Nabiki calmly sip her packet drink, while sitting on one of the Nerima Park's benches, watching a foreign tourist with his three girls walking past.

"Aw… this is boring" one of them who complained.

"Now, now girls. You remember what you promised me when I take you to Japan"

"But professor, we want to see the place from the air…" another girl with a zesty attitude tried to plead to the man.

"We did promised," another girl reminded.

"Aw shucks," the zest girl said while crossing her arms.

As the four of them walked away from Nabiki, she looked at her watch. To an observer hidden nearby, she looked as if she was on a date, with her wearing her best blouse. After carefully considering its options, the observer made its move.

The middle Tendo merely glanced at the newcomer before tapping the seat next to her. "Good afternoon, Ukyo. How's business?"

"Pretty good for this month" Ukyo took the seat next to Nabiki. "How's your photography business?"

"Pretty slow, as I am preoccupied lately"

"I heard about it. In Nerima, today's news will be known yesterday"

"True"

Ukyo thought for a moment before asking, "So, how much will it cost?"

Nabiki blinked at the oniyaki chef. "Pardon me?"

"Ranma. How much you charge per hour"

"Oh" Nabiki finished the drink and threw it into the nearby dustbin. "He's not for leasing, I'm afraid"

"Then why did you ask me to meet you here?"

"I asked you here for a different reason. As for Ranma, I promised him that I would not rent him out to any one of you. So the only way you can get him is by asking him out yourself"

"Surely you have a special clause in the agreement just for this kind of occasion"

Nabiki smiled smugly. "You're right but unless there is a need, I wouldn't use it. Using it will be to my severe disadvantage"

"Even if Shampoo threatens you?" Ukyo knew that threatening Nabiki herself would be pointless as Nabiki knew how she thinks and threatening people was not congruent with her personality. But Shampoo probably would do it.

In response Nabiki just shrugged, flicking her hair and acted nonchalant. "You as a business people should know the importance of keeping one's end of bargain. And as for Shampoo, let's just say she is not as barbaric as she seems"

Ukyo slipped two coupons in Nabiki's hand. "Each one is good for a complete meal. Tell me more about her" The chef's curiosity was piqued by the casual remark from the mercenary girl. She needed to know about what Nabiki knew. A scrap of knowledge may prove useful for her in the fiancées war.

"The reason why Akane is still alive and kicking, sorry, punting Ranma into orbit is that Shampoo couldn't kill her"

"Yeah, Ranma's there to protect her"

Nabiki laughed. "Ranma is a gift from Kami, not Kami himself, Ukyo. He couldn't be anywhere at all times"

Ukyo pondered on what was said. "You mean Shampoo didn't want to kill Akane?"

"Even if she wanted to, she can't"

Interpreting Nabiki's silence as a sign for additional payment, Ukyo fished for two more coupons from her dress and gave it. "Why?"

Nabiki looked at the coupons before answering, "She couldn't do it without bringing shame to her tribe. Killing Akane will technically cause Akane to break her promise which is the engagement to Ranma, thus dishonoring her. The Amazons have high honor and would not rob others of theirs without very good reasons to do so. Such an offense would be severely punished by the tribe" Waving the hand with the coupons as if fanning herself, she continued, "But Shampoo does seem a bit menacing when she made the threat, doesn't she?" Two more coupons were added to the four by the chef in front of her.

"But all the various tricks Shampoo did…"

"I said force, not coerce. To them it is not wrong to 'assist' certain events that benefit them. Come to think of it, it's like what you're doing to Ranma now and then"

"But she warned that she would remove 'obstacle'"

"If you are a normal people and you see a martial artist breaking walls and bricks as if they were nothing, would you believe her threat?"

"Yes"

"But?" Nabiki prodded.

"But I'm a martial artist, so I can fight my own battle"

"Aren't many people in Nerima martial artists? My sister is one of them. So do you think Shampoo's threat work on her?"

"No… but"

"'Removing obstacles' threat is just that; a threat"

"Do you meant to say that Shampoo only wants to scare Akane off!"

"That's right"

"That's unbelievable!"

"It's only as believable as a story about a male who turned into a female when splashed with cold water"

Ukyo wanted to say something but bit her lips. She thought about what was said and finally nodded. "You're right. So where do you fit in this giant puzzle?"

"Sorry, I don't really get what you are saying"

"What's your angle?"

"I'm doing this for the good of everyone?" Nabiki ventured.

Ukyo was laughing so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. "That's the joke of the year, Tendo-san. But I have to ask you again that question"

"Very well. I'm planning on manipulating all of you and this is one of the steps to bringing you under my control"

"That seems more palatable"

Nabiki told herself that she was telling the truth, to some extent. ""Now, let's return to the topic at hand. How about you? Do you like Ranma?"

Ukyo bit her lips when Nabiki evaded her question and reversed it. "Of course I like Ran-chan. There's no question about it"

"As a friend or a lover?"

Ukyo tensed "How could you question my feelings toward him?"

"You vowed to either kill him or become a Saotome. So now you've been flirting with him, trying to get him to choose you so that you can marry him and take up the Saotome family name. So forgive me for being blunt but you may be confused between your responsibility and feelings, just like Shampoo"

Ukyo raised her hand to slap Nabiki but stopped when she saw the other girl was looking her in the eyes. She lowered it, her eyes softening. After a while she spoke, "I don't know" Her voice was faint. "…I'm not sure about my feelings toward him"

"Take your time. If all this while you're only interested to be his best friend, I can help you settle your problem"

"How much?"

"Lot's of free meal coupons seems like a good proposition. Or maybe free meal every Monday for a year"

"I… need to think about it" Ukyo stood to leave. "Maybe I will see you later"

"You will see me later" Nabiki said as she got up. She thought to herself that if convincing Ukyo was easy, then perhaps Shampoo is even easier to convince. "It's time to part with my money again," she sighed.

Two hours later, Nabiki stood in front of beat down shop. As she entered through the front door, she wondered why the wooden shop hasn't collapsed and killed everyone inside it. It has always been there as far as she could remember.

A big burly man with dark tan and wearing spectacle greeted her. "Welcome to our shop"

She wasn't surprised that he didn't remember her. It has been a while since she visited that place. "Is the shop's owner in?"

"Please wait here while I go and get him"

She nodded and proceeded to have a look at things on display. She picked an item and read the description.

Hollow bait. To attract hollow, break the content and they will follow.

Putting it down, she looked at another item that looked like a mask.

Hollow Mask Disguise. Wear this so that Hollow wouldn't be able to find out about your identity. Available models : Darth Vader, Gundam, Spiderman, Batman, Teletubbies, Big Bird, Tax Collector.

Nabiki admitted some of the masks were very scary looking, especially the Teletubbies.

Replacement soul. Do you want to have that out of body experience? Now you can, thanks to the new advance in science. Take one pill and you will be detached from your body, reading to experience that such wonderful freedom. A replacement spirit will replace you so that people wouldn't notice the change. Instruction on how to return is enclosed inside. Caution : Keep the children safe bottle away from children.

She looked at what looked liked torn shirts.

Hollow Shirt. Sick with your normal polo shirt? Get into style! This 100 cotton t-shirt has holes on it so that you can show off your ruggedness to others.

Hollow Radar. Modeled after that famous Dragonball radar, this small premium quality gadget will help you in locating those pesky spirits. Made in Mongolia. Batteries are not included.

Heaven's sword. Use it and see how it takes care of the hollow's hunger easily.

"You're interested in them?" a male voice asked. "I never thought you're into such thing"

She looked at the voice to see a man wearing white and green striped clothing with matching hat. "There's nothing wrong in looking," Nabiki said calmly as she put down the item. "After all, I'm a normal human being, Urahara-san"

"Ah, gomen, gomen. Where's my manners? It's been good to see you again, Tendo-san," he said, smiling. Then he lowered his hat so that Nabiki couldn't see his expression. "Or should we say that it's not good to see you again?"

Nabiki flicked her hair. "You really know how to take care of your customer, don't you?"

"Are you here to continue your freelance Hollow hunting?" Hollows were spirits that turned evil and attacked other souls and human beings. They were recognizable by white masks they wore over their face.

"No. At least not yet"

"That's a relief. So what are you interested in?"

"I want to know how you manifest your Zankaputo into the physical world" Nabiki said simply.

"Spirit Slayer? I don't really understand what you're talking about"

Nabiki took a glove that was hanging on the display and wore it, looking at the skull symbol emblazoned on it. "I was an idiot for not realizing about it. But then, I was a distracted and naive girl at that time"

"You still are" Kisuke Urahara answered her, voice indicating that he was smiling.

"That's true" She held the glove in front of her as if determining how it looked on her. "I was told that you can have a sword sheath made from certain materials so that the Zankaputo's energy would be fully shielded. By the way, nice cane you have there"

"Thank you, I guess," the strangely dressed shop owner replied, knowing very well what was being said. He knew that she has grown more intelligent, more than he's comfortable with. "Zankaputo isn't the only weapon capable of purifying Hollows. What you have right now is more than enough, isn't it?"

She nodded. "Back to the question"

"Ah, since Zankaputo is the manifestation of one's soul, it's made of energy"

Nabiki digested the information for a minute. "I understand now. All I have to do is to embed my own soul into a weapon and it will turn into something like Zankaputo"

A book was in the shop owner's hand. "May I interest you with a 'Dummies', or do you prefer the 'Idiot's guide'?"

Twenty minutes later, she has finished her purchase at the shop, evidenced by Urahara counting his money rather happily. Just as Nabiki was about to leave the shop, the man called out to her. "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Nabiki answered.

"Why do Hollows avoid Nerima?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because Nerima is a center for chaos"

"Or is it because there's some kind of a barrier also allowed Plus and neutral Minus to allow but repels Shinigames and Hollows?"

Nabiki shrugged. "If it's true, then it wasn't me who erected it"

"I guess not"

"But personally I don't think the barrier will stop someone as strong as you from entering the city"

Urahara nodded. "But why enter if I don't have any business there, right?"

"Up to you"

"Oh. Sorry for my rudeness. I have made you waste your time again. Allow me to make it up to you"

"In that case, please answer my question in return"

Urahara put his hands inside his trousers pocket. "Okay"

"Although you have helped me a lot, it seems to me that you're doing it halfheartedly"

Urahara was grinning as he put a hand behind his head "Ah, Tendo-san, giving you steep discount makes my heart bleeds. You always haggle for rock bottom prices, so you can't really blame me for being that way"

Nabiki smiled. "I see. Well, see you later"

The proprietor continued waving his hand cheerfully until she was out of his sight. Only then he let a frown formed on his face "If I help you, it will probably lead to a big problem later on. But if I don't, it can cause an even bigger problem. A very tough decision to make, Tendo-san, especially since I don't know what to make of you" He sighed. "Nerima, a place where even Menos Grande wouldn't tread"

"Ranchan"

"Yes, Ucchan?" Despite the attention of the class was focused at the two of them, Ranma pretended not to notice it.

"Here" The Onimiyaki chef threw an onimiyaki which Ranma jumped to grab with his mouth; not unlike a seal catching a fish.

Ranma would have swallowed the whole thing in a gulp, but stopped when he felt a weird taste inside his mouth. He put his finger in and fished a small paper wrapped in plastic. Discreetly, he palmed the thing, looking at Ukyo as he did. She nodded her head. He sat down and quietly tore the plastic and read the letter

Ran-chan, if it's okay with you I would like to meet you in private at the Nerima Park this afternoon. Don't worry. I wouldn't pull a trick on you or something. I just need to talk you on something

Ukyo

He looked at her. Her eyes were pleading for him to agree to her request. Ranma sighed. He knew that he may regret his decision but he nodded anyway. Ukyo's eyes lit up in happiness. He turned the attention at the paper in his hand. After thinking for a few seconds, he put it in his mouth and swallowed. He simply can't risk having someone reading it.

1

Author's note (23 January 2006)

1) Oh well, I have uploaded the chapter ahead of my schedule. I wouldn't be around cheap internet facility next week so I figured I'll upload this one.

2) I've decided to stick with Bleach convention for ghosts and spirits for my easy reference when I do later (really later) episodes.