle. The only true price paid was that of
Hotaru Tomoe, Sailor Saturn. She selflessly destroyed Pharaoh 90 at the
cost of her own life, and only because of Sailor Moon, was she able to be
returned to Earth, reborn again as a baby.
"Any regrets?" Michiru asked.
"Many" Haruka answered honestly. "But I wouldn't change how we reacted.
We were lucky. We could have just as easily all been killed."
"How do you think they do it, with such optimism?" Michiru wondered aloud.
"The girls? It's because of Usagi. She lets them see the good in
everyone." Haruka answered after a moment, taking a moment to tickle her
adopted daughter across the table, before again getting serious. "Even the
good in us."
"And she has power to back it up, when she has to," came a new voice.
Setsuna walked up to the table, and noticed that Michiru moved over to make
room for her. She shook her head however, since she was only going to be a
minute.
Setsuna, Sailor Pluto, who had sided with Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune,
in an attempt to destroy Sailor Saturn, she too bore scars from the battle.
Technically, she should be dead at the moment, having used magic that was
taboo even for her. Somehow, even unbeknownst to her, she had survived the
helicopter explosion. She awoke in a hospital, in her daily clothes,
untransformed, three days later.
(A/N - I know this is non-cannon with Setsuna, however, I get sick and
tired of trying to juggle all her paradoxes, so its easier to just have her
survive. I claim artistic license)
Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna all took stock of each other. While Setsuna
did visit with the two senshi, given the recent demon attacks, and news
from Rei, it was unlikely that whatever news she brought was actually good.
"I need to see you two tonight." She said calmly. "It's not something we
can talk about here."
"Is it about the girl? The one Rei saw?" Haruka asked. Setsuna nodded,
as she turned a smile at Hotaru before excusing herself. As she left both
women looked at each other.
"It looks like the vacation is going to be officially over again. Duty
calls." Michiru said as the two finished there tea without saying anything
else.
Outside the café, two girls were escorting a pig-tailed martial artist
around the high points of Juuban. Minako had lost her hold Ranma's arm,
but she still managed to place herself close enough to appear to most
onlookers as a girlfriend.
Meanwhile in the district of Nerima, in the restaurant known as the Cat
Café, a war council was taking place.
"Grandmother, Ranma wasn't at school today. And I heard he won't be
attending school there anymore either," Xian Pu stated in her native
tongue.
"Interesting, perhaps he's finally solving some of our problems then" Khu
Lon stated as Shampoo looked at her questioningly. "With fewer people to
interfere, it should be much easier to convince him to come back to China."
"Aiya!" Shampoo responded in her bubbly joy as her great grandmother
continued.
"So where did he move to?"
This stopped the young Amazon in her tracks. Before she can even answer
that she didn't know she feels the thump on her head from the elder's cane.
"We can't do anything until we find this out. Make it your top priority
grand-daughter"
Shampoo nodded as she rubbed her head.
In the next room, another Amazon began to formulate plans having overheard
the conversation
"So the cur is gone," he said with smile. "Xian Pu, with him out of the
way, I'll prove myself to you. All I have to do is make sure you never
find him."
Elsewhere, within the same Nerima district, but at a different restaurant,
another young woman was making plans as well.
"So my Ran-chan has finally left the Tendos," she said with a contented
sigh as she poured fresh batter on her grill. "This means the playing field
is a little more level. With him not living there, we can all get equal
shots at him. And when he realizes how good he has it with me-"
Ukyou Kounji would continue the thought, but dreams of Ranma sweeping her
off her feet took her mind out of reality for the next few minutes as she
continued making okinomiyaki on autopilot. When she looked at her food she
just finished, she smiled at the sauce Kanji on it."
"Yup, 'Ranma and Ukyou' indeed." She said as she sat down to eat. "Now,
how do I track him down?"
Meanwhile (noticing a theme here?), at the Tendo household
"So Saotome, how do you propose we get our children together?" asked Soun
Tendo as he sat outside his home meditating with his lifelong friend, and
training partner Genma Saotome.
"I don't know. Despite my charm, why wife refuses to divulge the whelp's
new address. Until we can track him down, we can only work on making Akane
realize how much she cares."
Both were nodding as a scream of anger came from the dojo. Where Akane
Tendo was still working off anger from finding out Ryoga was P-chan, and
that Ranma didn't tell her.
"Ranma, I hate you!" She yelled as she punched the Ranma-esque looking
practice dummy holding a stuffed piglet doll.
Seeing the dummy crash through the doors of the dojo and land near the koi
pond, both fathers nervously pondered the situation.
"Well, maybe we'll let her cool down some first," Genma said, as Soun
vigorously nodded.
The fourth of Ranma's suitors, was fortunately, still in the psychiatric
ward, pondering the same question she had come up with since just before
her arrival.
"Ranma or the Tuxedo masked man" she said in a drugged up state with a
small amount of drool escaping her lips. The doctors had agreed on how
dangerous she was, and until they could figure out how to cure her of her
fixations, for everyone's safety, she had to be kept in a semi-comatose
state. The problem they discovered had been how tolerant her body was to
drugs, that they had to give her twice the normal dosage.
Having covered all the suitors, we now return to our action back within the
Juuban district.
Nabiki was easily keeping up with her targets, snapping pictures she could
use for blackmail, or to sell to the enamored girls. After a while, two
more girls had joined up with her quarry. And, as her notes she had taken
stated, the one with shorter hair was named Ami, while the other who wore a
school uniform different than the others, was named Rei.
Having used up her only roll of film save for a final shot, she decided now
as good a time as any to accomplish the actual goal. Ranma was seated
with the four girls who were enjoying some ice cream while they waited for
one final friend to show up.
"Smile everyone!" she said as she took a picture of everyone looking at the
camera pleasantly, except Ranma who was apparently scared.
"Na- Nabiki!" Ranma said, shocked to find her here. "What are you doing
here?"
"Oh, not much Saotome." She said with a shrug as she holstered her camera.
"Just thought I'd check up on my sister's fiancée. Maybe make a few yen in
the process.
With the mention of yen, a predatory gleam showed in Nabiki's eyes. "Just
imagine what she would say if she saw you here with 4 attractive women. Or
for that matter, imagine what Shampoo or Ukyou would do, for that matter."
Ranma cringed, while the girls quickly formulated opinions of the
blackmailer before them. Minako and Makoto were both ready to physically
denounce this threat, while Rei was angry, but not sure what she should do.
Ami was obviously disturbed, and looked at Nabiki while she waited for
this to play out.
It was merely a whisper, but it brought all attention back to Ranma. "What
do you want Nabiki?"
Nabiki had him. She knew how easy it was to get manipulate Ranma. She
grinned, as she knew she had the upper hand.
"What do you think I want Ranma," she answered, allowing him more time to
panic.
"How much?" It came from sounding hollow. Ranma knew if Nabiki gave the
wrong info to any of his fiancée's, these girls wouldn't stand a chance in
a fight. Nabiki had him, and he knew it.
"Oh, I don't know. How about instead I get your address? It will make
doing business so much easier." She said nonchalantly. "Or I could always
just show Shampoo some lovely pictures of your carrying Makoto out from the
park. Or pictures I took of Minako hanging onto your arm outside school.
My, there's a wealth of pictures on this roll of film I could use."
Ranma was white with fear. While Ranma wasn't a rocket scientist, it
didn't take much of one to know that Shampoo's "Obstacles are for killing"
philosophy and Nabiki's photos would cause countless problems for his new
friends. As he was about to answer it was actually Ami who spoke up.
"You're name is Nabiki is it?" she asked simply. Nabiki appraised the new
girl in front of her before nodding. Ami was noticeably nervous, and
passed for what Nabiki would classify as a "mark."
"Well, Nabiki, I think you should reconsider attempting to blackmail Ranma
here," She stated. "After all, it seems obvious that Ranma doesn't want
you to sell this information."
Nabiki shrugged. "Like I actually care how Ranma feels about this. He
won't hit me. So he can't threaten me. And anyone who knows me knows they
don't want me to have a bad opinion of them." Nabiki gave Ami a stare to
imply that she could pull influence if she needed to. Ami merely returned
the stare however.
"Well then, we seem to have a problem then." It was Makoto who spoke up.
Nabiki turned her attention to her newest opposition, wondering what she
could possibly do.
"I don't know you Nabiki, and frankly, I don't care what you can do." She
said as she grabbed the camera away from Nabiki, and opened it up exposing
Nabiki's entire roll of film.
"You'll regret that," was all Nabiki said as her eyes betrayed for a brief
moment how shock she was someone stood up to her.
"Maybe, but your no better then a bully. And I hate bullies." Makoto said
as she stood up and cracked her knuckles. "By the way, I will hit you, so I
can threaten you. Ok?"
Makoto smiled as she saw Nabiki actually pale for a moment before
recollecting herself. Somehow she had lost control of the situation.
Looking around the table she noticed that Ranma's friends were shocked by
Makoto's reaction but weren't making a move to stop her. She did notice
her ace in a hole though as she grabbed a glass of water off the table.
"Ranma, call her off if you know what's good for you." Nabiki hurriedly
stated. "Or do they know about your 'other' secret."
This caused a standoff, as everyone wondered what secret Ranma might have,
but at the same time, hoping they could still beat Nabiki at this
confrontation.
"Ranma "came the voice of Rei from across the table. "We're friends
right?"
Ranma looked at her, and nodded, thinking about the night they met.
"Then whatever secrets you have don't matter. We'll still be friends. I
want you to know that." She said as she reached across the table as
squeezed his hand. "If you want to tell me later, or not, I won't mind
either way."
Looking around the table, he witnessed as his new friends nodded their
similar opinions. It was a gamble he knew, but he finally made up his mind
and turned to Nabiki.
"Do it Nabiki. I don't want them to know yet, but if your going to force
it. Go ahead." He was putting up a good front, but he was pleading with
his eyes. He was scared. Nabiki was reading him like a book. Finally he
couldn't plead anymore and he merely closed his eyes waiting for the
inevitable.
"I hope you'll still be my friends after this." Ranma said quietly as his
friends quietly waited.
The girls all looked at Nabiki waiting for her to do whatever she was going
to do. She knew that what she was about to do would ruin Ranma's chances
at making friends here. It would also accomplish nothing other than making
him feel horrible, and resenting her. Ranma was an easy mark, but there
were times where they were still friends. Nabiki wondered for a moment
whether it was truly worth what she had threatened to do.
"Damn you Ranma, you're no fun today. There's nothing to profit from
this." Nabiki said as she set the glass down and turned away, leaving the
shop. What had promised to be a great day, turned out to be a wasted one
after all?
"Damn, pity, from the Ice Queen." she jokingly said to herself while no one
was around. "I must be losing my touch."
Despite everything, she smiled to herself for doing the right thing as she
continued her way home.
Authors Notes.
This chapter originally ended with the fight at School. But I felt it
needed something more. It had been forever since we visited the Ranma
Cast, and I felt that they should be addressed, rather then holding them
off for too much longer. Added to that, comes the obvious question of
where everyone will go to find answers. Nabiki obviously, by the end of
this chapter doesn't have that answer. And her blackmail is gone to get
it.
A friend of mine once wrote -
"Writing a good story is like making a good stew. Anyone can throw in the
meat and vegetables, but making the a good broth in between all the good
bits of meat is the true masterpiece"
That's my biggest worry with this story.
Nabiki- I like Nabiki as a character. She, in my opinion, will do whatever
it takes to get money out of a person. But I don't see her as someone who
will ruin another person's day without getting something in return. And
despite how materialistic she is, I don't see her as being so petty as to
do something merely for revenge. Revenge plus perks yes, but not just
revenge. It would be bad business. Some might say this is ooc, but I
would beg to differ.
Comments and Criticisms always welcome. Still no pre-reader, no one loves
me that much. So I'm doing the best I can with spell check, and reading it
over etc. My apologies for grammer/spelling mistakes.
Next Chapter - Demons.. Oh Demons!
Spatulawielder
Email - tharpi@lycos.com
Aol - spatulaweilder (yes, its misspelled, someone beat me to original
spelling)
