SINS OF EDEN
Chapter 13
'I only know that I know nothing...'
-Some greek guy(^_^)
*****
A restless Akane reviewed her work. It had taken her most of the day,
and quite a few headaches, to make up some sort of plan for her.
Tracking down someone was not going to be easy, so she decided she needed
someone with this kind of thing under their wing...
And she knew just who to call.
-----
A woman typed away quickly on a small lab-top PC, letting other people
in the building wondering what she would do now. A major deal, or
some kind of little game that would put someone in a very promising
position? No one knew.
*Ring... ring...*
The woman looked at her phone and picked it up.
"Hello?"
'One moment please,' said a voice on the other end.
She timed how long it took for the caller to answer.
'Hello, Nabiki?'
Eight seconds.
"Akane, is that you?"
'Yeah, it's me. Been a while, hasn't it?'
"Sure has," she said as she got more comfortable in her chair. "So what's
up?"
'How's work coming along?'
"Fine, but I doubt you called for that. What is it?"
There was a measured sigh, then a small pause. "I found Ranma."
Nabiki blinked. "Come again?"
'What I said. I found him.'
Nabiki could not believe her ears. It had been years since she had thought
about him, little alone heard of him in any aspect.
"So, what about him? I mean, you two didn't exactly part on good terms."
'Listen, don't talk. I'm calling in that small favor you owe me.'
Nabiki laughed. She still remembered that little scene with Kuno.
"I taught you well. So, what is it?"
'I need you to track him down for me.'
"Huh?"
'Yeah, don't ask why, but I have to find him. He skipped town yesterday,
so I need you to check on anything from planes to busses, within
the area. All under Saotome and purchased under 24 hours.'
"Wow, sounds big. No worries, I have connections. But, if I may ask,
why?"
'Let's just say that I'm not letting him leave me out of the loop again.'
After that, the line went dead.
Nabiki put the phone back, streched and thought.
*Well, guess I gotta. I don't wanna, but hell, why not?* she though as
she picked up the phone and dialed. *I'm gonna ask what this was
all about.*
*****
"You're really serious about this," said Nui. "Are you?"
Akane nodded slowly at her friend. She had called her to her place
to explain the whole situation. She understood, mostly, except for the
part of her going to find him.
"I have to be. I just have this thing, that's telling me I have to go
after him. Ever feel anything like that?"
"Almost every saturday night that I was grounded." They both laughed.
"Well anyway, how do you know where to go? I mean, he didn't exactly leave
a slip of paper or something."
"I have a -connection, that got me his whereabouts."
"So, where?" she asked as she leaned forward and rested her head on her
wrists.
"Apparently, he took a flight out of here, and currently he's at Hebei
province in China. That's all I was able to get, though."
"China, always wanted to go there. But, do you know why he's there? I mean,
according to 'Sex Change Monthly', the only cure for him is in Jusenkyo,
if he hasn't already been cured."
"Good point," Akane admitted. "I really don't have a clue what his business
might be there, but there has to be a reason, don't you think?
"Nah, too much work. I just zone out."
Akane laughed. "Well anyway, I- guess that I'm going."
Nui reached forward and grabbed her hands. "You're really doing this."
It was more a statement than a question.
"I, I want to do this. I want to know what's going on, and I feel that I
HAVE to do this. I've felt this strongly."
"Then all I can say, is that I wish you all the luck in the world.
I'd go, liking adventure and all, but I gotta stay and handle the dojo
while you're gone. Man, I hate missing out on epic adventures!"
Akane retrieved her hands and laughed. Standing, she walked into the kitchen
and got her airline ticket from the counter; she stared at it.
"Nui," she said, not turning, "I'm scared. I don't know why, but I feel
this thing, that, I don't know."
Nui got up, walked to her and leaned on the wall next to her. "Listen
girl, fear is a good thing. It keeps you on your toes. You should use
it to your advantage. Other than that," she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What time you leave? I wanna see you off."
"Thanks Nui. Eleven, tonight. I'm all packed."
Nui checked her watch. "Just like you to tell me at the last moment. It's
nine. Come on, let's go, or you're gonna miss your plane."
*****
At the terminal, Nui and Akane waited for the call to board.
"Akane, you better take care, 'cause I still wanna annoy you some more."
"I'll be fine. Don't worry. You gonna be all right getting home?"
"Yeah, no worries. I called Shin; he's coming to pick me up."
"You really hit it off with this guy, huh."
"Hell yeah. He's just so..." She made the 'Girl-in-Love' pose; hands
together and a dreamy sigh.
Akane laughed.
'Now boarding Flight 309, heading for China. All passengers, please begin
boarding.' a voice said.
"Well, that's me," Akane said. She got up and grabbed her suitcase, which
was large and many people stared at her and Nui as she carried it in one
hand with no visible effort.
After her bags were checked and loaded, Akane hugged Nui at the gate.
"Well kiddo, I'm off."
"Gonna miss ya, girl."
Akane let go of her and walked towards the gate. She turned just in time
to see Shin, dressed in casual sports wear coming up behind Nui. She smiled
and pointed to him. Nui turned and caught Shin right before he spooked
her. She hugged him, then kissed him quickly.
Nui kissed Shin, then turned to see Akane. She waved, Akane doing the same
as she went out of sight in the boarding corridors.
"Where is Akane heading so quickly?" asked Shin as he put his arm around
Nui.
"China. She's gonna go look for her old boyfriend."
"I see."
Nui sighed as she burrowed herself into his embrace. "Do you think she'll
be alright?"
"Yes," he said confidently. "I'm very sure she will find what she's
expecting."
End of Chapter 13
A.N.
Sorry for the delay, but here's the chapter.
'Till next time...
BlackDragon
Chapter 13
'I only know that I know nothing...'
-Some greek guy(^_^)
*****
A restless Akane reviewed her work. It had taken her most of the day,
and quite a few headaches, to make up some sort of plan for her.
Tracking down someone was not going to be easy, so she decided she needed
someone with this kind of thing under their wing...
And she knew just who to call.
-----
A woman typed away quickly on a small lab-top PC, letting other people
in the building wondering what she would do now. A major deal, or
some kind of little game that would put someone in a very promising
position? No one knew.
*Ring... ring...*
The woman looked at her phone and picked it up.
"Hello?"
'One moment please,' said a voice on the other end.
She timed how long it took for the caller to answer.
'Hello, Nabiki?'
Eight seconds.
"Akane, is that you?"
'Yeah, it's me. Been a while, hasn't it?'
"Sure has," she said as she got more comfortable in her chair. "So what's
up?"
'How's work coming along?'
"Fine, but I doubt you called for that. What is it?"
There was a measured sigh, then a small pause. "I found Ranma."
Nabiki blinked. "Come again?"
'What I said. I found him.'
Nabiki could not believe her ears. It had been years since she had thought
about him, little alone heard of him in any aspect.
"So, what about him? I mean, you two didn't exactly part on good terms."
'Listen, don't talk. I'm calling in that small favor you owe me.'
Nabiki laughed. She still remembered that little scene with Kuno.
"I taught you well. So, what is it?"
'I need you to track him down for me.'
"Huh?"
'Yeah, don't ask why, but I have to find him. He skipped town yesterday,
so I need you to check on anything from planes to busses, within
the area. All under Saotome and purchased under 24 hours.'
"Wow, sounds big. No worries, I have connections. But, if I may ask,
why?"
'Let's just say that I'm not letting him leave me out of the loop again.'
After that, the line went dead.
Nabiki put the phone back, streched and thought.
*Well, guess I gotta. I don't wanna, but hell, why not?* she though as
she picked up the phone and dialed. *I'm gonna ask what this was
all about.*
*****
"You're really serious about this," said Nui. "Are you?"
Akane nodded slowly at her friend. She had called her to her place
to explain the whole situation. She understood, mostly, except for the
part of her going to find him.
"I have to be. I just have this thing, that's telling me I have to go
after him. Ever feel anything like that?"
"Almost every saturday night that I was grounded." They both laughed.
"Well anyway, how do you know where to go? I mean, he didn't exactly leave
a slip of paper or something."
"I have a -connection, that got me his whereabouts."
"So, where?" she asked as she leaned forward and rested her head on her
wrists.
"Apparently, he took a flight out of here, and currently he's at Hebei
province in China. That's all I was able to get, though."
"China, always wanted to go there. But, do you know why he's there? I mean,
according to 'Sex Change Monthly', the only cure for him is in Jusenkyo,
if he hasn't already been cured."
"Good point," Akane admitted. "I really don't have a clue what his business
might be there, but there has to be a reason, don't you think?
"Nah, too much work. I just zone out."
Akane laughed. "Well anyway, I- guess that I'm going."
Nui reached forward and grabbed her hands. "You're really doing this."
It was more a statement than a question.
"I, I want to do this. I want to know what's going on, and I feel that I
HAVE to do this. I've felt this strongly."
"Then all I can say, is that I wish you all the luck in the world.
I'd go, liking adventure and all, but I gotta stay and handle the dojo
while you're gone. Man, I hate missing out on epic adventures!"
Akane retrieved her hands and laughed. Standing, she walked into the kitchen
and got her airline ticket from the counter; she stared at it.
"Nui," she said, not turning, "I'm scared. I don't know why, but I feel
this thing, that, I don't know."
Nui got up, walked to her and leaned on the wall next to her. "Listen
girl, fear is a good thing. It keeps you on your toes. You should use
it to your advantage. Other than that," she placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What time you leave? I wanna see you off."
"Thanks Nui. Eleven, tonight. I'm all packed."
Nui checked her watch. "Just like you to tell me at the last moment. It's
nine. Come on, let's go, or you're gonna miss your plane."
*****
At the terminal, Nui and Akane waited for the call to board.
"Akane, you better take care, 'cause I still wanna annoy you some more."
"I'll be fine. Don't worry. You gonna be all right getting home?"
"Yeah, no worries. I called Shin; he's coming to pick me up."
"You really hit it off with this guy, huh."
"Hell yeah. He's just so..." She made the 'Girl-in-Love' pose; hands
together and a dreamy sigh.
Akane laughed.
'Now boarding Flight 309, heading for China. All passengers, please begin
boarding.' a voice said.
"Well, that's me," Akane said. She got up and grabbed her suitcase, which
was large and many people stared at her and Nui as she carried it in one
hand with no visible effort.
After her bags were checked and loaded, Akane hugged Nui at the gate.
"Well kiddo, I'm off."
"Gonna miss ya, girl."
Akane let go of her and walked towards the gate. She turned just in time
to see Shin, dressed in casual sports wear coming up behind Nui. She smiled
and pointed to him. Nui turned and caught Shin right before he spooked
her. She hugged him, then kissed him quickly.
Nui kissed Shin, then turned to see Akane. She waved, Akane doing the same
as she went out of sight in the boarding corridors.
"Where is Akane heading so quickly?" asked Shin as he put his arm around
Nui.
"China. She's gonna go look for her old boyfriend."
"I see."
Nui sighed as she burrowed herself into his embrace. "Do you think she'll
be alright?"
"Yes," he said confidently. "I'm very sure she will find what she's
expecting."
End of Chapter 13
A.N.
Sorry for the delay, but here's the chapter.
'Till next time...
BlackDragon