The soft whistle of wind mingled with the deep breathing of exhaustion.
"Ranma! Ryouga! Would you two please stop this stupid fighting!? One of you is going to get seriously hurt."
"Can't do that Akane. This has been a long time coming and one of us is going to walk away from this the winner."
"That's right Akane. I'm sorry but we have to do this."
"You....you stupid IDIOTS!!! Both of you are so stupid! You don't have to fight! Stop it right now!"
The crackle of released energy.
"SHI SHI HOUKOUDAN!!!!"
And again.
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!!"
An explosion.
"RANMAAAAA!!!! RYOOOOOUGAAAAA!!!!"
Silence. Forever.
Pains of the Past
By Johnny O'Brien
Part Three
To say Nabiki was not a morning person was one of the largest understatements ever made. That was like saying Einstein knew a few things about Physics, Jusenkyou wasn't the best summer vacation spot and Happosai had the occasional perverted thought. To put it simply in Nabiki's spectrum of love and hate money was on the positive end and mornings were on the negative. If she had her way she would never get up in the mornings but as there was money to be made then, she forced herself up and into the bathroom. After a quick scrubbing she doused herself with a bucketful of cold water and then moved immersing herself into the warm, relaxing waters of the bath.
She sighed to herself and relaxed as her mind began to fully wake up and run through her list for the day. Check the stock market. Buy or sell as see fit. Contact primary sources for the day and learn any tips. Get ready for work. Wait. She remembered she didn't have work today and she also remembered why. Her face turned from its normal cold to sub-arctic. She and what was left of her family were going to visit Akane's grave today. It was the anniversary of her death. No. It wasn't a death, it had been a murder.
Oh how she remembered that day and the hate she felt. The hate she still felt at Akane's murderer. The one she vowed revenge upon and to this day had still been unable to enact it. She sighed to herself and rose out of the tub walking over to the mirror. She grabbed a towel on the way and dried her hair before beginning to work on her body. She paused to regard herself in the mirror. Her hair she had kept chin length as always; her face older but no less beautiful. She had aged very well actually.
She was Nabiki Tendo, 24 year old CEO of Nabiki Tendo Inc. and one of the wealthiest women in Japan. Under the front of her legitimate companies she also had several, not-so-legitimate companies and was a highly regarded, and seldom talked about, member of the third most powerful yakuza family in Japan. Her "husband" was the fourth son of the father of that crime family and was much like Kuno, in that he was rich, big on honor, and incredibly stupid. She had easily seduced him, married into the family and quickly usurped all his duties. That's what she was good at and she knew it. Making money and manipulating people into doing what she wanted. She suddenly scowled at herself.
"Yeah you're Little Miss Powerful. You are the woman who can have anything happen. You couldn't keep Akane from dying though could you!? You didn't even know it was happening. You! You who pride yourself on knowing everything...didn't know! You should have seen it coming! You should have helped her resolve the situation between those two buffoons, but you didn't. You just kept it going so you could make money off it. Well you got your wish because now you're making all the money you could ever want. One day....one day I'll be able to get revenge on you....you murderer." Nabiki said to her reflection, her voice ice cold.
She turned away from the mirror to finish drying herself off and let out a long sigh. She would at least get to see Kasumi and Father and her little nephews again today. She moved off out of the bathroom after a few minutes and into her walk in closet to get dressed wondering to herself if her father was any better than three months ago. Probably not; he was another person she couldn't help. Another person she couldn't save. All her money and influence worth absolutely nothing. She knew she could do almost anything with what she had but it didn't matter. She couldn't do what she really wanted to. She couldn't bring her sister back from the dead or bring her father out of his coma.
She frowned to herself hearing her husband stirring in the bedroom. She really didn't want to deal with his idiotic rambling today of all days. She slipped into her high-heeled shoes and moved into the bedroom. Her husband, Katsuhiko, looked up from the bed where he lay sprawled out.
"Nabiki? You're up early?" Katsuhiko said and rolled over onto his back with a sigh.
"My but we're observant today. I'll be gone all day and possibly into tomorrow. It is personal business and I would appreciate it if you left me alone to take care of it. I'll talk to you later." Nabiki said stopping only to pick up her purse from beside the dresser, before turning and heading out of the bedroom. Katsuhiko blinked a few times, shrugged and then relaxed to let sleep take him again. No reason he couldn't sleep in since Nabiki was going to be gone. He paused for the moment thinking about what she could be doing today but figured if she wanted him to know she'd tell him later. No since in poking around and possibly getting into trouble with her.
The door to her private limo was opened for her by a big muscled foreign fellow with curly blonde hair and wearing a tasteful black suit and mirrored sunglasses. She sat down and turned picking up a phone from in front of her as her driver got in and started the car. The driver also picked up a phone and talked into it, his voice coming through the phone in Nabiki's hand.
"Where to Miss Tendo?" the driver asked. Nabiki paused a moment and pulled her wallet from her purse. She opened it and looked at the first picture held in it....of Akane. She smiled a little sadly and sighed.
"Take me home Frank. Take me home." Nabiki said putting the wallet away.
"Home? Umm...you are home Miss Tendo.", Frank said a little confused.
"No Frank. Not this home, my real home." Nabiki said calmly.
"Oh. Of course Miss Tendo." Frank said and pulled the car out of its spot and onto the street heading for the main highways of Tokyo and towards the Nerima ward.
The rain had let up by morning and by the time the sun was halfway in its ascent towards its noon position, Ranma and company had already eaten breakfast and were out walking the streets of Nerima. They decided as the family wasn't going to visit for another couple of hours, they'd do a little revisiting and also pick up the flowers before they headed off. Genma and Nodoka had decided to go and see their old home before meeting up with the children later. It was currently just Ranma, Ryouga and Ukyou walking the streets of Nerima. They didn't talk too much and when they did it was about memories they all shared.
They were walking through the market district and drawing a few glances from some of the people who lived there five years ago. They all pretended not to notice the looks though. Ranma walked, hands in his pockets to Ryouga's left. Ryouga walked, slightly hunched over from the weight of his pack and umbrella, in between Ranma and Ukyou, mostly to keep himself from getting lost. Ukyou was without her mega-spatula, opting to wear her bandolier of throwing spatulas instead so as to not draw a lot of attention. The three walked at a steady pace along the sidewalks when something across the street caught there eyes. They all stopped and turned and stared at the building across the street from them. It was the Nekohanten and it was open for business.
"Ranma? Do you see what I see?" Ryouga asked blinking.
"If you see the Nekohanten then yes, I do." Ranma responded.
"I thought Cologne closed it down when she left with Shampoo and Mousse." Ukyou commented curious to go inside and see what was up.
"So did I Ucchan." Ranma said.
"Maybe this means they're back. You guys...want to go have a look?" Ryouga asked glancing to Ranma and Ukyou.
"If you two want too. I don't mind." Ranma said a little nervously.
"Well I for one want to find out what's going on. Come on you two." Ukyou said and darted across the street. Ranma shrugged and grabbed Ryouga's arm darting across the street after Ukyou pulling the lost boy along with him. All three paused at the entrance and then walked in one by one. They once again stopped inside and moved to stand side by side, Ukyou out front with Ranma to her left and Ryouga to her right, both boys a little behind her.
The restaurant was bustling with activity for this time of day. A level of pleasant conversation drifted about the room. The place was very similar to what it had been five years ago. Not much of was changed except for the odd decorative vase and the arrangement of some of the tables.
"Nihau! Welcome to the Nekohanten. May I help you? Would you like a table?" a cute bouncy young voice called out to their left. They all started and turned to look, expecting to see Shampoo standing there. She wasn't. It was a Chinese girl about 17, maybe 18, dressed in a fancy Chinese hostess dress and looking very beautiful.
"Umm....no thanks. We're just....." Ranma began, more nervous now that he was inside. Ukyou noted this and interrupted.
"We haven't been here in five years. We're visiting some old friends and we remember this place was closed down shortly after we left. It was a bit of a shock to see it open. We just stopped by curious to see what was going on and if the original owners had come back and reopened it?", Ukyou said and flashed a smile.
"Uhhh...right." Ranma said and sighed in relief.
"Oh. I see; that's alright. I'm afraid the Nekohanten is under new management however. We moved here about four years ago and bought this place before we did. You know Cologne?" the young girl asked. Ranma laughed a bit dryly.
"Yeah, we know the old ghoul. What happened..." Ranma began but didn't get to finish as the sound of rushing air followed by a kettle of hot water slamming against Ranma's head, upending it's contents on him, quickly silenced him. Ryouga, Ukyou and everyone else in the restaurant turned to look at the kitchen doorway where the kettle came from. Standing balanced on her staff in the doorway was Cologne who smirked across the room at the prone, and wet, Ranma.
"Have many times must I tell you Son-In-Law I am not an old ghoul? Be thankful I used hot water." Cologne said and cackled to herself lightly.
"Yeah yeah yeah. How many times do I gotta tell you I ain't your Son-In-Law? I see you're still alive." Ranma said and got to his feet shaking his head to get rid of some water.
"Of course I still am alive and I know you aren't my Son-In-Law. Just think of it as a fond memory of mine. Now Ranma I believe we are disturbing the customers. You three follow me. We can talk in the back." Cologne said turning and hopping off. Ranma glanced to Ryouga and Ukyou and nodded. The three moved across the restaurant and into the kitchen. They maneuvered around the cooks and into Cologne's room at the back of the restaurant. The three were quickly seated across from the Amazon matriarch, who glances to each one in turn before speaking.
"I see you three have all....'grown up', if you will. Ranma. Ryouga. Miss Kuonji. Tell me why you have returned to Nerima after five years." Cologne demanded calmly. There were a few moments of silence between the four.
"We've come back....to pay our respects to Akane....and tell her we're sorry." Ryouga said simply and lowered his head.
"I see. I had a feeling you would one day return to do just that." Cologne said a small smile on her face.
"Right. Well that's what we came back to do and we're going to. No matter what!" Ranma said as if challenging her to say differently, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"I will not stop you Ranma. You have nothing to fear." Cologne said calmly and nodded.
"Good. Say....how's Shampoo and Mousse doing?" Ranma asked and watched Cologne's face darken slightly.
"They are married. That idiot Mousse finally managed to defeat Shampoo three years ago. What's worse is she is beginning to love him. They are here in Nerima. Shampoo has been visiting every year for the anniversary." Cologne said and sighed.
"She has?" Ranma asked blinking.
"Really?" Ryouga said unbelieving.
"Why? I thought she hated Akane?" Ukyou asked also finding it hard to believe.
"No child. She didn't hate Akane. She merely saw her as an obstacle for Ranma. As much as an Amazon as Shampoo is she would have found it very hard to actually kill Akane. She saw Akane as an opponent and a worthy one. She visits out of respect for a fellow warrior." Cologne explained and smiled as a sudden commotion was heard from outside in the kitchen. The group turned and looked to the door as the voices got louder and clearer.
"Stupid Mousse! How many times I have to hit you before you get eyes checked! You not see Ranma! He not here!" Shampoo's slightly muffled voice was heard approaching.
"But Shampoo! I don't need my eyes checked and I'm SURE it was him! Why won't you believe me!?" Mousse's voice was heard.
"Because you blind Mousse!", Shampoo's voice came from just the other side of the door which then opened up revealing Shampoo and Mousse. Shampoo turned and looked into the room at the group and froze. She had aged extremely well, her hair a little longer, her curves a little more fuller now but she barely looked a day over 18. Mousse had also aged well but was still wearing his impossibly thick glasses, not over his eyes, which was also usual for him. Shampoo was wearing a simple purple sundress that helped accentuate her hair while Mousse was wearing his normal robes.
"Aiya…Ranma." Shampoo whispered and swallowed. Mousse peeked over her shoulder and squinted. His glasses fell over his eyes and he blinked a bit as the blurs come into relative focus.
"Ranma. You see Shampoo; I told you I saw Ranma." Mousse said smiling to his wife who lightly elbowed him in the face.
"Uhhhh...hi guys." Ranma said and waved a little.
"Nihau Ranma. What you, pig-boy and not-nice girl do here?" Shampoo asked bluntly. Ukyou bristled lightly at her nickname muttering something about being very nice and if Shampoo didn't stop calling her that she'd beat her into the ground and make her. Ryouga just frowned and Ranma coughed into his hand a bit nervously.
"We're here to...pay our respects to Akane." Ranma said and glanced from Shampoo and Mousse noting the expressions.
"Oh. That why we here too." Shampoo said simply, nervous about something.
"Well....if you'll excuse us Shampoo and I have to get changed for later, right my love?" Mousse said looking to Shampoo.
"Hmmm? Oh yes. Mousse right. We see you....later Ranma. Bye bye!" Shampoo said and quickly turned leaving followed by Mousse who pushed the door shut. Ranma sighed and lowered his head. Ryouga followed suit and did the same.
"They still think it's our fault." Ranma muttered to himself.
"It is our fault Ranma." Ryouga muttered back and got a smack on the back of his head by Ukyou.
"Cut it out! It is not your guys fault! Got it?!" Ukyou said a little angry at Shampoo and Mousse for behaving like that.
"Yeah. Whatever." Ryouga said and sighed.
"Ucchan's right Ryouga. Come on. We gotta go get her flowers anyways. Cologne?" Ranma said getting to his feet along with Ryouga and Ukyou.
"Yes Ranma?" Cologne asked frowning a little to herself from Shampoo's display. Ranma bowed to her slowly and looked her in the eye.
"I just want to say for me and Ryouga....thank you for all the help and training you've given us in the past. I know it's a little late in coming but you deserve it.", Ranma said with Ryouga grunting in agreement. Cologne blinked a bit and smiled. She hopped over and patted the two boys on their shoulders and hopped back looking to the two of them.
"You are both welcome. I can see you two really have grown up; quite a lot in fact. A pity your maturity had to have such a high price however. I shall see you all later at the cemetery. Until then…" Cologne said calmly. The three nodded and slowly turned and filed out of the room leaving Cologne by herself to think.
It was such a hassle to get two, three year old boys to sit still long enough to dress them, Kasumi reflected as she finished buttoning up her second son's jacket. She sat down on the bed and sighed as the young boy ran off to find his brother. She rose from the bed followed the young boy out into the hall and called down it.
"Tofu dear! They're coming your way, could you keep an eye on them while I get father ready?!" Kasumi said with a sigh and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. From the bathroom her husband's voice called out to her.
"Of course Kasumi. I've got it covered." Tofu responded. Kasumi smiled a bit and turned walking down to her father's room. She paused at the door, as if gathering her courage, and slowly allowed a smile to spread across her features. She slowly slid the door opened and stepped inside to look at her father who lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Good afternoon Father. It's me, Kasumi. We have to get you dressed now. We're going to visit Akane today. Won't that be nice?" Kasumi said in her old sweet oblivious tone of voice. She moved to her Father's side and pulled the sheets down. She moved him from the bed to sit in the wheel chair beside it. She wheeled him out of his room and down into the bathroom. She then helped him out of the wheel chair and undressed him letting him set on a stool and lean against the wall. She then proceeded to bathe him and dry him off and redress him in clean, nice clothes. She combed his hair and then wheeled him out into the hall and down the ramp by the stairs to the lower floor and then out onto the porch.
It was at this time a black limo pulled up outside the front gates and honked its horn three times. Kasumi smiled a bit more and called into the house.
"Tofu dear, hurry; Nabiki is here and waiting. I'll take Father to the car. Don't forget to lock up.", Kasumi said and wheeled her father out towards the car as Frank exited from the front and moved to help her. After Soun was moved into the car and the wheel chair stowed away, Dr. Tofu joined Kasumi holding onto their two sons. Kasumi took one and then two entered the limo and greeted Nabiki who smiled just a little as the car began to drive off. Nabiki looked to her father, who just stared vacantly ahead.
"Any changes?" Nabiki asked coolly.
"None yet I'm afraid Nabiki, but I still haven't given up. I'm still searching." Dr. Tofu said and glanced to Kasumi.
"I'm sure we'll find something to help father soon Nabiki." Kasumi offered and lightly shushed her son.
"Yes. I'm sure too Kasumi. I'm sure too." Nabiki said calmly, didn't believe a word of it and glanced out the window at the darkening sky. She frowned. It looked like rain. She sent a quick prayer that it wouldn't rain until after they had visited....but with her luck it would start the moment they got there. She sighed softly and turned away from the window and just closed her eyes wishing things back to five years ago when times were happier. She scoffed at herself mentally and shook her head. How did that saying go? If wishes were horses then even peasants would ride.
Ranma, Ryouga, Ukyou, Genma and Nodoka had meet at the agreed place and Ryouga had since picked up a bouquet of flowers for Akane. He looked down at them. White lilies with a slight purplish color to them; they were her favorite. He sighed softly and glanced to Ranma who merely nodded at him, letting him know he was there and they were doing this together. Ranma and Ryouga were in the lead, with the others following. They slowly walked towards the cemetery. They slowly kept telling themselves they could do this. That everything would be okay. In truth they didn't know, but they kept telling themselves this in the hopes they would begin to believe it.
They paused a moment and swallowed looking at the entrance to the grave yard. Ukyou glanced at the two limos parked nearby and wondered who they belonged to. She shrugged and moved as Ranma and Ryouga started off again and entered the cemetery. A low rumble of thunder off in the distance caused a nervous glance to the sky by the three men of the group. Ranma and Ryouga continued on their way slowly winding through the grave stones and looking for any sign of Akane's grave. After a few minutes of walking Ranma stopped as he crested a hill. Ryouga reached his side and stopped as well. The two looked to each other and then to the scene ahead of them.
Down on the other side of the small hill was a grave marker; a marble statue of an angel with engraving on its base. Surrounding this statue stood familiar faces. Nabiki, Kasumi, Dr. Tofu, Soun, Cologne, Shampoo, Mousse, Kodachi, Tatewaki, Yuka, Sayuri and other of Akane's friends. They all stood, except for Soun, heads lowered in respect. This was the moment they had come here for, to pay their respects. They knew the others would likely be here, that someone they had known would be here. They hadn't expected their timing to be so perfect as to catch just about everyone, but they had come this far. They couldn't back down now. Ranma and Ryouga took a deep breath and started down the hill followed by Ukyou, Genma and Nodoka. The group had just reached the bottom when Kasumi happened to glance there way and gasped. This got everyone else's attention and soon all eyes were glued to them. Ranma and Ryouga froze under the scrutiny.
Most gathered there were shocked at the sight and apprehensive. The 'looks' that were given to them so long ago were being given again. The looks that say, 'You killed her! You murderer!' The few that weren't like that were Cologne, who merely smiled softly, Nabiki, who showed no emotion at all, and Tatewaki, who was livid with barely pent up rage.
Ryouga swallowed heavily and closed his eyes tightly, his hands lightly trembled. Ranma reached over and gripped his hands to stop them from shaking. Ryouga glanced over and nodded. The two then turned and continued walking over until they stood a few feet away from the rest of the group. The silence hung over everyone like a thick blanket of fog. No one said anything. Hardly anyone breathed. Ranma took a deep breath and turned to Nabiki and Kasumi.
"Nabiki. Kasumi. We've come here to pay our respects....and apologize to Akane. Will you allow us to remain?" Ranma asked keeping his voice as steady as he could. All eyes turned to Nabiki and Kasumi.
"Ranma. Ryouga. That is very sweet of you two, but you really should have come sooner. I have no objections. Nabiki?" Kasumi said smiling a little and looked to Nabiki. Nabiki glanced at Kasumi and then to the two men wanting to be let to stay. She narrowed her eyes and took a calm breath.
"You know....you two have a lot of nerve coming here. I'm half tempted to have you thrown out of here....but I won't. You can stay because I know Akane would have wanted it that way. Oh...one more thing. You could have come and done this a couple of years earlier but you two were never on time for anything in your lives." Nabiki said in her calm even tone of voice. Ranma nodded and Ryouga let out a sigh of relief. Ranma looked at Ryouga and smiled a little and nodded. Ryouga swallowed and looked to Akane's grave. He took a step forward and slowly lowered himself to his knees.
He paused to rest the flowers on his knees and remove one of his bandanas. He quickly tied it around the stems of the flowers and looked to the statue and then to the grave itself. He lowered his head for a moment and then looked back up, his arms moved forward slowly, to rest the flowers on Akane's grave.
"Akane? It's Ryouga. I'm...speaking for both me and Ranma when I tell you this. Akane we....", Ryouga was saying when a blur of brown cleaved the bouquet of flowers in two. Shocked, Ryouga could only watch as the two halves of the bouquet fell to the ground in slow motion, petals swirling in the air. His hands slowly began to tremble and he watched his present fall, destroyed. His chance at apology ruined. Depression descended upon him like a pack of rabid dogs hungry for blood and smothered him in the lonely and familiar void. He was so far gone so quickly he barely even heard a muffle as a voice shouted out for all to hear.
"HALT!!! I shall not allow this fiend, this demon, this murderer to defile and disgrace the good name of Akane Tendo by sullying this most holiest of places gifts of darkness!!!!", Tatewaki shouted his face red with rage as he held his sword at the ready. Everyone was staring shocked speechless at what Tatewaki had just done. They all looked to Ryouga, who wasn't moving, and then to Ranma. Ranma was watching Ryouga and then looked up to Tatewaki. His face turned from shock to an emotionless that rivaled Nabiki's. He spoke in a cold and dangerously calm voice.
"Kuno you self-centered, delusional idiot; I don't believe you just did that. I always knew you were stupid Kuno but this is beyond even you. You have no idea what you've just done to us. But you will. Oh yes. You most definitely will." Ranma said and grinned lightly at Tatewaki, a slightly crazed look forming in his eyes.
End of Part Three