Interesting Times
By socchan
Chapter Thirteen: Showdown
As the sun set on Thursday night, Nabiki couldn't help her slight feeling of apprehension. She sat just outside Carmella's store, having vowed to help however she could. Kuno sat next to her, holding her hand, having made the same vow when he found out she would be fighting. A katana Carmella had put countless offensive and defensive spells on lay next to him. They stared in silence, watching as the sun went down, content just to be in each other's company.
"We could die tonight." Nabiki said, quietly.
"I know." Kuno replied, his voice equally soft.
"Whatever happens," Nabiki said, swallowing past a lump in her throat, "I want you to know that I love you."
Kuno let go of her hand to drape his arm over her shoulders, and pull her in close. "I know that, too. And so do I."
Tears pricked at Nabiki's eyes as she looked up at him. "Thanks for the best few weeks of my life."
"Ditto." They embraced silently for a moment as the sun finally dipped behind a hill. They broke apart reluctantly. "Come on, Kuno said, picking up his blade, "The others will be waiting."
Nabiki scrubbed at her eyes and nodded, rising to join him. As the last embers of the sunset died, her ears and canines elongated, twin tails sprouting from her back. Brown velvet fur rippled over her body, and amber eyes twinkled in the growing darkness. It was time; the battle was at hand.
Nabiki watched as space shifted around the store, opening to a wide field. At her side stood Kuno, three hundred or more mystics and other warriors at their backs, an army of unliving beings in front of them, led by a dark-haired youth. Greg, she thought with malice, extending her claws as he raised his arm. "One last chance, Carmella." His voice boomed across the field. "Give up the book!"
Carmella stepped out of the crowd, in front of Nabiki, glowing with power. "I will never surrender the book!" Her voice dripped with hatred, and echoed throughout the surrounding area.
Greg dropped his arm. "So be it; you've had your warning. Now face the consequences. Charge!" At once the army rushed forward to meet the mystics halfway. Kuno and Nabiki were met by a demonic figure before they had taken more than a few steps. Kuno drew his sword, and felled it with two strokes; they pressed on.
Something tickled at Nabiki's senses; she whirled around, and sunk her claws into the creature that was sneaking up behind her. It let out an unearthly scream as she ripped through it. Nabiki dropped its carcass, wiping off her bloodied claws and scanning the crowd for Kuno. She did not stop to think about the act she had just committed, knowing it would only make her sick. Instead, she focused only on her goal. Thus, she missed it when the beast she had just put down struggled to its feet.
A howl ripped through the air, and wind rushed past Nabiki as a black wolf with glowing amber eyes tore through the monster behind her. A tall boy in his late teens jogged up to her. "You okay?"
Nabiki nodded, slightly shaken. "Yeah, I'm fine. Have you seen a tall guy with a katana around? He isn't magic himself, but the sword is."
The boy shook his head. "Sorry; I'm new around here, so I don't recognize many people. I can help you look, though."
Nabiki nodded in appreciation. "Thanks. Come on, I think he was working towards the front."
The boy turned, put his fingers to his lips, and whistled two short notes. "Nyx! C'mon, let's go!" The black wolf looked up from where it was chewing at the remains of the creature that attacked Nabiki. It dropped the piece of rancid flesh that was in its jaws, and trotted up to the boy. The three of them fought their way to the front line.
Nabiki at last spotted Kuno as she tore a demon in half. There he was, slicing Greg's warriors up left and right, calling out her name. Nabiki glanced over her shoulder to the boy that helped her through. "I think I found him!" she called. "Thanks for your help!" The boy spared her a wave, then went back to directing the wolf as Nabiki jogged towards Kuno. "Kuno!" she called out, "Behind you!"
The Kendoist spun with ease born of a near lifetime of practice, slicing the demon that had been approaching him in two. He smiled when he saw Nabiki, and she smiled back. "There you are," he said, "I was afraid I'd lost you."
Nabiki took up a 'guard' position at his back, relying on her earliest childhood memories of the lessons her father had given her in the Art. "You did," she replied, "But I found my way back."
Carmella popped into existence beside them, Ryonen in tow. "Are you two alright?" she asked, raising her voice above the din.
"Yeah!" Nabiki called back, "We're good!"
Carmella nodded. "That's good! Greg seems to be retreating! I want you to fall back."
Kuno and Nabiki nodded. "Can do!" Kuno shouted.
"Alright! Get on it, and pass the message on to our forces as you go! I have to spread the word now. Good luck!" With that, Carmella was gone again, to some other part of the dismal battleground.
Kuno and Nabiki locked gazes. "Ready when you are." Nabiki said, half-smiling.
"Alright then; let's get going." The pair turned their attention back to the shop. They fought their way through the remainder of the hoard, when Nabiki saw someone she recognized; it was the boy who had helped her find Kuno.
"Hey!" she called out, voice carrying across the field. The boy and the wolf turned their heads from their latest kill. "Carmella says to fall back!" He nodded and smiled, then started jogging back to the store, picking over the corpses of demons and mystics alike, the wolf close behind him. Nabiki sighed in relief, but sucked it back in sharply as she saw a dark figure making stead progress in the shop's direction. "Oh, no…" she whispered. "We forgot to post a guard around the book!" She turned to face the boy beside her. "Kuno…"
His face was serious. "I know. Good luck, Nabiki." She leaned up and kissed him, briefly, then turned and ran towards the store before she could change her mind.
Nabiki ran, making use of a cat's quick reflexes to keep from falling. Soon, she had reached the place the book was hidden, just in time to place herself between it and the dark figure that had made its way down there. "Show yourself!" she growled, baring fangs and claws.
He figure chuckled and let the shadows concealing its features flow away. There stood what appeared to be an adolescent boy with dark hair and eyes: Greg. "A brave stand, young lady; unfortunately, a futile one. Now step down, or face the consequences."
Nabiki's eyes narrowed, and she let out a menacing hiss. "You'll never get this book."
Greg laughed. "Well, it seems that once again, I am facing off against a cat for the power I desire. And once again, the cat will perish."
"I may die," Nabiki whispered, forcefully, "But it will not be without cause. I will not let you have this book, no matter what happens!"
Greg's eyes narrowed as he began to get angry. "Is that so, little cat? I think you don't know who you're dealing with." With that, his hand shot forward and through Nabiki's chest, pinning her neatly on his arm. She let out a choked gasp at the searing pain, not even noticing the blood flowing from her mouth. Wit disgust, Greg shook her off his arm, and kicked her side in distaste. "Foolish child." He muttered. "You could have lived if you had only let me have the book."
Nabiki clenched her eyes shut, knowing she had only seconds left to live. Focusing all the energy she had left, she willed it into the book, so that it would repel Greg when he touched it. She watched with fading vision as Greg approached the book, lifted it up, let out an outraged cry and dropped it as he became immaterial. She smirked as he vanished from sight. Then her mind turned to other things. "Kuno," she forced out, marveling at how much strength it took to form to words, "I… love… you…" Satisfied, Nabiki let her eyes fall closed, a content smile still on her face. Everything went black.
=^-,-^=
*winces* Good gravy, I pulled a JadeWing. That's it, I definitely need professional help. (for those of you who don't know, JadeWing is a writer who has a nasty habit of at least attempting to and sometimes succeeding in killing off one or more of the main characters in her fics.) Ah, well, it's not like I didn't do plenty of foreshadowing. If you honestly didn't see this coming, I apologize, and PLEASE don't kill me!!! If you're still confused, I can probably point out everywhere I foreshadowed Nabiki's death in the epilogue (which I will be posting tomorrow as a peace offering instead of in two days as I usually do). While I would prefer that you didn't kill me for writing this, I am still open to all types of reviews, so if you want to flame me, go ahead and do so. However, that doesn't mean I'll change anything. (While I am open to suggestions and requests, I only include them when I find them reasonable. Flames are anything but.) Thanks for your time, and I'll see you soon!
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ is property of Rumiko Takahashi, and therefore, not mine. I make no claim of it, and this piece of fan fiction is written purely for entertainment, not for money. The Cat's Wishes and Cursed Whisker powder are my concepts, and Carmella is my character, so you'd better ask before using them—or at least give me some credit. Thanks much!
--socchan