Ranma and Co. is Copyright Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan, Inc. 1993 Ranma ½ is a trademark of Viz Communications, Inc.
Author's Notes: I took the time to revamp the prologue and first chapter bits into something more cohesive, and posted it as a proper prologue, while adding in a bit of relevant information. Following this, the remainder of what I've posted as chapters 1-3 will be reposted as chapter one, with minor edits and a proper, non-cliffhanging conclusion. I do apologize for the possible inconvenience this might have caused, but I feel that in the long run it will work for the betterment of the fic as a whole. Also, this way, reviews will not be wholly affected, minus the few that were removed due to the previous story deletion; rest assured that I have taken all former suggestions that I recieved into account, and have done my best to reflect them in the rewrite and edits done to the completed first chapter. As always, I'm open to suggestions and ideas pertaining to this and any other work I may be writing. Thanks for your time, and I appreciate everyone's input, regardless if it be positive or negative. After all, isn't that what constructive criticism is all about? I forever strive to improve, and learn from my mistakes as a writer.
Now, without further ado, onto the story.
Frost
A Prologue
I'm not sure how long I stood at the window of my apartment, looking down at the people milling about on the streets below. I must have been staring for a while because everything started to blur. I realized my eyes were watering. Sometimes, on days like this, I get to thinking, the big "what if." Know what I mean? Say I'd just handled things a little differently. Been a little more, I don't know, understanding or something.
Out in the distance, a flash of light heralded the coming rain. I'd paid the morning news little attention; course the bit about thunderstorms and heavy showers caught my eye. Which, naturally, was just what I needed. Right now I don't particularly feel in the mood for water. I'd already had my fill of people watching for one afternoon, so I slid the window shut with a little more force than necessary.
Giving the place a once over in the ambient lighting, I hardly felt at ease. There was this niggling feeling in the back of my head, maybe from the storm. Kinda like I'd forgotten to do something today.
The annoying sensation had been plaguing me on and off since I woke up this morning. An itch that I couldn't scratch and it kept getting worse by the hour. The cramped conditions where I live don't help matters much; there wasn't even anything to look at. I can pace out the room in a few strides, and the small kitchen and bathroom aren't any bigger. Rent is cheap though, so who am I to complain.
I'd already eaten a pretty big lunch, and dinner was still a few hours away. What I wanted to do was go out and walk off my anxiety. Unfortunately, it was going to start raining any minute now. I wouldn't be caught out in that weather for anything in the world. Not now, with things standing as they are.
There's an old saying I've heard a few times in my travels over the years. It went somewhat like, "Speak of the devil, and he appears." Even after all the things I've seen, and done, those words stay with me. Now was certainly no more apt a time than any other. As the first drops of water struck my window I silently mouthed those words to myself. It wasn't just the rain, nor was it the constant niggling in my head. It was life in general right now. Things had grown so out of proportion that I wanted to crawl over to the bed, and just let everything pass me by.
Sleep, the cure all for my problems. I'm sure I can think of a dozen more permanent ways to fix things. It wouldn't be too hard to just walk right into their hands, and let them take care of the rest. Most of the girls would have me right where they wanted me, one way or another, that would be the end of me. 'Just give up and go back home,' I can hear myself thinking.
Honestly, what kind of fool do they take me for? I didn't get out of that place just to sign my death certificate by going back. Sometimes, just sometimes mind you, life can be a real kick in the pants.
Ten minutes in a hot shower does wonders for a person. Already I was feeling some of the days stress lift. A quick glance at my watch informed me that it was almost 'that time' again. If someone told me a year ago that I would be a slave to the clock, I probably would have given them a clueless smirk, denied it, and never thought of it again. Now, I know better. If there is anything I hate more than rain, it's the ticking of a watch.
Tossing on whatever random clothes I could find, I mentally prepared myself for what lay ahead. Gritting my teeth, I walked over to the heavy-duty freezer in the corner and flipped the latch. Every time I open the damn thing I tell myself that it's going to be the last time. But, a promise is a promise, and I don't go back on my word. Staring into the rising mist, I couldn't help but smirk a little. Nabiki looked better frozen than most people ever look their entire lives.
--
It's not enough that I have trouble sleeping, but sometimes she gets…well, a little controlling. She says she wants it over in one place, and the next minute, it has to be somewhere else. For a while it was getting ridiculously monotonous, "It's more comfortable over by the window Ranma. It's better in the kitchen. Maybe next to the bathroom would be nicer." She could go on for hours, and I'd be sore the whole night. When it came down to it, there wasn't much of an option though. If she wanted the damned icebox moved around who was I to argue? Honestly, I can't remember the last time I'd denied her something.
Rubbing my eyes, I stopped reminiscing long enough to glance at the clock mounted on the wall next to the kitchen. Another hour was all I had to wait. Then, I would finally be able to get to work. I swore over Nabiki's dying breath that she would be revenged. The bastards would pay, and I was ready to collect, just one more hour. One single hour and the day would give way to night, and I could get started.
Some people fuss over the details, while others worry about the consequences. As for myself, I consider the whole thing. Sure, there are times when I've made mistakes, last week standing out in my mind, but mostly I end up on top. The thing with Nabiki was a mistake. While I am the best at what I do, I am still just a guy. I had a job to do and I botched it. Even then, I wasn't the one who felt the aftershock. I tried to save her, and when it counted most, I failed. One of the most important things in my so called life, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. But, just maybe I could try to fix it. Some of it. I owed it to her, and to myself to try.
Back then, and even now, I couldn't lie to her, and I try hard not to lie to myself. I can't bring her back. This wasn't like the old days, back when I was still living with the rest of her family, with Akane. No, there was no water of life here, and the gods certainly hadn't heard my prayers. Shit. Her life was worth so much more than what she'd paid for it, a half finished thing, and her death seemed like such a cheap shot, a stupid fucking joke. But I could make it very expensive for those that took her. She likes that sort of thing…economics and profit. Me, I do my job and go. There isn't time for a whole lot of deep thinking in what I do; more than enough time for that after I die. Plenty of time then.
Of course, she had to die and screw everything up. "That right Ice Queen? Just leave everything for me to clean up, like before," I gave the freezer a little pat. "Don't worry, I'll settle this last debt for you. Just this once. Maybe we'll be even then," I stared hard at the little label on the corner of the humming cooling unit, in green embossed letters it read, 'Little Helper,' I rolled my eyes at the stupid irony. The fridge hadn't been cheap, let me tell you. But, it did its job. Nabiki was safe, for now.
The hour crawled by, but I endured, just like always.
Pushing a hand through my bangs, I heaved a sigh. The rain had finally let up about thirty minutes ago, and I took another look out the window. A little overcast still, but I could see the clouds were clearing up a bit down toward the end of the street. Overhead the moon peeked over the top of the Mishima building, waxing full. Already it was beginning to bath the city in a sad yellow glow; a more suitable night couldn't be prayed for.
Snagging my coat and keys from the little blue stand next to the couch, I gave the place a once over. Not that there was much to look at, and even less to mess up. But, living with Nabs for the short few months we'd had together, well, let's just say a few of her habits rubbed off. Yeah, neither of us were exactly neat-freaks, not when you got down to it. But, she had a few obsessive traits; little things like what dishes had to go in what cupboard, the exact number of magazines allowed on the table, you know, that kinda thing. And she always checked the lock on the door whenever she left the apartment, twice, just to be sure.
I think that's the one that got me the most. I mean, if you knew you'd turned the key, and heard the bolt slide home, what made a person get to the end of the hall, and run back, just to unlock and relock the door a second time? Beats me, but she got me to doing it too, and it bugged the crap outta me, still does. I know, since I'm good at remembering that kind of small detail. I'm also real good at developing muscle memory reactions. Ingrained habits are hard to break, especially for a martial artist like myself.
Well, truth be told I was a little nervous, but also ready as I'd ever be. I gave Nabiki's fridge a little pat as I passed by to pick up mom's sword. Well, it was technically my blade now since I was the one using it, but don't tell mom that. Or pops. The two of them weren't on talking terms with neither me, nor each other last I saw, not since I left the Tendous with Nabiki in tow.
Speaking of pops, the man still had a lot to answer for, and I intended to collect, but that would come later. He wasn't going anywhere, and even if he did, I'd find him eventually. For a sneaky thieving bastard, he sure left wide trails to follow, assuming one was actually attempting to look for him. I know mom never did, just left him to his own devices to ruin my life several times over. But, it would all catch up to him in the end. Every last little scheme, misdeed and torture he'd inflicted on me, all in the name of the Art. I'd sworn to it the same day I'd taken the Saotome honor blade away from my own mother.
Honor huh, those two wouldn't know it if it bit them in their lazy, self-deluded asses.
Satisfied that I'd got everything, I threw on my coat and slipped the katana scabbard into a loop that I'd sewn into the inside lining of the long trench coat. That way, I'd look just like any other salary man wandering the streets on his way to the bar after a hard day's work. I said goodbye to Nabiki and locked up, checking it again so I could save myself a trip.
By the time I made it down the mansion's first flight of steps, I already found myself wondering if I'd locked the thrice damned door. Crap. It was gonna be a long night, I could already tell.
Even without the rain, it was still downright cold outside, and I was grateful for the warmth the long coat provided. The roads were packed and the sidewalks weren't much better, what with everyone getting off work an all. But, this way, I was even more invisible than if I'd been using the Umisenken, I was just another face in the crowd, trying to make it to the train station on time to head home. The thought worked wonders for distracting my mind from the stress and mild anxiety that had been fluttering around in my gut all damn day.
Luckily for me, I didn't actually need to use the rail, since Nabiki had somehow managed to get a decent price on an apartment not too far from Kabuki-cho, which incidentally, was where I was headed. Gods, how much I hated the rail system, as timely and convenient as it was, the damn line maps were a nightmare to figure out, and a couple of times I'd gotten on the wrong rail line when Nabiki wasn't there to point me in the right direction. Small wonder pops and I never rode the rails during the training trip all those years ago.
Well, not inside the train, anyway. Back then, I'd thought he was just being cheap, but now I'd come to realize he probably could never figure out how to get anywhere. Pops never was very good with maps, or directions…hell, anything outside of martial arts was lost on him, unless he could bluff, lie or cheat his way through it. All the more reason why I'd cut ties with the fat lazy panda. The Tendou's could keep him for all I cared, until I was done.
I walked a couple more blocks and finally reached the outskirts of the little district that Nabiki had given me directions for not a handful of days before. I'd only heard about it in passing, mostly from old friends of pops, but Nabiki had been a little more specific about what went on behind the flashing lights and bars of Kabuki-cho, and more importantly, a certain group in who she'd managed, in a roundabout way, to step on some toes. And, incidentally, the reason I'd been dragged into this whole mess in the first place. But, I'd learned the hard way not to cry over spilt milk. All you could do was clean up the mess and move on. So, I was going to do just that.