Hi this is Benji Himura. I am now starting a new fanfic is a Ranma 1/2 story. I don't own Ranma1/2 or any of the characters. Some anime or manga characters might show up in the story I also don't own then. I don't own FATE/Stay night and the characters of that story. I own Benji Himura and others characters that will show up in the story. It might be violence and sex in the story so if you are underage of seventeen are warned the content might be too improper to your age. Read by your own will and risk. In anyway enjoy the story.
Signed: Benji Himura.
"Text" Talked sentences.
'Text' Thoughts.
-Text- Sounds effects.
(Text) Talked sentences in a foreign language as English when everyone else speaks Japanese.
: Text: Messages show in an electronic screen or written.
Text: something being recalled, flashbacks, scenes being replayed.
Text: a detail found in a location, scene, person, recording and images that originally wasn't there.
"Text" Alteration in the voice, not in the tone but the voice itself.
Outcast Chronicles of a lost writer in Ranma world book two
Chapter thirty eight: Changes
Two weeks passed since the duel with Cardin and the Cardin family decided to cut their losses with a crippled heir and gave up on marrying a Tendo woman. Nabiki is currently forcing Kasumi to accept that she isn't going to be slaving herself on the house any longer.
Benji is on the living room with Ranma playing on a Playstation 2, Benji's controller was altered to have more keys on the left side so he could exercise his fingers with it. "I hate this!" Ranma shouted while Benji beats Ranma's character into a pulp. "I can't do anything that I want."
"Get used." Benji replied casually. "It took me two weeks to finally get the hand of this character and controller." "I am not giving up!" Ranma exclaimed picking a new character. Akane is fuming in a corner after hearing an earful from Nabiki and Kasumi, not to mention that since the owners of the entire Tendo state Benji and Nabiki can do anything that they want to the house and dojo, including force Soun to start teaching again with the threat of demolishing the entire household to build a parking lot.
That threat alone forced Soun to accept and open the dojo on the following day. Genma still crippled is forced to work out to pay rent if he desires to stay on the house and eat. Ranma will watch over the classes to make sure that nothing stupid happens, that include Happosai trying to attack the female students, for Ranma that was the price of living on the household and for the pigtailed martial artist was a fair price.
Akane was forced to not teach or participate of the classes; Nabiki knows how well her sister would ruin everything with her temper. Finishing the changes on the household Masaki Yuri the maid recommended by Sachiko was introduced to everyone as the new housemaid.
Benji and Nabiki explained to the maid what she would do and face working there, but with the amount that they are paying for the moment she is happy in working there as a live in maid. The previous days were busy with Nabiki tracking down every know martial artist and giving them severe ultimatums about damaging the property and how she will sue them out of everything if she learned about any kind of hostilities on the house or if the maid was hurt.
Even Happosai was forced into submission by the implantation of an explosive pace-maker on his heart, idea from Benji and courtesy of Sachiko and the Chinese Amazons. It would force Happosai to behave or he would die rather painfully, needless to say that Ranma's job because more as a front than anything else.
Ryoga, the Kunos and the amazons were warned about the new conditions of the dojo and the threat of law suit and extortion made them swear to behave, with the Kunos it was needed to alter the threats to fit their distorted view of realities. With that Nabiki hoped that the heirloom money that is now Kasumi's will last thorough the college fees, house expenses, maid salary and other fixed expenses.
Nabiki even invested what is left of the money to make it grow, it was Kasumi's and even losing some of the closeness Nabiki still loves her older sister very much. Benji cares for Kasumi and was a rather close friend of her, as her brother-in-law and friend he also desired for Kasumi more than a live of self-imposed slavery for the family.
It was annoying to the couple seeing how much Kasumi was resisting the changes, on the mean time Yuri was getting used to the household layout and making her cleaning schedules. It surprises Nabiki when Yuri came ask to Kasumi for the details of the shopping route, cleaning and how arranging the clean laundry, Kasumi was opening well to the maid, maybe because they do the same work. Nabiki decides to leave to Yuri to break the last remnants of Kasumi's resistance and moves to Benji.
"How is the arm?" Nabiki asked kneeling next to him. "It is hurting much less than it was last week." Benji answered giving her a kiss and a chance to Ranma to fight back on the game. "Good, it means that is healing well. The doctors said that you will recover the total mobility of your arm within two months." Nabiki replied kissing him back.
"Why I can't win?!" Ranma shouts while even distracted Benji packed an eighteen hits combo on him. "By now Benji must know the timing of everything by heart." Nabiki chuckled.
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In her tent Nabiki stretches lazily, she can hear the sounds of the wildlife and the sound of the students assigned to the early chores including starting the breakfast. She hugs her Benji cat-plushie and sighs with pleasure of warmth of her tent; she knows that Benji left earlier to fish their breakfast. While not being a student he was there to keep an eye on the martial artists and because Nabiki forced the school to allow him to be there, Benji as part of the group three took the chore of finding living food while Ranma took the chore of collecting mushrooms and roots.
Ukyo was cooking the rice and some okonomiakis, because pressure of Benji she made a couple of pairs of special potato okonomiakis for him and Nabiki, Nabiki likes the normal okonomiaki but knowing that Benji dislikes the taste of the cabbage in the okonomiaki she eats the potato ones so she can have what she likes most and that is kissing Benji.
Akane was kept away of anything that involved food, no one would allow her to cook, wash or even gather firewood in fear of her food. Shampoo that also tagged along was the one in charge of the firewood of the group. Nabiki took the job of washing the dishes and cooking utensils after the meals, to Akane her job was build the tents and collect water, but no one allowed her to build their tends and they fetched water from the river themselves and boiled it well before drinking. Akane wanted them to drink out of the bucked with out even placing the purification tablets.
Until the water was proven safe Benji, Nabiki, Ranma and the others would play safe and avoid troubles later. To chill the water was quite easy Benji made Ranma use the soul of ice and created a pool of ice where they leave their clean water stock cool.
Other groups organized themselves in their own ways with different levels of success. After savoring her laziness for another half an hour Nabiki leaves the tent after fixing the travel bed. Nabiki adjusts her hiking clothes and leaves the tent; she moves to the ice pool and washes her face in the cold water to fully wake her. She greets everyone and sits next to the improvised cooking plate made out of stones and a steel plate allowing them to cook and grill larger amounts of food.
"What is done?" Nabiki asked looking for the coffee pot. "The okonomiakis are done, Benji must be bringing the fishes by now and Ran-chan the mushrooms." Ukyo answered. "The rice isn't done yet, I think that when the fishes are grilled it will." "Great." Nabiki said filling the pot with some coffee powder, sugar and water before placing it on an empty spot on the grill.
"If Benji's fishing is as good as yesterday's we will have enough fish to fill us up." Ukyo commented casually. "Benji told me that he likes fishing and have lots of experience." Nabiki replied in the same tone, it was nice have a casual chat with someone else.
"I guess that he does, after all he brings the fishes clean." Ukyo commented pointing to Benji that is walking to them. Nabiki waves to Benji who waves back with his hand holding the fishing pole. "Caught a lot?" Nabiki asked when he got closer. "Not much." Benji answered handing the bucket to Ukyo. "Just a whole bucketful." She said showing to Nabiki. "It has enough here for lunch and dinner too."
"You should leave some fishes to the other groups." Nabiki teased while patting at the empty spot besides her. "I am leaving them fish; they are just too incompetent to fish them." Benji replied in the same tone. "He must be using a net or something." Ukyo commented while grilling the fishes.
"I just use my pole." Benji said resting it besides him. "And stays there for hours with his MP3 player on." Nabiki added nuzzling on his neck. "What can I do if I love music?" Benji asked casually. "I just mix fishing and hearing music." "And you do a good job on the fishing part." Ukyo commented. "There are even students trying to catch fishes with makeshift spears."
"Queen you mind in trading some fishes with us?" Mana asked to Nabiki. "We trade four bags of potato chips for six fishes." "What you say love?" Nabiki asked to Benji. "It is your catch." "Deal." Benji said to the girl. "Thanks a lot, I just can't fish, I can't endure stabbing a worm with the hook, or even holding a worm…" Mana said handing the bags to him while taking the fishes from Ukyo.
"I can understand that." Benji commented. "Enjoy the fishes." "We will." Mana said running to her group. "You two are just amazing." Ukyo commented. "Making business even out in the woods." "What can we do if we have merchandise that they want? Nabiki commented casually. "And I do enjoy potato chips." Benji added. "So does Nabiki, we can enjoy them together with out worrying too much about our supply."
"As I said amazing." Ukyo said flipping the fishes. Ranma returns with two bucketfuls of mushrooms and other edible roots, fruits and plants. "I could smell those fishes from a mile away." Ranma commented placing the buckets on the ground near the grill. "Choke on her food and die BAKA!!!" Akane shouted charging at Ranma with her mallet. Benji shoots Akane twice with his stun rounds making her fall unconscious. "I would really hurt her if she ruined the food." Benji and Ukyo said as one.
"Well food shouldn't be wasted." Benji said seriously. "I agree on that but for me is because I am the one near of this hot fire fixing it." Ukyo said to him. "I really wanted that Akane stopped acting like this." Ranma said in a tired tone. "You aren't the only one." Benji said voicing the desire of most of the group.
"But things could be worse." Nabiki commented casually. "The stupid panda could arrive and ruin everything." "You are right; other than the Akane issues the trip is quite peaceful, even enjoyable." Ranma said with a smile. "The food is good the weather is nice, everything is quite good."
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Nabiki looks at Benji worried, she knew that when Cologne showed up something was very wrong, the elder never visited them and whenever someone other than Kasumi and occasionally Ranma no one in Nerima visited them. After uncountable times helping and quite often punishing the wrecking crew the Himura couple wasn't very welcomed in the center of the chaos.
Nabiki uncomfortable with the visit shifts Rosa on her arms, the little girl protests a little because she was comfortable as she was. Cologne sips some tea in silence, Benji is also a little uncomfortable with everything, the last time that Cologne was like that he nearly died rescuing Ranma and the others, he was lucky that he was Hel's favorite and she pulled few strings in order for him to survive.
Benji wasn't really sure of how Hel's contacts managed that but he recalled a that was a rather tough landing on a rooftop, breaking it and falling floor after floor breaking the floors on the falls. His memory was really fussy after the collapse of the castle and trying to use the falling debris to ease his fall, he just felt heavy and everything was covered with a thick layer of mist.
"We need your expertise once again." Cologne said after placing the cup over the coffee table. "Before starting a refusal allow me to explain to you the situation." Nabiki and Benji close their mouths deciding to appease Cologne with that, besides one way or another they would have to hear it so it was better save an eloquent refusal after hearing everything.
Cologne places a scroll over the table and opens it revealing it to be a large map. "The enemy once again attacked, knowing how much you two refuse to be involved in those incidents until now we kept that a secret from you." Cologne said in a serious tone. "We the Amazons have gathered forces from our allies and even enemies as the Musk people and the people of Mt. Phoenix, but we can't make them work together. Our forces are weakened and every battle the uncountable so called leaders render the army into confusion. Because of that the enemy is gaining more terrain from the starting point of their invasion. We need a strong leader that everyone will follow, including the martial artists that you all know; if we fail the world will be doomed to a reign of darkness, terror and tyranny."
Cologne makes a small pause and looks at the display of Benji's melee weaponry on the wall before looking back at him. "We need you, the knightmare of the Ice Queen, the knight of the skies, Hel's avatar." She said in a serious tone. "We need you Himura Benji who is known and feared by all people of Jusenkyo, and the martial artists of Nerima to lead us in that battle, if we lose this battle everything will perish, including your family."
Nabiki bites her lower lip, she can tell that it is serious; she had heard on the news and noticed that everyone of the wrecking crew left Nerima; she knows that Benji is also aware of it; the so called invasion started in a rather deserted place near Jusenkyo and was on the news.
After moments of heavy silence Benji breaks it with a small sentence. "My way or no way." Cologne looks at him confused asking for him to clarify. "If I go and lead we will fight the war with my rules, my command is absolute, and if my orders are broken the ones who did will suffer a harsh punishment." Benji said in an emotionless tone. "If I am going to lead that army then my command will be the only one valid, no elders' council, no royalty and no democracy; no one other than me holds the absolute ruling power on the field, camp, and base or in whatever location we are. I will lead with an iron fist and if needed I will rule by the sword. Those are my demands, accept them and I will lead, refuse and die in your war."
Nabiki stays in silence hugging Rosa, she wants to tell him to no do it but she knows that he will do it for their sake, not for the world or everyone fighting, just because of her and Rosa. "If you command us to victory we will accept your demands." Cologne said after thinking a little. "You understand that you will be surrounded by people that aren't used to be commanded?"
"I understand that, tell to them that I won't tolerate insubordination and that as Sun Tzu did I will kill the insubordinates as an example for the others." Benji answered coldly. "I will decapitate them myself." Cologne hides her discomfort, she knew how many hardships Benji passed during his years there and how many times he faced battle, she was the one that implanted the jewels on his body to hold his ki that grew because he faced death so many times, Benji was so close to death that he was considered her avatar on earth.
"I will inform your decision to the war council." Cologne said standing up. "I will return later with the day of our departure." "We will only leave when I am done with my preparations." Benji replied. "As I said in the second that I am the commander of the army we will do things on my way." Cologne nods agreeing and leaves the house.
Rosa looks at her parents confused with the commotion. "What is going on?" she asked a bit tense. "Daddy was called to work." Benji answered in a gentle tone while ruffling her blonde hair. "Daddy has to make a delivery?" Rosa asked confused. "No sweetie, daddy has to open a new shop in another place." Nabiki said kissing her daughter. "We are traveling?" Rosa asked eagerly.
"You will be staying home." Nabiki said in a serious tone. "Mommy and daddy will leave to the place of the new shop; you will be staying with your aunt Kasumi." "I want to go too!" Rosa exclaimed angrily. "Rosa." Benji said in a firm tone. "Mommy and daddy will be very busy, we won't have time to play with you, that is why we won't be taking you with us, aunt Kasumi will play with you so will aunt Motoko and aunt Yuri."
Rosa pouts sadly because she was scolded. "Don't worry sweetie we won't leave you forever." Benji said kissing Rosa. "Sooner than you think we will be together again." "You promise?" Rosa asked tearfully. "Of course I promise." Benji said picking Rosa from Nabiki and kissing her. "I don't want be anywhere else than with my wife and daughter." Rosa kisses Benji back and hugs him tightly. "Come here love." Benji said to Nabiki opening his right arm so she can join. Nabiki smiles and joins the hug holding tightly her family and her happiness.
Ever after eleven years together Nabiki still couldn't fully understand why Benji loves her so much that changes him from the loving man that she knows so well to the cold blooded warrior that she also knows too well. Time after time that something threatened them he would fight and Nabiki couldn't stand seeing him leaving knowing that he would get hurt and scars would appear on him if she didn't treat him fast enough with the amazon medicine that Cologne makes for them.
Hours pass and Rosa is sleeping on her bedroom, Benji and Nabiki are in their own room. "I can't believe on this." Nabiki said sited on his lap with her back pressed against his chest. "They never leave us alone, time after time they come after us and disturbs out lives and make you risk yours. I am tired of seeing your back when you leave to fight."
Benji gentle pulls Nabiki closer. "I have leaving as much you hate seeing me leaving." He replied with his chin resting on her shoulder and his cheek pressed against hers. "But we both knew that this time would eventually come. We knew that they would strike like this and we would be forced to fight." "I hoped that it would never happen." Nabiki whispered back crying, holding on his arms that are wrapped around her shoulders.
"I prayed every day to a day like this never come. We haven't been together long enough…it was just eleven years…I want more…much more…I am a greedy bitch…I never lied to myself about that…I haven't enough of you…enough happiness…we only have one child! I want more too!" Nabiki sobbed loudly. "I want a child with either raven or chestnut colored hair too! I want you to spoil me more! I want to love you more!"
"You aren't a bitch." Benji said kissing Nabiki. "You are a bit greedy, but I love you as you are. We will have more children in time; I am not going to leave you anytime soon." "I am afraid Benji." Nabiki whispered crying. "I am not strong enough…I can't endure seeing you leaving to war…even going with you I can't stand the thought of seeing you marching to the battle field…"
Benji knows that he can't drive those fears away from her, thorough the years every time that he had to fight Nabiki would act like that and that is part of the reason that he fell in love with her, that frail part of her personality that she hides from nearly everyone, those tearful eyes that whenever she walked to him when collecting the debts would cry for help not only of what scared her on that moment but from her life as the Ice Queen, her walls of ice that cover her heart and shelter her frail feelings.
Benji gently cups Nabiki's chin and kisses her knowing well that love was the only way of soothing her fears of being alone. Nabiki passionately and hungrily responds to the kiss, slowly moving on his arms to face him and hug him closer, growing bolder with her demands and deepening their kiss.
The couple knew very well that some of their most passionate lovemaking was the ones that preceded a fight or a battle, because in those moments they would try to get rid of all their fears of loneliness, abandon and death, they would try to fill themselves only with the love that they feel and how they don't want to be apart.
Few hours pass since time never stop even when one desire for its halt. Benji and Nabiki are still in their bed; Benji is sited with his back against the headrest with the covers covering his lower body Nabiki is next to him with her eyes closed, pressing her right side, breasts and upper body against his chest with his arm over her shoulders. Nabiki breathes slowly savoring his scent mixed with the scent of their lovemaking.
Benji is caressing Nabiki's shoulder with his hand while gazing at the wall of their room, he was there but his mind was focused in something else, his mind now cleared because the release of hormones. "You are thinking about what my king?" Nabiki asked looking up at him, noticing that he is deep in thought.
Most of the time they would call themselves by their names in an affectionate way and occasionally call the other by loving names, in rare moments by pet names or nicknames, in even rare moments Nabiki would call Benji king as recalling of her own gained nickname of queen and the weight of those titles carry.
"I am wondering if I am really fit to lead, my queen." Benji answered in a serious tone. "Until now you commanded everyone in battle with great success." Nabiki said kissing his neck. "Time after time you brought everyone back safely. Don't think that I have even forgotten about that time in that desert. You kept us alive and well, even Akane who stubbornly refused to obey."
"I never led an army before, I had played games where I led armies but I never commanded in a real battle." Benji replied lightly squeezing Nabiki's shoulder. "You are my husband." Nabiki said straddling him, resting her palms on his shoulders and looking at his eyes. "You are my knight, my king and my general; you have brought death to anyone who dared to try harming me. I know that you will once again bring death to those who deserve. You are the only man in two Earths that I love; you are the only man that knows every centimeter of my body and every part of my soul. You are and will ever be the only man that I will ever love. The man that I love has the power of changing fates. I know because you changed my fate, I am a happy woman, I have a gorgeous little daughter and I am desiring a new child from you, never before I met you I would wish for a child as much as I do now, I would never love a child as I do with our child, you will win this war I know because the man that I love haven't ever lost a battle to protect me, even when facing the might Ranma."
Benji smiles at her and kisses Nabiki. "You for sure know how to boost someone's ego with a confusing speech." Benji whispered against her lips. "I am not everything that you are making me sound to be." "You are even more than that." Nabiki whispered back kissing him again. "You are a wonderful husband, a great father, a valiant knight…I could keep listing but I have better use for my mouth than speaking…" she seductively breathed on his ear. "As much I would love that I think that we will have to rain check that." Benji whispered kissing Nabiki. "We have a little visitor."
Nabiki looks at the door and sees Rosa sleepily opening the door with a pillow on her left hand, she chuckles lightly. "Oh! The joys of parenthood having to choke my passion and lust for the sake of our children!" Nabiki said in a mock annoyance tone, the smile forming on her lips ruin the act.
Nabiki stands up and fishes her discarded panties from the floor; she puts it on and tosses to Benji his discarded boxers. "Come here sweetie." Nabiki said picking up her groggy daughter. "Mommy…" Rosa mumbled wrapping her small arms around Nabiki's neck.
Nabiki returns to the bed where Benji finished putting on his boxers. "Anything wrong sweetie?" Benji asked gently caressing Rosa's hair. "Bad dream." Rosa whispered reaching for Benji and trying to hold on his sweaty chest. "Easy, easy…" Benji said with Rosa grabbing a handful of the hair of his chest, he moves closer as Rosa wants. Benji understands what his daughter wants and pulls Nabiki closer gently sandwiching the little girl between their bodies.
"Warm…" Rosa yawned feeling the light warm pressure of her parents' bodies over her small body. Nabiki smiles to Benji and leans her head on the top of Rosa's, the child happily hears the two very different heartbeats from her father's and mother's hearts with out the barrier of clothes to dampen the warmth of their bodies.
"Yume mite iyou, kimi no mirai mieru, oki na yume ga itsuka mirai hiraku...wakatte iru yo minna mo, ganbatte rune itsumo, tokidoki wa megeru kotomo aruke redo." Nabiki smiles at her husband that softly sings to their daughter, Rosa lightly squirm between them nestling herself comfortable on Nabiki's breasts. "Yume mite iyou, mirai wa kitto, kibou ni afure, kimi no soba ni aru, dakara zutto zutto yume mite iyou…"
Benji smiles seeing Rosa between them comfortably sleeping, still singing lightly he and Nabiki lie down with Rosa still between them. "This is perfect." Nabiki whispered after Benji stop singing, Rosa was soundly sleeping. Benji nods agreeing and lightly kissed Nabiki.
None of them was angry or frustrated because Rosa broke their romantic mood; Benji admires the sight Rosa peacefully sleeping nested on Nabiki's breasts. Unlike just moments ago the sight of Nabiki's breasts aren't as sexual stimulating as they was, Benji still find them very attractive but now they was different, maternal as Nabiki holds their child against them.
There were times that Benji couldn't believe in his life that he was married with such a beautiful woman and the father of a beautiful little girl, in some moments Benji felt that Rosa was just slowing down so they could keep up with all her energy. It was still vivid on his memory when Nabiki first told him about being pregnant and how nine months later that life came to the world, he could just close his eyes and relive that all over again with ease.
"What you are thinking now?" Nabiki asked to him in a light tone, she could tell that Benji's mood improved greatly. "Happy memories?" "Some of my happiest ones." Benji answered with a smile. "Share." Nabiki said smiling back, couldn't ever feel down when Benji was happy, something on his smile always made her happy when he was happy.
"I was recalling the events of when you told me that you were pregnant and Rosa's birth." Benji replied kissing Nabiki's forehead. "They are in my happiest memories too." Nabiki said with a smile. "Taking out some moments in my pregnancy that I nearly got you killed."
"Now I hold them as funny memories, it is not every day that you acted as my ex and chased me on the apartment forcing me to jump out of the window because it was safer." Benji replied. "That is mean! I was hormonal!" Nabiki squealed embarrassed. "I know." Benji said kissing her again. "But right now I am recalling of your first craving."
"I remember that one." Nabiki replied smiling. "The heart of that bear that you killed in the school camp, I remember how you treated me afterwards." "You were all messy, I just couldn't help." Benji commented lightly licking Nabiki's lips.
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It was the day before the last day in the camping trip, all Nerima martial artists are in the woods gathering food. Others members of the others groups are either doing their chores or enjoying a break. Benji and Nabiki aren't the exception of that rule; Benji is tending the fire while Nabiki is sited next to him holding on his left arm.
Everything is calm and peace until a frightened scream cuts the air coming from the woods. "BEAR!!! MAD BEAR!!!" Benji looks at the direction of the scream and sees one of the freshmen running in terror. "EVERYONE TO THE TREES!!!" Benji shouted in the top of his lungs in his best commanding tone.
He immediately is obeyed by everyone, with his pistol on his right hand Benji runs with Nabiki to the closer tree and helps her to climb up on it. Coming from the direction from where the freshman came a large bear, the huge mammal roars. Benji can see a rather large cut in one of the bear's rear paws.
As the creature charges at his direction Benji noticing that he won't be able to climb fast enough he fires at the bear. Masses of sparks explode from the bear's head, the thick mass of fur and fat blocks the stun rounds charge. Benji jumps to his left avoiding the mad charge, quickly getting back to his feet Benji draws the survival knife that he was using on the trip.
The bear turns to Benji once again and roars loudly, Benji takes a deep breath and howls as loud as he can. Everyone watches in shock, if wasn't for the appearance they wouldn't be able to tell apart the beast and the man. Benji charges at the bear, the beast stands up and prepares to attack.
Benji tackles the bear and stabs downwards burying the long and sturdy edge on the bear's chests, Benji pulls the knife and continues to stab in a mad fury. Berserking with the pain the beats Benji's back with his paws scoring some deep cuts, the cuts have the same effect on Benji of Benji's stabs on the bear, it just makes Benji attack even fiercer.
Recovering from the shock the students and some of the teachers begin to cheer on the match. "Benji bite!" Nabiki shouted. Hearing the warning Benji blocks the massive maw with his left arm thankful for being wearing the blade shield on it as an extra protection against bumps.
As the fangs meet steel Benji changes his approach and rips downwards with the knife opening the bear's stomach and spilling his guts. Not over Benji changes the grip on the knife and slashes upwards aiming at the bear's neck, more blood from the bear jets over Benji's body.
Then the massive body loses strength and falls forward, Benji supports the massive form and throws it aside. Benji takes deep breaths recovering his breath from the short but exhaustive battle. Benji sees the deep gashes on his blade shield from where the bear bit him.
Benji changes the grip on the knife and walks to the corpse. Benji stabs downwards and rips downwards, the sound of bones breaking and being cut echoes while the excited students climb down from their hiding spots. "What he is doing?" Sakura asked to Nabiki while Benji opens the chest of the dead bear.
Benji rips open the ribcage and inserts his right hand inside the cavity as searching for something, he grins when finding whatever he was looking for, a sickening sound of flesh and muscle being rip fills the air and Benji pulls from the cavity the heart of the dead bear.
To the horror of everyone watching Benji takes a large bite of the bleeding muscle. Some students, including Nabiki's minions throw up while Benji eats the heart of his kill.
Nabiki walks to him and holds his right hand staining her white hands with the blood on his. "Nabiki-kun?" Tsubaki the homeroom teacher of her class said seeing Nabiki holding the hand of her husband. To the horror of everyone Nabiki bites the muscle with a hunger bigger than Benji's.
Tsubaki covers her mouth with her hands to prevent herself from throwing up at the scene, Benji only allows Nabiki to eat the still warm heart, inwardly he was happy and proud, and he couldn't explain why it made him happy seeing Nabiki eating that.
"A bit bland." Nabiki said after finishing the large heart. "Some salt would make it better." Benji smiled looking at her. "You are all dirty." He said gently cupping Nabiki's chin with his left hand and licking the blood from Nabiki's lips, chin and face. Nabiki closes her eyes and allow Benji to clean her up.
The others stare in a mix of disgust and embarrassment. "If that wasn't so gross because what they just ate it would be a cute scene." Tsubaki muttered looking away, Nabiki's minions nod agreeing. The Nerima wrecking crew; at least part of it returns to the camp and find Benji finishing cleaning Nabiki with the dead bear on their feet.
"What happened?" Ranma asked on his girl form. "We heard some screams and roars from here." "A bear attacked and he killed it." Mana said pointing to Benji. "He killed it just with a knife and ate the heart…he shared it with Nabiki."
"Gross." Ukyo commented seeing the open chest of the bear. "I am hungry." Nabiki said to Benji. "I want more." "What part?" Benji asked looking to the bear. "I think that a rear leg." Nabiki answered. Benji nods and swiftly cuts one of the rear legs and begins to skin it.
"Please tell me that you two aren't going to eat that." Ukyo pleaded to them. "I killed it." Benji said not looking to the okonomiaki chef. "I am not going to hunt of fish today." "I guess that he has a point in that." Ranma commented casually. "I mean it is meat enough to everyone here, it beats going out and killed many wild birds and hares."
"I am not going to eat that." Akane spat acidly. "Then don't eat." Nabiki said in a cold tone. "More for me."
Akane fumes in anger and stays in silence. While the leg roasts on the fire Nabiki and her minions wash away the blood from Benji using bucketfuls of water. Nabiki lightly rubs his back washing away the blood from his wounds. "At least isn't bad." Nabiki said while drying the wounds with a towel before placing the amazon medicine on them.
"It was mostly a blunt attack." Benji commented while holding back the painful feelings of the medicine. "It will bruise later." "At least we will have a really cool story to tell when we get back." Ranma commented cheerfully. "At we will have a nice souvenir too, I am smoking the skin so it can be tanned later, and it would be a waste leave it to rot."
"I am just a bit sad for the bear." Tsubaki commented in a serious tone. "I wonder why attacked us." "Someone slashed the bear with something." Benji clarified. "I saw his bloody leg." "I was Kuno." Ranma said in a serious tone. "He attacked me in the woods; one of his pressure attacks must have hit the bear."
"Now that explains everything. Tatewaki-kun will be punished for that later." Tsubaki said in a serious tone. "He endangered everyone in this camp and caused the death of an innocent animal." "That man killed the bear not Kuno-sempai." Akane spat pointing to Benji.
"Benji-kun only killed the bear to protect everyone on this camp from being killed on the bear's rampaged caused by Tatewaki-kun." Tsubaki said in a firm tone. "The one responsible isn't Benji-kun." Akane grits her teeth and stays in silence.
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Two days passed since the end of the camping, in their apartment Nabiki rushes to the bathroom actually much earlier than her usual waking hour. Benji groans rubbing his stomach while sitting up, on her frenzy to leave the bed Nabiki stomped on him.
"What is wrong Nabiki?" Benji asked moving to the bathroom.
His answer is the sound of Nabiki vomiting and the smell of it. Benji shoves the feelings of disgust away and walks to Nabiki, kneeling besides her and gently rubbing her back and keeping her lightly longer hair away from her face. "Sorry." Nabiki murmured sitting on the cold tiles of their bathroom.
"It is okay." Benji replied with a smile. "You are sick not to mention that you are quite light so you stomping on my stomach aren't all that painful, especially after all those times that you hit it with your body when we make love." He added last part teasingly. Nabiki smiles back and moves to kiss him.
Benji gently covers her mouth with his right hand. "Wash your mouth first if you want your good morning kiss." Benji said in a teasingly tone. "I love you but you just threw up." Nabiki blushes madly and moves to the sink embarrassed. 'What happened?' she asks to herself confused while rinsing her mouth. 'I am not this careless, but I was so happy that I forgot everything that could bother me.'
"I am sorry." Nabiki said while measuring a small cup of mouthwash. "It is okay, I am sure that you are still a bit sleepy." Benji said in a casual tone. "I will start the breakfast; you just relax and make sure that you are fine." "Thank you love." Nabiki said with a smile. "I just wonder why I woke up sick." "Maybe you ate something that disagreed with you." Benji replied leaving the bathroom.
Nabiki stays in silence and while using the mouthwash. She knows that she didn't ate anything unusual on the previous day, everything that she ate and drank was the same that she does nearly everyday, other than the food that is in a rather larger routine, it was fried chicken with rice, pickles and a salad. Everything was fresh.
Nabiki spits the mouthwash and rinses her mouth with water once again, looking at the mirror she exams her face and doesn't found anything wrong with her appearance, at least nothing than washing her face and brushing her hair won't solve. Nabiki washes her face and dries it on her towel and decides to brush her hair later, she was going to take a bath after the breakfast she could do it then.
Nabiki walks to the kitchen and sees Benji wearing his usual home clothes and pajamas, a pair of knee long blue shorts and a rather loose t-shirt. "You should put your apron." Nabiki commented hugging him from behind. "It prevents your clothes from getting dirty."
"If I was wearing something else I would agree." Benji replied in a casual tone while cutting thin slices of banana. "But this set will going to wash anyway, so there isn't need." "What is on today's menu?" Nabiki asked looking around his broad back. "For you a light fruit salad with granola and milk." Benji answered.
"I want something salty!" Nabiki exclaimed in a rather childish tone. "I want bacon, eggs and a tasty toast with that garlic butter that you make every now and then." "It is kind of heavy." Benji said in a worried tone. "You just vomited." "I am fine now; I am very, very hungry." Nabiki replied rubbing her cheek on his arm lovingly.
"Okay, while I am fixing eat this." Benji said handing to Nabiki a bowl of the fruit salad with granola and yogurt. "It is already sweetened." Nabiki nods and takes the bowl; she stirs the mix with the spoon on it and eats a spoonful of it while sitting on the counter. "You can eat on the table it is not like I won't take you the breakfast." Benji commented teasingly. "I just want to watch you cooking." Nabiki replied with a smile before eating another spoon of the salad. "For someone who didn't want that salad you are eating with much gusto." Benji teased while washing the cutting board and the knife.
Nabiki blushes but continues to eat in silence, Benji chuckles and pulls the needed items from the refrigerator and freezer. Benji starts the breakfast once again. "Drink." Benji said handing to Nabiki a glass of milk. Nabiki nods and takes the glass and drinks half of the contents in one gulp. "Well it wasn't supposed to be like that but I guess that it okay." Benji said seeing Nabiki downing the milk.
Nabiki is actually enjoying his actions and the worry, she just couldn't remember being treated like that every since her mother died, and Kasumi never treated her with that mix of worry and authority when she was sick. Nabiki idly move her feet on the air from her sitting spot, she was happy and the scent of the frying food was delicious.
"I want a lime." Nabiki said in a pleading tone. "Lime?" Benji asked confused. "Like you said that you used to ate, peeled and with sugar." Nabiki explained. Deciding to appease his wife Benji quickly peels the green peel of a lime and cuts it in the half; he fills a rice bowl with white sugar and hands them to Nabiki. "Thank you!" Nabiki exclaimed happily taking the offered goods.
She quickly dips one of the cut halves in the sugar making it stick to the wet surface before taking a bite of the now sugared fruit. 'Odd.' Benji thinks marking Nabiki's behavior to a later consult with doctor Tofu. Nabiki is happily eating the sugared lime as if it was an orange.
Benji continues the breakfast while Nabiki take turns in eating spoons of the fruit salad and the sugared lime. After ten minutes Benji places the breakfast in their dining table, Nabiki happily runs to the table and sits down thanking for the food and eating in a fast pace. Benji watches surprised eating in his normal speed.
After the breakfast Nabiki drags Benji to the bathroom where they bath together, actually Nabiki makes him bath her ignoring that she has classes. After cleaning each other Benji and Nabiki are soaking on the tub, Nabiki is leaned on Benji's chest with Benji's arms are around her waist with his hands resting on her stomach, Nabiki's head is leaned on his shoulder.
Nabiki is in heaven savoring the closeness of the man that she loves inside the warm water, she knows that she has responsibilities but they aren't important to her anymore, all that she wants is what she is getting on that moment.
With more than one hour late Nabiki enters on the school after the end of the first class, she isn't worried about her attendance, she has a good record and good attendance, and she can spare some lateness and absences, besides she had the excuse of being sick.
Benji in the other hand is worried about Nabiki, but wonders in the wisdom of telling to the doctor about it, his instincts are telling to not share it with him because it would be bad. Benji settles in going to work and in there look for a good doctor with the aid of Motoko and his health insurance.
Much later Nabiki is having lunch with her minions; it is a busy day on the Excellence's it is always a Tuesdays are always busy, not as much Fridays and Saturdays. Absent minded Nabiki hears her friends chatting about non-important subjects, Nabiki is also a bit worried with that incident in the morning, she was more clingy than the usual, also childish and with her sense of responsibility warped.
The thought of visiting the nurse office crosses her mind but the ever absent nurse Tanaka wouldn't be of any help, she never was there. Nabiki sighs tiredly and fishes a booklet from her bookcase. "What is that queen?" Sakura asked curious. "It is a list of affiliated doctors that the health insurance that Benji gained from the Excellence's." Nabiki answered in a plain tone.
"You aren't feeling well?" Mana asked in a worried tone. "Right now I am fine but earlier I was feeling sick, that is why I was late." Nabiki replied flipping the pages of the booklet. "I thought that you were busy making him late." Mana teased, she wouldn't deny that after meeting Benji she become close friends with Nabiki, in the past those kind of comments wouldn't be tolerated and would have serious repercussions.
"Not today." Nabiki said in a plain tone, she wasn't in the mood for playing around. "This one is quite good." Mayumi said pointing to one of the doctors. "He is the one that my family visits." "I think that I might go on this one." Nabiki replied. "If you vouch for him then I think that is okay." "He is a good doctor, he treats me since I was a child, and he is the one that found that I needed to remove my appendix last year." Mayumi said in a serious tone. "If he thinks that he can't treat he will indicate a good doctor for the problem that you have."
"Sounds good for me." Nabiki commented. "I am hoping that is just something with my stomach like a bug or something, it was just some vomiting." "Eewww." Mana said. "I am better now; I ate lots of fruits, cereal and grains." Nabiki commented. "Well also bacon, ham, eggs, butter garlic toast, sausages and some French bread."
"I am impressed with the amount that you eat and remain slim." Mana said in a serious tone. "I never see your working harder than in our P.E. classes." Nabiki chuckles lightly. "I work out every day with Benji and not only in the way that you three are thinking." Nabiki commented. "Every morning we go for a light run, three kilometers, after seven PM we go to a gym to work out, some gymnastics and using machinery, it was in there that Benji mastered his speed firing."
"Well it does explain why you two are in such good shape." Mayumi commented. "Of course we are, sex is very extenuating we have to be in our best shapes to make it even better, not to mention how much stamina he gains with his endurance exercises." Nabiki said in a cheerful tone. The trio blushes madly. "How many times a day?" The trio asks curious.
"Depends of many factors." Nabiki answered seriously. "But in the average around eight. If there are other factors that can influence might be even more." "What kind of factors?" Mana asked. "Like how I felt before the battle with Cardin, before we came we did around twelve times counting on the night before and in the morning." Nabiki answered. "Fear, worry and other things like that influences it; we try to drive them away together."
"That is romantic." Mayumi commented. "I wonder if I find a man we will do that much." "Who knows, if you get lucky you might." Nabiki replied casually. Using her cell phone Nabiki schedules an appointment with the doctor rather happy that there was an opening in the mid afternoon.
Later Nabiki leaves the clinic with more questions than answers, not really willing Nabiki walks to a closer drugstore to buy the prescribed medicine, for some reason Nabiki didn't want to take medicines. While the clerk fetches the medicine Nabiki looks around the shelves, she wonders if she should buy some of the chocolate bars displayed there, for some reason she was hungry and wanted sugar.
Deciding in purchasing the wanted treat Nabiki select some bars of the varieties offered there, moving back to the counter Nabiki stops by a product. "Well after that night before the battle I guess that I could play safe." She whispered buying three pregnancy test kits. It would be a certain way to ensure the result by using three kits.
Nabiki leaves the store eating one of the chocolate bars. 'I am not really sure if I want or not to be pregnant.' She thinks walking to her apartment. 'In the past I would pray to heaven to not be pregnant. It is so funny how love changes things, now I am partly hoping to be pregnant; it is the child of our love.'
Later on that night Benji arrives on the apartment, it was one of the rare days that he and Nabiki don't arrive together; it was a rather nice change to arrive knowing that she is there, the enticing scent of food being prepared is also a nice change. "Tadaima." Benji said entering on the apartment and taking out his shoes on the entry.
"Okaerinasai." Nabiki cheerfully replied from the kitchen. "You sound very cheerful." Benji said taking out his jacket and moving to the kitchen. "Anything good happened?" "Yes." Nabiki answered resting the large spoon that she was using to stir a pan filled with tomato sauce with beef and turning to face Benji after lowering the heat.
"Wait here." Nabiki said pushing Benji out of the kitchen and into their bedroom. Benji wonders what is going on while tossing his coat over the bed; he opens the top buttons of his shirt while waiting for Nabiki.
Few minutes passes and Benji starts to worry. Nabiki walks out of the bathroom with her hands behind her back and a smile on her face. "Pick one hand." Nabiki said in a childish tone, it was a game that Benji taught to Nabiki, it was common in Brazil in order to give things as surprise to someone.
"You aren't going to cheat and swap whatever you have to the hand that I don't pick, are you?" Benji asked teasingly. "Me cheating?" Nabiki exclaimed in a mock sorrowful and hurt tone. "You break my frail heart with your words. Now pick one."
Benji nods and points to her right hand. "Not this one." Nabiki said showing her empty right hand. "But in this one." Nabiki added showing her left hand. "What are those sticks?" Benji asked confused. "I knew that you wouldn't know." Nabiki commented pulling a small box from her back pocket. "Read it."
Benji nods and reads the text in the box. "I can see that you know what they are now." Nabiki said seeing how Benji stiffened; she sits on his lap and wraps her right arm around his neck. "Congratulations daddy, I am very much pregnant." She whispered kissing him.
Not noticing a reaction on Benji Nabiki breaks the kiss and looks at him. "I don't believe on this!" she exclaimed mildly angrily. "You don't faint when feeling insane pains or in severe hemorrhagic shock and you faint when I tell you that I am pregnant!" Nabiki shakes Benji and lightly slaps his cheeks.
He recovers rather fast and looks around confused. "Before you say anything I am pregnant." Nabiki said in a serious tone. "I recall that." Benji said hugging Nabiki. "How angry you are?" "About being pregnant not a bit." Nabiki answered. "But about you fainting on me because I told you I am a bit angry, I was expecting you to be happy."
"I am happy, surprised but happy." Benji answered kissing Nabiki. "This explains your sickness." "I already scheduled an appointment for us on my gynecologist." Nabiki said kissing him back. "It is tomorrow after school." "How you got it so soon?" Benji asked curious. "As I said is my gynecologist so when I told her about being pregnant she rescheduled another patient that was going for a check up." Nabiki answered with a smile. "I have a little priority since I am an old patient of hers and I am pregnant."
"To be honest with you I thought that you wouldn't want a child so soon." Benji commented in a light tone. "We did try to avoid, but since happened I am not going to endanger our child." Nabiki replied seriously. "I know that we can raise this child and I can have my career even being a mother."
"I know that too." Benji said kissing Nabiki. "If needed I stay home so you can work, it is not like I really need to work in the Excellence's I just enjoy working there." "I know." Nabiki whispered kissing him back. "I knew that you would support me, for now you can continue, I will quit school. Actually I will make them give me all the remaining tests; it is my final year I think that I can work out with them so I don't have to stay there and yet graduate."
"I will help you with that." Benji said with a smile. "I am sure that we can convince Tsubaki-sensei in helping too. She seems to like me so with some pleading." Nabiki chuckled lightly. "After you killed that bear you are her favorite hero." Nabiki commented. "She keeps asking me when you are show up."
"Then it will be easy to make them let you take the tests to graduate." Benji said casually. "I hope so." Nabiki replied leaning her head on his shoulder. "I want to enjoy the pregnancy and not worry about anything else."
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Two weeks passed since Nabiki discovered her pregnancy and confirmed it with a blood test; it was what she needed to take the tests that would be replacing her presence in the classes for the remaining year. It took four days of constant testing to Nabiki finish everything, to the surprise of all her teachers Nabiki aced all the tests and was officially dismissed from the classes, thought she was going to participate of the graduation of her class and by insistence of her friends she would also aid in the school festival.
Nabiki and Benji are on the school once again, it is a Saturday and the school is empty. Nabiki is wearing a long black skirt, a white turtleneck sweater and black shoes. Benji is wearing black shoes, black trousers, a white button up shirt and a long black coat, as usual perfectly styled to him making it looks as a hybrid between a coat and a cloak, however the most stunning piece of clothing in Benji is the every denied tie, it is a simple black tie.
"Well now that I don't have to come here anymore I kind of miss it." Nabiki said while they stroll on the school grounds, they are there for Nabiki's personal farewell to the school. For years she studded and made business there, three of her best friends are from that school, four if counting Sachiko what once studied there.
"I think that you will be safer no longer coming here, but I won't deny that I will miss coming here for lunch." Benji said in a casual tone. "Looking back there are things that I could have done but never did." Nabiki commented while they walk to the school gym, she held some bad feelings because the fight with Cardin but most of her feelings are neutral towards it.
Inside the gym Nabiki looks around finding it as the school deserted and with out life. "I came here often taking bets in games." She said looking at the spot where she used to sit in those events. "I don't regret doing it but being the Ice Queen killed my social life."
"It is true but now you have real friends and you have me." Benji said in the middle of the court. Nabiki smiles at the sight of her husband with his arms open and his long coat tail spread wide with his movement. "That is a very blissful truth." Nabiki said smiling.
Nabiki sees a basketful of basket balls and tosses one to Benji. Benji grabs the ball and looks at Nabiki. "Just try." Nabiki said pointing to the basket. Benji nods and walks to the shot line and toss it. "Well it wasn't all that bad." Benji said after the ball hit the ring. "I am not really good in basketball, I used to play handball." Benji picks the ball and throw it again this times scoring.
"Let me try." Nabiki said taking the bouncing ball, Nabiki moves to the line and aim carefully. "You are good." Benji said when Nabiki scores it on the first try. "I used to practice a little before my mother died, I never really liked basketball it was just an exercise other than martial arts." Nabiki said in a wistful tone. "My mother however loved seeing me in my little uniform."
"I am sure that you were very cute." Benji said kissing Nabiki's neck from behind. "It must have some pictures somewhere in the dojo; we can look for them later." Nabiki said turning to Benji and kissing him. "Now we walk some more." Benji nods and let Nabiki lead him around the school, they do replace the ball on the basket before leaving the gym.
"I remember doing everything to skip this class." Nabiki said when they enter on the home economic classroom. "And now I happily cook for us. I used to hate cooking; now I enjoy cooking just to hear you praising it."
"You cook well and deserve every praise." Benji said with a smile. "Not to mention that you are a cook that I love to kiss." Nabiki blushes while moving around the counters of the empty classroom. "You also cook very well." Nabiki replied. "I love eating your food." "As much I love eating yours." Benji said moving to Nabiki and hugging her. Nabiki kissed Benji and rested a little on his arms.
After a while they move to Nabiki's classroom, the sun is beginning to set painting the sky with red, orange and golden colors. "I think that I will miss this room." Nabiki said sited on her chair. Benji is standing by the window leaning on the wall. "I will miss it too, we had so many lunches here." He commented recalled the countless times that he visited just for that.
Nabiki stands up and walks to the window, she rests her hand on the glass and looks at the distant horizon and the landscape. "I think that I grew up too fast." Nabiki said in a thoughtful tone. "When I was a child I had to grow to someone who could provide my family, before I noticed I was a cold teen doing horrible things for money, then you appeared on my life." Nabiki chuckles and added. "Maybe I should say crashed on my life."
"It was a kind of rough landing." Benji commented casually. "I was lucky that Ranma prevented Akane from hitting me." Nabiki nods agreeing. "I still can't understand what you saw on me and why I fell in love so easily, I had so many walls and defenses." Nabiki said looking at him. "Tell me why you penetrated those walls so easily."
"Because you wanted me to do it." Benji answered with a smile. "I told you this before Nabiki, your eyes begged me to protect you, whenever you looked to me when collecting you begged me to make you stop, that is why we expended so many hours together when you said that was just to teach me Japanese, I think that you never noticed how close you sited next to me or flashed me your bra or panties, you were attracting me to you."
"I did?" Nabiki asked truly never noticing that, after they began dating she did flashed him quite often; it was her favorite game on enticing Benji. "You dressed on those skimpy shorts and tank top, bended forward more than the needed, flapped the front of your shirt saying that was too hot. I recall very well when you shouted 'it is too hot!' and flapped the hem of your shirt exposing your bra, stomach and I must say that by your pose also your panties. Before you ask I also remember the set, a plain white cotton one."
Nabiki blushes recalling that specific incident, he was right it was a set of white bra and panties; it was part of what she called comfort collection, she also have the sport collection and the seduction collection. "I don't believe that you remembered that after so long." Nabiki muttered blushing. "Of course I remember." Benji replied hugging Nabiki.
"You are distracting me." Nabiki whispered noticing that Benji haven't given her a straight answer of why he loves her, he never gives her a straight answer for that. "I know." Benji replied kissing her neck. Nabiki sighs and relaxes on his arms, for many minutes they stay there looking at the sunset.
"Let's go home." Nabiki said after a while. Benji nods and they leave the classroom, they wouldn't be returning there other than for the school festival that was one month away and after that they probably wouldn't return.
"Why the visit?" Atsuko said leaning on her car that is parked next to Benji's BMW. "I am leaving this school." Nabiki answered. "I am just having my particular last look on the school." "And why you are dropping school?" Atsuko asked seriously. "I am not dropping." Nabiki replied also seriously. "I have graduated earlier; I took all the needed tests and passed on them all."
"Then why that?" Atsuko asked looking at Benji. "I am pregnant." Nabiki answered looking at the policewoman; the shock on her face is priceless. "I am leaving school so can have a quiet pregnancy, call it of student maternal leave."
"So you are going to support her?" Atsuko asked looking at Benji. "Of course I will." Benji answered. "Nabiki is my wife and I love her, the child that she is carrying is the proof of our love." "Then why you are dressed up like that?" Atsuko asked pointing to his outfit.
"We were in a meeting before coming here." Benji answered. "We bought a lot in the train station here in Nerima, I am opening my own branch of Excellence's, I would name it in another way but Nabiki and Motoko insisted on me naming like that so it would attract costumers here by the fame of the original store."
"For sure I will be a regular." Atsuko said with a smile. "To be honest I am not here to interrogate you or your wife, my sister is worried about you two." "Sister?" Nabiki asked confused. "Sakura." Atsuko said in a casual tone. "I am tall and more developed than Sakura, I took after our mother so we don't even look alike, my sister has a more traditional beauty and I am a bit of a tomboy."
"I remember that Sakura opposed us when we began dating." Benji commented to Nabiki. "She has a crush on your wife." Atsuko said pointing to Nabiki. "Don't ask me about her preferences, we don't live together, but Sakura visits me quite often and she complained a lot about you stealing her sempai from her."
"Mind if we talk in another place?" Nabiki asked in a casual tone. "It is a bit chilly." "The autumn is arriving after all." Atsuko commented. "What about in our place, we can talk there with out worrying about anyone hearing us, and I do have some passion fruit mousse pie there too." Benji said in a light tone. "How you don't get fat?" Atsuko asked to Nabiki.
"I work out a lot." Nabiki answered with a smile. "It is a must when he works with cakes, pies and other sweets and pastries; I also have a tendency of not gaining weight that also helps a lot."
Half an hour later they are having tea on the living room of Benji's and Nabiki's apartment. "So you know Aki?" Benji asked to Atsuko. "Yeah, she was my classmate in the college, we both took journalism classes but I got caught in investigative news and from there I became a cop." Atsuko answered.
"I will have a serious conversation with Sakura." Nabiki muttered. "Because of her Benji can't carry the hyou around, even when stored." "I must say that I am impressed with the fact that you were the assassin of that day." Atsuko commented. "Sakura made me swear to not tell to anyone about you being the assassin and rescuing everyone."
"When she told you?" Nabiki asked. "A while ago, after the camping trip when she told me about the bear incident, she spilled about how he killed many yakuzas with out getting hurt just rescue you and your friends." Atsuko answered. "By doing that he also rescued Sakura from being harm in the future I just couldn't arrest you. Sakura kept telling me stories of how you only shoot someone to protect Nabiki or prevent those insane martial artists of rampaging around and hurting someone."
"I try avoiding using my weapons and diminish the damage that they cause." Benji said in a serious tone. "My weapons are meant to be used in the protection of my loved one and our happiness."
Atsuko sighs sipping some tea. "I really wanted that my lover was more like you." She commented in a tired tone. "I heard everything about you from my sister, she hated you in the beginning and now she likes you as a friend, I heard every complain; your defects and more recently your qualities."
"I was very lucky." Nabiki said with a smile. "I won't deny that, I think that you got a dying breed." Atsuko muttered. "He cooks, he gives you presents, treats you like a princess and from what I heard is good in bed." "He is very good there." Nabiki commented with a happy tone and a large smile. "So good that I got pregnant of enjoying too much."
"For sure sounds a plausible reason." Atsuko commented. "My boyfriend is too selfish and is too bound by traditions, he is demanding that for us to marry I have to quit working and stay home." "Dump him." Benji and Nabiki said as one. Atsuko looks at the two shocked. "If he doesn't want you as you are then you are better off with out him." Nabiki said and Benji nods agreeing.
"I was the worst kind of woman that I could be with out being a prostitute, I blackmailed, ran betting circles, schemes and countless other ways of making money exploring others." Nabiki said in a serious tone. "Benji knew everything about me and accepted me as I am, he stopped me of continuing not because he wanted because I should stay home, he stopped me because he was worried about my safety doing what I did, and Benji nearly died to me understand the danger of what I was doing."
"What happened?" Atsuko asked seriously. "In one day of collecting a debt of a dangerous student that student set us up, Benji was stabbed and I didn't notice; I was too worried with the money of the debt to notice." Nabiki answered in a somber tone. "Just later that I would see that he was hurt, he was bleeding of a large cut on his left side where the blade was blocked by the rib and the flesh was cut with the momentum of the blade. I took him to a doctor but he fainted on the way, he was enduring the pain in silence and never intended in letting me know about it. He had done that before with smaller wounds."
Atsuko looks at Benji impressed. "After an attempt against my life on that same night Benji confessed his feelings to me, I was shocked; I left him alone while we moved to our house. The clinic was closed because it was a crime scene." Nabiki continued. "When started raining I realized how stupid I was, I left someone that loved me so much that he nearly died twice in the same day alone in the rain wounded and tired. After those shocks I realized that I should stop, he did told me stop when I turned eighteen, but he never told me to give up on something that I want. He even told me that would stop working so he could take care of our child while I go to college."
"You are lucky." Atsuko said with a small smile. "Not everyone is like that. You found your right man." "I won't ever deny that." Nabiki replied with a smile. "He brought me more happiness that I think that I am worth." "You are embarrassing me." Benji said in am embarrassed tone. "I am not all that good." "Yes you are." They said as one. "I am more than sure of that." Nabiki added kissing him.
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Nabiki sits on the empty bed of what once was her bedroom with Benji. The bed wasn't longer warm, a safe refuge of love and secrets where they would share things that they wouldn't say in any other place. Nabiki hugs a pillow remembering once again when she cradled Rosa on her arms and nestled the child between her breasts, then Benji hugged her keeping their child warm, protected and safe between them.
Those days are long gone when Rosa would enter in their room and plead to join them on the bed because she had a bad dream, they usually ended with the three of them like that, gently squeezing Rosa between their bodies; for the child hearing the heartbeats of her parents like that soothed her.
Nabiki smiles bitterly recalling that in those moments Benji would sing a soft anime song or she would tell a story to Rosa until she falls in sleep again. She chuckles remembering that whenever it was a story Rosa wouldn't fall in sleep easily curious to hear it all.
Tears fall on the pillow as the memories flood her mind's eye. She missed and longed for those moments, she remembered vividly every memory that she wasn't sure if was hers anymore; at each passing day Nabiki felt more and more like the Nabiki on her memories with Benji and the Nabiki that she is aren't the same; as she knows that Benji isn't the same as he was in her memories.
Benji wasn't a cursed werewolf that solved everything with martial arts and brutal killings; he was a highly skilled gunman that only killed to defend his loved ones, and as well for avenge a beloved friend; but above everything Benji was a faithful spouse that loved his wife more than anything, not falling for any women trying to seduce him, and they weren't few to try to stray him.
Nabiki leaves the bed and carelessly tosses the pillow on it, she walks out of the room and moves two doors to the left, she opens the door and sees the neatly decorated girly room that once was Rosa's.
A bed with blue covers with black cat prints is against the left wall, over it is a long shelf filled with a mixture of dolls, plushies, books, magazines and mangas. In the opposite wall is a study desk with a padded chair, over the desk there is a computer as well books, notebooks, a pencil case and few photo frames. Besides the desk is a rather large wardrobe and a dresser, the dresser have few cases for makeup, accessories and more items as brushes, perfume bottles and a lonely photo frame.
In the wall facing the door is a closed window with the curtains closed over it, beside the windows a couple more shelves with toys, magazines and photo frames. Nabiki enters on the room and moves to the chest of drawers over the bed headrest, in there it has more pictures, few albums and a digital camera; the ones that they made for Rosa, the little girl took her mother's love and as well talent for photography.
Nabiki lightly brushes a layer of dust in one of the pictures of the dresser and smiles seeing that is a picture of the late months of her pregnancy, in that one she is wearing a loose green dress, she is sited on a chair with Benji hugging her from behind with his cheek pressed against hers, because of the position it couldn't be seem much of Benji's clothes only the rolled up sleeves of his shirt; his hair is styled on the usual way while her own hair is longer, reaching bellow her shoulders.
It wasn't a secret for her that Rosa loved her and Benji, she openly admitted to anyone that asked her. Rosa had many pictures of them on her room and album, not all of them was taken with father, mother and daughter.
Nabiki looks away from the photograph and the smiling faces that she and Benji never had, her eyes line with a large amount of black fur. It was Benji the black cat plushie that once was hers, when Rosa was still a infant Nabiki decided to give it to her daughter; just when the little girl was four Nabiki presented her with the plushie, but that didn't stopped Rosa of sneaking on her parents room to sleep with the plushie, she loved the big cat, even being bigger than her.
Nabiki smiles recalling finding many times her daughter tangled in sleep with the plushie, most of the times the plushie was covering her as a blanket. Nabiki reaches for the plushie and softly runs her fingers on the black fur; she sits on the bed and hugs the plushie.
Nabiki starts to cry when feeling even very faintly the scent of her daughter on the old stuffed animal; it was so minimal and faint that only makes Nabiki sob and cry much harder.
End of the chapter thirty eight:
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